I sat in the crowded stadium, surrounded by thousands of spectators, all of them as eager as I was to witness the battle that was about to unfold. The arena floor was spacious, with only two figures standing in the center - King Valtair and Lord Alistair. The outcome of this duel would not only determine who was the strongest but the future of Azurax altogether.

As I watched, I could feel the tension in the air. My eyes were glued to the two demons, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't help but feel envious of Lord Alistair. The things I would do and give, just to be where he stood.

At the rate I was growing, it'd be another twelve years at least before I was strong enough to challenge Valtair. Even though the logical part of me wanted Lord Alistair to win, another part of me secretly wished that he'd lose. I didn't know what or why, or even when this started, but I wanted to be the one who ended Valtair's existence.

"I don't think I'll be able to watch the fight," Cynthia said, her words snapping me back to the present.

I looked down and saw that she was digging her nails into the armrest of her chair.

"Mother, you should have more faith in father. There's no way he'll lose to a second-rate Duke."

"Alistair is no second-rate duke, he comes from an ancient bloodline of powerful lords. The power he possesses is monstrous, and his magic is one of the deadliest in all of Azurax."

"You seem to know a lot about the duke, mother."

Cynthia sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Once upon a time, a very very long time ago, I was betrothed to him."

Wait what?! How did I not know of this?

"I see," I replied, trying to hide the shock from my face. "You've also known Father for a long time. You know better than anyone else what he's truly capable of."

"That's true, Valtair is a very capable warrior. However, Alistair is dangerous. Really dangerous. He's the most unpredictable and explosive fighter in all of Azurax, and I have no doubt in my mind that he'll put Valtair on his back foot."

I'm counting on it...

"Maybe, maybe not, mother. I guess we're about to find out."

Excitement pulsated through my veins as I stood at the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting the start of the fight. However, as I scanned the arena, something peculiar caught my attention. The open field was now enclosed by a shimmering, translucent barrier, which glowed with ethereal energy. It was as if a magical force field had materialized, separating the battle pit from the rest of the world.

As I became increasingly curious, I searched the surroundings curiously, hoping to uncover the source of the obstruction. Suddenly, my attention was captivated by a strange figure in the distance, dressed in a cloak that featured a mesmerizing blend of colors. The figure held its arms outstretched in a gesture reminiscent of prayer, reciting a cryptic incantation in an unfamiliar tongue. To my astonishment, with each uttered word, the magical energy surrounding the barrier became more potent, expanding in density and strength. I couldn't help but ponder the mysterious and arcane forces that were at play.

I should look more into barrier magic. If barrier magic is strong enough to contain the power of a Demon King, it might come in handy one day.

Lost in contemplation, my attention was abruptly yanked back to reality by the resounding blare of a trumpet. The trumpet's blast marked the beginning of the battle, and the atmosphere grew thick with fervent expectation, igniting a fire of excitement within my chest.

Here we go!

Valtair raised his scythe and a crackling sound filled the arena as dark purple lightning began to swirl around the weapon. The spectacle instantly drew a wave of gasps from the crowd.

Alistair tightened his grip on his golden mace, and magic circles covering the weapon began to glow brightly.

Without warning, Alistair charged forward and swung his mace, nearly catching the king off guard. Valtair sidestepped and hurled his scythe, unleashing a bolt of lightning. Alistair reacted swiftly, dodging the attack by jumping and rolling out of the way.

As Alistair got back on his feet, he slammed his mace into the ground with a force that sent shock waves through the arena, causing the ground to tremble beneath our feet. Valtair stumbled but quickly regained his footing and sent another bolt of lightning toward Alistair. This time, Alistair was prepared and deflected the attack with his mace.

I watched as the two mages clashed in the center of the arena, their weapons colliding with such force that it sent sparks flying in all directions. The sound of metal against metal echoed throughout the stadium, as they continued to exchange blows. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering and shouting encouragement to their favorite fighter.

Oh no! Crap!

As the fight progressed, I realized that their movements were becoming harder and harder to track. Their movements were so fast that my eyes struggled to keep up, and soon, I would only hear the sound of their blades clashing.

If I don't use mana, I won't be able to follow their movements... Should I risk it?

I looked around and noticed that everyone around me had their eyes glued to the duel, enraptured by the display of magical prowess.

Screw it, I'm risking it.

Determined not to miss a single detail of the fight, I focused my attention on the fight and felt the mana within me stir. With a surge of energy, I seeped mana into my eyes, hoping to get a better view of the fight. I blinked a couple of times, and like clockwork, my vision sharpened, allowing me to see the fight unfold with greater clarity. The colors were more vibrant, and every detail was sharper, making me feel like I was witnessing the fight up close and personal.

Valtair and Alistair stood at the center of the arena, hurling whirlwinds of attacks at each other. Their movements were fluid as if they were dancing to a silent tune that only they could hear. Valtair's every step was calculated, and Alistair's every move was unpredictable. The air around them crackled with mana as their weapons clashed.

Valtair's scythe gleamed in the bright lights of the explosions. It was a weapon that was both beautiful and deadly. Alistair's mace, on the other hand, was a brutal weapon that shook the ground with every strike. The two weapons were as different as the masters who wielded them.

Valtair conjured a gust of lightning that sent Alistair flying backward. The force of the charge was so strong that it lifted Alistair off his feet. He landed on the ground with a thud, but he quickly regained his balance. His gaze locked on to Valtair, as he wrapped his body in a heavy coat of mana.

