The ground trembled.
Not from footsteps. Not from beasts.
But from pressure.
Two powers now stood face to face: one born of rage, forged in blood, wearing the pelt of a beast... The other, ancient and unyielding, a queen of frost and fang, wreathed in the chill of winter's heart.
The colosseum was silent. Even the wind dared not blow.
Jayden growled low, breath steaming, muscles flexing as golden eyes locked onto hers.
The Winter Wolf tilted her head slightly. No growl. No sound. Just a slow, deliberate blink.
Then she raised her paw.
And all hell broke loose.
FWOOOOM—!!!
A jagged ice spear the size of a harpoon materialized mid-air and shot toward Jayden like lightning wrapped in frost.
He dodged.
WHOOSH
The spear stabbed into the ground where he stood, detonating in a violent explosion of ice shards that screamed outward like glass shrapnel.
Jayden leapt back, spinning midair.
The Winter wolf sent another spear. Then three. Then seven.
