ONLINE: Blades of Eternity - Chapter 287

Chapter 287: “ONE LAST THING…..”
As the deafening cheers of the coliseum settled, King Alexandria, adorned in his majestic golden robes, rose into the air. A faint golden radiance emanated from him, a subtle reminder of the power he wielded as the ruler of Valoria. The entire coliseum fell into silence, all eyes locked on him as his deep, commanding voice carried across the grand arena.

“Today,” he began, his tone warm yet firm, “we have witnessed the fire of ambition, the strength of will, and the unbreakable bonds of camaraderie. You all came here not just as warriors, but as dreamers seeking to etch your names into history. And history shall indeed remember this day.”

His gaze swept across the battlefield, lingering momentarily on the unconscious and battered fighters—the warriors who had given their all.

“Victory is not merely about triumphing over your foes, nor is it about standing at the top alone. True victory lies in the battles that push us beyond our limits, in the lessons we carry forward, and in the honor we uphold. To every warrior who fought, whether they stand or have fallen, you have my deepest respect. You have honored your academies, your families, and most of all, yourselves.”

His words resonated through the coliseum, stirring emotions in the hearts of all who listened. Even those who had lost found a strange sense of fulfillment in his speech.

“As your King, I declare this year’s Battle Convention—”

He paused.

His golden eyes, sharp like a hawk’s, suddenly locked onto Kaelen.

Then, they flickered towards the Battle Crown.

For a brief moment, an eerie shift occurred in the atmosphere. It was subtle, but to those attuned to it, it was undeniable. The once regal and heartening presence of the King darkened ever so slightly, his expression unreadable.

Then, in a tone entirely different from the one he used for his speech—calm, yet carrying an underlying weight that sent a faint shiver down Kaelen’s spine while he was still unconscious—he muttered:

“One last thing….”

And just like that, a suffocating silence enveloped the coliseum once more.

But this suffocating silence didn’t last.

Snap!

The crisp sound of King Alexandria’s fingers snapping rang across the entire coliseum. It didn’t stop there. The sound echoed unnaturally, reverberating through every corner of Valoria Kingdom, reaching even the most remote areas.

Lila, Morris, Ethan, and the others who were still conscious on the battlefield stiffened in response. Up in the VIP section, Chancellor Castaneda narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening on the armrest of his seat. Beside him, Marel, his best friend, furrowed his brows. Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Reeves and General Cao exchanged wary glances, their instincts screaming that something was wrong.

Not only them, but the family heads and other dignitaries at the sub vip section were all on guard as they wondered what exactly is going on.

Then, it happened.

All across Valoria Kingdom, in multiple locations—within bustling cities, in ancient ruins, atop the highest towers, and even deep underground—space itself began to distort. The air rippled like the surface of a disturbed lake, twisting in ways that defied logic. The citizens who witnessed these anomalies gasped in horror and fascination. Even the most powerful mages and scholars could only watch in stunned silence.

But the true spectacle wasn’t the twisting space.

A few seconds later, an unnatural mana—so foreign, so overwhelming—began oozing out from these warped distortions. This mana was unlike anything ever felt before. It was ancient, boundless, and carried an inexplicable sense of authority. It spread through the kingdom like an invisible tidal wave, washing over everything in its path.

Then, to the shock of everyone, the mysterious mana moved.

It wasn’t random. It had a purpose. It slithered and coiled through the air, traveling as if it were being guided by an unseen force. And its destination?

The Battle Crown.

Guinevere, who still held the crown in her grasp, felt the chilling sensation of the strange mana converging upon it. Her fiery Lehavot flames flickered violently, as if trying to resist whatever was happening.

Then, it struck.

The mana surged into the Battle Crown, causing it to tremble violently in her hands. It felt like it had suddenly become alive, pulsating with newfound energy. The eerie glow that now enveloped the crown made it clear—it was undergoing some kind of transformation.

“What in the…!?”

Guinevere’s instincts screamed at her.

Without hesitation, she let go of the crown, flinching as it hovered midair on its own, its form twisting and morphing under the influx of the mysterious mana.

“What the hell is going on?” she muttered, her heart pounding.

The entire coliseum watched in stunned silence, their breaths caught in their throats.

And above them all, King Alexandria remained in midair, his golden gaze unwavering. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

But despite that, the eerie silence in the coliseum stretched, suffocating and heavy.

All eyes were locked onto the Battle Crown, or at least what remained of it.

The moment the mysterious mana had fully integrated into the crown, its once solid form began to shift, distort, and unravel like threads being pulled from an ancient tapestry. The regal golden frame twisted unnaturally, its surface warping as if reality itself rejected its existence. Then, without warning—

Crack!

A soundless rupture split the air.

The crown was no longer there. In its place, hovering ominously above the icy battlefield, was a space rift.

