A loud thud echoed through the arena, signaling that something had fallen from the ceiling. For a brief moment, Alex couldn't make out what it was. But the way the ground shook from the impact filled him with a sense of dread. "This might be worse than before," he thought.
As usual, Alex took a few steps back, his eyes locked on the spot where the creature had landed. It was lying flat on the floor, but even in that position, Alex could tell something wasn't right. The height of the creature was far too large for something lying down.
Curiosity got the better of him, and Alex considered stepping closer. But just as he moved forward, the creature's eyes snapped open, revealing glowing yellow orbs that sent chills down his spine.
A loud growl reverberated through the room, and the beast began to rise. Alex's heart skipped a beat as he watched in horror. As it stood, he realized just how enormous it was, towering over him like a van-sized monster.
The creature had the shape of a large dog, resembling a Pitbull, but far more muscular and terrifying. Its powerful frame looked like it was made entirely of muscle, and its sheer size was intimidating.
Then something even stranger happened. As the beast got to its feet, Alex noticed a disturbing shift at the place where its neck should have been. The head moved to the side, forming a joint, and from that joint, another head started to grow. Alex's jaw dropped as he watched in disbelief—a second head emerged, turning the creature into a two-headed beast.
Both heads locked eyes on Alex and let out a deep, terrifying bark. The sound was more like a roar than a bark, shaking the entire arena. Without warning, the dog-beast charged straight at him.
This time, Alex wasn't about to make the same mistake. He had learned from his previous encounter.
"I'm not just going to stand here!" he thought, his mind racing with adrenaline. Turning on his heels, Alex sprinted toward the net fence, grabbing it with both hands.
He scrambled up the fence as fast as he could, pulling himself higher and higher, just out of the beast's reach. The two-headed dog snarled and barked up at him, its growls filled with rage. It slashed at the fence with its claws, trying to bring Alex down, but the metal held firm.
At that moment, the beast's nose caught the scent of something, and within seconds, both of its heads turned in another direction. It was now staring at the lifeless body of the Wendigo.
Without hesitation, the two-headed beast rushed over to the corpse, giving Alex a brief moment to catch his breath. He could feel his chest heaving, struggling to regain composure after the terrifying encounter.
"I can't do this... I can't defeat such a monster," Alex thought, his mind racing. His eyes darted around, searching for the others. He hoped to call for help—there was no way he could take on this creature and survive.
Frantically, Alex scanned the arena, but something was wrong. He couldn't see anyone. Their seats, which were previously occupied, now appeared empty. It was as if they had all vanished into thin air.
"What's going on? Am I going to die here? Did they abandon me, leaving me alone with this thing?" Fear began to consume him. The idea of being left to face this monstrous creature alone was terrifying.
But Alex was wrong. The others hadn't left. They were still in their seats, watching the entire spectacle unfold. Tamsin, Merrick, and Gwen were all there, observing quietly. Tharon and Stan were still seated as well, their attention focused on Alex's predicament.
What Alex didn't know was that the net fence around the arena wasn't ordinary. It created an illusion that distorted his perception, making it seem like no one was there. In reality, everyone was still watching him, seeing every move he made.
"The two-headed dog... quite the special breed of beast," Tharon commented, explaining the situation to Stan.
"They're unique because, even at their weakest, they can awaken certain abilities—like the ability to grow a second head," Tharon continued, his tone serious.
Stan, watching intently, asked, "What are Alex's chances of winning this fight?"
Tharon paused for a moment, considering the question carefully. "I'm not sure, to be honest. With the way Alex is now, he shouldn't even be facing a beast like that. But if he can somehow adapt... if he survives the first attack, there's a chance he could pull through."
Alex, still unaware of the others' presence, continued to stare at the monstrous dog as it feasted on the Wendigo's remains. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, but the reality of his situation kept crashing down on him.
"What do I do?" he muttered to himself, his eyes glued to the two-headed beast as it tore through the corpse. He knew the moment the beast finished, it would turn its attention back to him.
The beast was distracted for now, but Alex knew this was only a temporary reprieve. He needed to come up with a plan—fast.
Stan squinted his eyes, focusing on the scene in the arena. Tharon, sitting beside him, noticed something unusual—Stan's hands were trembling slightly. It wasn't like Stan to be nervous, but there was something about this situation that seemed to be getting to him.
