Read Novel Full Chapter 581: Trial by Combat 3
Chapter 581: Trial by Combat 3
Morning arrived far sooner than anyone would have liked.
The sun had barely risen above the horizon before the capital of Lechia was already alive.
Entire streets leading toward the Grand Arena were packed with people.
Citizens poured in from every district of the city.
Merchants abandoned their stalls.
Farmers left their fields.
Soldiers on leave joined the crowds.
Even nobles who normally avoided public gatherings could be seen arriving in elaborate carriages.
Today was no ordinary spectacle.
Today was a Trial by Combat.
An ancient judgment.
A sacred duel.
A battle that would decide whether a traitor prince lived or died.
The Grand Arena itself was overflowing.
The colossal structure had been packed long before the official start.
Every seat was occupied.
Every balcony filled.
Thousands upon thousands of people filled the stands.
The noise was deafening.
Some chanted Xavier’s name.
Others cursed Khan.
Many discussed how quickly the battle would end.
Very few believed the prince stood any chance.
Not after everything Lucas had accomplished.
Not after all the stories that had spread throughout the kingdoms.
Meanwhile, deep beneath the arena, away from the roaring crowds above, Lucas sat calmly inside a preparation chamber.
The room was spacious and quiet.
The thick stone walls muffled the noise coming from the arena overhead.
Lucas himself appeared completely relaxed.
As if he were preparing for a casual spar rather than a duel to the death.
Around him stood the women closest to him.
Lira.
Princess Nyx.
Henrietta.
Selene.
And the Ice Belle.
None of them appeared nervous.
Not because the battle wasn’t dangerous.
But because they trusted Lucas completely.
Their confidence in him was absolute.
Henrietta crossed her arms.
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
“Don’t kill him too quickly.”
Lucas looked up.
Henrietta continued.
“He doesn’t deserve a quick death.”
Several of the others nodded immediately.
Selene’s expression hardened.
The memory of everything Khan had done still infuriated her.
“The suffering he caused…”
She shook her head.
“Make him regret every choice he ever made.”
Lira surprisingly agreed.
Normally she was among the kinder members of the group.
Not today.
“He betrayed his mother.”
Her voice carried genuine anger.
“He betrayed his kingdom.”
“He betrayed everyone who believed in him.”
She folded her arms.
“He deserves to suffer.”
Princess Nyx sighed.
“Honestly, I’ve never disliked someone so quickly.”
Lucas chuckled.
Nyx rolled her eyes.
“I’m serious.”
Her expression became colder.
“That trial was disgusting.”
“He wasn’t remorseful.”
“He wasn’t ashamed.”
“He was proud.”
The room grew quieter.
Because she was right.
Khan had shown no regret.
No guilt.
Nothing.
The Ice Belle finally spoke.
Unlike the others, her voice remained calm.
Cold.
Precise.
“Break his legs first.”
The room became silent.
Lucas blinked.
The Ice Belle continued without changing expression.
“Then his arms.”
“Then whatever remains.”
Several of the girls stared at her.
Selene looked horrified.
“That’s brutal.”
The Ice Belle shrugged.
“He earned it.”
Henrietta immediately burst out laughing.
“I like that plan.”
“Of course you do,” Nyx muttered.
Lucas rubbed his forehead.
“I appreciate the support.”
The girls exchanged looks.
Then laughed.
The tension in the room eased considerably.
Eventually Selene stepped forward.
Unlike the others, she wasn’t smiling.
She knelt in front of Lucas and adjusted part of his armor.
Her movements were gentle.
Careful.
“You know we’re joking.”
Lucas smiled.
“Mostly.”
“Mostly.”
The others laughed again.
Selene looked into his eyes.
“But seriously.”
Her voice softened.
“Be careful.”
The room quieted.
Because beneath all the jokes and confidence, that was the truth.
They trusted Lucas.
But they also cared about him.
A lot.
Lira nodded.
“Come back safely.”
Henrietta pointed a finger at him.
“Or we’ll kill you ourselves.”
Lucas laughed.
“Good to know.”
Princess Nyx stepped forward next.
Her expression softened slightly.
“We know you’ll win.”
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
“But don’t do anything reckless.”
The Ice Belle folded her arms.
“You won’t lose.”
It wasn’t encouragement.
It wasn’t hope.
It was a statement.
A fact.
At least in her mind.
Lucas looked around the room.
At all of them.
The concern.
The confidence.
The loyalty.
It was enough to make him smile.
“You all sound more worried than I am.”
