"Shoot I forgot something" Jonathan comes running back before me and Albeck head over to the arena.
"Good luck out there you two"
ZING
He taps the back of our necks as I felt a sharp sensation go up my spine.
"Huh" "What the hell?"
Jonathan runs off.
"Hey! What the hell was that about?!" I asked.
Jonathan continues to run out of the Participants Box as he turns back "You'll both thank me later" heading to the concession stands.
I stared at my hand. "He did something, he touched my hand for a split second," I thought as Albeck did the same.
"Let's go," Albeck says calmly, heading towards the arena first.
I follow behind him. "Something something is wrong here" I walked briskly beside Albeck.
"Albeck I believe something is at play here"
"Finally you noticed Valerus. The nurses. The sudden appearance of the mages from Falos. Everything has been too off. Plus the sudden appearance of not one but three members let alone Captains of the Federation. The security of this friendly school event is strict." He pauses for a moment. "I will go investigate."
"But what about winning-"
"Winning this tournament doesn't mean anything if lives are at stake here. First things first Valerus I need you to do one thing."
"What's that?" I ask.
We arrive at the Arena facing one another.
"Defeat me," Albeck says in a dignified tone as he summons his Iron Pillar.
--------------------------------
Recovery Room below the Colosseum.
"He almost blew our cover"
"He must not allow him to wake"
"Having him being aware of this situation would be-"
KNOCK KNOCK
"Someone comes to visit"
"On our way!"
"Be ready" the lead nurse says.
They open the door.
"Hello," a male is waiting at the door.
"Jonathan Fultear. J-Jonathan Fultear what brings you here?"
"Oh nothing just checking up on my comrades they had a hard-hitting battle last round." Jonathan walks along the side stopping in front of Jericho and resting. "Hmm"
"What is it?"
"Rose Providence isn't here."
"She and her sisters went up a little while ago"
"You dont say"
There is a moment of silence as the tone of the room shifts.
"Okay, I'll be on my way" as he walks away. "Nurses you are doing a great job in recovering these mages. Thank you for all you have done." He walks out of the door.
VRMM
"So that's the threat," a voice says from the shadows.
"Lady Alice" all nurses bow on their knees.
"Rise"
The nurses rise to their standing positions.
"His mana detection is on point. He managed to detect me watching him. Thus he didnt want to make a move" Bloody Queen thinks to herself.
"Let Tay know we're moving up with the plans. They're catching on too quickly."
"Yes"
"What of them" one "nurse" asks.
Rose, Lily, Bella, Azalea, Sunneta, and Jericho lay sleeping on the beds.
"When the plan commences bring them to the planned met-up spot. On the outskirts of Aiz."
"Yes!"
VRMM
The Bloody Queen disappears into the shadows.
"Now preparations" the main "nurse" orders.
Jericho lies silently in their bed "So that's their plan. I can't be rash. I must attack at the right moment. Jonathan, he woke me up. What the hell is he" Jericho thinks as he lies in bed canceling his mana.
YAWN
Ezekiel rubs his eyes as he emerges from his quick rest.
"Did he hear all that?" one nurse asks.
"Wow that was a good rest I felt energized!" Ezekiel shouts as he stretches and stands on his bed with his hands on his sides. "Hmm dang did I startle you guys sorry. That one of the things I have to work on" Welp, I'll be heading back now thanks again" Ezekiel rushes out the door.
"That one is something"
"Were lucky he didnt find out"
----------------------------
Hallway below the Colosseum.
"So that's how it is," Jonathan thinks to himself as he briskly walks back towards the participant box.
Jonathan takes a turn around the corner.
"Ladies and Gentleman pardon this interruption. We are sorry to inform you that this match-up has been postponed."
"Postponed?!"
Suddenly a magic circle appears under him as he disappears from the hallway.
STEP STEP
"Hey Jonathan -. Uh, Jonathan?" Ezekiel questions as he turns the corner.
SQUEAK SQUEAK
A white mouse scurries on.
