ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 261: MAGIC PANDORA LOCATED!
The night sky stretched endlessly over Valoria Kingdom, its vast darkness occasionally pierced by the glow of distant stars.
Through this abyss—
Aether soared.
"Can't I just catchy breath for a while?"
His silver-white cloak billowed behind him, the Sword of Dawn gleaming in his grip.
His face was grim.
Because for the past few days—
He had been ambushed.
Again.
And again.
And tonight was no different.
A surge of ominous energy suddenly tore through the air behind him.
Aether's eyes narrowed as he twisted his body—
Deflecting an unseen attack.
But before he could retaliate—
A strange pressure settled over him.
He barely had time to process it when—
A barrier snapped into place around him.
Aether froze as he thought.
'When did this—?!'
A sudden realization struck him.
This was premeditated.
They were expecting him.
Before he could even think about breaking free—
Shadows emerged from the darkness.
They moved without sound, forming a tight circle around him.
Each one covered in dark cloaks from head to toe.
Their auras were thick with malice.
Aether gripped his sword.
His voice was calm, but his mind was calculating.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
None of them answered.
Instead, they merely stood there, waiting.
As if they weren't the ones in control.
As if someone else was.
And then—
A figure emerged from their midst.
Unlike the rest—
This person was not hidden.
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This person was not shrouded in darkness.
Aether's heart stilled.
Because the moment his eyes landed on the figure—
His world tilted.
His grip on his sword tightened as his pupils shrunk in disbelief.
He knew this person.
He has seen this person countless times already.
And now…
"It's you…!"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
But the weight of those words hung in the air
As an unshakable, horrifying truth settled in.
–––––
At the next day, the Valoria Kingdom was alive with an electric atmosphere.
It was the final stage of the Battle Convention.
And the streets were overflowing with people.
"Say, I wonder who will win the battle convention this year"
"Isn't it obvious by now, it's the Dawning of Magic academy"
"Yeah I second that. Besides, I bet my life savings on them so they better win"
"You did what?"
Excitement buzzed in the air as an unprecedented crowd surged toward the grand coliseum.
Merchants hawked their wares, performers entertained on the streets, and nobles arrived in splendid carriages.
Every single citizen was watching.
Because today—
They would witness the Trials of Creation.
A stage not seen since the founding of the convention.
In the highest and most exclusive seating area of the coliseum, all the dignitaries had gathered.
Seated at the center—
King Alexandria sat with an air of quiet dominance.
Beside him—
His son, Crown Prince Lysander, gazed at the arena with measured anticipation.
And next to them, a smug Alden Alexandria leaned back, his expression unreadable.
Behind Alden, his ever-present lackey Griffo stood at attention.
Not far from them—
Chancellor Lockwood had taken his seat, his expression as composed as ever.
Beside him, Chancellor Castenada sat with his good friend Marel, their gazes sharp and observing.
In another section of the VIP area—
A man whose presence commanded fear and respect amongst the commonfolks sat in silence.
Kael Dragonyx.
Beside him, his aged right-hand man stood like an immovable pillar, eyes scanning the coliseum like a sentinel.
And then—
The Elusive First Magi.
His distinctive robes shimmered slightly under the morning light as he sat with a quiet presence.
Seated beside him—
His precious daughter Elena, whose striking beauty and otherworldly aura made her stand out.
But what truly drew attention—
Was the royal-looking elf seated beside them.
His proud yet serene demeanor, his majestic attire, and the undeniable aura of nobility—
Left no doubt.
"Is that an elf?"
"Oh my gosh... That is an elf!?"
"Another elf has graced us with his presence in this event. Now I can die with now regrets"
"You are weird, you know that?"
As soon as the commonfolks saw this elf, a heated discussion began in their midst. But the elf didn't spare them a single glance as his eyes were glued to the arena below.
As the roaring crowd outside grew louder, the dignitaries remained composed, their expressions unreadable.
Because today—
Would be a day to remember.
Meanwhile, the coliseum trembled with excitement as Instead of waiting in their designated sections—
The participants now stood in the arena itself.
Lined up in perfect formation—
Each person radiated an intense, commanding aura.
Some more than others.
Among them, the leaders of their respective groups stood as beacons of raw power.
Forbes, his presence like a silent yet unshakable mountain.
Althea, her ice-cold gaze exuding confidence while her chaos mana run riot all around her.
Aric stood with a transformed demeanor. Instead of his usual air confidence that used to be around him, there is now a subtle aura which replaced it.
