Main Arena – Supernova College Waiting Area, 30 Minutes Before the Match
The lights were dimmed, but not for dramatic effect. They had to be. Any brighter and the thing in the corner would get…aggressive.
It was curled up now, coiled in on itself. The Hemogloom Slagbeast didn't blink even once as it stared at the tense Supernova College students waiting nervously for the match to start—not that it could if it wanted to. Its eyes were just open sockets—blood-filled and pulsing—watching, waiting.
Rather than the upcoming match, it was that bloody gaze that unnerved the students more. Well, except for its owner who was cooing and feeding it like it was a cute puppy.
Nikolai knelt beside it with a small crate.
Inside: a handful of squealing, panicked field mice. They thrashed violently against one another, sensing what came next.