--------------------------------------
Participants box
"Ladies and Gentleman pardon this interruption. We are sorry to inform you that this match-up has been postponed."
"Postponed?" Eriko says aloud. "When did they ever?"
"Did you hear that Eriko?" Bianca asks. "No what did you hear?" "It sounded like Jonathan but-"
STEP STEP
"Hey guys am back," Ezekiel says proudly. Huh, I guess he's not here either."
"What happened?" Bianca asks.
"I was walking and I saw Jonathan turn the corner to come here. Where is he?"
"We have a special performance from a special guest" Professor Lop announces.
-----------------------------------------
Student Council Box
"What we didnt have this last year." Faith complains.
"This is indeed strange" Axel looks up at the headmaster's box.
"It's uncharacteristic of the Headmaster to not let us know of any of this information. First the visitors from Falos and this."
"Come Luna we'll ask him right now"
"Yes"
"Faith dont leave your seat," Axel says.
"You two please watch over her"
The two leave their seats as they head over to the headmaster's box.
"What are they overreacting about?" Faith asks.
"Am not too sure myself. This was a surprise at least we get to enjoy some entertainment," Issac says.
Ceaser nods.
---------------------------------------
Federation Box
"Postponing a match for a performance. That's a first" Kaneda says.
Percival stays silent. "Javin tell your doubles to watch all exits and entrances immediately" Percival commands.
"Ok"
"Anything unusual or suspicious activity you move"
Percival grabs the hilt of his sword.
Kaneda looks over "Well looks like I do get to do something fun"
-------------------------------------
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Falos Box
"Ooh is this a usual thing?" Ai asks.
"No, it is something very different I have to speak to the headmaster about this"
"C'mon Sir William lighten up a bit it won't hurt just to watch for a couple of minutes" Rowen speaks.
"Yeah cmon you best enjoy the rest since Edward isn't with this right now" Ai adds.
"You have a point. I guess I'll stay I can speak to him after"
"There we go"
Headmasters Box
"What?"
"What is the meaning of this"
The professors murmur amongst themselves.
"Relax it's just a little surprise" the Headmaster reassures them.
"Taz this isn't-" A
"I know. We must get out of here. Tell Celeste that we are leaving"
The two professors turn around as they head toward the door.
"You two must you leave so soon? The special performance is going to start"
"Oh am going to the bathroom been up here for a while"
"Am getting quite hungry"
"Stay please it would be that long"
Taz and Ariana return to their spots.
As Celeste Carmen stares at the arena floor.
---------------------------------------------
Arena
"Out of all the years I've been a match has been postponed?" Professor Kayneth says as he scratches his head. "I guess you can go back to the participant's box. What the hell are you thinking Alfred?"
"That's strange why" As I looked up coming from the hallway a familiar face appeared a young girl walking towards us. Wearing a shimmering blue dress with a slit almost thigh-high as if she were attending a prom or a special event. With elegant and calm composure she smiles as she passes us by.
"She's most likely the special performance," Kayneth says as we reach our seats.
"Now give a warm welcome to Tay La Flore she will perform as beautiful original score for us"
Tay Stands in the middle of the arena with the entire Colosseum watching her.
APPLAUDS
"What is it that am thinking-"
ZTTTTTT
A quick sharp pain goes through my head as receive images. "This setting. These images. There. No."
I stand to my feet "EVERYONE COVER YOUR-
She rolls her eyes and stares directly at me with a smile.
?LA? ?LA? ?LA? ?LA?
Suddenly everyone drops to the ground.
DROP DROP
Me Albeck and Kayneth still remain standing.
Our bodies shaking as we struggle to maintain a straight posture.
"Eriko, Ezekiel, Bianca?"
Everyone in the Arena has been knocked out cold.
"W-what is this"
"Valerus. Albeck focus. The reason why you two were unaffected am not too sure but stay focused and take her out." Kayneth struggles to stay awake. T..his barri..er should k..ep them from escaping"
VRMM
DROP
A giant barrier encases the entire Colosseum as it protects the guests and whoever is in the box.
