ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

It was currently night time at the well known Valoria kingdom as the cold night breeze drifted through the open balcony, rustling the deep-blue curtains of the Soaring Dragons Pavilion as Kent's eyes fluttered open.

'Where.... am I?'

His body felt heavy—as if he had just been pulled out of an abyss.

The dim lanterns cast flickering shadows across the lavishly adorned room, but his focus was locked on the tall figure standing at the balcony.

Lockwood.

—

The chancellor stood calmly, his hands clasped behind his back, his dark blue robe rippling slightly under the night wind as he gazed up at the star-filled sky.

Kent's brows furrowed as he thought.

'How… did I get here?'

His last memory was in the arena—mercilessly crushing Alaric Stormfell beneath his overwhelming power.

Then—nothing.

—

"Rafaela."

Lockwood's voice suddenly rang out before Kent could even voice his confusion.

"She's the one who made you unconscious."

Snap.

Kent shot up from the bed, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"That b—"

Bang!

A sudden pressure slammed into the room.

Kent froze.

Lockwood—without even turning around—had instantly reacted, releasing just a fraction of his mana.

The very air in the room thickened, locking Kent in place.

"Calm yourself."

Lockwood's voice was unshaken, unwavering.

A simple command—yet it carried weight.

Kent clenched his fists.

Then—he exhaled sharply, forcing himself to relax.

The heavy presence immediately faded.

Lockwood finally turned, his sharp eyes staring straight at Kent.

"Listen well, Kent," he said, his tone quiet but firm.

"If you ever pull that stunt again in public…"

His gaze darkened.

"You will be instantly removed from the representatives of the Dawning of Magic Academy."

Kent's body tensed.

Removed?

He gritted his teeth but did not speak.

Lockwood's expression did not change.

Then—without another word—he turned back to the sky.

The warning had been given.

The next move was Kent's to make.

––––

At another area in Valoria kingdom, A tense silence filled a particular room in the Soaring Dragons Pavilion reserved for the Pacesetters Academy.

The soft glow of a single lantern cast flickering shadows on the walls, barely illuminating the unconscious figure lying on the bed—Kaelen Dragonyx.

His breathing was steady, but his body showed clear signs of exhaustion.

Vice Chancellor Reeves, General Cao, Marel, and Chancellor Castenada stood around him, their gazes solemn.

—

General Cao was the first to break the silence.

"What now?" he asked, his deep voice carrying a rare trace of unease.

His gaze shifted to the Blade of Eternity, lying within Kaelen's grasp. Even unconscious, Kaelen's fingers were curled around its hilt instinctively, as if even in his weakened state, he refused to let it go.

"The Blade of Eternity has been revealed."

His next words carried a heavy weight.

"Sooner or later… they'll come for it."

Another silence followed.

Marel's expression darkened as he folded his arms. Reeves remained silent.

And then, after a long pause—

Castenada finally spoke.

"There's only one thing we can do."

His gaze remained locked on Kaelen, his sharp eyes reflecting the flickering lantern light.

"We prevent it from being taken away by keeping Kaelen—and the Blade—too occupied to be confronted."

The others turned to him.

"The final stage of the Battle Convention."

His voice was steady.

"If Kaelen participates in the Trials of Creation, it will force everyone's attention onto the tournament itself."

Reeves' eyes narrowed.

"You want to throw him into the Trials to buy time?"

Castenada gave a slow nod.

"It's the best option we have."

General Cao exhaled.

"It's a gamble. Those trials can be really brutal even for him"

He looked at Kaelen's unconscious form.

"But… it might be our only choice."

Marel's fists clenched slightly, but he said nothing.

For now, their course was set.

And as the moonlight spilled through the window, the weight of their decision loomed over them like a silent storm.

Meanwhile, Amidst the quiet night above the Soaring Dragons Pavilion, Aether hovered amongst the clouds, his gaze locked onto the unconscious Kaelen Dragonyx below.

His face was uncharacteristically tense.

Aether wasn't one to worry about mortals so easily after his master's death—but Kaelen's recent battle, the reveal of the Blade of Eternity, and the sudden decision to hold the Trials of Creation stirred an uneasy feeling in him.

'Something about all of this… felt orchestrated.'

But before he could dwell further—

BOOM!

Aether's eyes widened as a devastating attack came crashing down on him from above, a surge of raw destructive power exploding against him at point-blank range.

