Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 277 - Tamer’s Battle Week - 15

”Phantom Claw!” someone shouted from the stands.

The impact triggered a chain reaction. The cracks expanded, and the venom, now more widely distributed through the Stone Lurkerʼs interior, intensified its effect.

Rock fragments began to break off as the monsterʼs structural integrity was irreversibly compromised. The stone surface darkened where the venom made contact, spreading like a network of black veins through the cracks.

Without allowing the momentum to be lost, the team executed a second wave of attacks. The rhinoceros charged again, this time from a different angle, its drill-horn penetrating even deeper. The cobra fired a new load of venom, aiming precisely at the weakened zones.

And Klein, without breaking the paralysis that kept the Stone Lurker defenseless, launched more Phantom Claws, each striking critical points in the monsterʼs structure.

The final collapse was spectacular.

Vapor began to emanate from the countless cracks that now covered the Stone Lurker, as if it were melting from within.

With a crunch that resonated throughout the stadium, the monsterʼs structure gave way due to its melted muscles. It disintegrated from within, rock fragments falling together and forming a pile of debris.

In the center of the destruction remained only the crystalline core, completely extinguished and surrounded by dust that had once been a formidable Bronze defensive beast.

The silence that followed was so deep that the soft scraping of the last rock fragments settling in the arena could be heard.

”Victory for Team Six of Group B,” announced Yang, his voice betraying a hint of amazement even through his usual impassivity. ”Time: two minutes.”

A collective gasp ran through the stadium, immediately followed by an explosion of exclamations and applause.

”Theyʼve pulverized the record!”

”A full minute less than the princessesʼ time!”

”Did you see those abilities? Thatʼs not first-year level!”

Klein, still partially fused with his lion, directed a look of absolute triumph toward the stands where Liora and Larissa were watching. His smile, now adorned with slightly more prominent fangs than normal, was pure satisfaction.

Then, deliberately, he looked toward Ren again, repeating the gesture of sliding his thumb across his throat, but this time adding a mocking laugh and a ”respectful” half-turn to ”step aside” that clearly said, ”your turn”.

The message was clear: anything Ren could accomplish, he could surpass. And any advice Ren had provided to other teams, Kleinʼs team had eclipsed with their status and power.

While the team left the arena amid cheers, Ren remained imperturbable.

”It was impressive,” Taro admitted, his voice low. ”But did they use all their cards in the first round? Whatʼs left for the individual competitions?”

”It seemed that way based on the mana expenditure,” Ren nodded, a slight smile forming on his lips. ”I think itʼs because theyʼre desperate to win here... Or maybe thatʼs what they want us to think.”

Min looked at Ren with curiosity. ”Do you think they still have more surprises?”

”Iʼm not sure,” Ren replied. ”Those arenʼt all the abilities their beasts have... But Iʼm not sure if they donʼt know or are hiding the others.”

Liu, who had been observing in silence, nodded. ”Well guys, Iʼd like to see your turn... but youʼll have to tell me about it because my battle is also coming up.”

Liu headed toward the door, saying goodbye as he walked away.

Everyoneʼs gaze was now divided between Kleinʼs team departing victoriously and Ren, whose apparent calm in the face of such a power demonstration was puzzling.

♢♢♢♢

In the upper stands, isolated from common students, Kassian Goldcrest observed the end of his younger brotherʼs battle.

A few empty seats separated him from Sirius Starweaver, a tacit agreement between noble families to maintain a certain distance in public.

When the Stone Lurker disintegrated in just two minutes, a slight smile crossed his face, so brief that only someone who knew him intimately could have detected it.

ʼPerhaps the idiot isnʼt so useless after all,ʼ he thought, leaning back slightly in his seat.

The abilities shown by Klein had met his expectations. The Phantom Claw, in particular, was a technique that he himself had mastered at eleven, not ten.

The development of his combat ability, though not yet fully mature, was an encouraging sign. With that rate of evolution, perhaps he would reach a good Silver rank with sufficient margin for the inter-school tournaments where the Goldcrests liked to display their superiority.

However, while Klein and his team left the arena amid cheers, concern returned to his mind. His gaze drifted to the opposite side of the stands, where the young Starweaver awaited her turn.

Luna...

The shadow wolf she possessed was, though he hated to admit it, tactically superior to Kleinʼs lion, perhaps even in its current form.

”But itʼs still an Iron beast,” Kassian reflected. ”And thereʼs a big difference between lower ranks.”

Yet, the benefits were tangible: the wolfʼs shadow jumps could penetrate between the cracks in the Big Lurkerʼs plates, allowing it to attack from within.

A significant advantage, certainly.

But the Stone Lurker wasnʼt just rock. Under its protective armor were muscles and quite resistant tissues. The bites, though effective, would hardly cause damage quickly enough to overcome Kleinʼs time.

”Two minutes is a tough record to break against so much vitality,” he concluded, allowing himself another fleeting smile. ”And with Bronze against Iron...”

His thoughts were interrupted upon noting that it was already Team 7 of Group Aʼs turn...

Then the Starweaver would follow.

If his calculations were correct, Klein would maintain his record, a small victory in the perpetual competition between noble families. And that would greatly facilitate his own plans.

♢♢♢♢

Team 7 of Group A claimed victory in 10 minutes...

Finally, it was Lunaʼs teamʼs turn.

Sirius, Selphira, and Kassian leaned forward like many other spectators...

If anyone could surpass the latest record, it was her.

”Team Seven of Group B, prepare to enter,” announced the auxiliary.

The audienceʼs anticipation was palpable as Lunaʼs team approached the arena. After Kleinʼs team unexpected performance, expectations had shifted dramatically. What had seemed an unbeatable record just minutes ago now stood as a challenge that only someone with Lunaʼs reputation might overcome.