BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 41: Evelyne Grimthorne vs. Gareth "The Iron Fang" Dain

The tournament raged on.

By now, over twenty matches had taken place, with a mix of victories and crushing defeats. Some lesser nobles had barely scraped by against talented commoners, while others had been humiliated by those they underestimated.

The stands were alive with energy—students whispering about standout fighters, betting on the next rounds, and watching as names were announced one by one.

At the VIP section, Kael Veyrin leaned forward slightly, watching the next match. Cassian Duskbane sat next to him, smirking as he sipped from a silver flask.

"This should be fun," Cassian muttered.

Kael nodded. "She's about to remind everyone why House Grimthorne is feared."

Selene Duskbane tilted her head. "Or maybe she'll struggle. Gareth Dain isn't just another brute."

Darius Zephyrion, still bandaged from his fight with Lucian, laughed. "She won't struggle. She'll crush him."

In the arena below, the announcer's voice rang out.

"Match #23—Evelyne Grimthorne vs. Gareth 'The Iron Fang' Dain!"

A roar erupted from the crowd.

Some cheered for Evelyne—the noble-born warrior, known for her brutal strength.

Others cheered for Gareth—the commoner brawler.

Kael's gaze locked onto the two fighters as they stepped onto the battlefield.

Evelyne Grimthorne – The Titan of House Grimthorne

Evelyne moved with unshaken confidence.

Her black-and-gray first-year uniform fit snugly over her athletic frame, the Grimthorne crest shining on her sleeve. A massive greatsword rested on her back—a weapon meant for crushing, not finesse.

Her expression was calm. Collected.

She always carried herself with an air of quiet confidence, never speaking unless necessary. But Kael had fought alongside her before.

He knew that changed the moment she stepped into battle.

She reached up, gripping the hilt of her greatsword and drawing it in one smooth motion. The blade was massive, almost impractical for someone her age. But she lifted it with ease—though not without effort.

She was strong, but not invincible. Her footwork still needed work. Her swings were powerful but not yet precise.

Gareth "The Iron Fang" Dain – The Street Brawler Turned Fighter

On the opposite side, Gareth Dain cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders.

His commoner's uniform bore no family crest—just the academy sigil. He had no enchanted armor, no noble lineage.

But he had raw, earned power.

His fists were wrapped in reinforced leather, and his arms bulged with hardened muscle. Silver veins glowed faintly beneath his skin, a sign of his Iron Fang ability—his body absorbed damage and converted it into strength.

He grinned, wolf-like.

"Heard you're strong," he called out.

Evelyne adjusted her grip on her sword. "I am," she said simply.

Gareth's grin widened. "Good. I like a real fight."

The Fight Begins

Professor Selwyn Draeven stepped onto the platform, his mechanical arm gleaming.

"No killing. No running. No excuses," he said gruffly. "Fight."

He dropped his arm.

BOOM.

Evelyne moved first—not as fast as Kael or Darius, but direct and decisive.

She swung her greatsword in a brutal arc, aiming to end the fight quickly.

Gareth caught the blade with both hands.

The entire arena shook from the impact. Stone beneath them cracked. A shockwave blasted outward, sending dust flying.

The crowd gasped.

Kael's eyes narrowed. He blocked it?

For a moment, Gareth grinned. "That all?"

Then—his knees buckled.

Evelyne gritted her teeth—her strength wasn't unlimited. Her grip nearly slipped, her stance faltering for just a second.

But she pressed down harder.

Gareth gritted his teeth, arms trembling—and for the first time, his grin faltered.

Evelyne's calm mask broke.

Her lips curled into a wild, battle-hungry smirk.

Titan's Resilience vs. Iron Fang

Gareth grunted, then roared. His Iron Fang veins glowed brighter—his muscles swelled with absorbed force.

He pushed Evelyne's sword back.

Then—he counterattacked.

His fist crashed into her ribs, a blow that had already broken two students earlier.

The crowd winced.

Evelyne staggered. It hurt.

But she didn't stop.

Instead, she shifted her stance—bringing her sword's pommel up in a brutal smash against Gareth's jaw.

CRACK.

Gareth stumbled back, blinking.

Evelyne rolled her shoulders, breathing heavier now. "That all?" she repeated, voice low and dangerous.

Now, Gareth was grinning again. Blood dripped from his nose, but his eyes gleamed.

"Damn," he muttered. "You're fun."

Gareth charged forward, throwing a devastating right hook.

Evelyne sidestepped—but just barely.

She twisted her greatsword—not with perfect grace, but with brute force.

Before Gareth could react—

She slammed the flat of her blade into his gut.

BOOM.

The force sent Gareth flying. He crashed into the ground so hard the stone cracked beneath him.

Dust erupted around the impact.

The crowd fell silent.

When the dust settled—

Gareth was lying on his back, dazed.

Winner: Evelyne Grimthorne.

The arena exploded with cheers.

Kael exhaled slowly. "That wasn't even close."

Cassian chuckled. "Evelyne doesn't play games."

Darius grinned. "Told you she'd crush him."

Gareth, still lying on the ground, let out a hoarse laugh.

"Damn," he muttered, grinning despite his loss. "That was fun."

Evelyne offered him a hand.

He blinked, then grinned wider and took it.

The crowd cheered louder.

She didn't say much—just nodded once before walking off.

The message was clear:

She respected him.

But she was still stronger.

Tournament Continues…

With Evelyne's victory, the tournament moved forward. And up next…

Cassian Duskbane vs. Vance Hollowind.