(Within the Lord Soron Arena, The Time Stilled World, Leo’s POV)
From his elevated seat overlooking the arena, Leo observed every match unfolding beneath him with great amusement.
Every single participant seemed to have trained extremely hard for this tournament, which was why, the fighting was intense and the matches entertaining, as everyone seemed to be giving it their all to move on to the next round.
However, although they were all Monarchs at the same tier, it became obvious right from the early rounds that Leonardo, mander Silva, Veyr, and Dupravel, were four fighters on a pletely different level than the rest.
As while their opponents gave everything they had in the opening round, the four of them held back a significant portion of their strength and still advanced without difficulty.
That oute did not surprise Leo, however, what did catch his attention was the overwhelming crowd support Veyr received the moment he entered the arena, as among all the manders, mander Sparrow stood out as a clear favorite.
From the instant he stepped onto the battlefield, the atmosphere shifted noticeably, as the audience responded with an intensity that even surpassed the reception given to the more established veterans.
Which was proof that mander Sparrow had, over the years, earned that response quietly, as his humility, discipline, and consistency had won him the genuine support of the people without him ever needing to demand it, which now translated into roaring cheers the moment he took the field.
Leo observed it with a thoughtful gaze, as beyond the spectacle of the moment, he understood the deeper implication behind it, as this level of acceptance was exactly what was needed for someone who was the Cult’s Dragon.
As this was going to make it far easier for Leo to someday reveal that mander Sparrow was Aegon Veyr to the masses down the line.
"He’s worked hard to redeem himself after being captured...."
Leo muttered, as being satisfied with Veyr’s progress, he shifted his attention toward the next match, where Leonardo took the stage.
From the moment the fight began, the difference in his style became immediately apparent, as unlike most Monarchs who favored aggressive exchanges and prioritized offense, Leonardo approached bat with a level of control that stood apart from the rest.
With a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, his movements were measured and deliberate, as he did not rush to overwhelm his opponent, but instead focused on maintaining balance throughout the fight.
It restricted his mobility to a degree.
However, in return, it granted him a defensive structure that proved incredibly difficult to break, as every ining strike was either absorbed cleanly or redirected with minimal effort.
Leo watched intently.
And as the exchanges unfolded, he found even his own eyes struggling to identify clear openings in Leonardo’s defense, as the discipline behind his movements ensured that he never overextended or left himself exposed unnecessarily.
Where other Monarchs accepted damage as part of their offense, Leonardo minimized it entirely, as across the duration of the match, he took almost no meaningful hits despite facing a capable opponent.
"That’s it big cousin! Show him what it feels like!"
"Don’t let him breathe! Finish it!"
The voices rang out loudly from within the crowd, cutting through the noise of the arena with surprising clarity, as Leo’s gaze shifted instinctively toward their source.
Even among half a million spectators, he found them instantly.
Caleb and Mairon sat buried within the stands, their appearances altered neatly through [Shapeshift], their facial features blended well enough to fool any ordinary observer.
Yet their disguise was inplete.
Leo let out a quiet sigh as he watched them lean forward in excitement, shouting without restraint, their voices carrying a familiar pitch that stood out to him effortlessly despite the overwhelming noise around them.
"They got the faces right..." he thought, his gaze narrowing slightly.
"But the voices... not even close."
At his current level, he did not need to see them clearly to know it was them, as even the slightest fluctuation in tone was enough for him to identify them without hesitation.
"...Still a long way to go," he muttered under his breath, before returning his attention to the fighting below, as a few minutes later, Leonardo won.
—----------
Further into the tournament, the much-anticipated clash between Dupravel Nuna and Darnell Nuna drew the full attention of the arena, as the father and son stepped onto the battlefield under an atmosphere thick with expectation.
Leo leaned forward slightly as the fight began, as based on experience alone, he found himself favoring Dupravel to e out on top.
However, the oute unfolded differently.
Darnell fought with sharper execution and greater decisiveness, as he maintained constant pressure while denying his father the space needed to dictate the flow of the fight.
The exchanges were tight and intense, yet over time, the younger fighter’s pace began to tilt the balance in his favor, as he adapted quicker and mitted more cleanly to each opportunity.
In the end, it was Darnell who secured the victory, much to Leo’s surprise, as the result settled into a deeply satisfying moment for everyone present in the arena.
Having witnessed Darnell’s growth over the years with his own eyes, Leo felt a quiet sense of pride rise within him, as seeing that journey culminate in a moment like this carried genuine weight.
The spoiled arrogance that once defined him had long since faded, replaced by discipline and purpose, as he had steadily carved out his place within the Cult through effort rather than privilege, earning both respect and recognition the right way.
As even Dupravel seemed more proud than disappointed, as he laughed and hugged his son after the fight, in a moment that was cheered by all.
.
.
Lastly, it was mander Anderson Silva who made his way to the semi finals, as he won his fights with overwhelming dominance to lockout the final two fights.
mander Sparrow Vs mander Anderson Silva.
While Leonardo took on Darnell Nuna, to decide the final two winners who would receive the Demi God Breakthrough Potions.
User Comments
0 comments from readers