Kael immediately turned to look at Serenna.
On his face two opposite emotions mixed: a nervous smile and an impossible-to-hide worry.
His eyebrows rose slightly, as if his mind were trying to get ahead of events, while his lips curved in an unsure gesture that tried to look firm.
But his eyes… his eyes couldn't lie. In them reflected the weight of too many decisions made in too little time.
He looked like a puppy that had just done mischief and was waiting for his owner's scolding.
—And now… what do we do? —he asked.
His voice came out controlled, almost serene, but his gaze trembled for just an instant.
Kael was king only in title; inside he was still someone learning to walk on ground that shifted under his feet.
Every step he took could turn into a mistake… or into law.
Too much had happened in too little time. The throne, the sins, the coliseum, the latent war, the system.
Everything piled up like layers of armor too heavy for a body that still hadn't finished growing.
Serenna, on the other hand, remained calm.
There was no surprise in her expression nor rigidity in her posture.
Her serenity wasn't indifference: it was certainty. Her hands rested elegantly in front of her, one over the other, and her back stayed straight, firm, as if chaos couldn't touch her.
Her eyes scanned the arena with the calm of someone who had already observed this scene a thousand times… even before it existed.
—Calm down, my king —she replied softly—. I already had a plan.
Kael blinked, as if those words were a rope thrown just before falling into the void.
—A plan…?
—Yes —Serenna continued—. Even before the tournament began.
Her voice didn't rise even a little, but each word carried the weight of something well thought out. She wasn't speaking to impress; she spoke because she had already foreseen this exact moment.
—I considered that, if one or more sins refused to participate… or surrendered in the middle of battle —she went on—, the final round should be resolved another way.
Kael tilted his head slightly, attentive, like a student in front of a teacher who doesn't repeat lessons.
—How?
Serenna raised a finger, with a simple, almost ceremonial gesture, as if pointing to an invisible rule written in the air.
—A final fight between those who remained standing after the previous battles.
Kael's eyes widened.
For an instant, his mind imagined the scene: three forces clashing without restrictions, without turns, without second chances. Pure chaos… but also direct justice.
—A… final battle?
—That's right, my lord —Serenna affirmed—. No rounds. No pauses. The three who advanced will fight until only one remains standing.
For a second, Kael said nothing.
His silence wasn't doubt, but processing. Something fit. Something inside him, that part he still didn't know existed, recognized the brutal logic of that decision.
Then, his expression changed completely.
His eyes shone, not with fear, but with genuine enthusiasm.
—That's awesome!
The tension he had carried on his shoulders evaporated instantly. He let himself fall back against his seat, letting out a long, deep sigh, as if he could finally breathe without feeling the world watching him.
—I knew you had thought of everything —he said, smiling with honest relief—. Really.
Serenna nodded with a slight tilt of her head.
—It's my duty, my king.
At that instant, the man with the magical megaphone took the floor again. His voice, amplified by ancient sorcery, echoed through the entire coliseum, repeating exactly the same instructions Serenna had mentioned seconds before.
Kael couldn't help but smile as he heard each phrase. It was like watching an idea materialize right in front of his eyes.
When the crowd understood what was about to happen, the reaction was immediate.
The stands began to vibrate.
Surprise. Astonishment. Expectation.
A battle of three sins at once wasn't something you saw every day. Some shouted excitedly, others clutched their heads, unable to believe what they heard.
The energy of the place reignited like a freshly stoked bonfire.
The two enormous doors of the coliseum burst open.
The metallic sound echoed in the air.
Immediately, two imposing figures stepped out onto the arena.
The sin of Lust advanced with a dangerous smile, each step loaded with provocative confidence. His movements seemed a slow, calculated dance, as if combat were just another stage to shine on.
The sin of Wrath, in contrast, stepped onto the sand with contained violence. Muscles tense, heavy breathing, eyes burning with a fire that knew no rest.
Both took opposite positions.