-----------------------------------
Shopping district
VRMM
"What I was teleported here" Jonathan says in a surprised tone.
VRMM
The barrier activates.
"What is happening?" Jonathan asks as he rushes towards the Colosseum.
---------------------------------
I struggle too look at the girl as my vison sways side to side left and right as if the world was spinning.
"Valerus Marina am surprised you managed to stay awake. Well no matter you'll be ours soon. So will your fellow Twelve Stars. "
"Who are you?" I ask.
"Oh let me properly introduce myself. Am Tay La Flore or The Melody of the Phantom Order"
"P-phantom order?!"I summon my weapon.
It drops straight too the ground sending my right arm down with it. I manage to hoist it up as I get into a attack position.
"Valerus you must remain calm she wants you to go-"
"Be quiet"
She suddenly appears in front of Albeck kicking him in the mid section.
BOOM
I watched Albeck get sent back flying into one of the walls of the Colosseum.
"ARGH" my vision still messed up I swing my weapon at her but she easily dodges.
She prepares to strike me.
ZTTT
"Again?"
I dodge to my right preparing another blow. As we continue to dodge each other's attacks. I make a fatal misstep.
FWOOSH
"Hey" an unfamiliar face appears but his coat is very familiar.
BOOM
"A captain of the Federation you were awake?"
"Haha well, of course, I am one little song won't put me to sleep that easily."
ZIP
"I can't believe you beat me to the punch" Javin appears beside him.
"We shall end your plans here" Percival steps forward in between the two pointing his sword at Tay.
"Well you're pointing your blade at the wrong person"
"Hmm"
SWISH
Three mages appear from the crowd.
"Tch. Was a cheap trick"
"Using them."
"Am not holding my punches." Percival states.
"Capricorn, Aries, Sagittarius take them out" Tay commands the three Twelve Stars from Falos to engage in battle.
"Valerus find a way out of here and escape" Percival yells at me.
"O-okay. But the others"
"Just go Valerus we'll take care of them"
"You are all acting like this was one person's job," Tay says playfully.
Two people emerge from the shadows.
The first woman in a black dress holding a fancy tiny umbrella.
"Hello," a haunting voice says to me. "It's been a while Mr.Marina" Deadman appears.
"You" Without thinking I charge at him as he stands there awaiting my attack.
"Well since he's tied up I might as well gather up the rest of-"
SWIPE
A attack from the blindside makes the Phantom Order Mage jump.
"You b....itch"
"Oh my little kitten has awoken from his nap"
"A...m going to kill you" Ezekiel struggles to stay awake on his feet as he sways back and forth.
"Let me put you to rest then"
-----------------------------------
Recovery Room below the Colosseum.
"That must be the signal. Let's see let's start with the Dragonclad"
Jericho opens his eyes and summons his blade at his side.
"He's awake" the "nurses" panic.
"Dont worry there's six of us here" nurses reveal themselves. Removing their attire wings burst out as their feet have claws. Each of them has a different color on them. But maintaining the same beautiful face."
"So I was right Harpies"
"We are not going to let you interfere with our plans"
"'I've faced tougher opponents this will be a little teaser"
"The pride of this boy"
"Let's kill him!"
"I can make up for my loss now. " Jericho grips his blade and takes a low stance" AAARGH"
Recovery Room below the Colosseum.
SLICE SLICE SLICE
"Whew, that was something. Fairly easy opponents" as he swipes his blade down removing the blood from it.
BOOM BOOM
"What is going on" Jericho checks up on Rose and the others. "There still not awake yet but I thought I defeated the spellcasters. Dont worry guys I'll wake you up"
Jericho runs out the door of the recovery room.
"I owe you thanks, Jonathan" Jericho says as he hurries to the top.
---------------------------------
Moments before the Upper Floor of the Colosseum
"That tune?" Luna slowly rises to her feet trying to regain her balance.
"Luna, are you alright?" Axel asks as he leans on the stadium's wall, in the same state as Luna.
"Yes, I am fine. What-"
Axel places his pointer finger over his mouth. "Do you hear that?" He says quietly.
