The arena hummed with anticipation as the sun climbed higher in the sky.
Mikhail sat among the other members of the Imperial family his face a mask of wonder that belied the calculating mind behind it, his seat had now been separated from the rest of the family more than it already had been, and moved to the furthest edge of the Imperial box.
Aether was doing his best to hide the newfound fear he'd acquired after witnessing Mikhail shatter Bartholomew's aura core, though his slightly tense posture betrayed his discomfort.
Lyanna, on the other hand, seemed to observe her younger brother with a new respect, her usual haughty demeanour oddly softened by recent events - warriors respected strength.
Around them, nobles and high-ranking officials whispered in hushed tones, their excitement palpable.
Before the duel could commence, a series of intricate magical rituals had to be performed, as far more magical strengthening had to be applied to ensure complete safety for all spectators and the integrity of the combat.
Mikhail watched with keen interest as the mages took their positions around the perimeter of the arena.
Empress Camilla stepped forward, her regal bearing accentuated by the shimmering robes of her office. She raised her arms, and the other mages - 198 in total, each representing one of the known universal laws - mirrored her stance.
"We begin the Ritual of Containment," the Empress intoned, her voice carrying easily across the hushed arena. "May the barriers we raise protect all who witness and contain the might that will soon be unleashed."
The mages began to chant in unison, their voices weaving together in an otherworldly harmony. Mikhail activated his Divine Insight, eager to understand the complexities of the magic being performed.
[System Alert: Divine Insight activated]
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Ritual of Containment:
Purpose: Create multi-layered magical barriers to protect spectators and contain the duel's energies
.
Components:
- Outer Shield (Physical protection).
- Mana Absorption Layer (Neutralises stray magical energies).
- Temporal Stabilisation Field (Prevents time-space distortions).
- Elemental Harmony Barrier (Balances and redirects elemental forces).
- Psychic Dampening Sphere (Protects minds from magical backlash).
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As the chanting reached a crescendo, Mikhail could see the layers of magic taking shape.
The air shimmered with translucent barriers, each one distinct yet working in perfect harmony with the others.
The outermost layer gleamed like polished steel, promising impenetrable physical protection. Within it, a swirling vortex of energy formed the mana absorption layer, ready to catch and neutralise any stray magical energies that might escape the combatants' control.
The third layer was harder to discern, but Mikhail could sense its presence - a subtle warping of space that would prevent any temporal or spatial distortions from affecting the audience.
The fourth barrier shimmered with all the colours of the elements, constantly shifting and realigning itself.
Finally, the innermost layer was a soft, pulsing field designed to shield the minds of the spectators from the psychic backlash of high-level combat.
As the Ritual of Containment concluded, Mage Vesper stepped forward. His cold eyes swept across the arena before he began the next ceremony.
"We will now commence the Rite of Equalising," he announced. "Let the arena be cleansed of all external influences, that this duel may be decided by skill and power alone."
Again, the mages began to chant, but this time, their magic seemed to turn inward. Mikhail watched in fascination as waves of energy swept across the arena floor, neutralising any lingering magical residues and creating a perfectly balanced environment for the coming battle.
[System Alert: Divine Insight activated]
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Rite of Equalising:
Purpose: Create a neutral magical environment for fair combat
.
Effects:
- Nullifies ambient mana to prevent environmental advantages.
- Equalises elemental influences.
- Removes any pre-existing enchantments or magical traps.
- Establishes a baseline magical "pressure" for consistent spellcasting.
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With the protective barriers established and the arena equalised, there was one final ritual to perform. Grand Mage Thorne's deputy, Magister Claire, stepped forward for the Invocation of Witnesses.
"We call upon the spirits of our ancestors, the guardians of the empire, to bear witness to this trial of might," she proclaimed. "May their wisdom guide us, and may their judgment be rendered upon the outcome of this duel."
As she spoke, ethereal forms began to materialise around the edges of the arena.
Mikhail gasped softly as he recognised some of the figures from historical accounts - great emperors and empresses of the past, legendary warriors and mages whose deeds had shaped the empire. Though insubstantial and only a memory of their appearance, their presence added an undeniable weight to the proceedings.
With the rituals complete, a hush fell over the arena.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Emperor Tiberius and Duke Draconus entered from opposite sides, each resplendent in their ceremonial garb - the Emperor in his battle regalia, the Duke in ornate mage robes worn above his armour, that rippled with power.
A gong sounded, its deep resonance echoing through the arena.
In an instant, the duel began.
Duke Draconus moved first, his hands weaving complex patterns through the air as he unleashed a cascade of elemental spells.
