Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine-Chapter 243 - 242- Tenth Warrior
For the next few days, things happened as everyone predicted.
The little contest to select the ten participants for the trials began and several battles a day were fought.
Out of one hundred-eight participants, sixty-four come from the Beast realm, twenty from the eleven regions, fifteen from the Blood Domain, and the rest from the human side.
Some were independent candidates who were not presented by their government for the Trials. And most of them were the second, third, and fourth options from each realm.
The rule was simple: fight with one opponent, win the round, and advance to the next day.
Every single day, several matches were happening at once. That was the reason why the biggest battleground in the world was chosen for the occasion.
The huge venue had ten arenas in one wing, and there were seven wings.
The rulers were quite careful about the match, not putting those two contenders against each other whom they had selected as their first choices.
Since they wanted at least one candidate from each realm to participate—a decision taken by the eldest being on the planet—they didn't put the two human warriors—Rebecca and Edric—against those whom they wouldn't be able to defeat.
Things were happening with full planning but this contest was held so no one blamed their rulers in the future that they never got the chance. Well, they would only complain if their world survives.
Currently, Edric was inside the preparation room.
There were a few more warriors in the rooms but they all have finsihed their matches.
It was the final day of battle, and they were going to announce the ten candidates tonight.
Rebecca has already finished her battle against a wolfkin and won the battle absolutely seamlessly.
She showed the fruits of her hard work and the strength of a vampire who has gone through three evolutions.
The world was shocked to see a vampire who had been raised in the human realm to possess such strength.
A few days ago she even went against an adult Vampire and won. She was not in the first choice list of the rulers, and her matches were chosen randomly for the first few days.
However, that didn't result in her loss even once. She proved her skills and told the world that she also had the strength to be one of the ten warriors.
Returning to the waiting room she found Edric sitting there, a nervous expression on his face.
"Everything will be fine." She assured him as she drank some water. God, she was craving something else right now.
Edric heaved a long sigh, "It's the final battle before I would get selected. Messing up here means I won't reach the stage where Alex would need me."
Alex needed as many trustworthy people as possible so that during the battle; he wouldn't have to watch his back. Naturally, this Trial held importance in Edric's eyes; however, the only person who could be a huge factor that could lead them to victory is Alex. As such, Edric wanted to be there to support him.
Rebecca sat down beside him and calmly told the boy, "It's good that you understand the severity of the matter, but don't let it become a burden over you, or you will mess things up. Just go out there and fight as you always do."
Edric took a deep breath and nodded.
That's right, everything comes down to his strength. And Edric has worked hard for this day.
...
The arena was filled with people.
Most of the matches of today have already concluded, and only the last match to decide the tenth man of the team remained.
In the stands, thousands of people belonging to different races and nations were seated.
The rulers of the four realms were also there too.
Edric knew where his friends and lover were, so he turned towards them and gave a smile.
Celestria, Amanda, and Jullie were sat there. Celestria was holding the board of 'Go, Ed, Go!'
Amanda was waving at him with both of her hands. And Jullie pumped her fists to encourage him.
Edric tore his eyes away from them and looked at his opponent
It was a dragon newt, holding a sword. His dark grey scales shone under the lights. Slit eyes focused on Edric and his aura radiating dangerously.
He was a tall creature, almost a head taller than Edric and his strong scales gave the impression that this battle was going to continue for long.
"Both participants, ready?" The referee arrived in the ring and asked.
There were no rules to repeat—because there were none.
If you didn't tap out in time, you might die.
It was a fight to the death… or submission. Nothing in between.
Edric gave a quiet nod. His opponent did the same.
Silence swallowed the arena. Edric took a slow breath and closed his eyes for just a moment.
The referee's hand sliced through the air—
—and Edric's eyes snapped open just in time to see a gleaming blade inches from his face.
"Shii-"
He threw himself back, one hand slamming to the ground for support as the blade barely missed his skull.
"Woooahhh!" the crowd roared.
Edric's gaze sharpened. His ears elongated, golden light crackling around him.
The dragon newt didn't hesitate. He knew Edric's powers—and this was his chance. He yanked his blade back and thrust it forward, aiming to catch Edric before he could fully recover.
But Edric was ready.
He let go of the ground completely, dropped flat, and in a blink—
WHUMP
—he pushed off with his hands and sprang upward like a whip.
The sudden move startled the dragon newt. Instinct made him jump back, his footing uneven.
But what now stood before him… was no longer just Edric.
His form had shifted.
His limbs stretched unnaturally.
A wild, untamed aura poured from him.
A beast—face twisted with primal rage—now stared the newt down.
The dragon newt didn't get time to recover.
CRACK!
Edric dashed forward, the ground shattering beneath his feet from the force.
A clawed fist slammed into the newt's ribs. Bones crunched.
He flew to the side—but twisted mid-air, stabbing down with his blade.
Edric ducked.
The blade scraped his shoulder, drawing a line of blood.
But he didn't flinch.
He grabbed the newt's arm mid-strike and twisted it violently.
SNAP!
A sickening crack echoed.
The crowd roared again.
The dragon newt howled, swinging his tail like a whip. It hit Edric across the chest, sending him sliding back.
But Edric dug his claws into the ground, stopping himself.
Then he launched again.
BOOM!
A wild kick to the chest. The newt's body bent backward unnaturally as he was sent flying.
He hit the arena wall with a thunderous crash.
Dust rose.
Silence.
Edric stood in the center, chest rising and falling, golden eyes glowing.
The dragon newt groaned, barely standing.
Edric lowered his stance.
One more strike.
No mercy.
The dragon newt slowly rose, his chest heaving, blood dripping from his mouth.
"You're strong," he said, voice low but steady. Then his aura burst out—crackling, wild. His wounds began closing at a rapid pace.
Edric stayed ready, eyes narrowed, muscles coiled like springs.
The dragon newt dropped his sword with a loud CLANG and then tore off his armor. His body grew larger, bulging with muscle, veins popping.
"…but I have to win this."
The moment he spoke, he vanished.
In the blink of an eye, Edric's place was taken by the dragon, and a figure was sent flying.
BOOOOOM
Edric's body smashed into the wall, a massive web of cracks spreading behind him. He coughed, pain shooting through his ribs. Something inside cracked.
But the newt didn't stop.
He appeared again, fist pulled back.
"DIE!!" he roared, and the punch slammed into Edric's chest.
BOOOOOOM
Amanda gasped. Her face went pale.
The wall trembled—cracks deepening. Edric's body was nearly buried inside.
The crowd held their breath. That kind of punch… should've ended it.
But—
DHAK
The newt froze.
His fist was caught.
Edric's hand trembled from the force, but he held on tight.
He spat out blood, his glowing eyes locking onto the newt's.
"You dragged this too long," he growled.
The newt panicked, pulling back and swinging with his other hand—
Too slow.
BOOOOOOM
A brutal fist caved into his face, and the dragon newt was sent flying across the arena.
But Edric wasn't done.
He flashed to the other side—BAM!—a sharp kick from below launched the beast straight into the sky.
Edric shot up like a missile, rising higher, faster.
Above the arena, he raised his hands and slammed them down together.
DHAK
BOOOOOM
The dragon newt crashed back to the ground like a meteor, the earth roaring beneath him.
A crater burst open from the impact, dust rising like smoke.
And at the center of that pit… lay the warrior, broken and still.
The fight was over.
Nebula had found its tenth champion.
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
