The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

The day had ended with Exildra’s dominating performance, solidifying her position as one of the strongest in the new disciples of the sect. Everyone had been shocked by the day’s events. First, it was Bahamut and Gabi, and then Exildra. They could only anticipate the next day’s battles.

Bahamut and his group, which had been formed indirectly, moved out of the arena and headed towards the eatery. A new member had joined, Gabi. Bahamut walked at the front of the group with Sel, Gabi, and Ren on his shoulder. They had light talks. The girls, Exildra, Rakia, Apollonia, and Lily, walked behind the group, also having their own conversation, mostly centered on Apollonia and Sel’s relationship. This got Apollonia shaking with a red face till they reached the eatery and got a long table to eat.

...

The next day had arrived, and the sect was buzzing with excitement. It was as if everyone had had the same dream of witnessing peak battles. Thirty minutes before the trial battle, the whole arena had been filled. People talked here and there, organizing bets among others. Even the elders had come to witness the day’s battles.

Elder Hakar moved to his position with a small smile, his golden eyes glinting softly. The moment he got to the center of the stage, which had been fixed to perfection, the whole place turned silent.

"Good day. I am sure you are expectant of today’s duels," he said with a booming voice, earning cheers and shouts from all over.

"Then let’s get to it!"

"Today’s battle... For our first duel, we have Kurama Lily and Anwar Adhi."

Lily, hearing her name, turned to Bahamut with a smile. Bahamut smiled back and spoke.

"Destroy him..."

Just the sound of his voice and his statement made her shiver in delight. Her eyes took on a sharp and piercing glint as she descended towards the arena floor.

Anwar was a tanned-skinned youth with black wolf ears and tail. A wolf beast-kin. He walked with an arrogant and confident air, as if he’d already won the battle.

"Don’t cry on me, little fox," Anwar said with a mocking smile. He was an outer sect disciple, one of the "failures" who couldn’t move to become inner sect disciples, but in the outer sect, he was one of the strongest.

Just the mention of his name made the whole place turn quiet as everyone prayed for the well-being of Lily. Anwar was known to be brutal and sadistic, and he didn’t differentiate between male or female, or wolf or not wolf. Once you cross him, you pay.

The arena grew tense. Very tense.

Lily stood at one end of the stage, her red hair swaying gently as the wind brushed past her. Her fox ears twitched once, her sharp eyes locked onto the figure across from her.

Anwar Adhi.

He cracked his neck slowly, his wolf ears flicking as a smirk stretched across his face. His stance was relaxed... too relaxed. Like a predator that had already decided the outcome.

From the stands, murmurs spread like wildfire.

"That’s Anwar..."

"She’s done for..."

"He doesn’t hold back..."

Sel clicked his tongue.

"This guy again."

Gabi tilted his head slightly.

"He’s strong?"

Ren snorted.

"Strong and annoying."

Bahamut said nothing. He simply sat there... watching. His expression calm.

Elder Hakar raised his hand.

"Begin!"

BOOM!

They both moved at the same time. Lily’s body shot forward like a streak of red, her movements sharp and unpredictable, her feet barely touching the ground as she closed the distance.

Anwar grinned.

"Good!"

He stepped in.

BANG!

Their fists collided. The impact cracked the air between them, but neither moved.

Then, they exploded into motion.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Strikes flew rapidly, claws against fists, legs sweeping, bodies twisting. Lily moved with fluid agility, her fox instincts guiding her movements as she weaved and struck from odd angles.

Anwar matched her.

No, he read her, every feint, every shift. Every attempt to outmaneuver him.

He blocked, countered, and adapted.

SMACK!

His fist clipped her shoulder, forcing her back a step. Lily spun, her leg whipping around...

WHAM!

He caught it.

"Too predictable."

His grip tightened. And he pulled.

SLAM!

Lily was dragged forward.

CRACK!

His knee drove into her stomach. Her body folded. Air left her lungs, but she didn’t stop. Her hand shot up.

SCRATCH!

Her claws raked across his cheek, drawing blood. Anwar’s head tilted slightly. Then, he smiled wider.

"Good..."

BOOM!

He kicked her hard. Lily’s body flew across the stage, skidding and tumbling before she rolled to a stop. Gasps filled the arena. Lily pushed herself up, coughing lightly, her body already aching. Her eyes sharpened. She dashed again, faster and more aggressive.

She circled him, striking from multiple angles, her claws flashing, her movements erratic and difficult to track.

For a moment, it worked. She landed hits, light, quick, and precise. Anwar’s body shifted as he absorbed them, his expression slowly changing. The smile faded. Something colder replaced it.

"You’re annoying."

WHOOSH!

He vanished. Lily’s instincts screamed. She twisted too late.

BAM!

His fist slammed into her ribs.

CRACK!

A faint sound of something giving way. Her body lifted off the ground, and before she could react...

SMASH!

He grabbed her mid-air and slammed her into the ground. The arena floor shattered beneath her as a crater formed.

Silence fell. Lily coughed violently, blood spilling from her lips as pain shot through her body. She tried to move, but her arm trembled. Anwar stood over her, looking down, disappointed.

"That’s it?"

He sighed.

"I expected more from someone he’s interested in. More from the disciple of Elder Derek..."

His foot lifted, then...

THUD!

It came down on her shoulder. Lily screamed. The sound echoed across the arena. From the stands, Bahamut’s expression didn’t change, but Sel’s grip tightened slightly.

"This is bad."

Gabi leaned forward.

"She’s not giving up."

Back in the arena...

Lily tried to push herself up again. Her body screamed in protest. Her vision blurred. Anwar grabbed her by the hair.

"Stay down."

He lifted her slightly and slammed her back into the ground. Dust rose. Blood spread. Her fox ears drooped. Her breathing became ragged.

"Pathetic," Anwar muttered.

He released her. She didn’t move. The arena grew quiet. Anwar turned slightly, rolling his shoulders.

"Guess that’s it."

He raised his hand lazily, about to signal the end, then the wind shifted subtly, but wrong. His ears twitched, and his eyes narrowed.

Behind him, Lily’s fingers... moved slowly. They were trembling as they dug into the broken ground beneath her. Her body shook, not from weakness, but from something else.

A low sound escaped her lips. A growl, deep, unfamiliar, and unstable.

Anwar paused.

"Oh?"

From the stands, Bahamut’s eyes glinted.

"There it is. I don’t have to interfere."

Lily’s body slowly lifted. Her head hung low as her hair covered her face. Her shoulders trembled violently. The air around her felt... different, heavier, and sharper. Her tail twitched... Then stilled.

Anwar turned fully now, his smirk returning.

"Get up then..."

Lily’s head tilted slightly. Just enough for one eye to become visible through her hair. It wasn’t the same. It was old, wild, and hungry.

Anwar’s smile widened.

"Now this is interesting."

The ground beneath Lily cracked softly as she rose fully to her feet. Her breathing steadied. From the stands, no one spoke, because they all felt it. Something had changed. Something dangerous. And just as Lily slowly lifted her head, the arena trembled.