It felt like a thousand green icy needles were stabbing through the palms of his feet.
Soon the smoke began to affect the air and make the temperature drop rapidly so his teeth chattered.
Sly felt like his body was suddenly drenched in cold sweat.
After another minute or two the green smoke began to dissipate but not before two huge emerald eyes gleamed in the center of the ring.
Green electric static emanated from the body of a giant green pulsating snake that had the same eccentric eyes as Verde.
Jack's eyes twitched frighteningly when he gazed at the level 3 green snake that had become one with Verde.
Verde's green forked tongue slithered, "release your spirit beasts!"
Of course, all three stubbornly refused which irritated the giant green snake.
"Fine…I'll just force all of you to summon your spirit beasts at the same time."
Giant flames started to billow from the Verde's main snake body then these flames shot out and wrapped around the three low level recruits.
It felt like his body was being mentally devoured by the green snake and no matter how Sly struggled the snake flame constricted tighter around his entire body.
Not only that but his entire skin started to itch, a heavy uncomfortable sensation that became increasingly painful the longer they tried to fight against the mental charm of the green snake.
When they couldn't take it anymore their true spirit forms were revealed to everyone one by one.
First was Jolan whose body happened to be closest to Verde and he felt like was being crushed both physically and mentally by the power of the green electric flames
He was so oppressed that his spirit beast, the red and black bombardier beetle burst out of his body as if escaping from a cocoon but then it did something Verde did not expect.
The level 2 beetle grabbed its master's body and retreated to the sky in a bid to give its master some time to recuperate from the aggressive onslaught of Verde's mental attack.
Fiery red wings hovered over the stage still within fighting range to observe the green snake and not get disqualified.
Next to show his true form was Jack, his beast was a level 1 white owl, a natural enemy of the snake but also in the weakest class of combat power.
Jack knew his limits; he was a support type and could help to boost the fighting powers of the bombardier beetle.
His owl was better at scouting and information gathering, reporting intelligence on enemy forces than engaging in combat.
Still Jack and his white owl were prepared to thrash it out with the beetle until the last minute.
What no one expected to see was a tiny green plant with its leaves folded inwards and loudly snoring in the middle of the battlefield.
The crowd exploded with laughter at the sight of Sly on his knees pleading with the sleeping Mimosa to open its eyes and fight.
Seeing that Jolan was preoccupied with fending off Verde's attacks, Jack expected the twins to come for him next.
Jack preempted them by yelling, "do you know who I am?"
Lyle Mercy was taken aback by the question: this was a battle arena not a fancy tea party.
No one was here for idle conversation.
This bloodthirsty audience could care less who Jack was; they wanted to see violence and a decent fight to end the day.
Judging by Lyle's bored expression, Jack figured they must not be aware that he was the heir to the Winchester legacy given their ignorance.
"I am the firstborn and heir apparent Jack Winchester, my father is Lord Jacques Winchester."
There was not a raisin under the sun that didn't know of the famous Winchester and wanted to own one of their prized steeds.
It's even been rumored that they have been rearing the mysterious Pegasus rumored to be the fastest mount in both land and air.
Lyle and Kyle exchanged looks.
Clearly not impressed, Kyle fanned off Jack.
Kyle's eyes narrowed, "we couldn't care less which family raised such an annoying crybaby but we've already been paid handsomely to take care of the spirit plant user. If you want to live to see another day get lost, or get beaten to death, your choice."
Jack didn't hesitate; he quickly scrambled across the stage as far away from Jolan and Sly as he could get without being declared out of bounds.
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the other two members of Verde's team hi fived each other, their faces filled with laughter and excitement.
Sly understood their actions perfectly with some amount of trepidation that this inseparable duo, known as the Mercy Twins.
Their names shouted loudly by the crowd was clearly targeting him.
The Duncan family more than likely paid this terrible duo to take him out and compensated them generously to deal with Sly.
Ideally, the twins were to kill Sly and make it look like an accident.
In their eyes, taking down Sly was going to be a breeze, no need for them to even unleash their own spirit beasts.
Moreover, the twins definitely had the advantage in a two against one now that Jack had run off and left Sly to deal with them on his own.
After making sure he was out of harm's way Jack shouted, "Sly, you are no match for the Mercy Twins!"
Sly, "..."
How cowardly.
Surprisingly, it was Jolan who offered words of comfort in the midst of his fight with Verde.
While dodging icy cold strikes in the form of a complex body heat seeking blizzard missile from Verde that followed Jolan's every movement with precision.
Before Sly could feel touched by Jolan's sudden change of heart and eyes that filled with pity for him.
Jolan advised, "it's better to admit defeat than get killed, surrender is fine. The teachers can intercede on your behalf before the twins make the mistake of wasting your stupid life."
Sly, "???"
What did he do to deserve such harsh words?
Before Sly could react, Kyle moved his body to launch an attack directed at Sly.
A glimpse of surprise flashed across Lyle's face; it was he who first saw the sensitive plant open its eyes.
Then he saw a trace of murderous intent emanating from the spirit plant's body as its leaves unfolded dramatically in a defensive stance but by then it was too late to warn Kyle.