Blackout Ascension: Return of Primordial Heir-Chapter 20: Mystical Moon

The Infernal Colosseum transmuted once again, abandoning its brutal heat. The shallow, jagged lava cracks sealed shut, letting out a sharp, ear-piercing hiss of escaping steam.

Then, the sky changed, it was a kaleidoscopic display of shades. A livid, violaceous cloud shadow swept over the sky, veiling the bright light of Solaris Sun. The flame pillars of the Eid Pyres receded, vanishing into the ground without any brink of sound. The battlefield liquified with the Eid Pyres closing to the ground. The rough, jaggy stone slumped like melting wax, reforming as a vast flat platform. In a heartbeat, the chaos was replaced by a cold blackish-grey platform, dimmed by violet clouds hovering above. It was transmogrified into burnished black obsidian, resembling a blackish-grey mirror. With a soundless roar, ancient magic surged into the air as a shimmering haze groaned under archaic arcane energy.

Then, the artificial moon appeared like a watching eye, stitched into violaceous clouds. Mystical, cool breezy winds howled in the arena. Usually, the afternoon bright sun should be hanging, burning in the sky. But instead, there was an immense, glowing crescent shimmering above the obscured arena.

It was not a natural phenomena, the moon was summoned. Every warrior in the arena spectator stands, from the mighty King on his throne down to the common soldier in the bleachers, felt the shift of air with a faint grin on their faces. This design shows that this battle would only be won by pure lunacy and brilliant sorcery.

The grand announcer’s voice trembled with undeniable anticipation and excitement.

"Final Match of the Infernal Bracket: Luna Freyr Zephyros versus Xenomyst Xynoria!"

The arena erupted with loud, anxious murmurs.

Two of the most terrifying, well-known magical prodigies of the young generation were encroaching forward to inevitable clash. The "Silent Moon" of Zephyros against the unpredictable "Duality Mystic" of Xynoria.

The East Gate cranked open, iron bars clattering the door. From the Zephyros gate walked Luna Freyr Zephyros. He stepped with a humble grace. He wore a sleeveless white-armored attire with a cloak drifting behind his shoulders like a howling wind. His messy hair was a flicker of monochromatic rage, where streaks of quicksilver shimmered on the tide of black, waving lazily over his pale forehead. His eyes looked exactly like he was half-asleep and bored.

Across the obsidian platform, the West Gate opened. From the Xynoria gate, Xenomyst eagerly emerged. He was a Half-Elf, an eminent and elegant man. The mystic runes flickering with a bright neon blue light across his skin. His unique aura was a formidable paradox. It flowed, swirling around him like water, but it also burned the air with the intense heat of a raging flame. His footsteps sounded like humming sorcery.

The two faced each other calmly in the center of the vast obsidian floor.

Xenomyst smiled faintly, the neon runes on his neck glowing brighter resembling his excitement and joy.

"It is finally time, Luna," Xenomyst said, his calm voice echoing across the chaotic, dim arena. "I wondered when our paths would finally collide. The stars whispered to me about this day."

Luna tilted his head slightly to the side. His expression remained blank. "I hate it when you talk like a prophet," Luna whispered.

Xenomyst sighed frantically, spreading his arms wide. "I hate it when you pretend not to care. You are the most arrogant man I know, simply because you refuse to try."

Luna just stood there, his hands casually shoved into his pockets.

The heavy bronze bell rang out with a sharp sound.

GONG!!

Xenomyst moved first, he instantly teleported. He artlessly ceased to exist in one spot and instantly appeared in another. He appeared exactly three feet in front of Luna, hovering mid-air. A formidable weapon congealed around in his hand, a flaming spear born, made of Icicle-Fire. It was an impossible combination of magic, burning fiercely and freezing the air simultaneously.

He thrust the lethal, sharp tip directly towards Luna’s heart.

The air filled with a cacophonous intake of breath of the crowd. "He’s too fast!"

Luna didn’t dodge; he calmly took his right hand out of his pocket and raised it. He unfolded wrist and extended two fingers, instantly he tapped the sharp tip of the spear lightly.

TINGG!!

The sound was a dim clink, but the resulting magical impact is catastrophic. The spear was instantaneously pulverized, its formidable iron disintegrated into glittering dust that caught the artificial moonlight. The volatile combination magic was destroyed without trace in a microsecond. A cloud of grey smoke spread vehemently across the battlefield in silence, but everyone in the stadium felt it pass right through their chests like a petrifying ghost.

Xenomyst teleported backward instantly, descended gracefully twenty feet away. He darted at his empty hand, then looked up at Luna.

Xenomyst smiled, a wide grin tracing on his face.

"So," Xenomyst laughed, with a feeling of amusement. "You actually did accept the moon inside you. You aren’t suppressing it today."

Luna blinked slowly, looking exhausted. "Shut up," Luna whispered.

