Imperial awakens from an dream that hints at a mysterious destiny tied to a forgotten prophecy. As he rushes to watch his brother Kai compete in a grand tournament, memories resurface—of a dark warning whispered years ago. The vibrant city of Ardent Vale comes alive around him, but Imperial's heart carries the weight of a secret he never chose. Now, at the gates of the legendary Valorian Arena, his real journey quietly begins.
The Valorian Arena—pride of the Central Empire—was where legends were forged. And today, it was where Imperial's brother would shine.
Imperial's gaze swept across the crowd. Nobles in fine silk and polished armor stood beside commoners in simple tunics, all united by their desire to witness power and skill. The scent of heated stone and fresh earth mingled with the cool breeze that whispered through the open arena.
"Imperial!"
A familiar voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts. Imperial turned to see his brother, Kai Alden, approaching with a confident stride. Kai looked every bit the warrior he was destined to become.
"I was beginning to think you'd miss this," Kai teased, flashing a grin.
Imperial managed a small smile.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Kai's grin softened, becoming more genuine. He clapped a hand on Imperial's shoulder, the weight of his grip both reassuring and steady.
"Good. I'll need all the luck I can get."
"You don't need luck," Imperial murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You're stronger than you know."
Kai's eyes lingered on Imperial for a moment, as if sensing the heaviness in his brother's heart. But before he could speak, the booming voice of the announcer echoed through the arena:
"Let the final round… begin!"
A hush fell over the crowd as two figures stepped onto the battlefield.
What?! I missed the action already?!
Imperial's heart sank—then sighed with relief.
At least I made it in time for the final.
Kai took a deep breath and gave Imperial a final nod before descending the stone steps to the arena floor. Imperial's chest tightened as he watched his brother's confident stride, unease stirring beneath his calm exterior.
Opposite Kai stood his rival—Zeran Drake.
Zeran was considered one of the finest fire users in the empire. Despite his formidable power, he had never managed to defeat Kai. Their record stood at 5–0, all in Kai's favor.
But Zeran knew those were only practice matches.
All those losses could be erased with one real victory.
"So," Zeran's voice echoed across the arena, laced with mocking amusement.
"The prodigy of the Alden family finally graces us with his presence."
Kai's expression remained calm, his gaze unwavering.
"Let's see if your fire is as fierce as your tongue, Zeran."
A low murmur swept through the crowd as tension thickened in the air.
Imperial's fists clenched, his pulse pounding in his ears. He had seen Kai and Zeran spar before—
both hailed from noble families tied by generations of friendship.
But this was different.
This wasn't training.
This was a battle where victory demanded everything.It marked the beginning of a journey—a first step toward rising to greatness, toward one day becoming an Emperor.
In this world, magical power is classified into ranks, from E-Rank Magic all the way up to S+ Rank Magic. Each empire is governed by an Emperor and a Royal Council, with the Royal Army under their command. The head of this army is the General, a figure of immense power and responsibility.
For anyone dreaming of becoming an Emperor, the path begins with earning points—the first opportunity to do so is through participation in this tournament. This competition is seen as the starting point for all who aspire to rise.
Once a participant proves their worth here, they can enlist in the Royal Army as a soldier. If they demonstrate exceptional strength and skill, they may be placed in a squad. From there, completing missions, growing in power, and honing magical abilities allow one to earn more points and gain promotions.
However, with each rank, the path becomes more difficult. Advancing through the hierarchy demands not just strength, but strategy, resolve, and the will to keep pushing forward.
And so, this tournament isn't just a contest—it's a rite of passage, the first step on the long and perilous road to becoming an Emperor
________________________________________
The Battle Begins…
Zeran charged his fist ablaze with fiery energy.
Kai leapt into the air, preparing to strike with a thunderous bolt of lightning.
But Zeran had predicted the move.
He conjured a blazing fire shield, and when Kai's lightning collided with it—
BOOM!
An explosion rippled across the arena, forcing both fighters to retreat to opposite ends.
"Impressive," Kai thought, narrowing his eyes.
Kai raised his right hand toward the sky.
"Lightning Shower."
Dark clouds swirled above, crackling with electric fury, as if the heavens themselves awaited his command.
"That's… awesome." Imperial's eyes widened in awe.
Zeran's expression shifted—a flicker of concern crossed his face.
He's never used that technique before.
Kai aimed.
Bolts of lightning rained down, slamming into Zeran with devastating force.
Smoke and sparks engulfed him as he staggered to stay upright.
But then—
something changed.
A dangerous heat surged within Zeran's veins. His eyes burned with an unnatural glow. Though battered, his body pulsed with a strange, renewed power.
Fueled by rage—or something more—Zeran dashed toward Kai and unleashed a flame attack unlike anything he had conjured before.
The crowd roared, but Imperial's chest clenched with dread.
"Something's not right…" he murmured.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
________________________________________
Kai's Struggle
Kai staggered, struggling to remain on his feet.
His body trembled. His breathing grew ragged.
How…?
How did he land that hit? I should've dodged it…
A chilling thought crept in:
"Has Zeran… surpassed me?"
The fight raged on.
Lightning clashed with fire.
Both fighters searched for the final blow.
Kai's eyes sharpened with resolve.
Electricity danced along his arms as he forged a bow of pure lightning.
"Lightning Barrage."
He fired arrow after arrow into the sky. They hovered above the battlefield, poised to strike.
But before he could command them—
BOOM!
Zeran moved with impossible speed, appearing behind Kai and landing a direct fireball into his back.
The battlefield vanished in smoke.
________________________________________
"No…" Imperial's breath caught. Panic surged in his chest.
"Kai…"
The smoke began to clear.
Kai was on his knees, barely conscious.
Zeran stood tall—his flames burning brighter wilder, untamed.
Zeran's Power… Out of Control
Zeran's aura was no longer that of a warrior. It was something… corrupted.
Something dark.
"KAI, MOVE!"
Imperial's voice pierced the chaos.
But it was too late.
Kai couldn't move. Couldn't dodge.
His body was spent. His energy drained.
"NO!" said by imperial in fear and tension
Something snapped inside Imperial.
A blinding flash lit his mind. His heart raced. His hands moved on their own.
BOOM!
Lightning.
Raw. Violent. Divine.
It erupted from Imperial's fingertips, splitting the air with a thunderous crack.
Bolts of blue-white energy streaked across the battlefield like an heavy and dense fall of light beam , crashing into Zeran's inferno.
Fire met thunder storm.
The world seemed to freeze—then tremble—beneath the weight of the collision.
A senior mage from the Council stepped forward, eyes wide with disbelief.
The mage raised a hand.
His voice echoed across the stunned arena:
This match… ends in a draw!"
"Even the A-rank barrier, meant to contain elite magic, shimmered and cracked from the force.
This wasn't A-rank.
This… was something far greater.