Chapter 9: The Tyrant of Flame and Thunder
Date: 15-11-400 Location: Astragar Colosseum, Yuravan Kingdom
"Now announcing Match 67!" the commentator boomed across the stadium. "It's time for the Spark of Arakan to ignite! Will Arnox Arakan qualify for Round 3? The boy who turns from spark to flame and thunder now faces the wild beast hunt!"
The crowd erupted.
Arnox entered the battlefield with calm confidence. The arena's terrain had shifted again—dense thickets, broken plains, and darkened tree lines. Then came the release.
Wild beasts of varying types emerged from all directions.
The commentator declared, "Three points for common wild beasts, five for fur beasts, seven for leader-class, and fifteen for dense forest beasts! Let's see what the Spark of Arakan is truly made of!"
Four wild beasts lunged at Arnox.
"Paralysis."
Thunder surged from Arnox's palm and struck each beast square on the head. They froze, convulsing. With calm precision, he raised his hand.
"Flame Coffin."
A sphere of intense fire engulfed the area ahead, collapsing inwards. Nine fur beasts were incinerated in one move.
The crowd gasped. Then came the rumble. Trees parted. The leader-class beasts arrived.
Arnox grinned.
"Interesting... time to go all in."
He raised both hands.
Two flaming wings emerged from his back — not entirely, just an outline — and then vanished.
A memory struck.
Flashback Miran Arakan, his late uncle, stood tall. "So, you're using her for beast hunts?" "She has to be strong," Arnox replied. "Don't depend on her too much." "I won't."
End flashback
Arnox's eyes burned.
"The creature that once ruled the heavens now emerges through hell. Come forth, Tiamat."
The ground cracked. Flames burst forth. Thunder roared.
From the molten rift, a dragon made of fire rose. Tiamat — her form towering, beautiful, devastating. Thunder danced across her spine as she let out a roar that silenced the crowd.
She descended.
And the hunt turned into a massacre.
Tiamat annihilated 18 dense forest beasts, leaving craters of smoldering earth behind. Fire clung to trees. Lightning fractured the air. It wasn't just victory. It was dominance.
The horn blew.
Commentator: "SCORE UPDATE! Arnox Arakan: 454 points! 42 beasts down! That places him 5th overall so far in Round Two!"
The crowd went wild.
[Scene: Outside the Arena — Nile & Arnox]
Arnox returned, brushing dust from his shoulder.
"I scored more than you."
Nile grinned.
"So that's your creature? A dragon? What's his name?"
"Correction. She is Tiamat."
Nile blinked. "Wait... the Tiamat? Tyrant among dragons?"
"Believe it or not — your choice. Now, you owe me a coffee."
"Sure. But speaking of ladies… got any idea where our mysterious friend Ruby is?"
"No clue."
"She's ranked 2nd right now. You're 5th. I'm 7th."
"She said she was staying at Lappis Plaza."
"Funny. So am I. Let's go find her."
[Scene: Lappis Plaza Lobby]
Nile approached the reception.
"We'd like to meet Lady Ruby of Auralith."
The receptionist nodded and connected a line.
"May I ask who's calling?"
"Arnox and Nile."
She paused. Then smiled.
"She's on her way, sirs."
Arnox blinked.
"Did she hang up on you?"
"No, sir. In fact, once she heard your name, she insisted on coming down to meet you personally."
Nile elbowed Arnox with a smirk.
"First the registration girl, then a goddess dragon, now Lady Ruby. You're on a roll."
Arnox groaned. "Maybe she just doesn't trust you."
They waited.
"Girls really do take their time," Arnox muttered.
"Well, she is coming to meet you."
Ruby appeared — not in armor, but in a flowing dark-blue dress, with a silver pendant that reflected her clan's crest.
"You sure took your time," Arnox said.
"Arnox," Nile said dryly. "Sometimes… silence is good."
Ruby gave a slight bow. "Apologies. I had to change out of my armored suit."
"You look great," Nile said sincerely.
"Thanks, Nile," she replied. Then looked at Arnox.
"You don't have anything to say?" Nile ask arnox
"Isn't that your usual look?"Arnox reply
She frowned. "It's okay. For you, maybe it's below average."
Arnox chuckled nervously. "Are you ang—"
"So," Nile cut in quickly, "Lady Ruby… 2nd highest scorer in the entire round so far? That really possible?"
To Be Continued...