Chapter 398:Winner.
Atheline could feel his strength. He was at start peak EX just a step away from Mystic.
Varkas looked directly at him.
"You’ve been holding back."
Atheline nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don’t want to hurt anyone."
Varkas grinned.
"Good."
His body transformed. Dark scales covered him completely, and his wings spread. A deep roar shook the arena.
Atheline drew his bow in preparation. He looked lesser just standing infront of the man.
The battle began.
Varkas charged the ground shaking. Atheline fired the moment he stepped forward. The arrow struck the dragon’s chest and a burst of Lightning exploded.
Varkas continued forward unperturbed. Atheline fired another; ice spread across one wing the moment it hit. This time, the dragon stumbled, then he released a massive wave of dark flames.
Atheline used Wind.
His body shot upward too fast for most of in the arena to see as the flames passed beneath him. He drew his sword while descending.
Varkas swung his tail but Atheline blocked it with the sword. The impact pushed him backward. He landed smoothly.
The crowd roared.
Varkas opened his mouth. A huge sphere of dark fire formed. Atheline’s expression changed.
"That’s impressive."
The dragon released it. Atheline raised his hand, earth erupting from the ground. The attack collided with the barrier and the entire arena shook.
Dust filled the battlefield. When it cleared, Atheline was standing untouched. Varkas stared in shock and veiled respect.
Atheline sighed.
"Sorry."
He disappeared.
A moment later, he appeared beneath Varkas. His sword struck the dragon’s chest. He didn’t use the sword part but the flat. The force sent the enormous dragon crashing into the ground.
Before Varkas could rise, Atheline stood over him,his sword restinh against the dragon’s throat. Varkas stared at him, then he laughed.
"I knew it."
He lowered his head.
"I surrender."
The arena exploded.
Atheline withdrew his sword.
Varkas returned to his humanoid form and extended his hand. Atheline accepted it.
"You’re strong."
"So are you."
Varkas laughed.
"Far stronger than me."
Atheline smiled.
"I’ve been fortunate."
Varkas shook his head.
"That’s not fortune."
He walked away.
The announcer stepped forward.
"WE HAVE OUR FINALIST!"
Atheline looked toward Lilith.
She was smiling.
"You’ve reached the final."
"Apparently."
"You realize you’re supposed to fight again."
"I noticed that darling."
The final opponent entered shortly afterward. He was a large silver-scaled dragon carrying a single enormous axe.
His name was Tharion.
The crowd became deafening. Unlike the previous fighters, Tharion didn’t boast. He simply stared at Atheline.
"You’ve impressed me."
"Thank you."
"But I’m not surrendering."
"I didn’t expect you to."
The bell sounded and the final battle began. Tharion charged without missing a beat. Atheline drew his bow.
The first arrow carried Wind, the second Lightning, and the third Fire. All three struck at once. Tharion pushed through the attacks.
Atheline drew his sword.
The two met in the center of the arena; axe against sword. The impact shook the battlefield.
Tharion swung again but Atheline blocked every single time. The dragon’s strength was immense but Atheline’s speed was beyond him.
Eventually, Atheline stepped inside his guard. His sword struck Tharion’s chest and the dragon staggered. Atheline followed with a burst of Wind Aether.
Tharion was thrown backward, landing on one knee. For a moment, he remained there, then he slowly stood.
"I can’t beat you." He lowered his axe. "I surrender."
The announcer shouted.
"THE WINNER!"
The entire arena erupted.
"Atheline!"
Atheline lowered his sword.
The victory wasn’t surprising. He had known from the beginning that nobody here could truly challenge him. But he hadn’t come for the competition, he had come for the reward.
After the crowd settled down, one of the elder dragons approached him. He carried a small wooden box.
"By tradition, the winner receives the promised prize."
He opened it.
Inside was a small black token. It looked almost ordinary but Atheline could feel the ancient Aether contained within it.
"This grants you entry into one of our Sacred Ruins."
Atheline picked it up.
"One?"
"You may choose which one, provided it is one currently accessible."
Atheline looked toward Lilith. She was already smiling.
"Interesting."
The elder dragon nodded.
"Do not waste the opportunity."
"I won’t."
After receiving the token and offering their thanks, Atheline and Lilith left the arena.
The night air was cool.
The noise of the crowd faded behind them as they walked through the illuminated streets. Lilith glanced at the token in his hand.
