Chapter 6
The Eclipse Draw
Eclipse Ground stood under a pale sky, its stone scarred by centuries of conflict. The air felt heavier than before, as if the land itself understood what was about to be decided.
At the heart of the grounds, the rune-circle awakened.
Instructor Caelum raised his hand, and the noise of thousands faded into silence.
"The Eclipse recognizes those who fight," he said. "And those who wait."
One by one, warriors stepped forward.
Those Granted Byes
From Stormhold, Captain Lyra remained where she stood. Arms crossed. Eyes cold. The Eclipse did not question her strength—it deferred it.
From Stonefist, Captain Morrek did not move forward. His jaw tightened, but he obeyed. Honor bound him stronger than desire. The mountain would wait.
From Ironclad Bastion, Vice-Captain Bram Ironveil stood unmoving, shield resting against the stone. He had been chosen to endure.
From Skyreach, Captain Zephyr watched from above, cloak stirring in unseen currents. The sky did not descend yet.
From Emberveil, Vice-Captain Kaelen Pyrebound remained behind the line, fire restrained beneath discipline.
From Galehaven, Captain Lys stood with hands clasped behind his back, gaze fixed on the field. The storm would arrive later.
Six byes. Six forces held in reserve.
The rune-circle pulsed again.
"Step forward," Caelum said, "those who fight in the First Round."
First Round Fighters
From Stormhold, Klous moved into the circle, rolling his shoulders loose, speed barely contained.
From Stonefist, Drogan Rockmaw followed. Each step struck stone like a hammer. He smiled once. Wide. Dangerous.
From Ironclad Bastion, Captain Thane advanced in full armor, metal whispering with every movement.
From Skyreach, Aeris Vael stepped forward lightly, boots barely touching the ground.
From Emberveil, Captain Veyra entered the circle with quiet flame licking along her arms.
From Galehaven, Rowan Skellwind followed, coat fluttering like torn sails in a rising gale.
From Ashvale, Kade Ashryn stepped forward first—eyes sharp, presence controlled.
Then—
A long black coat shifted.
A man stepped into the rune-circle, a chipped sword held in his right hand. The blade was worn, old, its black-and-white hilt dulled by years of use. His face remained hidden, hair falling low enough to keep his eyes in shadow.
No announcement was needed.
From Deeproot, Thorn Calder joined them, steady and silent.
From Moonspire, Noctis Vale emerged from the mist without sound, as if the ground had released him.
Twelve fighters stood ready.
Caelum raised his hand.
"The Eclipse has drawn its first lines."
Runes ignited. Names burned into the air.
First Round Matches
Match One
Klous (Stormhold)
vs
Drogan Rockmaw (Stonefist)
Speed against raw power. Precision against collapse.
Match Two
Captain Thane (Ironclad Bastion)
vs
Aeris Vael (Skyreach)
Steel against sky. Weight against freedom.
Match Three
Captain Veyra (Emberveil)
vs
Rowan Skellwind (Galehaven)
Fire against storm. No restraint promised.
Match Four
Kade Ashryn (Ashvale)
vs
Thorn Calder (Deeproot)
Two shadows measuring each other. No wasted movement.
Match Five
Noctis Vale (Moonspire)
vs
Ray (Ashvale)
At the sound of the name, the ground beneath Eclipse Ground pulsed once.
Ray did not look up.
The chipped sword hummed faintly, as if recognizing something older than the arena.
The runes dimmed.
"These matches begin at first bell," Caelum said. "Victory advances. Defeat ends your Eclipse."
The fighters turned away, each carrying their own silence.
The first bell rang.
It wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
The rune-circle split, forming a wide arena of cracked black stone. Ancient markings glowed faintly beneath the fighters' feet, reacting to intent more than movement.
"Match One," Caelum's voice echoed.
"Klous of Stormhold. Drogan Rockmaw of Stonefist."
Klous rolled his neck once and stepped forward, boots light, posture relaxed. His breathing was calm—too calm for someone about to fight a Stonefist warrior.
Across from him, Drogan Rockmaw dragged his weapon into the arena.
The hammer was massive—stone-and-metal fused together, its head etched with jagged runes. Lightning crawled across it in thin veins, snapping and fading like restless snakes.
Drogan grinned.
"Try not to blink," he said.
Klous smiled faintly.
"No promises."
The Eclipse rune flashed.
Begin.
Drogan moved first.
The hammer slammed into the ground where Klous had been a heartbeat earlier. Stone exploded upward as lightning surged outward in a wide arc, cracking the arena floor.
But Klous was already gone.
He reappeared behind Drogan—no sound, no warning—his blade flashing toward the giant's ribs.
Drogan twisted, the hammer sweeping back in a brutal arc. The strike missed by inches, wind pressure alone sending Klous skidding backward.
The crowd roared.
Drogan laughed. "Fast."
Lightning surged down his arms, wrapping the hammer completely. With a single step, he hurled it.
The weapon spun through the air like a falling star.
Klous vanished.
The hammer struck the arena wall, detonating in a burst of thunder. Fragments of stone rained down as electricity crawled across the ground.
Before Drogan could turn, Klous struck.
Three slashes. Clean. Precise. Too fast to follow.
Drogan staggered—not wounded, but surprised.
He planted his foot and slammed his fist into the ground.
Lightning erupted.
The entire arena lit up in white-blue fury as bolts tore outward in every direction. Klous barely managed to leap clear, skidding across scorched stone, cloak smoking at the edges.
Drogan recalled the hammer with a sharp pull of his hand. It flew back into his grip, crackling louder now.
"You Stormhold types rely too much on movement," Drogan said, eyes glowing faintly. "Let's see how you handle pressure."
He raised the hammer overhead.
The sky above the arena darkened.
Lightning gathered—not wild, but focused.
Klous lowered his stance.
For the first time, his expression sharpened.
Above them, Captain Lyra watched without blinking.
From Stonefist, Morrek's hands tightened slightly behind his back.
Drogan brought the hammer down.
The strike never landed.
Klous vanished again—this time not sideways, not back—
Forward.
He appeared directly beneath Drogan's guard, blade driving upward toward the giant's center mass.
The hammer cracked the stone just behind him.
Lightning exploded.
The impact threw both fighters apart.
Klous slid to one knee, breathing hard now.
Drogan stood tall, steam rising from his armor, lightning still crawling across his weapon.