Kai: YOU READY?!
(Covers his ears)
Gray: Ugh… don't scream that loud, my ears will explode.
(Kai gets extremely furious)
Kai: You sure talk a lot. Let's see if you can fight as good!
Gray: Sigh... I just wanted to eat some apples...
???: Alright, alright, enough of this.
Ronald: I am Ronald and I will supervise this fight—but before that, you must listen to the rules.
Ronald: First of all, no using abilities or hidden tactics. Even though you are new, it doesn't mean you're stupid—I've seen many players like this.
Second, no physical attack. If your opponent is down, it's over. If you use tactics such as beating them constantly so they can't surrender, or trying to kill them—I won't allow it.
Third, if you move out of the area or cause serious damage to your opponent, it will be considered a loss.
Ronald: I hope you will abide by the rules. Or don't blame me if I beat you up and send you away for interrogation.
Kai, Gray: We understand!
Ronald: Very well then—may the battle begin!
(Kai takes a wooden blade from the set)
Kai: Hey, won't you take a weapon?
Gray: Why will I? I don't know how to use a weapon. It'll only be a burden to me.
Kai: Very well—but don't think I'll go easy on you!
Gray: Ugh… just get this over with. I still need to go to the store.
Kai: Come to the stage, Whirlwind!
(A red gate opens beside him, half as big as him. A Tiger with green stripes and a blue body walks out.)
Roar!!
Ronald: Interesting. A Wind Tiger? These creatures are pretty rare. You're a lucky kid.
Kai: I know.
(He looks at Gray)
Kai: Call yours out.
Gray: If I do, it's gonna skin me alive. I haven't fed it this morning...
Ronald: Why are you so careless??
Gray: I'm not. He just has a big appetite! He eats like three bowls of Worm Flakes every meal!
Ronald: Oh my… That's a lot of Worm Flakes. You sure you won't go broke?
Gray: Probably will… but I'll manage somehow, I guess.
Kai: So will you not bring it out?
Gray: It would be considered disrespect if I don't…
Gray: Open!
(A red gate opens beside him, just as big as half his foot. A silver fox with red stripes on its tail comes out.)
Grr
Gray: I'll feed you after this, I promise!
Grr
Kai: Welp, no more talking! Whirlwind, use Phantom Dash!
Roar!
(The Tiger disappears from its position, beginning to move extremely fast at Gray while making aftershadows)
Gray: Tch… he started with a powerful offense!
Gray: Uhh… I didn't even give you a name yet...
Kai: HAHA! KEEP TALKING, I HAVE ALREADY WON!
Gray: Shoot! Little Fox, just use Blaze Assault!
Grrrrr!!!
(Little Fox growled. The stripes on its tails lit up, forming blazing fireballs which spun behind it.)
Howl!
(The fireballs shoot like missiles at the Tiger.)
Growl!
(Whirlwind uses its speed to dodge, but one hits near its leg, causing it to fall. Little Fox capitalizes and launches the rest—)
BOOM!
(The area explodes, dust and smoke covering the field. The ground between them cracks and smolders.)
Ronald (eyes narrowing): That power...
(He stares intensely at the center of the battlefield)
Ronald: These are just newborn Soul Beasts... aren't they?
(As dust swirls, a sudden flash of movement—Whirlwind reappears behind Little Fox.)
Kai: Whirlwind, use Claw Swipe!
(The Tiger's claws elongate with slicing winds.)
Gray: Little Fox, Fire Slash!
(Little Fox spins, tail engulfed in flames. The two attacks collide—Wind Claw and Fire Tail bursting against each other in a violent clash.)
CRACK!!
(The force of the meeting turns the earth below them to dust. Ronald instinctively steps forward in shock.)
Ronald: That clash... That was no newborn-level exchange...
(The beasts leap back, breathing heavily.)
Kai: Whirlwind, Wind Shot!
(Whirlwind swallows a massive breath. A vortex of cutting wind fires at Little Fox.)
Gray: Little Fox! Flame Scourge!
(Little Fox bursts into flames. The heat melts nearby ground into molten puddles—except where it stands. It releases a swirling red vortex of fire.)
(The two vortexes clash midair—wind and flame roaring against each other.)
Ronald (eyes widening): What the hell?! That's second-level power!
(The shockwave sends debris flying. The wind spiral buckles under the heat, then—)
BOOM!!!
(The battlefield trembles. Smoke fills the space. When it clears, Whirlwind lies collapsed. Little Fox pants, flames flickering out.)
Ronald (stepping forward quickly): That Flame Scourge... That Wind Shot... You two!
Gray: Uhh... What was the point of that sword again?
Kai: I... actually don't know myself...
Ronald: You both—come here.
(They approach. Ronald creates a translucent box around them.)
Ronald: That wasn't normal. That Flame Scourge and Wind Shot... Those weren't beginner moves. Those were second-level attacks!
Gray, Kai (simultaneously): Second-level??
Ronald: Yes! A newborn beast is too weak to affect the environment. What I saw? That's Adulthood-level—a Soul Beast in the Second Level.
Ronald: Newborns are called Difiants—they don't fit standard power levels. First Level is adolescence, Second Level is adulthood. After that? Transcendent. And beyond that… Soul Devourer.
Ronald: The peak for humans is Soul Overlord. But the beasts… their king is the Soul Saint. When those two clashed centuries ago… the Saint walked away untouched.
Ronald (sharply): So tell me honestly—were you lying about having newborn Soul Beasts?
Kai: No!
Gray: No, sir!
Ronald: Then how do you explain this?!
Gray: I… I read about a category once—Mystical. Soul Beasts that are far stronger than normal... even stronger than those a level above.
Kai: That might explain it. My Wind Tiger is registered in that category.
Gray: And my Little Fox… maybe he's part of something we just don't understand yet.
Ronald (quietly): Mystical beasts, huh… We humans only know a fraction of what's out there.
(He lowers the barrier)
Ronald: You're dismissed. Kai, pick up your Tiger from the clinic. Gray, make sure your Fox gets some rest.
(They both nod and head off. Their footsteps fade away. Ronald stands silently at the window, the sun casting a golden hue across the room.)
Ronald (muttering): Two students with strange personalities… and two beasts we barely understand. What kind of future is waiting for them?