Chapter 30 — The SHOCK Reveal: “Mirrorblade Lives!”

The arena was alive with anticipation, every eye fixed on the unfolding battle. Rogan Thorne, the Rank 4 Colosseum Champion, faced the masked master whose skill had left even seasoned fighters in awe. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the sound ringing like thunder through the grand hall.

Every move Kaelen made was precise, fluid, and almost impossible to predict. Rogan attacked relentlessly, but each strike was met with flawless counters, mirrored and amplified. The audience could hardly believe what they were witnessing.

Then, in a single, swift motion, Kaelen transformed his Morphblade from spear to sword, disarming Rogan and pointing the tip at his chest. The crowd gasped, some whispering in disbelief.

Rogan’s face twisted with shock and anger. “How… how can you know my style so perfectly?!”

Kaelen stepped back, finally lowering his hood slightly, allowing the light to reveal a glimpse of his face. Golden eyes, calm and unreadable, met Rogan’s, and a hush fell over the arena.

“You…” Rogan breathed, recognition dawning. “The Mirrorblade… Kaelen Drayce… you’re… alive?”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Whispers turned into exclamations: The Mirrorblade… he lives… he’s here!

Prince Aric’s jaw dropped, and Princess Lysandra’s eyes widened in astonishment. Even the King and nobles were stunned. Kaelen, the undefeated colosseum champion, the legend who had left the arena 2 years ago, had returned—and he stood before them, as formidable as ever.

Kaelen’s voice, calm and unwavering, echoed across the arena. “I left the colosseum two years ago, not out of fear or weakness, but because the people no longer understood what it meant to be strong. They accused me of cheating… of being unworthy. I fought not to defeat others, but to learn, to adapt, and to grow. And now, I am here.”

Rogan’s hands tightened around his sword. “You… left because they didn’t understand? You were my goal… the wall I swore to surpass! And you abandoned us?!”

Kaelen’s expression softened slightly. “I did not leave out of convenience or pride. Every fighter you face here… every one of them has the potential to surpass me. That is why I teach, guide, and test. Not to be worshipped, but to inspire growth. You have your own path, Rogan. Your strength is your own.”

The arena erupted into cheers, disbelief, and awe. The knights whispered among themselves, the princess’s eyes glimmered with curiosity and admiration, and Aric’s mind raced with a mix of pride and shock. His mentor—the man who had guided him, protected him, and taught him the art of combat—was none other than the legendary Mirrorblade himself.

Rogan took a step back, respect and determination burning in his eyes. “So it’s true… you are the Mirrorblade. Then I will fight you, not as a rival, but as the challenge I’ve sought for years.”

Kaelen nodded, the Morphblade shifting seamlessly between forms. “Then show me everything you’ve learned. Let us see who has truly grown.”

The first strike rang out, and the arena held its collective breath. The Royal Grand Tournament had changed forever. The legend of the Mirrorblade had returned, not as a shadow of the past, but as a living force, ready to shape the kingdom’s destiny, the fate of its warriors, and the course of history itself.