The black-eared wolf circled the lion recklessly, its thick tail sweeping across the lion's paws with impunity.
Persistent grunts emanated from the depth of its throat, as if it were unafraid.
The referee picked up the huge brass bell and shook it twice, a warning to the black-eared wolf to engage.
The master of the black-eared wolf bellowed impatiently, "Stop circling! Attack!"
In an instant, the trainer brandished the steel whip, striking the wolf with a deafening slap. The skin split, and blood gushed forth.
The black-eared wolf shuddered uncontrollably, howling and baring its teeth. It thrashed against the cage, its rage palpable.
The trainer adeptly retreated, flung away his whip, and stated with indifference, "Round two, the blood must be drawn."
The black-eared wolf's eyes bulged with rage, and its tail flicked in agitation. It retreated to its designated area, lowered its shoulders, arched its back, and adopted an aggressive stance.
The wolf's fur was matted with blood, and its wounds were still fresh. But its eyes were filled with determination, and its stance was one of defiance. It was clear that the wolf would not back down without a fight.
The trainer's words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the stakes of the battle. The wolf knew that it would only be allowed to draw blood, no other option. If it failed to do so, it would be beaten again.
Kevin followed Oswald and inadvertently squeezed his way through the throng, reaching the forefront and grasping the edge of the cage.
Aligned with the referee on the opposite side, they stood a stone's throw away from the bars of the cage.
"Did I mention to you that I can understand animal language?" Oswald whispered into Kevin's ear over the chaos of the crowd.*
Kevin was stunned: "What do you mean?"
Oswald squinted and peered into the cage.
He did not elaborate but just posed the question: "Are you afraid of lions?"
Kevin sneered: "Impossible, I whipped the lion several times last night."
Oswald astutely detected the slip of the tongue: "Last night?"
Kevin: "..." Oh no! His inadvertence led to the slip of the tongue.
Oswald uttered a noncommittal, "Oh I see. I'll settle the score with you later."
Afterward, he fixed his gaze upon the brass bell in the referee's hand, shaking his head and tutting: "Regrettably..."
Kevin inquired: "What are you regretting?"
His attention was drawn to Oswald's hidden uplifted hand, and he vaguely surmised what his ally intended to do.
The referee raised the copper hammer and pounded against the copper bell.
Clang!
Alas, it was too late. Far too late. For at the very moment the bell rang, the black-eared wolf, as strong as a bear, leaped high, flying like an arrow and hurtling straight at the lion. Emitting a piercing howl, it toppled the lion to the ground.
The battle raged on, the two beasts locked in a vicious struggle. The cage shook and rattled, threatening to collapse at any moment.
Their weighty claws struck the cage with a resounding clang, like sharpened axes rending through flesh. The iron grilles warped and bent under the force, widening the gap between them.
The sharp claws of the lion and wolf were equally piercing, penetrating through the opening. They raked at each other's flesh, drawing blood and eliciting howls of pain.
The sharp claws of the lion and wolf were equally piercing, penetrating through the opening.
Bert, standing closest to the cage, could not swerve clear in time. A strip of flesh was grazed from his arm, and he cried out in pain.
"Ahhh!"
The audience erupted in uproar as Bert shrieked and clutched his arm, shoving frantically to distance himself from the iron cage.
None of the owners of the black-eared wolf, referee, or onlookers could have foreseen the ferocity of the attack.
"They're insane! They're utterly insane!"
The crowd howled in terror, shuffling tables and chairs within the casino as they surged towards the exit.
The crowd howled in terror, shuffling tables and chairs within the casino as they surged towards the exit.
Oswald sneered, casting a glance at Bert and his accomplices, who were situated in proximity to the cage door. He finished his earlier phrase:
"Regrettably, you are not afraid of them--"
Upon finishing his speech, he used his fingers to pull the door of the cage, creating a distinct "click" as the iron door yielded, enabling the colossal beast to leap out of the enclosure and roll up into a ball in an instant.
"Go!" Oswald grabbed Kevin and ran, urging him to flee with all haste.
The wailing of Bert could be heard in the background, a mournful dirge that pierced the air like a dagger. He scurried around with his cadre of guards, his movements frantic and erratic.
"Have you gone mad?" blurted Kevin, his ears ringing from the deafening noise.
Oswald leaped over the gaming table, clearing the threshold and sprinting away from their pursuers. He paused momentarily to shout, "I understand their language! Can you reserve your judgment until we are out of harm's way?"
Kevin climbed onto a low wall and ascended to the roof, a blade in hand. "Who gave you that divine power to understand their speech? How dare you make such a claim?"
Oswald was weaponless, his blade lost in the chaos. The beasts had plunged the entire Diaspora into dismay, screams and flames blossoming on every side.
Kevin and Oswald exchanged rebukes, their anger mounting as they weaved recklessly around the buildings, striving to reach Crow's Nest's abandoned temple with all possible speed.
Alas, their haste proved to be their downfall as they found themselves directly in the path of the rampaging beasts.