Chapter 618 - A Duel To The Death

Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (July 2021) 

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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The colosseum they went through, was a public amphitheater made of stone and concrete built through magic and can hold a thousand Fae.

Each story of the arena was encircled by arcades framed on the exterior with columns.

On the way there, their group passed by a meadow full of white and yellow flowers surrounded the lake just as the maidservant told them to. 

It was a structure located east of the mountain where they splashed on the waterfall the instant they arrived at the Summer Realm from the Spring Realm and it also owned a massive retractable velarium to shield the spectators from the sun.

Luna noticed that the colosseum in the Summer Courts was enormous and sophisticated compared to their arena in the Vampire Realm where  Apollyon killed Catriona.

The four of them settled on the marble seats at the uppermost story of the colosseum and continued observing Sir Tristan and Princess Ourania.

Honestly, Sir Tristan appeared like the fencing instructor of Princess Ourania instead of fiance, complete with teaching Apollyon's mother in military training and jousting techniques.

Right now, Sir  Tristan was teaching his fiance how to swing a sword into the enemy while on a horseback.

She did all those things instead of practicing how to walk straight without dropping the book in her head, knitting colorful embroideries and memorizing each and every cutlery on the table during meals, learning languages and playing music like how a gentle-bred noblewoman should.

Was there a need to be a savage or did she turned out like this because of Apollyon and Luna's defensive reaction in the Summer Courts?

Indeed, the colosseum was a witness of thousand hand-to-hand combats between Fae gladiators—whether it was the same gender or the opposite gender.

Some of these contests were between men and animals, larger group combats, a training ground for the Summer Militia and mock battles.

Minor contests included duels and jousts where people involved will solve the conflict with their sword-fighting skills.

This wasn't a place for Summer Princess like her.

After a few minutes, Luna carefully stood from her seat as her hand cradled her baby bump.

Her husband immediately stood by her side and held her elbow gently to assist her. 

Sloth and Ravin follow her as they descend through the stairs to the bottom and meet both of them at the center. 

"I was eagerly waiting to hear from you, Princess Ourania," Luna said out loud when her foot reached the floor-covered sand while Apollyon's mother got off her warhorse. "Is there anything you wanted to say to me?"

Frozen in place, Princess Ourania said nothing but her horrified blue eyes protruded as if her eyeballs were about to fall out of their sockets from staring at her too much.

"Speak, Princess!" Luna demanded as an excited giggle bubbled inside her. "You are too quiet that it creeps me out!" She said mockingly, "You aren't guilty about something, aren't you? You can tell me. I'm always here, waiting to listen in case you have a problem. I am willing confidante."

"No." Apollyon's mother said with conviction as she held the thin orange blade in front of her, and a brilliant light sliced across Sir Tristan's helm when the sunlight hit Princess Ourania's weapon. "I don't need to explain myself to you."

"Is it because what you have done to me can speak for itself?"

"I—" Princess Ourania anxiously stood at the center of the colosseum in discomfort as if a spotlight was directed on her.

Luna interrupted. "Perhaps, you aren't ready to face what should have been a ghost when you tried to kill me?"

Luna was determined to wound Princess Ourania today.

Of course, she didn't want any blood on her hands.

She would let her Familiars do the dirty work so that she could get back at her for shoving her to the stairs and stabbing her with a lance from back to the front that she almost lost her baby.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

This time, a life for a life. 

She must pay for what she had done.

"Stop it!" Princess Ourania screeched as she glowered at her, her fists were clenched tight on the hilt.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Luna tilted her head and smirked at her. "This sounded like a rude awakening to you, doesn't it? I challenge you to a duel."

"Not, right now! I'm not ready for a duel." Princess Ourania sounded uncomfortable and hesitant to speak up as if she wanted to withdraw and hide but she and remained still. 

"The time for sleeping and dreaming is over,"  Luna spoke strongly as she lifted her chin in a challenge. "Don't turn away from this moment, Princess Ourania, because this might be your last attempt to kill me." She gritted her teeth, "Do it in front of my face if you are brave enough. Never behind my back."

"Shut up!" Princess Ourania pointed her sword at her and Sloth, knocking the weapon out of her hand, was the quickest Luna had ever witnessed about him.

The Archdemon of Sloth took his contract as a Familiar too seriously that his behavior had changed.

"Wake up,  Princess." Luna advanced closer and pinched her cheek at once. "Don't cower too much." She shook her head and whispered, "It doesn't look good on you."

If blood and tears were her currency, then Apollyon's mother should also be willing to pay the price. Luna can break apart as long as it served a purpose but, not today.

Princess Ourania's serious stare mirrored her resolve, reflecting only the desire for her opponent's death and her strong desire to cut, bruise, hurt, lock and strike at what she perceived as the enemy.

Her.

To leave her alone to rot and die while she expected a word of thanks from ridding the Realm of abomination.

"I accept." Princess Ourania finally declared after she taunted her. "I decided to partake in a duel."