Reyan and Darian stood face to face, surrounded by the eager participants. At Darian's side stood his beast—the Fire Wolf, a beast far larger and stronger than Noctis.
"Simple rules," Darian said with a mocking smile. "The fight ends when one of the beasts is no longer able to continue. Don't cry when you lose, Ardent."
Reyan looked at Noctis. "We can do this."
Darian raised his hand. "Fire Claw Strike!"
The Fire Wolf shot forward, its claws glowing red hot. Reyan held his breath—his first fight as a beast tamer had begun.
"Noctis, dodge!"
Noctis quickly jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack that hit the ground and set the grass ablaze beneath him. The Fire Wolf growled, his eyes full of confidence.
"Counterattack with shadow claw!" Reyan shouted.
Noctis shot forward, his claws tinged with dark energy. However, before his attack could reach the Fire Wolf, Darian smiled coldly.
"Protective Flame."
The Fire Wolf unleashed a wave of heat that formed a shield of fire around him. As Noctis attacked, he was knocked back by the heat that enveloped his opponent.
Laughter rang around the arena.
"As expected, there's no hope for such a small beast," one of the spectators said.
Reyan gritted his teeth. Noctis got back up, his eyes still gleaming. He would not give up.
"We're not done yet, Noctis! Use Phantom Shadow!"
Suddenly, Noctis disappeared into the shadows on the ground. The crowd froze for a moment, confused as to what was happening.
Darian narrowed his eyes. "What a cheap trick. Fire Wolf, burn the entire area!"
Fire Wolf threw a fireball at the ground, creating a small explosion that cleared away some of the shadows. However, before the flames could disappear, a figure shot out from Darian's dark side.
Noctis attacked from behind!
His shadow claws slashed across the Fire Wolf's back, creating a thin gash that made the beast roar in anger. The first attack was a success!
The crowd was shocked. "What was that? A teleportation attack?!"
Darian was taken aback for a moment before his face turned fierce. "How dare you! This time you will fall!"
However, Reyan was now smiling. He had discovered Noctis's strength—his ability to hide in the shadows and strike from unexpected places.
This fight had only just begun.