Chapter 460: The Substitute
(Lewis Hamilton Arena, Soron’s POV)
Soron cast a calm glance toward the First Elder before shifting his gaze slowly across the arena crowd. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a heavy stillness, and his words came at a deliberately slow pace.
"The stakes of this match were established well in advance. And since this boy has chosen to forfeit the fight, Aegon Veyr will ascend as the Cult’s next Dragon. That decision is final."
His voice left no room for doubt, and none in the arena dared to question his authority.
"As for Leo Skyshard’s claim that he is unworthy or unprepared to shoulder the title of Dragon... I disagree."
"I watched the entire battle. I observed every decision he made, every moment of hesitation, every burst of courage. And based on what I saw, I am convinced that he does possess the qualities needed to be the Dragon."
"However, since he currently lacks the confidence to carry that role, here is what I’ve decided."
"Leo Skyshard will continue his training under Vice Sect Master Charles, learning the ropes of the military under him whenever Dragon Veyr is dispatched on official missions.
While on all other times, he is to receive the same resources, access, and education as the Dragon himself, including the Cult’s most guarded techniques—those typically reserved only for the Dragon or the heir to the Sect Master’s throne."
"His performance today makes it clear that he is far too gifted for the Cult to ignore his future growth. He must be shaped into the strongest version of himself that we can produce."
"But such support must also come with responsibility. And so, we will hold Leo accountable."
"If Aegon Veyr fulfills his duty without incident, serving with distinction and surviving the challenges of the role as expected, then Leo Skyshard will follow a parallel path within the military. Under the guidance of Monarch Charles, he will gradually rise through the ranks and, over time, ascend to the position of Vice Sect Master."
"However, should fate take an unfortunate turn and should Veyr, for any unfortunate reason fall in battle or meet with a tragedy, then from the very next day, Leo Skyshard will inherit the mantle of Dragon without delay or deliberation."
"In other words, he is to be trained and prepared as the designated substitute for both positions: the Vice Sect Master of tomorrow, and the emergency Dragon should the need ever arise."
Soron concluded, his tone as calm at the end as it was at the start.
Silence clung to the arena like a suffocating fog, thick and unmoving, as thousands sat frozen, unable to fully grasp the weight of what had just been declared.
And amidst that sea of stillness, Leo’s eyes widened.
This was not the outcome he had intended when he chose to surrender.
He had not walked away from the Dragon’s crown to be handed its shadow.
He had hoped to disappear quietly back into a life of freedom, to train at his own pace, to explore his power without responsibility anchoring his every step. But instead, he had been placed directly into the very path he was trying to avoid.
He wasn’t the Dragon—but he was now its ghost. The one standing just behind the throne, waiting for tragedy to hand him the crown whether he wanted it or not.
He wasn’t free. He was on call.
The spotlight he had tried to dodge had simply been angled differently. He would be followed, watched, and scrutinized with just as much intensity as Veyr, because now he was the Cult’s emergency heir.... its backup plan, its unspoken safeguard.
The crowd didn’t cheer.
The Elders didn’t speak.
Even the announcers couldn’t find the words to fill the air.
It was as if the entire arena had been turned into a grand theatre where the final twist had rendered the audience speechless.
The only sound that Leo could hear, was the one of his own laborious breath, as he looked towards Soron in confusion, however, the Great God never met his gaze.
In the end, after a few quiet seconds had passed since delivering his verdict, Soron vanished from his stone throne without so much as a ripple in the air.
There was no flash of light, no sound, no grand farewell. He simply ceased to be there, disappearing without ceremony, leaving the Elders, Leo, Veyr, and the stunned audience to grapple with the weight of his decision on their own.
—------------
(Meanwhile Charles)
Charles shook his head from side to side in an extremely disappointed fashion when he saw Soron deliver his final verdict.
"So that’s why you were there you sly old Fox..... you were there to make sure that you tethered the boy to the fate of becoming Dragon, whether he was destined to be one or not...." Charles spoke to himself, as he lit up a cigarette in agitated disbelief.
"You don’t care for the boy, only the Cult as a whole..... and while your decision is better for the Cult’s future.
I don’t like it for the sake of the boy.
He’s a good kid....
But he’s just like me.
The only people who will ever truly accept him as their own are the soldiers, or civilians who understand the debt of blood.
While the others will just see him as a war machine and nothing more...."
"You should have left him with me.... You should have just let him pursue a career in the military.
He’s safe here.
He’s amongst his own.
In a place where they won’t pray to him for miracles.
But if you put him out there with his talent, then the brighter he shines the more the commoners will start to expect.
He defeated a Transcendent as a Grandmaster?
Next they’ll expect him to beat a Monarch as a Transcendent or a Demi God as a Monarch, and they won’t be satisfied no matter what.
I don’t understand you.... Old man.
And I don’t like the choice you made here today.
You unnecessarily complicated the lives of both Veyr and Skyshard by making the kid a substitute."
Charles said, as he let out a long puff of smoke, feeling unhappy with how things turned out at the end.