Uncrowned King Tournament

"““When they feel the time is right, the great Monarch clans hold a tournament for their students, measuring their star disciples against one another to demonstrate their strength. It is in this way that those of the young generation can test themselves and grow against equal opponents. This contest is known as the Uncrowned King Tournament.””" ― Akura Charity

The Uncrowned King Tournament is a battle of young Underlords on a worldwide scale, between the factions of all living Monarchs.

The top four in every tournament have ended up at least a Sage or ascending, and top eight is a great honour all across Cradle. Only the most powerful young Underlords of a generation compete.

Format

Even though the participants are grouped into teams, most of the tournament tests them as individuals.

It spans over the course of several months, with weeks in between matches in the later rounds.

First Round

“The contents of this first round are a mystery to the participants,” the voice continued. “We will give each young person a chance to demonstrate the full range of their skills and specialties, and their performance will be judged by a panel of independent judges gathered from all throughout the world.”

Wight, Will. Uncrowned (Cradle Book 7) . Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.

In the 18th tournament, the first round was a series of fifteen different tests, with every fifth round being a combat challenge.

Prize: A flying fortress made by the Ninecloud Court.

Second Round

“A team elimination match between all teams at once,” the Soul said serenely. “Those teams who survived the first round with all three of their members will therefore have an advantage.”

Wight, Will. Uncrowned (Cradle Book 7) . Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.

All teams were teleported different locations on a single island, most of which was a jungle.

Crowns appeared according to the rounds progression, and participants had to keep the crowns on their heads for a full minute to make it the next round. The only way to take a crown off someone's head is to kill them.

Prize: An Archlord-level sacred instrument or treasure from the vaults of the Ninecloud Court

Third Round

“One week after you claim your prizes, you will fight in the third round. These will be one-on-one matches to the death, although of course the protection of the honored Northstrider is still in effect. However, unlike later rounds, you are not competing as an individual, but as a team. Only when the last member of your opposing team loses will you be considered victorious.” Wight, Will. Uncrowned (Cradle Book 7) . Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Prize: Each Monarch bestows a gift on two participants other than their own. Treasures that would inspire envy in any ordinary sect.

Fourth Round

“The nature of the fourth round changes based on how many of you survived round three,” he told them, and constructs all over the arena echoed his voice. “The round begins in one week. It is the final elimination round, designed to reveal the eight of you who will be honored as Uncrowned.” Wight, Will. Uncrowned (Cradle Book 7) . Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Prizes:

• The mark of the Uncrowned, a tattoo of a broken crown that is anchored to your spirit.
• Lessons from a Sage.

Top Eight

Solo fighting matches.

Prize:

The honor and glory from top four are more than nothing; they’d stretch your name all across the heavens.” “Honor and glory are—” Lindon began, but she cut him off. “Not your sorts of prizes, that’s a truth. See if this doesn't light a fire in your shoes: the top four each get a gift from all the other teams. Seven gifts, each one hand-picked with your name on it. Not even mentioning that everybody who has ever made top four in the Uncrowned King tournament has ended up as a Sage, a Herald, or ascending to the heavens.” Wight, Will. Underlord (Cradle Book 6) . Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Top Four

Solo fighting matches.

Prize: Unknown.

Finals

Solo fighting match.

Prize: Unknown. But seems to involve all of the Monarchs.

The 18th Uncrowned King Tournament

Hosts and notable roles

The tournament is hosted and run by the Ninecloud Court in Ninecloud City.

Northstrider appointed himself as the sole judge of the tournament, replacing a panel of independent experts from all around the world.

Significance

“This year’s tournament,” Akura Charity continued, “will be the largest in history.”

Wight, Will. Underlord (Cradle Book 6) . Hidden Gnome Publishing. Kindle Edition.

The 18th tournament is especially important following the unforeseen waking of the Bleeding Phoenix in Skysworn.

Since Fate has been disturbed, and the Dreadgods are showing signs of waking, all of the Monarch factions are working to take power from their rivals. The results of the tournament will decide the fate of the Blackflame Empire, among other nations.

Participating factions

Ninecloud Court

• The Sha family team - Led by Sha Miara, the Ninecloud Monarch, who restricted herself to have the power of an Underlady so she could compete with her lessers.
• Moonwater(?)
• 3rd and 4th teams unknown.

Akura Clan

• The main Akura team - Akura Mercy, Akura Pride, and Wei Shi Lindon Arelius.
• The secondary Akura team - Led by Akura Grace, was forced to participate because Xorrus, the dragon Herald, wiped out the Temple of Rising Earth.
• The Frozen Blade team
• The Blackflame Empire team - Eithan Arelius, Yerin Arelius, and Naru Saeya.

Eight-Man Empire

• Ghost-Blade.
• Flame-Gift.
• Blood-Chorus.
• Nine-Hands.

Northstrider

• The Wastelanders - Ziel is the only confirmed member of the Beast King's team.
• Rest of the teams are unknown

House Arelius

Even though Tiberian Arelius has fallen, the Arelius were invited to participate in the tournament, since they are one of the oldest factions on Cradle.

• Core family team - Veris Arelius, Altavian Arelius, and an unknown 3rd member.
• Rest of the teams are unknown..

Emriss Silentborn

• Dreadnought City team.
• Rest of the teams are unknown.

The Dragons

• The Gold dragons - Led by Sopharanatoth
• The Black dragons - Which included Naian Blackflame, the last descendant of the Blackflame family, first introduced as the 'Black Dragon Prisoner'.
• The Green dragons
• The Red dragons

House Shen

Reigan Shen adopted the Dreadgod cults for the tournament:

• Stormcallers - Therian Nills being the only named participant.
• Redmoon Hall - Yan Shoumei, Blacksword.
• Abyssal Palace
• Silent Servants

Other

A few teams were introduced without mentioning which faction they were part of:

• Tidewalkers.
• The Five Sisters of the Iceflower continent.
• The Iron Heart Legion of Rosegold.

Current standings

As of the end of Uncrowned, the first three rounds have been concluded. Since there were exactly 16 participants remaining, Northstrider decided that the fourth round will be in the format of single-elimination matches, with the opponents selected by Northstrider himself.

Only the first match of the round has taken place so far, with Lindon facing Yerin instead of Sophara, after Northstrider surprised them.

The match ends with Lindon losing, after Yerin had successfully achieved a reflection of the Sword Icon in their final clash of techniques.

The tournament will continue in Wintersteel.

Abidan intervention

After the Mad King acquired the false Scythe from the Angler, the Abidan intervened directly with Cradle and other Iterations in order to promote recruitment into their ranks.

In Cradle, the intervention took place immediately after the match between Lindon and Yerin.

All of the tournament participants and Monarch factions were teleported to the arena, and the spectators were teleported out.

Kiuran of the Hounds appeared before them all, encouraging the young participants not follow their Monarch ancestors and choose to ascend when their time comes.

He also introduced a new grand prize for the winner: Penance, a legendary weapon forged by the founder of House Arelius, Ozriel.

Previous tournaments

Known past winners

• Reigan Shen, Emperor of Lions, was the winner of the first tournament, following the Dread Wars.
• Akura Fury, Malice's son and her sharp sword, also won a past tournament.

Other known participants

• The Sage of the Endless Sword participated three tournaments ago and famously reached the Top 8, losing to Del'rek of the Shann.
• Ziel participated in the last tournament, around ten years before Uncrowned, and made it at least as far as the second round. He reached Archlord and established the Dawnwing Sect soon after.