Chapter 138: Blades, Bravado and Battle!
Scene: The day has finally arrived. The castle stadium is buzzing with excitement as citizens from the South, North, and East Nations gather to watch the young Knight recruits prove themselves in the long-awaited tournament. The air is filled with cheers and laughter, vendors selling snacks, and banners waving proudly in the colors of the South Nation. In the VIP seating area, King Thalanor sits beside Eren's mother, both eager to see the recruits in action.
Narrator: Two days have passed since King Thalanor announced the tournament, and the recruits have been training harder than ever. Today, they will put everything they've learned to the test, fighting not only for the prize armor but for the honor of proving themselves as future knights.
Backstage, the recruits stand gathered around their instructor, a strict-looking Knight with a sense of humor hidden beneath his serious exterior. He holds a clipboard, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces of the young recruits.
Instructor: (clearing his throat) Alright, recruits, listen up! I'll be going over the tournament rules one last time. First and most importantly—no killing. I don't want any paperwork, so keep it clean.
The recruits chuckle, their laughter breaking the tension. Volkra nudges Alexis, grinning.
Volkra: (whispering) Well, there goes my plan for today. I'll have to save my best moves for later.
Alexis: (smirking) Don't worry, Volkra, I'm sure you'll lose well enough without any dangerous moves.
The instructor raises an eyebrow at the pair before continuing.
Instructor: (firmly) Use of mana attacks and swords is permitted, but remember—if you step out of the ring, you're out. Acknowledge your opponent with a bow after the match to show respect. Are we clear?
The recruits nod, each of them a mix of nervous energy and excitement. The instructor hands out numbered slips of paper to each recruit, giving them their match numbers.
Volkra: (looking at his slip) Number 5! Not bad, I'll get an early victory to start the day.
Alexis: (raising her eyebrow) You're assuming you'll even make it out of round one.
Milton: (grinning, showing his slip) Number 9 right here! Looks like I'm up before you, Volkra. The crowd's gonna love me.
Kara: (smiling) Number 10. Guess I'll be right behind you, Milton. Try not to look too ridiculous out there.
Volkra laughs, clearly ready to show off in front of the crowd.
Volkra: (smirking) Don't worry, Kara. I'll set the bar so high, no one will want to follow me.
The instructor clears his throat again, shooting Volkra a look.
Instructor: (raising his voice) Enough chit-chat! Head out to the stadium and wait for your match. The crowd's eager, so let's give them something to cheer about.
Narrator: With that, the recruits make their way to the stadium, their footsteps echoing as they enter the arena. The stadium roars to life as they appear, the energy electric. King Thalanor sits up a little straighter, his gaze focused intently on his recruits. The first round is about to begin.
The instructor steps up to the center of the ring, his voice booming over the noise of the crowd.
Instructor: (announcing) Our first match—Number 9 versus Number 2! Step forward!
Milton's grin widens as he steps into the ring, his eyes glinting with excitement. His opponent, a fellow recruit named Callan, is a tall, wiry recruit with a serious look on his face.
Callan: (smirking) So, Milton, ready to take a fall?
Milton: (laughing) You wish, Callan. Try not to blink or you'll miss my victory.
The crowd cheers as Milton and Callan draw their swords, bowing to each other before taking their stances. In the VIP section, King Thalanor leans over to Eren's mother, chuckling.
King Thalanor: (amused) Milton's certainly got confidence, I'll give him that.
Eren's mother: (smiling) Let's see if he can back it up.
Narrator: The match begins with a burst of speed. Milton charges forward, his sword swinging in a fast arc. Callan, quick on his feet, blocks the strike and counters with a low slash, aiming for Milton's legs.
Milton jumps back, narrowly avoiding the blade, and immediately counterattacks with an overhead slash. Callan meets it with a smirk, parrying the strike and spinning to the side.
Callan: (taunting) Gonna have to do better than that if you want to win, Milton.
Milton: (grinning) Don't worry, I'm just getting warmed up.
The two clash, their swords ringing out with each blow. Milton's movements are fast, his strength apparent, but Callan's agility keeps him on his toes. The two recruits circle each other, each sizing up the other's next move. Callan lunges forward with a quick thrust, catching Milton off guard and grazing his shoulder.
Milton: (mocking) Nice try, Callan. I barely felt that.
Callan raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
Callan: (smirking) Good, because there's more where that came from.
Milton feigns surprise, then suddenly springs forward, launching a quick strike that catches Callan's blade. He uses his momentum to jump and deliver an overhead slash. Callan stumbles, barely blocking in time.
The crowd watches intently as the two recruits clash again. Milton, with a mischievous glint in his eye, finally decides to up the stakes.
Milton: (grinning) Enough warming up. Let's get serious.
He summons his mana, focusing it into his blade as a faint glow surrounds it. With a quick gesture, he unleashes a burst of energy straight at Callan. The mana blast pushes Callan back, and he scrambles to maintain his footing.
Callan: (surprised) Hey! Mana attacks already? You're really going for it.
Milton: (laughing) Didn't you hear? I'm here to win!
Callan, clearly unprepared, stumbles back as Milton advances. The crowd cheers as Milton's mana-fueled strike pushes Callan toward the edge of the ring. With a final push, Milton launches another mana burst, and Callan slips, his foot hitting the boundary.
Instructor: (announcing) Out of bounds! Victory goes to Number 9, Milton!
Narrator: The crowd erupts in cheers as Milton raises his sword, grinning from ear to ear. He bows to Callan with a respectful nod, though his smirk remains firmly in place.
Callan, catching his breath, gives Milton a begrudging nod of respect as he exits the ring.
Callan: (smiling) Alright, alright—you got me this time. But don't get too comfortable.
Milton: (laughing) Don't worry, Callan. I'll keep the throne warm for you.
As Milton steps out of the ring, Volkra, waiting nearby, gives him a playful pat on the shoulder.
Volkra: (grinning) Nice work, show-off. Just don't get too full of yourself—I've got my eye on that armor.
Milton: (smirking) Good luck, Volkra. You're going to need it.
Kara and Alexis, watching from the sidelines, roll their eyes but exchange amused glances.
Kara: (teasing) Looks like we've got quite the showman on our hands.
Alexis: (smiling) Let's hope the rest of us can keep up. The crowd's got high expectations now.
Narrator: With the first match concluded, the excitement only grows. The recruits know that every fight counts, and each one is determined to leave their mark on the tournament. For them, this isn't just about winning—it's about showing the kingdom what they're capable of.
As the recruits prepare for the next round, the instructor steps up again, calling out the next match.
Instructor: (loudly) The next match is Number 5 versus Number 16! Step forward!
Volkra's grin widens as he hears his number called. He shoots a wink at Alexis and Kara before stepping into the ring, his confidence practically radiating from him.
Volkra: (whispering to himself) Time to put on a show.
As Volkra's opponent steps forward, a solidly-built recruit with a serious look, Volkra raises his sword and bows, ready to begin.
The chapter ends as the crowd cheers for the next match, the excitement of the tournament building with each passing moment.