Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 296 - Tamer’s Battle Week - 32

The applause was deafening, especially from the sectors where supporters of the royal family were located. Larissa accepted the ovation with grace, though anyone watching closely could notice that she remained standing more from pride than from her almost nonexistent remaining energy.

As she withdrew from the arena, she exchanged a glance with Liora from the opposite entrance. The cousins shared a smile of mutual understanding: unfortunately, tomorrow they would have to face each other as their brackets were so close together.

”The girls are really something special,” commented Min as they watched Larissa disappear through the tunnel. ”If they hadnʼt faced each other, they all could have reached the final, right?”

”Itʼs very likely,” answered Ren. ”But I suppose luck is also an important factor... I myself didnʼt want to face Taro so soon, but tomorrow...”

”Will you have mercy on me?” asked Taro, his voice betraying a bit of concern.

Ren observed his friend for a moment.

”Not a bit,” he finally responded. ”If Iʼm careless, youʼll kick my butt...”

Taro laughed.

”...Iʼll try to last longer than Jin at least.”

♢♢♢♢

The next day of the tournament dawned with a different energy. Of the thirty-two first-year teams that had started the competition, only eight remained.

The stands were even fuller than the day before, with some students from other years who had been defeated deciding to watch the quarterfinals of the new and less-known students.

”Look at that,” Min pointed out as they entered the stadium. ”Even some people from other academies have come.”

Indeed, a group of adults with uniforms of different colors was located in a special section. Official observers, sent to evaluate emerging talent for the interschool competitions as they did every year.

Today they would face Hanʼs team, a confrontation that, on paper, should be relatively simple. Bronze beasts and double tamers against common Iron beasts.

However, something in Renʼs expression suggested that he didnʼt consider this match something simple... Though not because of the power or difficulty of their opponents.

The team had been preparing... Jun and Sora practiced synchronized movements while Han, more distant, meticulously adjusted the threads of his weaver spider.

In the stands, spectators were beginning to take positions. Individual combats would continue afterward, but four rounds remained to complete them. In contrast, the team battles were entering their critical phase, with only three confrontations remaining before crowning the first champions.

”Team Ren versus Team Han,” announced Lin, her voice resonating throughout the stadium. ”Prepare to enter the arena in three minutes.”

As they headed toward the entrance, Min gave small jumps, unable to contain his energy.

”This time I want to do something spectacular,” he declared, his amphibian jumping on his shoulder to emphasize the point. ”In the last combat I barely participated.”

”Each one fulfills a specific role,” Ren reminded him patiently. ”Your invisibility was very useful for surprising Hector.”

”But it was you and Taro who had the heroic moment!” protested Min. ”I want my own epic moment. Maybe I could...”

”Focus on the strategy we agreed upon,” interrupted Ren, though a slight smile softened his words. ”You can do your heroics in the individual combats afterward.”

Hanʼs team entered from the opposite side. Despite their previous words about the inevitability of defeat, their posture showed genuine determination. They wouldnʼt surrender without a fight.

”Both teams have demonstrated exceptional strategies in previous rounds,” commented Lin, positioning herself between the groups. ”I remind you: victory by incapacitation...”

She briefly studied the competitors before continuing: ”Ready?”

Six heads nodded simultaneously.

”Begin.”

Han was the first to act. His weaver spider manifested completely, its eight legs moving with precision as it began to weave a complex web that took advantage of the rocky formations in the arena.

Jun invoked his monkey, partially fusing with it. His body acquired a reddish fur and his muscles swelled slightly, while his movements became more agile and less predictable.

Sora completed the initial formation with her deer, the creature manifesting beside her with elegance, its antlers shining with a slight green luminescence.

”Standard strategy,” murmured Ren to his companions. ”Theyʼre setting up a trap with the threads while preparing a coordinated attack.”

”Do we proceed as planned?” asked Taro, his Living Tunnel already invoked beneath his feet, creating small undulations in the ground.

Ren nodded, but his eyes never left Han.

The Gray Wing team deployed their own formation. Min and his amphibian began to generate their invisibility field, gradually extending it to cover all three. And Ren, keeping his hydra fused, prepared for direct combat.

The first seconds were an elaborate game of tactical positioning. Hanʼs spider extended its web with the help of its companions, creating a trap both visible and invisible.

But Renʼs mana vision and Taroʼs Living Tunnelʼs ability to attack from below the ground were too advantageous against the teamʼs tactics.

Han frowned, concerned about the Gray Wingʼs ability to identify the real threads from the decoys. His spider intensified its efforts, now weaving threads on the ground.

But by then, it was already too late. Ren had located and invisibly reached the nodal point of the web, the center from where the entire structure was controlled. With a fluid movement, he materialized his characteristic light claws and precisely cut that point.

The effect was immediate. The threads, deprived of their central source of control and mana flow, lost tension and began to fade.

”Plan B!” shouted Han urgently.

Jun and Sora responded with impressive coordination. Junʼs monkey channeled its rage ability, its fur becoming more intensely red as its strength increased considerably. Simultaneously, Soraʼs deer began to emit a greenish aura.

It was a good backup strategy, but not enough against the level that the Gray Wing had reached.

What followed was almost anticlimactic.

Han ordered his spider to generate a defensive barrier of threads, but the effort seemed superficial, as if he knew it was useless.

Ren destroyed it and seemed to be waiting for something... he positioned himself in front of Han.

”Itʼs enough,” declared Han, his voice perfectly controlled as he looked directly into Renʼs eyes. ”We surrender.”

Jun and Sora, seeing that their leader had surrendered and dominated by Taro and Minʼs 4 beasts, followed his example. The combat had ended in less than 1 minute.

”Victory for Team Ren!” announced Lin.