The arena held its breath as the attack connected. A blinding flash of light filled the air, followed by a deafening clang. Sir Cedric, fueled by adrenaline, felt a surge of hope.
But as the light faded, revealing a cold defiant expression on Akun's face, the hope turned to ash in his mouth.
The blade, miraculously intact, lay at the tip of Akun's black silver chestplate, smoke curling from the point of contact.
Akun remained unfazed as he said. "Five attacks remain, Knight Captain," he spoke in a cold, taunting voice. "How many more pointless displays do you intend to subject us to?"
As Akun spoke, his words broke something inside Sir Cedric. His pride, honed like his blade over years of training, was shattered at Akun's feet. Slowly, he pulled his sword back, the blue aura flickering like a dying ember.
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"Well," Akun spoke, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. "Do you intend to finish what you started? Or shall we move on to the part were I make my moves instead?"
Sir Cedric hesitated, his gaze fixed on Akun's oppressive aura that seemed to intensify by the second. A glance towards the royal box revealed King Nevi, his face, calm as always.
"I cannot bring shame to His Majesty by giving up," Sir Cedric muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper. "I must at least see this through."
Drawing a deep breath, he raised his sword once more, a faint tremor running through his arm. Akun tilted his head slightly, a flicker of something resembling respect in his dragon eyes. "Commendable," he stated camly. "You possess a touch more courage than I expected."
Just as Sir Cedric prepared to launch into another attack, a booming voice echoed through the arena, stopping the knight captain cold in his tracks.
"Cedric!" King Nevi yelled, his voice imbued with a mixture of authority and compassion. "Stand down! You have done your best. We all bear witness to your strength and unwavering loyalty. There is no need for you to die here today to prove it."
Sir Cedric felt relieved when he heard the king's words. It was like a ray of hope in his darkest moment, and it moved him deeply. He bowed his head, feeling grateful.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I… I concede defeat."
With a heavy heart, Sir Cedric lowered his sword and slowly walked towards the edge of the arena. As he descended the steps, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Akun, who stood impassively where he had been. Perhaps, deep down, a flicker of disappointment flickered in the dragon's cold eyes. But Sir Cedric couldn't be sure.
He had failed to defeat Akun, yes. But in the face of overwhelming odds, he had fought with honor and courage. And that, in the eyes of the King and his people, was a victory in itself.
As he stepped out of the arena, the murmurs of the crowd, once filled with disbelief, now echoed with respect and admiration. Sir Cedric, the Knight Captain, had surrendered, but his spirit remained unbroken.
As Sir Cedric disappeared from the arena floor, the shocked silence that had gripped the crowd was shattered by the booming voice of the arena announcer. "And the winner, by way of forfeit, is sir Akun!" he declared, a touch of awe coloring his voice.
With a flick of his wrist, Akun deactivated the barrier that had enclosed the arena. The cheers of the crowd, momentarily silenced by the sheer power display of the duel, erupted once again, imbued with a mixture of awe and fear. Akun, his dragon eyes devoid of emotion, simply stood there, basking in the cacophony of sound.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the din. It was King Nevi, leaning forward from his seat in the royal box. "Dragon lord Akun," he called out, his voice surprisingly jovial, he had decided to call Akun such a title for he believed it would be what best described him. "Might I entice you with a cup of tea at the royal castle? A chance to discuss this… fascinating display of power."
A hush fell over the crowd. Such an invitation, usually delivered through formal channels, was a clear acknowledgement of Akun's strength. Everyone present, from the highborn nobles to the lowly commoners, craned their necks, eager to witness Akun's response.
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Akun turned his head slowly towards the King, his cold gaze locking onto Nevi's face. A long, tense silence followed, punctuated only by the nervous coughs of the courtiers.
Finally, Akun spoke, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down spines. "I have no interest in playing 'buddy-buddy' with some random king in a fancy castle," he declared, his words dripping with disdain. "And I suggest you don't make such… moves… again."
The crowd gasped, clearly shocked. No one, not even the most arrogant noble, would dare speak to the King in such a way. The King, however, simply burst into laughter, a genuine, hearty chuckle that echoed through the arena.
"Bold words, Dragon lord," he said, wiping a tear from his eye. "But let me assure you, if you ever change your mind, the gates of the royal castle will always be open to you."
Akun's cold gaze lingered on the King for another moment, then, he turned and began to walk away, his companions scurrying to catch up.
The crowd, bewildered by the unexpected exchange, watched in stunned silence as the the dragon lord and his entourage disappeared into the the city.
One thing was certain: this day would be etched in the memories of everyone present. The day a human champion was humbled and a king humbled himself before a being of immense power. The day the world witnessed the rise of Akun, the Dragon lord.
***
Exiting the arena, the cheers of the crowd faded into a dull roar as Akun and his companions made their way through the bustling streets. Chrono Nexus, practically vibrating with excitement, launched herself at Akun, wrapping him in a crushing hug.
"Ak darling! You were magnificent!" she squealed, her voice imbued with uncontaminated excitement.