I got transmigrated with Incubus system-Chapter 21: And your King is...

[Submission Strike: Activating]

[Channel: Lily (Precision Focus)]

[Energy Cost: -30]

[Target: Gareth's Magical Core]

[Energy Reserves: 180/300]

```

When the fire lion jumped at him, Arthur hit back with his Submission Strike, using Lily's loyalty as a focused energy blast.

Instead of dodging, he stood his ground, locking eyes with Gareth across the arena. The invisible energy shot between them instantly, completely bypassing the fire beast.

The strike hit Gareth targeting the magical pathways connecting his will to his power.

Nobody in the crowd could see it, but Arthur watched it land perfectly—Gareth's pupils suddenly dilated, and his body went stiff like he'd been shocked.

The fire lion, just feet away from Arthur, suddenly fell apart. Its flames vanished, the snarling mouth melting into shapeless embers that scattered harmlessly against the arena's magical barriers.

Gareth stood frozen, arms still out but his face showing total confusion, realizing Arthur was planning for this right from the start.

For ten crucial seconds, his will wasn't fully his own. He felt a weird urge to kneel, to submit, to give in to Arthur.

"What... what have you done?" he gasped, barely loud enough to hear.

Arthur stepped away from the wall, moving like a predator. "Nothing compared to what you've done, brother."

The crowd went quiet, sensing something big had changed but not understanding what happened. To them, it just looked like Gareth had lost control of his fire creature at the critical moment.

Gareth's fight against the Submission Strike caused a terrible reaction with the enhancement drug.

The veins under his skin pulsed violently, changing from purple to an alarming black.

Steam rose visibly from his body as he pushed more power through his system, desperately trying to regain control.

Arthur kept walking forward, maintaining eye contact to strengthen the submission effect.

"You've always been controlled by your need to dominate, Gareth," he said, just loud enough for his brother to hear. "How does it feel to be on the receiving end for once?"

Gareth let out a raw cry, somewhere between rage and pain. The magical core inside him—the source of his fire power—began to visibly vibrate, creating a faint outline visible through his chest like an unstable heartbeat.

"I won't... yield..." Gareth snarled through clenched teeth, trying to summon more fire magic.

But the mix of Arthur's Submission Strike, the enhancement drug's strain, and Gareth's own fury created a perfect storm in his magical pathways.

As he pushed more power through his system, the core began to crack.

Arthur saw the signs of imminent collapse and stepped back, keeping himself at a safe distance while maintaining visual dominance.

Gareth's body arched backward as his magical core reached critical instability.

For a moment, he seemed frozen in time—arms spread wide, head thrown back, mouth open in a silent scream. Then the magical core imploded.

The release was massive, this was a mixture of an enhanced energy and submission. A wave of magical energy burst from Gareth's body.

As the wave passed through the arena, it carried an echo of Gareth's essence—his raw power, his dominance, his desire to control—now shattered and scattered.

The effect on the audience was immediate and obvious. Many gasped as the energy washed over them.

The women reacted most visibly—some grabbing their throats, others pressing hands to their chests, a few letting out involuntary sighs they quickly tried to hide.

The wave carried an almost sexual release of power that left everyone feeling both violated and fascinated.

Gareth collapsed to his knees, then fell forward onto the arena floor. The black veins across his skin pulsed once more before fading to a dull gray. The burnt smell of magic filling the air.

Arthur remained standing, the Combat Mode still active in his system but no longer needed. He looked at his fallen brother with what appeared to be concern, hiding how satisfied he actually felt.

```

[Combat Outcome: Successful]

[Target Status: Magical Core Collapsed]

[Collateral Effect: Sexual Energy Wave]

[Audience Impact: Significant Arousal]

[Noted: Queen Isolde (extreme reaction), Lysandra (conflicted response)]

``

The silence after Gareth's collapse lasted only seconds before chaos erupted. Guards rushed forward, forming a protective ring around the fallen prince.

Court healers pushed through the crowd, medical kits already open as they knelt beside him.

"The prince needs help now!" shouted the chief healer, his face grim as his hands moved over Gareth's body, checking the damage.

King Roderick half-rose from his throne, then sank back, seemingly too shocked or weak to stand.

Queen Isolde didn't hesitate. She descended from the royal platform quickly, keeping her composure though her eyes showed conflicting emotions.

As she reached the healers surrounding her son, she paused unexpectedly. Her gaze lifted to find Arthur still standing across the arena.

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, something unspoken passed between them—acknowledgment, curiosity, and something darker that made Arthur's blood quicken despite the distance.

Then she was kneeling beside Gareth, her hands holding Gareth as the healers worked.