The two take a moment to listen.
"No noise?"
They both peak at the arena.
"Valerus and the Phantom Order? But how?" Luna says. "It seems to be them" "What about Faith and the others? Wait a barrier?" Luna asks. "They look to be fine for now Professor Kayneth most likely but he seems to have succumbed to this magic. It won't last for long" Axel states. "We should go help them Axel" Axel with a conflicted look on his face "I would but we should head to the source of this. They can handle them. "
The two continue their conversation quietly. Axel turns around and motions his hands towards the place they originally wanted to go to.
Luna nods.
They both crouch down silently moving along the top section of the coliseum toward the headmaster's box.
Luna and Axel draw closer to the entrance. "Axel, what should be our plan of action?" Axel looks at her "No plan just action."
Axel stands in front of the entrance as he swipes the door with his hand creating a strong wind.
FWOOSH
CRACK
The door breaks in front of them. Luna summons her blade as the two rush in.
"What is this?"
The room was covered in black shadows with very little light coming from the outside.
------------------------------------------
"A...riana. Ariana!"
"Ahh"
"You okay we gotta get outta here," Taz says.
"We got invaded"
The two look over.
"Valerus and Albeck"
We gotta help them.
VRMM
The room suddenly gets a shadow cast all over.
"Am so sorry you two" a voice says.
"You why?"
-----------------------------------------
"Ah I have some unexpected guests. Well not unexpected I expected someone to come here" a voice says from the shadows.
"You"
Celeste Carmen emerges from the shadows.
"You're the traitor," Luna says.
"I am dears. Since everyone is just revealing their identities now. I am The Phantom Orders "Silent Step" Selene. Her new appearance changed wearing a long black dress, her hair tied up in a bun, wearing black lipstick, and red eyes.
"But how could you have done this?"
"Easy shadow clone. Am surprised even after the one year I've been here no one has suspected a thing. I worked every day underground at Aurora Saint Academy to find a flaw in its impressive defensive mechanism. Until one day I realized something It's great for not letting things in but what's the use of it when the intruder was already inside? So that the day I decided to kidnap Aquarius but you Ms. Vice President and Leo got in my way"
"So what of the headmaster?" Luna asks.
"Oh, that old man." Selene smirks.
"You killed him?"
"No"
Selene raises her left arm.
Taz, Ariana, the Headmaster, Professor Lop, and Professor Randall are all captured within her chains and engulfed in the shadows.
Axel and Luna stand in shock.
"I was just about to go snag the Twelve Stars but here again Ms.Vice President come to ruin my plans"
ARGH
Luna dashes forward
MOON CREATION MAGIC: CRESCENT MOON SLASH
SLASH SLASH SLASH
"Luna watch out for the captured mages!" Axel warns.
"I know am aiming for her head"
Selene smiles as she opens up the shadows and dodges the attack sending Luna falling from the top of the colosseum.
"LUNA!"
Axel runs and jumps off the balcony of the headmaster's box and places his left arm in front of him creating a little whirlwind catching Luna and gracefully putting both on the ground in the process.
"Oh more people," Tay says.
"I ain't going let you sing another tune" Axel swipes his hands at Tay again.
?TI?
A magic barrier goes around Tay as she smirks at Axel.
---------------------------------
"Kaneda be careful of Aries" Percival warns.
"I know I know"
Kaneda easily floats around Xi like he a fish swimming in the ocean dodging her attacks.
Percival looks to his left.
SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH
"Your arrows are going to be a little faster."
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM
Javin quickly dodges all of Rowen's arrows.
"HMM. Oh"
BOOM
Percival quickly parries all of Ais's attacks.
"Capricorn, any movement they create can generate blasts. A kick, punch, basically anything they can create an explosion. Although being put under a hypnosis spell they dont seem to be doing any major attacks.
"Valerus look how much you have grown," Deadman asks.
"You bastard" I grit my teeth as I lean in toward Deadman.
"Now now it's not the time to be carried away" Deadman looks at the crowd. I can easily break this flimsy barrier and I can do what I did to your father years ago" he taunts me.
