"Phew…"
Kaizel let out a low whistle as he looked around the enormous structure surrounding him. The Grand Colosseum of Solaren — a colossal arena nearly a kilometer wide — stood as a breathtaking monument to royal power and architectural mastery. Every arch, every marble column shimmered faintly with protective enchantments. From the topmost stands, banners fluttered, each bearing the sigil of a noble house.
Sunlight poured in through the open ceiling, catching motes of mana drifting lazily through the air. The place felt alive — vibrating with the anticipation of what was about to unfold.
Across from Kaizel stood Alistair Aethalgard, his posture elegant and composed, that faint, infuriatingly calm smile tugging at his lips.
"What is it?" Alistair asked smoothly, brushing back his golden hair. "First time seeing something like this?"
Kaizel rolled his shoulders, his white hair swaying lightly in the breeze, glasses glinting under the light.
"Tch. Doesn't matter how grand it looks," he replied lazily, waving his hand. "Once we're done, this place is gonna look like a ruin anyway."
Alistair chuckled quietly.
"You're not wrong."
He loosened his collar and rolled up his sleeves, movements smooth and deliberate. Kaizel responded in kind — shrugging off his jacket, leaving only his white shirt embroidered with faint golden patterns. His baggy black trousers and white boots contrasted against the marble, giving him a distinct mix of elegance and rebellion.
The crowd murmured, hushed excitement rippling through the stands.
Even though both boys were barely ten years old, the pressure radiating from them was enough to make seasoned warriors sweat.
Now, you might be wondering — how exactly did things escalate to this point?
Well, to put it simply… the Emperor got bored.
That's right. Emperor Aurelius Solaren himself had decided that the best cure for his boredom would be watching two of the most promising prodigies in the realm fight each other.
Neither Kaizel nor Alistair objected.
Their fathers did — quite vocally — but those protests had been brushed aside by the Emperor's amused command and the Empress's faint smile.
"Let them fight," the Emperor had said. "Let's see what the next generation of monsters looks like."
And thus, here they were — two children standing in an arena meant for legends.
High above, in the royal stands, sat the most powerful people in the realm.
At the center, seated on an ornate throne of gold and crimson, was Emperor Aurelius Solaren, expression unreadable. Beside him sat Empress Selennia Solaren, her calm eyes following every movement in the arena like an eagle watching its prey.
To her right were Duchess Seraphina Nocturne, cloaked in elegant shadow silk, and Duke Cassian Aethalgard with Duchess Vanessa Aethalgard, parents of Alistair. The duchess leaned slightly forward, lips curved in mild amusement.
"He does have his father's stubbornness," she murmured.Cassian sighed."And his mother's arrogance."
To the Emperor's left sat Duke Boris Ferrox, his booming laugh shaking the seats, and beside him, Duke Kaelen Igniseros with Duchess Elara Igniseros, along with Duchess Viseria Verdantia.
Kaelen's jaw was tight, his hands clenched on his knees as he muttered under his breath,
"That brat… if he breaks the colosseum again…"
Elara just smiled fondly.
"Let him be, dear. He's having fun."
Viseria chuckled softly beside them, her voice calm and melodic.
"If nothing else, he certainly knows how to make things interesting."
The royals and dukes weren't the only ones watching.Rows upon rows of marquesses, counts, barons, and knights filled the noble stands, their gazes sharp and eager. Beyond them, in the public rows, the commoners and guards filled every inch of space. It was rare — perhaps once in a generation — to see the Empire's future heirs clash.
Magical screens hovered above, broadcasting every detail to those further back.Hundreds of barrier mages surrounded the arena, continuously feeding mana into shimmering domes of protection. The sheer density of the enchantments made even the air hum.
This was no simple spar.This was a spectacle.
At the very edge of the viewing balcony, a group of young nobles leaned forward eagerly, eyes locked on the two figures below.
Among them stood Luna Nocturne, Elowen Verdantia, Elizabeth Igniseros, Aurora Solaren, Seris Igniseros, Isadora Valtoris, Lysander Vaelstrom, Alaric Veyntar, Eirlys Dralis, Leonard Ferrox, and Amara Aethalgard.
Each one was an heir of a powerful house — and each knew that what they were witnessing wasn't just entertainment. It was the birth of legends.
