Born in Blood

The Queen definitely looked like she was enjoying herself.

Liam didn't know what her Path entailed.

But he could guess.

Seeing how she got stronger the more pain, effort and power she exerted, it had something to do with resilience and grit. In truth, Liam had no clue why her Path was like that. She was Royalty! Why did her power resemble something that only brutes and savages could have?

The Queen looked ferocious and almost savage as she smashed back the ball, grunting in anger with each strike. BOOM!

WHOOSH!

BOM!

WHSH!

BM!

WSH!

At one point, the ball was just a blur.

And it almost seemed to have multiplied!

Even the noise it produced sounded like the world's fastest and strongest jackhammer.

If a normal human watched the game, they'd just see three blurring silhouettes flashing this way and that way with unreal speed. Also, they would struggle to hold themselves to the ground, since fierce gales would instantly uproot them and throw them away. And their eardrums would also pop – among other things besides instant death.

But to what end?!

Liam's hands were on the edge of bursting into flames.

BRSH!

A moment later, his hands really did catch fire!

Out of all the rounds Liam went through, this had to be the simplest game.

There was no special ability in particular.

Nor tricks, like Eyes of Knowledge could do.

Or a crushing gravity pulling them down. It was just: hit the ball.

But unfortunately… the game was coming to an end after the twenty minute mark. The game's intensity went from a hot flame to a roaring blaze. A radius of destruction and mayhem encompassed the pitch. It was a hazy bubble of burning-hot air. If a normal person walked through, they'd just be… incinerated.

Just like that.

There would be no warning of any kind. Liam's lungs burned.

It felt like he was sucking in fire with each little breath he took.

Warm sweat trickled all over his sizzling skin.

Pain seared through his body.

Mostly through his mangled arms and hands.

It was the same with Alucard.

A deep grimace was on his face. But at the very least, his body was in a solid state.

Except, as the game went on… more and more of the Queen's sadism was poking through.

So much so, a delighted smile had formed on her lips.

But as the game continued, Liam noticed something.

Her silvery hair had lost some of its glow!

That could only mean one thing.

She was getting weaker and weaker!

But then again… so was he!

And so was Alucard! BM!

WHSH!

BHM!

BOOM!

WSH!

Liam attempted to kick the ball back like he always did… but a fragment of his shin broke.

BOOM!

He still managed to kick it back!

But due to the sudden breaking of his leg, he was forced to kick it with his toes, altering its trajectory!

However, a patch of Liam's shadows enveloped the ball. Liam's shadow abilities had gotten complex enough for him to sever off a piece of it.

Except, with such minimal contact with the ball's surface, he couldn't apply anything special or powerful to it.

All he could do was alter its trajectory by a few inches. WHOOSH!

Liam looked at the ball as it traveled back to the Queen.

Time slowed.

Enough for Liam to see the broad, sadistic, cruel grin on her face.

'Ah,' Liam thought with a bit of pity on his face. 'She got me.'

BOOOM!

With hands basked in blinding, iridescent light, the Queen struck it immediately to the edge of his Position.

Even after the ball made an adjacent curve. Queen Thryess recognized its path instantly and was there in the blink of an eye. Liam's Breaker Blade attempted to deflect it towards Alucard at the last second… but it was too late.

"Liam, the Black Blade," the Mayor announced, suppressing his joy and jubilation, "disqualified."

Silence.

Besides the sounds of the ball bouncing across the pitch, nothing could be heard.

Just then, the Mayor waved an arm at Liam and the air. WHOOM!

Almost instantly, the pain evaporated, replaced by a comfortable warmth. His body had reverted back to normal. Before the power boost. Liam looked at his hands. All that strength… gone.

For a second, he felt a bit inferior.

Like he had fallen from grace.

Liam pursed his lips, a displeased look on his face.

Winning the Star Dust would have been phenomenal for him.

Heck, even without the item itself, the doors it opened for the future were plenty.

'Oh well,' Liam thought, then glanced at the floating meteor beside the Mayor. 'It's a shame I didn't get it… but I had a feeling it'd turn out like this.' 'If I used Transfiguration a little smarter, maybe there'd be a way I could salvage a win.'

'But then again, the abilities I can afford to use are not close ranged.'

'And even if I did win… I'd have to go against Alucard next.'

'And my darkness is sealed to protect me from his crimson energy.'

'Shame… how shameful.'

The odds were stacked against him from the very start.

Liam wasn't gonna win this game.

He sighed.

Alucard exchanged a terse nod with Liam. Liam didn't deign the Queen another look. She was probably smirking at him in disdain.

"You've done remarkable so far, Mister Liam," the Mayor said suddenly. "Don't hold it against yourself."

'Wasn't going to, but okay,' Liam thought to himself. "It's been lovely. Thanks for the invitation."

Liam meant it… but not really. Not so much to call it 'lovely', but enough for it to be beneficial. A second later, he gave the Mayor a nod, then left through the tunnel.

Alucard and Queen Kisra Thyress remained. Liam had no idea who would win… but in either hands, the Star Dust could prove dangerous. Especially the Queen's… but maybe the vampire king was just as big of a threat. 'Can't worry about that for now,' Liam thought as he left the tunnel and made his way to the bottom floors. No… he had a far more important job. Liam smiled.

'Time to become a proper Zenith.'