The sheer force sent him hurtling through the night sky, his body smashing through several clouds as the blast scorched the air around him.

But Aether wasn't some helpless fool.

In a flash, his Sword of Dawn materialized in his grip, its celestial radiance flaring to life as he swung it in a sweeping arc.

CLANG!

The blade intercepted the attack, dispersing most of its destructive force.

Still, the impact sent him flying across the night like a falling comet.

After a few seconds, Aether finally stabilized himself, his boots grinding against stone as he landed deep within a canyon far from the kingdom.

He exhaled, gripping his sword tightly as he thought vigilantly.

'What the hell was that—'

Before he could finish though, he felt them.

A suffocating aura filled the air.

Dozens of figures in dark cloaks emerged from the shadows, surrounding him completely.

Aether's gaze flickered.

Each of these figures radiated an ominous energy, their presence so thick with malice that even he felt slightly disturbed.

He raised his sword, his expression hardening.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

Silence.

None of them answered.

Then, from within their ranks, a chilling voice finally spoke.

"You need not concern yourself with that."

Their tone was casual. Almost amused.

"All you need to know is that by this time next year…

It will be your death anniversary."

Aether's grip tightened on his sword.

"Tch."

'So that's how it is.'

A grim smirk formed on his face while he thought before he spoke cooly and filled with confidence.

"You should've killed me just now."

"Well that's what we plan on doing" one of the cloaked individuals quickly replied with a wicked tone.

And so, the canyon became deathly silent—save for the whispering wind that stirred the dust beneath Aether's feet.

Dozens of cloaked figures stood around him in a tight formation, their aura thick with malice.

Their presence carried an eerie void-like energy, a clear sign of dark arts.

Some wielded gnarled staffs, while others gripped twisted blades, their edges pulsing with ominous magic.

But Aether…

He simply exhaled.

A smirk formed on his face.

His golden eyes glowed like twin suns as he raised his Sword of Dawn.

The moment his aura flared, the very air around him trembled.

A cloaked mage raised their staff—dark tendrils of magic surged forth, coiling like living snakes toward Aether.

But before they could reach him—

Aether moved.

With a single step, his figure blurred.

SHING!

Aether's sword sliced through the tendrils as if they were nothing, severing them cleanly before he suddenly vanished from his original spot—

—And reappeared right in front of the mage.

The mage's eyes widened in horror.

SLASH!

Aether's sword cut through the mage in one clean motion.

In the next instant, a warrior lunged at him from behind, their blade coated in a cursed aura.

But Aether, without even turning, tilted his sword slightly—

CLANG!

The cursed blade was deflected effortlessly.

With a flick of his wrist—

SCHLICK!

Aether severed the attacker's arm and drove his sword through their chest in one fluid motion.

More cloaked figures rushed in.

Some unleashed black fireballs, others swung shadow-infused blades.

Aether didn't even flinch.

His blade danced.

A single horizontal slash cut down three at once. A backstep followed by a thrust impaled another through the skull. A downward cleave sent a shockwave of light, disintegrating several mages in an instant.

It was overwhelming.

Aether's swordplay was at the level of a Sword Saint, a warrior who stood at the pinnacle of mortal swordsmanship.

His light magic?

It was absolute.

The last few cloaked figures hesitated.

Some instinctively took steps back.

Aether's golden aura burned brighter than the moonlight, his sword gleaming with untainted radiance.

"Is that all?"

His voice was mocking.

"Cowards"

One of the remaining figures suddenly lashed out desperately.

With a burst of dark energy, they tried to retreat—

But Aether appeared right behind them.

His hand gripped the back of their cloak, yanking them to the ground.

As they struggled, Aether pointed his sword to their throat before he muttered with a chilling tone.

"Talk"

The cloaked figure panted, their hood partially sliding off to reveal a tattooed face filled with corruption.

"We… are the harbingers sent to end you."

Aether's eyes narrowed.

But before he could demand more—

FWOOOSH!

One of the figures burned a talisman.

In the next moment—

Every single cloaked figure, including the one beneath him, vanished into thin air.

Aether's sword stabbed into empty space.

His eyes widened.

"…What?"

The night fell silent once more.

Aether stood there, his sword gleaming beneath the moon.

A deep frown formed on his face as he muttered.

"Tsk… that was unsettling."

But there was one question which constantly plagued his mind now.

'Who the hell were they?'