But even as he prepared for the upcoming clash, his mind was already looking ahead.
The real test isn't them, it's the two-star- beast waiting at the end.
---
Opposite Morca stood ten monstrous creatures, their presence so intimidating that even the most seasoned warrior would hesitate. These creatures belonged to three distinct species, each more fearsome than the last.
The first species bore a striking resemblance to the Celestial Golden-Eyed Ape, but unlike the towering one-star variant, these four were slightly smaller, standing at just two meters tall. Their bodies, however, were no less formidable, covered in thick black fur and packed with steel-like muscle. Despite their reduced size, they were far more powerful than their larger counterparts.
The second species consisted of humanoid figures with the legs and heads of birds. Their hollow eyes gleamed with a haunting green fire, and a mighty pair of feathered wings flared behind them, pulsating with an unsettling energy. Their beaks were razor-sharp, capable of tearing through flesh and bone with ease. These creatures, known as Razor Birdmen, numbered three in total.
The last group had a greater resemblance to humans but were entirely covered in cheetah-like fur. Their long, agile tails flicked behind them with unsettling precision, and their lithe, powerful frames hinted at incredible speed. These creatures, called the Azure Ghost-Wind Cheetahs, were feared for their near-unparalleled swiftness.
Morca's eyes narrowed as he carefully assessed his opponents. His expression hardened when his gaze settled on the three Razor Birdmen. He knew they would pose the greatest challenge. Their ability to take flight gave them a dangerous advantage, one he needed to neutralize quickly.
The referee, sensing the impatience of the crowd, looked around. The spectators' eyes were all on him, burning with an intensity that made him shift uncomfortably. It took him a moment to realize why: the battle had yet to begin.
Snapping out of his daze, he turned toward the ring and bellowed, "Let the battle begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the tension the referee felt shattered like glass. The cage doors swung open with a loud clang, and the monstrous creatures surged forward, their hunger driving them into a frenzy. To them, the lone human in the ring was nothing more than a small meal, a mere morsel to temporarily sate their endless hunger.
It was a fatal mistake.
The 'meal' they so eagerly anticipated grinned, a sharp, dangerous smile that barely had time to register in their minds before chaos erupted.
In the blink of an eye, blood sprayed into the air like a crimson fountain. Two monsters' heads rolled to the ground, their bodies collapsing in an instant. The remaining creatures froze, their minds struggling to comprehend what had just happened. Their prey, the one they had expected to devour, had moved too fast for their eyes to follow.
Morca had only just begun.
Before the monsters could react, he was already upon his next target: one of the Razor Birdmen. He lunged forward, black blade in hand, aiming straight for its chest. The creature instinctively wrapped its mighty wings around itself in an attempt to block the attack. But it was futile.
The blade, Avoc, sliced cleanly through the birdman's defenses. With a single, fluid motion, Morca slashed downward, carving a deep, merciless wound. The Razor Birdman let out a strangled cry before crumpling to the ground, lifeless.
By the time the other two Razor Birdmen fell, barely a second had passed. The spectators were left stunned, their minds struggling to catch up with the lightning-fast massacre that had unfolded before them.
Morca swiftly put distance between himself and the remaining monsters, not wanting to get surrounded. His plan had worked. The biggest threats, the Razor Birdmen, were gone.
Why were they the greatest danger? It was simple. They could fly. If they had taken to the skies, Morca would have had no means of reaching them, forcing him into a defensive battle. By eliminating them early, he had significantly reduced the monsters' overall combat effectiveness.
Roarrrr
A furious roar echoed through the ring as the Celestial Golden-Eyed Apes pounded their chests, their golden eyes darkening to a deep crimson. Their aura shifted, turning even more menacing. Simultaneously, the Azure Ghost-Wind Cheetahs blurred, their incredible speed momentarily outpacing even Morca's vision.
The remaining four apes and three cheetahs moved as a single unit, one focusing on brute strength, the other on agility. It was a formidable combination.
Morca sensed the impending danger, gripping his black blade tightly. He heightened his focus, readying himself for the onslaught. The first attack came from one of the cheetahs, its razor-sharp claws slicing toward his chest. Morca dodged, but another cheetah was already leaping from the ground, aiming for his chin.
A third came from behind.
He tried to deflect their strikes, but the sheer speed of their movements overwhelmed him. Sharp claws raked his flesh, leaving deep gashes along his body. Pain flared through him, but he had no time to dwell on it. The apes were closing in.
The moment the cheetahs withdrew, the four apes lunged forward, their massive fists swinging from different angles. Their sheer strength could turn bones to dust. Morca roared in defiance, swinging his blade, but he couldn't fend off all of them at once.
A heavy blow struck his back.
A sickening crack echoed through the arena as blood sprayed from his mouth. The force of the hit sent him stumbling, his body trembling. He struggled to stay upright, but the cheetahs were already moving in for the kill.
His right eye burned red with unbridled rage. With a growl, he tightened his grip on his blade. His hands, slick with blood, trembled as he drew a circle in the air.
The moment the symbol was complete, the air grew unbearably heavy. A crimson moon materialized behind him, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield.
With a strange hum, the black blade Avoc drifted toward the center of the glowing circle. A red, thread-like energy accompanied it, crackling with a dangerous intensity.
Then, the blade moved.
In an instant, the monsters collapsed, each with a single, clean hole between their brows, their cores destroyed.
Silence reigned.
The transformation in Morca's body was undeniable. As the crimson moon merged into his being, a strange, spiderweb-like tattoo formed on the right side of his face. Before it could spread further, however, his left eye, the one that had seemed lifeless, suddenly pulsed with a dark energy.
Black mist seeped from it, forcing the red energy back. Within moments, everything returned to normal. Yet, the air still crackled with tension.
The crowd stood in stunned silence.
Even the five masked men in red, who had remained motionless throughout the fight, rose to their feet.
They, too, could not ignore the anomaly that had just unfolded before them.