Skoll, the massive Fenrir, let out a deep growl as he charged forward, his sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. His powerful legs pounded the ground, shaking the earth beneath him with each heavy step. Across the field, the Griffin spread its enormous wings, the feathers shimmering in gold and white. Its sharp talons scraped the ground, ready to strike at a moment's notice. The Griffin's eyes shone with fierce intelligence, and its beak snapped open with a piercing cry.
Skoll lunged, jaws wide, aiming for the Griffin's wing, but the bird was quick. With a strong beat of its wings, it soared upward, dodging the attack and then swooping down to claw at the Fenrir's flank. The beasts circled each other, neither willing to give ground. Skoll roared in anger and swung his massive body, trying to knock the Griffin off balance. The Griffin twisted mid-air and landed lightly on the ground, then launched a sudden, sharp strike with its beak, catching Skoll just behind the ear.
The fight was a blur of movement — snarls, screeches, sharp claws, and flying fur and feathers. Skoll's powerful jaws snapped again and again, but the Griffin was always just out of reach, using its agility to avoid the worst attacks. The Griffin's wings created gusts of wind, pushing Skoll back and slowing his advance. Skoll, undeterred, called on his strength and lunged once more, pinning the Griffin to the ground with his heavy body.
Just when it seemed the Fenrir might win, the Griffin used its wings to push Skoll away, then leapt into the air again. Both beasts were breathing heavily, sweat and dust covering their bodies. They stood apart, staring each other down with fierce determination, waiting for the next move.
Suddenly, Lady Vivienne raised her hand. "Stop! Enough!" Her voice was firm and clear, cutting through the noise of the battle.
The beasts froze, and the crowd fell silent, eyes fixed on their leader.
Vivienne's expression was calm but commanding as she declared, "This battle will end as a tie. Both Skoll and the Griffin have shown great strength and skill. Their trainers have done well to control such powerful creatures."
Andrius and Seraphine lowered their heads and bowed respectfully to each other. The tension melted away, replaced by mutual respect and the cheers of the crowd.
The applause from the gathered crowd echoed through the training grounds, a steady roar of appreciation for the fierce battle that had just taken place. Axelius, never one to hide his enthusiasm, clapped his hands loudly, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Wow, that was incredible!" he muttered under his breath, unable to hide his amazement.
Turning to Owen, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, he teased, "Come on, Owen, let's try this ourselves. I'll start by teaching you how to fetch a stick, and then—"
Owen immediately cut him off, "I am not some dog to fetch sticks for you, Axel. You really need to get that idea out of your head." His eyes narrowed playfully, but there was a hint of challenge in his tone.
Axelius laughed, the sound ringing clear and light. "Oh, don't be so serious! Honestly, with how you chase after those snacks all the time, I think you're more of a loyal pup than you realize."
Owen scoffed, crossing his arms, "Ha! At least I don't drool over every shiny thing like you do. You just want a pet to boss around, nothing more."
Before their sparring could escalate further, a firm voice cut through the noise, calling, "Cedric and Cyruz!"
Both boys turned to see Cedric and Cyruz approaching, their expressions serious but with the faintest trace of a smirk betraying their amusement. Axelius straightened up, smoothing his clothes as a flicker of anticipation flashed in his eyes.
Cedric and Cyruz stepped into the center of the training ground, the air thick with tension and anticipation. Both were calm but ready to prove their strength in the beast battle. Cyruz eyes narrowed as he raised his hand, calling out firmly, "Ignite, Blaze!"
From the ground beside him, a fierce creature appeared — a massive lion wreathed in roaring flames. Its fur burned bright orange and red, the flames licking around its mane like a living firestorm. Its eyes glowed like molten lava, and with every breath, smoke curled from its nostrils. Cyruz Blaze was a fire-type beast, known for its power and fierce attacks that could scorch the battlefield.
On the other side, Cedric smirked and calmly said, "Dragon Torrent, arise."
A sleek, serpentine dragon emerged from a small pool of water nearby. Its scales shimmered in shades of deep blue and turquoise, reflecting the light like liquid glass. Water constantly dripped from its body, and its long tail whipped the air, spraying fine mist around. Torrent was a water-type beast, swift and graceful, able to control the flow of water to strike with precision and power.
