Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 289 - Tamer’s Battle Week - 25

The combat had been reduced to three against one when Liora rescued Maria.

Luna, sensing that her companions had fallen, executed a spatial jump wider than the previous ones, reappearing at the opposite end of the arena to gain distance.

”It seems Iʼm at a disadvantage,” she declared, her breathing labored but her posture still firm.

Larissa, Liora, and Maria surrounded her, forming a perfect triangle.

”You can surrender with honor,” offered Larissa, though her tone suggested she didnʼt expect Luna to accept.

A defiant smile appeared on Lunaʼs face. ”And miss the opportunity to defeat three opponents at once? Never.”

What followed was a display of skill and endurance that left the audience breathless.

Despite having already used considerable mana, Luna moved like a force of nature, using her cousinsʼ shadows to jump, invoking her wolf and exchanging places to inflict some minor wounds.

Each time Larissa, Liora, or Maria thought they had her cornered, she disappeared in a dark flash to reappear attacking from another angle.

”Itʼs a desperate strategy,” observed Ren. ”Sheʼs still using too much mana with each jump.”

Indeed, although Luna managed to keep her three opponents at bay, each new movement was visibly slower than the previous one. Sweat soaked her uniform, and her breathing had become laborious.

Larissa was the first to take advantage of it. ”Now!” she signaled to her companions. ”Containment pattern!”

The three attacked simultaneously, not where Luna was, but where she would appear according to the pattern they had been studying. Larissa with her spear, Liora with her fire, and Maria with her armor, converged at the same point just as Luna emerged from her jump.

The Starweaver tried to change shadows at the last instant, but exhaustion diminished her precision. When she reappeared, she found herself directly in the path of Mariaʼs armadillo, which impacted her with sufficient force to knock her down.

Before she could recover, Larissa was upon her, the tip of her spear already inches from her chest.

Despite everything, she managed to melt into the shadow behind her just in time and emerge behind Larissa, attacking her back with shadow claws.

But while striking, Liora attacked her with her will-oʼ-wisp, knocking her down again.

Luna glanced for an instant to where her father was watching and tried to rise again, but her muscles protested, mana control almost impossible after so many consecutive jumps.

Liora and Larissa made another jump to stand over her.

For a moment, it seemed like she would attempt one last desperate attack, but finally she looked at her cousins together and let her head fall softly against the ground.

”It seems together youʼre too much for me... youʼre better at coordinating than I remembered,” she admitted with a small tear in her right eye and an exhausted smile. ”I surrender.”

Yang advanced to the center of the arena, observing the combatants with his usual impassive expression, though those who knew him well might have noticed a flash of approval in his eyes.

”Victory for Team Larissa!” he declared, his voice resonating throughout the stadium.

Applause erupted, especially intense from the sections where supporters of the noble families were located. The battle had been spectacular, a display of skills that far surpassed what was expected for first-year students.

Larissa leaned down, offering her hand to Luna to help her up. For an instant, the competitorʼs mask disappeared, and genuine concern for her cousin reflected on her face.

”Are you alright?” she asked softly, just for Luna.

Luna accepted the hand, rising with a tired smile and rubbing her eye. ”My pride is more wounded than my body,” she responded. ”You all fought exceptionally well.”

”So did you,” Larissa replied, and for a moment, the two cousins shared a look of understanding that transcended momentary rivalry. ”Your wolf is impressive; I donʼt know if Iʼd win one-on-one.”

”Your coordination was better than ours,” acknowledged Luna. ”I didnʼt expect you could anticipate my jump patterns so precisely.”

Liora approached, her will-oʼ-wisp once again docile around her. ”Weʼve been studying your movements all semester,” she admitted with a mischievous smile. ”Though youʼve never been this fast.”

The three shared a brief laugh, before the formality of the tournament forced them to separate. As they headed toward their respective exits, Luna paused briefly to look toward the stands where Ren was watching.

Their eyes met for an instant. A second that seemed to extend into a silent conversation.

”Itʼs a shame we canʼt face each other as teams,” commented Ren. ”Though perhaps Iʼll have the chance to challenge her in an individual combat, if Iʼm lucky.”

A gleam illuminated Lunaʼs tired eyes before she disappeared through the tunnel.

”That was the final match played early,” sighed a sixth-year student, stretching his legs. ”The princessʼs team is probably too strong for the other competitors.”

His companion nodded thoughtfully.

Now the entire academy knew that all three girls had jumping beasts.

Ren observed the older students quickly updating their prediction boards at the edges of the stands. The revelation of the noble cousinsʼ ʼcompleteʼ capabilities was causing a stir, especially among those who enjoyed speculating on outcomes.

A strong announcement interrupted the commotion.

”Attention to all participants,” Linʼs voice resonated throughout the arena. ”Since today we had half the teams of yesterday and due to the efficiency of most combats, weʼve decided to advance some individual battles from the first round.”

This declaration provoked murmurs of surprise and excitement. Although it wasnʼt uncommon for them to advance the exams as quickly as possible if they could, to give more space to the final battles in the last days.

”Participants who havenʼt suffered significant injuries during todayʼs team combats and are ready to compete, report immediately to the medical auxiliaries for evaluation.”

”Looks like theyʼre picking up the pace,” murmured Min. ”Who are you facing, Ren?”

Ren checked his own combat. ”Ron Blackfire.”

”The salamander boy?” asked Taro, genuinely surprised. ”You said he was in your group at the southern temple during the invocation ceremony, right?”

”Yes,” confirmed Ren, as he stood up. ”He was one of those I saw get their beast that day.”

Ren caressed the mushrooms on his head and released a bit of their glowy ʼdustʼ. Though he had hated his beast that day, now he couldnʼt imagine life without it.

ʼSorry... And thank you,ʼ thought Ren, addressing the small chubby baby fungus resting inside him.