Kalista and Morgan stood face to face, surrounded by the thirst for blood and violence that emanated from the coliseum. The roar of the crowd was constant, thick, almost tangible.
Both remained silent for a few eternal moments.
It was Kalista who broke it.
well… for a moment I thought you wouldn't show up, bastard.
( Kalista said mockingly )
I must admit I'm surprised you came, but this time no one will—
Kalista stopped abruptly.
Her attention locked onto Morgan's body.
His hands.
His feet.
All of him… was trembling.
Morgan inhaled sharply, as if he were lacking oxygen, and then Kalista smiled.
well, well… is that what I smell? Fear, perhaps?
( Kalista said, baring her teeth in a malicious grin )
Morgan did not answer.
He didn't want to admit it.
But he was afraid.
Afraid of failing here and having everything end.
Afraid of having to fight alone.
Afraid of the thousands of eyes fixed on his back.
But above all… afraid of disappointing those who, without knowing him, had chosen to trust him.
From the masters' balcony, Luzbel watched him with a clenched heart, pressing a hand firmly against her chest.
At the entrance where Morgan had emerged stood Galahad and Satana. Galahad was trembling; that place brought back horrible memories, and fear of what might happen was consuming her.
Suddenly, her hand was taken firmly.
Satana smiled at her, warm and calm… though forced.
it's okay… everything will be fine. We have to stay strong and trust him. We promised, didn't we?
Galahad nodded and squeezed her hand tightly.
However, Satana's other hand showed slight spasms in her fingers. Her posture was firm, yet even she couldn't completely hide her concern.
Morgan's breathing became erratic.
His heart pounded violently against his chest.
Sweat soaked his body.
It reached a point where he could no longer hear anything.
The world became distant, muted.
His vision blurred.
He tried to focus… but his mind filled with possible scenarios. Endings. Irreversible mistakes.
Kalista, meanwhile, remembered the first time she had clashed with Morgan.
And the second.
Both times, his body had changed.
what power will he use…? Are those his only abilities? What is his true ability? Is there more?
Damn it…
( Kalista thought irritably )
Annoyance twisted her expression.
Not knowing what she was facing infuriated her.
fine… I just have to give it everything from the start.
( She said, regaining her cruel smile )
THEN LET'S BEGIN!!!
( Kalista shouted with glee )
A brutal amount of energy erupted from her body.
The pressure of the air blasted in all directions, making the coliseum vibrate.
oh… looks like your girl is starting at full force.
( Helios said, smiling as he looked at Ursa )
Kalista's body was enveloped in a pale blue aura, bordering on white. The pressure was so intense that the coliseum trembled.
When the aura dissipated abruptly, her figure was revealed.
Her eyes, once purple, were now a glacial blue.
The same happened to the strands of her hair.
The temperature dropped abruptly.
On her left hand, on the back of it, a small snowflake-shaped tattoo appeared. Violently, it began to expand, branching like a frosted web, covering much of the back of her hand.
The tattoo glowed the same color as her eyes and hair.
Her claws grew, turning grayish and fading into black.
The black makeup around her eyes smeared, making them look deeper, darker… almost like stains.
Her hair became sharper, more rigid.
Each breath she exhaled released vapor, as if the cold lived inside her.
karma, transition mode… frostbite.
The vapor intensified, wrapping around her figure and making her even more imposing, more threatening.
Kalista gently blew on her hand, creating a small frostflake of snow. She lifted it and released it, letting it float aimlessly.
The coliseum fell silent.
Everyone followed that tiny wandering frost with their eyes.
Until Kalista whistled.
The frost stopped.
She smiled.
She whistled again.
The frost grew exponentially.
A longer whistle.
The frozen mass dropped violently toward Morgan.
He barely managed to dodge it, throwing himself to the side and rolling across the sand.
Seeing how close he had come to dying, Morgan began to run throughout the coliseum.
The mockery erupted immediately.
Kalista hurled more and more frost shards, with no intention of hitting him… only to make him run. To humiliate him.
come on, come on… RUN, little bastard!
HAHAHAHA, RUN FASTER!
( Kalista shouted euphorically )
pff… how boring. Looks like the director's boy is a fraud.
( Helios said, yawning )
what's wrong, Zarathoz? Why isn't your boy fighting?
( Princess Amon asked mockingly )
Zarathoz stood at the edge of the balcony, digging her nails into it.
why isn't he fighting…? Why isn't he transforming…?
( She said desperately )
HAHAHAHAHA look at him… running like a coward.
What happened, Zarathoz? He used to be so arrogant, and now he's fleeing in fear.
( Ursa mocked )
The laughter enraged Zarathoz… but she could only contain it in silence.
Morgan…
Luzbel rose slightly from her seat, terrified.
Morgan ran in zigzags.
I'm afraid… I'm afraid… I'm afraid…
( He repeated in his mind )
Ursa jumped to her feet and screamed at the top of her lungs.
FINISH HIM!!!
Kalista smiled.
She created three more frost shards, sealing off all escape routes.
The vapor spread, turning into a dense fog.
Morgan searched for an exit… there was none.
Only forward remained.
When he tried, Kalista appeared before him, throwing a frost-covered punch, spikes protruding from her knuckles.
die.
( She said, ecstatic )
Morgan only managed to shield himself.
The impact was brutal.
The sand shook.
NOOOOO!
( Luzbel screamed, reaching out her hand )
HAHAHAHAHA IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER!
Now you belong to me…
FINALLY… FINALLY I'll collect all those humiliations.
Zarathoz, I'll make you suffer until your body and soul break.
( Ursa screamed in ecstasy )
Zarathoz lowered her gaze, pressing her lips together.
She could only think of Satana… of fates worse than death.
well… that ended quickly.
( Helios said )
The masters began to rise from their seats.
All except Athelstan and Luzbel.
Ursa laughed.
Until Princess Amon spoke.
miss Ursa… I wouldn't declare victory just yet.
Silence fell like a blow.
The fog began to dissipate.
And then they saw it.
Kalista's fist was colliding against Morgan's arms…
but it wasn't breaking through.
A dense, short, coarse fur covered his arms.
His hair had grown and was now a softer shade of pink.
He had claws.
Ears similar to a bear's, but more pointed.
A darker pink mask covered his face.
Kalista stepped back immediately.
Morgan lifted his head.
He growled.
Bared his teeth.
And with a voice filled with fury, he said:
thirty-ninth representation.
specimen number 90.
mellivora capensis.
End of the chapter.
Next chapter: Tenacious, resilient, and aggressive.