Dance with the Beast
The hibrak's roar shook the underground arena. Its three pairs of red eyes glowed in the darkness, while the Nocturnian crowd roared with enthusiasm.
Kael wiped the blood from his lip. His body was already worn from fighting the previous warrior, but he did not have the luxury of rest.
This was a battle for survival.
The Hunt Begins
The hibrak moved like a shadow, its massive body incredibly fast for its size. Its clawed feet slapped the ground with a snap, and then—
—it attacked.
Kael narrowly avoided the first blow, but felt the wind shift violently as the beast struck the second.
Too fast.
He leaped back, raising both hands. A blue seal appeared before him.
"Guardian's Shield!"
An ethereal barrier materialized, but the beast's strike shattered it in an instant. Kael flew away like a leaf in the wind, slamming hard into the ground.
The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers.
Kael struggled to his feet. He couldn't face it directly. Not with force.
He had to dance with the beast.
Magic Never Seen
The hibrak charged again, its eyes burning with pure hatred.
Kael held up two fingers. A blood-red seal appeared beneath his feet.
"Lightning Step."
It disappeared into thin air.
The beast stopped, confused.
Kael reappeared behind it in a flash of blue. He swept his hand through the air, drawing another golden seal in midair.
"Sigil of Paralysis."
The beast's legs shook. For a second, its body froze.
It was time.
Kael lunged forward, summoning a final sigil over his arm.
"Spear of Exile!"
An ethereal blade formed in his hand. With a cry of pure determination, he hurled it straight into the hibrak's skull.
The beast twisted… then collapsed. Dead.
The crowd was silent for a moment. Then it erupted into deafening cheers.
Kael was breathing hard, but he smiled.
He had won.
But before he could celebrate, he felt a presence behind him.
He whirled around—and saw a hooded man standing in the stands, watching him with eyes like the deepest darkness.
Someone was watching him… and it wasn't just any bystander.