The morning sun cast a warm golden light over the training grounds as Emiya woke up. He had risen early, resolute to sharpen his skills before the day fully began. Other participants might be preparing their semi-final matches. Still, his mind was focused on something greater, his real destination, which was the dragon dungeon, and his destiny waiting for him.
As he strode toward an open field, he noticed Kadera, the witches, he is the winner of the last match on the first day. She standing by a cluster of ancient oak trees. Her crimson cloak fluttered in the wind, and her piercing emerald eyes locked onto him with amusement.
"Training so early? You're quite the dedicated one, Emiya. I saw your fight yesterday, not bad." Kadera remarks arms crossed.
Emiya just nodded, offering a little smile. "I have no choice other than to keep improving myself. There's still a long road ahead to go."
Kadera chuckled, stepping forward. "You rely on fire magic, right? It's strong but from what I've seen, you kinda lack control. Power without good control is a waste. I don't mind teaching you how to refine it?"
He's trying to think it for a second and choose why he would not learn something from others. He was struggling with precision in his fire spells, often expanding too much energy for simple attacks. "I'd appreciate that. What do I need to do?"
Kadera raised her hand, a small orb of fire forming above her palm. "Fire magic isn't just about destruction, but it's about shaping your will into reality. Try creating a flame, but instead of releasing it as an attack, hold it and feel the energy. When you feel you could control it, make it bigger.
Emiya mimicked her movements. Conjuring a small ember in his hand. At first, the flame wavered, flickering with instability. He focused, trying to steady his mana flow. Kadera circled him, observing keenly.
"Breathe with the fire, not against it. Fire is alive, just like us. It responds to emotions, keep calm."
Emiya took a deep breath, calming his mind. The ember in his palm slowly stabilized, burning steadily without consuming excess energy.
Kadera shows a smile in approval. "Good, now let's see if you can compress that flame into a single point and release it as a precise shot. No wild flares, no explosions but just precision."
Emiya released his shot, but now what like they expected. It destroyed the oak tree. For the next hour, Emiya practiced under Kadera's guidance. He learned how to manipulate the intensity of his fire, create thin streams instead of reckless bursts, and even shape his flames into various forms.
As they took a break, Kadera smirked. "You learned quickly. If you keep this up, you might even surpass me. How bad we will not fight each other."
Emiya looks at Kadera. "Wait, just because I improved today, doesn't mean we can't fight in the final. I bet that you might win against me. You don't have to say that Kadera."
Kadera laugh. "I wish you were true but aren't no way I would win against Aetherius, he is even a true hero, a magic knight. I heard that the power of a true hero could beat a dragon. What about you? Why did you join this competition?"
Emiya let out a small chuckle as he glanced at Kadera. "I live far away from here, but it was been destroyed by someone. At that moment, I couldn't do anything, I just couldn't run because that person is too powerful. The only person, I thought as my master, asked me to go to this kingdom, I have to find someone I never met. So, before I try to find that person, I want to join this competition, and who knows, I could win it. I want the King to grant my wishes."
Kadera stands and holds Emiya's right shoulder. "I see, no wonder your heart is full with spirit. Alright, I have to go now. Hope that you meet that person and beat it. See you tomorrow."
Emiya smiled. He never thought he could meet someone as nice as Kadera. Now that he has already improved his control of fire magic, he may have a high chance to win in the next match tomorrow. He wondered if he could meet Aetherius the magic knight, knowing that he is a true hero, he could learn some swordmanship from him. Suddenly, Emiya heard a weird voice from his back.
"Looking for me, Emiya Alvion"
Emiya looked back, but he appeared in the world, like he was actually in another realm or dimension. The first thing that he sees is Aetherius itself, Emiya is shocked that he took his sword out because how does Aetherius know about his real family name and is pointing the sword at Aetherius.
"Aetherius, where is this place and how did you know my name? Who sent you?"
Aetherius gives a little laugh. "Please, keep your sword, Emiya. First of all, yes I am a true hero in this planet and I am one of the members of The Hero World Universe. The Universe Royal Family has issued an order to all heroes to capture you, but it's just been for the past 4 days. Now, you are free and are being called to the Universe Castle. Here, the letter." Emiya takes the letter and reads it, he knows if the letter is fake or not since he is one of the Alvion Family. It was true, but still he asking Aetherius what was happening since one of the 10 Generals of the Universe was trying to kill him.
I heard that the World Hero Academy is fighting for your side in the court, and if we follow the proof that they have, you can't destroy Alvion Kingdom, and even kill King Arvien by yourself. They even received a video report that shows someone is behind this and that person even killed the general that was sent there, the one who was trying to capture you that day."
Emiya was shocked that someone he knew, who was the general, had already been killed by someone on that day, and realized that the Universe Kingdom hadn't been hunting him anymore. " Wait, do the World Hero Center communicate with every hero that existed?", Emiya asked Aetherius.
