Forged in Fire

The Emperor's words stayed with me long after we left the chamber. Three days. That was all the time we had to prepare before being thrown into the Celestial Crucible. A thousand years of history, of bloodshed and conquest, and now, we were part of it.

We walked in silence through the halls, the weight of what we had just learned pressing down on us. I glanced at the others. Ravien had his hands in his pockets, his usual smirk absent. Silas was deep in thought, his brows furrowed. Kaelen's expression was unreadable, and Selena… She walked beside me, her face calm, but her hands were clenched into fists.

Finally, it was Kaelen who broke the silence. "We need to figure out who we're up against."

"We'll have access to the archives," Silas said. "That'll give us something."

Ravien let out a short laugh. "Oh, great. A bunch of dusty records about how our future opponents have slaughtered their way through their own trials. That'll be so comforting."

Selena shot him a look. "It's better than going in blind."

He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I never said I wasn't going to read up. Just that I'm not expecting good news."

I exhaled. "We don't need good news. We just need to know what we're up against."

We reached our quarters and split off, each heading to our rooms. But I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. Not with everything that was running through my mind.

The archives were beneath the palace, carved deep into the rock of the Imperial Capital. The walls were lined with records, glowing screens filled with information on past tournaments, past champions… and past losers. The ones whose worlds no longer existed.

We stood in front of a massive display, each of us scanning through the names of the competitors. There were warriors from every known world some humanoid, others monstrous. Some were legends, their victories spoken of like myths. Others were ghosts, their names barely remembered, wiped away after their planet was conquered.

Silas tapped a screen, pulling up a list of this year's contestants. "Here. These are the ones we'll be facing."

I stepped closer. The first name made my stomach tighten.

House Thorne, Titanborn - Planet Asterion

Asterion had won the Crucible two cycles ago. They were known for their warriors giants clad in armor that could shatter mountains. Their leader, Thorne, was a name spoken in fear.

Kaelen frowned. "They'll be a problem."

"More than a problem," Selena murmured. "They're the favorites to win."

Ravien smirked. "I love ruining expectations."

Silas scrolled further. Another name appeared.

The Red Serpents - Planet Xyphos

Xyphos had a reputation for assassins. Their fighters were fast, ruthless, and specialized in taking down enemies before they even realized they were in danger.

And the list went on. Five teams. Five worlds. Each one with warriors who had fought and killed to earn their place.

I clenched my fists. We weren't just fighting for ourselves. We were fighting for our world.

After hours of studying, we returned to our quarters. I sat on the edge of my bed, rubbing my temples. My head ached with information—names, fighting styles, weaknesses. But none of it would matter if we weren't strong enough to use it.

A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. The door opened slightly, and Selena stepped in.

"You're thinking too much again," she said.

I exhaled, shaking my head. "We're fighting gods, Selena. I think a little overthinking is justified."

She crossed her arms. "You can prepare all you want, but at some point, you have to trust yourself. You've already made it this far."

I looked at her, studying her face. She wasn't just trying to reassure me. There was something deeper in her words something personal.

"…How did you get through it?" I asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "Through what?"

"The trials. The fights. The weight of everything."

For a moment, she didn't answer. Then she leaned against the doorframe, looking up at the ceiling. "I told myself that if I stopped moving forward, I'd never be able to forgive myself."

I waited. And then she looked at me, her gaze steady. "I don't want to lose anyone else, Caius."

The way she said my name sent a strange feeling through my chest. I nodded, my throat tightening. "Neither do I."

For a long moment, we just sat there in silence. Then, before she could turn to leave, I said, "Thank you."

She smiled just a little. And then she was gone.

The next morning, we were called back to the chamber. But this time, it wasn't just the Emperor waiting for us again.

The sky above the capital darkened, a massive shadow stretching over the palace. And then they descended.

The gods.

Figures of impossible power, their forms shifting between solid and ethereal, their voices echoing through the air like a chorus of a thousand whispers. They watched us with eyes that held galaxies.

The Emperor stepped forward. "The time has come."

A figure in golden armor the High Arbiter raised a hand. "The Crucible will begin in two days. Each of you will stand as the chosen warriors of your world. Before we begin, you will be marked."

I felt a chill. "Marked?"

The Arbiter's gaze locked onto mine. "A sign of your participation. And a reminder of what is at stake."

Before any of us could react, golden light flared from their hands. It shot toward us, burning as it seared into our skin.

Pain exploded through my body. I dropped to my knees, gritting my teeth. It wasn't just pain it was knowledge. A flood of memories, of battles fought long before my time, of warriors who had stood where I stood now… and of those who had fallen.

When the light faded, I gasped for air. A glowing mark now rested on the back of my hand a symbol of the gods' judgment. I finally had that Mark, something i searched for. Something i wasn't even destined for, i finally reached it and its finally there on my body. The feeling wasn't actually any different, no difference in power but i finally had that on my back. What would the little me say now? Would my parents be proud of me? Tons of questions popped up in my head but i couldnt afford to get lost in my thoughts so i quickly shaked my head, i came back to reality.

The Arbiter's voice rang out.

"Let the Crucible begin."