Chapter 36: The Wild Hunt


    <hr>


    The Blood in the Air


    Axel stood in the center of the Helix Coliseum, his heart steady.


    The energy of the crowd was feral, roaring with anticipation. They wanted blood.


    They wanted a fight.


    And tonight, they were getting one.


    Across from him, his next opponent stepped forward.


    Dante Voss.


    A fighter from Blackthorn Academy—and a known savage in the arena.


    Dante wasn’t just strong.


    He was ruthless.


    Tall, broad-shouldered, clad in a sleeveless black combat jacket, he carried himself with a relaxed predator’s arrogance.


    His Cipher Beast, Fenrath, was a monstrous Direwolf covered in jagged obsidian plating, glowing red eyes burning like coals.


    Axel rolled his shoulders.


    Tempo adjusted his guitar-axe, his golden eyes locked on Fenrath. "This guy’s got the whole ‘final boss’ energy going for him."


    Axel smirked. "Yeah, well. Let’s see if we can change the script."


    The announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium.


    <blockquote>


    "ROUND FOUR: AXEL MERCER VS. DANTE VOSS!"


    </blockquote>


    <blockquote>


    "BEGIN!"


    </blockquote>


    And just like that—


    The battle was on.


    <hr>


    The Clash of Beasts


    Dante didn’t wait.


    He was on Axel instantly, closing the gap with shocking speed.


    Axel barely dodged as a brutal knee came flying toward his ribs.


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    He twisted, narrowly avoiding the full impact—but the shockwave alone sent him skidding back.


    Damn.


    No wasted movement. No hesitation. Just pure aggression.


    Fenrath moved with its master, lunging at Tempo with a snarl.


    Tempo jumped back, swinging his guitar-axe mid-air, sending a blues-infused soundwave rippling toward the Direwolf.


    But Fenrath tore through it.


    The beast absorbed the impact, using the force to launch itself even faster—


    And clawed straight for Tempo’s throat.


    Axel’s instincts flared.


    He moved.


    His footwork shifted into jazz mode, his movements becoming wild and unreadable.


    He twisted mid-dash, using the unpredictability of his flow to counter Fenrath’s momentum.


    His fist connected with the beast’s side.


    BOOM.


    Fenrath staggered—but didn’t fall.


    Dante smirked. "Not bad."


    Then—he snapped his fingers.


    And Fenrath howled.


    <hr>


    The Predator Awakens


    A pulse of black energy rippled across the battlefield.


    Fenrath’s obsidian plating shifted, expanding, jagged edges sharpening into pure killing weapons.


    The air changed.


    A hunger filled the space, primal and overwhelming.


    Axel’s stomach tightened.


    Tempo landed beside him, gripping his weapon tightly. "Alright, that’s definitely cheating."


    Axel exhaled. "Yeah. Let’s make it fair."


    Tempo grinned.


    His fingers danced on the strings—and the blues rhythm shifted, merging with sharp, unpredictable jazz notes.


    The sound hit the air like a storm, an erratic, wild pulse that refused to be controlled.


    Axel’s entire body responded.


    His heartbeat synced to the rhythm.


    His muscles felt lighter. Faster.


    Dante’s smirk faltered.


    He saw it.


    The shift.


    Axel moved.


    Faster than before—a blur of chaotic, impossible footwork.


    Dante’s eyes **narrowed—**but he reacted too late.


    Axel closed the gap, spun low, and drove his elbow into Dante’s ribs.


    CRACK.


    Dante staggered.


    And that’s when Axel knew—


    He could win this.


    <hr>


    Hunting the Hunter


    Fenrath snarled, its plating pulsing as it lunged again, its claws aiming for Tempo’s exposed flank.


    But Tempo—


    Wasn’t there anymore.


    Instead, he was above it, mid-air, guitar-axe raised high.


    A new chord. A new attack.


    Jazz and blues combined, sending vibrating shockwaves spiraling downward—not just sound, but movement itself breaking apart.


    Fenrath’s charge slowed.


    Its attack missed by inches.


    Axel took the opening.


    He twisted mid-step, launching himself forward—his fist glowing with raw kinetic energy.


    And he drove it straight into Fenrath’s jaw.


    The impact was thunderous.


    Fenrath crashed into the ground, dust exploding into the air.


    Dante growled, wiping blood from his lip.


    "Not bad, Mercer."


    Axel cracked his neck. "Not done yet."


    Dante chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "Good."


    Then—his aura flared.


    And Axel knew—


    The real fight was just beginning.