CHAPTER 2: Stars of Black And White

The Unrivalled and the Shining Knight stood at the center of the blood-stained battlefield, their eyes locked upon one another. The blue pupils of the Shining Knight were hidden beneath his helmet, while the Unrivalled's golden gaze scrutinized the man.

From what he observed, the Knight was Lorien Solmaris, from the bloodline of the Radiant Dawn. With the symbol of the sun on his chest and the shadow of the moon hidden behind it, it was an insignia recognized widely on this continent. Those who wore this armor usually had both a sword and a shield, which could be summoned at will. This triad of relics was the centerpiece of their military force.

The members of this clan are known for their ability to harness and manipulate the purest form of light, using it through weapons, shields, and even pure attacks that can incinerate their enemies. Even if someone else were to kill him today, they would likely make an enemy of the clan. However, being an Exalted meant being above humans. At that point, a human was no different than a blade of grass sprouting from soil. No one would care if it were torn from the land.

What that also meant was that if he became an Exalted today, bearing that name, the entire bloodline would be viewed as those beyond humans due to their shared name. They would be free to do as they pleased, and with that level of reputation, one could easily overthrow an entire government.

So the Unrivalled concluded that this was Lorien's objective: a loyal soldier at the top of his military force, sent on a mission to claim the title with a façade of righteousness hiding their true intentions of hunger.

But it was more than just observation. The Unrivalled knew Lorien Solmaris, the Shining Knight of the Radiant Dawn, personally. In fact, the corrupt soldier was the reason he came here today in the first place.

Yes, he was going to kill him today.

"Unrivalled? Who names themselves that? It's like he's begging to be knocked down a peg. Who does this guy think he is?"

"Yeah, sounds more like a delusion than a title. I mean, look at him—sure, he's powerful, but he's not some god. You think a name like that will protect him from Lorien?"

"Lorien Solmaris, the Shining Knight, isn't just some brute with muscles. He's a paragon of the Radiant Dawn Clan, a true knight with power and purpose. That Unrivalled guy is just posturing, trying to scare us with his theatrics."

"Exactly! Lorien's wielding Luminae, a blade forged in the heart of a dying star. It's been blessed by the elders of his clan, handed down through generations of champions. No way some self-proclaimed 'Unrivalled' can stand against that."

Murmurs overflowed from the ground in several whispers, shouts, and mocking voices degrading the Unrivalled and glorifying his opponent. Even the Overseers commented on the battle. Their figures were all hidden in the shadows except for the female blonde who was eternally spotlighted mysteriously. They called her "The Fourth" because of her position in the line of chairs.

"Unrivalled, he calls himself. A bold claim, but boldness alone isn't enough. It takes more than arrogance to defeat a knight of the Radiant Dawn," the First commented.

"Confidence means nothing without the power to back it up. We'll see soon enough if his arrogance was his downfall or if there's more to him than we thought," the Second responded.

The Third remained silent.

"And yet… there's something in this Unrivalled's eyes. That calmness, that unwavering confidence—it's unsettling. Perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss him," the Fourth finished.

The Unrivalled's body shifted. The air around him seemed to ripple. His left foot slid back, the ball of his foot pressing into the ground with a subtle but palpable force, while his right hand curled into a fist, pulling back with measured precision. The movement was deceptively simple, yet every spectator and Overseer felt the impending danger.

Lorien's armor, once dull from battle, began to shimmer, each piece glowing with the incandescent light of the Radiant Dawn. His entire body radiated with a golden aura, a testament to the relic's power now coursing through him. The energy surged around him, crackling like the arcs of lightning before a storm, illuminating the arena with a divine luminescence that pushed back the encroaching darkness.

His chest rose and fell with measured breaths, each exhale a steadying force that grounded him in the present moment. He brought the blade of light in front of him, holding it with both hands, and as he did, the ground beneath him seemed to tremble. The relic's power flared, and golden tendrils of energy snaked out from the blade, twisting and coiling around his form like serpents of pure light, reinforcing his already ironclad resolve.

"I'll give you one last chance," the Shining Knight said with a deep voice, carrying the weight of countless victories. "Surrender now, and your death will be swift. Resist, and I will show you no mercy."

His opponent did not respond.

And then, their fight began. A tremendous force shook the arena, and the crowd erupted in cheers.