Chapter 65 Fangs of Frenzy and the Black Panther’s Roar
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I had handed off Zoltan, the Colosseum’s ruler, to my demon servant Ashraf so I could finally focus on this tournament.
The Iron and Blood Festival was the Abyss Colosseum’s annual event, held in the underground arena. This year the prize was said to be especially extravagant, so the excitement ran hotter than usual. The heat of it pricked my skin as it rose from the depths below.
Our team, Royal Phantom, had cleared the first round. Now it was time for round two.
Cold stone echoed under my feet as I walked toward the ring, and the damp underground air brushed my cheek. Along the way, I cast a glance up at the VIP room overhead.
Beyond the thick soundproof glass, a girl sat alone in a chair, looking down at the slaughter about to unfold. Her expression was hard to read through the reflection, but her clear eyes seemed locked on us, watching steadily. She was the grand prize: Lumiá Sacred, princess of the Beastfolk.
She was probably about Kuuko’s age—one of my teammates. In human form, her brilliant white hair gleamed like snowfields, and her golden eyes called to mind a noble lion. A pair of small white ears—the mark of her beast-kin heritage—peeked through her voluminous hair, and the tiny white tips trembled, almost painfully fragile. Heavy shackles, dull but glinting, were locked around her wrists, probably to stop her from moving or using mana. I thought I heard a faint metallic clink.
Zoltan’s cruel showmanship—making her watch with those very eyes as she witnessed who she would belong to from now on. I felt as if our gazes met.
WAAAAAAAAAH!
The moment we stepped into the ring, cheers erupted from the stands—more passionate than the first round. The roar of excitement slammed into us like a physical force, and heat thick with dust and sweat prickled my skin.
Three beast-kin waited for us in the ring’s center. Raw fighting instinct and killing intent radiated from them, pricking my skin like needles. They stood like real wild beasts before me.
”So our next opponents are a beast-kin team, huh.”
Elenor stood beside me, her tone as even as ever. “And how do you want to handle it? Still just the two of us fighting?”
We could probably handle it, but this was a grand stage. Might as well give our newest member a flashy debut. Besides, Kuuko had been looking forward to this moment. I gently lifted the kitten from my shoulder and channeled my vast mana directly into her small body. Her warmth flowed through me, and with each surge her tiny frame trembled.
”Awaken, Kuuko. Show me your true form.”
”MRROOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!”
Her body engulfed in dazzling emerald light, swelling larger before my eyes. When the light faded, a massive black panther stood before me—taller than I was, its sleek body low as it let out a rumbling growl. Its pitch-black coat absorbed the ring’s lights, gleaming with deep luster, eyes burning crimson.
I nodded, satisfied.
”You mean to say you have been hiding that much mana all this time…?” Elenor stared at my profile, her blue eyes clearly shaken.
Plenty of mana left. That is what it means to be the final boss.
”Well, yeah. Anyway, the match is starting. Focus.”
”WOOOOOOOOAH! WHAT THE HECK IS THIS!? THAT ADORABLE LITTLE KITTEN JUST TRANSFORMED INTO A GIANT MAGIC BEAST IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!? IS THIS THE THIRD MEMBER OF TEAM ROYAL PHANTOM!?”
The announcer’s voice boomed, and the crowd erupted at the sight of the massive black panther. Thunderous cheers shook the entire arena, and at the peak of that frenzy, the match began. The gong rang out, its shrill echo piercing my eardrums.
Our opponents were the beast-kin team Fangs of Frenzy—a wolf, a bear, and a fox. Zoltan’s personal favorites, a vicious group of beast-kin slaves considered semi-finalist candidates. I could not afford to drop my guard.
The wolf and bear had sealed their wild instincts, choosing to fight in beast-kin form. The wolf beast-kin Garou’s sharp claws gleamed, while the bear beast-kin Bash’s massive frame swayed with anticipation. As for the team’s sole female member—the fox beast-kin—she transformed into a giant demon fox, likely to counter Kuuko’s own beast form. Her nine tails swayed gracefully, and her lithe build was similar to Kuuko’s.
Kuuko and the giant fox locked eyes in the center of the ring. Their primal instincts clashed like silent sparks, and Kuuko’s throat rumbled with a low growl. She still outmatched the fox in size, so I could trust her with this.
