The Eclipse Stadium was one of the premier stadiums in all of the Dragonspire Galaxy, with a history of hosting era-defining events since the dawn of the Chaos Cycle. It had been transformed to host everything from war games to concerts drawing crowds of billions. It was used to big transformations.

  But today’s event was something else.

  The stadium had to be blown up and reassembled from the ground up.

  Usually, it took up the face of a moon. But a moon couldn’t fit Ragnos, which was the size of a dwarf planet. So the stadium was disassembled into an asteroid field of thousands of stands, held in place with gravity-locking arrays—all hovering over the surface of Ragnos. Where, in just a few hours, the main event was set to go down.

  It would seat billions. Giant screens floated through the stands, showing off all the Chambers at cinematic angles. That morning, the stadium was alive with portal flashes as folks teleported in; a constellation of portals had sprung up just for the occasion.

  Concessions vendors rode fleets of wyverns, offering snacks and beer, wheeling carts stuffed full of sweets and savories; there was something for every taste.

  The closer you got to the action, the fancier the seats, the more the vendors started popping up in suits and ties.

  These vendors served the true powerhouses of the galaxy—the Dragonspire Galaxy’s elites.

  The top end of Ragnos had long been a benchmark test. Each time Ragnos’s penultimate or final planet was cleared, all of Dragonspire took note.

  But everyone knew this time was different, for one reason.

  “Zane! Zane! Zane!”

  The chants were already starting up.

  ***

  Earth’s local broadcasts were still done by local anchors and longtime Zane enthusiasts Becca and Tyler.

  But for the galactic broadcast, Elias pulled out all the stops. He’d managed to swing the big names.

  “Folks, we’re just getting going, and I’ll just say it—I’ve been at this eight centuries. I’ve never seen anything quite like this!” said a bald, heavyset anchor. He had an easy smile and a silver beard, neatly trimmed. “There's something in the air right now. I think folks know they’re about to see something special.”

  “It's a lot, alright,” said Grand Elder Mox. He was a short but very large man; his arms were crossed, showing off bulging forearms. His mustache was looped like a dragon’s whiskers.

  “For those at home, that voice you’re hearing is Grand Elder Mox. ‘Stoneheart Mox’—the man needs no introduction. Third-most Monster-King kills this Chaos Cycle, and a six-time Eclipse champion! If you want a keen eye for the fight, there’s no one better.”

  “Happy to be here,” said Mox gruffly.

  “Now, Mox. We’ve seen our share of Ragnos runs. But taking on Ragnos Penultimate at just Ascendant—that’s a whole new level of daring. What do you make of it?”

  “Well,” said Mox. “Ragnos’s been around since I was a prospect. I took that trial. You’ll need a lot more than raw power to beat it. Folks don’t know this, but Patriarch Deep Earth and the Thundercrest Monarch—they failed that test at Minor God. The kid’s got a chin on him, but you want my honest opinion—he’s in too deep, and it won’t end pretty.”

  “Harsh,” laughed Jake. “Harsh, but fair—that’s Stoneheart Mox for you. Hold that thought. There’s less than an hour to go, and the stars are filing in…”

  ***

  By then, the stadium was nearly packed with humans, human-formed creatures, and humanoids from all over the Galaxy. Everyone’s eyes were on folk filing into the front rows.

  “We’ve got some real heavy-hitters in the crowd,” said Jake. The vision panned over—“’Course the Barbarian Sage’s come. That’s his one and only disciple—and he’s brought two giant tubs of popcorn, too!”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The Barbarian Sage noticed he was up on the big screen, guffawed, and waved. He pulled out some oily turkey legs and started digging in.

  Mox frowned. “What is that thing?”

  “That’s Fluffy! I had the pleasure of meeting her—that was ages ago, back when the two of them were adventurers. She’s a real sweetheart.” They saw Fluffy gobble up a goat and shriek happily.

  All around the Sage, noble families were slowly maneuvering their stands away, giving him and Fluffy some extra berth.

  The Sage either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He did his own thing—he chomped even more sloppily, if anything.

  “Speaking of support, there’s Sage Burnwater. Look at him, with his little tea set! Isn’t that nice?”

  Burnwater looked up at the screen and was so startled to find himself there he nearly dropped his teacup.

  The camera panned some more.

  “And folks, here’s some news for you—I’m hearing we’ve got a few Great Faction heads filing in!”

