Aria pulled out a gray dress from the box, one Oak had kindly found for her when she first arrived at the Moon Tower. Most of her dresses were coarse and unrefined, none of them could be called elegant. She carefully put on the dress and walked over to the small mirror. Taking a few steps back, she could finally see her whole figure. She gazed at herself in the mirror, a complex wave of emotions rising in her heart. The dress was obviously too big, like wearing a large sack. The sleeves drooped to her knees, and the neckline was so wide it exposed half her shoulder, making it look particularly ill-fitting. She tugged at the dress, trying to make it appear a bit more suitable, but it was to no avail. She sighed in frustration, her disappointment growing.

Oak had given it to her, and she hadn't tried it on until now. She never expected it would look so terrible when worn. Reluctantly, she took off the dress and changed back into her uniform, feeling a mix of annoyance and unease. Gazing at herself in the mirror, she felt a bit better. However, for the grand banquet in the evening, that disastrous dress was her only option.

Thinking about the banquet filled Aria with complex emotions. She knew it would be filled with important figures, and she hoped she could hide away in some unnoticed corner.

Morning light streamed through the tall windows of the hall, where five major legions had gathered. The gray light cast on everyone’s faces and figures. Oak stood out in the crowd, exceptionally tall. Aria squeezed through, feeling surrounded by a world both strange and familiar. Sable stood next to Oak, his eyes flashing with irritation at the crowd.

“I thought you’d overslept,” Sable said sharply, with a hint of sarcasm.

“I was delayed changing clothes,” Aria explained, pointing to the distance. “Are those purple-uniformed snake people the Venom Legion?”

“Yes, they are. The Venom Legion is exclusively snake people. Their Grand Mentor is Seraphina, a friendly ally. The women with coral-edged uniforms are from the Mercury Legion. The ones in gray with crescent moon badges are from the Lunarshade Legion. The red scorpions belong to the Tailsting Legion, Alpha’s army,” Sable explained calmly, showcasing his knowledge.

“We’re the ones in deep blue,” Oak reminded proudly, smiling broadly.

“Obviously, we all know we’re in deep blue,” Sable retorted, his tone dripping with disdain.

“What’s in the Beast Arena?” Aria asked, feeling excited about participating in the grand Lunar Essence festival.

“It’s the most important, intense, and anticipated event,” Sable replied, sounding like a pompous announcer. “The Lunar King and the Grand Mentor will be there, so you’ll get to see our ruler.”

“But isn’t the ruler a woman? Why is she called King?”

Sable and Oak looked at her, deeply shocked. Sable coughed lightly, trying to hide his surprise, then explained slowly, “Here, ‘King’ isn’t just a title for men. It symbolizes supreme leadership. Our ruler prefers this title, so everyone respectfully calls her King. Officially, she’s a regent, awaiting the true Lunar King’s return.”

“Return?” Aria asked, astonished.

Oak leaned in, his expression serious.

“Yes, return,” Sable continued. “Each Lunar King inherits memories and wisdom from past lives. When he returns, the current queen will step down. This isn’t widely known, as the queen dislikes it.”

“You mean, with memories from each life?” Aria asked softly.

“Yes, though no one has seen the true Lunar King for years. I doubt the legend’s truth or believe he’s abandoned us.”

“Sable, my grandmother said it’s true,” Oak interjected.

“Oh please, your grandmother doesn’t even remember you,” Sable scoffed.

Suddenly, a woman’s frenzied scream echoed through the bustling hall. Aria thought a demigod had broken in, then heard Oak say, “Alexander... has arrived.”

They looked past the crowd, spotting a flash of blue on the stairs, as if all the lights had focused on him. Alexander, dressed in the blue uniform of the Starguard, descended gracefully, his single-shoulder cape swinging rhythmically. He walked down confidently, surrounded by a group of glamorous women. His neatly styled short hair and perfectly chiseled face shone under the lights.

