Chapter 186
The crowd is hissing with excitement, the roar of thousands of voices reverberating through the water like a living, breathing thing.
My chest tightens with every word Raif speaks, his voice amplified across the arena. His posture is straight, his expression smug, and his tone oozes arrogance. He stands there, basking in the adoration of his people, while my stomach churns with fury.
“People of Ao!” Raif bellows, spreading his arms wide. “Today marks the beginning of a new era for the Eternal Sunrise! An era of expansion, power, and glory!”
The crowd erupts into cheers, their fervor deafening. I grip the arms of my seat, my nails digging into the gilded surface. How can they not see through his rhetoric? Every word he says is designed to stoke their egos, to convince them they’re superior to the rest of the Enkian world. It’s infuriating—and terrifying—how easily they buy into it.
Raif pauses, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd, letting the cheers die down before he continues. “Our people have languished in isolation for too long. But no more! The Eternal Sunrise will rise above all others. Our reach will extend across every sea, and our people will be revered as the pinnacle of Enkian-kind!”
Another wave of cheers crashes over the arena, and I clench my fists, fighting the urge to stand and scream at them all. Idiots. Blind, gullible sheep. My blood boils as Raif’s words sink in. He’s not just planning to expand Ao’s influence—he’s planning to dominate every other Clan. To make them kneel before him.
“And it all starts today,” Raif declares, his voice brimming with smug satisfaction. “With the commencement of this glorious tournament!”
The crowd roars once more, and I glance at Cora. Her jaw is tight, her eyes narrowed as she watches Raif with barely concealed disdain. The tension between us is palpable. We both know this isn’t just a spectacle; it’s a display of power, a test of loyalty, and a threat wrapped in a veneer of entertainment.
Raif gestures grandly toward the center of the arena, where the Pit looms like a dark maw. “Today, two so-called warriors will step into the Pit to prove their worth. One, an exiled Prince of Ao who fights to restore his honor and earn a seat at my side.”
I tense as Raif’s gaze flicks briefly toward the royal box, where Khale sits silently, his jaw clenched and his fists resting on his knees. He doesn’t look at Raif. He doesn’t look at the crowd. But the fire in his eyes burns brighter than ever.
“And the other,” Raif continues, his smirk widening, “a contender from the outer reaches of the sea who fights to prove the worth of his people in the hopes of currying favor in our new empire.”
My breath catches, and my heart lurches painfully. I know exactly who he’s talking about. I can feel Wake through the bond, faint and distant but steady. He’s down there, preparing to be paraded before this bloodthirsty crowd like a pawn in Raif’s twisted game.
The crowd erupts again, their cheers and jeers a cacophony of noise that grates on my nerves. I grip the edge of my seat, my knuckles white as I fight the urge to shout at them, to call them out for their ignorance, their blind adoration of a tyrant. Beside me, Cora places a steadying hand on my arm, her touch grounding me.
Raif continues, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. “Over the next three days, these fighters will face a series of challenges. They will go up against Ao’s greatest warriors—and its greatest foes. If they demonstrate their worth, if they prove their mettle, they will earn the honor of contending with none other than your very own princes!”
I glance at Kota and Kelis, seated beside Raif. Kota’s expression is one of smug amusement, his gaze flicking briefly to me before returning to the crowd. Kelis looks less pleased, his jaw tight and his eyes dark with something I can’t quite place. Disdain, perhaps. Or doubt.
Raif’s voice rises, commanding the attention of everyone in the arena. “Their victory is… unlikely,” he says, drawing out the words with a cruel smile. “But if they succeed, they will gain the honor of joining us in glory!”
The crowd explodes with noise, their cheers a deafening wave of approval. My stomach churns, and I glance at Cora again. Her lips are pressed into a thin line, her eyes sharp with concern. This isn’t a tournament. It’s a death sentence.
Raif raises his hands, and the noise gradually subsides. “And now,” he declares, his voice booming, “let us begin the first round of the tournament!”
The crowd roars again as the gates to the Pit creak open, revealing two figures. My breath catches as Wake and Khale step into the arena, their bodies tense and their expressions grim. They’re both armed with spears, their only weapons against whatever horrors Raif has planned for them.
Raif gestures grandly to the opposite side of the arena, where another gate begins to open. “For the first challenge,” he announces, “our two warriors will face off against two of Ao’s mightiest Enkian fighters.”
The gate clanks open fully, and two massive Enkian warriors emerge. They’re both enormous, their bodies rippling with muscle and adorned with intricate tattoos that glow faintly in the bioluminescent light. They carry spears as well, their movements slow and deliberate as they step into the Pit.
The crowd roars its approval, their cheers echoing through the arena. My heart pounds painfully in my chest as I watch Wake and Khale take their positions. They’re outmatched, outnumbered, and surrounded by a crowd hungry for blood.
I grip the edge of my seat, my nails digging into the gilded surface as I fight the urge to scream. This isn’t just a fight. It’s a spectacle of cruelty, a test of loyalty, and a display of Raif’s power. And I hate every second of it.
Raif raises his hand, his smile as sharp as a blade. “Let the battle begin!” he shouts, and the arena erupts with noise as the fighters charge toward each other.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
