“How is Flamiris?” Ileena asked the moment Narias was back.

“She’ll be fine. She… she was a little too reckless and was hurt pretty bad, but they said they will take care of her,” Narias said, lowering his head.

“What was she thinking? Flamiris should’ve surrendered when she realized she couldn’t win,” Flavia complained about it, but then noticed Narias’s hands shake from how tight his fists were clenched which were closely pressed against his hips. “Oh, aah… S… sorry. I meant, they have capable healers, right? So, Flamiris should be back on her feet in no time, right?”

“Yeah,” Narias said, lifting his head up before turning to look down at the fields where the fights were still ongoing.

“I’m sorry, Narias,” Ileena said, giving him a hug.

“Huh?” Narias was caught off guard, not noticing her coming over. “Ah, no. It wasn’t your fault. I just…”

“You’re worried about Flamiris, aren’t you?” Ileena read him like an open book, still keeping him close to her.

“Y… yeah…” Narias had to admit she was right, loosening up and hugging her back.

“We can give her a good scolding when we see her again,” Ileena said, pulling slightly away, so she could see his face, but not letting Narias go just yet.

“Hah, yeah,” her words made him smile.

“Definitely. I’ll give her a good beating too,” Flavia joined in.

“What? Well…” Narias scratched his cheek, looking a little uneasy about Flavia’s suggestion.

“Or… we could do something else… all three of us together… or… all four of us…” Flavia changed gears, but now she was blushing like no tomorrow and poking her index fingers at one another while looking away too, her bunny ears bending forward to help cover part of her face.

“Yeah, maybe that instead,” Narias agreed, but that didn’t mean he knew what Flavia actually had in mind. “Anyway, I feel better now. Thank you. Let’s watch the remaining matches, shall we?”

“Sure,” Ileena agreed, showing a happy smile.

The ongoing matches ended after some time with new winners emerging and moving to the next round while the losers had to accept their defeat and drop out of the competition. Another set of matches followed, but neither Growly nor Ileena were called out yet. That just gave them additional time to rest up and observe the fights, learning who their potential opponents might be in the next round. Growly’s name was called out with the next announcement finally, but Ileena still had to wait for her turn.

“Good luck, Growly,” Narias wished him.

“Thanks,” Growly said standing up but then added. “Hmph, will be tough.”

“Tough?” Narias was puzzled about Growly’s last words, but Growly didn’t explain himself and simply walked down the stairs to his designated field.

“What’s up with Growly?” Flavia was curious about Growly’s words too.

“I don’t know. Growly looked very serious for some reason,” Narias said, not knowing what to think of it.

“Finally, someone who might last longer than thirty seconds against me.” A big, muscular bison-resembling beast boy student spoke to Growly after stepping onto the arena where Growly was waiting for him.

The bison beast boy was half a head taller than Growly and looked bigger too. He was wearing a simple brown T-shirt with a cross over leather straps going over his shoulders, sturdy yet practical-looking black leather shorts that were reaching up to his knees and no shoes, because he had hooves instead of toes. His skin was mainly dark brown with fur covering his arms, shoulders and legs that was very short in length. In addition, the bison boy had a muscular body and a fierce demeanor on his face. And if that didn’t make him look intimidating enough, he also had two horns on top of his head that were slightly bent outwardly from one another, making him look extremely terrifying.

“Humph. I saw you fight. You’re strong, but I intend to win,” Growly was unusually outspoken for how quiet he usually was.

“I was hoping we’ll get to fight each other, but I wouldn’t have big hopes of winning if I were you…” the bison-looking beast boy told him, pausing before finishing his sentence.

“Growly,” Growly introduced himself.

“Growly, huh? The name’s Bolgiras,” Bolgiras introduced himself back, furrowing his eyebrows and flapping his ears that were extended to the side just below his two frightening horns on top of his head. “Like I said, I’m looking forward to have a good fight, but I’d forget about winning if I were you.”

“Hmm…” Growly squinted his eyes, pulling his arms slightly away from his body as if getting ready to attack.

“Humph. Looks like I’ll be able to have some fun,” Bolgiras snorted, widening his stance before hunching forward.

“Are you all ready?!” Ranga’s voice echoed through the arena, Growly and Bolgiras clenching their fists almost at the same time, their feet pressing at the stony ground with such intensity it began cracking under their feet. “Begin!”

“Mhooaa!” Bolgiras mooed.

“Roooar!” Growly roared back at him before both of them charged at one another.

“Haaah!” Bolgiras threw a forward punch when the two of them got close enough for his punch to reach Growly.

“Humph!” Growly threw a punch at Bolgiras too.

- ‘Slam!’ – Two punches collided, but it was Growly who was pushed back.

“Twisted Horn!” Seeing Growly flinch back, Bolgiras leaned down, twisting his head and pushing forward in an attempt to stab him with his horns.

