In Smokeland, deep in the heart of Lumindale, the sacred altar of knights thundered once more. The second round of elimination had begun—where only the strongest warriors would prove their worth in decisive duels. Rogg now stood at the center of the grand arena, facing one of last year's top hundred fighters. His opponent: Legoris, a giant of a knight from the Doliex tribe, clad in steel armor and masked in iron, wielding a colossal mace in one hand.
"Tell me your name, knight!" bellowed Legoris, his voice echoing through the coliseum. "You have an impressive build, but that means nothing to me. I will add your name to the long list of defeated warriors!"
Rogg remained calm. "My name is Rogg. I'm new to the Doliex tribe. And even newer to this arena. Fight me seriously."
Legoris sneered, underestimating the newcomer. As an elite fighter of the Doliex, he was used to tougher opponents. Rogg was nothing more than a minor annoyance in his eyes. He stood tall, seemingly immovable.
But in a flash—Rogg struck! His movement was swift and fierce. A lightning-fast kick smashed into Legoris' chest. The impact shook the very air. Legoris was hurled out of the arena, blood dripping from his mouth. A flawless victory for Rogg!
Elsewhere in the arena, Vuuxi, Robb, Brisena, and Nyx also showcased their brilliance. In this second stage, each knight had the right to request how many opponents they wished to face. Vuuxi chose to battle three at once. Robb, due to drawing lower-ranked opponents, boldly requested five in the smaller arena.
Vuuxi, in her serious combat mode, danced with agility unmatched. She dodged every strike, countering with near-invisible precision. Her sword flashed like lightning, downing her enemies one by one in mere seconds.
Robb faced a towering warrior wielding a warhammer. But his speed and pinpoint accuracy made all the difference. With a single motion, he sidestepped the hammer swing and slashed through the opponent's leg, forcing him to kneel. Before the knight could recover, Robb had already placed his blade at his throat. Another decisive win!
Brisena fought with a deadly grace. Wielding twin daggers, she danced between two high-ranking foes, slicing with flawless precision. Each move seemed part of an intricate strategy. In less than two minutes, both lay defeated, too stunned to understand how they were beaten.
Nyx faced a renowned speed fighter—ranked among the top hundred. Yet, she showed that her speed eclipsed his entirely. Like a living shadow, she vanished and reappeared between his attacks, before landing a single strike at a weak point. The fighter collapsed, unconscious. The arena fell silent—then erupted in roaring cheers.
But not all battles were swift. Elandra faced Mordin, a captain of Thalvion's gate guards. Their fight was intense, both showcasing balanced strength and skill. Mordin swung his sword with lethal precision, while Elandra defended patiently, seeking an opening.
The audience watched in awe. Every movement, strike, and tactic displayed deep mastery. Both were trained in the same Doliex assassin school, and now they pushed each other to their limits.
The match dragged on with heavy tension—until Elandra found her chance. Using her patience and cunning, she bested Mordin, though it took every ounce of strength she had.
Meanwhile, Thaldrim demonstrated absolute dominance. He crushed ten knights in one battle. None could respond before he brutally dispatched them. Bloodshed was only halted when Rogg stepped in as his last opponent was about to be executed. Thaldrim glared at him with seething challenge, but Rogg remained cold and unmoved.
That day's duels left many wounded, and countless knights had fallen in the second round.
Only a thousand remained to face the next stage.
Two days before round three, tension grew heavier. Knights trained harder, gathered intel on their future foes, and prepared with intensity.
Rogg, however, spent this time differently. Back at his quarters, he was calmly chopping wood for their use.
Brisena arrived in a rush, her face filled with panic. She rode her horse as fast as she could, flanked by Nyx and Elandra, determined to reach Rogg without delay.
"Brother, I just received a letter from Nerina—my confidante at the Whiteheaven palace! The Empire has issued a decree… to arrest you!" she said breathlessly.
Rogg, who was splitting wood at the time, simply raised an eyebrow. "Arrest me? On what grounds?"
"They're accusing you of using the imperial family name recklessly!" Brisena replied, gasping for air.
"I have nothing to do with the Empire," Rogg said calmly, returning to his task. "Frankly, I couldn't care less. If it weren't for your plan to arrange a meeting between me and Xaverius, I wouldn't have gone there in the first place."
Yara arrived carrying food, her infant Rex Aryyn—now a year old—cradled in one arm. She looked at Brisena curiously. "Why are you so worried, Brisena? Isn't Rogg a noble by blood?"
"Yes, he is," Brisena replied, her voice dropping. "But it's more complicated than I thought. Even if there's no solid proof yet, I didn't expect the Empire to find out. This is a massive revelation… especially for them."
"But he hasn't done anything wrong! He's not threatening the throne or causing any unrest," Yara said firmly.
Brisena fell silent, but the concern in her eyes was unmistakable.
Rogg gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry too much. There are more important things to focus on than this. Besides, we are nobles. Father's blood—Brovos—runs in our veins. We've done nothing wrong. If anything, we have the right to claim that throne."
"Neroxius must've told the Empress or one of the ministers," Brisena muttered bitterly.
"Let it go, Brisena. There's no need to dwell on it. We've never been ones to back down," Rogg said calmly.
They sat down to share the meal Yara had brought. Laughter echoed every now and then, especially when little Rex Aryyn began showing off his antics.