CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 29: WHEN THE BALANCE WAVERS

Isphyriela looked around. All of them were kneeling before her, except for Lin who stood there dumbfounded, lost in thought.

He knelt quickly.

Damn, I am a fool.

Today, I have gathered all of you to sacrifice two of the living clans here. I have received a command from the Dragon King to prepare land for the coming dragons. So today, you will all fight. The losers will disappear along with their clans. I don’t want weaklings in my territory.

Everyone gathered began to panic.

Isphyriela didn’t finish speaking. She simply waved her hand, and a surge of her aura opened the cave. The ground trembled as everyone inside was sent flying, landing hard on the snow outside. No one dared to regain balance—it would be considered disrespectful and might anger her.

Then, with a graceful movement of her hand, she created an arena. The overwhelming magic formed a throne. Lin finally realized the gap between her and everyone else. It was like comparing a human to an ant.

Be prepared," she said, and announced the rules.

"The White Wolves and the White Ghouls will fight against the Blue Elves and the Serpents. Each side will send one representative per round. That representative may be part of a small team, consisting of two to three members.

There will be four rounds.

The losing side will be wiped out today.

That means two clans will not live to see tomorrow."

The black-haired Serpent Princess asked if they could join another clan, Your Majesty.

It was a slap in the face to Oriliana.

Isphyriela laughed, amused by the drama. She liked this.

She agreed and asked if anyone else from any clan wanted to switch.

Before she could continue, the three Serpent Princesses left and joined the White Ghouls. It was a major blow to Oriliana and the Blue Elves.

Lin expected this.

The black-haired princess gestured for Lin to join her and the White Ghouls.

The other two said they would have given him everything—freedom from her, three women, power, and more.

No, Lin shook his head.

Why would I join betrayers? Deep down, he knew never to trust a Serpent. Betrayal was their nature.

Besides, he had already angered the other two clans at the meeting. He also bore a mark on his heart. If he betrayed Oriliana, it would instantly kill him.

It would be a losing gamble.

She had lost all her strongest pawns.

The Sapphire Moon Elves gave Oriliana a mocking smirk, as if pitying a queen without a throne.

Isphyriela gestured for everyone to choose their first fighter.

The Queen said they would start with her brother, Vaelion. Oriliana would begin with Elinius.

The blue-haired, green-eyed elf from before stepped forward.

Vaelion and Elinius entered the arena.

Facing them, the White Ghouls sent out the blindfolded ghoul with shark teeth, a massive wolf-man, and Leucinta. It was clear they intended to rely on numbers.

Elinius stopped smiling. Now he was serious. He intended to kill. He had only one goal—leave this place with his sister safe, along with Lin.

I will take the betrayer and the big wolf. You take the other ghoul, he said.

Vaelion nodded.

Then let’s finish this.

Elinius didn’t wait.

White flames swirled around his blade as he launched forward like a meteor.

He targeted the wolf-man, slashing twice with precise, flaming arcs. The wolf dodged both, leaping back with surprising agility, but the heat singed his fur.

Leucinta—the betrayer—charged in, her claws crackling with cursed frost.

But Elinius was ready.

With a sudden twist, he pivoted midair and unleashed two more blazing slashes. She blocked the first with her arm, but the white flame tore through her guard and scorched her skin. The second slash struck the ground beside her, sending shards of frozen dirt into her face. She staggered back, momentarily blinded and injured.

It was the opening Elinius needed.

He turned back to the wolf. His eyes burned with fury.

You’re done.

He dashed in, closing the distance before the wolf could recover.

A white flame surged in his hand as he pierced through the wolf’s chest, burning a gaping hole through his heart.

The wolf collapsed.

Elinius turned to Leucinta, dodging her swift strikes. While avoiding her, he began chanting:

O flame of light that shall never fade

Ignite my path, and spare not the treacherous dark

O fire, born of an ancient vow

Cleanse, burn, and sow silence in the hearts of liars

In my name—and in the name of those betrayed by light

Let falsehood burn

And let the worthy stand beneath the dawn

Advanced Magic: White Devouring Flame

A white flame surged around her, devouring flesh, shattering bone, and reducing everything to nothingness.

Lin gasped. So that was how blessings worked. He infused emotion into his blessing techniques—enhancing their power.

Lin was focused on Elinius. It was better to learn from his fight than from the elf’s, especially since Lin already understood the serpent fighting style, which could still be useful to him for gaining experience.

But curiosity stirred within him. He wanted to see how the other man was doing.

His eyes turned to the white ghoul.

He was still standing, body bruised and bleeding, his left arm clearly broken and hanging uselessly. But his eyes burned with stubborn defiance.

Vaelion had fought well, but the price was steep.

His right arm was dripping blood, and a massive bite mark covered his forearm. Flesh had been torn away by the ghoul’s jaws, leaving a gory wound where muscle and veins were exposed.

Three of his fingers were gone, two from the right hand and one from the left, severed during the brutal clash.

Even so, Vaelion stood tall, his face pale but steady.

With his own enemies defeated, Elinius stepped forward.

He placed a hand on Vaelion’s shoulder, and a soft white flame flickered to life, wrapping gently around the elf’s arm. The fire didn’t burn—it healed. The bleeding slowed, then stopped entirely. The torn flesh around the bite mark began to mend, and some of Vaelion’s drained energy returned to him.

But the fingers did not grow back.

Elinius glanced at the hand briefly, then said nothing.

Lin watched quietly.

The ghoul had caused more damage than expected, but now it was over.

Two against one.

A shattered arm, a cracked body, blood pooling beneath his feet.

Even if he refused to kneel, the end had come.