Luna leaned slightly toward Aurora, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.
"So… your birthday isn't so boring anymore, is it, princess?"
Aurora gave her a sharp side glance, cheeks faintly pink.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Oh?" Luna's grin widened. "Then who do we thank for this little chaos? Kaizel or our golden hero over there?"
Aurora froze for half a second.
"O-Of course it's Kaizel… and the hero," she corrected herself quickly, eyes darting away.
Luna chuckled.
"Ohh~ first-name basis already? My, my, how scandalous."
Before she could continue, Elowen lightly jabbed Luna in the ribs, puffing her cheeks.
"Stop teasing her! You're being mean!"
Luna winced dramatically.
"Ow! Alright, alright, I was kidding. No need to start a war up here too."
Her playful tone softened as her eyes turned back to the arena.
"Still… who do you think will win?" she murmured.
The air shifted. Everyone's expressions grew more focused.
Seris Igniseros crossed her arms confidently, chin raised high.
"Of course my brother will win."
Isadora arched an eyebrow.
"That's some confidence. But you do realize his opponent is Alistair Aethalgard — the one blessed by the gods themselves? The prophesied hero of the realm?"
She smirked slightly.
"And heroes… don't lose."
Everyone turned to see how Seris would respond. But instead of speaking, she just smiled knowingly.
Elizabeth stepped forward, her red eyes gleaming faintly.
"He won't lose," she said firmly. "No matter how annoying Kaizel is… I've never seen him lose."
That quiet certainty in her voice sent a ripple through the group. Even those who doubted found themselves wondering if she might be right.
A smooth, mocking voice cut through the air.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Every heir turned sharply as two figures entered — First Prince Luceris Solaren and Second Prince Darian Solaren.
Luceris moved with a lazy confidence, that smug royal smile plastered across his face as he approached his sister.
"Tell me, dear sister," he drawled, "who are you betting on? I'd suggest the golden-haired one. After all, the gods tend to favor their chosen."
Aurora didn't even glance at him.Her silence spoke volumes.
Luceris's grin widened, satisfied at her irritation.
Meanwhile, Darian walked past both of them without a word, his eyes sharp and thoughtful as he stared down at the arena.
"So these are the two prodigies…" he murmured under his breath."If the rumors are true, they'll both become dangerous players in time."
He smirked faintly, his tone low enough that only he could hear.
"All the better. Every game needs strong pieces."
Back in the arena, Kaizel cracked his neck, his hand brushing the air as faint ripples of space bent around him.Alistair's golden mana shimmered, wrapping around him like sunlight made flesh.
Two prodigies.
As
The Emperor's hand rose, and silence swept the coliseum like a tide pulling back before the storm.
"Begin."
And just like that—both boys vanished.
The ground where they had stood erupted, stone shattering outward. The air twisted violently, space itself bending under the mana pressure. Dust spiraled in their wake, leaving twin trails of gold and blue light crossing the sky like dueling comets.
Then—
BOOOOM!
They reappeared mid-air, fists colliding with enough force to crack the heavens. The impact shattered the sound barrier. A shockwave of gold and blue mana exploded from the point of contact, flattening the dust below and shaking the entire coliseum.
The crowd gasped as the defensive barriers flickered and flared bright white. Even the imperial mages reinforcing them clenched their teeth, sweat beading on their foreheads.
Kaizel's grin was wild, eyes glinting behind his reflective glasses. Blue mana shimmered around his arm, warping the air with spatial distortions. "Ohhh, nice one, golden boy. Guess that shiny glow of yours isn't just for show."
Alistair didn't bother to answer. His expression stayed calm—infuriatingly composed—as golden light bled off his body in smooth, steady waves. His eyes burned with focus.
In the blink of an eye, Alistair spun, coating his leg in dense golden mana. His kick came like a flash of light—clean, controlled, and precise—aimed straight for Kaizel's ribs.
Kaizel's reaction was instant. His elbow came down, glowing blue, intercepting the strike with a thunderous crack. The impact sent ripples of force through the air.
Before the shockwave had even faded, Kaizel twisted his body midair. Blue mana flared again—compressing the air around his leg until it groaned under the pressure—then he unleashed it all in a burst.
