Like a spring snapping free, the lion lunged at Wild with all its might, giant crimson claws ripping through the air.
Wild had never been in a real fight before. Panic nailed him to the ground. He did not know what to do, did not know how to use his abilities, did not know how to fight back at all. The Dean had given him no chance to train. He had seen how professionals fought, how they commanded their beasts, but he was different. He had to fight with his own body.
What do I do!? The beast was already in front of him, so close it looked like the next second would end with him torn open on the arena floor.
"Move!" A deep voice slammed into his mind, shattering the panic. Instinct took over. Wild forced every bit of strength he had into his legs and threw himself to the side with everything he could muster.
The lion crashed into the empty ground, its claws tearing through stone, while Wild flew more than five meters away in a single leap. His eyes widened. This is my strength? He could barely believe how far that one jump had taken him, and stranger still, the lion no longer looked impossibly fast.
Just like before... It's moving in slow motion. Is this because of Fenrir's powers? Wild quickly forced himself together and rolled back onto his feet, his body still lowered in a beast-like slouch.
He glanced to his side. The giant wolf head rested beside him, its blue eyes locked on the enemy beast. It's alive, yet we are fighting as one... Wild realized from the situation.
He could somehow feel what it felt, the way it looked after him, and the fierce urge inside it to prove it was stronger than the lion standing before them.
Ashfang, how do we beat that monster? Wild asked in his mind, betting everything on his beast.
"Follow my instructions, Master. The enemy beast is powerful. I'm not sure we can take a direct hit, but... we can beat it in speed and agility," Ashfang replied in a serious tone. "Run as fast as you can. Use my power to strengthen your feet. Trust yourself, and trust me. If you do that, you will not fall."
Wild did not hesitate. His feet exploded against the ground with a speed that made the world warp around him, but his eyes adjusted almost at once. In a single second, he had already passed the lion.
"Slash with your claws!" Ashfang called out.
The lion snapped at Wild, but he dodged. His fingers stretched out, blue flames licking through the air as his claws slashed hard into the lion's front leg, tearing sparks and embers from its crimson hide.
At the same time, Ashfang's blue eyes traced the enemy's movements. It saw the tail whipping toward them like a chain, and from behind Wild's back, it lunged forward and sank its fangs into it. A savage growl ripped through the arena as blue fire and crimson flame collided.
The lion beast roared in pain and jumped back, finally giving Wild space to breathe.
"Furball, are you really going to let them play with you like that, or will you end this already?" the Dean called out from afar, his eyes fixed carefully on Wild and Ashfang.
As if answering him, the lion's fur began to burn brighter. Thick flames licked through the air and crawled across the ground, rising at a terrifying pace.
"Not good, we must dodge!" Ashfang warned, but Wild only smiled.
I know. Trust me on this. I have a plan. A faint smile pulled at his lips as he watched the beast stop and draw its flames into its mouth, condensing them into a small burning sphere. Crimson and gold twisted together inside it like a sun trapped between its jaws.
I can feel the power in my body, just like before when I accidentally attacked the Vice Dean. I'll use those same flames to strike the moment it drops its guard. He gathered as much strength as he could into his legs, ready to leap away. He had seen attacks like this before while watching countless matches between professionals. If he was right, a beam of fire would come at him any second now.
Like clockwork, the ball in the lion's mouth erupted into a blinding flare. Crimson and gold swallowed the arena, and both the air and the ground trembled beneath the pressure. Then, in the very next second, a massive beam exploded toward Wild, but he was already moving.
He dashed to the right, his feet carrying him at a speed he could barely control. Blue flames lit up his hands and swelled rapidly until they took the shape of massive claws, nearly half as large as his body. They burned almost like specters, the heat radiating from them warping the air around him.
It's now or never. I'll smash it to oblivion! Wild roared in his mind.
"Then allow me to help, Master!" Ashfang howled with excitement. Its eyes began to shine with a crimson light, just like Wild's during his transformation. Blue flames gathered in its mouth, first swelling large, then compressing into a tiny ball. It closed its jaws, as if patiently waiting for Wild to strike first.
The beam smashed into the arena wall behind them and exploded on impact in a giant burst of flames that shook everything.
Wild could feel his heartbeat pounding in his neck. It raced so wildly it felt like his heart might burst from his chest.
He stopped at Furball's side. "Fly away!" he roared, smashing the lion with his giant claws. The moment they connected, blue fire flared up violently, exploding and swallowing the crimson fur. A pained roar tore from the lion's mouth as it was sent flying toward the opposite wall like a ragdoll.
"Allow me to finish this!" Ashfang wasted no time. It opened its jaws, and in that very moment Wild felt something so terrifying that a cold shiver ran down his spine. A blue beam of netherflame exploded from Ashfang's mouth and crashed into the lion with a thunderous explosion.
For a moment, silence replaced the battle completely, and neither Wild nor Ashfang moved even an inch.
"Did we do it?" Wild called out at last.
The dust cloud still covered the lion. He waited patiently, but after a good ten seconds passed without even the slightest movement, he turned his head toward the Dean and saw the faint smirk on the old man's face.
Wild's heart dropped at once. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Then, like a flash of crimson light, Furball appeared right in front of his face. This time, however, its massive jaws were already half swallowing him. There was nowhere to run. No time to react.
Snap.