Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 291 - Tamer’s Battle Week - 27 (10% Fire and Earth)

Ren took a step forward... directly toward the flames.

A collective gasp arose from the stands.

”Has he gone mad?!” exclaimed Roran, rising from his seat.

But just when it seemed Ren would throw himself directly into the fire, he executed a fast jump to his right and slightly upward, rotating in the air with a spatial maneuver that Lin had taught him during their intense training sessions.

In what felt like a long succession of events but had taken only an instant, Ren had approached to reduce the coneʼs effective area and launched himself outside the attack from the side where he had detected the greatest weakness in the mana pattern...

Ronʼs left hand.

Ren landed just two meters from his opponent, closer than the salamander boy would have wanted any opponent to be.

”Impossible,” he murmured, his eyes widening with disbelief. The surprise made him interrupt his continuous attack, but he quickly regained his composure. With a defensive movement, he created a wall of fire between himself and Ren, a burning barrier that waved forcefully, turning the air around it into a furnace.

”Good control for Iron rank,” acknowledged Ren, stepping back and speaking for the first time since the combat began. ”But this level of control will cost you all your energy in a short time.”

”I donʼt need even a full minute to defeat you!” replied Ron, though the sweat beading on his forehead and the slight tremor in his arms betrayed the truth of Renʼs observation.

The fire wall expanded, forcing Ren to take another step back.

From the stands, Liora analyzed the situation.

”Ron is good,” she commented. ”For an average Iron-rank beast and a first-year student, that fire wall shows great control.”

Larissa nodded, her eyes never leaving Renʼs figure. ”But Ren is already several levels above that... He could have knocked him out quickly. I wonder if heʼs playing with him because of some past grudge.”

Liora rolled her eyes, ”I donʼt think heʼs as vindictive or devilish as you. It seems to me heʼs measuring his capabilities compared to more normal people than Jin or Klein who have Bronze beasts, or us with Tier 3 beasts...”

Larissa placed her hand on her forehead, pretending to be hurt, ”How can you call me evil and vindictive... I just have a good memory and sense of humor.”

Liora narrowed her eyes...

In the arena, Ren seemed to be considering his options against the wall of fire.

”Ready to surrender?” asked Ron, his scales shining intensely while he aimed his next attack. ”Thereʼs no way you can get through this without getting burned... I warn you, it hurts a lot.”

A slight smile appeared on Renʼs face. ”I could do it without suffering much damage but... I have no need to go through it.”

Before Ron could process these words, Ren crouched and pulled a lump of earth from the arena floor. His eyes glowed with a tone that combined the light of his hydra and something else, something that slightly resembled the earthy radiance of the mineral fairy.

After all, their natures were similar.

In his hand, the earth began to compact slightly, quickly forming a somewhat denser projectile the size of a fist.

It was very poor elemental control, but it existed in his beast and Victor had prematurely awakened it.

The earth projectile rose a few centimeters above his palm. Ren studied it for a moment, calculating angles and trajectories.

Then, with a ʼsubtleʼ wrist movement, he launched it.

The compacted earth piece flew through the air in a straight line directly at the fire wall. Ron, concentrated on charging his next attack while maintaining his burning barrier, barely registered the projectileʼs shadow as it passed through his barrier, hitting him precisely between the eyes before disintegrating.

Ron staggered, his eyes momentarily unfocusing as control over his fire wall and the attack vanished. The flames diminished and then extinguished completely, leaving only wisps of smoke as witnesses to their existence.

Ron tried to remain standing, his pride fighting against physics, but it was a lost battle. His knees gave way and he fell forward, unconscious before touching the ground.

Astonished silence spread throughout the arena.

Lin stepped forward to check Ronʼs condition, quickly confirming that he was simply knocked out, without serious injuries. She looked up at Ren, admiration and reproach in her eyes.

”Victory for Ren Patinder,” she announced, her voice resonating in the sudden silence. ”By incapacitation of the opponent.”

The audience remained in shock for a moment longer, unsure of understanding what had happened... But soon applause began to spread, first tentatively and then with growing enthusiasm.

While the medical auxiliaries entered to attend to Ron, Ren allowed himself a moment of introspection. The battle had been more revealing than he had anticipated, not about Ron, but about himself.

The small increase in earth and fire elemental control he had acquired, though still in its initial stages, promised possibilities and perception that even he hadnʼt fully considered.

Luna observed with intensity, her eyes narrowed in analysis. Her defeat in the team combat seemed forgotten as she studied each of Renʼs movements, every detail of his style.

Selphira Ashenway smiled that enigmatic smile that made even the professors uncomfortable, as if she knew something that no one else could see.

Ren headed toward the exit, his calm walk contrasting with the storm of speculation he had unleashed. Min and Taro were waiting for him at the entrance, their faces lit with triumphant smiles.

”I thought youʼd knock him out with a punch as usual, that was unexpected!” exclaimed Min.

Taro, more versed in earth control and observant, looked at him with admiration and curiosity. ”Since when can you manipulate earth like that?”

”The hydra is light and earth... Though it should be more mature to demonstrate good control, but Iʼve been practicing,” replied Ren with a modesty that didnʼt fool his friends.

”Cheater,” Taro gave him a light push, though there was no real accusation in his voice. ”Now youʼre stealing my identity not only as an armored fighter but as an earth element tamer too, whatʼs next, a long mouth?”

”It makes sense,” intervened Min, feigning seriousness. ”The hydra lives in depths, itʼs good at digging. But if tomorrow you tell us your fungus can control water and heal, then Iʼll have to protest for identity theft too.”

Ren burst out laughing, giving a light playful tap on each of their heads.