Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1489 - 1488 - Anti-Climatic

[WINNER: JADE SORCERESS!]

The judge called the winner of the current fight. It had been far less exciting after the fight between Lind Frey and the Immortal Berserker but they were finalists!

She was also a voluptuous beauty! Her cream colored skin was enhanced by the form hugging clothes yet her deadly skill made all men dismiss a single immoral thought.

Most of them, anyway.

Her close cropped dark hair was now loosely falling in front of her eyes as sweat covered her body. Blood flowed like rivers off her many injuries as her left arm was shattered.

The demon across from her, the Stone Blood Demon, was still alive but had lost consciousness after her warhammer slammed into his chin.

It had been an almost photo finish as some would call it when he used his halberd to do a similar attack to her!

Healers swarmed the platform as the judges began to confer.

"Well?" The violet eyed judge of the finals stared at her compatriots but they all shook their heads.

"He is not rousing at all. Matron Mira has declared he is in a restorative coma. There is no telling when he will wake up but certainly not in the time limit he set up." A vein throbbed on her forehead.

She worried about the Ancestor but he chose the most inconvenient time to bow out! The betting houses, audience, and special guests all believed he would be the final champion but now it was impossible.

More than that, they were still grieving. Lady Cyntilla's loss was hard for them all. She had played with them, taught them, and encouraged them. Some had special memories but even she knew the love of the Ancestor's family.

It seemed cheap for the tournament to end the way it was.

So much had happened and been revealed, yet the end was just…this?

A flash of prismatic light drew all their eyes back to the platform before they realized who it was.

Lady Ethry had recovered!

[All please attend to me.] Her voice boomed in their minds. She took on her natural state and floated over them all. Her massive body shimmered all the natural colors of Qi.

The mane on her back side was like the purest silk and her scales were mesmerising to even other dragons.

[First, I am afraid my Lord Frey cannot return for his final fight. The use of Dao far exceeded what he could quickly recover from. The price paid was steep but he lives. The loss of my Sister–] Ethry's eyes dimmed and her aura became so heavy.

The audience all bowed in respect but Ethry was lost in some memory before she recalled herself.

[The loss of my Sister also means that slot is decided. She will be granted 4th place.] Not a single person said a word.

It had been a given in most minds but her next words shocked them all.

[Per her instructions, should she die in the tournament but earn any prize, it will be distributed to middle powers of demonic origin. She did not specify the list but we have one. Know that any power that goes against her beliefs will be excluded.] Her harsh tone was clear.

They would not empower foolish idiots nor despots. Honorable warriors and those that lived by codes would be the likely recipients but the level was the shocking part.

Middle powers would benefit massively from such a boon! As if reading their minds, Ethry's maw stretched into a vicious smile.

[Supreme and High powers have no need for such things. You can grasp your own power with your own 2 hands but such opportunities are rare for those struggling. Low and backwater powers could not protect them and it would only invite danger. By distributing them so far, no single middle power will be targeted.] Her aura spiked as she now loomed over the audience. [Know we will be watching for those that try to extract the prizes by any means other than honest trade.]

It was a warning and a reminder. The Throne of Defiance was a supreme power without question.

She did not keep up the act before deflating for the next part.

[My husband forfeits. He will be given third place.] It was meant with an instant uproar. Some likely saw it coming but they could not accept it!

The bookkeepers especially were losing their minds! The money to be made was now thrown out the window!

[SILENCE!] A roar joined with her transmission. The weavings magnified her power as well to make everyone freeze in place.

Her prismatic eyes looked around the arena as she sneered.

[Power has a price and he paid it. He sacrificed victory in the tournament for something you all seemed to have forgotten. Progress.] Her words made all the Sovereign Tiers snap out of their fervor.

She was right. For them, the prizes were good but not the main point! They came to push themselves!

Only in the tournament could they make massive leaps forward compared to the tiny steps they were restricted to outside.

[Aside from items already submitted to the auction after this tournament concludes, his winnings are to be distributed to the aether children, Elemental, and Celestial powers.] A murmur now broke out once more.

No level was selected because it was damned few powers to begin with. Setting aside the Elementals as they lived vastly different lives, aether children were often forced to integrate into human or demon powers.

Beastly powers might accept them but they were rather harsh lives for anyone. Elemental powers did not mind them but their path was far too different to aid them in cultivation.

Just like his wife, Lind made sure nothing could be taken in a single swoop but then more revelations came about.

[In addition to that, a Shard Tier Immortal Harmonic Dragon will accompany the prize and help guide those powers for no less than 5000 years.] Now the uproar was all around.

The Harmonic Dragons knew and the judge had even accepted it but it was not a certain thing. It served 2 purposes.

The first was a guard to ensure the prize was not 'appropriated' by a neighboring or higher power. The second was experience.

The Harmonic Dragons were now Immortals and growing but they had lived their lives inside the Throne of Defiance. They had to go out and experience the world.

A 5000 year term was nothing to an Immortal. Further, they could bring back stories and inspirations from the wider world for all to experience.

[SEAL!] The command suddenly activated a weaving that took the voice of the crowd away. They had no issue breathing but words and transmission from them were locked down.

[None of you would accept an Oath to allow the various powers to benefit from the rewards. It was thus decided for the younglings to go out into the world at last. However, they will not stop trade nor will they deny lessons if appropriate compensation is given. A portion of which will be given to the power they are to inhabit for those 5000 years.] Ethry's words calmed the crowd immensely.

The Throne of Defiance was the sole domain of Lind Frey! He had taught all the dragons! It was a chance for them to learn even if they did not get a slot from the tournament!

Understanding and greed flashed but then all paled as those prismatic eyes looked at them. The warning was unspoken but clear.

{Harm them, and you will not know how you died.}

Lind Frey was healing, not dead. His terrifying power had been made abundantly clear to all. Should he desire it, there was no power in the 4th layer that could stop him from ruling it.

[As such, the last fight was the championship. The Stone Blood Demon is 2nd place and the Jade Sorceress is 1st place!] There was a pause before several sections exploded in joy. It was a little odd that it was still silent but it broke the tension.

Ethry lifted the seal and the joyful cheers filled the arena.

[There will be a one month interim until the Defiant Auction is held. If you did not purchase a ticket, and do not have a slot earned, you must leave during this month. If you have not left by the end of the month, you will be branded with a mark and banned from future tournaments or auctions.]

Her wording perked everyone up. The tournament was to be held every 50,000 years but there had been no mention of the auction interval. Was it possible there would be more?

Ethry did not elaborate as she left the arena. Others could not tell, but all the dragons knew it had taken a lot out of her. Her body might be healed but her soul and mind were still scarred.

They bowed low as she left but she never even glanced at them.

The judges quickly organized and the wards were shifted to standby as other cleanup went into effect.

They had a lot to do and it would take the whole month to transform the open arena into a massive auction hall!