Chapter 57: Monsters in Human Suit

Chapter 57: Monsters in Human SuitEratz stepped into the field, his footsteps echoing across the massive arena, which seemed to stretch endlessly around him.

He glanced up, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. A sea of people, almost vertiginous in its sheer number, filled the seats, their cheering like a deafening roar that echoed in his bones.

Projector lights shone brightly from every angle, and above, the night sky was visible, stars twinkling.

Fireworks exploded on either side of the field as Eratz made his way towards the center, each boom reverberating in his chest, leaving him feeling slightly overwhelmed.

He realized this was what it felt like to be on top, to be standing in the limelight. This was what the peak looked like.

His eyes wavered, the intensity of the moment almost making them shaky. He pushed down the trembling within him and kept walking, his posture firm, his head held high as he stepped into the spotlight.

The crowd roared louder, the noise vibrating through his body, making his bones feel as if they were trembling.

On the large screens hanging above the arena, his image was projected and everyone could

see.

His face was focused, his black and red attire glowed under the bright lights, a long black coat with red lining, adorned with crimson patterns, and fingerless red gloves completing the look.

It made him look both menacing and impressive.

In the stands, Rowan watched in awe. His voice barely a murmur, he spoke to no one in particular,

"It's really him."

"He's changed a lot," a student whispered in the hotel, the disbelief clear in their tone.

Eratz continued towards the middle of the arena, stopping only when he reached the designated point. He took a deep breath, and the announcer's voice boomed across the entire stadium,

"And now, from Aralyn, a rising star with 356 wins in the rookie division, please welcome the feline fighter, Catarina, also known as 'The Midnight Claw'!"

From the opposite end of the arena, a young girl appeared.

She had a striking appearance, her black hair flowing down to her shoulders, and her dark skin glistened under the lights.

She wore a unique outfit, a sleek black bodysuit with silver accents that hugged her petite frame, and as she walked, her most distinctive features were revealed: black cat ears atop her head and a long black tail swaying behind her.

The audience murmured with excitement as she made her way towards the center of the

arena.

"She's adorable!"

"Look at those cat ears!"

"My god... My dream came true..."

Catarina waved enthusiastically at the audience, a big grin plastered on her face.

As she reached the center of the arena, she looked at Eratz and gave a nervous chuckle.

"Wow, this place is massive," she said, her eyes wide.

She then turned to Eratz with a smile, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

"I'm really glad to face another rookie here. I get so nervous around strangers, so it's nice to be here with someone who understands me."

Eratz blinked.

"I am a stranger."

"... Yes, but you're also a baby rookie too, like me. I talked to three people in the locker but they all refused to answer, one even ask me to go find a rat somewhere, can you believe it?" He let out a small chuckle. seaʀᴄh thё NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Are you sure you're nervous? But I got you, I was feeling a little nervous too. But you know, it's just the same thing we do every day. It'll be alright."

Catarina's eyes lit up.

"That's such a good way to think of it! The same little fight as usually, I come, I crash, you fell, and we become friends.... Hey, you won't ghost me after, right? You're a lot nicer than most opponents I've faced... Hm, ok, I know, I'll give you an handicap, I promise I won't go too hard on you, ok? I can even let you give the first punch."

She turned her back to walk to her position, but as she did, the air around her shifted.

She quickly turned, her eyes meeting Eratz's. His gaze was cold, and the aura he emitted caused a shiver to run down Catarina's spine.

She froze, feeling the intense pressure weigh down on her, something primal triggering her

instincts.

"Your funeral." he said quietly.

He then turned and walked to his starting point.

Catarina swallowed, her eyes wide.

"What was that...?" She watched him for a moment longer before turning, trying to shake the

feeling.

"... I felt a predator."

Both fighters took their positions, standing across from each other. The audience held their

breath, the tension in the arena so thick it was almost tangible.

The announcer's voice echoed through the space once more.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the first fight of the night: Eratz versus Catarina!"

In the stands, familiar faces watched, their eyes glued to the scene below, Kenny, Marcus, Liora, the academy staff, each of them filled disbelief.

A bell sounded, signaling the start of the match. The moment it rang, the atmosphere shifted.

Both Eratz and Catarina let their spiritual pressure explode, their powerful auras clashing in midair.

The force of their combined power created a shockwave that swept across the arena, causing the audience to gasp.

Catarina acted first, summoning her monsters.

Shadows erupted beneath her feet, spreading outward and materializing into dozens of black

cats.

They were sleek, with glowing eyes, and they spread across the field in an instant, charging at Eratz from every direction.

Catarina suddenly twisted her body to the side, narrowly avoiding Eratz as he flashed towards

her like a blur.

He landed behind her, his brow furrowing slightly.

"God dammit," he murmured.

Catarina pouted, her eyes narrowing playfully.

"You didn't even summon your monster? That's just disrespectful!" She snapped her fingers, and the army of cats lunged towards Eratz, their claws extended. "Time for some

punishment!"

Eratz didn't flinch, his eyes focused solely on Catarina. His gaze flicked to her cat ears and tail, something about them catching his attention.

As the first wave of cats reached him, the audience collectively held their breath, expecting

him to be overwhelmed.

But in the blink of an eye, a dark aura erupted from Eratz, expanding outward like a

shockwave.

The entire army of cats was thrown back, scattered across the arena floor as the crowd erupted

in shock.

Catarina's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open.

"What in the world...?"

