CHAPTER 142: THE BEGINNING OF THE FINAL MATCH!

The matches that day were nothing short of breathtaking.

Each family representative stepped into the arena carrying the weight of their clan’s pride, facing opponents whose skills and strategies varied wildly.

Some relied on overwhelming brute strength, smashing through defenses with raw power.

Others were cunning tacticians, using speed, feints, and some magic to wear their enemies down.

The crowd never had a moment to rest — every clash was a storm of steel, spells, and sheer willpower.

Among the many contenders, they stood out almost as much as Elysia and Edwin, that is Martis and Jenner.

Martis, a formidable mage from the prestigious Starfall family, wielded magic with frightening precision. His spells were not just powerful but impossibly fast, each incantation snapping into existence before his enemies could even raise a guard.

Walls of fire, spears of lightning, and crushing waves of force rolled across the arena, leaving his opponents scrambling for survival.

Match after match, Martis crushed his foes without ever allowing them a chance to recover.

Jenner, on the other hand, was a swordsman whose style was as relentless as the tide. Where Edwin’s strikes carried weight and intimidation, Jenner’s blade was pure speed — a blur of motion that pressed his enemies until they broke.

His footwork was flawless, his timing merciless, and with every victory, the crowd roared his name louder.

Like Elysia and Edwin, Martis and Jenner had fought continuously without defeat, their streaks drawing attention from nobles, rival families, and even the tournament council.

It was clear that before the finals arrived, the four of them were destined to cross paths — and when that happened, the arena would shake with a battle no one would forget.

The Final Match Announced

The arena, which had been roaring with constant cheers all day, suddenly fell into a hush.

The silence was almost heavy, broken only by the faint crackle of the protective wards above and the restless stamping of feet on stone seats.

Then, the announcer’s magically amplified voice echoed across the battleground, rolling like thunder from one side of the coliseum to the other.

"For the final match of the day..." His words carried weight, drawing every gaze to the center of the stage. "...representing the Celestine Banner... undefeated with five consecutive victories — Elysia and Edwin!"

The silence broke apart instantly. The crowd erupted in a storm of noise.

"Celestine!"

"Undefeated!"

Their names were shouted over and over, echoing off the marble walls. Banners embroidered with a golden starburst were raised high, fluttering in the wind.

Nobles clapped politely from their velvet seats in the gilded balconies, while the commonfolk shouted until their throats were raw, fists raised high.

Elysia and Edwin stepped forward into the arena’s full light. The enchanted skylight above caught them perfectly, bathing their figures in a silver-gold glow.

To the crowd, they no longer looked like simple competitors — they looked like champions, unshaken and unbroken despite the grueling battles behind them.

The announcer let the cheers run their course before raising his voice again, his tone sharper now.

"And their opponents..." A deliberate pause stretched out, building suspense until the tension hummed through the air. "...representing the Crest of the Iron Fang and the prestigious starfall family — Martis and Jenner!"

A different wave of noise erupted from another side of the stands.

Two banners unfurled at once — one marked with a wolf’s fang dripping with silver, the other a blazing sigil of intertwining runes.

The chants rose from their supporters, equally fierce, equally loud.

The heavy iron gates creaked open. From the shadows within, their challengers emerged.

Martis came first. He was a mountain of a man — tall, broad-shouldered, his steps deliberate and heavy enough to leave faint imprints in the sand.

Silver hair framed his stern face, his expression carved into stone.

In his hands rested a greatsword so massive that it looked less like a weapon for a duel and more like an executioner’s blade meant to split boulders and gates alike.

Every swing promised finality.

Beside him walked Jenner. He was leaner, calmer, his presence subtle yet no less dangerous.

Draped in deep blue robes stitched with silver runes, he carried himself with the stillness of a predator before the strike.

His sharp eyes scanned the arena not with arrogance but with cold calculation, as though measuring every angle and possibility before the first blow was even struck.

His hands pulsed faintly with crackling arcs of light — small, contained bursts of magic leaking out, hinting at the storm he could unleash at any moment.

The two of them together were a stark contrast. Martis embodied raw, overwhelming force, a walking wall of steel and power.

