[Snake]

Yep, one thing is someone by the Arena seeing a flare in the horizon, other is someone seeing that from Chaturanga's western edge.

Sadly, I don't think if it would be possible for someone from the closest place to know there's an attack going on, like, from the arena. Cellsvich is just impossible because of the forest, and even more to see such flares from Dormeho, so, having flames around the city's icon in the world map would be nice.
That way, strolling people and guards in patrol could know the city is currently under attack from the distance. (And partially solves the problem of 'oh, I logged after the announcement and i didn't know an attack was going on', hopefully.)

As for the beast kill counter? Go back to the device/rune, it glows stronger the more you kill. If it's screen/body ever gets 'black' colored, that means the special beasts are spawning (the recent implement).