CHAPTER 203: CHAMPION

"Winner and champion! Lucen Thornehart!"

The second those words were said, the audience that were holding their breath exhaled. There was a brief silence as everyone was still trying to catch up to what had happened.

Then what came after the silence was the rumbling noise of claps and cheers. The entire coliseum exploded with cheers.

"WHOAH!!!"

"LUCEN!!!"

"That was the best! As expected of the ruby-eyed monster! No, of the ever-victorious!"

"That was the best match!"

"For Stellhart! For Norvaegard!"

The audience’s cheers were deafening. Everyone had already expected Lucen’s victory, but no one expected how he would gain that victory. There were even quite a few when they saw Lucen bleeding thought that he might lose.

Despite Lucen’s overwhelming advantage, the way Elyra kept charging in while getting stronger was truly inspiring. The second she was able to cut Lucen a little, she thought maybe if it’s her, she could do it.

Unfortunately, in the end, it was still Lucen’s victory. Still, the process was so much better than anyone could have expected.

This was the best Royal Academy Tournament they had watched in the past two decades, and it will be talked about for a very long time.

***

Lysette’s eyes were glued to Lucen. Unlike many, even when Lucen was injured, there was no doubt in her mind that Lucen would win.

In Lysette’s view, Lucen was slowly becoming synonymous with the word victory. To her, she could very well imagine that even without limbs, Lucen would still find the path towards victory.

She really wanted to go down there and speak with him, but, of course, she understood that was not possible. Lysette then decided to invite Lucen for tea.

’I guess we will have a proper conversation later. I wonder what kind of tea and snacks he would want.’

***

Rachel was already surprised by the prowess of the children of Norvaegard at the beginning of the tournament, but when they got into the semi-finals, she finally understood how a kingdom like Norvaegard had survived being a neutral kingdom up to now.

The nobility here isn’t like the ones in her kingdom, who only know how to scheme. These people, even though some of them do scheme, also value strength.

Not only their subordinates, but the nobles here are powerful themselves. In her kingdom, only a few nobles had powerful individual strength.

"Now, do you still think you can win?" Rachel asked her bodyguard.

The fourth mantle guard looked at Rachel and answered. "No matter what, I will do my best to protect milady."

Hearing his answer filled with resolve, Rachel got the answer she needed. "I see..." She spoke softly. "It’s fine. I understand your loyalty."

Rachel once again looked at the boy who was near her age, being applauded by thousands.

***

"As expected! Aura may fade, mana may be depleted, weapons may break, but as long as your body can remain standing, something can be achieved!"

Sir Thalos spoke excitedly. He was indeed happy that Lucen won, but what got him excited was Elyra’s blazing spirit.

Despite the overwhelming odds, she kept on standing up. She kept on charging forward, trying her hardest to change the ending.

Her efforts were rewarded in the end; even though she did not win, she was able to damage Lucen.

"As expected of the little leader. Once again, he grabbed victory tightly in his hands."

Harlik was amazed by how almost all the kids here were either as strong as him or stronger, but even then, not a single time did he think they could ever defeat Lucen.

"He truly is amazing," Milos mumbled to himself.

Ever since coming to Caelhart, he had seen many his age and younger who were so much stronger.

He once felt a little depressed because of this, but after talking with everyone, he no longer bothered to compare himself with others.

He will get strong at his own pace, and no matter what, he will make sure that he continues to be a part of Thornefang’s story of Lucen’s story.

He just needs to believe in Sir Thalos, who trains him and every other Thornefang member. No matter what, his hard work would never betray him.

Still, after watching Elyra face off against the leader, he was inspired. Despite the difference in power, speed, and skill, Elyra did not despair; instead, she used this battle as fuel to burn even brighter.

In the end, she did something Milos never expected to happen: she was able to harm Lucen. Ever since Milos met Lucen, he had this image of invincibility.

He had seen him hurt before in the monster wave, but that was against a monster. On the other hand, when fighting against humans, Milos has never seen Lucen so hurt.

"I want to fight too! I want to have a battle like that as well!"

