??? [Perspective: Delta's]

  The air shifted, thick with the pending confrontation. Bash's hulking form was a mountain of muscle.

  Delta folded his ears to his head, trying to channel his nerves into something brave.

  "Delta. Beta says to stay close to each other," Beta instructed, as the announcer hyped the crowd for their match. "Keep your distance when you can, and strike as one if it comes down to it."

  As the final words of the announcer echoed through the coliseum, Delta stepped forward with his brother. He could feel the energy of the audience wrapping around him, heightening every prey sense.

  He was eager for glory, and while he had hoped to shield his friends from this madness, here they were, stepping into the arena nonetheless.

  The ground trembled beneath his feet as they entered the Battle Zone. Brother Beta was practically vibrating next to him. Beta matched his enthusiasm with steady focus, his eyes darting between Bash and the other monster, who was revealing himself to be a smaller, but just as intimidating, figure: Brutal Breath. His reputation preceded him.

  He was known for his horrid breath, and Delta already crinkled his nose in distaste. Bad breath was no good on fur.

  Now that he stared at these behemoths, he realized he was clearly in over his head. The instinct to flee almost drowned out his thoughts.

  KiAera-Aera was right! KiAera was right! Aera was right! Badness! Badness! Badness! Get out of here!

  "Ready?" Delta asked, trying to infuse his voice with courage despite the quaking anxiety that threatened to consume him.

  "Ready!" they both declared.

  With a roar that echoed through the arena, Bash and Brutal Breath rushed toward them, their momentum like a freight train barreling down the tracks. "Chimera Crew!" Bash bellowed, his grin alight with savage glee, "Prepare for your last stand!"

  In an instant, Delta was reminded of the strategy Beta had concocted. His heart raced. He called out, "Hah! Delta forfeits from match! But I vow to fight Bash another day!"

  "Beta forfeits too! No fight! No fight!" Beta called.

  "Not so fast, little crystal!" Brutal Breath bellowed, swinging one massive fist down like a falling anvil.

  Delta's eyes widened as the fist went for Brother Beta. He glanced upward to the stands where the Sovereign monsters loomed like supreme predators. They had forfeited, yes? Why no call?! "No!" Delta shouted.

  ??? [Perspective: Beta's]

  Beta squinted when Brutal Breath's fist fell. He expected the feel of his crystal body splintering into smithereens from the strike.

  His heart raced, his ears flattened.

  Nothing. The moment felt like a thousand heartbeats had passed. Why had he not felt the devastation of the impact?

  Beta finally opened his eyes and they widened as he witnessed the impossible.

  Bash had stopped Brutal Breath's swing.

  "Why Bash stop Brutal Breath? Warlock said to smash to our heart's content—"

  "Bash is intrigued," Bash interrupted Brutal Breath. "Bash would like to respect the sharp-Orseod's challenge. The future one."

  Beta blinked as he struggled to process the hulking monster's words. Weren't he and Brutal savages that desired destruction? Why would Bash, of all creatures, choose to show restraint instead of hammering them into the ground? It made no sense. This was a game of life and death, a spectacle where only the strongest emerged unscathed.

  "Bash finds it amusing," Bash continued. "Challenging the giant, especially from tiny, sparkly creatures like you two. Maybe you have guts after all. And Bash want to see those guts for himself!"

  Beta cast a quick glance at Delta, who was staring wide-eyed at the barbrute. For a fleeting moment, he saw the spark of hope in his brother's posture. Perhaps being bold in the face of overwhelming odds had sparked something in Bash.

  "Bash is curious," the behemoth mused. "What do little Orseods have to offer against someone like me?" His voice boomed like thunder, vibrating the very ground they stood on.

  "Smart," Beta whispered to Delta, glancing back at the giant monster. "Use his interest. We can talk our way out of this."

  Delta nodded slowly, his bravado beginning to evolve into a more courageous stance. "Right! Delta is not afraid of you!" he shouted. "But we don't want to fight! We want to stand and challenge—not with our claws, but with our hearts! You're not just big; you're smart, too! We respect that!"

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  A low rumble echoed from Bash's throat, and Beta felt the vibrations through his paws. "Respect? What is this 'respect'? Honor does not fill your belly, and I still want to smash you to pieces!"

  He tilted his head, thoughtful. "Anyways, I don't believe we'll get far with this arena's restrictions based on how Maelvo died. So Bash will hold you to your word, Delta Orseod. I'll get rid of you another time, and I have your scents marked."