Spheres of concentrated magical energy, each one capable of levelling a small fortress, hurtled toward the Emperor.
The air itself seemed to warp around the spells, a testament to their devastating power.
Emperor Tiberius met the assault with uncanny grace, his sword singing through the air.
Each strike precisely bisected a spell, his blade glowing with aura that neutralised the magical energy. The Emperor's movements were fluid yet decisive, each action calculated to maximum effect.
Mikhail nodded, his face glowing with genuine childish excitement while his mind raced to analyse every move.
The Duke was demonstrating why he was considered one of the empire's greatest mages. His spells flowed one into another, each attack seamlessly transitioning into the next.
Fire became lightning became ice, the elements themselves bending to his will. The air around him crackled with magical energy as he launched spell after spell, each more powerful than the last.
Emperor Tiberius responded with increasingly complex sword techniques, his blade leaving trails of golden light as it cut through the magical assaults.
The Diamond Sky technique that the Emperor was displaying manifested as crystalline barriers that not only blocked spells but reflected them back at the caster, forcing Duke Draconus to split his attention between attack and defence.
As the duel progressed, Duke Draconus began employing higher-tier magic. Reality itself seemed to warp around him as he called upon dimensional magics, opening rifts in space through which attacks could emerge from any angle.
The Emperor's response was magnificent - his sword techniques somehow cut through even these spatial distortions, maintaining the integrity of local space through sheer martial might.
The air crackled with magical energy, the barriers straining to contain the awesome display of power.
Mikhail found himself utterly engrossed, his mind working overtime to memorise every technique, every strategy employed by the two masters.
Finally, realising the futility of conventional magic against the Emperor's supreme sword techniques, Duke Draconus reached into his robes.
Mikhail's breath caught in his throat as he saw the Duke withdraw a pulsing crystal sphere. This was it - the moment that would change everything.
The artefact seemed to shatter in Duke Draconus's grip, its crystalline shards dissolving into pure mana that coiled around him like living wire.
The magic was no longer just an aura or enhancement - it was transforming him.
Threads of pure magical energy wove themselves into an intricate lattice, expanding outward and upward in a complex geometric pattern that traced the shape of something ancient and terrible.
Within moments, where the Duke had stood now loomed a colossal dragon formed entirely of interconnected lines of mana.
Each strand pulsed with raw power, creating a wireframe leviathan that dwarfed everything else in the arena. The construct's skeleton was defined by thick streams of golden energy, while finer threads of blue and white mana filled in the spaces between, creating translucent scales, membranes, and muscles that rippled with every movement.
The dragon's head was enormous, its teeth formed from crystallised mana that gleamed like diamonds. When it opened its jaw, the space between the magical threads rippled with intense energy.
It spread its wings and a vast network of delicate magical filaments could be seen, the wings somehow maintained the strength to generate gale-force winds with each beat.
The protective barriers groaned under the pressure of containing such a massive magical construct.
Where the dragon's wireframe body touched the ground, the equalising field sparked and almost fractured, unable to process the sheer volume of mana flowing through the Duke's transformed state.
Gasps and cries of shock echoed through the arena as the beast moved with impossible grace for its size, each motion leaving trails of luminous mana in its wake.
The psychic dampening shield pulsed frantically, barely containing the wave of primal fear that swept through the crowd at the sight of this ancient form made manifest through pure magical mastery.
Most terrifying of all was the fact that within the dragon's chest, where its heart would be, floated Duke Draconus himself, suspended in a nexus of magical threads.
His eyes blazed with the same energy that formed his draconic shell, his consciousness expanded to fill every strand of the massive construct.
When the dragon roared, it was not just sound, but a wave of pure magical force that made the foundations of the arena tremble. The wireframe beast lunged forward with frightening speed, its massive claws leaving trails of sparking mana as they slashed through the air towards Emperor Tiberius.
Emperor Tiberius, momentarily taken aback by this display of magical transformation, quickly regained his composure. His aura flared in response, a golden light enveloping him as he raised his sword to meet the onslaught of this mana-forged monstrosity.
As the two titans clashed once more - one a master swordsman wreathed in divine light, the other a dragon woven from the very essence of magic - the earth seemed to tremble.
Mikhail could feel the weight of history pressing down upon them all. This duel, he knew, would shape the future of the empire in ways that even he, with his knowledge of the future, couldn't fully predict.
[System Alert: Quest "Duel of Destinies" updated. Continue observing the duel carefully. Your insights may prove crucial in the days to come.]