The next morning at the Demon Academy did not begin with the usual chiming bells, but with a low, thrumming roar that echoed through the Academy's halls like a vicious challenge.

That roar came from the Beast Coliseum, a vast circular arena located towards the eastern side of the Campus and surrounded by obsidian stands. Dark runes pulsed along the walls, amplifying the cries of the waiting creatures until the very air seemed to shiver.

Today would be a class that was whispered about since the first day of the exchange program. As Albedo walked throughout the halls, he could spot crowds of Demon students filling the stands in restless waves as they all murmured in anticipation.

Every Demon student at the Academy was bonded to a personal beast, living weapons that reflected their master's strength and will.

Today, the visiting Humans and Elves were expected to meet them head-on, bringing their own companions if they dared.

Albedo entered with the other exchange students, Ember trotting silently at his side. The Solaris Equine had grown stronger alongside him, now standing proudly, her aura at High Gold Rank, her corrosive flames splashing around with every step she took.

Around them the Demon students whispered, their crimson eyes glinting with amusement and curiosity. Albedo ignored the weight of their stares.

His attention flicked briefly to Fade and Valerian, who walked together a few paces behind, and then to Lira Voss, who stood as calm and regal as ever despite the rising excitement.

The Queen of Beasts-in-training carried herself with the quiet confidence of someone who knew she belonged in a place like this. Three of her contracted beasts padded close behind her, though today, it was the golden-furred Thunder Lion that drew every eye.

Once all of the exchange students with their own personal beasts had arrived, the coliseum gates rumbled open with a grinding of ancient stone, and a hush rippled through the stands as a tall figure strode into the arena's center.

Professor Xyvarr Maltheris, the Demon Academy's renowned Beastmaster, carried an air of predatory command that made even the more unruly demons straighten in their seats. His long black coat swirled with faint crimson embers, and a thick collar of scaled leather rose high against his neck.

Twin scars cut across his jaw, glowing faintly with residual mana, a testament to years of battles with creatures most students would never dare face head on.

Xyvarr raised a clawed hand and the low rumble of beastly anticipation died at once.

"Today," he said, his deep voice resonant enough to vibrate through the obsidian seats, "marks the first Beast Combat Exchange of this generation."

His crimson eyes swept over the assembled Humans and Elves as he continued speaking, "Today, you'll test your mettle against the Demon Beast partnerships of the various students who I teach. I hope you don't disappoint,"

A wave of restless excitement broke through the stands. Demonic students hissed or barked their approval, some stamping clawed feet against the stone. Xyvarr let the noise swell before lowering his hand. Silence returned like a drawn blade.

"The first bout will be a demonstration," he continued. "To show the quality we demand."

His gaze cut toward the visiting group like a hunter selecting prey. "Among you, I've heard that one of you is a supposed prodigy at Beast Taming. Lira Voss step forward,"

The stands erupted in a low chorus of interest at hearing Xyvarr call her a prospective prodigy, alongside the cheers of her classmates who weren't participating today, like Lucian & Miranda.

Lira walked with the quiet elegance of a queen who did not need a crown. Her crimson hair shone under the rune-lit arena lights, and the faint smile on her lips betrayed neither arrogance nor fear.

Padding behind her came a creature that made even hardened demons shift in their seats.

The Thunder Lion she brought to this battle was a beast of living storm. Golden fur streaked with arcs of blue-white lightning rippled with every step.

Each padded footstep struck the stone with a low, crackling boom, and the air around it tasted of ozone and power. Sparks flared between its saber-like fangs as it rumbled, eyes glowing a piercing, predatory gold.

Albedo felt Ember's calm presence at his side, the Solaris Equine watching with quiet interest, white-blue flames flickering along her mane. Even Ember inclined her regal head toward the Lion, a silent acknowledgment of a fellow apex creature.

Xyvarr's scarred mouth curved faintly. "And to meet her… one of our own. Veytrax of House Krynn. Bring forth your partner."

From the opposite gate came a chittering roar that set every instinct on edge. The sound was not singular but layered, thousands of overlapping clicks and shrieks like a nightmare swarm.