Eratz's hands were enveloped in black energy, forming claws around his fingers, and

electricity began to crackle around his body, arcs of lightning dancing across him.

He looked at Catarina, his expression calm yet intense.

"I usually don't summon my monsters, because most opponents can't stand long enough. But

today, I want to give it my all."

The electricity surrounding him grew stronger, his aura intensifying.

The ground beneath him seemed to tremble as a massive figure began to materialize behind

him.

The tension was so thick it was almost suffocating.

A low growl echoed through the arena as the Thunder Lycaon emerged, a hulking figure of

dark fur, its eyes glowing with an eerie blue light.

The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps, the presence of the beast leaving many speechless.

"That's... A Thunder Lycaon!"

Kenny stood in the stands, his eyes wide, his mouth agape.

Rowan was trembling, barely able to keep himself standing.

"This is... the Beastification... He really did it..."

Eratz's body had transformed. Dark, jagged marks covered his skin, glowing faintly, as

shadows intertwined with crackling lightning, forming claw-like energy along his arms and

hands.

His eyes held a fierce glow, the power of the Thunder Lycaon coursing through him.

Catarina swallowed hard, her heart racing as she stared at the hulking beast and Eratz's

transformed state.

She gave a shaky smile, her eyes shining with determination.

"Alright... I guess it's time to take this seriously."

She spread her arms wide, her shadow stretching out beneath her, forming into larger, more

menacing feline figures.

Two monsters emerged, one a slender, long-armed cat that stood on its hind legs, its claws razor-sharp, and the other a massive tiger-like creature, its muscles rippling.

Eratz grinned, his eyes narrowing.

"I see. Now I understand your appearance."

Catarina smirked, her ears twitching.

"Cats are the best, and I'll show you why."

The audience watched, captivated, as the two fighters faced off, their monsters at their sides.

The tension in the air was electric.

With a sudden roar, the two sides clashed. Catarina's shadow cats leaped forward, charging towards Eratz and his Thunder Lycaon. Eratz moved with precision, his beast charging alongside him.

The impact of their collision sent shockwaves through the arena, the ground shaking beneath

their feet.

The Thunder Lycaon lunged, its massive paws striking down the shadow cats, its fangs bared

as it tore through the dark figures.

Eratz moved in perfect sync with his beast, his clawed hands slicing through the shadows with ease, his movements fluid and precised.

Catarina was agile, her body twisting gracefully as she dodged Eratz's strikes.

The shadows around her seemed to come alive, swirling and coiling before jumping towards

Eratz like spears.

Eratz dodged, his body blurring as he weaved between the attacks. He glanced up at Catarina,

This eyes locking onto hers.

With a burst of speed, he launched himself into the air, his clawed hand reaching for her.

Catarina's eyes widened, and at the last moment, she flipped backward, narrowly avoiding his

strike. She landed on the ground, breathing heavily, her heart pounding.

She looked up at Eratz, a mixture of fear and excitement in her eyes.

"You're really something," she said, her voice shaky.

Eratz landed a few feet away, his eyes never leaving her.

He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, the thrill of the fight unlike anything

he had experienced before. He grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

The two charged at each other once again, their monsters following close behind.

The clash was explosive, the energy from their attacks lighting up the arena, the roar of the

crowd growing louder with each passing second.

The Thunder Lycaon lunged at Catarina's larger tiger-like beast, their massive forms

colliding with a deafening crash.

Lightning crackled around them, the energy surging through the arena as they grappled, each trying to overpower the other.

Eratz and Catarina moved in tandem with their beasts, their bodies clashing in a series of

rapid strikes and counters. Eratz's claws met Catarina's, sparks flying with every impact.

They moved like blurs, their speed almost impossible to follow, their athleticism on full

display. Catarina ducked low, sweeping her leg out in an attempt to trip Eratz, but he leaped over her, his body twisting in midair as he aimed a punch at her.

She blocked with her forearm, the force of the impact sending her sliding back. She grinned,

her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Maybe it's time I go all out."

Eratz smiled, his eyes shining with the same intensity.

"It's all I ask."

The two fighters stood facing each other, their auras exploding around them, the energy

surging like a tidal wave.

A shockwave spread through the air, the sheer force of their power causing the crowd to gasp.

In the stands, Kian and Lila watched, their eyes wide with disbelief. Roger, Cassie, and Colin's faces lit with excitement.

Crystal stood among her classmates, her eyes locked on the screen, her heart pounding. The energy around Eratz and Catarina continued to grow, their bodies transforming under the

intensity of their power.

Catarina's form shifted, her body becoming more feline, her ears elongating, her eyes glowing with a predatory light.

Claws extended from her fingers, her entire form embodying the essence of a true catwoman.

Catarina grinned, but before she could react, a violent wind blasted her backward, sending her tumbling through the air.

She twisted in midair, landing gracefully on her feet with a feline agility, her eyes wide with

surprise.

The crowd erupted in murmurs, pointing and whispering in shock.

"It's the first time I've really had to give it my all." Eratz's voice rang. "Thank you for being a

great challenger."

His body began to transform, dark, jagged patterns forming across his skin, glowing faintly

with the power of the Thunder Lycaon.

Shadows intertwined with crackling lightning, creating claw-like shapes around his hands.

His aura became more savage, more violent.

He stepped forward, emerging from the shadows, and behind him, a pair of glowing amber eyes appeared: the Terrakrus.