“That’s because we’re smarter than you,” Henrietta replied immediately.
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Lucas couldn’t argue.
Then, from outside the chamber, a loud horn echoed through the underground corridors.
The signal.
The duel was about to begin.
The laughter slowly faded.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
The girls straightened.
Lucas rose to his feet.
Far above them, the roar of hundreds of thousands of spectators shook the arena.
The crowd knew the time had come.
The Trial by Combat was about to begin.
Lucas picked up his weapon.
His expression remained calm.
Unshaken.
The girls looked at him one final time.
Not with fear.
Not with doubt.
But with absolute confidence.
Because as far as they were concerned, the battle had already been decided.
Now all that remained was for Lucas to walk into the arena and prove it to the rest of the world.
A constant roar echoed through the colossal structure as citizens discussed the upcoming battle.
Everyone had an opinion.
Everyone had a prediction.
Everyone wanted to witness history.
Then suddenly—
BOOM!
A ceremonial drum sounded.
The roar of the crowd diminished slightly.
BOOM!
Another strike followed.
More people fell silent.
BOOM!
The third strike echoed throughout the arena.
By the time the sound faded, the entire arena had grown quiet.
All eyes turned toward the Imperial Viewing Platform overlooking the battlefield.
The royal procession had arrived.
The Empress emerged first.
Dressed in her imperial robes, she carried herself with the same dignity and authority that had made her one of the most respected rulers in the world.
The moment she appeared, the entire arena rose to its feet.
Hundreds of thousands of people stood as one.
The sight was breathtaking.
The Empress acknowledged them with a slight nod before ascending to the central seat.
To her right sat King Alden Highmoor.
The ruler of Highmoor remained calm as he surveyed the arena.
To her left sat the Emperor of Rus.
Beside him was the King of Blackmare.
The presence of three monarchs alongside the Empress further emphasized the importance of the event.
This was no ordinary duel.
This was history unfolding before the eyes of nations.
The Empress slowly took her seat.
Then she raised a hand.
Immediately, the crowd returned to their seats.
The arena became silent once more.
No one dared disturb the proceedings.
The Empress’s gaze swept across the battlefield below.
The massive arena floor had been cleared entirely.
Powerful formations glowed faintly beneath the stone.
Protective barriers had been established around the battlefield.
Everything was prepared.
The time had come.
The Empress looked toward the arena master.
The official bowed respectfully.
She gave a single nod.
The signal.
The arena master immediately raised his hand.
“Bring forth the accused!”
His voice echoed throughout the arena.
The massive gates beneath the arena opened.
Heavy chains rattled.
A squad of elite guards emerged.
And at their center—
Prince Khan.
The reaction was immediate.
The arena exploded.
The boos were deafening.
“TRAITOR!”
“DEATH TO KHAN!”
“EXECUTE HIM!”
“LONG LIVE LECHIA!”
The hatred of the people poured out without restraint.
Many stood while shouting curses.
Others pointed at him with open disgust.
The noise was so loud that it seemed to shake the very structure of the arena.
Khan was pushed forward by the guards.
His restraints had been removed for the duel, but several suppressing seals remained active until the battle officially began.
His appearance was far different from the proud prince the people once admired.
Yet what angered many wasn’t his appearance.
It was his expression.
He was smiling.
A faint smile.
A smile that carried neither shame nor regret.
The sight only enraged the crowd further.
Rotten fruit and scraps of food were thrown from the stands.
Most were intercepted by protective barriers before reaching the arena floor.
The people continued shouting.
“You betrayed your mother!”
“You betrayed Lechia!”
“Monster!”
“Traitor!”
Khan ignored them all.
His eyes slowly scanned the arena.
Then shifted upward.
Toward the Imperial Platform.
Toward the Empress.
The two locked eyes briefly.
The Empress remained expressionless.
Completely unreadable.
Khan’s smile widened slightly.
Then he looked away.
The crowd’s fury intensified.
The guards escorted him to one side of the battlefield before stepping back.
The arena master raised his hand once more.
The noise gradually diminished.
Everyone knew what came next.
The Champion of Lechia.
The man chosen by the Empress herself.
The man carrying the hopes of an entire empire.
The crowd’s anticipation became palpable.
Every eye shifted toward the opposite gate.
Every person waited.
Even Khan turned his gaze in that direction.
The arena fell completely silent.
The next person to walk through those gates would be Lucas.
And the Trial by Combat would finally begin. The Crowd hoped and prayed to the gods to favour Lechia and punish Khan.