Betting Results:

  [5% on Amber and Dime's Win]

  [95% on Venerable Vaine and Miss Fang's Win]

  "LeeLee, KiAera! We're heading in!"

  Amber stalked toward them and whooped several times before me. Oh, how precious she stood, awaiting for me to massage through her feathers. I did just that, and the ratite monster purred.

  "Be careful out there, Amber." I didn't dare forget about Dime who padded toward me. She too appeared overeager. "You as well, Dime. You're up against a DreaGoth Lord, so don't underestimate an opponent with their prestige."

  ??? [Combat Status] ???

  ??? [Combat Status] ???

  I almost had almost told them to back out from the fight, but the tremendous spirit in their eyes made me say otherwise. Amber and Dime are serious are about pursing this fight. So telling them such words would end up being demoralizing for them. That's when I realized it would've been wiser to just nod, entrusting them in their decision for glory. But the two of them were monsters of combat.

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  To them, they deemed the situation as a hunt.

  "LeeLee! You can trust us to fight! We'll put your training to use, uh, we'll win!"

  Dime gave a hard nod. "Dime seeks to strike. We fight for crew!"

  True enough, I should've expected their response, so I watched as the duo prowled toward the Combat Zone. I could only await good results, but still the Venerable Vaine over there.

  His presence alone didn't put me at ease.

  ??? ??? ??? [Perspective Switch: Amber]

  Amber knew she had the chance to win just like the others before her. That Vaine-Vaine guy? He wouldn't stand a chance against an incredibly fast bird like her. She was a predator. Hunt. Strike. Peck. That was her forte. But she did kind of, sort of, realize that the other, less feathery beast was a predator too.

  He moved with a more silent gait than she or Dime did. The same went for the other two-legged lizard woman who matched his stride. Amber wondered why they were so fancy and stiffly formal. No bother; she would just kick them with her talon-feet.

  As soon as she and Dime stepped inside the Combat Zone, the arena stage began to shift. It stretched outward until—wholly winds!—it transformed into an expansive running field of tall grasses as far as the eye could see.

  That got her heart pumping. The wind whipped around her, making her antennae twitch with the many breezy waves. This was her field to run absolutely free, and neither of those fancy-scaled lizards would catch her.

  The fairy announcer fluttered above, she gave the cheerful cry: "It's time to begin, Match 4!"

  Amber dashed forward, her [Accelerate] allowing her to cross the field with incredible speed. Dime flanked her, but she didn't care how she'd help. It was time to fight!

  She launched herself into a flying kick, but the two Dilophosaurus—whatever they were called—just stood there. They must have been the passive type. Well, take this, scum! Her foot connected… with empty air. What the flutter?

  She adjusted her aim toward Miss Fang who was closer. That Miss Fang was smirking at her. So Amber kicked upward several times. [Leap Kick]... Missed. What? Sidestepped… miss. No way!

  Then Miss Fang dashed back, evading both her and Dime's simultaneous attack.

  This was ridiculous! But instinct told her to glance back as she felt the pressure of a predator's gaze. That gaze belonged to Vaine. He just stood there, watching from a distance. Was he not going to participate?

  "Amber, dear, it's rude to look away from an opponent," he taunted.

  "He's right, Amber-love."

  Amber squawked as Miss Fang dashed in and struck her outstretched wing with her claw. Ow! Ouch! That stung really badly! The pain made her stumble back, wincing.

  "LeeLee! What gives?! You nearly tore my wing off, ya meanie!"

  "Not your life, yes? Dwell on your fortune, Precious, you'd find yourself in a bad spot if you continued treating our dance as a mere game," Miss Fang chided, her tone dripping with mockery as she poised herself for another strike.

  Amber felt a brewing anger mixed with determination. "You think you can scare me just because you clawed my wing? I'm not backing down!" She fluffed her feathers, trying to regain control over her emotions.

  Dime was close by, keeping her stance defensive. "Dime ready to help! Strike with me, Amber!"

  Amber nodded, rallying her focus. They would strike together. This time, she would surprise them. With a quick exchange of glances, the two of them launched forward, Dime charging at Miss Fang while Amber circled around Vaine to draw his attention. The tall grasses whipped around them, creating a natural camouflage as they darted through.

