Arena's Stage

The atmosphere in the arena reached a point where the audience have obviously lost all self-control started roaring in fury and delight. "Taz Fang! Taz Fang!" a chunk of the audience belted out in exuberance whereas others seemed more enthusiastic with the expectation of bloodshed as they taunted "let the beast win!" or "kill them all!" The air was thick with anticipation, anxiety and a hint of bloodthirst.

Leif did not feel any pressure while watching the altercation – in fact Leif was savoring it. "It's absolutely crazy!" he said between gasps of laughter. "Why do I feel the crowd is more hyped than the actual combatants?"

Melch on the other hand was not too invested in the emotions of the one fighting. He was deeply focused on the seascale beast, his eyebrows knitted together in an intense thinking. "This one here is still bellow age. Now imagine their strength – their speed and most importantly their intelligence if it has evolved. The person who caught it must have spent quite a fortune because at this state, it is still highly dangerous."

Devon chuckled, leaning forward on the railing. "Makes the fight more exciting, doesn't it? Let's see how these poor fighters handle it."

Below in the arena, combat had already started. The seascale beast, standing on its mighty hind legs was roaring as the fighters charged forward with their attack. Arrows and magic projectiles were launched by the archer and wizards respectively, aimed at the head and torso of the beast. Its long muscular tail whipped back and forth knocking off the attacks with ease. It spun in place, using the momentum to jump forward as its two powerful legs propelled it toward the two behemoths in the group.

The clash was brutal. With a force so powerful that it sent both behemoths sprawling across the sandy arena floor, the beast slammed into them. The crowd had erupted into cheers and gasps, some chanting for more blood, others jeering at the fighters' inability to hold their ground.

Amid the chaos, the veteran among the fighters had chosen to shift his focus. Where the others were intent on the beast, he kept his attention on Taz Fang, the gladiator standing somewhat apart from the fray. Taz Fang leaned on his weapon, his long black hair and beard a stark contrast to the smirk playing on his lips as he watched the fight. He was relaxed, and it was clear he was not going to intervene at least not yet.

"Is he seriously just going to stand there?" Leif asked, pointing at Taz Fang. "I mean, he's supposed to be the big deal here, right?"

Devon shrugged. "That's Taz Fang for you. He's won fifty-three matches in this arena. He knows when to strike and when to let others do the dirty work. He's probably gauging the beast's strength or just enjoying the show."

Melch's face clouded, his gaze switching from the beast to the gladiator. It's pretty apparent that together they stand a solid chance of breaking the beast down, and all he has to do is to wait. There he was back in the arena, not looking indomitable at all. Instead, the man wearing a cloak, who presumably was a part of the fighter team had propped himself up against a wall and was sleeping directly onto the sand with his hands behind his head. His identity was disguised from head to toe by a black cloak and all that could be seen was his cloak from afar.

Some in the crowd was not happy. "Hey, wake up, you coward" "Fight, you lazy fool" shouted a member of the crowd. The audience burst into laughter and even the other fighters in the arena briefly turned to him with a mix of laughter and irritation on their faces.

Taz Fang's booming laughter echoed across the arena. "What's the matter? Didn't come here to fight?" he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

The hooded figure did not respond, as stationary as a statue.

Leif chuckled. "That guy's either a genius or an idiot. I can't tell which."

"Probably both," Devon replied, grinning. "But if he keeps lying there, he'll be the beast's next target."

As if on cue, the seascale beast turned its attention. It had been taking a pounding from the fighters, its thick exoskeleton keeping it from taking any real damage. But the constant arrows and magical blasts were obviously annoying it. With a sudden roar, the beast charged—not at the active fighters, but straight for the sleeping cloaked man.

Gasps filled the arena as the beast closed the distance in a matter of seconds. The two behemoths and the veteran fighter chased after it, shouting warnings, but the beast was too fast. Just when it seemed like the cloaked man was about to meet a grisly end, the beast leapt at the last moment, using the arena wall as a springboard. It twisted in mid-air and redirected its trajectory toward the group of archers and wizards who had been pelting it with attacks.

The crowd went wild, shouting, laughing, and yelling. An individual voiced their surprise in the beast cunning move ''It's a genius!'' 

''This is not merely a powerful creature - it is also targeting the ones who have caused the most trouble which shows its intelligence." remarked Melch while his pupils focused on the beast. 

"Smart move," Devon said, clearly impressed. "Take out the long-range attackers first, then deal with the close-combat fighters. If it weren't a beast, I'd say it's got the mind of a strategist."

On the other hand, Leif went for a different approach by bluntly stating, ''Well, If nothing else it does know how to perform.'' 

The adventure duo attempted to outflank the beast as the wizards and archers were regrouping themselves. In one coordinated move, they swung at the beast's powerful legs in an attempt to slow it down. However, the exoskeleton of the beast proved to be of great resilience merely tossing them aside and turning its focus towards the defending wizards and archers.

"Those poor guys" Leif said pretending to pity them "went to war with hopes of glories only to become a beast's chow in the end." 

Devon chuckled "It's a part of the risk they take. Those who decide to step inside the ring are fully conscious of the consequences."

Melch, however wasn't amused. His face was grim as he watched the movements of the beast. "This isn't a fight. It's a spectacle to whet the crowd's bloodlust. That beast doesn't stand a chance it's being cornered and toyed with.

Devon gave him a sidelong glance. "You sound like you feel sorry for it."

Melch didn't respond immediately. His focus remained on the beast as it reached the archers and wizards, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. "I just think there's something wrong with turning survival into entertainment."

Leif sensing the tension waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, Melch. It's just a fight. These guys signed up for it and the beast… well, it's not like it has any dreams of becoming a poet or something."

Melch did not respond, but his silence was deafening. His mind was a thousand miles from the arena as his thoughts turned into questions concerning the beast, the fighters and the system in this world that had them all brought together into this cruel game.

The fight continued, the audience roaring with every blow, every dodge, every moment of bloodshed. But for Melch, the spectacle of survival felt more like a grim reflection of the world they lived in a world where strength was everything and mercy was a luxury few could afford.