He smiled and chatted casually with the girls around him, his laughter like pleasant music in the air. The women gazed at him with admiration and infatuation, as if he were the center of their world.

“Do you know why women like Alexander?” Sable asked sourly.

“Why?” Aria inquired.

“Because he doesn’t have to face death on the battlefield. No woman wants to weep over her man’s corpse. We’re just nameless heroes risking our lives, never receiving women’s adoration.”

“I thought it was because he’s handsome,” Oak mused.

At that moment, a low horn sounded outside, and the crowd in the hall started moving out. Soon, Aria was alone in the empty hall. Neven had specifically told her last night to wait for him here on War God Day. She anxiously looked at the stairs, repeatedly recalling his words, wondering if she had remembered correctly.

As her anxiety grew, a shadow appeared on the stairs. Neven stood there, his gaze softened as he looked at Aria. His eyes were like a serene lake, rippling with deep emotions as a gentle breeze passed over.The soft light on the stairs outlined Neven’s strong features. In contrast, Alexander was like the dazzling daylight, brilliant but distant. Neven, however, was like a rock in the night, offering tranquility and strength.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Aria couldn’t take her eyes off Neven. She recalled the first time she saw him in Longhorn Town, when he seemed bent on self-destruction, rejecting any help. She remembered their first night patrol, when he had unhesitatingly stepped up in the most dangerous moment. That day, she felt an unprecedented sense of security, as if facing endless darkness, but with a light always guarding her side.

“You’re late,” Aria said discontentedly. Even on this grand day, he remained as nonchalant as ever.

Neven approached her with a calm demeanor, unaffected by her reprimand. He casually waved his hand, as if dispelling the tension in the air. “I had some matters to attend to, which caused the delay.”

Aria frowned, clearly unsatisfied with his vague explanation. “What was so important?”

Neven stopped, leaning close to Aria and said, “It was to explain why I left the team and acted alone during the night patrol. I should deeply reflect on such behavior and was asked to write a ten-page self-criticism.”

Aria pushed him away angrily. “Why did I agree to wait for you? You’re even late on War God Day.”

As they walked out of the castle, ascending the gentle hill towards the Beast Arena, its grand structure came into view. It stood like a colossal beast, each stone emanating a heavy history of war. As they drew closer, the arena’s high walls loomed into sight. The cheers of the crowd echoed like waves, audible even from halfway up the hill.

“When was this built?” Aria couldn’t help but ask.

Neven gazed at the magnificent arena and replied, “We rebuilt it long ago. It was once a ruined structure, and we restored it.”

“Incredible,” Aria murmured, her eyes reflecting awe for the grand edifice.

“Yes, through years of effort, we transformed it into its current form.”

As they continued walking, the crowd thinned. Nearing the Beast Arena, a strange fragrance filled the air, seemingly from those unknown flowers blooming in the shadows.

“Did you know,” Neven suddenly spoke, “these flowers bloom only at night. They’re called ‘Ghost Flowers’ because they absorb the essence of the dead.”

“Ghost Flowers?”

“Yes, they’re said to guide spirits to their resting place and let the living see past visions. And, you’d better not come here at night; it’s said to be haunted.”

“Haunted?” Aria asked, slightly fearful.

“You can ask Sable; he claims to have seen them.”

Aria listened, feeling uneasy. She stuck close to Neven, afraid to stop, fearing unseen ghosts would swallow her.

The closer they got to the arena, the more vibrant the atmosphere became. Cheers and applause intertwined. The arena was adorned with colorful banners, representing the honor and bravery of each legion.

"Almost there," Neven said, blinking as he added mysteriously, "But we need to go somewhere first."

They entered a secluded passage, with stairs winding downward as if leading to an unknown abyss. It wasn't the path to the colosseum, nor was there any warm light; the surroundings were dark and cold. The oil lamps hanging on the stone walls emitted a faint glow, barely illuminating their way.

