The Tenth Bone

A vial of black liquid glinted in the cloaked figure's hand as he ran towards the now-injured seascale beast. He put the mysterious stuff upon the beast's wounds without hesitation. The liquid poured into the creature's scales, causing it to twitch and stir almost immediately. Before the startled crowd's eyes, its once-severe and gaping wounds had started to close. Its softer colors were replaced by a gloomy shade of black as a dark tint spread over its body. As the beast roared back with life, the arena became silent. Chills ran down everyone's spines as the guttural sound echoed across the stands.

Slowly, it lowered its massive head and bowed to the cloaked figure showing a clear act of submission. Leif leaned forward in his seat, his carefree demeanor vanishing for the first time in the arena. "What... what just happened? Did that guy…did he resurrect it?"

Devon crossed his arms with his gaze narrowing on the cloaked figure. "Not quite resurrection. That was something else entirely. It's more like... binding. He's turned it into his servant. This has just got a lot more dangerous."

Melch, who had been silently observing clenched his fists. His eyes were glued to the cloaked figure. "That's not just any liquid. It's arcane alchemy. I've seen it used before but... never on something like this one."

Down in the arena, the remaining fighters exchanged nervous glances and instinctively backed away from the pair, except for Taz Fang. The infamous gladiator stood his ground cracking his knuckles with an audible pop. His lips curled into a smirk.

"Bring it on" Taz Fang growled, lunging forward.

The newly revitalized beast moved to intercept him with its claws slicing through the air with a speed and ferocity far beyond its earlier state. The two of them clashed again, their battle filling the arena with deafening roars, metallic scrapes and the shouts of the crowd.

Devon gestured toward the fight as he explained, "That beast, it's evolved. Look closely at its body. It's grown a tenth bone."

A stranger heard this and raised an eyebrow. "Tenth bone? What's the big deal?"

Melch turned to him, his tone grave. "The tenth bone marks its transition into adulthood. An adult seascale beast is not something to mess with. Its strength, intelligence and resilience. Everything about it is amplified multiple times than it was a young beast and now it's under the command of that cloaked figure."

The stranger blinked leaning back in his seat. "Oh. That is a big deal."

As the fight raged on, the remaining fighters made their move. Realizing they couldn't take on the beast head-on, they set their sights on the cloaked man. With determined cries, they charged at him hoping to stop whatever dark magic he might unleash next.

Unfazed by their approach, the cloaked figure held up a hand and started chanting. An ominous energy shimmered in the air around him. He finished his spell before the fighters could get to him.

The beast let out a shockwave that sent the fighters flying backward like rag dolls. The stands trembled with a wave of intensity that even the audience sensed.

Leif gripped his seat's edge. "What on earth was that?"

Devon's expression darkened. "That beast its transformation isn't just physical. Its energy has grown too. That shockwave? Pure force from its evolved state. It's like it's announcing its dominance."

In the arena, only Taz Fang remained standing where his feet firmly planted on the ground. The gladiator wiped a speck of blood from his lip and laughed "HahaHa" it was a deep, booming laugh that carried over the chaos.

"Finally!" Taz Fang bellowed, his voice dripping with excitement. "A real challenge"

The beast's tail lashed out, carving deep grooves into the arena floor as it charged again. Taz Fang met it head-on, his movements fluid and precise. The crowd erupted into cheers chanting his name.

"Taz Fang! Taz Fang!"

However, Some in the audience were rooting for the beast. "Crush him!" one man shouted. "Let the monster win!"

Meanwhile, the cloaked figure stood motionless his head tilted as if observing the fight with mild interest.

One of the fighters, a veteran who had barely managed to stand after the shockwave turned to the others. "We have to stop him first. Focus on the cloaked one"

But their resolve wavered as they watched the beast grow even more ferocious. Its exoskeleton now extended to cover its neck and its tail had grown larger, swiping at anything in its path. With each swipe, it decimated those who dared to come towards the cloacked figure.

One by one, the fighters fell. The beast tore through the behemoths and veterans, their weapons barely scratching its reinforced scales. In the stands, Melch's face grew darker with each passing moment.

"We're witnessing a massacre." he muttered.

Devon nodded grimly. "And it's not over yet."

The commentator, who was suspended above the arena with his magical levitation gazed into a room within the arena and subtly nodded his head having just received some insight via telepathy. Suddenly, his voice amplified to a thunderous boom echoed throughout the stands.

"Attention, audience. The barrier protecting the arena has sustained damage due to the beast's sudden transformation. For safety reasons, the match may end in a draw if both sides agree. Fighters, what do you say?"

Taz Fang threw back his head and laughed. "End it now? Are you kidding me? I haven't even started!"

The cloaked figure remained silent but shook his head in refusal.

The commentator sighed. "Very well. The fight continues"

The tension in the arena thickened as the final showdown loomed. On one side, the cloaked figure and the now adult seascale beast a fearsome pair that had already decimated most of their opponents. On the other, Taz Fang, the undefeated gladiator whose confidence never wavered.

Devon leaned closer to Melch and Leif, his voice barely audible over the roaring crowd. "If Taz Fang doesn't pull off a miracle, this arena might see its first complete annihilation."

Leif glanced at Melch. "You think he's got a chance?"

Melch didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained locked on the cloaked figure. Finally, he spoke with his usual tone.

"If he doesn't, that beast won't stop and grow even more dangerous."

The final battle had begun and the fate of Taz Fang , the seascale beast and the cloaked one hung in the balance.