Chapter 156

Inside the elite prep chamber lined with reinforced screens and war-grade tech, Lucian Thornfell leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, watching the broadcast in silence.

Jaden's fight was still echoing across the ship — the image of Rafe's unconscious body and that terrifying one-hit finish frozen on screen. The cheers hadn't died yet, but Lucian was already calculating.

His lips curled.

"So... you're one down." His voice was cool, precise. "Interesting. I guess it's bound to be me and you in the final, Jaden."

No one else in the room said a word. No one dared.

Lucian Thornfell didn't talk often. But when he did, you listened.

"Next battle! Lucian Thornfell versus Kael Stormhart!"

The lights dimmed again.

Lucian stood and walked out slowly. Unrushed. Controlled. Like the outcome had already been written, and he was just showing up to sign the paperwork.

Across the arena, Kael Stormhart was already waiting. Robes swirling. Sword sheathed on his back. His energy buzzed in the air — thick, furious, alive with rage. Kael's eyes locked onto Lucian the moment he entered.

"You showed up.” His voice was sharp, tense. "I've been waiting years for this."

Lucian didn't even glance at him as he stepped into his corner. "If I knew it was you, I might've stayed in bed."

Kael's aura flared.

Gasps echoed through the crowd as visible energy spiraled around his body like a storm. His blade glowed, ancient runes lighting up along the steel.

"You think this is a joke? You humiliated me at the last Bloodborne Trials. I trained for this. Bled for this. Every night, I saw your face while I swung this sword-"

Lucian rolled his neck. "And somehow, you still sound weak."

Kael snapped.

With a shout, he unsheathed his sword, slamming it down into the arena floor. A shockwave tore through the stage, shattering the tiles around him as a golden aura exploded from the blade.

Jaden, seated in the VIP booth, didn't even blink.

“Those that talk too much,” he muttered, sipping his drink, “always lose.”

Kael didn't wait.

"Let me show you the extent of my power!"

He struck first — a horizontal slash blazing with force. The sword screamed through the air, lighting up with a crescent-shaped energy arc.

Lucian didn't move until the last second.

He tilted to the side.

BOOM!

The attack smashed into the arena wall behind him, obliterating it in a burst of glowing fragments. Stone cracked, and dust blasted across the first row of seats. The crowd went wild.

"Did you see that?!"

"He's not the same Kael from last year!"

"He might actually-wait... can he win this?"

In the crowd, a young noble leaned to his friend. “I've got ten thousand credits on Kael."

SLAP!

His father, face white with fear, smacked the back of his head.

"Are you trying to bring ruin to this family? If the Thornfells hear you !"

On the battlefield, Kael was

relentless now. He moved like

lightning slashing, spinning, flipping mid-air and firing wave after wave

of mystical sword energy e arena lit up with trails of glowing cuts, each attack more explosive than the last.

Lucian?

Still hadn't drawn a weapon.

He slid past the first blade. Stepped over the second. Tilted back under the third.

Kael's sword sang with fury, but none of it touched him. Not even a graze.

The crowd was losing it.

"Is he toying with him?!"

“Kael's gone all out and he hasn't landed a single hit—!”

ད།

Kael screamed and launched his ultimate technique. Twin slashes in an 'X', each charged with

compressed spiritual energy blast cracked the arena floor into chunks.

Lucian jumped back lightly, dodging them both.

Kael landed, panting, sweat dripping down his brow. His chest heaved. His hands trembled slightly.

"...Why... why won't you fight back?!"

Lucian finally lifted his gaze.

"You said you trained for this. Years, right? You trained for years to still not land a single hit?"

Kael's eyes widened. Doubt crept in for the first time. His knees nearly buckled. Lucian stepped forward.

"I'm not fighting back," he said, “because it's not a fight. This is a warm-up."

And then-

He vanished.

CRACK!

A flash.

Kael's body flipped through the air like a ragdoll and slammed into the ground with a gut-wrenching thud. Blood sprayed from his mouth. He coughed, choked, tried to rise but his timbs failed.

He dropped to his knees, trembling, staring up.

Lucian stood above him—not even breathing hard.

Jaden smirked from his seat. "Interesting."

Kael looked up, tears now mixing with the blood on his face. His voice broke.

"I... I admit defeat."