Axelius watched closely as the two beasts appeared on the training field. his eyes widened in surprise and curiosity. "What are they called?" he asked Elias.
Elias smiled and answered, "The lion of fire is called Pyros and Torrent is a water serpent."
Axelius nodded, looking again at the serpent. "So Cedric's beast is a dragon, right?"
Elias shook his head slightly. "Not exactly, young master. Torrent belongs to the dragon family, but it's a distant relative, far from the true dragons."
Axelius frowned, "Then what would a real dragon look like? I wonder if I'll be able to see one"
Elias looked sorry as he said, "I'm sorry, Young Master but real dragons no longer exist. They became extinct long ago."
Axelius's face showed a mix of disappointment and wonder. The beasts before him were powerful and amazing, but the thought of a true dragon was like a dream from the past.
The moment came. Pyros let out a deep, fiery roar that shook the air. Flames burned bright all over its body as it charged forward fast like a burning arrow. Torrent hissed loudly and quickly moved to meet it, twisting its long body like a river flowing fast.
Pyros pounced with its sharp claws, sparks flying with every swipe. Torrent dodged smoothly, sliding under the lion's legs and splashing water as it moved. With a quick strike, Torrent whipped its tail, spraying water hard at Pyros's face.
Pyros growled and shook off the water, flames flaring higher as if angry. It leapt up and landed on a rock, sending sparks flying. With a powerful breath, Pyros blew a stream of fire toward Torrent.
Torrent dove into a pool nearby, disappearing under the water. The fire hit the surface with a loud hiss, steam rising fast. Torrent suddenly burst out of the water, snapping its jaws and striking Pyros's side with its strong, scaly body.
Pyros roared in pain but did not stop. It swung its massive paw and caught Torrent's tail, throwing it to the ground. Torrent quickly rolled away, then slammed its tail down hard, cracking the earth.
Both beasts were fast and strong. Pyros's fire burned bright, but Torrent's water flowed smooth and strong, cooling the flames. They fought with power and skill, each trying to find a weakness in the other.
The fight continued, Torrent's sleek, water-covered body slithering smoothly across the battlefield. Pyros charged again, flames flickering wildly around its massive paws. The lion leaped with burning claws, but Torrent moved with the grace of water, coiling around the strikes and countering with sharp lashes of its tail.
From the sidelines, Axelius watched with a grin stretching across his face. He nudged Owen, who was resting comfortably on his head. "Look at him," Axelius chuckled, pointing at Cyruz. "He's just standing there. His beast is getting tossed around like a wet rag, and he's just staring. Isn't he supposed to be doing something?"
Owen bounced slightly, amused. "Maybe he's frozen in fear," he snickered.
Elias, standing respectfully behind Axelius, cleared his throat. "Young Master," he began, his voice calm and patient, "during a beast battle, the tamer doesn't move much because they are pouring their mana into their beast. Directing a beast's movements, strengthening its attacks, and even healing it requires a constant flow of energy. It's not just the beast that fights—it's also the tamer's strength and focus."
Axelius raised an eyebrow, his eyes flicking back to Cyruz, who stood with eyes locked on Pyros, sweat dotting his forehead. His hands were slightly shaking, and his breathing was heavy, even though he hadn't moved a single step.
"Really?" Axelius muttered, scratching his head. "So... he's just draining himself dry while Torrent is turning his beast into barbeque?"
Elias nodded. "Yes, Young Master. If the bond between tamer and beast is strong, they can endure longer, but it's not easy. A beast like Pyros takes an enormous amount of mana to control and maintain, especially in a drawn-out fight."
Axelius squinted at Cyruz, noticing the boy's clenched fists and stiff posture. He snorted. "He looks like he's gonna pass out before his lion even gets scratched."
Suddenly, Pyros lunged again, but Torrent whipped its tail, sending a wave of water crashing into the fire lion's side. The flames sizzled, steam bursting into the air, and Pyros staggered back, shaking off the water furiously.
Axelius leaned back, stretching his arms. "I dunno, Elias," he mused, "It looks like Cyruz is about to drop. Maybe I should bring him some water. Oh wait," he laughed, pointing to the battlefield, "Cedric's already got that covered."
Owen chuckled. Axelius crossed his arms and continued to watch, the smirk never leaving his face.