“Hum!” But Growly reacted in time, grabbing onto Bolgiras’ horns with his hands to stop him.

“Ghaa!” But Bolgiras was strong. He ducked down even more, pulling Growly down due to Growly holding onto his horns before raising his head up and throwing Growly over his head.

“Huff,” but Growly curled into a ball while midair which helped him regain his balance before landing on the ground on his feet. “Oof!” The moment Growly touched the ground with his feet, he curled into the furry ball, his signature move, rolling forward at his opponent who was yet to turn around.

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“Humph, I’ve seen you do that to someone else. That’s not gonna work on me,” Bolgiras snorted, turning around and ducking low to have his horns face forward. “Huum!” Bolgiras charged forward to meet Growly head on.

“Huff!” But Growly jumped out of his rolling ball up before the two of them collided, timing to land on top of Bolgiras and slamming at him from above with both hands.

- ‘Baam!’ – Growly’s paws hit Bolgiras with the ground cracking under Bolgiras’ hooves.

“Heh,” Bolgiras smirked, still standing with his hands raised above his head. He lifted his hands right before Growly landed to block Growly’s paw slam. “Ghah!” Bolgiras knee-kicked Growly into the stomach. “Hoo!” Before shifting his body sideways to deliver another blow on Growly’ face with his hand in an outward motion from the right.

- ‘Smack!’ – But Growly was fast enough to block it by covering his face with his hand. However, Bolgiras’ blow was so strong, it threw Growly to the side. Growly spun once before using his right hand to lean on the ground and push himself up, so he wouldn’t fall, backstepping several times to keep his balance and slamming his left foot down to stand firm on his feet once again.

“Mhooo!” Bolgiras mooed before charging Growly again.

“Grounding ROAAAR!” Growly responded by roaring loudly, the power of his roar forcing Bolgiras to stop and cover his face.

“Humph, so that’s how it works,” Bolgiras snorted before moving to get to Growly again.

“Rhaaa!” Growly roared normally before jumping forward at Bolgiras himself.

- ‘Smack! Pow! Slam! Bam!’ – An exchange of blows followed.

Bolgiras punched, Growly blocked before counter punching Bolgiras back and vice versa. After several of blocked and landed blows, Bolgiras shifted his body and swung from below to deliver an uppercut punch.

“Ghharr!” But Growly blocked Bolgiras’ hand by slapping his wrist with both of his paws from above before pushing himself up with a jump and smacking Bolgiras’ chin from below with both of his clenched paws.

“Ghaah!” Bolgiras was smacked good with his head being thrown back by how strong Growly’s hit was. However, Bolgiras wasn’t swept of his feet. He was about to lean forward and smack Growly with his hands by swinging in an outward motion from both sides.

“Huff!” Unfortunately for Bolgiras, Growly used the momentum to spin around and punch Bolgiras into his chest with both of his paws at the same time, blowing the big bison several feet away.

“Dhagh… ghuh…” Bolgiras backstepped but didn’t fall, grabbing onto his chest where Growly had hit him. “Humph. Nice one. Now that’s what I call a real fight.”

“I won’t lose,” Growly stated, raising his hands in front of him, fists clenched tight.

{at the seats}

“Dang it! Growly’s opponent is so strong,” Flavia exclaimed, watching Growly fight.

“He is indeed,” Ileena agreed.

So, that’s what Growly meant earlier. He must’ve been watching many fights up till now and that’s why he knew who his next opponent will be. I should’ve paid more attention myself. Narias was mulling over in his head while watching Growly fight.

“Yo’, you don’t think Growly will lose, do you?” Flavia was becoming worried. “Hey, partner. Hey!”

“Huh? What?” Narias was brought back to reality.

“I was asking about Growly. His opponent looks really tough,” Flavia said.

“Ah, yeah,” Narias wasn’t sure what to say. “I hope Growly can win.”

{back at the arena}

“Huff!” – ‘Pow! Slap!’ – Growly slapped Bolgiras on the face with his right paw.

“Humph! Bhuu!” – ‘Smack! Bam!’ – Bolgiras slammed his right hoof at the ground to keep himself standing before returning the favor by punching Growly with a left hook from the side.

“Oof!” Growly flinched, but then grabbed onto Bolgiras’ left wrist while ignoring the pain, pulling Bolgiras forward and slamming at Bolgiras’ underarm with his left elbow.

“Ghaa!” Bolgiras coughed, throwing his head up before slamming it down and headbutting Growly on the forehead.

“Dhaa!” – ‘Slap!’ – Growly managed to deliver another slap on Bolgiras’ face with his left paw thanks to Bolgiras’ head being extended forward. Growly was pushed away after receiving the headbutt while Bolgiras flinched backwards after Growly’s slap.

