In the center of the arena, Belgaroth, in his massive, terrifying dragon form, suddenly stopped moving, his amber eyes resting slowly, calmly, on Akane. A strange, eerie silence suddenly enveloped the entire arena, leaving the dragon's heavy breath clearly audible.
Akane, still alert despite her obvious fatigue, tightened her grip on her sword slightly, cautiously observing her opponent, aware that something had just changed profoundly in the dragon's attitude.
- You fought well, human," Belgaroth rumbled slowly in a deep, almost solemn voice, his piercing gaze now cold and determined. I'll give you that. But you've reached the limit of my indulgence. From now on, I have no reason to hold back. Know that what follows may well be your death.
Akane instinctively felt her heart speed up dangerously, her breathing becoming slightly shorter in the face of the dragon's cold, menacing intensity.