Arthur turned off his Combat Mode, saving his remaining energy for later.

```

[Combat Mode: Deactivated]

[Energy Reserved: 180/300]

[Status: Victory Achieved]

```

The herald approached the center of the arena, looking uncertain as he glanced between the fallen prince and Arthur. After getting a nod from the head judge, he raised his staff.

"By the power given to me by the Crown of Lyranth, I declare Prince Arthur Lionheart the winner of the Trial of Arcane Mastery!"

The announcement rippled through the crowd. Gareth's supporters stood in stunned silence, while scattered cheers rose from others who had secretly bet against him or held grudges.

Arthur felt the system respond to his new status, a warm pulse of energy flowing through him as his position within the court officially rose.

```

[Trial of Arcane Mastery: Complete]

[Status: Heir Presumptive Achieved]

[Court Influence: Significantly Increased]

[New Ability Unlocked: Royal Authority (passive)]

[Effect: Enhanced commanding presence in court settings]

```

With confident steps, Arthur approached the healers and guards surrounding his brother.

The circle reluctantly parted, revealing Gareth's unconscious form. His brother's skin had turned ashen, the once-bright veins now flat and gray beneath the surface.

Arthur knelt opposite Queen Isolde, his face showing brotherly concern.

"Will he recover?" he asked the chief healer, his voice carrying to nearby listeners.

The healer looked up, sweat on his brow. "His physical body will heal, Your Highness. But his magical core..." The man hesitated, glancing nervously at the queen before continuing. "It appears to have collapsed completely. I've never seen anything like it."

"Collapsed?" Queen Isolde's voice was sharp. "What does that mean?"

"It means, Your Majesty," the healer said carefully, "that Prince Gareth may never use magic again. The pathways have been... burned out."

A collective gasp arose from those close enough to hear. A prince without magic was unheard of.

Arthur reached out and placed a hand on Gareth's shoulder in an apparent gesture of sympathy.

Leaning closer, pretending to examine his brother's condition, he whispered words meant only for Queen Isolde's ears.

"He pushed himself too far, just as he always has. But then, you already knew that was his weakness, didn't you, Your Majesty?"

The queen's eyes widened slightly, her gaze snapping to Arthur's face.

Something in her expression shifted—the concern for her son momentarily replaced by an entirely different emotion as she truly looked at Arthur perhaps for the first time.

Arthur rose smoothly to his feet, stepping back to allow the healers to lift Gareth onto a stretcher.

As they carried his brother from the arena, Arthur turned to face the nobles and spectators who had descended to the arena floor.

He had expected to be approached cautiously, maybe even feared after Gareth's catastrophic defeat. Instead, he found himself surrounded by nobles eagerly pressing forward, their previous loyalties seemingly forgotten in light of his new status.

"Your Highness, House Goldcrest stands ready to support the heir presumptive," declared a fat merchant lord, bowing lower than required.

"Prince Arthur, might I present my daughter?" asked a minor baroness, pushing forward a young woman who blushed furiously as Arthur looked at her.

"The Stormwatch delegation would be honored by a private audience, Your Highness," murmured a severe-looking woman with silver-streaked hair, her eyes assessing him with newfound respect.

Arthur acknowledged each approach with gracious nods, already calculating the political advantages of these sudden offers. As he navigated through the impromptu reception, he caught sight of Valentina watching from a distance, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Their eyes met briefly, and she raised her fan in a subtle salute to his victory.

Near the arena exit, Arthur spotted Beatrice among a group of Academy students.

Unlike her companions who were animatedly discussing the battle, she stood apart, looking troubled. When she noticed his attention, she abruptly turned and pushed her way toward the exit, her movements showing her agitation.

```

[Potential Harem Member: Beatrice]

[Status: Requires Immediate Attention]

[Emotional State: Conflicted, Aroused, Confused]

[Recommended Action: Evening Visit]

```

As the crowd began to disperse, Judge Bainbridge approached Arthur with a formal bow. The fat man's face was sweaty despite the cool evening air flowing through the arena's open ceiling.

"A most... unexpected outcome, Your Highness," he said, lowering his voice. "I trust our earlier arrangement remains satisfactory?"

"For now, Judge," Arthur replied with a thin smile. "Though I may need more favors in the future."

Bainbridge paled slightly but nodded in understanding. "Of course, Your Highness. The court serves at your pleasure."

Indeed it does, Arthur thought, watching the judge retreat with hasty bows. And soon, it will serve in ways none of them yet imagine.

As the last of the crowd filtered out of the arena, Arthur stood alone in the center. The rune-carved floor still smoldered from Gareth's wild attacks, and the smell of burnt magic lingered in the air.

He took a moment to enjoy the victory, allowing himself a genuine smile now that no one remained to see it.

The path to the throne had just become much clearer. And tonight, he would begin consolidating his gains—starting with a long-overdue visit to a certain Academy student whose magical training had been so rudely interrupted.