  The behemoth's nostrils flared with an infuriatingly long sniff, and his eyeless stare fell on Delta, dreadful. "Don't disappoint. Now go back to your mama." He thrust a finger toward the Chimera Crew lounge, then barked a laugh alongside Brutal Breath.

  Beta caught Delta's eye, signaling him to keep his cool. "No fight."

  Brutal Breath, still confused yet oddly intrigued, stepped forward. "What's the point of talking?" he huffed, his rancid breath wafting toward the brothers and making them wince. "We're meant to crush!"

  Brutal Breath swung.

  Beta dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow, and the ground splintered beneath his feet.

  Delta prepared to lunge forward, but a voice rang melodically above them.

  "Then that's settled!" Bellatrixa exclaimed. "Such a disappointment as it may be… Match 7 has concluded! The victors are Bash and Brutal Breath of Grimgore Warlock's team! Let it be known, the Chimera Crew chooses to forfeit! An unexpected turn of events, indeed!"

  ??? [Perspective: Delta's]

  The crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers and jeers, some expressing disbelief while others relished the drama of the moment. Delta's heart sank, but his brother's paw rested reassuringly on his back.

  "Hold your head high, brother," Beta whispered, even as the arena buzzed around them. "We faced that behemoth, and we chose our path. Not all battles are fought with claws and teeth."

  "Beta... we should have fought!" Delta shouted back, unable to fully grasp the decision they'd just made. The nagging fear still clung to him. "What would KiAera say about my challenge to Bash?"

  "She will understand," Beta assured him. "What we have is more valuable than mere victories in the arena. We live to fight another day. That is a battle in itself."

  As they retreated from the battlefield, Delta felt the weight of the loss dragging at his spirit. Had they missed their chance for glory? The gnawing doubt clashed with the tiny flicker of hope that emerged from Bash's unexpected restraint.

  "Stay close," Beta murmured as they walked side by side. The atmosphere was electric, and they were enveloped in the crowd's mixed reactions and rumbling excitement from the arena.

  Once at the lounge, KiAera was waiting, her eyes piercing into each of them with a concerned but proud gaze. "You made the right choice today, despite the fear tugging at your hearts," she said. "You stood your ground and found a way to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."

  Big Sister Oath hovered forward, bowing her head in a polite motion. "Sometimes, the bravest thing one can do is walk away from a fight."

  Delta listened, the weight of her words slowly lifting some of the heaviness from his chest. "But it felt like running, Aera. Oath! We could have taken him if—"

  "Delta," KiAera interrupted gently, "A wise warrior knows when to engage and when to withdraw. There will be other fights, and your moments will come. You have something that can't be easily defeated—your hearts, your mind, and your courage to choose wisely."

  With each passing word, Delta felt a sense of relief. He let out a long breath. "I understand now... But I still wish—"

  "You wish to prove yourselves," KiAera completed. "Next time you will." She peered down at where Bash and Brutal Breath loomed. Then Big Sister KiAera raised her head toward the Sovereigns' balconies. "Thank you Szylla. If you hadn't made the call to force Crueltal's hand, we may not have had this moment."

  Delta leaned into Beta, his earlier doubts fading like shadows under the sun. "We can learn from this. We can outsmart them next time!" he said, bubbling with enthusiasm at the prospect of training together.

  "Absolutely," KiAera replied. "This isn't the end; it's just a new beginning. We grow from our experiences, even the tough ones. After all, that's what makes us the Chimera Crew!"

  Beta turned to Oath. "But Oath, are you sure you're ready for your match? You're up next!"

  Oath raised an eyebrow, pretending to be serious as she replied, "You don't have to worry about Oath, little brothers!"

  They both laughed, the sound ringing like the sweetest melody.

  "Oh, this is so adorable," cooed a soft voice—a woman's voice. "I'm not interrupting anything precious, am I? Is this the Chimera Crew's lounge? I want to meet the formidable KiAera herself. Is she here?"

  Emerging from the hall was death itself entering the lounge. Delta may have seen a woman with green locks stepping forward, but the immense terror that sought to consume him made his hackles rise and his heart feel like it would implode. He lowered his head to avoid being caught in this predator's unnerving gaze. The monster that had arrived was far worse than Bash and Brutal Breath combined.