a gorgeous white by Heather_anare

318: I Challenge You (2)

Anticipation burned like a flame trapped in an old lamp, tucked within the glass, safe from wind and rain. It was flickering faintly, but it was there. Bordering the empty middle of the halls, the sea of people stood at the sides near the walls. Eyes strained on the even before them. The air reeked of tension. It smelt of blood, agony, and impatience. One could find it hard to breathe, surrounded by enemies and comrades, surrounded with blood-stained weapons and claws. Although none of the sides were fighting, it felt as if their souls were painting the ground red.

Silver eyes drew away from the unsettled crowd and focused on the lone man standing amidst the hostile and uncertain gazes, unperturbed of the attention. Moulin could hear the deafening pounding within his chest. What would be the outcome of this fight? Lives we\'re already lost. They could not risk more losses.

A growl sounded within Accrius\'s throat. He took a step back as if bracing himself. Hands clenched, and he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they became more prominent, glowing with the signs of transformation. He lunged forward. Amidst this action, the bones within his skin snapped and shifted. Fur grew, and his muscles expanded. At the same time, a burst of mana spreads outwards, drowning the air.

Four massive limbs balanced one heavy body. Claws extended and dug into the once smooth marbled floor. And then, a tremendous roar, pitiless and unrelenting, sank into the ears of every living person within the area.

Moulin\'s gaped. His eyes absorbed the sight of a massive white beast. A thick pale golden mane surrounded its formidable neck. Its irises were like a pair of rich golden orbs, and its frightful jaws opened as it bellowed. What was even more admirable was the pair of pure white wings on its back, more significant than the beast\'s size. The wings bore an elegance as well as danger. From sight alone, its strength looked as if it could break a man with a single beat of its wings.

Although the white lion was only half the size of the Dark Lion, it wasn\'t less intimidating. From his expression alone, the ferocity clouded his whole being. This fight would not end until one of them took their last breath.

Mocking flashed in the Dark Lion\'s eyes. It looked down on its sibling as if seeing a worm wriggling underneath his paws. Accrius faced him, met his ruthless gaze without fear... as if this was how it should have been in the beginning.

Moulin didn\'t divert his attention elsewhere.

A snap sounded, clear and loud, as if it was a few centimeters beside his ear. Moulin flinched.

The Dark Lion roared, eyes flashed ruthlessly. It opened its jaws, and a burst of red flames surged towards the smaller beast in the distance. As it released its flames, it moved forward.

Accrius\'s wings stretched outwards, drawing back and flapping, creating powerful gusts. He\'s lifted from the ground, reeling his head back before directing the wind to meet the wrath of the fire. Fused with a significant amount of mana, the wind was quick to extinguish the flames. However, the fire was endless unless its maker stopped it.

Unable to counter the flames any longer, the white beast resorted to dodging the crimson fire, letting it strike the walls past him. Angered and irritated, the Dark Lion shut his jaws and began to chase the flying beast with a storm of fire attacks.

A stray fire burst suddenly swerved towards a group of injured maeruthans. The men abruptly diverted their attention from the fight to the flames headed for them. They struggled to avoid the fire. However, before it could reach them, a blast of cold air hit their faces. They raised their gazes and spotted a white-haired maeruthan lowering his hand.

Moulin looked at them briefly before his focus shifted to the duel before him once again.

Drowning in irritation, the Dark Lion\'s claws pounded the ground. The walls and ceilings shook against the force. It took only a few steps for the giant beast to reach the white lion gliding within the air. Lifting his forelimbs, the orcan Lord\'s jaws opened wide. Massive teeth were exposed in the air. When the white lion flew within the jaw\'s path, the teeth abruptly clamped shut like a triggered bear trap. Accrius barely avoided bite.