Eclipse Core Tournament (Part 1)

Chronos: "There are places I need to go, Attila. See you in a few million years… if you survive, of course."

Attila: "The only one whose survival is in question here is you, Chronos. I’ve got things to do too. If you don’t want your sentence doubled, read what I brought you, Lordhair."

Lordhair, with a slight smile: "Yeah, yeah… I’ll read it."

Chronos and Attila left Lordhair’s cell, and Lordhair picked up a book and began to read.

After Silhou’s command to organize the tournament, warriors from across the nation had poured into the capital. It took about a week for them all to gather, and during that time, the arena had been fully prepared for the grand event.

In the Realm of Shadows, where darkness reigned supreme, stood a legendary arena known for its immense size—Eclipse Core Arena. Under the black sun, bathed in the dim light of a blood-red sky, the arena exuded an oppressive aura. Dark clouds drifting across the sky deepened its ominous atmosphere. The arena was protected by a force that was both physical and spiritual. Heavily armored guards held every entrance firmly. According to some, these guards were special entities bound to the place by divine will.

The arena floor was paved with dark gray stones—stones blackened over the ages by the footprints and blood of countless warriors. Fine crimson cracks occasionally appeared on the ground, a natural tremor caused by the energy radiating from the Eclipse Core. Rising at the center, the Core pulsed with power, surrounded by crimson rings orbiting a glowing black sphere that challenged the very heavens. The energy emanating from the Core filled the entire arena with tension and anticipation.

The roars and cheers echoed from the massive stands filled with a crowd that had gathered from every corner of the Realm of Shadows to support their champions. The stands glowed with shadow flames flickering in the mist—flames that seemed to respond to the pulses from the Eclipse Core.

One of the giant gates of the arena creaked open. The crowd instantly fell silent. A graceful yet commanding figure stepped inside: Silhou. The sapphire glow of his medallion pulsed in sync with the Eclipse Core. He walked slowly, with purpose, toward the center of the arena. His eyes were calm, yet sharp—analyzing every detail around him.

Silhou stopped right in front of the Eclipse Core. The glow of the black sun cast an imposing light on his back, making him appear even more powerful and awe-inspiring. After ensuring complete silence, he spoke in a clear, commanding voice:

“The championship will begin with four groups in a battle royale format.”
“Then, the winners of Groups 1 and 2 will face each other, as will the winners of Groups 3 and 4. The victors of those matches will meet in a one-on-one final.”

He paused, turned his gaze toward the Eclipse Core, and took a deep breath.

“And the final match… will decide our champion.”

As Silhou’s voice echoed throughout the arena, the crowd erupted into wild cheers. The crimson rings near the Core pulsed brighter. The guards stood ready to control the chaos, but the excitement of the people was unstoppable.

Before stepping back, Silhou glanced once more at the crowd. His expression remained calm, but the depth in his eyes made it clear—this tournament was no ordinary contest. The one who would determine the fate of the Eclipse Core would not only be the strongest… but the one with the greatest will.

As Silhou’s announcement faded, a deep gong rang out. Under the red sky and the glowing black sun, Eclipse Core Arena roared to life with violent battles. A hundred warriors, each with their own unique style and powers, began to clash. Enhanced with cyberpunk technology and mechanical limbs, they fought fiercely across the massive arena. The sounds of metal and energy bursts rang out, shaking the air with chaos.

Near the center of the arena, the battle grew deadlier. Flux was the most striking figure—positioned right in the heart of the chaos. Inspired by the energy of the Eclipse Core itself, Flux's appearance was mesmerizing. His body was clad in black armor streaked with neon-blue lights. The energy veins on the suit glowed with every movement, revealing the immense power within him. His expression was cold and focused, and his mechanical eyes scanned every detail, tracking his enemies. A high-powered energy generator on his left shoulder hummed constantly, building up force.

Flux suddenly paused and slammed his hands into the ground. Cracks spread across the arena floor. Enemy warriors were blasted away by surging waves of energy. A roar burst from his throat:

“With this power, none of you will even get close to the Eclipse Core!”

An enormous explosion followed. Pure energy radiated from his hands, consuming the battlefield. The blast was so powerful that many warriors near the center were knocked flat—some with shattered armor, others completely motionless.

The shockwave reached the outer zones as well. Nearby fighters tried to dodge the energy surges, but Flux didn’t let up. His attacks widened, unstoppable. One panicked warrior screamed:

“That’s not a man! What kind of power is this?!”

One by one, the fleeing fighters were overwhelmed by Flux’s overwhelming energy.

As the smoke and screams faded, Flux stood tall. Silence fell over the battlefield—like a graveyard. The energy waves circling his glowing armor declared him the sole survivor of the first round.

