18th Uncrowned King Tournament

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

After Makiel twisted the fate of Cradle in Skysworn, and with other Dreadgods starting to show signs of waking, the current generation of Monarchs called for the commencement of 18th Uncrowned King tournament. (See also Uncrowned King Tournament for more info)

Reigan Shen and Seshethkunaaz have proposed to use the security measures on western labyrinth to weaken the Dreadgods enough for them to be killed, and are trying to use the tournament to convince the other Monarchs.

The results of the tournament affect the decisions of the Monarchs, so it will decide the fate of Blackflame Empire and especially Sacred Valley where the labyrinth is located.

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

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

His direct involvement will ensure the safety of the young participants, so that they cannot die unless he wishes them to, and will be able to display their skills in full.

Participants

There are eight factions, and each one has four teams.

The total number of participants is 96.

Akura Clan	House Arelius	Ninecloud Court	Northstrider	Reigan Shen	Seshethkunaaz	Eight-Man Empire	Emriss Silentborn
Main team Akura Mercy Akura Pride Wei Shi Lindon	Core family Veris Arelius Altavian Arelius	Sha family Sha Miara	Wastelanders Ziel	Stormcallers Therian Nills Calan Archer	Gold dragons Sopharanatoth	Ghost-Blade	Dreadnought City
Secondary team Akura Grace		Moonwater		Redmoon Hall Yan Shoumei Blacksword	Black dragons Naian Blackflame	Flame-Gift
Frozen Blade School Maten Teia Maten Kei			Abyssal Palace Brother Aekin	Green dragons	Blood-Chorus
Blackflame Empire Naru Saeya Eithan Arelius Yerin Arelius				Silent Servants Kenvata Nasuma Juvari	Red dragons	Nine-Hands

• Sha Miara, the Ninecloud Monarch, restricted herself to have the power of an Underlady so she could compete with her lessers.
• The secondary Akura team was forced to participate because Xorrus, the dragon Herald, wiped out the Temple of Rising Earth.
• Even though Monarch Tiberian Arelius was killed eight years ago, House Arelius was invited to participate in the tournament, since they are one of the oldest factions on Cradle.
• Naian Blackflame was first introduced as the 'Black Dragon Prisoner', he had been driven to madness by his power, and the Gold dragons were using him as a weapon. (See also Ashwind Continent History for details on Naian and his imperial family)
• A few teams were introduced without mentioning which faction they were part of:
  • Tidewalkers.
  • The Five Sisters of the Iceflower continent.
  • The Ironheart Legion of Rosegold.

The Ninecloud Soul was already talking about the next fight, the Five Sisters of the Iceflower Continent against the Ironheart Legion of Rosegold. Lindon could see the last Blackflame Prince's body sprawled on the ground, his throat torn out, staring across with blank eyes. The door closed over Sophara's bloody claws. (Uncrowned, ch 15)

Rounds & Winners

⚠️ Spoilers below! The first three rounds take place in book 7, Uncrowned. Several were group / team competitions. There were some notable matches in that book:

• Yerin Arelius dueling blindfolded against Altavian Arelius of House Arelius
• Wei Shi Lindon and Akura Mercy dueling the prisoner, Naian Blackflame

Fourth Round (Top 16)

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. However, he changed things up to surprise the contestants with the unexpected. Plus, the Abidan intervened. Final matches with the (winner) listed below:

1. Wei Shi Lindon Arelius vs Yerin Arelius — Victor: Yerin (chapter 19, Uncrowned)
2. Eithan Arelius va Sha Miara — Victor: Eithan (ch 3, Wintersteel)
3. Ziel vs Therian Nills — Victor: Ziel (ch 4, Wintersteel)
4. Akura Mercy vs Ulrok Crag-Strider — Victor: Mercy (ch 4, Wintersteel)
5. Yan Shoumei/Crusher vs Blacksword — Victor: Yan Shoumei (ch 5, W)
6. Kenvata Nasuma Juvari vs Sopharanatoth — Victor: Sopharanatoth (ch 5, W)
7. Eithan Arelius vs Yan Shoumei — Victor: Yan Shoumei (ch 14, W)
8. Ziel vs Brother Aekin — Victor: Brother Aekin (ch 14, W)
9. Akura Mercy vs Sopharanatoth — Victor: Sopharanatoth (ch 15, W)
10. Yerin Arelius vs Calan Archer — Victor: Yerin (ch 16, W)
11. Yan Shoumei/ Crusher vs Yerin Arelius/ Ruby - Victor: Yerin / Ruby (ch 20-21, W)
12. Brother Aekin vs Sopharanatoth — Victor: Sopharanatoth (off page, noted as a blowout)

Match 1 Note: The last duel in Book 7 Uncrowned pits Lindon against Yerin, instead of Sophara as they’d been told, after Northstrider surprised them by switching opponents. Yerin wins after achieving a momentary reflection of the Sword Icon in their final clash of techniques.

Match 7 Note: Eithan threw his match against Yan Shoumei for terms negotiated with Reigan Shen

Final Match

Yerin Arelius (pseudo-Herald) vs Sopharanatoth — Yerin (ch 24-25 W)

The Ninecloud Soul’s voice leaked in from outside. “. . .witnessing history here today! Sacred artists one and all, bear witness to the eighteenth Uncrowned King!” (Wintersteel chapter 25)

Recruitment, Abidan

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. Makiel, Judge of the Hound Division, made the unilateral decision to recruit more Abidan support forces from every world, because the Vroshir were attacking too successfully:

Of all the Monarchs in Cradle, every one had already refused recruitment by the Abidan. They would no doubt encourage others to do so as well. The Abidan would have to descend personally, representing the heavens, and appeal to the Monarchs’ successors. The next generation. They would have to offer a prize of great value, and the result might be only one or two new Abidan. But it would be worth it. Now, more than ever before, the Court needed soldiers. (Uncrowned, ch 20)

On Iteration #100 Cradle, the intervention took place immediately after the match between Lindon and Yerin. (See Uncrowned ch 19). 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 to follow their current Monarch’s example, and instead to choose to ascend when their time comes. He also introduced a new grand prize for the winner: Penance, a legendary weapon of pure destruction, soulforged by Ozmanthus Arelius, aka Ozriel. The arrow will instantly end any one person it is instructed to kill, including a Monarch, a Dreadgod. . .