The lion roared again, this time pinning the wolf to the ground. Cheers erupted as the lion raised his claw for what looked to be a final strike, but the wolf twisted his body, using his agility to wriggle free and counter with a decisive blow.
The lion staggered, unsteady on his feet, and the wolf seized the moment, sending him crashing to the ground with a triumphant howl.
The wolf turned toward Ves, his golden eyes locking with hers, and bowed his head. The crowd roared its approval, but Ves felt an odd twist of dread in her stomach.
Jeremy stepped forward, raising his hand to quiet the arena. "The first victory is claimed. Let the next challenger come forth."
A bear-like beastman entered the circle, his towering frame casting a shadow over the arena.
The wolf, still catching his breath from the previous battle, squared his shoulders, refusing to show any sign of hesitation.
The bear let out a guttural growl, a sound so deep it resonated in Ves's chest, and then lunged forward. The clash was immediate and brutal. The wolf used its speed, darting around the bear, landing precise strikes on its flanks, but the bear's resilience was formidable.
Ves couldn't tear her eyes away, even as her heart raced. "Is this what my presence here has caused?" she thought, the weight of responsibility sinking in further. Every hit, every roar of pain, every cheer from the crowd felt like it tied her more deeply to this strange and savage world.
She turned to Jeremy, the tribe leader, "Do they... have to do this? Can't it be decided some other way?"
He turned his head slightly and simply responded, "This is their way, female. It's how they prove their strength, their ability to protect you." Jeremy wondered just how sheltered this female was that she did not seem to like this little blood shed even.
Furthermore, she was also clueless about this ritual. Doubts swirled in his mind but there were no answers to satisfy him except for her family protecting her too much that she did not even know of the ways of her own kind.
The bear landed a devastating blow that sent the wolf sprawling. Blood dripped onto the ground, yet despite the injury, the wolf struggled to its feet, his determination blazing in his eyes.
Ves clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought the urge to look away. "This isn't right," she thought. But just as she was about to speak, Jeremy raised his hand, halting the fight.
"The challenger cannot continue," Jeremy declared, his voice firm yet respectful. "The victor is the bear."
The crowd cheered, and the bear turned to Ves, bowing deeply as was tradition.
The wolf clearly showed unhappiness but couldn't say nothing about this and quietly descended to the ground. Ves felt bad seeing him like this, but she also knew that many who choose to fight will have a similar outcome since there could only be one winner.
Just like that, many other beastmen fought, some lost and some won. Ves surprised by how many beastmen actually fought for her today. She just wished for this to stop now. The sun had long set, and she could barely even see much now.
Just as she was hoping for this to end, her eyes met Luca's golden eyes which seemed to glow in the dark. She could sense him moving and he ascended the stage below hers making her breath hitch. She did not wish for Luca to get hurt.
Upon seeing Luca on the stage, challenging anyone who would step forward, the crowd fell into an uneasy silence. Luca's reputation as a formidable warrior preceded him, and none seemed eager to test their strength against him,
Ves swallowed hard. Some hope lit up in her heart upong seeing the change. She hoped this meant no one would challenge him, that the night's ordeal might finally end, but her hope was short-lived.
From a far end of the ground, a tiger beastman, larger and more menacing than any she had seen that evening, strode into the circle. His striped fur gleamed under the moonlight, his movements fluid and predatory. He pointed a clawed finger toward Luca. "I'll take my chances."
Ves's heart sank. The tiger carried himself with the arrogance of someone who had never tasted defeat, his smirk daring anyone to underestimate him.
Luca's eyes narrowed but he said nothing, his silence more intimidating than any words could have been. The crowd sensed the shift, their murmurs dying down as the air grew thick with anticipation.
Jeremy glanced at both beastmen, his expression unreadable. "Then let the final battle begin."
Ves's breath hitched again as the two beastmen began their slow, deliberate circling.
The tiger lunged first, his massive claws swiping through the air. Luca dodged with fluid precision, stepping back just enough to avoid the blow. His counter was immediate—a sharp strike aimed at the tiger's ribs.
The ferocity of the fight was unlike anything she had seen before, a clash of raw strength and honed skill. If she thought the beastmen before this were too ferocious, she didn't know what this could be called then.
The tiger snarled, recovering quickly and pressing forward with a flurry of strikes. Luca parried each one, his movements efficient and controlled. While the tiger fought with brute force, Luca relied on strategy and precision, biding his time for the perfect opening.
The tiger grinned, baring his fangs. "You think you can best me, panther? I've crushed stronger opponents."
Luca didn't respond with words. Instead, he shifted his weight, breaking the lock and spinning to deliver a swift kick to the tiger's knee. The larger beastman faltered, stumbling slightly, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Ves couldn't bare to remain put any longer and stood up, limping to the edge for the small stage she was on, not caring about the pain this movement caused. "Luca... please be careful." She whispered under her breath.