{Third Person}
After entertaining the guests, the dancers withdrew with graceful bows, and the music softened.
A palace announcer stepped forward. "The next segment is combat. This will be a duel. Not a fight to the death."
A slight shift passed through the arena. That reassurance did little for the Humans.
Moments later, two warriors stepped into the arena. They were bare-armed, dressed in traditional combat attire, their bodies marked with faint scars that spoke of experience. They circled each other once, then the first one shifted.
It happened in a split second. Bone, muscle, form—all of it changed.
Where a man had stood, a wolf now crouched low, its fur bristling, its eyes sharp and locked on its opponent.
The reaction from the Human side was immediate. There were gasps and startled movements. Some leaned back instinctively while others remained still.
Lila's hand flew to her chest, her face paling. "What—" she almost choked, clearly unprepared for what she was seeing.