The crowd burst into cheers. Thousands applauded, their voices filled with awe and fear. The energy near the Eclipse Core intensified, echoing in sync with Flux’s power.

The audience fell silent for a moment in reverence—then roared louder than ever. Flux’s performance had inspired both admiration and terror.

Just then, Silhou reentered the arena. Walking slowly and gracefully, he approached the Eclipse Core again. The sapphire glow of his medallion shimmered at his neck, reflecting the cheers surrounding him. A calm smile appeared on his face as he approached Flux.

Standing before him, Silhou observed the aftermath. His eyes studied Flux’s strength and resolve. A sense of authority settled over the crowd as Silhou spoke in a strong, clear voice:

“Flux, you are the victor of the first group in the Realm of Shadows. You’ve proven that your strength can stand against the destructive energy of the Eclipse Core.”

As Silhou’s words echoed, the crowd erupted again:
"Flux! Flux! Flux!"

The stands trembled. Cheers rose like a wave across the arena. Flux looked around quietly, absorbing the moment.

He gave a final glance at the Eclipse Core before calmly preparing to leave the arena. A silent determination rested on his face.

The sky remained draped in crimson, the black sun still burning above the Eclipse Core, as the second group of fighters entered the arena. Their numbers reached a hundred, all adorned with mechanical armor, futuristic weapons, and soaked in cyberpunk aesthetic. Each was ready to fight to the death—to reach the Core.

Explosions, clashing weapons, and energy blasts filled every corner of the vast arena. Spiral paths and rising platforms increased the complexity of the battle. While the crowd was still reeling from the thrill of the first match, the second group unleashed an even more intense and chaotic fight.

Amidst the chaotic sound of battle, there was one area completely dominated by a single figure: Shade. He suddenly emerged from one of the arena’s darkest corners. His black cloak fluttered in the wind, exuding an aura of dazzling mystery and cold lethality. In his hand, he held a black sword pulsing with dark energy. This sword was imbued with both physical and spiritual power; each strike instantly made the air in the arena heavier.

Shade glided through the shadows toward a more crowded part of the arena. His goal was clear: to completely dominate the battlefield. He raised his energy-charged sword and suddenly began to spin around his axis. His movement gained speed rapidly, and the dark energy emitted from the sword spread across the arena in spiraling waves.

“The Black Blade of Death!”  Shade’s voice echoed. The dark and deadly energy swept across the battlefield like a storm.

His strike instantly engulfed the arena in darkness. The spiraling slashes acted like a trap for the fighters, and each energetic cut brought them down one by one. Black traces of energy remained on the ground, and the force of the attack caused the entire arena to fall into a brief silence. One by one, the fighters around Shade collapsed; mechanical armors shattered, weapons clattered to the ground, and screams of retreat echoed in the air.

Despite the deadly attack, four figures had survived. They had managed to defend themselves with remarkable speed—whether by magical shields, extreme agility, or reflexes that pushed the limits of mechanics, they had resisted Shade’s onslaught.

When Shade finally slowed and stopped, a deadly silence ruled the arena. The spiraling strikes had left marks on the ground like a dark masterpiece. As he lowered his sword, his eyes scanned the four survivors. His breathing was steady; it was clear this power was merely a standard skill for him.

The crowd remained quiet for a moment. Then, a wave of cheers filled the arena—mixed with awe and fear. Shade allowed a faint smile to flicker beneath his dark aura, then vanished back into the shadows with his black cloak trailing behind.

Amid the apocalypse, only four remained: Shade, Manor, Morghulis, and Metrogh. As the red light of the black sun fell upon the arena floor, cracked and bloodstained, the survivors prepared for the final battle that would seal their fates.

Shade stepped forward with heavy steps, his dark cloak flowing behind him. His black sword still shimmered with dark energy, radiating death. His cold gaze scanned the remaining warriors. In a low, dark voice, he murmured:

“You’ve survived… but that doesn’t mean you’ve escaped the shadow of death.”

With that, Shade withdrew to one of the arena’s corners, preparing his next move. He was planning a strategy to use the dark zones of the arena to his advantage, turning the shadows into shields.

Directly across from him, Manor stood firm behind his magical shield, pulsing with arcane energy. It had protected him from Shade’s deadly assault. Determination gleamed in Manor’s eyes. Raising his shield, he stepped forward and shouted:

“Your dark energy won’t shake me, Shade! I’ll prove the power of my shield!”

Manor transformed his shield into a wave of energy and hurled it toward Shade’s position. The wave dispersed the shadows, exposing Shade’s hiding place. Narrowing his eyes, Shade dodged the attack but lost his advantageous position.

