Chapter 26: Ceremony Finale [1]

The seventh hour had finally arrived, signaling the climax of the ancient Dragon’s Calling Ceremony.

The arena of the Darkstar Family was a sprawling, subterranean colosseum carved from black volcanic basalt and ironwood.

A massive open amphitheater easily as large as two full football fields, designed to accommodate over twenty colossal dragons at once.

Tens of thousands of spectators packed the rising stone tiers in a vibrant sea of banners, silk, and polished armor.

High-born nobles of the Rynchester Duchy, visiting dignitaries from rival territories, and distinguished envoys from the Imperial Capital sat shoulder to shoulder, their chatter filling the air with a electric rumble of anticipation.

Among the elevated diplomatic boxes sat the four high representatives of the allied Duchies, surrounded by their personal honor guards.

If a candidate returned from the Temple of Dragons on foot, it was a brand of eternal shame.

It meant they had failed to establish a bond and were forced to walk back as powerless mortals.

To pass the trial, a true Darkstarian had to return riding high on the back of their claimed dragon, bathed in the divine grace of their newly awakened mana cores.

At the highest level of the grand pavilion sat Duke Oscar von Darkstar.

Draped in his deep crimson regal coat, he leaned back on his scarlet throne with his legs casually crossed.

Standing right behind his shoulder, like a silent statue of death, was Ser Loras Maverick.

He is a renowned veteran Sword Dominator who served as the Duke’s personal blade and right hand.

The Duke’s Guardian Knight.

Flanking the throne were Duke Oscar’s powerful siblings, each accompanied by their own armored Guardian Knights.

There was General Martin van Darkstar, the fourth brother of the Duke and Supreme General of the Ducal Military Command, whose twin sons were participating today.

Beside him sat Lady May van Darkstar, the second sister and Chief Strategist of the Duchy, watching anxiously for her son Jaron.

Further down sat Lord Ivan van Darkstar, the Knight Commander and second brother, whose son Mizuri was also among the candidates.

During the war of succession decades ago, Duke Oscar’s six siblings had not fought among themselves.

Instead, they had united entirely behind Oscar, crowning him as the absolute Patriarch.

No faction within or outside the Duchy dared challenge his rule, bound by both his terrifying personal strength and his legendary 6th-tier dragon’s might.

Who in their right sense would dare challenge the authority of a Sword Demigod?

In the diplomatic box, the young representatives of the foreign Great Houses watched the arena floor with bright, competitive smiles.

"Who do you think takes the top honor today?" Young Master Arex of House Varax asked, swirling his goblet of wine as he leaned forward.

"My money is on the Supreme Commander’s twins."

"Are you blind, Arex?" Young Master Ben chuckled with a broad grin. "It’s obviously going to be the Seventh Young Master, Craig.

The kid was already radiating mana before he even stepped through the obsidian gates!"

Young Master Loren nodded in agreement, offering his own sharp critique, while Lady Alyse remained entirely silent.

As the sole child of her father and the undisputed heiress of the Veraxes Duchy, she simply rested her chin on her hand, her sapphire eyes locked on the sky above, quietly waiting for the boy who had caught her attention.

Suddenly, Duke Oscar rose to his feet.

SHHH—

The instant the Patriarch stood, the deafening roar of tens of thousands of spectators cut off instantly, plunging the vast colosseum into a silence as deep as a graveyard.

Oscar’s booming voice, imbued with martial aura, echoed directly within the minds of everyone present.

"Today, the foundation of the Darkstarian bloodline stands unshakeable!" Oscar declared, his golden eyes sweeping over the silent crowd.

"The future of our realm is forged in fire and steel. Five trueborn Darkstarians entered the sacred sanctuary to claim their heritage and awaken their cores. Now, they return to us—basking in the pride of dragons, reborn as true protectors of the realm!"

A thunderous explosion of cheers and applause shattered the silence, shaking the stone pillars of the arena.

Duke Oscar smoothly took his seat once more.

Minutes passed before the sky above the open arena darkened.

ROOOOOAAAR!

A pair of deafening roars split the clouds. Descending from the high atmosphere were two massive winged beasts.

One with scales as black as pitch, the other a sleek, metallic grey. Riding atop their necks were the twin brothers, Makel and Jakel van Darkstar.

The two dragons circled the arena twice, their wide wings creating powerful gusts of wind, before landing heavily on the stone floor.

The crowd erupted in praise.

The spectators could feel the vibrant, violent pulse of mana radiating from the twins; the draconic grace had opened their pathways, elevating them into superhumans capable of stepping onto the path of high-tier Rankers.

Both had successfully bonded with solid 1st-Tier Dragons.

Moments later, a bright blue dragon cut through the sulfurous clouds, carrying Jaron van Darkstar down to a clean landing beside his cousins.

He too had secured a strong 1st-Tier dragon.

Then came Mizuri van Darkstar.

A collective gasp echoed across the noble stands as Mizuri descended on the back of a ferocious, armored 2nd-Tier Black Dragon, shocking the elders and drawing a proud nod from his father, Knight Commander Ivan.

With four dragons now standing in a formidable line before the Duke’s throne, their young riders dismounted and knelt in respect.

Yet, the primary subject of everyone’s anticipation had not yet appeared.

It was time for the arrival of the Seventh Young Master—Craig von Darkstar.

Five minutes passed. Then ten.

No crimson shadow appeared in the sky.

The air in the arena grew thick with rising tension.

Several rival faction elders and hostile nobles in the lower stands began whispering among themselves, faint, mocking smirks touching their lips as they assumed the youngest son had overreached and failed.

If the seventh young master fails today, he will be kicked out of the Succession War.

A shame of the Darkstar Family.

Even Duke Oscar’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of cold disappointment beginning to flicker in his chest.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Without warning, the sky directly above the arena ruptured.

A shockwave of sheer, suffocating pressure slammed down into the colosseum, instantly extinguishing the ceremonial braziers along the walls.

The four dragons already standing on the arena floor let out terrified whimpers, their legs buckling as they pressed their snouts flat against the stone in absolute, involuntary submission.

"Look at the clouds!" someone screamed from the stands.

Every head in the tens-of-thousands-strong crowd snapped upward.

Through the shattered storm clouds, three massive, terrifying silhouettes descended in formation, blotting out the sun and wrapping the entire grand arena in a blanket of absolute draconic terror.