Blackout Ascension: Return of Primordial Heir-Chapter 6: Gathering of Six

The morning skies over the Solaris Kingdom are hot, and they burned.

It was a heavy, suffocating golden white circle casting hot rays from the sky. For the first time in three centuries, the borders of kingdoms were fully opened, inviting Warriors, nobles, and mages from all six major kingdoms to gather under a single alliance.

Drums roared across the capital, the rhythmic sound made the glass windows screech and shook the pebbles on the pathway.

DOOM. DOOM. DOOM.

DOOM. DOOM. DOOM.

The streets were filled with a sea of audience watching from balconies, the tops of houses, and on the pathways. Every Solaris resident had their gaze on the alliance. It was full of noise and murmurs in the Solaris Kingdom. Flags from every corner of the Kingdom snapped open, representing the six kingdoms that gathered an audience in Solaris.

Solaris, The Blazing Sun on crimson silk.

Zephyros, The Winged Crest on azure blue.

Sylphyros, The Dual Dragon Lilies on shining silver.

Drakhalmere, The Emerald Dragon on deep green.

Pyrosend, The Infernal Blaze on dark obsidian.

Xynoria, The Crescent Feathers on mystic, shimmering purple.

At last, they gathered at the man-made legend rising at the center of Solaris Kingdom.

****

The Solaris Royal Arena.

It was a masterpiece built with ancient architecture, a colossal arena capable of seating fifty thousand people. It was forged by seeing many legendary battles from the generation of Solaris woke up again for the greatest alliance.

High above the arena floor, the chairs of nobility were crafted with ice-cool crystal to keep the tension in the arena balanced.

Princess Seyana sat still beside her father, King Raezon. She wore her formal gown with heavy golden threads and silk fabric woven with elegance. To the people below, she looked like a goddess with a charming glow flowing in her. But Seyana was scared and praying for her love by touching the sapphire pendant hidden under the royal gown she wore.

She stared down at the empty, blood-stained arena with many warriors and nobles, though her heart was searching for only one person.

Is he here? she wondered and worried at the same time. Did he make it in time?

Brandon Sylphyros sat just a few seats away with the representatives of the Royal Sylphyros family. He looked calm and composed with an elegant look on his face. But Seyana’s vision knows the hidden monster waiting with hunger for the defeat of Kairos.

HOOOOONNNKKKKK!

Massive royal horns were blown from the four corners of the stadium, the vibrations made the entire stadium shake off once with goosebumps. It was the signal of incoming warriors. The massive arena gates screeched open.

SCREEEEEEE....

The grand announcer’s voice, enchanted by wind magic able to be heard by the whole stadium. "Citizens of the Alliance! Open your eyes! Behold the absolute strength of your six realms!"

Each kingdom warrior entered into the stadium, their auras flaring up, catching the attention of the entire stadium that how strong they were.

SOLARIS entered first, refusing to be pale in their own home. Five elite generals marched in perfect rhythmic, prideful walk. They looked like titans forged by the blazing sun itself to attain the glow they represent now. At the very front was Ignis Solaris, the King’s arrogant nephew, wielding a spear that flared up at the to with golden flame. He raised the spear in a manner of salute to all high nobles in the arena. The arena roared with cheers.

ZEPHYROS arrived next. They moved lightly on the floor, and even their footprints were missing on the sand floor. Luna Zephyros walked at second in front, his silver staff touching the ground slightly. His mystic mind controlling aura flows over the arena. Beside him walked Velanor Banner with pride and a heavy gaze of anger in his eyes. But Zephyros was led by a veteran warrior named General Karl Wade Vedaryan. He didn’t care about any nobles in the arena, yet He was looking for someone in the whole arena. He was looking for his son. He was looking for Kairos.

SYLPHYROS followed next with the elegant warriors walking towards the arena with the knowing look of winning. They led a tremendous personality named Danerys Light, a tall warrior whose footsteps were clearly heard even in the loud noise of the arena.