The Demon who entered was tall and wiry, violet-skinned and horned, a jagged grin cutting across his face as he extended a clawed hand behind him.

The shadow that followed did not resemble any single animal. It was a shifting mass of glistening black chitin, millions of segmented limbs and serrated mandibles crawling and twisting over one another.

Mana coiled through the swarm, knitting it into shape until, with a sickening lurch, it assembled itself into a hulking bear-shaped monstrosity. Where its paws struck the arena floor, the stone hissed as though scorched by acid.

The Voracious Antlar Beast stood twice the height of a warhorse, its "fur" a living tide of countless monster-ants locked together, their glowing green eyes blinking in unnerving unison.

A ripple of unease passed even through the demon crowd.

"Voracious Antlar Beast," Xyvarr announced, pride threading his tone. "A colony-mind predator. It devours everything, and in combat it can alter its form as the swarm demands. To fight it is to face hunger given flesh."

The professor's crimson eyes sharpened. "Begin when ready."

The Thunder Lion roared first. The sound rolled across the arena like a thunderclap, rattling bones and shaking the obsidian walls. Lightning cascaded from its mane, scoring molten trails into the black floor.

The Antlar Beast answered with a sound like a billion teeth grinding in unison.

Its bear-shape surged forward in a tide of writhing segments, claws gouging stone as it swung a massive limb toward the Thunder Lion.

"Rylas, now!" Lira's voice cut like a whip crack.

The Thunder Lion, Rylas, blurred, lightning detonating from its paws. The swing of the ant-clawed limb sliced only air as Rylas materialized to the side in a flash of blinding light, jaws snapping shut on the beast's hind leg.

The crackle of electrical discharge erupted, sending shards of fused chitin flying like glass with venomous pace.

The Antlar Beast shrieked, body rippling as the swarm shifted its shape to counteract the attack from the Thunder Lion.

~CLICK~CLICK~CLATTER!~

Before the crowd's eyes, the bear-shape collapsed, the mass pulling apart and streaming forward like a river of living knives. It pooled, twisted, then reformed into a sleek, predatory panther, a low, deadly shape built for speed that could match the Thunder Lion.

The panther-form launched forward, movements unnervingly fluid for a creature of countless insects. It weaved through Rylas's lightning bursts, mandible-fanged jaws snapping at the lion's throat.

Lira's emerald eyes narrowed and she immediately commanded, "He wants to match your speed? Then drown him in the storm. Full surge Rylas!"

Rylas reared, lightning coalescing around its entire body until its golden fur became a blinding corona.

The panther lunged, and the Thunder Lion met the vicious attack with a downward strike of pure storm force.

The collision lit the arena in a searing white flash that blinded various viewers for a couple seconds,

Electric arcs danced like angry gods across the walls as the swarm convulsed, thousands of individual ants shrieking in unison as the surge tore through their collective mind.

The panther-shape staggered, edges unraveling into twitching fragments while Rylas pressed the attack, a second thunderclap cracking the air as it slammed its charged paws into the swarm's chest.

With a final, keening roar, the Antlar Beast disintegrated back into a chaotic tide. The mass scattered in retreat, a million tiny bodies scuttling back to Veytrax's outstretched claw where they collapsed into a writhing mound, smoking from the Lion's storm.

The arena was silent for a heartbeat. Then the stands exploded in deafening cheers and guttural roars.

Professor Xyvarr allowed the noise to swell before raising his hand again, "Victory goes to Lira Voss and the Thunder Lion," he declared, voice like rolling thunder.

Rylas turned, golden mane still sparking, and padded to Lira's side with the measured grace of a king acknowledging his people. Lira rested a hand against his crackling fur, her calm smile never faltering despite the static dancing across her crimson hair.

Albedo caught her eye across the arena. She met his gaze briefly, regal and unshaken, the quiet certainty of a true Beast Empress gleaming in her crimson irises.

Around them, the Demon students roared their approval. But beneath the cheers, a tension coiled, an understanding that this was only the first clash.

The Beast Coliseum hungered for more.

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