Elenor had already crossed blades with the wolf beast-kin Garou, who wielded claws on both hands. Clang, clang! Metal rang through the arena with sparks flying from each precise strike. In raw attack speed, Garou’s claw strikes were twice as fast as Elenor’s blade, but her superior swordsmanship kept her ahead for now. Her slender frame belied devastating skill.
And I faced the bear beast-kin Bash head-on.
The pressure from his massive form hit like a wall. Despite his lumbering appearance, his gaze was razor-sharp.
”GRAAAAAAHHH!!”
Bash moved with surprising speed for his size, swinging a massive hammer that whistled through the air aimed directly at me. The wind howled and the air trembled as the heavy sound of iron cleaving through empty space rang in my ears.
I sidestepped coolly, creating distance. The hammer smashed into the ground, sending a shockwave that cracked the earth, and dust exploded upward. Before the enemy could recover from the wide swing, I closed the distance and drove my sword into his flank protected by tough fur. A grating sensation shot through my grip as the blade sliced through coarse hair and into the flesh beneath.
But the wound was shallow. I had not cut deep. This tough beast-kin barely seemed to notice. He raised his massive hammer again, high above his head. A shadow fell over me, blotting out the lights, and with a tremendous pressure of wind, the weapon descended toward me.
I retreated again, choosing to evade rather than counter.
Should I keep dodging and countering?
Rushing in would be a mistake. I made that call calmly.
Notes:
• Ashraf – Ashraf is a shadow operative and demon servant loyal to Xenos. A master of stealth with pitch-black eyes and inorganic white fingers, he balances elite decorum with cold, ruthless efficiency. This shadow-bound anchor uses magical teleportation to act as a formidable protector. Having previously enslaved Luca Dalton, he now manages the Colosseum’s ruler, Zoltan, while eliminating threats to his master.
• Zoltan – Zoltan Rex, the brutish, gold-chained kingpin of the Abyss Coliseum, rules with cruel, arrogant authority. This shaved-headed criminal mastermind commands an iron-fisted network of spies and guards, profiting through fear and violence. A prideful showman, he personally oversees his illegal arena, exerting terrifying dominance over all who enter, particularly the beast-kin slaves under his thumb.
• Zolta – Zoltan Rex, the ruthless master of the Abyss Coliseum, is a muscular, intimidating figure with a clean-shaven head and a dragon-and-sword tattoo on his right arm. Known for his thick neck, heavy gold chains, and cold, greedy eyes, this profit-fixated kingpin commands absolute authority over his underground domain, having climbed to power through brute force to organize the annual tournament.
• de – A particle used in the aristocratic name of the Margrave Albion de Blanchefort.
• Sacred – Lumia’s last name. The lion beastkin princess.
• Lumiá – A royal beastfolk princess with pure white fur, brilliant hair, and piercing golden eyes. As a rare, noble-blooded lion beastkin, she is held captive in the VIP room as the grand prize for this year’s Abyss Coliseum tournament.
• Kuuko – A cat beastkin infiltration agent, she disguises herself as a tiny black kitten using a transformation ring. A dedicated, loyal slave to Xenos, she draws on his mana to shift into a massive black panther for combat. As a cherished member of Royal Phantom, she is doted on by Cecilia and Lizel, showing absolute devotion to Xenos and the ability to break enemy magic through her unwavering bond.
• Elenor – Princess Elenor, the “Saint of Light,” is a haughty, blonde-haired princess and skilled swordswoman for Xenos’s Royal Phantom team. Piercing blue-eyed and elegant, she maintains a composed, analytical grace in battle but turns berserk when fighting. Bound by Xenos’s Magic Seal, she masks a stubborn, tsundere nature and secretly harbors twisted desires for his dominance despite her outward disdain.
• Garou – A wolf beast-kin operative on the opposing team. He fights Kuuko during the berserk state and is finally beaten when his throat is torn out. No spoken dialogue in this chapter. A wolf beast-kin with sharp claws, member of the [Fangs of Frenzy] team.
• Bash – A bear beast-kin operative with a savage grin and huge build. He fights with a giant hammer and uses his natural healing to ignore wounds, sacrificing his body to grab opponents. He speaks with aggressive street slang. A bear beast-kin operative with massive frame, wields a giant hammer as the tank of the opposing team.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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