Jenner embodied control, refinement, and precise devastation. One was a hammer, the other a scalpel. And yet, side by side, they gave off an aura of unity — two warriors whose styles might be opposite, but whose strength together was nothing short of terrifying.

The crowd split in their loyalties. One half roared "Celestine!" for Elysia and Edwin, while the other half answered with "Iron Fang!" and "Starfall!" for Martis and Jenner.

The clash of chants grew so loud that the air itself seemed to vibrate with the sound.

Down in the arena, the sand stirred in a faint breeze. The four fighters faced each other across the wide battleground.

No words were exchanged, but none were needed. Their gazes locked, and in that moment, it felt as though the world had narrowed to just these four figures.

Everyone in the stands knew it.

This was not just another match.

This was the battle the entire Festival of Trials had been leading to.

The air buzzed with magic, steel, and anticipation.

Elysia and Edwin stepped into the vast arena, their boots pressing down on the sandy floor that crunched softly beneath each step.

The arena itself felt alive — its stone walls humming faintly as protective enchantments activated, wrapping the battlefield in a translucent barrier of shimmering light.

It pulsed faintly like a giant heartbeat, sealing them inside while keeping the roaring crowd safe outside.

The audience was a sea of noise. Nobles in the upper balconies leaned forward in their gilded seats, whispering to one another in hushed tones.

Some from the Celestial Royal murmured with interest, their jeweled fans half-concealing their smiles, while across from them, members of the Council of Clans placed quiet bets with subtle hand gestures and hidden slips of paper.

"Fifty thousand gold says the Crest of the Iron Fang wins," one noble whispered.

"Nonsense, Elysia’s streak won’t end here," another replied sharply.

Meanwhile, the common folk in the lower stands had no such restraint. They shouted openly, their voices overlapping into a wall of sound:

"Celestine Banner for the win!"

"Crush them, Martis! Show that fancy image of her place!"

"Jenner’s got this—just one spell and it’s over!"

The noise was overwhelming, yet inside the barrier, the air felt strangely muffled, thick with tension.

Edwin adjusted his grip on his sword, the polished steel glinting under the sunlight. He lowered into a loose stance, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Martis.

The silver-haired swordsman on the other side stood like a mountain, his massive greatsword resting on his shoulder with terrifying ease.

Elysia’s fingers brushed along the carved surface of her staff, feeling the familiar grooves of ancient runes etched into its wood.

She tilted her head slightly toward Edwin, her voice low, steady, and sharp enough to cut through the tension.

"One mage, one swordsman..." she whispered, her gaze never leaving Jenner, who was already tracing glowing circles in the air with his fingers.

"You take the swordsman. I’ll handle the mage."

Edwin smirked faintly, his knuckles tightening around his hilt. "Got it. Big guy’s mine."

His tone was calm, but the sparkle of excitement in his eyes betrayed him. He had been waiting for a real challenge, and Martis looked exactly like the kind of opponent who wouldn’t go down easy.

Elysia spared him a sidelong glance, her lips twitching into the ghost of a smile.

"Try not to get flattened. That sword looks like it could split the ground in two."

"Hah," Edwin chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "If I fall, you’ll just have to carry me. Don’t worry—I’ll manage."

Across the arena, Martis lifted his massive greatsword, its edge catching the sunlight like a flash of lightning. His deep voice carried across the sand.

"Little boy with a toy blade... let’s see if you can withstand even one swing."

Jenner stepped forward slightly, his robes swaying as sparks of blue light danced between his fingertips. His sharp eyes flicked toward Elysia, narrowing with calculation.

"I’ve studied your matches, Celestine girl," he called, his voice smooth but edged with arrogance.

"Your tricks won’t work on me. You won’t even get the chance to chant."

Elysia’s grip tightened on her staff. She raised her chin, answering coolly, "You talk too much for someone who hides behind spells."

A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd at her remark. Jenner’s lips curled into a thin smile, clearly provoked.

Beside her, Edwin laughed out loud, his confidence brimming. "Well said, Elysia. Let’s show them why we’re undefeated."

The announcer’s magically amplified voice boomed once more above the deafening cheers:

"Fighters, prepare yourselves! The final match begins in three... two... one—"

The barrier shimmered violently, signaling the start.