"Not really. Oh ya, by the way, my name is Aetherius Reynalin. I was once a student of King Arvien. Never thought that he had a new student. It's so sad that he died. I heard that you saw how his death, is it true?"
Emiya nodded. "Yes, I am on my way to the World Hero Center for registration. Suddenly, my magic won't come out and it's lost. So I headed home, and the kingdom was already fallen, everyone died, King Arvien had fought with someone, so I wanted to help. When I am trying to help King Arvien, he is already being killed by that person. The person trying to kill me, but I ran away, and the only thing I have is a letter from King Arvien that asks me to go to the east, the Dragon Dungeon. When I arrived here, I got a new magic and it is fire. Just if I am strong enough to save him that day, he must be alive until now.", Emiya cried. Aetherius walks to Emiya and hugs him.
"It's okay, Emiya. Sometimes, there is something that we can't save. I know that you did your best to help King Arvien. When I was seven, King Arvien saved me from a war. He taught me how to use a sword and magic. I want to explore this world instead of being his disciple, but he always supports me, whatever the path that I choose. Enough with the past, let's focus on our fight tomorrow, and let me drive you to the dragon dungeon tomorrow. Of course, you must head to the Universe Castle, they are waiting for you."
Emiya stood up and smiled.
"You are true. He must save me for a reason. By the way, could you teach me some of your swordsman skills?"
Aetherius smiles and laughs. Both of them have a talk about their memories with King Arven while fighting. They see King Arvien's soul in each other. Emiya would never have thought he would find someone that have the same master as him. He learned some new sword skills from Aetherius and improved his swordsmanship. They both rest after having a long match. Emiya questioning about Aetherius life.
"Hey Aetherius, why did you choose to leave? I mean, what are you exactly trying to find? Did you explore half of this universe?" Emiya asks Aetherius.
"Well, not really. The universe is infinite. Who knows, just by travelling, I will find the meaning of life. If you mean by the word travel the universe, there is no way a person like me could travel that far. For your information, I am at the Domain Overlord level."
Emiya stunning. That's a level is considered high, Aetherius. Wait, can you scan me, what is my actual level?"
Aetherius uses his magic eyes to see Emiya's level.
"Weird, I can't see your current level. This is unusually happening. It's either you're in a special level, or your power has awakened. Maybe, this is the reason why the Universe Council is calling you. They must be up to something. Your mission is to go to the Dragon Dungeon, where you'll find the answer. By the way, I heard a rumour that the Grazil Kingdom has fallen, an army of monsters destroyed it."
Emiya shock. He once faced this situation, this kind of thing can only be made by a tamer or someone strong enough in magic. For sure, as long as it is a rumor, he wants to focus on his next match. Both of them go home, but Emiya is still shocked about the death of Aevan, the 5th General of the galaxy. Killing a general of the galaxy is a big crime that has the consequence is death. Besides, Aevan is the 5th general, is counted as someone strong enough, and whoever kills the general must be the person that destroys the Kingdom of Cardia.
"I must be stronger in the future and kill the people that destroy my home. King Arvien, I will seek justice for you."
-THE FINAL COMPETITION DAY
The arena was eerily silent as Emiya stepped onto the stone platform. Across from him stood a shadowy figure draped in dark leather, her face partially hidden beneath a hood. This was Princess Faelar, a noble of the Elarion Kingdom and a deadly assassin who wielded six floating blades through sheer force of will.
The moment the battle commenced, Faelar flicked her fingers, and the six blades shot toward Emiya like hunting beasts. Emiya dodged swiftly, his enhanced reflexes saving him from an instant defeat. He countered with a burst of energy, propelling himself forward to close the distance.
Faelar was prepared. Her blades shifted mid-air, forming an unbreakable wall. One blade slashed toward Emiya's leg, another aimed for his shoulder. Emiya twisted his body at the last second, avoiding a fatal wound but earning a deep gash on his arm.
'She's strong,' Emiya thought, clenching his fist. He couldn't rely on brute force alone.
Summoning his mana, Emiya launched a feint attack with his sword, forcing Faelar to redirect her blades in defense. Then, using his free hand, he released a concentrated blast of energy, shattering the assassin's formation.
The force of the explosion tore through Faelar's cloak, revealing something unexpected—her noble crest embroidered on the fine tunic beneath. Gasps echoed through the crowd as the realization struck. The feared assassin was no mere rogue; she was Princess Faelar, heir to one of the most powerful noble families in Elarion.
Faelar staggered, her mask falling away to reveal striking elven features, her golden eyes filled with shock and frustration. For a brief moment, vulnerability flickered across her face, but she quickly clenched her jaw, regaining composure.
Emiya saw it now—this battle wasn't just about the tournament. Faelar had been hiding something, and this revelation might have just changed everything.
