My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 891: The Battle for heirship (Part-1)

Camelot;

Zion sat on the edge of the cliff overlooking the vast, snowy expanse of the White Mountains. His eyes, distant and unfocused, stared out into the horizon.

Fiona's words echoed in his mind, like a constant, unyielding tide crashing against his thoughts.

"Let's have a break and have a ten-year pact, Zion. If we still hold the same feelings after five years, we can marry, defying everything. If we've moved on, then... there's that."

A bitter smile crossed Zion's face. Five years... The words weighed heavily on him. "Why must we choose between family and love?"

His mind wandered back to her—Fiona—her face filled with both sorrow and resolve. The look in her eyes had been clear: she wasn't just breaking up with him; she was sacrificing her happiness for everyone around her. They weren't in a relationship for even three days, but the pain of the breakup hit him a lot harder than he expected.

"But we deserve happiness," he had said, back then. "Why must we suffer for their desires?"

And she had answered him in a voice that trembled with conviction. "Because they are family."

Zion's gaze darkened as he thought about the choices they faced. How could they both just give up? Wasn't love worth fighting for? Didn't he owe it to himself to try, to fight for her? To fight for them?

"What if we're both wrong?" "What if my mother's right that our love wasn't actually real?" "What if we only think we're in love because we're both just... lonely?" "If we think about it, my attraction toward her stemmed from that loneliness."

He slammed his fist against the rock beside him, the pain shocking him back to reality. "No. I can't let that be the reason. She means more to me than just loneliness. She's my choice. She's my future."

But even as he thought it, doubt crept in. Five years. A pact. A test of their feelings. And in the meantime, everything would change.

Zion's fingers trembled as he looked down at the snow beneath him. The chill in the air was nothing compared to the cold inside him.

He could still see her face clearly in his mind, hear her voice, the way she said "Let's have a break."

"How could I wait five years for that... for nothing?" He whispered aloud to the empty mountains, the words slipping into the wind. "But how can I let her go...?"

Zion stood up, his body tense, his mind spinning. "I risked everything to be with you, Fiona, but now…" He closed his eyes, the weight of her absence pressing against his chest. "You left me with no face to even face my mother now."

A bitter laugh escaped his lips, but it was hollow, a laugh with no humor. "Alright, we will leave it to destiny. If we are destined, five years won't change a thing."

*

One week later;

Garcia family compound, Death Clan Village;

The sun hung high above the training grounds, casting long shadows across the sandy arena where the six participants stood.

Azzy stood at the edge of the platform, watching the group, his face calm but his eyes sharp, taking in the tension between the contenders.

The atmosphere was charged, each individual knowing that this was no ordinary competition. This was a battle for the future of the Garcia family.

The platform was a large square, encased in an invisible barrier of energy that shimmered slightly. The rules, or rather the lack of them, were simple.

Azzy's voice broke the silence, calm and commanding as he addressed the participants.

"The rules are none. Use whatever means. All six of you will fight in a royal rumble. Just throw people over the barrier or knock them out. Team up against others. Tire everyone out. There's no time limit. The last one living in the barrier will be the heir candidate for the Garcia family and will be appointed with the title of prince or princess. Good luck."

The words echoed across the arena as Azzy stepped back, his eyes scanning the participants. The tension among them was palpable. The families watching from the sidelines were equally silent, some eager, others apprehensive.

Izora and Vesyrn stood together, but their cold distance was unmistakable. Izora's arms were crossed tightly, her eyes glaring at Vesyrn as if trying to burn through him with sheer force of will.

Beside her, Vesyrn's hands were clasped behind his back, his smile wan and somewhat strained. Azzy stood between them, sensing the discomfort between his parents.

The competitors, however, were focused entirely on each other.

Orion was the first to step forward, his posture relaxed as if he wasn't that enthusiastic about winning this battle.

Fiona stood next to him, her icy blue aura surrounding her like a shield. She looked calm but determined.

Affea stood slightly apart, her arms at her back. She looked even more relaxed than Orion. However, the difference between them is that Orion doesn't care about the result, while Affea seems quite confident.

Malgrim, with his wild, unkempt appearance and dark eyes, stood opposite her with a sly grin playing on his lips.

Sierra stood near the far corner of the platform, her eyes scanning the others with an almost predatory precision. She had a reputation for being ruthless and calculated. Many of the younger Garcia family members feared her, but she had a certain elegance to her cruelty.

Lastly, Elon was the quiet one, his eyes trained downward. He was the least known of the six, an outsider to many, but his ability was not to be underestimated. He was a wildcard in this competition, and no one knew how he would act when pushed to the edge.

The platform was silent for a moment as they all sized each other up, waiting for the clan head to give his signal.

Azzy's voice rang out once again, sharp and commanding.

"Begin."

At his signal, the six competitors surged forward, their movements lightning fast.

Orion's eyes closed as he began to absorb the natural energy from the surroundings.

Malgrim, standing near the edge of the platform, let out a low, chilling laugh. His Death Staff materialized in his hands, an object that radiated the dark energy of death. He muttered an incantation under his breath, and as he did, the very ground seemed to shake as he unleashed his signature skill: Rise of the Undead.

From the depths of the ground, bones began to rise—first one, then many. A skeleton appeared before him, formerly a 9-star Arcana Master. Its hollow eyes glowed faintly as it stood ready to follow Malgrim's every command.

Sierra, ever the strategist, was quick to act. Her fiery presence flared as she summoned her platinum-grade Arcana spirit—a Fire Pegasus. The majestic creature materialized with a roar, its wings spread wide and flames licking the edges of its hooves. Even though she was a rank-7, her spirit was powerful enough to rival a rank-8 Arcana Master, making her a formidable opponent.

Elon, the youngest and least powerful of the six, didn't let that deter him. He, too, summoned his Arcana spirit—a golden Lightning Saber. It crackled with static electricity, its form nimble and sharp, ready for battle.

Meanwhile, Affea continued to remain still. She didn't move from the spot.

And then, Malgrim, ever the instigator, shouted. "Elon, Sierra, please work with me. Lady Affea here is the biggest threat of all. Let's take her out first!"

The challenge hung in the air. Malgrim's undead minion, the skeletal 9-star Arcana Master, crept forward, his hollow eyes fixated on Affea.

Sierra's fire Pegasus pawed the ground, its flames flickering as if to respond to Malgrim's command.

Elon, though hesitant, stepped forward, his Lightning Saber crackling in the air. His instincts told him that Affea would be a dangerous opponent, and Malgrim was offering an opportunity to take her down early.

But Affea? She simply stood there, as if she were listening to the wind. A calm smile danced on her lips, and she tilted her head slightly as she assessed the three of them.

"I'll give you a head start," Affea said softly, her voice almost a taunt. "But I hope you don't waste it."

Malgrim's face twisted in anger. He had been expecting resistance, but not this kind of confidence. He motioned to Sierra and Elon to move in, and they obeyed, each taking their position. The skeletal Arcana Master stepped forward, its bone-chilling presence radiating death.

But as soon as the three of them moved, Fiona was already in motion. Her divine form, Chione, stepped forward with immense grace and power, her presence overwhelming. A blast of cold air swept through the arena as she raised one hand, directing the wind and ice towards the three competitors.

Sierra launched her Fire Pegasus at Fiona, but Fiona countered with a freezing wave that enveloped the creature, forcing it to retreat. Malgrim's undead skeleton tried to rush in, but Chione's massive foot stomped the ground, creating a shockwave that shattered the bones of the undead minion. Malgrim cursed under his breath, and even though his skeleton regenerated, it took a moment to recover.