Chapter 57: The Weight of the Throne (1)
The moment had finally arrived. The two brothers stood across from each other, the battlefield between them a vast stretch of smooth, compacted stone—scarred from countless battles before this one.
As both brothers stood opposite each other, they unleashed their auras. A suffocating pressure filled the arena, making the air heavy. If not for the rune-infused barrier encasing the battlefield, anyone in the spectator section below the Grandmaster rank would have collapsed—many of the weaker ones would have died outright.
Mankhaura’s rage was palpable, a barely contained inferno that burned in his narrowed eyes and the rigid tension in his stance. His grip on his spear was tight enough to whiten his knuckles, his breaths coming sharp and controlled, but the fire in his chest roared, demanding release.
Thutmose, by contrast, stood with an air of unshaken calm. His posture was relaxed, his hands resting at his sides, and the khopesh strapped to his hip looked almost ornamental rather than a tool for war. But there was no mistaking the weight of his presence.
He exuded the quiet confidence of a warrior with no doubts about the outcome. The gap between them was vast—not in distance, but in ability.
The air in the arena was thick with anticipation, the watching crowd eerily silent as they waited for the duel to begin. Main family and the Elders sat on their high seats, observing with cold calculation, while the rest stood in designated spots, their expressions ranging from grim curiosity to quiet amusement. Some already believed they knew how this would end.
An official stepped forward, his deep voice echoing through the grand arena.
"This is the Combat of Geb! A sacred duel bound by our laws and the will of the earth itself! This battle shall proceed with the following rules: No artifacts. No external power.
Only your weapon, armor, and the strength of your abilities!" His gaze swept over the combatants before he continued. "The battle will end only when one participant is either unable to continue—be it by unconsciousness or death—or if they willingly surrender."