"Try dodging this!"
Alistair crossed both arms just in time. The kick connected square with his guard.
THOOM!
The explosion sent Alistair flying backward. His feet gouged twin trenches through the marble floor as he skidded across the arena, golden sparks scattering around him. The ground cracked beneath each step as he forced himself to a stop.
Someone in the noble stands let out a low whistle. "What kind of monsters are these kids…?"
Both boys straightened. The dust drifted lazily around them. For a moment, neither spoke.Then—
"Heh.""Heh."
Identical grins spread across their faces.
In the next instant, they vanished again.
Flashes of light burst through the arena—gold and blue streaks colliding, separating, and colliding again. The audience could barely follow their movements. Fists met fists. Knees clashed. Every impact echoed like a cannon.
The marble beneath them fractured, spiderwebs of cracks spreading with each exchange.
Kaizel's movements were wild but deliberate—chaotic precision. He vanished right before Alistair's fist connected with his gut, reappearing behind him in a shimmer of blue distortion. His kick shot toward Alistair's back, but Alistair spun at the last second, intercepting it with his forearm.
The hit still made his arm tremble. The sheer power behind Kaizel's strikes was unnatural.
"You're fast," Alistair said between breaths, golden mana coursing along his limbs. "But not enough."
Kaizel's grin widened. "Then I'll just go faster."
He grabbed Alistair's wrist mid-punch, twisted, and with a flick of space mana—threw him upward. The air cracked from the force.
Kaizel vanished from sight. A split second later, he appeared high above Alistair, both fists raised. Blue mana swirled violently around him like a storm.
"Let's see you block this!"
Both fists came crashing down.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire arena trembled. Dust and debris erupted skyward. The shockwave hit the barriers like a tsunami, forcing the mages to reinforce them again with desperate chants.
From above, Kaizel hovered in the air, floating easily, looking down into the massive crater below. He smirked. "That should've rattled him."
The dust hadn't even cleared yet, but he could feel it—the weight of Alistair's mana still burning below.
Up in the imperial viewing chamber, Luna had both hands gripping the railing, her eyes wide. "H-He's winning?"
Elowen leaned forward with sparkling eyes, almost bouncing in her seat. "Of course he is! I told you—Kaizel doesn't lose!"
Aurora, sitting beside them, didn't share the excitement. Her gaze was locked on the dust cloud below. "Don't celebrate too early," she said softly. "Alistair isn't someone who goes down from a single hit."
On the high dais, the Emperor's calm voice cut through the murmurs. "It seems you've raised him well, Duke Kaelen."
The Duke smiled faintly, but before he could respond, Duchess Elara leaned forward, proud and unrestrained. "Of course! He's my son. He's the best there is."
The Empress chuckled. "They're both remarkable. The Empire's future will shine bright with talents like these."
In the noble seats, whispers spread like fire.Duchess Viseria's lips curled slightly as she watched Kaizel hover above the crater. He certainly is strong… My daughter would be in good hands.She caught herself shaking her head. No. Too soon. Still… impressive.
Duke Boris leaned back with a grin. All that training paid off, huh, nephew?
Even Duchess Seraphina's expression had shifted — her usual indifference replaced by visible intrigue. "Interesting boy," she murmured.
Then the dust cleared.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Standing tall in the crater was Alistair—completely unscathed. A faint golden aura shimmered around him, the remnants of a metallic sheen peeling away from his skin. Not even a speck of dirt clung to his clothes.
Kaizel let out a low whistle. "Not bad, golden boy. Didn't think you'd come out looking that clean."
Alistair straightened, his calm smile returning. "You hit hard, Kaizel. I'll give you that."
Kaizel chuckled, lowering his glasses just enough for his eyes to show—piercing blue, glowing with untamed energy. His aura flared twice as strong, wind whipping around him. "Then stop holding back."
The crowd's murmur rose into a deafening roar as the mana around both boys intensified.
Alistair's golden aura grew denser, coalescing into plates of radiant armor that formed over his body. The symbol of his divine blessing gleamed on his chest like a sun.
"I couldn't agree more," he said, voice steady, eyes locked on his rival.
Kaizel smirked. "Round two, then?"
Alistair nodded once. "Round two."