The Arena howled as if a storm had descended. The air itself twisted into a tornado, sweeping across the battlefield. Zhan Din's spear was thrown off course, his body lifted from the ground, and his thunder hound yelped as both were flung violently toward the Arena's edge.
CRASH!
Zhan Din slammed against the boundary, his body thrown outside before he even realized what had happened.
Silence.
The spectators froze.
Then the elder's voice rang out. "Zhan Din has been eliminated! The victors are Kent Hall and Rina Lova!"
The Arena erupted again, but this time in anger and mockery.
"Boo! Shameless! He helped her!"
"They've made some secret deal!"
"Disgraceful! This is no fair fight!"
Kent ignored them all, swirling his wine in his cup with a faint smile. Rina stood frozen, her whip trembling in her hand, eyes wide in disbelief. She stared at Kent, her lips parting but no words coming out.
If not for him, she would already be lying outside the Arena in humiliation.