  Vaine, however, seemed unfazed.

  "Interesting. You're a bit early to strike kind ole me." His voice was calm, almost amused. He did not move from his spot, but instead locked his gaze on Dime, who was about to clash with Miss Fang.

  "Not early— now!" Amber shouted, gathering her energy. She summoned her [Wind Surge] ability, creating a powerful gust that swept across the arena. The winds tore through the grasses, throwing off both Vaine and Miss Fang's balance.

  It startled her when Vaine vanished from his position, making him appear as a mirage. "No. Like I said: You're early."

  She lost visual on him. That made Amber sweep her gaze in search for him, finding nothing.

  But she saw Dime taking advantage of the distraction, leaping with a powerful somersault strike aimed at Miss Fang's midsection. But Miss Fang was quick; she stepped in with a swift maneuver, blocking Dime's attack effortlessly with her tail, sending her sprawling back into the grass.

  "Did you really think you could catch me unaware? How quaint," Miss Fang's voice echoed through the wind.

  Amber growled in frustration. "Leave her alone! I'm not scared of you, Fang!" She bolstered her resolve, her wings quivering with excitement and aggression. She dove in, aiming for Miss Fang's exposed flank, but she twisted aside, almost like she had predicted her move.

  It was infuriating! She was toying with her. Amber darted to the left, then to the right, feigning a misstep to keep her guessing. And, without warning, she leapt high into the air, determined to strike from above.

  However, Miss Fang's gaze shifted. She anticipated her move and, with a quick flick of her tail, she launched Dime right into Amber's chest.

  The collision sent them tumbling across the field in an impossible, dizzying spin. Amber's heart dropped as she watched Dime roll to a stop, dazed, battered, and sprawled in the tall grass. The damage looked unbelievable for a tail swipe.

  "NO!" Amber shrieked, her instincts flaring. She felt a hurricane of adrenaline rush through her. How could she allow Miss Fang to take down her friend so easily? Dime had fought valiantly, and it wasn't fair for her to be taken out of the fight this early.

  She turned her gaze back to Miss Fang, who was standing over Dime, a sly grin plastered across her face. "Your little friend needs to learn her place, don't you think?"

  Amber's feathers bristled, igniting her fury. "You won't get away with this!"

  Fueled by anger, she focused her energy and unleashed her [Tempestuous Kick]. However, this time, she tightened her control. She added [Whirlwind], [Wind Shield], and [Accelerate] to the combination. The gusts whipped around her, forming a protective barrier as she charged headlong at Miss Fang. She could feel the wind racing beneath her wings, lifting her higher as she leapt forward.

  Miss Fang's expression shifted from amusement to intrigue as Amber rocketed toward her with renewed vigor. She attempted to sidestep, expecting another feint, but Amber had no intention of backing down; she aimed straight for Fang's chest.

  At the last moment, just as she was about to strike, she pivoted, using the wind itself and the momentum to unleash a powerful kick. The blow connected, sending Miss Fang stumbling back through the tall grass. Amber's heart raced—she had shocked her opponent!

  "Yes! That’s how it' done!" she cheered, glancing back to check on Dime. Her friend was still on the ground, shaking her head as if to clear it.

  With Miss Fang reeling from the kick, Amber decided not to waste a second. She sprinted back to Dime, ready to help her friend rise. "Get up, Dime! We can do this together!"

  Dime blinked and nodded, shaking off the daze. "Dime okay! Dime ready to strike!" She pushed herself upright, her claws digging into the earth as she regained her footing.

  "Okay, let's flank them!" Amber instructed, her eyes darting back to Vaine, who still hadn't made a move. Was he even watching?

  "Vaine!" Her voice carried over the arena. "Is this all you've—"

  She stumbled forward, something felt wrong. Everything inside felt warm. The horrible kind of warmth. Like sickness. Why was she feeling like she was burning and feeling icky. When her gaze traveled to her injured wing. She spotted the bad, gross injury along with the nasty, long scratch carved along her wing.