"You really couldn’t resist."
Atheline smiled.
"Would you have?"
She thought about it.
"No."
"That’s my point."
They walked toward the palace.
The Sacred Ruin token rested securely in Atheline’s hand. Neither of them knew which ruin they would choose. But considering everything they had discovered so far, there was little doubt that they would investigate it.
When they finally reached the palace, the guards recognized them and opened the gates immediately.
Atheline looked at Lilith.
"I need to take a bath."
She nodded.
"You smell of sweat."
"Don’t get me started. I think it’s from everyone around us, I didn’t really do much to sweat."
"Want me to make you," she said leaning against him.
Atheline chuckled wrapping his hand around her waist and pulling her closer to him.
"I wouldn’t mind a bit if a work out."
She burst out laughing at that and pocked him on his side.
"Naughty."
.
.
.
Morning arrived quietly over Dragonic Island.
The sun had barely risen above the jagged mountains when the palace began to stir. Warm light slipped through the enormous windows of the dining hall, illuminating the long stone table where the rulers and representatives had gathered for breakfast.
Unlike the previous day’s formal council, there was considerably less tension in the room.
People were eating.
Some were speaking quietly with their companions, while others were simply enjoying the rare opportunity to have a meal without being surrounded by the pressure of a formal meeting.
Atheline sat beside Lilith, calmly eating while their little fox rested underneath the table.
She had somehow managed to convince one of the palace servants to give her a small piece of meat earlier. Atheline had noticed but had decided not to ask questions.
Across the table sat Draco and Eliana.
Seragus and Lucifer were there as well, along with members of the High Elven delegation and representatives from the other continents.
The conversation initially remained ordinary. They discussed the weather, the sea, and the ships that had arrived during the previous night.
Then Draco casually looked toward Atheline.
"So."
Atheline looked up.
"Yes?"
Draco smiled.
"I heard you participated in the Dragon Ring last night."
Several people immediately turned toward Atheline.
Atheline sighed.
"News travels quickly."
Draco laughed.
"On this island? Very."
Lucifer grinned from across the table.
"You actually entered?"
Atheline nodded.
"I did."
"And you won."
"Yes."
Lucifer shook his head.
"You really don’t know how to take things slowly."
Lilith quietly continued eating.
"I told him the same thing."
Atheline glanced at her.
"You allowed me to participate."
"I gave up trying to stop you."
There was laughter around the table.
Draco smiled.
"And you received the prize?"
Atheline reached into his clothing and produced the small token. He placed it on the table. Several people immediately looked toward it.
"Is this the right one?"
Draco nodded.
"That is it."
Atheline picked it up again.
"I wanted to ask you something."
Draco’s expression became more attentive.
"Go ahead."
"Are you certain it’s acceptable for me to use this?" Atheline looked at the token. "It is one of your Sacred Ruins. I don’t want to enter somewhere important to the dragons and accidentally cause problems for your kingdom."
There was a brief silence, then Draco laughed. Atheline looked slightly confused.
Draco shook his head.
"You are worrying too much."
"It’s your Sacred Ruin."
"And you won the right to enter it."
"Still."
Draco leaned back.
"The Dragon Ring has existed for centuries. The Sacred Ruin is part of the reward." He gestured toward the token. "If you hadn’t been permitted to enter, we wouldn’t have offered it."
Atheline nodded slowly.
"So you’re sure?"
"Completely."
Eliana smiled.
"Besides, you are not the first outsider to receive access."
Atheline looked at her.
"You’ve allowed outsiders before?"
"Occasionally."
"Then I won’t feel too guilty."
Draco laughed.
"Good."
Across the table, one of the human representatives finally spoke.
"Wait."
Everyone looked toward him.
"How exactly did he obtain the token?"
Atheline blinked.
"The Dragon Ring."
"I understand that." The representative looked confused. "But anyone can enter the Dragon Ring?"
Draco nodded.
"Those who meet the requirements."
Another representative leaned forward.
"And simply winning grants access to a Sacred Ruin?"
"Not every Sacred Ruin." Draco corrected. "Only those designated as accessible. There are quite a few to the public. The tournament is a way to increase combat and getting a reward from it makes it better."
The representatives exchanged looks. A few seemed almost suspicious. One of them looked toward Atheline.
"So you entered a dragon tournament and won access to an ancient ruin?"