Kain stood at the edge of the arena, peering into the slightly shimmering barrier that kept the battlefield isolated from the crowd. The referee gave him a nod from the side podium.
"Group 2, Match 1: Rank 2, Kain Newman versus Rank 42, Desmond Slate. Begin when ready."
Desmond, a lanky student with a shaggy haircut and nervous smile, stepped onto the other side of the field. He took a deep breath, then exhaled sharply.
"I-I'll be going all out from the start! Please don't hold back!"
Kain gave a noncommittal shrug.
Desmond raised his arm. In a flash of orange spiritual power tinged with yellow, clearly he was on the verge of a breakthroguh, three cat-like spiritual creatures were summoned around him. A scaled cat the size of a lynx with dual tails, another similarly sized feline without any fur, but bark-like skin, and a floating, creepy-looking feline covered in 'spots' but after looking for a while, Kain realized those spots were really numerous eyes... Staring at him.