As the shadows were cleared, Morghulis stepped forward with a swift sword strike. One of the arena’s most skilled swordsmen, he had managed to withstand Shade’s initial strike. Their blades clashed—Shade’s dark sword met Morghulis’ metallic blade charged with energy, sending a ringing clang through the arena.

Morghulis fought strategically, striking from different angles with fast, sharp attacks to disrupt Shade’s dark techniques. But Shade parried each blow with graceful agility.

When Morghulis pressed harder, trying to corner Shade, the shadow warrior plunged his blade into the ground, raising a new wave of darkness. In an instant, he vanished from sight, only to reappear behind Morghulis for a sudden counterattack.

Amid the chaos, Metrogh—who had narrowly escaped Shade’s initial onslaught—remained still, uncertain. Lacking a solid strategy or strong defense, he stood frozen as Shade and Morghulis dueled. That brief hesitation cost him dearly. A wave of energy erupted from Shade’s blade, targeting Metrogh.

With eyes wide in fear, Metrogh was struck in the chest and flung backward. Cries erupted from the crowd. He collapsed on the arena floor, motionless.

With Metrogh eliminated, Shade turned his focus to Manor and Morghulis. But Manor had already summoned his magical shield again and was rapidly closing in. Shade retreated with his usual dark agility, but Manor’s energy waves began to restrict his movements.

Morghulis tried to take advantage of the moment and approach Shade from behind. But Shade, sensing the move, unleashed a massive energy burst from his sword, forcing Morghulis back. The swordsman attempted one final maneuver, spinning his blade toward Shade’s left side—but Shade coated his sword in dark energy and neutralized the attack. With a single, devastating strike, he flung Morghulis back. The warrior hit the ground and lay still.

Manor then stood alone against Shade. With a massive defensive move, he met Shade’s black blade head-on. The clash sent out powerful shockwaves across the arena. Darkness and light collided once more as the two fought for dominance.

Shade, his cloak whipping in the wind, locked eyes with Manor. His sword vibrated with shadow energy, exuding pure menace. Manor, gripping his shield with both hands, glowed with radiant arcane power, trying to counterbalance the darkness. Anticipating another attack, Manor took a defensive stance.

Shade launched himself forward. His black sword cut through the air like death itself, but Manor raised his shield. The weapons clashed, sending sparks flying and energy crackling. The arena roared as spectators screamed at the intensity of the fight.

Manor pushed back, transforming his shield into a wave of magical energy that forced Shade to retreat. Shade took a step back and began planning again, using the shadows to surround Manor’s defenses. But Manor strengthened the shield’s aura, weakening the shadows' influence.

To break the magical wall, Shade increased his speed. He slashed again, sending spiral waves of energy spinning around Manor. But the warrior expanded his shield to disperse them. Above them, the black sun’s eerie light collided with arcane brilliance—painting a dazzling spectacle across the sky.

Though Manor’s strong defense seemed unbreakable, Shade did not falter. He summoned the shadows once more. Spiraling patterns swirled on the arena floor, and Shade disappeared into the darkness. Manor watched every detail closely, his shield fully active. Any threat from the shadows would be instantly met with defense.

Suddenly, Shade struck from the shadows, targeting Manor’s left flank. His sword hit a weak point in the shield, cracking its energy for a brief moment. Manor, countering quickly, unleashed a powerful energy blast at Shade.

Dodging the energy wave, Shade launched one final attack. Raising his sword, he released a massive wave of dark energy that filled the entire arena. Manor tried to shield himself—but Shade’s power was stronger than ever.

The black blade shattered the magical shield. Manor was forced back, but Shade didn’t let up. With a single, fatal strike, he brought Manor down. The warrior collapsed—his arcane energy fading, his strength depleted.

Shade stood alone in the center of the arena. His dark sword still hummed with shadow energy. For a moment, the crowd fell silent—then they erupted:

“SHADE! SHADE! SHADE!”

Under the black sun, Shade, who was one step closer to the fate of the Eclipse Core, had emerged victorious from this battle as the dark warrior of the Shadow Realm

Marc, with his strong build and determined stance, was not one of the most ordinary eyes in the arena. His face had hardened as he saw Shade eliminate all the warriors one by one and his ultimate victory, and his eyes had turned into a confused expression. He could clearly feel the energy emitted from the black sword. This darkness had been hidden somewhere within the nation and now appeared to merge with the fate of the Eclipse Core.

Marc turned to Mythos, thrusting his chest forward violently. There was an uncontrollable astonishment in his voice: "I didn't know there was such a dark warrior in the nation. This man is not just a warrior, he is like a dark warrior."

Marc's words were also heard by the other figures around the stands. The effect of the terrifying dominance that Shade had created could be felt not only on the arena floor, but also in the stands.