Ethan staggered slightly, his body screaming from the previous blows, but his eyes burned with renewed focus. Every muscle, every sinew, every breath was tuned to the flow of the dark energy around him. The mist that had pinned him moments ago now rippled under his control, bending subtly, like water responding to a stone in a river.The thin man’s eyes blazed with fury. “You… you are impossible! How do you—how do you survive this?!”Ethan didn’t answer. He simply stepped forward, each movement precise, measured, almost surgical. A tendril snapped toward him, but instead of dodging, he guided it, letting it coil harmlessly around his arm before snapping it back at the thin man’s shoulder.The thin man staggered back, surprise flickering across his face. “What… what is this?! How—how are you doing this?!”Josh Saler roared from the box, fists pounding the railing. “Yes! That’s it! Keep him on the ropes! You’ve hurt him enough—now finish him!”His brother leaned forward, almost bouncing

The thin man staggered, breath ragged, tendrils flailing with frantic desperation — but Ethan no longer chased the power. He flowed with it.His movements softened… then sharpened.Measured.Precise.Like water finding the weakest point in stone.The mist snapped toward him again — jagged, vicious, frantic — but Ethan stepped inside the strike, closing the distance in an instant. His body moved on instinct, muscle memory guiding each shift of weight.Breathe. Time it. Now.He slipped behind the thin man’s guard, dropping his center of gravity. His arm shot around the man’s neck, forearm sliding under the chin.A rear naked choke.The crowd gasped.“What—? He’s… he’s grabbing him!”“He’s not using the mist anymore — he’s grappling?!”The thin man thrashed, tendrils lashing wildly. “LET GO OF ME!” he shrieked, claws tearing at the air. “YOU CAN’T—”Ethan tightened his grip, locking the choke deeper, his legs coiling around the thin man’s torso. Every motion was deliberate — controlled —

Kasher’s laugh rolled through the arena like gravel sliding down a cliff.He didn’t even look at Ethan at first.He turned — slowly — toward the Saler booth.“So this is your level?” he called out lazily. “You drag me out for this? A half-dead kid playing with smoke?”Gasps rippled through the crowd.Josh Saler’s face hardened. “Watch your mouth, Watson.”Kasher grinned wider.“Oh? Did I hurt your pride? Funny… because from up here, all I see are trembling little lords hiding behind glass.”A murmur spread — uncomfortable, electric.Then Kasher turned his head — eyes sliding to the other side of the arena — toward where Jenna stood with Chris and John.“And the Hadel family…” His lip curled. “I expected more than spectators clutching railings and praying.”Chris bristled. “Say that again!”Kasher shrugged lazily.“You heard me. Both families barking… but only one real predator in the pit.”He finally looked at Ethan.And the arena cooled.His gaze hardened — sharp, dissecting — the sm

Ethan’s fingers brushed Kasher’s fur-covered chest for only a fraction of a second ——but that was all he needed.Light — unseen, silent, disciplined — surged from his palm and slipped beneath the werewolf’s skin like a whisper sliding into shadow.Go deeper… break the anchors… dissolve the core…Kasher didn’t notice.No one did.To the crowd, it looked like desperation.To Kasher, it felt like pain.A wrong kind of pain.He staggered, claws freezing mid-swing, eyes flaring wide.“Rrr—ghh—w-what… what is—?”Dark mist poured from his body like black steam, writhing, shrinking, burning away from the inside.The stands erupted.“The… the mist!”“It’s fading!”“His transformation— it’s ending!”Jenna’s breath trembled. “No… it isn’t fading… Ethan’s doing something…”But Ethan stayed in character.He stumbled backward, gasping, shaking, falling to the ground.“I—I can’t… move…!” he shouted, voice cracking like glass.Gasps swept the arena.“He’s collapsing!”“He pushed himself too far!”Ka

Josh’s jaw clenched so hard it creaked. “You’re enjoying this,” he hissed. Chris grinned. “Oh, immensely.” Josh turned pale with rage. “You think this ends here!?” John laughed softly. “No. It ends by the rules.” Josh froze. “What rules?” Before anyone could answer— The arena lights flared. The announcer’s voice boomed out again, amplified and formal, carrying an unmistakable authority. “ATTENTION.” The crowd quieted. Josh’s eyes flicked upward. The announcer cleared his throat. “By official arena regulation… article seven, subsection three…” Josh’s stomach sank. “…any sponsoring family whose champion is defeated—” The announcer paused. Long. Deliberate. “…is required to immediately withdraw from all cooperative contracts associated with the match.” Murmurs exploded. Josh’s brother stiffened. “No—” The announcer continued, voice sharp. “This includes—but is not limited to—” A holographic seal flared above the arena. “…strategic cooperation with the Galaxy Cor