There were no words.
They weren't needed.
But seconds passed.
One.
Two.
Three minutes.
And the third combatant never appeared.
The sin of Sloth didn't come out.
Looks began to cross. The crowd murmured confused. Some laughed, others protested, others simply shook their heads, as if this were exactly what they expected.
Finally, the decision was inevitable.
Dormius had been eliminated for non-appearance.
The reason soon became known.
Dormius had already left the coliseum after finishing his previous fight. For him, all of it lacked importance. At that precise moment he was in the castle, in his room, deeply asleep, wrapped in blankets, oblivious to the noise, to destiny and to history.
For him, the tournament had already ended.
Without waiting any longer, the final battle was about to begin.
But then something unexpected happened.
Agnitus took a step back.
Then another.
And one more.
The sound of his boots moving away from the arena was louder than any shout.
He turned, without even looking at his possible opponents.
—This is a waste of time —he said with total indifference—. Better go rest.
And he left.
No explanations. No drama. No looking back.
The coliseum fell into complete silence.
A thick, heavy, uncomfortable silence.
No one understood anything.
With that simple decision, Agnitus abandoned the fight… and with it, the result became inevitable.
Seraphyne remained as the only one standing.
The winner.
The leader.
Kael, upon realizing what had just happened, stood up from his seat. For a second he seemed to hesitate, as if searching for an invisible sign, but then began to applaud with genuine enthusiasm.
The sound was contagious.
One. Two. Ten more applause.
In seconds, the entire coliseum exploded in applause.
—Congratulations, Seraphyne! —Kael announced with a firm voice—. From this moment, you are named captain of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Seraphyne said nothing.
She didn't smile.
She didn't celebrate.
She just accepted.
And that was enough.
Kael smiled from ear to ear. For him, that sequence of events had been a nightmare… and it had finally ended. For the first time since everything began, he felt he could rest.
Although something still bothered him.
The system.
It still hadn't appeared.
It still hadn't confirmed that the mission was completed.
Kael let out a sigh, but decided to ignore it for now. There were battles that weren't won by looking at the sky.
Serenna placed herself at his side.
—My lord king —she said—, I think it would be wise to return to the castle. You should eat. You're surely hungry.
Kael thought for a few seconds.
—You're right… —he replied—. But first I want to do something.
Serenna looked at him.
—I want to see the city —he continued—. If I'm going to be a good king, I have to know its inhabitants, don't you think?
Serenna smiled slightly.
—Of course, my lord.
She indicated the way out.
They left the arena and headed toward the center of the city.
Kael was shocked.
The buildings, the houses, the streets full of life… everything was new to him. He walked with the curiosity of a child, observing every detail, greeting the people who passed by his side.
The response was immediate.
Every greeting was returned with a bow.
Young women looked at him from afar, surprised, some blushing, others murmuring among themselves.
—Am I drawing too much attention, Serenna? —Kael asked, laughing—. I feel like they're watching me from all sides… though it doesn't bother me, hahaha.
He ran a hand through his hair, smiling naturally.
—I think it's because Your Majesty is very young —Serenna replied—. Normally, a king is usually over thirty years old. Or so they say.
Kael blinked.
—It's true… we've never seen other kings, have we?
—Exactly, my lord.
Kael nodded thoughtfully.
—Then I must know the other kingdoms… how many are there, Serenna?
—Eleven kingdoms —she replied—, not counting the human race nor ours.
—Eleven… —Kael repeated—. That's a lot.
Serenna continued:
—If you wish, we can send letters. Visit the kingdoms, talk politics, establish relations.
Kael smiled.
—We're at war with the humans but that doesn't matter right now, I still think they don't want to fight either —he said—. So let's do it, let's visit other kingdoms.
He began to speed up his pace, his smile growing even bigger.
His confidence emanated from every movement.
And as he advanced through the city, Kael, without realizing it, began to walk not just as a king… but as someone willing to truly become one.