I stare where he gazes is my mother.
"Am not even going to let you near her" I said in an angered voice.
"Haha am joking we have bigger plans. Everything going smoothly"
"The hell are you talking about"
"Look around now. More than half of the twelve stars are here." he motions with his hands while effortlessly blocking my blade. "The preparations should be done."
"Huh"
VRMM
Selene appears beside Tay.
"Ms.Carmen?" I question.
"Was your hair always this pink?" Ezekiel asks.
"No, I have to drink blood once in a while to regain my beautiful youthful appearance.
"Monster. Huh, That's my teacher," Ezekiel says as he takes his eyes off of Bloody Queen.
ARGH
Alice kicks Ezekiel in the mid section making fall too the ground.
"Hmph you not even worth fighting," Bloody Queen says as she jumps to stand beside Tay and Selene.
VRMM VRMM VRMM VRMM VRMM
Five shadow portal-like dimensions open alongside Tay and Selene.
Suddenly behind everyone's shadow chains appear constricting them to the ground.
ZOOM ZOO ZO
SLAM
Javin gets swept under his feet as he gets restrained as well. "Dammit"
"These chains can't touch-" Kaneda gets grabbed by the chains as well.
"Damn, how could I not notice this sooner" Percival struggles to resist the chains. "And I call myself a Captain," he says to himself.
SWOOSH
An arrow gets shot in front of Percival. "A golden arrow?"
"These chains," Axel says.
"Argh" I get sent to my knees with my arms restrained so too the others.
Ai, Xi, and Rowen get in place below Tay and the others as we watch as 5 more mages appear from the shadows.
"You know you could've started with this sooner," A voice says emerging from the shadow portals.
"For as talented as you are Blade you dont know when to speak," Selene says.
"Am just speaking the truth here. Hmm. These are the kids we have to face" Blade says wearing Pauldron's Shoulder Armor, knight skirt armor, knight boots, and arm bracers in black, wearing an all-black undershirt, pants, and mask with a sword on it.
"You're still a kid yourself," Deadman says as he stands alongside them.
"Quiet please quiet" Grandmaster emerges with his shaven head, sharp eyes, and all-black formal suit.
"This guy has been talking the whole damn time we were waiting for this," Stormbringer says a muscular build, with lightning bolt tattoos on both of his arms, a sleeveless dark blue tunic, baggy pants, and shoes.
Reaper walks from the shadow portal silently not saying a word dawning an oni mask and all black cloth-like ninja attire.
"Whatever you guys completed the mission and everything went according to plan let's get out of here" Blade complains.
"Mages of Aiz we are the Phantom Order and I am Phantom" "Sorry to intrude sir can we remove our masks because these guys already did and revealed their names-"
"That is correct but I shall remain to keep mines on," Phantom says.
"So will I" Deadman.
"Yeah, you should keep yours on I dont, and am sure not anyone wants to see what you look like."
"He does have a point," Selene thinks to herself.
"We can discuss this issue after we fix this outlier"
"Outlier?" Blade says aloud.
Shocked Selene steps forward "Sir where is the outlier? I made sure everything-"
"Here it comes."
The golden arrow that was shot in front of Percival begins to glow.
A golden light shines as a mage appears. A young male with black hair,medium-length hair on the top with a textured, layered look, while the sides are tapered and gradually faded, wearing an all-black dress shirt, black slacks, and dressed shoes, carrying a sword with no hilt.
"Who the hell is this?" Blade asks.
" Now you guys are bored without me I was just about to get some food and- Woah who are you guys? Where am I? The young man looks around frantically. "Ah" He runs over to the Falos Twelve Stars. "Rowen, Xi , Ai where is Sir William?! He takes a closer look at them. "A spell." He takes a step back "Those masks and that attire. By chance are you guys the Phantom Order?"
"So what if we are?" Blade responds.
"Well, I'll just enjoy the pleasure of being the one to take you all down. Cause I am Edward of the North" Edward draws his hiltless blade and points it at the Phantom Order.