It wasn’t just an ordinary rift—it was an unfathomable abyss, a void so deep, so absolute, that just gazing into it sent a bone-chilling sensation down the spine of even the most battle-hardened warriors. The swirling darkness inside wasn’t just empty—it was hungry. It felt as if something was staring back from within. Something incomprehensible. Something wrong.

An uneasy murmur spread through the coliseum. Many found themselves involuntarily stepping back, an instinctive fear gripping them. Even the elite mages in the VIP sections were at a loss, their eyes glued to the anomaly with grim expressions.

But amidst the confusion, a single figure in the VIP section smirked.

Kael Dragonyx.

His sharp, dragon-like eyes gleamed with a knowing glint as he slowly rose from his seat. Without a word, he stepped forward and shot into the air, his crimson cloak billowing behind him. At his side, his aged right-hand man followed without hesitation.

Gasps rippled through the audience, but before anyone could react further—

Whoosh!

Two more figures shot into the air from the opposite side of the coliseum—Alden and Griffo.

Lysander’s eyes widened in shock. “What…?” His grip on his armrest tightened as he processed what he was witnessing.

‘How and why is Alden going to meet father? We’re they planning something that I know nothing of?’

And then, as if in perfect sequence, another presence stirred.

The First Magi stood from his seat, his long regal robes fluttering as she turned towards a concerned Elena. A rare softness appeared in his otherwise indifferent gaze. “I’ll be back,” he said simply.

And with that, he ascended.

But as he did, the royal elf seated beside him—dressed in pristine ceremonial robes—suddenly shot up, his voice rising in clear frustration. “First Magi! What is the meaning of this?! I demand an expla—”

He was ignored. Completely.

The royal elf’s expression darkened, his elegant features twisting into one of disbelief. He had been speaking as the representative of the Elf Kingdom, yet he had just disregarded him as if he were air.

But Elena barely noticed.

Her eyes remained locked on the figure of the First Magi as he ascended toward the rift where the others now gathered. A sinking, almost suffocating feeling settled deep within her chest.

‘Something about this…’

‘Something about all of this feels terribly wrong.’

––––

Meanwhile, a heavy silence hung in the air where Kaelen, Kelvin, and Forbes had been taken to recover.

The lingering scent of charred mana and sweat clung to their bodies, and the atmosphere was thick with exhaustion. Their wounds had been mostly tended to, but the toll of the battle still weighed on them like an anchor.

Amidst the dimly lit chamber, a faint stirring broke the quiet.

Forbes’ fingers twitched.

A sharp intake of breath followed as his body jolted, his eyes snapping open, pupils dilating as if waking from a nightmare. His senses were sluggish, his limbs heavy, but his mind rapidly processed his surroundings.

“You’re awake,” came a deep voice.

Forbes’ gaze sluggishly turned toward Valir, who stood by with his arms crossed, his dark, piercing eyes observing him carefully. Though his body still ached, Forbes clenched his fist and attempted to sit up, wincing as a dull pain shot through his ribs.

“You’re not at your peak yet,” Valir stated flatly. “Rest.”

Forbes, however, only exhaled sharply. “Tch… I don’t have time for that.”

Before Valir could respond, another shift in the room occurred.

A deep, rattling breath filled the air, and suddenly—

Kelvin’s eyes snapped open.

His irises, which had briefly flickered with chaotic energy before, returned to their usual dark shade. Unlike Forbes, his recovery seemed complete. His body, while still sore, no longer bore the heavy backlash of the Orb of Chaos.

Kelvin exhaled deeply, his body feeling lighter—stable.

He sat up with ease, rolling his shoulders before looking around. “What the hell happened?” His voice was even, but there was an undertone of curiosity. He didn’t remember much after his final attack on Kent.

But before anyone could answer—

A voice suddenly echoed in the air for the first time in its creation, its tone crisp yet mechanical.

[Mission Reminder: Retrieve the Magic Pandora]

Kelvin and Forbes both turned toward the figure lying beside them where they obviously heard that voice from.

Kaelen.

His body, which had remained motionless until now, tensed. His fingers twitched.

Then—his eyelids fluttered open.

Kaelen gasped, his breathing erratic as his vision refocused. His system’s alert had forcibly yanked him back to consciousness, his mind processing the words “Magic Pandora” like a lifeline.

But the moment his vision cleared—his entire train of thought vanished.

His body was awake, but his mind was dazed.

The first thing he saw wasn’t the battle crown or even the mission notification flashing in his mind.

It was the confused expressions of Kelvin and Forbes.

It was Valir standing stiffly nearby, his gaze dark and unreadable.

And then…

It was the ominous, unnatural stillness that filled the air.

Kaelen’s breath slowed. His pulse remained erratic.

“…What’s going on?” His voice came out quieter than expected.

But as silence answered him, a single thought crept into his mind—

‘Why are they acting so strange?’