If my prediction is right, Alistair is fortifying his body because he's going to close the distance and engage Valtair in close combat...

With a fierce determination in his eyes, Alistair charged towards Valtair with his mace raised high, not backing down from the challenge. Valtair swung his scythe in an attempt to counter, but Alistair was too fast, and easily ducked under the blade.

Seizing the moment, Alistair squeezed his way through Valtair's guard and delivered a powerful blow from his mace, striking the Demon King with incredible force.

A surge of excitement and anticipation filled the arena as Valtair's body flew back, rolling on the ground before coming to an abrupt stop as it hit the barrier. The force of Alistair's blow was enough to leave Valtair momentarily stunned.

For the first time since the start of the fight, Alistair had the upper hand. He had found a weakness in Valtair's defenses and exploited it perfectly.

Yes! That's it, keep the pressure going!

"I don't think I can bear any more of this," Cynthia cried, drawing my attention away from the fight momentarily.

If you can't bear it, then close your eyes, so I can watch this fight in peace!!!

Valtair's face twisted into a scowl as he stood up and brushed the dust off his shoulders. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a crackling ball of lightning in his hand and hurled it at Alistair with deadly accuracy. Alistair's reflexes were quick as he deflected the attack with his mace, sending the lightning bolt ricocheting off toward the edge of the arena.

What a beautiful block! 

"Stop with the lousy attacks," Alistair roared as he closed the distance. "Fight me like a man!"

The audience gasped as they watched the two demons battle it out, their weapons striking with deadly accuracy. The more intense the fight grew, the more I felt my mother's hand on my arm tighten. I could feel the energy in the air, crackling with each clash of their weapons. Even the magic barrier that had been set to contain their powers was beginning to crack from the sheer force of their attacks.

Valtair's lightning was more powerful than anything I had ever seen. It crackled and surged with an intensity that was almost frightening. Alistair's magic circles allowed him to withstand the attacks, but he was clearly struggling to keep up.

As the fight went on, it became clear that Valtair was slowly gaining the upper hand. His lightning was becoming more precise and focused, and his movements were becoming faster and more fluid. Alistair was still powerful, but he was struggling to keep up with Valtair's increasing speed and power.

No! It's not just his speed and power. Everything about him is getting better. His timing, his aim, his pace... Can it be? Can it be that this whole time Valtair was just breaking down Alistair's attack pattern?

Sweat poured down Alistair's face, and his breathing became labored. Contrary to his opponent, Valtair was calm and collected, but I could see a glint of satisfaction in his eyes as he began to overpower Alistair.

In a moment of desperation, Alistair unleashed a massive blast of earth magic toward Valtair. The ground shook with the force of his attack, but as the attack collided with Valtair's scythe, the dark purple lightning surging around his weapon grew even stronger.

SHIT!

In a blur of motion, Valtair swung his scythe with deadly precision, and the blade sliced off Alistair's left arm with a sickening thud. Alistair stumbled backward, his face contorting in agony as he clutched the stump of his arm. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, and I could see the horror and shock on the faces of the audience.

Before anyone could react, Valtair moved behind Alistair with incredible speed, his scythe raised high. Alistair turned just in time to see the blade descending toward him, but it was too late. With a single strike, Valtair decapitated Alistair, and the crowd fell into stunned silence.

For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped. I could see the shock and horror on the faces of the spectators, and I felt sick to my stomach. The energy in the arena had shifted from excitement and anticipation to a sense of dread and unease. As Valtair stood over Alistair's lifeless body, raising his scythe in triumph, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger and jealousy. The power gap between us was wider than ever, and I knew that I had a lot of work to do if I ever hoped to stand a chance against him.

The silence was finally broken by the sound of cheering and applause from the crowd, but it felt hollow and forced. The air was heavy with grief, and I knew that Alistair's death would leave a lasting impact on everyone who witnessed it.

In the eyes of most of the world, this probably seemed like a close fight, that came down to who wanted it most. While both fighters had good and bad moments, the duel was anything but a close fight. I wondered if anyone else had seen what I had seen.

Thinking back on the battle as a whole, Alistair never stood a chance. I couldn't think of a single moment throughout the entire duel where Alistair had a clear shot at winning. Valtair on the other hand was a monster. A cold and calculated killing machine, that processed information at an absurd rate. The only reason Alistair lasted as long as he did was because of his unpredictability. But even that, wasn't enough to stop Valtair once he had gotten used to Alistair's attacks.

I'd just witnessed a one-sided massacre, that had been performed so well, that it didn't seem like one. I hated to admit it, but Valtair was a genius. He probably could have ended the fight the moment the battle began, but he didn't. Hell, he probably didn't even use his true strength. From the very beginning, until the moment Alistair's head left his body, Valtair had been in control of everything.

I knew now, that my initial estimations of Valtair's strength were off. Off by a pretty damn large margin. I needed to speed things up and do a complete one-eighty on my future plans. Living in the palace meant I had to live under constant watch, which limited the amount of training I could do, which limited my growth. I needed to go somewhere far away where I could train to my heart's content, with no restraint. Somewhere quiet and peaceful, away from the prying eyes that lurked in every corner of Valoria. If I stayed in the palace for too much longer, I'd have to say goodbye to my hopes and dreams of closing the gap in strength between Valtair and me.

I can't let that happen! I won't let that happen! I can't fall behind. Not now, not ever.