DRAKHALMERE literally shook the ground. They were a representation of the strength and pride of dragons. Warriors with burning dragon blood flowing through their veins. They turned their gaze towards the crowd, and every member in the arena became still because they knew what Drakhalmere warriors are capable of.

PYROSEND walked into the arena like a stream flowing from the burning volcano. Honoer Kyle, their leading champion, flaring up with a suffocating aura. He acknowledged the cheering Solaris crowd with a prideful smirk.

XYNORIA arrived in absolute silence. They were the mystics of the continent. Glowing with purple markings on their elegant bodies, they walked into the arena with mysterious silence and an immense aura flowing up.

The formations settled in the center of the arena. Before the royal platform, exactly thirty circular spots had been magically marked into the sand, representing the thirty champions. But as the dust settled and the cheering stopped, the crowd noticed a small problem.

Only twenty-nine contenders were standing on the marks. One spot, located directly in the center of the Zephyros formation, was empty. A wave of confused murmurs started through the spectators.

Where is he? Did a Zephyros peasant boy flee? Are they forfeiting a spot before the war even begins?

General Karl Wade closed his eyes briefly, a worried look on his face filled with tension. Did you run, my son?

Down on the sands, the grand announcer hesitated, lowering his magic crystal. He looked up at the Royal Box, with sweat dripping from his cheek, waiting for King Raezon’s instructions.

Raezon grinned, his fiery eyes narrowing at the empty spot. He raised his hand, preparing to signal the start of the tournament regardless of the missing boy.

CREAAAAAAK.

The massive iron entrance gate, which had already begun to shut, suddenly opened. Everyone turned. The silence filled the arena instantly.

A lone figure walked out from the dark tunnel and stepped into the Solaris sunlight.

He didn’t wear any royal noble robes. He wore simple leather training clothes, heavily dusted with the pale ash and sand of the roads. A simple silver sword was sheathed at his hip. His dark hair was wavy back due to the wind.

He walked into the arena of absolute legends looking exactly like a common traveler.

The arena froze. Then, the whispers started breaking the silence.

"Who the hell is that?"

"He looks like a beggar... is he lost?"

"Why is he alone? Where is his retainer?"

"Wait... isn’t that the boy from the court incident?"

Down in the Zephyros formation, General Karl Wade’s eyes snapped open. He turned his gaze on his son with pride. He came. Luna and Velanor, standing a few feet away, smiled. Velanor rested on Luna roughly with his elbow. "Late as always. The bastard just likes the drama."

Up in the Royal Pavilion, Brandon Sylphyros’s jaw tightened so hard a muscle rattled with sound. The perfect calmness broke for a fraction of a second, revealing the cold, calculating predator look.

Seyana stood up. She couldn’t restrain herself. She gripped the marble railing of the balcony.

Kairos. Down on the sand, Kairos Vedaryan walked calmly toward the center of the arena. He felt the heavy, physical weight of fifty thousand eyes judging his appearance. He felt the sharp, stinging killing intent of elite generals trying to crush him with their spiritual pressure before he even reached his mark.

He didn’t flinch even for a second. The pressure of these ’geniuses’ was nothing compared to the fractured, primordial void humming inside his own soul.

He stopped directly before the Royal Box. He looked up, his posture perfectly straight, and bowed low to the Sun King.

"Kairos Vedaryan of Zephyros," he announced. His voice was enchanted by wind mana that carried his words clearly to the people in the stadium. "Reporting for participation, Your Majesty."

King Raezon looked down from his throne at the boy who had dared to stand against the Dyrroth. He saw the small, fresh scars on his forearms. But mostly, he saw the will of fire in his emerald eyes.

"You are late!" Raezon’s voice roared, carrying the heavy authority of a king.

Kairos looked up, meeting the King’s burning gaze without fear. "The road from the wastes was long, Your Majesty. But I am here."

Raezon paused. The arena held its breath.

"Your courage in the royal court earned you this chance, boy. I do not revoke my word..." the King declared, waving his hand. "Step forward and claim your mark, Kairos Vedaryan."

