Location: Royal Academy - Dawn
The sun rose over the battered academy.
Kael sat at the balcony of his private room, sipping tea while his companions sparred in the training fields below.
His peace didn't last long.
A royal messenger, cloaked in gold and crimson, knelt before him, trembling slightly.
"Your Highness Kael Elarion Veyr…"
"The Kingdom of Velanor formally invites you to participate in the upcoming Grand Tournament of Sovereigns."
The messenger lifted a scroll — sealed with not just one, but seven royal crests.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
Seven crests? That's unusual.
He broke the seal and read.
About the Grand Tournament
The Grand Tournament wasn't a simple competition.
It was a world-stage event, gathering prodigies from all major kingdoms, royal families, guilds, and academies.
Victory meant glory, alliances, marriages… and political dominance.
But hidden in the scroll's flowery words, Kael sensed something darker:
Certain duel matches were pre-arranged.
Special rules allowed "accidents" during battle.
Powerful ancient artifacts would be granted to the winners — artifacts Kael himself had sealed away thousands of years ago.
In other words—
This wasn't a celebration.
It was a trap.
The Harem's Reactions
Later, in the council room:
Velcia punched the table hard enough to crack the wood.
"It's an execution masked as a tournament."
Zara twirled her spear, grinning.
"Perfect. Let's show them what a real slaughter looks like."
Mira smirked from the shadows.
"I've already memorized every noble who might betray you."
Selene looked thoughtful.
"Rumor says even S-class dungeons will be used during the tournament."
Evelyne pushed her glasses up, her voice calm.
"We should use this opportunity. Let the world see what they tried to destroy."
Ishira, silent until now, stepped forward, her black wing casting a shadow across the map.
"I'll stand with you on the battlefield."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Good," he said. "Because we're not just going to survive this tournament."
He rose, his golden eyes flashing.
"We're going to conquer it."
The Tournament Structure Revealed
According to the invitation:
First Round:
Solo matches against dungeon monsters customized to each fighter's weaknesses.
Second Round:
Team battles in magically constructed arenas — survival of the fittest.
Third Round:
Royal Duels: one-on-one combat between nobles and heirs.
Final Round:
The Labyrinth of Kings — a gigantic dungeon filled with monsters, traps, and ancient relics.
Only those who clear all rounds would be recognized as True Sovereigns.
A New Challenger Appears
Just as Kael finished strategizing, another messenger arrived — this one bloodied, desperate.
"Your Highness… urgent news…!"
He collapsed, revealing a scorched letter branded with an unfamiliar sigil — a flaming sword wrapped by chains.
Kael's gaze hardened.
The Chainblades.
One of the strongest mercenary guilds — once thought wiped out — had resurfaced.
The letter was simple:
"To the Crown Prince Kael,We will be waiting in the Tournament.Prepare to die."
Kael chuckled under his breath.
"They're sending assassins now? How nostalgic."
The Decision
Kael gathered his companions that night under the stars.
"This tournament… it's a declaration of war," he said."Not just against me, but against everything we stand for."
"We'll enter.""We'll crush their champions.""We'll uncover the conspiracies.""And we'll make them regret ever thinking they could chain a god."
Velcia, Zara, Mira, Rayna, Selene, Evelyne, Ishira —They all nodded, eyes burning with shared purpose.
The world thought Kael was a fallen prince.A powerless heir.
Soon, they would understand the truth:
He was the end of empires.The destroyer of false gods.The rebirth of legend.