"If peace requires masks… then make sure yours bites when it comes off."
— Rahul, on political games
Scene 1: The Arena of Varnyth
Towering spires. Floating banners.
A crowd of millions gathered from across the stars.
The Dominion's leaders declared it:
"A tournament of unity. A festival of peace."
But Kaien knew better.
He saw the motionless guards, too well-trained.
Felt the pressure spells buried under the arena tiles.
Noticed the absent elder councilors who should've been front row.
He stood with Olivia, Zephyr, Valenya, Vaeyra, Aeyra, Aren, and Solas — all in formal robes for once.
Olivia leaned in. "Something feels off."
Kaien nodded once.
"We're being watched by people who want us to smile."
Scene 2: Family Chaos — Pre-Battle Backstage
Aren dropped a hex-wired ball in the prep room.
"Guys, don't step on this unless you wanna fly into another dimension!"
Aeyra: "So… I should step on it?"
Kaien: "Absolutely not."
Zephyr: "What if I push you onto it?"
Valenya: "Try it. You'll lose a hand."
Cue minor explosion. Everyone lives.
Kaien to Olivia: "This is normal."
Olivia, smirking: "This is terrifying."
Scene 3: First Match — Olivia vs. Spectral Champion
She walked into the arena alone.
Draped in flowing starlight, her core burning with the Starcore Bloom.
The opponent? A masked warrior born of mirrored light.
But the moment Olivia struck — nothing hit.
"Illusion fighter," Kaien muttered.
She closed her eyes.
Focused not on sight… but sound.
And when the mirror clone moved—
BZZZZT.
She grabbed its core, crushed it in one hand.
Crowd: Silence. Then roars.
Kaien, to himself: "That's my Empress."
Scene 4: Zephyr's Match — Past Returns
Zephyr stepped into the ring and faced a warrior wearing the sigil of the cult that imprisoned him.
He smiled.
But only Kaien noticed that his aura dimmed.
The announcer: "Next round—Zephyr Dhaelion vs—"
BOOM.
The entire ring exploded.
Smoke cleared.
Only Zephyr stood.
His blade buried in the enemy's core.
"Round's over."
Backstage, Aeyra tugged Kaien's sleeve.
"Zephyr's sad. But he smiles more now... around you."
Kaien didn't reply.
But he watched Zephyr closely — because the smile never reached his eyes.
Scene 5: Olivia Targeted – The Assassination Attempt
Final round: "Kaien Azaryth Vordrakar vs Olivia Seraphyne Vaeloria"
Olivia blinked. "They're pairing us?"
Kaien's jaw clenched. "This is a setup."
Mid-match — as soon as the duel began — the assassins struck.
From above.
From the crowd.
From inside the arena walls.
Ten high-class elites.
Weapons dipped in anti-blood essence — forged specifically to kill Royal-Blood Voidflame or Celestial Bloom users.
Kaien's reaction?
Instant.
He stepped in front of Olivia — no hesitation — and raised both arms.
The blast meant for her?
He took it. Full force.
He fell.
The arena gasped.
Aeyra screamed.
Olivia: "KAIEN!"
Scene 6: The Void Wakes
Silence.
Kaien stood.
Smoke poured off his back. Cloak shredded.
Voidflame dripping from his eyes.
"You made a mistake," he whispered.
He didn't yell.
He just walked.
And with each step — the assassins backed away.
Because something else walked with him now:
Rahul's spirit.
The air bent.
Light dimmed.
Gravity failed.
Kaien struck once — and erased five assassins in a single blink.
The crowd saw nothing.
Just a flash.
Just silence.
"No one," he said, "hurts her and walks away."
Scene 7: Aren Saves The Day (Again)
Aren, from the control box, screamed:
"I got a surprise! Don't punch anyone for the next ten seconds!"
CLICK.
A dome expanded over the arena.
Blasted the remaining enemies with a voidwave, trapping them in slow-time spheres.
Aren grinned in triumph.
"Prototype 007: Instant Consequences Bubble. You're welcome!"
Kaien gave a single nod.
That was enough.
Final Scene: The Twist Behind the Trap
Back in the shadows…
A Dominion official reported:
"Operation Crownfall failed. Kaien protected Olivia."
A cloaked figure stepped forward.
"He inherited more than power…"
They removed the hood.
A face that looked like Rahul.
"He inherited his heart too."