Freak On a Leash

Ludovic’s heart beat in a relentless rhythm in his chest, adrenaline pulsing through his veins. He drew in a deep breath, the air sharp with the scent of sweat and iron. The battlefield—distantly he could hear a symphony of roars, snapping jaws, and the thud of bodies colliding. His mismatched eyes, one a vivid emerald and the other crimson darted over the shifting scene with nervous focus. Behind him, his mother, chuckling as she nudged her snout into his shoulder before she departed with a nip to his flesh.

His mother’s command was simple, given without turning her head as she moved back to observe: “Summon yourself an opponent. Fight to win.” It was a blunt instruction he had heard countless times, but today it carried a heavier weight. This was no mere training field; it was real, where one mistake could mean severe injury. The stakes were higher, depending on the opponent he called forth.

Lifting his head, eyes blazing with determination, Ludovic called out into the wide open sky, his voice cutting and bold. The challenge lingered in the air, unanswered—for now.

"Ludovic Praetor-Inferos"