Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 285 - Tamer’s Battle Week - 21 (Misunderstood Potential)

Ren helped Cass to her feet once Taro deactivated the restraints. The girl took his hand with grudging respect and a hint of confusion in her eyes.

”Your beast is Iron rank,” she said, as if that statement alone should invalidate everything that had just happened. She brushed dust from her uniform, her gaze darting between Ren and her fallen teammates. ”How is it possible that you defeated Jin like that...?”

”Beasts are important,” Ren replied as he deactivated the fusion with his hydra, the scales gradually disappearing from his skin, ”but never underestimate the big difference that two bodies can have with the right training.”

A crowd of murmurs followed Ren and his team as the auxiliaries attended to the injured and everyone cleared the arena. Within a day, they had transformed from objects of ridicule to walking anomalies that defied all expectations.

And for certain observers lurking in the shadows, this made them something far more dangerous: unpredictable variables in plans carefully crafted over decades.

”Did you see that? One hit against a higher rank!”

”The mushroom boy is a monster... Maybe thereʼs something wrong with the records about hydras.”

”But have you seen his original beast? Itʼs still a useless spore...”

The whispers spread through the stands as students rearranged themselves after a brief break. Renʼs teamʼs lightning victory had triggered an avalanche of contradictory comments, theories, and wild speculation.

Ren walked between Taro and Min. They could feel the stares drilling into their backs, catch fragments of conversations that cut off abruptly as they passed, notice how some older students watched them with interest.

”There must be some trick. Nobody with those beasts could possibly...”

Min clicked his tongue in annoyance, adjusting his uniform while quickening his pace to catch up with Ren.

”Did you hear that?” he muttered, leaning toward Ren so only he and Taro could hear. ”After everything youʼve proven, they still think itʼs just luck.” His eyes flashed with indignation. ”As if luck could knock out a Bronze-rank beast tamer with a single punch.”

Taro, walking on Renʼs other side, wore a more pragmatic expression.

”Let them talk,” he replied with a serenity that was surprising coming from him. ”Their ignorance is their problem, not ours.”

Ren maintained his steady pace. His hydra was no longer fused with him; instead, the characteristic luminescent mushrooms rested on his head.

”Itʼs more convenient this way,” he finally commented, stopping to check the board displaying the next pairings. ”Let them keep underestimating us.”

♢♢♢♢

The battles continued throughout the day. One by one, teams faced off in the arena, some displaying impressive strategies, others succumbing to the tactical or elemental superiority of their opponents.

Hanʼs team demonstrated flawless coordination against their adversaries. His weaver spider, combined with Junʼs monkey in Rage Mode and Soraʼs deer, created an elaborate trap that immobilized their opponents in less than a minute.

Luna and her companions showed their characteristic efficient style. Lunaʼs shadow wolf disappeared and reappeared between the shadows and mist created by her teammates, neutralizing each opponent separately.

Klein, still visibly affected by his earlier defeat, fought with an intensity that bordered on alarming. His phantom claws, now executed with greater fury, shredded through his opponentsʼ defenses while Astor and Feng complemented his attacks with precise strikes of their own. The healers had their work cut out for them after that match, frantically treating the unfortunate team that had faced Kleinʼs wrath.

When the first round finally concluded, sixteen teams remained in competition. The eliminated withdrew from the arena, some with dignity, others visibly frustrated by their early exit from the tournament.

Ren approached the updated announcement board, studying the pairings for the next round.

”Hectorʼs team,” he murmured, identifying their next opponent.

”Weʼll be dealing with the Kleinʼs follower minotaur?” Min asked, peering over his shoulder. ”With that speed of yours, he wonʼt have a chance to touch you.”

”Donʼt underestimate them,” Ren warned. ”Heʼs been watching our movements. He likely wonʼt make the same mistakes as Jin, and theyʼre accustomed to sending their beasts to the front lines.”

Taro pointed to another pairing on the board with interest. ”Look at this. Larissa and Liora against Luna in the next round.”

Indeed, by a cruel twist of fate, the noble cousins were in a nearby bracket and would face each other tomorrow. The will-oʼ-wisp and mineral fairy, two Tier 3 beasts in direct confrontation with Lunaʼs wolf of the same level.

”That will be interesting,” Ren commented with genuine interest. ”Both contain half their abilities but have fascinating strategies... though Iʼd like to see them fight without restrictions...”

His voice trailed off as his gaze drifted thoughtfully, imagining the clash between three powerful double nobles unleashed at their full potential.

A group of fifth-year students passed by them, and Leopold Montclaire stopped to look directly at Ren.

”So youʼre after my prodigy title,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. He stood a full head taller than Ren, looking down with the confidence of someone who had never been seriously challenged. ”They say what you did yesterday was impressive too, but I wonder how long your lucky streak will last.”

Min stepped forward but Ren stopped him with a subtle gesture.

”My father says luck favors the prepared,” Ren responded calmly, his eyes fixed on those of the older student. The mushrooms in his hair pulsed with an even rhythm, betraying no anxiety or intimidation. ”Donʼt you think we worked hard to be where we are?”

The boy narrowed his eyes, clearly unaccustomed to first-years responding to him. His beast manifested fully, a Silver 2 Cockatrice of considerable power compared to Iron or Bronze beasts. Its scales shimmered with an opalescent quality that spoke of proper cultivation and care.

”Itʼs a shame,” he continued, ignoring Renʼs question, ”that all that talent is tied to a useless fungus and a hydra that can barely reach Silver 1. If you had a beast with real potential like mine, that could reach Gold...”

”If I wanted advice on beasts,” Ren interrupted with that tranquility that could be more irritating than any insult, ”Iʼd look for someone who knows how to properly utilize their own. Your beast has a mutation in the energy pattern of its back and left wing that limits the use of two of its abilities. You should study your cultivation better before itʼs too late and you fail to reach even the mediocre standard in the libraryʼs technique...”

The student paled, his eyes widening with surprise before narrowing with fury. The cockatriceʼs manifestation flickered, as if responding to its tamerʼs emotional turbulence.

”What the hell do you know about…”

”Enough, Leopold.” Lin placed a hand on the boyʼs shoulder, her sudden appearance startling everyone. ”Tournament week is not the place for these disputes. The healers already have too much work.”

The newly arrived teacher looked at Ren with a cheerful expression that didnʼt quite mask the warning in her eyes. ”Go to your rooms and rest before you hurt your classmates.”

Ren shrugged and turned to leave with his friends.

”Hmm... We didnʼt intend to harm some novices,” the older student nodded slowly, his pride somewhat recovered. ”Iʼll be watching your battles with interest, Ren Patinder.”

With that, he dragged his companions away from the scene.

Lin shook her head, suspecting they would have been the ones getting hurt.