  The scene changed to show a float of rafts with sails bearing giant painted runes. There lounged a woman who could’ve been sunbathing on a beach—she wore a straw hat, sunglasses, and a dress of rope and cloth. A disciple said something to her, and she laughed.

  “That’s Kaili—Matriarch of the Thousand Seas Tribe. Sure looks like she’s having fun out there! Just makes you think, maybe these heavy-hitters aren’t so different from the rest of us. They’ll come out for a good show too.”

  Mox grunted.

  The scene changed to show a throne of bleak, finely wrought steel, smoking with shadows. On that throne sat a man in cloak and armor the color of the night sky. He wore a faceless mask. He sat cross-legged, examining the Chambers, unmoving.

  “And there’s the infamous Nameless King—ruler of the Guild of Endless Shadows! You think he’s having fun?”

  “No,” said Mox curtly. “That man’s 80% brooding, 20% scheming—there’s not room for much else. I wouldn’t even call him a man, and that’s no insult to him. He’d take it as a compliment.”

  Then came a flash of blue flame, a roar of dragons—and a burning float pulled through.

  “I was wondering when he'd come. The Azure Flame Patriarch, in the flesh!”

  Chariots of gilded red pulled up to sections of the same color; servants dismounted behind.

  “One of the most seasoned Patriarchs we've got—he’s been around since near the dawn of the Chaos Cycle, and he’s as sharp as ever. There’s his son, Haxorax. #2 on the Rising Dragon Ranking—a terrifying super-talent. And his lady too, the lovely Princess Dya!”

  Haxorax took his seat, expressionless. Lady Dya saw she was on the big screen and preened.

  “I’ve heard those two called Dragonspire Galaxy’s #1 power couple. I don't suppose you've got any thoughts on it?”

  “I do not,” said Mox.

  Jake cracked on. “Though some might challenge that. They might say that lady and her man have the stronger claim.”

  The scene panned over—“The Matriarch of the World Tree herself, Reina!”

  All eyes were on her as she strode over; she was stunning in her elven-silk dress, and by the look on her face, she seemed to know it.

  “The little ones she’s shepherding along—the boy’s the Constellation Order’s own Evan Armstrong. And the girl fighting that dog for her hoodie, that’s the Thousand Seas’ Avery Lively. Looks like we’ve got some action, folks. Looks like Princess Dya said something nasty—now Reina’s fired back! There’s a woman you wouldn’t want to face in a war of words.”

  The scene panned to show Dya going red and spluttering. Reina walked right past, chin held high.

  Dya looked like she wanted to retort—but Haxorax put a hand on her arm, so she settled down and settled for glaring.

  Still—when Haxorax wasn’t looking, she pointed to Ragnos. Just watch, she seemed to be saying.

  “Partner, when it comes to Zane’s chances, something tells me you and Miss Dya are of one mind,” said Jake.

  Reina made a point of ignoring her.

  ***

  Then there was a great commotion on Ragnos itself.

  And finally a man stepped through. Instantly every screen showed his face.

  “Would you listen to that!” said Jake.

  There was an air bubble set up around the event so sound could travel. But still—the bleachers and the stands followed the curve of the planet; they were quite some distance apart.

  “Just goes to show the kinds of feelings Zane Walker brings out.”

  “He looks calm,” said Mox. He sounded surprised.

  “That’s Zane for you,” said Jake. “That’s the hallmark of his Title, the Savage Sage. Talk to any Earthling, and they’ll tell you—that man’s the eye in the storm. And I know some of you folks watching at home are nervous about the war coming, and rightfully so. But Zane has this effect. When he takes the stage, looking like that—he makes you believe he’s got it. That’s what champions are for, aren’t they?”

  “Well, he’s trembling now,” said Mox. “He’s just about getting to that first chamber. Don’t suppose the pressure’s getting to him.”

  “I don't know. I don't think it's the pressure,” said Jake. “Can we get a closer look at his face?”

  The camera panned around.

  “There it is.”

  Zane was grinning.

  There was something eager, something hungry, in that grin.

  Mox snorted. “Well, he’s got spunk, alright.”

  “You want that in a champion, don't you?”

  Then lights dimmed all over the stadium. The only lights left shone on Ragnos itself.

  An announcer in spiffy gold robes floated down. “Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome, one and all, to this very special presentation of Ragnos Penultimate. One run. Four chambers, located across the planet, each of sharply increasing difficulty. No rest. All chambers must be cleared, and it can only end in death or victory! Challenger, are you ready?”

  Zane nodded. “I am.”

  “Then let us begin!”