"It's happening in a few hours… I'm nervous," Sarah whispered.
It was rare to see her like this. Even in front of Alex, she always stayed calm. She was one of the most composed people he had ever t. But this—this was about the fate of the world. Even the strongest hearts trembled when everything was at stake.
Alex stepped closer, gently wrapping his arm around her waist. "Wife," he said softly, his voice steady and sincere, "do you trust your husband?"
There was no teasing in his tone, no smile—just a simple, honest question.
She didn't answer right away. Then, with a small nod, she said, "Yes, I do… but once you're there, things won't be in your hands."
"I just needed to know that you trust ," Alex cut in gently. "Because if you do, then believe this—I'll make things right. I don't know how. I don't even know why I feel this sure. But once I step onto that floating arena, sothing tells I'll find a way to bend everything in my favor."
It wasn't pride. It wasn't arrogance. It was instinct—a deep, unshakable feeling that he would rise, no matter what those bastards threw at him.
Sarah sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. "I don't know how you'll do it," she said quietly, "but if anyone can, it's you."
Alex smiled and kissed her, slow and warm.
-----**-----
"Here." Amanda handed him a mug of hot chocolate, the steam curling in the air between them.
Edric took it with a quiet "Thanks" and then sipped. The rich, sweet warmth spread through him and made him sigh. "It's perfect—strong, sweet, just how I like it."
He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Amanda laughed softly. "After being with you this long, it would've been a sha if I hadn't figured that out."
"It's been over two years already," Edric murmured. "Ti really flies."
He could still rember how it all began—during the school contest in their second year. Amanda had been losing badly. She was hurt, cornered, her opponent relentless. Edric couldn't stand it. Rules be damned—he had jumped into the arena, beaten the other guy down, and carried her out.
That mont had changed everything.
Amanda leaned her head against his shoulder, voice quiet. "You know… I used to worry. That I wasn't good enough for you. That maybe I was just pushing my feelings on you."
"That's why I've been trying so hard—to get stronger, to grow with you. I didn't want to be soone you had to carry."
"You never were a burden," Edric said gently. "Not then, not now." He turned and kissed the top of her head.
Amanda closed her eyes. In his arms, everything felt calm. Safe. She wished ti would stop right there.
But it wouldn't.
Soon, the gates to the Trials would open. Edric would step into the unknown, and she would be left behind—waiting, wondering, fearing.
Her fingers tightened slightly around his sleeve.
Edric felt it. He pulled her closer. "I could say everything will be fine," he said, "but that would only give you peace for a mont. So instead, I'll tell you the truth. I might not win, but I will survive. I will find a way to ascend to the upper realm."
Amanda gave him a small, sad smile. "I hope so. I really do. But… will you?"
He sighed, quietly. "Yes. Now stop asking, okay?" He hugged her tightly, not letting her see the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Amanda knew him too well. If things didn't go his way, Edric would fight to the end—and if things ca down to either death or ascending alone, he would simply die trying to win.
And sohow, that made her love him even more.
------**------
A few hours later, the sky suddenly shifted, bathed in a faint greenish glow. The light broke through everyone's thoughts like a whisper-turned roar, pulling every gaze upward.
It was the sa eerie hue that had painted the skies the day the Celestial Decrees first descended.
People began to gather outside. Contenders, their loved ones, and the rulers of all four nations stood shoulder to shoulder, staring at the heavens. The air buzzed with tension, thick and unspoken.
"It's happening…" Adolf murmured, eyes wide, the strange light reflected in them. Under different circumstances, the sight might have been breathtaking. But now, it only tightens the knots in every stomach.
A beautiful on draped in dread.
Across the world, people left their hos and looked to the skies, united by the sa realization:
The mont had co.
The ten chosen warriors were about to begin their journey—
A journey that would decide the fate of everything.
Edric and Amanda stood hand in hand, their fingers tightly laced as the sky above them twisted into a swirling whirlpool of light. It moved rapidly in their direction, cutting through the greenish glow like a spinning blade.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. So people instinctively stepped back, fear tugging at their heels. Others held their ground, fully aware that if whatever was coming ant harm—no wall, no weapon, no willpower could stop it.
The swirling light slowed, its mist thinning.
And then, she appeared.
A young woman hovered in the air, calm and composed. Her golden eyes shimred like suns, and her long hair mirrored that sa radiant hue. A pair of majestic wings stretched from her back, feathered and glowing, casting a soft light across the gathering.
Her beauty was ethereal, otherworldly, but it was the aura surrounding her—silent, overwhelming—that pressed on everyone's shoulders, urging them to bow, to kneel, to submit.
When she finally spoke, her voice carried across the silence like wind over still water.
"Greetings, residents of Nebula. I am the guide assigned to escort the ten chosen warriors to the venue of their Trials."
Her tone was flat, emotionless—spoken like soone bound to duty, not desire.
But no one minded.
The one who stepped forward was the Vampire Lord, "Greetings. Can I ask you if there is any restriction or rule we need to be aware of before sending our champions?"
The angel slowly shook her head, "There are no rules that should concern you at the mont other than the numbers you can send. The rules during the battle would be relayed once the contenders reach the venue." She calmly responded.
"Understood." Azeroth turned towards the others before saying, "So you heard. We just need to send our warriors."
The ten warriors were required and all of them were here.
Three beasts, who chosen by Natasha and Alex.
Quinton was standing alone and ready to leave.
Natasha was standing with Alice in her arms, the little girl had tears in her eyes as Natasha tried to console her.
There was another Vampire who was ranked Duke and a good friend of Quinton.
Rebecca and Edric were standing side by side, with Amanda standing on the other side while holding his hand.
And other than them, two elves could be seen there, ready to advance.
Edric turned towards Amanda and wordlessly gave her a brief but strong kiss.
Once their lips parted he said, "I will be back. I promise."
Amanda held his hand and said, "I know...I will wait for you."
The others as well, said their goodbyes to their loved ones.
Alice, sohow cald down as Natasha promised her that she would be back after she learns how to eat by herself. The little girl was determined to learn it soon, so Natasha returned soon.
Natasha handed the little one to her father and told him, "Take care of her...and yourself. You are already old so don't move around much."
Azeroth warmly smiled at her as he rested his hand on top of his daughter's head and told her, "I won't be able to manage things alone so co back as soon as you can."
Natasha humd before she gave them a hug.
The ten warriors soon stepped forward and faced the angel.
The winged being was about to open the gates when suddenly,
"Ah, I wasn't late, was I?"
A person suddenly appeared before them, startling everyone.
"Huh..."
"Is...this a ghost?"
"You are freakin alive?!"
The reactions varied as everyone present was aware that Alex was dead. Of course except for a few people.
Azeroth and Victor only were the ones who didn't show surprise since they already knew.
The angel who ca to take them had a frown on her face since she clearly discerned the being's identity. The darkness was quite vivid around him
"There are already ten participants. You cannot join." She bluntly told him.
Alex grinned upon hearing those words as he said, "You don't need to worry about that." As those words left his lips one of the two elves lowered his head and greeted Alex,
"Good to see you, Father."
"Eh?!"
"Huh?"
"....what?"
This ti, Rebecca, Celestria, and Jullie were shocked.
Father? Alex? When did it happen?
Sarah approached them and told them the truth.
Actually, that elf was the third child of the Curse whom Alex found a few months ago.
Seeing the candidate leaving his spot for the Curse, the angel gritted her teeth, 'He is going to be a huge headache.'
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Cry about it.
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