“Oogh… Bhuaa…” Bolgiras snorted after regaining his composure.

“Huff,” Growly was panting heavily, shaking his head a few times to clear the dizziness from the headbutt he had received.

“You’re tougher than I thought,” Bolgiras commented, wiping bloody sweat from his chin.

“You too,” Growly said, wiping his chin himself.

“Hah, this is fun. I haven’t had such a thrilling fight in ages. However, I think you’re reaching your limit, so let’s end this while you’re still standing, Growly!” Bolgiras declared loudly before charging forward, the ground breaking under his hooves with each of his steps. “Rampaging Charge!”

“Grounding ROAAAR!” Growly responded with his ferocious roar, but unfortunately it did nothing to Bolgiras this time. Bolgiras didn’t even flinch while gaining speed. “Ghaaah!”

Growly had no time to get away after using his Grounding Roar, Bolgiras slamming into Growly using incredible speed and power, his horns stabbing Growly right into his chest.

“RHOAAAAR!” But Growly didn’t give up. He grabbed onto Bolgiras’ horns right before they stabbed him, stopping Bolgiras from stabbing him too deep. However, Bolgiras’ charge was so strong, Growly was being pushed back despite him trying to hold Bolgiras off. Even if Growly managed to prevent his opponent from stabbing him, Growly was about to be pushed out of the arena’s bounds. “Huff! OOF!”

With less than two meters away from the arena’s edge, Growly pushed himself up, letting Bolgiras’ horns stab him again while he used the momentum of the push to kick Bolgiras in the chin with his right knee, throwing Growly’s opponent of balance and making him stop for a brief moment. Bolgiras’ head was thrown up as a result of Growly’s kick, but Bolgiras’ neck muscles were strong, so he pushed down once again and Growly was about to be either headbutted again or pushed out of the arena. In response to Bolgiras’ trying to headbutt him, Growly used his paws to push himself up by holding onto Bolgiras’ horns to try and jump over him, but Bolgiras wasn’t about to let that happen. He quickly grabbed onto Growly’s hands to keep them on his horns and stop Growly from jumping over him. Realizing that his escape plan won’t work, Growly did something else instead. While still using the momentum of his lower body flying over Bolgiras’ head, Growly threw his feet forward, doing a somersault in the air and slamming his heels at Bolgiras’ left leg’s ligament, the part of the leg that was on the opposite side of the knee, a sound of bones cracking being heard when Growly’s kick landed.

“MHAAAA!” Bolgiras screamed from pain, letting go of Growly’s paws and succumbing on one knee because of how much pain he felt. Growly was free to move again, but he didn’t let go of Bolgiras’ horns even after Bolgiras released him.

“ROAAAR!” Pushing himself over his limit, Growly pulled on Bolgiras’ horns, lifting him up over his back before slamming his opponent on the ground face down.

- ‘BAAAM!’ –

“Ghaaa…” Bolgiras coughed blood on impact, the ground cracking once again when Bolgiras’ body hit the hard stony surface with all of its weight.

“Huff!” Growly didn’t stop. He huffed, grabbing and lifting Bolgiras from the ground in an attempt to throw him out of the arena himself this time.

“Don’t even dream about it! Humph!” Despite being slammed so hard on the ground, Bolgiras was still conscious and wasn’t about to let Growly throw him out of the field. He used his healthy leg to stand firm while wrapping his arms around Growly in an attempt to keep him in place before trying to crush him with his grip.

“Rhaaoooar!” Growly roared from pain, not able to escape Bolgiras’ clutches. Bolgiras’ grip was strong, and since Growly was injured, he wasn’t able to break free.

“I’ll crush you until you pass out! Humph!” Bolgiras snorted, his grip tightening. “Hu-! Huh?”

“Huuuff!” Instead of trying to break free, Growly gripped Bolgiras around his back as much as his arms allowed it himself, jumping up and out of the arena himself while taking his opponent with him.

“Wha… Nooo!” Bolgiras couldn’t do anything about it, seeing the two of them falling down on the ground just outside of the arena’s edge.

- ‘Slam!’ – Growly and Bolgiras landed on the ground with a big thud, a cloud of dust accompanying their fall.

“Both opponents fell out of the arena! Therefore, both of them lose!” The judge supervising Growly’s and Bolgiras’ fight announced. “Medics!” He called out for people to come and check on both of them right after.

“Tch… you…” Bolgiras grunted, lying on the ground on his back.

“I didn’t win, but neither did you. That means I didn’t lose either,” Growly commented, showing off his sharp fangs when he procured a satisfied grin.

“Hah. I’ll remember that. And I’ll get back at you during the Field Battle Competition, so you better participate and win until we meet again,” Bolgiras declared a new challenge to Growly.

“Likewise,” Growly accepted it.

Medics appeared next to two beat up and tired students, getting ready to take them away.