Raining from above, golden rods pierce the ground in front of each Beast. They stop before they slam into them. Then, with a snap of Arena's fingers, lightning strikes the rods.

Many try to move out of the way but can't. Wrapped around their legs are chains stretching from the rods. The rods spread the golden electricity to each Beast. Howls of pain echo in the field. Bark lifts his hoof once more and strikes the ground.

Deep and wide cracks spread from the impact. Stone rises and falls as the chain around his leg breaks and the rod is thrust into the air.

The golden rod flies to Arena. He catches it before it can strike him. He grips it firmly as the Beast's hooves shake the ground as he charges forward. Lahar remains calm as she steadies her shot. "You have a plan, right?" Lahar asks with her finger lightly tapping the trigger.

"Yes. After you fire your shot, I want you all to run as far back as you can."

Lahar looks down the barrel of her water gun. The bull charges toward her. Her aim becomes shakier as the Beast comes closer and stomps harder.

"Fire in three...two...one...now!" Arena shouts. The second before she pulls the trigger, Lahar feels something light fall onto her shoulder—a leaf from the tree.

Lahar pulls the trigger and feels a rush of energy flow through her. The blast is immensely larger than before. Lahar feels herself lifted. She looks up to see her shirt collar in the mouth of Pie, who carries her behind the tree.

The monstrous horns stop just an inch away from Arena's stomach. The bull tries to move forward, but the large blades of grass entangle him, keeping him in place. Golden light shines from below and onto Arena's grinning face. Where they stand is a strange symbol resembling a storm cloud.

Arena slams the rod into the dirt. At that moment, the dark clouds shine bright as a blinding summer sun. Lahar closes her eyes, with Pie and King using their bodies to protect her. She feels a massive amount of energy where Arena is and then a deafening crash. It sounds as if the sky itself is ripping apart as the ground quakes.

Pie gets up, and Lahar opens her eyes. She looks up to see a large opening in the sky, with the sun shining. In the distance the dark clouds still blanket the sky. Lahar runs around the tree to find Arena. He stands in front of Bark, who's lying by the rod. Arena's shirt is nearly burned off his body, while his body remains intact.

The smell of burnt wood and fur fills Lahar's nostrils. A golden light shines from strange markings on Arena's body. They spread from his back and go all the way to the sides of his head. Lahar has never seen anything like this on him before.

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Lahar's eyes shift from his body to the motionless body lying before him. Arena looks into the mask. The flames are gone from its eyes. "Are you all right?" Lahar asks.

Arena doesn't react as he stares at the lifeless body. The glow from Arena's body dims as the symbols fade into his skin.

He looks up at the Beasts trapped at the rod. None move or stare directly at him. He is now the predator, and they can feel that they are the prey. Then a tingle goes down Arena's spine. He first thinks it's the side effects of the overexertion the spell has caused.

Then he notices it. He looks past the Beasts surrounding them and at the two who have been watching all this time. There is only one watching now. The average-size one, Statue, stares at him. The thin, small one Lahar calls Toothpick isn't there.

The sound of hooves stomping on the ground is heard. A swift wind blows by them. Arena can tell this is Toothpick, moving at speeds that a regular person cannot follow. On the other hand, Arena can catch glimpses of where it is and feel the Beast's presence.

Arena can feel his body ache as he snaps his finger once more. Rods rain from the sky, each aiming at where Toothpick is. They strike down as fast as lightning, yet each misses the thin Beast by a second.

Lahar holds her gun up, her aim bouncing around with each rod falling. "Her aim is way off," Arena thinks. Then he realizes the Beast is moving too fast for a novice like Lahar to keep track of. She's just aiming where the rods are.

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a peach vial. She pours it into the tank and shakes the water gun. "Don't worry. With this, I can hit it," she says.

Pie's flames burn bright as he pursues Toothpick, with King tightly holding on to his back. Even Pie is one second behind it.

Arena closes his eyes. He can feel the energy of two speeding animals. One he recognizes as Pie. The second must be the Toothpick. Now he must try to predict the Beast's next move. What opening will he take to strike? He analyzes his movements and realizes something. Toothpick isn't circling around him. He searches for the moment, an opening to strike someone else.

Lahar's barrel jumps from spot to spot. Then, she feels it for a moment—a spike of energy she doesn't recognize.

Her eyes focus. She quickly turns to the spot, determined not to let the opportunity slip away. She pulls the trigger, but then something strange happens. Foam spews from the barrel and clogs up the water gun. "This shouldn't happen." Lahar panics as a foam cloud covers the water gun. Then it bursts. She is sent flying back, and her arm and hand start to burn.

Lahar's vision is blurry as she tries to stand back up. Her firing arm burns, and she picks up the water gun with her other hand. Her knees feel weak. Panic fills her as she feels the Toothpick's presence behind her.

Then something wet hits the back of her arm and her back. It feels warm as it slowly drips down her. Lahar grips the gun tightly when she hears coughing behind her. She turns to see Arena standing there. Mere inches away from Lahar is a thin, bladelike horn piercing through his stomach.

The ruby drops fall from the tip of the horn and hits the green grass. Rain falls from the sky as Arena stands with a smile on his face while staring at Lahar, blood pouring out of him.