Meanwhile, down in the arena, the two-headed beast was busy devouring the dead Wendigo, giving Alex a bit more time to think. The sight of the creature ripping apart the corpse was horrifying, but it also allowed him a moment to breathe.
"Calm down, Alex. You're no longer a normal human," Alex whispered to himself, trying to summon some courage. But every time his eyes fell on the monstrous dog, gnawing and tearing at the flesh of the Wendigo, all the bravery he had managed to muster faded away.
His heart raced, and suddenly, Alex felt something dreadfully wrong happening to him. His grip on the net fence was weakening, his hands felt as though they were about to give out.
"Damn it... I have to do something. But what?" Panic crept in, but then, a memory flashed in Alex's mind—something Stan had taught him not too long ago. While they had left him to fend for himself in the arena, Alex remembered that he wasn't entirely defenseless.
He closed his eyes and tried to focus, blocking out the sight of the beast.
From the seats, Gwen and her siblings were watching intently. Gwen leaned forward, eyebrows raised. "What's he trying to do by closing his eyes?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion.
Tharon, who had been closely observing Alex's movements, cracked a small smile. "Not bad... He's trying to summon his qi. That could be a smart move, but I'm not sure if he's capable of pulling it off," Tharon said thoughtfully.
Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, they could see it—the subtle movement of energy within Alex's body. It wasn't much, but it was there, circulating through him. Most of the energy was flowing to his hands, strengthening his grip on the net fence.
Stan, who had been silently watching this unfold, let out a small laugh. "Ha! You doubted my teaching skills, didn't you?" he chuckled softly, feeling a sense of pride as he saw Alex beginning to access his inner power.
Alex felt it too. His grip on the net grew stronger, and the fear of falling off slowly started to fade. He no longer felt helpless or weak, and for the first time since the fight began, he felt like he had a chance.
Alex kept his eyes closed, focusing on the energy coursing through him, letting it power his body and sharpen his mind. His breathing became steady, his thoughts clearer. The two-headed beast, still feasting on the Wendigo's remains, hadn't noticed Alex's newfound strength yet, but he knew his time was running out. He had to be ready for when it turned its attention back to him.
Now that his grip was secure, Alex felt a surge of determination rising within him. He wasn't going to just wait around to be torn apart by the beast. He had to figure out his next move before the dog beast finished its meal and came for him.
"Maybe with this, I might be able to hold out long enough until the others come," Alex thought, hoping his current strength would be enough to survive a little longer.
Unfortunately, things were far from simple. The two-headed dog had grabbed the Wendigo's corpse with each of its heads, pulling the body apart in a gruesome display of power. It tore the remains in two, swallowing the bones with a sickening crunch.
With the Wendigo devoured, their attention shifted back to Alex. Both heads barked in unison, and without hesitation, the beast charged toward him.
"Holy crap, if I don't get out of here, they'll jump me!" Alex realized, panic seizing him. To make matters worse, the energy in his hands was shifting, leaving his grip weak once more.
Although Alex had learned how to move the qi within his body to enhance his strength, he was still human and couldn't yet master the control that Paragons had. He struggled to move qi to different parts of his body simultaneously, and now, as it began to flow to his legs, the power in his hands was fading.
The two-headed dog had reached the net, and with a powerful leap, its massive body hurtled toward Alex.
Alex acted on instinct. He planted his feet firmly against the net fence. The fence swayed under the pressure, but Alex didn't let that stop him. Summoning the qi now concentrated in his legs, he kicked off the fence with all his might.
His body flipped backward through the air, the momentum carrying him out of the beast's path. Alex landed on both feet, his legs absorbing the impact as he stood firmly on the ground, avoiding the beast's deadly lunge.
For a moment, Alex stood there, breathing heavily but unharmed. A smile crept across his face as a thought occurred to him: "This... Maybe I can fight it after all."
With his legs now powered by qi and a renewed sense of confidence, Alex felt stronger. He could feel the energy pulsing through him, and for the first time since the fight began, he believed he had a chance. But the battle wasn't over yet-the beast would come for him again. He had to stay sharp, be ready for its next attack.