Chapter 12: Rivals in Battle
736 Words
The Shadow Fang roared, its thunderous cry shaking the Hall of Blades.
Dust swirled through the arena as the enormous beast pawed at the cracked stone floor.
Its crimson eyes shifted between Azul and Bashan.
Then it attacked.
The beast charged straight at Azul.
“Look out!” someone shouted from the stands.
Azul rolled aside just as the Shadow Fang’s tusks carved a deep trench through the arena floor. Chunks of stone flew into the air.
Before the beast could turn, Bashan seized the opportunity.
“Over here!”
He sprinted toward the creature and drove his fist into its shoulder.
BOOM!
The impact echoed through the arena.
The Shadow Fang staggered a step, but instead of falling, it swung its massive head.
Bashan barely crossed his arms in time.
The blow hurled him several meters across the arena.
He crashed into the ground and slid to a stop.
The crowd gasped.
“So that’s the beast they survived…”
“It’s far stronger than the one in the reports!”
Master Kael remained unmoving.
His expression never changed.
“Observe,” he murmured.
“Their greatest enemy isn’t the Shadow Fang.”
“It’s themselves.”
⸻
Bashan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed.
“So… that’s your strength.”
The beast roared again.
Azul frowned.
“Why are you smiling?”
Bashan pushed himself to his feet.
“Because now I can fight seriously.”
Without warning, he dashed forward.
His speed shocked everyone watching.
In an instant, he appeared beside the Shadow Fang and unleashed a barrage of punches.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each strike landed with enough force to shake the arena.
The beast stumbled backward.
But it refused to fall.
Instead, it whipped its tail around.
“Bashan!”
Azul shouted.
Too late.
The tail slammed into Bashan’s side, sending him crashing through one of the arena’s stone pillars.
The pillar collapsed.
Silence filled the hall.
“Bashan…” Azul whispered.
A cloud of dust settled.
A hand emerged from the rubble.
Then another.
Bashan stood up, bruised but grinning.
“I’ve had worse.”
Azul couldn’t help shaking his head.
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re too cautious.”
The Shadow Fang let out another furious roar and charged again.
This time…
It wasn’t aiming at Bashan.
It was charging toward the royal balcony.
Panic erupted.
“Protect the King!”
Royal Guards rushed forward, but the beast was too fast.
Azul’s eyes widened.
“No!”
Without thinking, he sprinted.
His body moved faster than ever before.
The world around him seemed to slow.
The cheers.
The screams.
Even the charging Shadow Fang.
Everything faded except his destination.
He reached the beast in the blink of an eye.
The audience rose to their feet in disbelief.
“When did he get there?”
Azul planted both feet firmly on the ground and thrust his palms against the Shadow Fang’s head.
The impact shook the entire arena.
The beast stopped.
Its enormous body trembled as it struggled to push forward.
Azul gritted his teeth.
Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.
“I… won’t let you pass!”
For the first time…
The Shadow Fang began to slide backward.
The crowd fell silent.
Even the King leaned forward.
Bashan smiled as he emerged from the dust.
“So… you’ve finally stopped holding back.”
He sprinted toward Azul.
“Move!”
Azul leaped aside at the last second.
Bashan launched himself into the air.
With every ounce of strength he possessed, he drove his fist into the Shadow Fang’s forehead.
A deafening c***k echoed through the Hall of Blades.
The beast’s eyes rolled back.
Its massive body collapsed onto the arena floor with a thunderous crash.
The entire kingdom seemed to hold its breath.
Then…
The Shadow Fang didn’t move.
Master Kael slowly walked toward the fallen beast.
He placed two fingers against its neck.
A faint smile crossed his face.
“It lives.”
He turned to face the stunned crowd.
“The trial…”
“…is complete.”
Thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena.
But Kael wasn’t watching the celebration.
His eyes were fixed on Azul and Bashan.
“The prophecy spoke of two heirs,” he thought.
“One blessed with unmatched resolve…”
”…and one blessed with overwhelming might.”
“But prophecy never reveals the price.”
- Writer
