Ryu stood tall, his chest heaving uncontrollably. By now, his leather robes were in tatters, he could only rip them from his body, tossing them to the side to reveal a body that seemed carved of white marble. His skin itself shone like the purest ice in existence, bereft of flaws.
After three long rounds, Ryu's body still stood as tall as a javelin. Those of other Kingdoms couldn't even bring themselves to hate this young man, they only felt that he was an untouchable existence, a star far above their heads, a moon too resplendent to observe directly.
Before Ryu stood what remained of Jedrek's golden armored warriors. With the help of his appointed Commander, Jedrek's tactics were far more refined that Amory's approach. He cast a net across the city, slowly cutting off Ryu's avenues of escape until he became a mouse caught in a trap. Even still, that wasn't enough. By the end of the two-hour period, Ryu still stood tall.
A sigh escaped his Second Brother's lips. Jedrek's lazy appearance faded slightly, replaced by a deep worry. Although this look quickly faded away, those who knew Jedrek could understand what he was feeling right now.
Ryu wasn't the only one who had suffered at the hands of the Imperial Censors, Jedrek's maternal Clan had as well. Usually, with the old General's character, he would back his granddaughter in marrying whoever she so chose. However, an incident that occurred some decade plus ago made him realize that loyalty and staunchness wasn't rewarded in the way he believed. This left him disillusioned to the point where he cracked under the pressure, already preparing for the possibility of marrying his granddaughter off to the youth who grasped the most power.
At the same time, the old General understood enough that these matters wouldn't just end with Ryu becoming Crown Prince. Even now, he believed that Ryu was too naïve in coming here. Did he think that showing off his talents would be enough for everything to flip on its head? They had all been aware of just how talented Ryu was long ago, yet that changed nothing. So, what could this display possibly do?
Old General Garis felt that the only chance his Clan stood was for Jedrek to become King. Only then could the Garis Clan wipe the humiliation they faced all those years ago.
But, reality was cruel. Ryu's resplendent light outshone that of all of his brothers. They simply weren't his match, even with how talented each of them was.
Ryu took a step forward, helping Jedrek up from his fall. This sort of action stunned the Second Prince. He had been certain that Ryu hated them all. After all, through all the years Ryu suffered, Jedrek never raised a hand to help. Maybe this was because he had his own circumstances to fight through, but the reason would be irrelevant to a young boy with no tall tree to take shade under.
Jedrek didn't know that Ryu hardly cared about the mistreatment he suffered. Since Jedrek only attempted to capture him despite the disadvantage that put him at, Ryu had no reason to be angry with him. The matters that occurred on this Highest Mortal Plane had little to nothing to do with him. After he took revenge for Granny Miriam, he would disappear from their lives entirely.
In truth, Ryu wasn't sure how to treat the matters of this life. Should he truly see Jedrek, Amory and Cayden as his brothers? Was Leilani his mother? King Tor his father? Even if he threw their connections to him to the back of his mind, it was the truth that they were responsible for his birth. Their blood once coursed through his veins.
In the end, Ryu couldn't help but prioritize his first life. He simply felt no real connection to these people, plus, the Tor Bloodline no longer flowed through him. However, in light of those past connections, he would help those who were worth his help.
"The third round has come to a close. Fourth Prince Tor has the right to a thirty-minute break before he must begin preparing his defenses. Crown Prince Silas, prepare yourself."
"No need…" Ryu said faintly. Considering this was already the third time he had done this, the crowd wasn't shocked at all. However, they couldn't help but shake their heads. There was only so much a single man could take. Watching Ryu take out a needle and personally stitch up some of his larger wounds, many thought he was an absolute madman.
Some began to feel that the Tor Kingdom was simply trying to assert their dominance. Maybe they had hidden Ryu all this time to take the Higher Mortal Plane by storm. They could almost imagine a day where the Tor Kingdom united the entire Higher Mortal Plane.
When they thought back to how King Tor defended Ryu, they couldn't help but nod to themselves. But, others were skeptical. The relationship between the Cedar and Tor Clans clearly wasn't very good, that was on display today. With that sort of inner strife, could they accomplish such a feat?
Silas began to prepare his troops. Since Ryu immediately said he was prepared, the timer had already begun. Yet, soon, ten minutes passed without Silas having made any movements at all. Even with the crowd being completely baffled, it wasn't until the thirtieth minute mark that the Viri Kingdom troops began to make their way forward.
However, even as Silas was taking his time, he didn't notice that there was a slumbering beast trembling within Ryu.
The events of that night played in his mind again and again. With the help of the Origin Flame, every breath, every faint laughter and chuckle, every snide comment, they all replayed in his mind.
Silas and Atticus had both treated Granny Miriam's death as a sideshow. They giggled and chortled as though her pleas and his tears were nothing more than fuel for their amusement.
Ryu had never laid eyes on Silas before, but his mind had already drawn a picture. Slanted, lazy, but snake-like eyes. Thin, curled lips. The kind of man who wouldn't hesitate to kill his own mother.
Why had Ryu been so docile to now, not even killing a single person? It was to force Silas to lower his guard. By now, they all probably believed that despite his arrogance, he was completely green and hadn't tasted murder before. Although they were correct in a superficial respect, the truth was that Ryu was no saint.
As Silas' meticulously laid net closed in around Ryu, a bloody, murderous intent suddenly shot into the skies. Years of repressed hatred and will for vengeance dyed the setting sun red.
At that moment, Silas stood upon a silver armor clad war horse, his mouth curled into a sneer as his snake-like eyes darted around lazily. He seemed to be thinking about something that had nothing to do with these Coronation games at all.
By the time he realized the rage aimed toward him, it would already be too late.