The final exam was finally here. I arrived early, one of the first to step into the arena. My heart was pounding in my chest, but I kept my expression calm. If I could pass this—if I could become a Knight of the Tàh—then I'd finally have a place here. I could stay with Thalia and the others. I wouldn't have to think about running anymore. No more being hunted. No more looking over my shoulder. This was it. My chance.
The arena was buzzing with tension, the kind that made your skin prickle. The other participants stood around, sizing each other up. Some were stretching, others were muttering to themselves, probably rehearsing their strategies. I stood to the side, quiet, trying not to draw too much attention. No need to paint a target on my back before the match even started.
Finally, the moderator stepped forward. He was an older man with a voice that carried authority, even though he spoke softly. "Today's match will be a Battle Royal," he announced. "Only the last three standing will pass and become Knights of the Tàh. Now, let the match begin."
The gong rang, and chaos erupted.
Everyone lunged at each other, desperate to prove their strength. Blades clashed, techniques flared, and the air was thick with the sound of grunts, shouts, and explosions of energy. But I didn't join the fray—not yet. Diving headfirst into a brawl like this was a good way to burn through my Tàh, and I wasn't about to waste mine fighting people I didn't need to fight.
Instead, I played it smart. I kept to the edge of the arena, observing. The others were too focused on each other to notice me anyway. They were all so eager to stand out, to show off their strength, that they didn't realize the strongest person in the room wasn't the one throwing punches—it was the one saving their energy. Me.
Ten minutes passed, and the dust began to settle. Out of the twenty-seven participants who started, only four of us remained: me, Koninagi, Rakuhata, and Tateshi.
Koninagi was already looking worse for wear, his movements sluggish. He'd spent too much time in the thick of it, trying to prove he was the strongest. Rookie mistake. Rakuhata and Tateshi, on the other hand, stood at opposite ends of the ring, both looking sharp and ready. The tension between them was palpable. I could practically see the sparks flying—not metaphorically, either. Tateshi was a lightning user, after all.
Rakuhata was a royal, and it showed. His posture, his confidence, the way he carried himself—it was all textbook "I'm better than you." And to be fair, he was powerful. But Tateshi wasn't backing down. He wasn't a royal, yet here he was, standing toe-to-toe with someone who was supposed to be leagues above him. That kind of defiance always made people like Rakuhata uncomfortable. Royals didn't like being reminded that talent and hard work could rival their birthright.
Koninagi, for some reason, decided this was the perfect moment to insert himself into their standoff. He stepped between them and attempted to attack. Bad move. Tateshi didn't even flinch. With a single strike, he sent Koninagi flying out of the ring. The poor guy landed face-first in the dirt, unconscious.
Now it was just the three of us.
I stayed back, watching, while Rakuhata and Tateshi squared off. They were the real threats, and I wasn't about to let them wear me down. Let them tire each other out first—then I'd make my move.
Rakuhata smirked, oozing confidence. "Do you really think you can stand against me? A royal?"
Tateshi didn't respond. He simply raised his hand to the sky. "Lightning Technique: Enthrone."
A bolt of lightning split the sky, crackling with raw energy as it hurtled toward Rakuhata. The air buzzed with electricity, and I could feel the static tingling on my skin even from where I stood.
Rakuhata, naturally, looked unimpressed. "This is easy," he said, activating his own technique. "Gold Technique: Gold Reflection."
A golden shield materialized in front of him, shimmering like sunlight. The lightning struck it, the impact sending a shockwave through the arena. For a moment, the entire ring was bathed in golden light. Rakuhata stood there, smug as ever, completely unharmed.
But he'd made a mistake.
Tateshi wasn't relying on the lightning to win. The moment Rakuhata activated his shield, he was blinded by his own technique. The golden light was too bright, obscuring his vision. And Tateshi took full advantage of it.
In a flash, Tateshi leapt into the air, a bolt of lightning coiled around his hand like a whip. He descended like a thunder god, aiming straight for Rakuhata, who was still squinting against his own shield.
I couldn't help but wince. That was going to hurt.
The blade struck his skin with everything Tateshi had, but it didn't even leave a scratch. Not a dent, not even a mark. Rakuhata glanced at the weapon, then at Tateshi, his lips curling into a smug smile.
"You must be wondering why my skin didn't budge," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "It's simple. My entire body is covered in gold. There's no way you can—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened slightly, confusion flashing across his face. Then, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto the floor.
"What... what did you do to me?" he asked, his voice strained.
Tateshi smirked, his breathing heavy but steady. "I laced my lightning with a bit of poison. Not much—just enough to mess you up."
"You... cheat!" Rakuhata spat, his voice full of rage. But his body swayed slightly now, his invincible posture faltering.
And that's when it began—a fight of fists. No weapons, no fancy techniques. Just raw, brutal combat. And Tateshi was winning. Slowly but surely, he broke through Rakuhata's defenses, forcing him down to the ground.
For the first time, Rakuhata looked desperate. "No... No, I can't lose! I can't lose to a peasant! A mere peasant!" His voice rose, shaking with frustration. "I didn't want to use this, but you've left me no choice."
He staggered to his feet, his eyes burning with fury. "Gold Technique: Melting Point."
At his command, his entire body began to shine. His golden skin glowed, radiating heat and power. He wasn't a man anymore—he was a living weapon.
The proof came immediately. With a single kick, Rakuhata sent Tateshi flying. Not an elaborate move—just a kick. But it was enough to launch Tateshi across the arena like a ragdoll.
I stood there, frozen. Watching. No, not just watching—*feeling*. There was something primal about him now. A force of nature. This wasn't a fight anymore. It was a hunt, and Rakuhata was the predator. Tateshi? The prey.
I couldn't let him die. I *knew* the rules. Everyone did: no killing your opponent. But this was Rakuhata Nagahi—a royal. Someone who could break the rules, twist them, and cover it all up without a second thought. Everyone in the crowd knew it too. That's why they were silent. No cheers, no jeers. Just quiet, paralyzing fear.
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to act. If I didn't, Tateshi would be killed—and it'd be my fault for standing by.
I clenched my fists, gathering all the energy I could, and charged at him. My punch landed square on his face. A perfect shot.
And... nothing.
He didn't even flinch.
"So, there was still someone left," Rakuhata said, slowly turning to me with a look of mild irritation, as if I were some annoying insect. "No wonder I hadn't been declared the winner yet."
Before I could react, a golden spear materialized in his hand. He threw it at me with terrifying speed. My body barely moved in time—I dove to the side, the spear missing me by inches and embedding itself in the ground with a deafening crack.
What could I do? What *could* anyone do? My attack hadn't even fazed him. My mind screamed at me to think, to act, but my body was failing me. Before I could come up with anything, I felt his fist slam into my face.
Everything blurred. My knees buckled. The ground rushed up to meet me, and I collapsed. My vision swam, and my thoughts slowed to a crawl. Pain shot through my body. I couldn't even move.
I was losing consciousness.
And as the darkness crept in, I heard it. Clear as day.
"The winner of the 73rd Knights Exam is Rakuhata Nagahi."