Thrall spoke excitedly. Even though he knew that he would lose, he, too, wanted to join the Royal Academy Tournament and fought against the strong students.

Back in his tribe, there was no one his age who could match his battle prowess, but here, there were many his age who not only could match him but surpass him.

His fists tightened with excitement, nails lightly digging into his own skin. His instincts roared for battle, for challenge, for growth. He wanted to have a spar right now.

On the other hand, Daniel looked at the stage and sighed. Even now, he could not understand why they put so much effort into such things.

Still, watching Lucen fighting with that confident smile of his, as if he was always certain of victory, made Daniel feel something different.

When he saw Elyra’s relentless charge, which he thought was idiotic, he was truly surprised when she was able to harm Lucen.

Daniel was sure that the difference in ability was so great that Elyra being able to do what she did was impossible. Yet there she was able to go beyond.

It had been so long since he had even a tinge of excitement. He was sure that after what he had experienced before, he would never want to put more effort than needed, but for some reason, he actually had the thought of improving himself.

The second that thought was formed in his mind, Daniel shook his head. ’What am I even thinking? Didn’t I learn long ago, putting more effort than needed only leads to disappointment?’

He tried to bury the thought, crush it, smother it, but something inside him, something long dormant, twitched awake.

Daniel exhaled slowly, unaware that his heartbeat had quickened. He had always convinced himself that excitement was dangerous, that dreams only led to pain. Yet now, somewhere within him, there was something changing.

A small ember, a tiny, stubborn spark, and as the cheers for Lucen thundered through the coliseum, that spark refused to die. It hid within him, waiting to burn brighter than ever before.

Eisen looked at Lucen, who had won. Everything went as he expected, Lucen winning, and Elyra doing her best to keep up; he even predicted the increase in Elyra’s strength. Still, what surprised him was that Elyra was able to counterattack despite everything.

"To go beyond, was it..." Eisen whispered to himself.

While everyone was commenting on Lucen’s win, Robert was surprisingly silent as he was deep in thought.

***

While everyone was cheering his name, Lucen was now looking at the new trait he acquired, which he had no time to check when he was in battle.

[New Trait Acquired: Battle-Crazed (Rare)]

[To the one who enjoys the battle to the fullest. The more excited one becomes, the more damage one receives, the longer the battle rages, the greater the increase in Strength, Dexterity, and agility.]

’Heh, to think I would acquire this trait while fighting Elyra. I guess getting hurt is a small price to pay for acquiring this trait.’

As Lucen happily read the trait he received, the King stood up from his chair and raised his hand.

The audience immediately fell silent as all focus shifted toward the sovereign. The roaring coliseum quieted at once, as if someone had smothered the very air.

King Ragnor Vaelgard gazed down upon the arena with a dignified calm that demanded respect.

Even with the distance, his storm-gray eyes seemed to pierce through Lucen standing on the stage below. A faint smile tugged at the King’s lips.

"A spectacular display," he began, his voice amplified through his aura and echoing with absolute authority. "Today, the youth of our kingdom have shown us the brilliance of their talent, and the strength of Norvaegard’s future."

The audience erupted again, but only for a heartbeat, because the King lifted a single hand, and once more, silence swallowed the coliseum.

"Lucen Thornehart," he declared, "you have proven yourself as the strongest amongst your peers. Not only that, but you have shown me a wonderful performance that was a standard above the previous tournaments of late."

King Ragnor’s smile deepened.

"Normally, the reward given to the champion would simply be the honor and glory of being the victor. But I’m feeling generous today, seeing as you have entertained me. So I will personally allow you to take a single item from the royal treasury."

The very second the king said those words, everyone was shocked, from the Queen, princes and princesses, to even the Tower Masters. The nobles, merchants, and other commoners had gasped.

The most shocked one was Lucen himself. This was a scenario that he thought was a possibility, but very little.

It was a common trope in such a setting, but he didn’t expect it to happen to him. It took him a few seconds to comprehend what had happened, and he immediately gave a knight’s salute.

"You honor me with your benevolence, your Majesty."