With her secret exposed, Faelar hesitated. That was all Emiya needed. With a single step, he closed the distance, striking her with a powerful, mana-infused punch that sent her crashing to the ground. The match was over. Emiya had won—but the mystery surrounding Faelar had only deepened.
The crowd roared as the next battle began. Kadera, draped in her signature violet robes, faced Aetherius, the armored magic knight with a massive sword crackling with lightning.
Aetherius struck first, closing the gap between them in an instant, his blade swinging downward with terrifying force. Kadera barely managed to conjure a shield, but the sheer impact sent her skidding backward.
"You'll have to do better than that," Aetherius taunted.
Kadera smirked and snapped her fingers. The air around Aetherius shimmered, and suddenly, his limbs felt sluggish. He recognized the spell—Gravity Bind. His movements were now restricted, his speed cut in half.
Taking advantage of the moment, Kadera unleashed a barrage of fire and ice. Aetherius gritted his teeth, enduring the blows before slamming his sword into the ground. A surge of electricity burst outward, breaking the spell's hold on him.
Now free, Aetherius charged forward, moving at lightning speed. Kadera had mere seconds to react. She teleported, reappearing behind him, but he anticipated it. He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing her back once more.
Kadera raised her hands, gathering mana for one final spell. Aetherius did the same. Their energies clashed violently as they unleashed their final attacks. Aetherius' lightning-infused sword cut through Kadera's spell, knocking her out of the ring.
The match was decided—Aetherius was the victor
The tournament had come down to this. The final battle. Emiya stood on one side of the arena, his wounds from the last fight still fresh but his resolve stronger than ever. Across from him, Aetherius adjusted his grip on his sword, the air around him crackling with anticipation.
"Looks like it's just you and me," Aetherius said with a grin. "Let's give them a show."
Emiya nodded. He had already witnessed Aetherius' strength firsthand. This battle would be his greatest challenge yet.
As the announcer signaled the start, the two warriors surged forward, their weapons clashing in an explosion of light and energy. The final battle had begun.
Sparks erupted as their blades met in rapid succession, each strike sending shockwaves through the arena. Aetherius moved with precision, his sword dancing between offense and defense, while Emiya countered with relentless aggression, his fire magic enhancing every strike. With a swift movement, Emiya unleashed a wave of flames, forcing Aetherius to retreat momentarily.
"Not bad," Aetherius admitted before slamming his sword into the ground. A surge of raw energy erupted beneath Emiya's feet, sending him flying backward. He barely managed to recover, landing with a skid as the earth cracked where he had stood moments before.
Undeterred, Emiya conjured fire into his blade, his weapon now glowing with searing heat. He lunged forward, his attacks growing faster and more ferocious. Aetherius parried each strike but was forced onto the defensive. Emiya then leaped into the air, spinning mid-flight as he brought his flaming sword down in a devastating arc.
Aetherius raised his weapon just in time, the impact sending another shockwave rippling through the battlefield. With a quick maneuver, he redirected Emiya's force, sending him crashing into the ground. But before Aetherius could capitalize on the moment, Emiya burst from the dust cloud with a blazing uppercut, fire trailing from his fist.
The two warriors clashed once more, their attacks growing more intense. Aetherius summoned a gust of wind infused with energy, pushing Emiya back before launching a powerful downward slash, crackling with controlled yet potent magic. Emiya barely managed to deflect it, but the force sent him skidding backward.
Panting, both fighters stared at each other, neither willing to back down. Aetherius took a deep breath, his blade humming with energy. This was it—the final strike.
With a roar, Aetherius charged, his sword gleaming with his strongest attack yet. Emiya met him head-on, his flames roaring to life around his weapon. They clashed in a brilliant explosion of power, blinding the audience for a moment.
When the dust settled, Emiya staggered, his sword barely held aloft. Then, his knees buckled, and he fell. Aetherius stood victorious, his sword planted into the ground for support, breathing heavily.
The battle was over. Aetherius had won, but the match would be remembered as one of the most legendary duels in the tournament's history.
Silence filled the arena briefly before a deafening applause erupted from the crowd. Spectators stood, clapping and cheering in awe of the battle they had just witnessed. Emiya, despite his defeat, smiled and extended his hand toward Aetherius.
"That was incredible," Emiya said. "Thank you for this fight."
Aetherius grinned and shook his hand. "Likewise. You pushed me to my limits."
Deva, the announcer, stepped forward, raising his voice over the roaring crowd. "The winner of this grand tournament is Aetherius! As you people know, Aetherius will be reward 10,000 dragon gold coin and a wish will be granting by Elarion King. The 2nd will be reward 6,000 dragon gold coin, 3rd and 4th will be reward 3,000 dragon gold coin."
The cheers grew even louder as Aetherius raised his sword in victory. Though Emiya had lost, he had gained the respect of all, and the tournament would forever be remembered as one of the greatest in history.