"Are we not allowed to enter through the main gate if we're late?" Aria asked curiously, her ears catching the distant cheers from the colosseum. The sound poured into the tunnel like a tide, echoing at its dark end.

A sly glint appeared in Neven's eyes. "I want to see what Alpha has prepared. Besides, there's nothing interesting in the early matches. No one will notice we're gone."

They continued descending, the air filled with a damp, musty smell. Several tunnels branched off in different directions, like a maze, making it easy to get lost. In a wider tunnel, a low, rumbling breath suddenly echoed, causing the stones on the ground to tremble slightly.

"What was that sound?" Aria asked, her body tense with fear, her hand gripping her sleeve tightly.

"The beast to be used today," Neven answered calmly, though a hint of unease colored his voice.

Two footsteps echoed from the flickering torchlit tunnel. Neven quickly pulled Aria into a darker passage, where they held their breath. After a moment, Seraphina and Quinn came into view.

"Quinn, have the security measures for the grandstand been strengthened?" Seraphina asked worriedly, her brow furrowed. "This creature is too dangerous. What is Alpha thinking? How will we explain it to the king if things get out of control?"

"I've doubled the spirit stones; the king and the grandstand are safe," Quinn replied firmly. "The Grand Elder has also assessed it, and the safety is guaranteed. If the beast goes berserk, I'll have the archers take it down immediately."

"Let's hope everything goes smoothly."

"Don't worry, Seraphina. Don't you trust me? I'm far more reliable than Alpha." They moved towards the exit, their figures disappearing into the lit tunnel.

"They're hiding a beast and planning to release it on War God Day?" Aria asked in disbelief, her voice filled with surprise and doubt.

"It's a tradition of the Lunarshade Clan," Neven said, sticking close to the wall, carefully moving forward without making a sound.

"Tradition?" Aria said, wide-eyed. "You people really love flirting with death. What if someone gets bitten?"

Neven's lips curved into a faint, indescribable smile of pride. "Without the matches, how would we know who's stronger? Everyone knows the risks, but did you hear the cheers? They love it. Don't you want to see just how skilled the warriors are?"

A long horn blared from above, followed by earth-shaking drums, and the cheers mingled with rhythmic clapping, echoing through the ground. They were directly beneath the arena, the sounds vibrating the air and making their hearts race.

"It's starting," Neven said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Why can't we just watch from the grandstand?" Aria hesitated, not wanting to go further.

"I want to know what beast it is, then tell Lyra." Neven gestured for her to follow, his eyes determined.

They crossed the wide tunnel, hiding behind crates near the entrance. The place was heavily guarded by Lunarshade soldiers, their spears gleaming, ready for any sudden attack. Neven peeked out, then quickly drew back, his face pale as he leaned against the crate, taking a deep breath, his lips trembling. "They actually caught that monster."

"What is it?" Aria hissed, peeking out as well.

At the dimly lit end of the tunnel, a massive iron cage took up nearly the entire wall, like a giant anvil embedded in the stone.The light above filtered through the cage bars, faintly illuminating a small part of the interior, revealing the bear's huge and majestic form. The bear's breathing was deep and powerful, each exhale seeming to shake the entire cavern. The surrounding guards, wearing heavy helmets and holding spears, stood around the cage, their eyes fixed on the beast, alert for any sudden movements.

Aria stood at a distance, staring at the iron cage and the bear inside, filled with awe and fear. She had never seen such a massive bear; its body seemed like a moving mountain. Every breath from the bear made her heart tremble, feeling the strong, wild power it exuded.

"A bear monster?" Aria asked, her face also pale, her voice trembling.

"A demon bear," Neven corrected, his voice low and tense. "I'm lucky I didn't join the match. If it goes berserk, it could tear us all apart."

Aria gazed at the caged demon bear, an indescribable fear gripping her. Its massive body, every hair radiating deadly danger, its green eyes coldly gleaming, and the terrifying roars it emitted, made her shudder.