The crowd exploded. Some were cheering wildly for the underdog. The nobles were mocking him, and the seasoned veterans in the stands widened their eyes, wondering if the boy held any secret in him.

Kairos walked smoothly to the empty circle in the Royal Box line. Karl Wade didn’t turn his head. He looked straight ahead, but he whispered. "You look terrible, son. Did you sleep in a ditch?"

"Good to see you too, Father," Kairos whispered back. "and for the record, it was a cave. Ditch was occupied by a ghoul."

The circle was finally complete. Thirty warriors. The absolute circle of the youngest generation.

From these thirty, only fifteen would be selected. Fifteen warriors to lead the Great Kingdom Alliance armies. Fifteen High Generals of the Great War against the Demon Lord Malgreth.

Seyana slowly sat back down in her seat, her legs trembling weakly beneath her gown. She smiled faintly. I am watching, her spirit seemed to whisper. Don’t you dare lose.

Grand Chancellor Vaelon, an incredibly strong man who looked as ancient as the foundation stones of the city, stepped up to the central podium. He raised a heavy golden staff, slamming it into the stone.

"The Solaris Royal Tournament is not merely a brawl!" Vaelon’s voice was roared with enchantment. "Brute strength alone will not save us from the ash! This tournament will test every profound requirement of a true General. It will take place across three specialized, shifting arenas."

He pointed a finger toward the structures shifting with runic magic in the arena.

"Arena 1: The Luminary Colosseum. A test of Radiance, Agility, and Spatial Movement. The floor will shift beneath your feet. The light will blind your senses. Only the speed will survive the fall."

"Arena 2: The Infernal Colosseum. A test of Flame, Instinct, and Endurance. The overwhelming heat will boil your blood and rapidly damage your mana cores. Only the enduring will survive the burn."

"Arena 3: The Crystal Colosseum. A test of Spirit, Willpower, and Resonance. The magic within these crystals will reflect the weight of your own soul at you. Only the truly worthy will survive the pressure."

A wave of murmurs began in the arena. This arena was built as a death trap to become strong in any situation.

"The winner of each bracket will advance," Vaelon continued, his eyes seeing all the thirty warriors, "until exactly fifteen finalists remain standing. Those fifteen warriors will be appointed as the High Generals of the Great War."

The absolute weight of those words settled heavily on the shoulders of the champions. The single thought filled in minds of all warriors. There was no room for failure.

Vaelon opened the runic scroll and read.

"Day One - THE LUMINARY COLOSSEUM. Today, we test the speed of light. The opening brackets are set!"

He began to read the names. "Solaris v/s Sylphyros"

Ignis Solaris (Solaris) vs. Synder Zain (Sylphyros)

Lysandra Velkin (Solaris) vs. Daemon Sylphyros (Sylphyros)

Teravauros Solaris (Solaris) vs. Breinsten Dreyr (Sylphyros)

Marin Valcoran (Solaris) vs. Danerys Light (Sylphyros)

Idris Avelar (Solaris) vs. Julius Frankster (Sylphyros)

The arena would decide their ultimate fates. Kairos watched silently from the edge of the formation. Based on the bracket structure, his match would come later, maybe in the heat of the Infernal arena or the spiritual depth of the Crystal Colosseum.

But he watched Ignis Solaris confidently flip down his flaming spear, noticing the grip on the spear. He watched Daemon Sylphyros casually testing the edge of his silver blade.

Kairos would study every single warrior in this pit. He would learn their habits, their speeds, and the tiny flaws in their stances.

The crowds screamed in pure bloodlust as the magical defense barriers rose across the arena.

The floor of the Luminary Colosseum was activated. It has glowing tiles of marble with shifting air.

King Raezon stood up from his throne, raising his hand high into the air.

"Let the competitions begin. Let the world witness greatness!"

The King jerked his hand downward.

The drums boomed one last time. The entire battlefield shook.

The Tournament of Solaris had begun.