Trivia woke up to find himself in a cage, bound in chains. He struggled to break free using his strength, but it was useless. He discovered that his strength drained with every effort he made, and his powers weren't working either.
"Get me out of here!" Trivia ordered with a loud scream, but there was no one to hear him.
He was caged in an empty room that echoed with every sound he made. The bars of the cage were made of soft iron, including the chains that bound his hands and feet.
He could easily break free from the soft iron, but when he tried, his powers weakened, followed by a sharp, piercing pain in his head. Immediately, he knew that this was the work of no one other than Owen.
Meanwhile, the great council of Kron sat in a circle within the throne room, the weight of their decision palpable in the air. The twelve members, etched with the worry of their people, debated the fate of Trivia.
"He cannot be trusted," one member said, his voice ringing with conviction. "His actions have shown that he is a danger to us all. We must rid ourselves of this threat."
Another nodded, adding, "He has caused destruction and misery in his wake. We cannot forgive such evil, no matter who he is."
As voices joined in, the chamber began to echo with the demand for Trivia's execution. But amidst the din, a lone voice rose, calm and reasoned.
"Forgive me, honored members, but I must dissent," one of the council members said, his eyes never wavering. "Though Trivia's actions have been atrocious, we cannot forget that he is the rightful heir to the throne. To slay him would set a dangerous precedent, one that could plunge our kingdom into chaos and uncertainty."
Silence descended as the other council members considered the weight of his words.
As the council pondered the member's warning, a hushed debate broke out. Some remained steadfast in their call for execution, while others shifted uncomfortably in their seats, considering the alternative.
The debate raged on for what seemed like hours, the arguments growing more heated and intense. Tempers began to flare, and it seemed as though the decision would never be made.
But then, sudden stillness descended over the chamber. The council members turned to face the head of the council, Brewn. "Hmm, hmmm," Brewn cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the assembled council members with authority. The room fell silent, awaiting his decision with bated breath.
"I have heard your arguments," he began, his voice carrying across the hall. "I understand the gravity of this moment. Indeed, Trivia is the rightful heir to the throne," Brewn said, his words heavy with meaning.
"But he has shown himself to be a danger to this planet. He must be contained, and yet, we cannot break tradition and spill royal blood."
He paused, letting the silence fill the room. "I promise that we will bring in King Lucas and his brother to decide their fate. After all, Trivia only came for the throne."
Trivia found himself before the ruling council of the planet, being brought in by the guards. He was still restrained by the powerful, draining chains.
Trivia stood at the center of the council, his face a mask of calm. "This man is a threat to our way of life," one of the council members declared. "We cannot allow him to remain among us."
"I'm the rightful heir to the throne, and you all know it," Trivia said with a loud voice.
"But King Elvis chose your brother and not you," Brewn replied.
"Let me fight for the throne," Trivia spat, straining against the chains. "Let me prove my right to rule!"
The council members exchanged uneasy glances, their faces etched with concern. "You would have us risk our people's lives for a 'duel'?" one council member asked. "He has shown no restraint, no mercy. How can we trust he will abide by our laws and customs?"
"Let him have his duel," another countered. "It will provide a fair challenge, and if he loses, his ambitions will be put to rest."
The council murmured amongst themselves, debating the merits of Trivia's request.
"I understand the situation at hand, but Trivia's request can only be granted if King Lucas agrees," Owen said, turning to face Lucas, expecting an answer.
Owen spoke to Lucas through telepathy: "It will be unwise for you to accept this duel. You are king, and you have the right to say no to the challenge. Don't accept the challenge."
Through their telepathic exchange, Lucas replied to Owen, "You're right; I know it will be unwise for me to accept the challenge, but it will be unfair if I refuse."
"You're making a big mistake," Owen responded.
Lucas stepped forward, addressing the council and Trivia. "I too seek justice for my brother," Lucas said, his voice resolute. "But I'm not afraid to face him in a duel. I will fight him on even ground, and then we will know who is worthy to rule this planet."
Trivia smirked, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "So be it. Let the duel commence. I will show you that I am the rightful heir to the throne, and that none can stand against me."
The council's decision was unanimous: the duel would be held, with the victor claiming the throne and deciding the fate of the other. The council dismissed.
Lucas was sitting in his chambers when Axiel walked in and stood beside him. "Are you sure about this?" Axiel asked.
"Sure about what?" Lucas responded.
*About this whole challenge thing," Axiel clarified.
"Honestly, I'm not," Lucas admitted. "But I can't be a selfish king. My heart tells me to do this."
"That's the heart of a king," Axiel interrupted. "Buckle up and get ready for battle."
As the day of the duel approached, the people of the planet gathered, eager to witness the spectacle. They cheered for Lucas, their king. The arena was a colosseum of sorts, standing at the heart of the capital city. The stands were packed with onlookers, their murmurs creating a low buzz that hung in the air like electricity.
Lucas stepped into the arena, dressed in gold armor that glinted in the sunlight. He carried a sword at his side, shining with the promise of death. The crowd cheered for Lucas, their king.
Trivia was brought in, his chains removed, but his movements closely monitored. He stood tall, his muscles rippling beneath his skin. He was dressed in dark armor that gave off an air of power.
Both brothers took their places at opposite ends of the arena, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation.
A horn sounded, signaling the start of the duel.
Immediately, Lucas charged forward, moving with the speed of a thunderbolt. At close range, Lucas swung his sword at Trivia, but Trivia met him head-on with the same speed, catching his sword with his bare hands.
Blood dripped from Trivia's hands as he held the edge of Lucas's sword. Trivia smirked, as if not in pain, and immediately snapped Lucas's sword in two. Lucas jumped back, a death alarm ringing in his head. He gave Trivia some distance and maintained a fighting stance, ready to attack head-on.
Lucas and Trivia flew towards each other, their eyes locked in a fierce, unyielding stare. The ground trembled with each beat of their force. They knew this battle would be brutal.
Lucas fired a laser blast from his hands, but Trivia was ready, throwing up a shield of telekinetic energy that deflected the blast. He propelled himself forward, unleashing his telekinetic power, but Trivia was faster, darting to the side and retaliating with a blast of his own.
As the two fighters traded blows, the air crackled with energy. Lucas found himself struggling to match Trivia's speed and agility. Trivia unleashed a flurry of punches, each one powered by his super strength, knocking Lucas to the ground and creating a crater beneath him.
Lucas knew he had to regroup and reassess his strategy. But before he could recover, Trivia was on him, pinning him down with his foot.
"This is it, Lucas," Trivia growled. "Your time is up. Yield now!"
Lucas struggled against Trivia's foot, but Trivia held firm, keeping his opponent pinned down. With a swift motion, Trivia sent a blast at Lucas, knocking him down several feet.
Lucas recovered quickly, summoning a telekinetic shield to protect himself. Lucas sent a series of laser blasts at Trivia, trying to keep him at a distance. Trivia, however, was relentless. He weaved through the blasts, approaching Lucas with superhuman speed.
Lucas knew he couldn't match Trivia's speed, so he relied on his brute strength. He launched himself forward, landing a powerful punch that sent Trivia reeling. But Trivia recovered quickly, using his speed to avoid Lucas's follow-up attacks.
As the battle raged on, the landscape around them was devastated by their super-powered blows. Huge craters scarred the ground. Both fighters were breathing heavily, but neither would relent.
**Lucas spat out blood.