The Beast Tamer Clan's Monster Overlord

Axelius looked up, hearing the sharp caw from above. His smirk returned the moment he saw the familiar black wings slicing through the sky.

"Good timing," he said, raising his hand calmly. "I've been waiting for a worthy monster."

With a sudden glint of silver, the blade fell from the air—Crow's delivery was precise. The sword spun once before landing cleanly in Axelius's open palm with a satisfying clink.

He gripped the hilt tightly and gave it one smooth swing. The wind from the motion brushed past Nyx and Gob, making their hair and fur whip slightly to the side.

The moment he stepped forward, the orcs stirred.

One step.

Then another.

Then, just as Axelius took his third step, the orcs around them suddenly moved—not toward him, but away. They stepped back, stomping their feet as they retreated in unison, forming a rough circle.

A wide enough space for battle.

An arena.

Axelius exhaled softly and rolled his shoulders. The blade in his hand pulsed with weight and potential.

"So we're doing this the proper way, huh?" he muttered, not looking at anyone in particular.

Vargosh grinned, stepping into the ring slowly, dragging his massive axe behind him like it was light as a feather. He decided to use the axe than sword.

Orcs surrounding them pounded their clubs and axes against the ground, building the tension in the air.

Axelius lifted his katana, resting it lightly on his shoulder, his yellow eyes locked onto the Orc Lord.

"Alright," he said, voice low and calm. "Let's make this fun."

"Go back. This one's mine," he said quietly.

In a shimmer of soft light, Gob and Nyx vanished, returning to their realm. Only Crow remained, perched silently in the tree above, its eyes glowing as it watched from the shadows.

Now, only Axelius and Vargosh stood inside the circle.

A deep silence fell over the area. Even the orcs stopped pounding their weapons. The air felt heavy, like a storm was about to fall.

Vargosh slowly lifted his axe with one hand, pointing it at Axelius.

"You face the Orc Lord, human. Prepare to fall."

Axelius didn't respond. He only tightened his grip on his sword and lowered into a loose stance.

Without warning, Vargosh charged.

The ground shook under each of his steps. In one motion, he swung his giant axe down in a powerful strike aimed straight at Axelius's head.

BOOM!

The impact slammed into the ground with a deafening sound. Dirt exploded into the air, creating a thick cloud of dust that covered everything.

Orcs around the circle cheered wildly.

But something was off.

There was no scream. No body.

Only silence within the dust.

Then, a gust of wind blew, sweeping the dust aside.

And there stood Axelius, untouched—kneeling low on one foot, his blade raised above him. He had blocked the attack. The edge of his sword glowed faintly with heat, pressed against the Orc Lord's axe.

"You're strong," Axelius muttered, a grin forming on his lips. "But you're slow."

He twisted his body and spun sideways. In one move, he slipped out from under the axe and slashed at Vargosh's ribs. The blade cut across the armor, sparks flying as steel met steel.

Vargosh grunted and stepped back, blood dripping from the edge of his side.

"A fast one," Vargosh said, licking the blood from his tusk. "Good. I'll enjoy this."

Axelius looked around with a lazy expression, sword resting on his shoulder. "You wanna go all out, Vargosh?" he asked with a yawn.

Vargosh tilted his head. "You're courting death."

A grin cracked across Axelius's face. "I'm death myself."

Without waiting, Axelius bolted backward. But instead of charging, he leaped toward a nearby tree. His boots kicked off the bark, hands gripping branches, climbing higher and higher like a blur.

Up above, Axelius moved like a shadow through the trees—light, fast, silent. Leaves shook and branches bent under his weight, but he never slowed.

He leapt from one branch to another, weaving through the canopy like a bird.

Vargosh waited, eyes tracking him with interest. He didn't chase. He stood firm, axe resting on his shoulder.

"Come down, little lord," he shouted. "Or I'll chop the forest down!"

Axelius stood tall on a thick branch, high above the ground. The wind blew past him, ruffling his hair, but his golden eyes stayed locked on the beast below.

Vargosh lifted his axe, watching carefully Then he bent his knees.

And jumped.

WHOOSH!

The air shook as the Orc Lord soared up, landing hard on a wide branch that cracked beneath his weight.

"Come, little death," Vargosh growled, standing only a few feet away from Axelius now.

Axelius's eyes narrowed. "Glad you came up."

Vargosh charged first, swinging his heavy axe sideways.

Axelius ducked under it, the blade cutting leaves clean off a tree behind him. He jumped to the next branch, boots barely landing before jumping again to a higher one.

Vargosh chased, leaping from branch to branch. The trees groaned under his size, but he didn't fall.

He was fast—too fast for his size.

CRACK!

Another swing from the axe shattered a branch near Axelius, but he used the falling wood to flip higher, spinning in the air and landing just above Vargosh.

Axelius dropped like lightning, kicking Vargosh's back.

BAM!

The orc lord lost balance for a second, grabbing a thick vine to keep from falling. He looked up with a grin.

"Nice hit," Vargosh growled, jumping again.

Axelius ran sideways along the branch, using the trees like a path. Vargosh followed, smashing trees as they ran, each step shaking the forest canopy.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Their weapons clashed again—axe against blade—the air filled with sparks and flying bark.

They weren't fighting on the ground.

They danced above it.

A wild chase through branches, vines, and falling leaves.

Axelius backflipped again, landing on a branch across from Vargosh. He wiped sweat from his brow and laughed.

"Not bad for a tree-chasing monster."

"Hah…" Vargosh chuckled low. His grip on the axe tightened. "It's been a while since I felt this."

He lifted his chin. "Excitement."