Magnus, his sheer size and strength making him look unstoppable.
Mortis, whose mere presence and death qi seemed to distort the air around him.
The Devouring King, standing still, yet giving off a predatory hunger that sent chills down spines.
Alaric, his storm-like aura roaring in defiance.
Kent, who strangely has an amiable smile on his face, is brimming with untamed elemental power.
Vivienne, whose sharp limpid yellow eyes and composed demeanor made it clear—she was ready to dominate.
Each of them stood at the pinnacle.
But—
There were three who were not leaders yet still radiated the same, if not greater, intensity.
Kelvin, his dark aura swirling dangerously, his ambition a blazing inferno.
Kaelen, standing with the Blade of Eternity in hand, his presence a perfect blend of swordsmanship and overwhelming potential.
Sylphie, whose mystical energy hummed like a celestial force that rested on her bow, her focus sharper than ever.
The crowd held their breath.
Because right now—
They weren't just looking at competitors.
They were looking at monsters.
And soon—
Only the strongest would remain standing.
Not long after though, the air above the arena suddenly distorted—
Like a billowing gust of wind taking physical form.
And in the blink of an eye—
A middle-aged man with neatly combed silver hair and piercing blue eyes materialized in midair, his long coat fluttering as if caught in an unseen storm.
His presence alone was enough to command attention.
With a calm yet authoritative voice, he spoke:
"Welcome, one and all!"
His voice boomed across the coliseum, reaching every corner without effort.
"I am Gregory Stillheart, your host for the final stage of this grand event—"
"The Trials of Creation!"
The crowd erupted in excitement—
But those who truly understood the weight of his words felt a chill crawl down their spines.
The Trials of Creation—
A challenge that had never before been included in the Battle Convention.
And yet—
It was happening now.
"Now then, I will reveal the updated rankings of this battle convention"
Gregory raised his hand—
And a massive screen of shimmering light materialized beside him, floating in midair.
Upon it—
The official rankings appeared for all to see:
1. Dawning of Magic Academy – 140 Points
2. Pacesetters Academy – 125 Points
3. Valen Military Academy – 120 Points
4. Stormfell Family – 100 Points
5. Dragonyx Family – 95 Points
6. Ferrum Clan – 80 Points
7. The Royal Chosens – 75 Points
8. Lucent Family – 70 Points
9. Blightmore House – 68 Points
––––
The moment the rankings were revealed—
The atmosphere in the arena shifted.
Some faces remained calm and composed
Others clenched their fists, feeling the weight of their position.
The gap between the top three was razor-thin.
And for those trailing behind—
This was their final chance to change everything.
With a knowing smirk, Gregory glanced at the competitors below.
"Now, with that out of the way—"
"Let's get on with business"
Gregory Stillheart let the tension settle before raising his hand again. His deep voice resonated across the coliseum.
"Now, allow me to explain the final trial—The Trials of Creation."
The crowd fell into a hushed silence, eager to hear the details of this unprecedented challenge.
Right after that, Gregory continued:
"Each team will be transported into a vast pocket dimension, where they will be separated into different sections."
"Within this realm, competitors will face various obstacles—either in the form of their rivals... or the monstrous magical beasts that roam the dimension."
"Your goal?"
His lips curled into a small smirk.
"To escape."
A ripple of unease swept through the gathered contestants.
"There will be only one way out of the pocket dimension—"
"And waiting at the exit will be this."
In the next moment—
A majestic crown suddenly manifested beside Gregory, floating in midair.
It radiated an ethereal light, shimmering with an ancient power that felt as if it could bend reality itself.
—
The moment the crown appeared—
Kaelen Dragonyx's body tensed.
And then—
Ding!
[System Alert!]
[Magic Pandora has been located.]
Kaelen's eyes widened in shock.
'What…?'
His heart pounded as realization hit him like a storm.
The Battle Crown—
Was the Magic Pandora?
—
He had been searching for it.
His system had been guiding him toward it.
Yet never—not even in his wildest thoughts—did he expect that the legendary crown of the Battle Convention would be what he was looking for.
—
Gregory, oblivious to Kaelen's internal turmoil, continued speaking.
"The first team to claim the Battle Crown and bring it back here—"
"Shall be declared the ultimate victors of this year's Battle Convention."
The crowd exploded into cheers.
But Kaelen—
Kaelen was no longer listening.
His mind raced.
'This changes everything.'