Xenomyst happily applauded. The neon runes traced up his arms pulsing bright with a beacon of arcane power. "Fine! Then let’s wake you up properly!"

Opposing elements of Water and Fire intertwined convulsively in his open palms. They spiraled together, defying the fundamental laws of physics, relentlessly creating a vortex storm of red and blue energy. "Duality Magic: Crimson Frost Vortex!"

He propelled the vortex on his palms forward with an explosion of raw power. A hurricane of burning ice screamed across the arena.

GRRRRRR!!

It rigidly tore up the black obsidian floor, leaving deep scars on the platform.

Luna just stood still, sighed and watched it come.

He opened his right eye fully for the first time in the entire battle. His iris was glowing with an elegant silver light.

The summoned moon hanging above him suddenly shone bright, responding to his gaze.

"Moonlight Sin." His words were soft as requested, but it was a command.

The spell lingered in the air. The roaring burning ice spiral froze, petrified in mid-air. Every shard of ice, and every burning ember of flame stopped moving.

Then.... CRACKKKK!!!

The spell shattered completely crackling into fine dust, terrifying magic ripped apart, falling uselessly to the platform as grey powder.

The crowd roared in pure shock and disbelief. Some stood up, screaming in excitement. "What the fuck? How is this possible?"

****

Down in the competitor’s box, Kairos smiled warmly. He looked incredibly proud.

"Show them, brother," Kairos whispered quietly to himself.

Right next to him, Velanor whistled loudly. "That’s our spooky wizard!!"

High up in the Royal Pavilion, Princess Seyana was smiling. It was a bright, warm, and genuine smile. Her amber eyes became tiny with pure joy. She leaned forward in her seat, clenching the marble railing.

"He’s amazing," she took a breath with a smile.

Brandon Sylphyros watched her intently. He realized something cold and awful at that moment. That glowing smile... it was the same genuine smile she freely gave to Kairos. It was pure. Because Luna was one of her dearest best friends.

Brandon gripped his side of the railing. His expensive leather gloves made a rattling sound under the immense pressure.

CREEAAKKK!!

First the peasant. Now the sick weirdo. Why do you actually love them? Why are they so special to you?

****

Back down in the obsidian arena, Xenomyst was laughing. It was a delightful, unhinged laugh. "You’re absolutely magnificent!" Xenomyst shouted. "Show me more! MORE!"

Luna’s pale expression remained empty, but the artificial sky responded to his dark mood. Luna raised his right hand very slowly. "Moondrop Execution."

Gravity inverted in a particular spot. The polished obsidian stone loudly cracked without even being touched.

Xenomyst reacted instinctively. The combat instincts screamed. Death was coming! DODGE!

He vanished into thin air rupture.

BOOM!!

The exact spot where the Half-Elf had just been standing imploded violently, inward spiral. The solid floor was crushed into a deep, jagged pit by an invisible force.

Xenomyst immediately reappeared behind Luna, levitating mid-air, tightly holding a scythe made of flaming water. "Got you!"

Luna didn’t even bother to turn around.

"I knew," Luna whispered coldly.

He spun gracefully. The dark shadows lingering around his arm turned solid. They formed into a overwhelming crescent blade made of moonlight shine in a heartbeat.

CLANG!!

The collision impact reverberated through the air. Steel screeched against steel as the two blades struck, sending a shower of sparks dancing across the violet sky. The protective safety barrier flared a warning violet.

Everyone in the crowd had the exact same thought. This wasn’t just a physical fight anymore. This was pure Spiritual Dominance. It was absolute will against absolute will.

Xenomyst lost the clash. He staggered backward across the platform, his boots loudly sparking, grinding the platform with creaking sound.

Luna remained standing still, his cloak fluttered from the impact.

A streak of crimson blood on his chin vanished under Xenomyst’s thumb, and a chilling smile spread across his face. His neon eyes pulsed with a manic brilliance, locking onto his prey with formidable focus.

"I waited for years to finally fight you when you were actually serious, Luna," Xenomyst said, his voice heavy with sudden exhaustion, "and I STILL haven’t seen your full might. You’re holding back the Void, aren’t you?"

Luna gaze drifted upward, his unwavering eyes locked on to Xenomyst. Both irises were shimmering silver now. "You really do not want to see all of it," Luna said softly, his quiet voice reaching Xenomyst clearly from fifty feet away. "It isn’t fun."

Xenomyst smiled widely, eagerly gathering his dual magic ready again. "Then make me regret it."

CLANG!!

The bronze bell rang loudly.

End of Phase One!

****

To the audience, it looked like a perfectly even match. But Kairos saw the perfect truth.

Xenomyst’s legs were visibly shaking from the unseen pressure. Luna was continuously releasing a gravity field just by standing there. It would be a brutal battle of Revelation and Consequence. Kairos thought.

Luna calmly adjusted his cloak.

"Phase Two," Luna whispered softly into the darkness. "Let’s finish this."