Scarlet Swordsman

Elizabeth's POV

10 Years Ago

The sunrise casts a warm orange glow over the horizon as I play a game of tag with Gabriel.

"You're never gonna catch me." Gabe says with a cocky smile as I begin to tire from chasing him.

"Hey but that's no fair!" I protest "I was hard at work at school whilst you stayed at home all day."

Gabriel sticks his tongue out at me teasingly before running further into the meadow.

"Hey, you alright." My father calls out from behind me, a gentle smile on his face.

"Gabriel has more energy than me making this game of tag unfair." I whine causing my father to chuckle.

"Well, life often is unfair." I hear my mother's voice chime in as she too arrives.

"But throughout this rollercoaster we call life, always stick with your brother okay?" She continues a smile on her lips before my father ruffles my hair.

"And always protect what's dearest to you." My father adds as I nod vigorously.

"I promise." I say confidently, my eyes gleaming with childlike innocence.

Present Day

As my eyes take in the sight of Braun comforting Emma, I'm reminded of what's at stake here for me in this tournament.

The people I hold close to my heart.

After Braun returns to the waiting room, Talis Smith announces the next battle.

"Up next we have, Elizabeth Felix from Pazalia who will be going up against Baron Loft from Hawthorne!!"

I turn to see Gabriel give me a thumbs up from within the crowd before I take a deep breath and walk onto the already damaged battlefield.

My opponent Baron, who's a bald hulking man, walks towards me, clad in golden armor.

"So you're the one who's supposed to be going up against me, the great Baron?" He says with a cocky grin before stroking his moustache.

This fool clearly has no idea what I'm capable of.

"Yes, I am Elizabeth from House Felix, I look forward to defeating you." I reply, steeling my resolve as Baron scoffs.

"Run off little girl, how old are you anyways, you don't look a day over 25 and expect to stand a chance against me." He continues, my gaze hardening.

"Then I hope you're comfortable with losing to a twenty-one year old little girl." I tell him, my hand already gripping the pommel of my sword.

"Hoho, get ready to be drilled into the ground." Baron replies his smirk turning into a scowl.

"Begin!" Talis announces whilst swinging his right arm down.

Baron immediately pulls out his giant golden axe and swings it towards me with great force.

He is quite strong, admittedly.

I dodge the attack effortlessly as his large axe smashes into the ground like a wreaking ball.

I pull my blade out of it's sheath before sprinting towards Baron in a flash of red lightning.

I attempt to strike him multiple times but he dodges nearly every attack, except for one that manages to cause a deep graze on his cheek.

"You'll pay for that you arrogant brat!" Baron exclaims before dropping his axe to unleash a powerful punch that sends me staggering back with great force.

"I don't even need my axe to defeat a nepo baby like you." He hisses as I groan in pain from the attack.

Though I managed to block it, it still hurts like hell.

"I'd like to see you try." I respond boldly, my eyes glowing red with mana.

I was hoping I didn't have to use this.

Red aura flows from my shadows, melting the very ground I stand on.

Flashes of Braun's fight with Isaac Costello replay on my mind as I grip my blade tightly.

Just like him, I'll give this my all.

In an instant, I'm inches away from a wide eyed Baron before raining down a flurry of my sword attacks, leaving a trail of scarlet in my wake.

"W-what...the....hell!?" Baron says in between my attacks, trying to block the strikes and relying on his golden armor to protect him.

Unfortunately for him, with each passing second, my blade gets hotter to a point he won't even be able to comprehend.

My sword was made from Skyfaire, the strongest mana imbued metal in all of Esmeraldia, allowing the foible to withstand the intense temperatures of my mana.

It was a technique I came up with after the night I found out the truth about my parents death.

It was the night of the massacre, Raymond Felix had just escorted Gabe and I to the local orphanage.

I was in shock, having witnessed my parents corpses mere moments before, so I stepped out of the building hoping to get a breeze of fresh air.

That was when I saw him meet up with a hooded goblin.

Having seen the creature from afar, I hid behind the wall in terror, enabling me to listen into their conversation.

Raymond handed over a large pouch of golden coins over to the goblin, thanking him for ending my parents lives.

I was shook and terrified but decided to keep this a secret from Gabriel since I couldn't bring myself to tell him what I saw and heard.

That his treasured idol, his own uncle had ordered the execution of our parents.

Raymond's wickedness knows no bounds.

That's why after that day, I put everything into my training and getting stronger.

Channeling my very own rage and thirst for vengeance into the very technique that would make me known among my peers as

The Scarlet Swordsman

I continue my onslaught on Baron who goes back on his word and desperately tries to grab his axe placed on the ground.

Pitiful

Baron swings his axe towards me but I easily cut through the weapon, reducing it to a pile of melting gold.

But then, just as I take another step towards him to strike, I feel my body throb with unbearable pain as I drop my sword and fall to my knees.

Damnit, just a little bit longer...

This was one of the consequences of using this technique, it takes a heavy toll on my body and leaves me reeling from the immense pain it causes.

I grimace as Baron stares at me confused before a devious smirk appears on his face.

"Showcasing all of that power only to amount to nothing." He says chuckling before throwing a powerful jab to my face which sends me flailing across the battlefield.

"Elizabeth!!" Gabriel screams from the audience as I painfully tumble across the ground.

No, I can't lose now...

"1....2..." I hear Talis long count as I feel the strength in my limbs fade.

Mother, father..... I'm sorry.....

"Come on Elizabeth, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!" I hear a familiar voice cheer on before lifting my head to see....him.

Braun Astern

I gather the remnants of my mana and strength before slowly getting back up on my feet, interrupting Talis' long count.

I have to fight, I need to win.

Baron seems surprised to see me standing, his resolve hardening as he charges forward with a loud roar.

'You can do this...'

Braun's voice echoes in my mind as I take a deep breath, preparing myself for one final attack.

I can do this.

I dash towards an incoming Baron with incredible speed before landing a powerful punch to his solar plexus that knocks him right out of the battlefield as he crashes into a nearby wall before ultimately falling motionless to the ground.

"1...2.......3!!!" Talis shouts

"And the winner is Elizabeth Felix!!!!!" He announces as the crowd celebrates.

I did it.... I.....I.....

Having used up every ounce of energy within my bones, my vision becomes blurry before my eventual collapse.

However in a dark blue streak, Braun arrives and catches me, his signature smile present gracing his lips.

"Easy there, if you anything happens to you, it'll give Gabriel over there a heart attack." Braun says seemingly amused as my cheeks flush.

No I cannot find Braun Astern of all people to be...

No absolutely not!

"I-I'll be fine." I lie nervously before pushing myself off his arms only to collapse once more but this time into Emma's arms.

"Woah you okay!?" She asks worriedly as I weakly nod.

"I just need to gather my strength." I assure her before looking off to Gabriel seated on his wheelchair amongst the audience as I give him a thumbs up.

Gabe tearfully smiles and reciprocates by giving me a double thumbs up, warming my heart but reminding me of my mission.

Raymond Felix

Rumor has it that since he's the winner of last year's tournament, and this year's guest of honor, he's secretely the final opponent of the tournament. 

I had to win and end his life right here.

I'll stop him and protect those I hold dearest to my heart.

I swear...