Back in the spectating stands, panic and grief clawed at the air like a phantom.
Vorden and Gordon had just died horrific deaths—melted down to liquid by the acidic spray of the monstrous hawk beast.
Max, frantic and desperate, had tried to warn the others to escape, but they stood firm, determined to confront the abomination.
While they argued, the beast finally tore itself fully from the portal. Its grotesque form now hovered in the sky like an omen of doom.
"Shit. We are dead," Max muttered, a lump forming in his throat as the creature opened its jagged beak, ready to unleash hell.
"Take cover!" Scarlet screamed, and in that instant, instinct took over.
Everyone bolted in different directions just as a tidal spray of corrosive goo exploded from the beast's maw. It wasn't just an attack—it was obliteration.
The acid hissed and steamed as it dissolved everything it touched: seats, railings, steel-plated flooring—all turned to liquid metal and vapor.
"Shit! Its goo is too powerful!" Vanica cried out, trembling as she stared at the gaping, molten hole just meters from her.
"I would've tried using my barrier magic," Arthur added, sweat beading down his temple, "but something tells me it wouldn't even hold for a second."
"That's not all…" Max muttered grimly as they turned toward the beast.
It extended its monstrous wings, spanning wider than the arena itself, revealing bladed feathers gleaming like obsidian swords.
With a thunderous flap, a storm-like gust swept through the stands. Bolted chairs tore from the ground, hurling through the air like missiles, smashing violently into walls.
The feathers shot forward, slicing through the air like razors, tearing into the arena below.
"Crap… it has razor wings too?!" Arthur gasped, eyes wide in disbelief.
The beast let out another unearthly screech that shook their very bones.
Greg's fists clenched. Lightning sparked along his arms, his breath heavy and sharp.
"Now that you're in front of me…" he whispered, eyes narrowing. "You won't escape. And I… won't die!"
A bolt of divine lightning cracked from the sky, striking down beside him like the wrath of the heavens. The static surge wrapped around his body, illuminating him in a cocoon of blue energy.
His eyes glowed pitch white, hair rising as if weightless, and arcs of electricity snapped wildly around him.
His transformation was like a god of storms awakening.
"No! Don't—" Max tried to warn, but Greg was already gone.
He blasted forward like a living thunderbolt. He hurled dozens of crackling bolts at the beast, but the hawk tucked its wings in, forming a shield of metal feathers. The lightning sizzled off harmlessly.
Before the beast could retaliate, Greg soared higher, then dove, punching the beast directly across the chest with a thunderous bang.
Shockwaves rippled through the sky. The portals above flickered violently—but the beast didn't budge. Not even a twitch.
With a single wingbeat, the hawk flung Greg from the air like a rag doll.
It opened its beak again—this time firing a barrage of acidic goo balls, aiming to melt him mid-air.
"Shit!" Max roared, lightning erupting from his feet as he vanished in a flash.
In a split-second rescue, Max caught Greg mid-fall, kicked off the air, spun, and rocketed away. Just in time—the acidic barrage detonated behind them, melting another massive portion of the stands.
"You okay?!" Max shouted, chest heaving.
Greg didn't answer. His glowing eyes were locked on the beast.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Scarlet barked, storming toward them. "You could have died! Are you trying to throw your life away?!"
"What was I supposed to do?!" Greg snapped, his voice trembling with fury. "That thing killed Vorden—my best friend since childhood. And you want me to just stand here and do nothing?!"
"If you can't stand it, then sit down and watch," Arthur muttered coldly.
"Shut the hell up!" Greg turned toward him, rage burning in his glowing eyes. "Is this the time to crack jokes? Are we joking here?"
"No, we aren't." Arthur replied, his furrowed brows deepened again. "I'm trying to calm the damned tension amongst us here. We can't freaking fight with you all quarrelling amongst each other."
"Guys—" Max tried to intervene.
"Fight? You? What can you even do? Remind me—your magic is what again? Oh yeah… Protection Magic. Useless against this thing. So if we are talking about people that can actually fight, then don't freaking count yourself among them."
"Greg, stop!" Vanica stepped forward, hands outstretched.
"Don't touch me, you dirty peasant!" he growled, his grief boiling over into venom. Tears streamed freely down his cheeks.
"Look Greg, I get that you are upset about Vorden's death. But that isn't any reason for you to snap at us, charge in alone and pick a fight at us." Scarlet said.
"Oh really?!" Greg asked with a raised eyebrow. "Speaking as if you understand my grief."
"Guys!!" Max finally shouted loud enough to silence them.
Greg turned, his glare sharpened. "What the hell do you want now?!"
Max slapped him across the face, leaving a red mark glowing against his cheek.
"Are you calm now?" Max asked, breathing heavily. "Then look behind me and witness our death."
Everyone turned. Their blood ran cold.
The hawk beast was facing the sky, vomiting a glowing orb of acidic goo into the air. It was massive—larger than a small house—pulsing and growing in size.
"What the hell is that?!" Scarlet gasped.
"That…" Max said quietly, "is our death."
The ooze floated in the air, swelling like a bomb of molten death.
"Wait," Arthur suddenly spoke up, connecting the dots. "We all saw how powerful the beast's goo is, right?"
"It melted steel like butter," Vanica whispered.
"Exactly." Arthur's eyes widened. "If it drops that thing…"
"…The entire arena will melt," Greg finished grimly. "And everyone still fighting inside… will die."
"Crap!" Scarlet gasped. "We're all dead if someone doesn't stop it!!"