Chapter : 361
Chapter : 361
"Sayma, what did you just do?!" Ken complained loudly. He threw his hands in the air. He looked at her with wide, panicked eyes. "You just accepted a duel for me! I told him I had a medical condition! I told him I was allergic to punching!"
"I had to do it, Ken," Sayma apologized softly. She gave him a small, polite smile. "If you declined, he would have known we were lying. He would have ruined my life. I need you to play along for just one more day."
"But playing along requires running!" Ken whined dramatically. He grabbed his messy black hair. "He is going to chase me around the arena! He has a glowing sword! I am going to have to dodge things! I am going to sweat! This is a complete tragedy for my peaceful lifestyle!"
Naomi walked over. She playfully smacked the back of his head. "Stop crying, slacker. You are going to fight him, and you are going to win. We will help you prepare a strategy tonight."
"My strategy is hiding under a rock!" Ken declared. He dragged his shoes on the marble floor. He started shuffling toward the exit doors. He looked completely defeated. "This is the worst day ever. I need five chocolate cakes to recover from this emotional trauma."
Laxmi laughed loudly. She followed him toward the door. "We will buy you a cake, farm boy. But you have a duel to fight tomorrow. It is time to prove how strong the fake boyfriend really is."
Ken groaned again. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He was completely, inescapably trapped. The lazy Sovereign was officially scheduled for a high-stakes duel, and he was absolutely dreading the amount of physical effort it was going to require.
---
The roar of the stadium was deafening. The noise bounced off the thick concrete walls. Thousands of citizens screamed from the grandstands. They waved colorful flags. They blew loud horns. The energy was totally electric.
The 13th Unit stood in the staging tunnel. They waited for their cue. The bright stadium lights shined at the end of the tunnel.
Laxmi punched the palm of her hand. A small orange flame popped between her fingers. She bounced on her toes. She wore a massive grin. She wanted to fight. She loved the roaring crowd.
Zinia stretched her arms. She cracked her knuckles. The sound echoed in the tunnel. She stood tall and confident. She wore her dark blue combat uniform. Her boots tapped against the floor.
Naomi stood near the front. She checked her twin silver daggers. She slid them into their sheaths. She pulled them out again. She made sure the blades were clean. She did not look angry today. She looked focused. She turned her head and looked at Ken.
Ken Eliot leaned against the tunnel wall. He wore his navy blue suit. His white shirt hung completely untucked. His tie was loose around his neck. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He let out a loud, long yawn. He closed his eyes.
"You are falling asleep standing up," Naomi said. She walked over to him. She did not yell. She smiled a warm, friendly smile. She bumped her shoulder against his arm. She treated him like a lazy friend.
"I am resting my eyes," Ken mumbled. He opened one eye. "The lights out there are too bright. They hurt my retinas. I need sunglasses. Do you have any extra sunglasses?"
"We are going into an arena," Naomi chuckled softly. "You do not need sunglasses. You need to wake up. The match starts soon."
"I am awake," Ken lied. He slouched his shoulders. "I just want a comfortable chair. Standing on concrete is bad for my back."
Elma stood a few feet away. The blonde girl from the 16th Unit wore her spotless white and gold uniform. Her hair was perfectly curled. She looked very nervous. She played with the edge of her sleeve. She glanced at Ken. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. She quickly looked away.
Sayma noticed Elma looking. Sayma pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose. She smiled politely. She held a neat notebook in her hand. She reviewed her tactical notes one last time.
Ira stood perfectly still. Her pale face showed zero emotion. She stared blankly at the tunnel wall. Luna leaned against Ira's shoulder. The lightning user was fast asleep. She snored very quietly. Risa sat on the floor. The sweet healer hugged her teddy bear. She looked a little scared of the loud crowd.
Princess Iris stood at the very front. Her violet eyes locked onto the stadium grass. She stood perfectly straight. She took a deep, calming breath. She was ready.
Far away from the stadium, a different scene unfolded.
The Iron Rose District was quiet. The streets were totally empty. Every single person sat inside their homes. They all watched the magical television screens. The Succession War was the biggest event of the year.
Inside a small, cozy living room, the Eliot family sat on a worn sofa.
Khadija walked into the room. She carried a tray of warm cookies and a pitcher of cold tea. She set the tray on the wooden coffee table. Her hands shook slightly. She looked terrified.
Brandon sat on the edge of the sofa. He leaned forward. He stared at the glowing television screen. His face looked very serious. He worried about his son.
Jasmin sat next to her father. She gripped a throw pillow. She chewed on her lower lip. She felt incredibly anxious.
"The broadcast is starting," Jasmin announced. Her voice squeaked a little bit. "They are going to show the teams soon."
"I hope he is safe," Khadija whispered. She sat down next to Jasmin. She grabbed her daughter's hand. "He does not know how to fight. He is just a servant. They should keep him in the back. He should just stay behind a wall."
"He will be fine," Brandon said softly. He tried to sound confident. He patted his wife's shoulder. "He is a smart boy. He knows how to stay out of trouble."
The television screen flashed with bright neon graphics. Loud air horn sound effects played from the speakers. Upbeat, fast-paced music filled the living room. Two highly enthusiastic sports anchors appeared on the screen.
Bob sat at a massive, glossy desk. He wore a bright blue suit. He waved his hands wildly. "Welcome back, citizens of the Belmontia Empire!" Bob shouted into his microphone. "The wait is finally over! We are live at the Grand Arena! The tension here is absolutely electric!"
Sarah sat next to him. She wore a sharp red blazer. She nodded enthusiastically. "You are totally right, Bob! Today is a massive day! The 13th Unit is stepping into the arena once again! They shocked the entire nation a few days ago. They pulled off a flawless victory against the 15th Prince! But today, they face a very different challenge!"
A giant digital billboard appeared behind the anchors. It showed a huge, glowing picture of Princess Iris. Then, it showed a massive picture of the 7th Prince, Julian Belmontia.