Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 297 - Tamer’s Battle Week - 33

Min seemed particularly discontented.

”Was that all?” he protested, deactivating his invisibility with an irritated gesture. ”I didnʼt even have time to do anything spectacular! Why did Han surrender so quickly?”

”I guess he recognized they had run out of options,” Ren responded, though his tone lacked conviction. ”Itʼs an understandable decision.”

Taro observed Ren curiously. ”It seemed like you were waiting for something to happen,” he commented.

Ren simply denied it with a vague gesture, without elaborating.

The following matches proceeded without significant surprises. A team from group A defeated another from group C in a relatively balanced battle. Then, a team from group D defeated another from group A in a combat that extended almost twenty minutes.

And finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.

”Team Larissa versus Team Klein,” announced Lin, provoking a wave of anticipatory murmurs in the stands. ”Prepare to enter the arena.”

For many spectators, especially newcomers or those unfamiliar with the Gray Wingʼs true power, this confrontation represented the true final played in advance. The two most powerful families of the academy, the Ashenway/Dravenholm against the Goldcrests, in a battle that symbolically transcended the simple school tournament.

”This will be interesting,” commented Ren, his eyes following Klein as he entered the arena with his characteristic confidence.

”Kleinʼs team has only Bronze rank beasts,” observed Taro. ”And the girls have significant special abilities... They won individually, but I wonder if Kleinʼs addition could ruin things.”

”They have two tamers capable of executing spatial jumps,” added Min, still slightly resentful about his own unspectacular combat. ”That ability is ridiculously showy and advantageous... Not like mine... I donʼt think theyʼll disappoint us, right?”

”Itʼs not an invincible ability,” replied Ren, his mushrooms pulsing as he analyzed both contenders. ”Every technique has its weakness, even one as versatile as the spatial jump. Larissa won yesterday by a very small margin...”

Lin positioned herself between the teams, her professional expression perfectly masking any personal preference.

”The rules remain the same. Are you ready?”

Six heads nodded.

”Begin.”

Klein, confident as always, wasted no time deploying his characteristic strategy: the paralyzing roar that had unbalanced so many opponents.

His chest expanded while his golden lion manifested its presence with more intensity. The veins in his neck tensed and his eyes acquired that supernatural glow that preceded the attack.

”Get ready!” shouted Larissa, alerting her companions.

The three reacted instantly, bringing their hands to their ears despite having them covered by plugs specifically for this confrontation. It was a defense that had significantly reduced the effect for some teams, especially those who had received advice from Ren.

Kleinʼs roar resonated throughout the arena, a wave of sound and magical energy that shook the air. Despite the girlsʼ precaution, the effect was immediately visible. Their beasts, though not paralyzed, suffered a significant impact: Mariaʼs armadillo staggered slightly, Lioraʼs will-oʼ-wisp fluctuated, and Larissaʼs mineral fairy seemed to momentarily reduce its brightness.

”His roar has gained strength,” observed Ren from the stands, his mushrooms pulsing with analytical interest. ”Itʼs not just sound; it has a magical component that affects lower-ranked beasts especially well compared to the emitterʼs.”

Min nodded, impressed by the abilityʼs utility despite his antipathy toward Klein. ”I feel the shock wave running through my entire body, not just my ears... it gives me goosebumps.”

The effect was brief but sufficient for Kleinʼs team to take the lead. But their strategy wasnʼt what many expected.

”What are they doing?” murmured Taro, confused. ”Feng is positioned as if he were the spearhead, but heʼs the most vulnerable of the three.”

To everyoneʼs surprise, Feng invoked his beast and began attacking Maria directly instead of Liora. His red cobra rose, extending its threatening hood while spitting its venomous attack. Simultaneously, Klein advanced to flank him, but not as offensive support.

He was protecting him.

”Theyʼve reversed the roles,” understood Ren, his eyes capturing the emerging pattern. ”Klein defending, and Astor...”

As if confirming his analysis, Astor directed his rhinoceros directly toward the front, forgetting about his armor and adopting a purely offensive posture. The beastʼs horn began to spin, becoming a living drill as it also charged against Maria.

Liora was capable of ignoring Astorʼs defenses, was extremely effective against Feng, and Klein couldnʼt resist a direct hit from her fire either. The most logical approach would have been to attack her, but Klein seemed to have refused to follow such a plan.

The cousins had planned to defend Liora but quickly reacted to this unexpected strategy. Larissa projected an emerging crystalline barrier from the ground to defend Maria.

Liora, following the original plan, tried to attack Feng when she saw he wasnʼt well defended, her will-oʼ-wisp concentrating in a burning column that shot toward the cobra. It was her opportunity to eliminate the teamʼs beast most vulnerable to her attack.

But this is where the true ingenuity of Kleinʼs plan became evident. The Goldcrest intercepted the fire with a fluid movement, his spirit claws shooting out and cutting through the flames, dispersing them before they reached their target.

”Phantom Claw Dispersion!” he exclaimed, the elaborate and ʼslightlyʼ exaggerated name of his technique resonating through the arena as his claws created a pattern in the air that effectively diverted the attack before the mana could be consumed by the flames.

”Impressive,” acknowledged someone near Ren. ”Heʼs managed to combat the fire.”

Meanwhile, Fengʼs cobra launched continuous jets of acidic venom against Larissaʼs barrier. The crystalline wall resisted, but it began to show signs of erosion where the acid made contact.

”Iʼm not containing it well!” warned Larissa. ”Fall back!”

Then the key moment arrived. Astorʼs beast found the perfect angle.

The impact was devastating. The rhinocerosʼs rotating horn pierced the crystalline barrier as if it were paper, sending bright fragments in all directions. The defense crumbled, leaving Maria momentarily exposed.

”Maria!” shouted Liora, trying to attack Astor to cancel his beast.

But Klein intercepted her again, his phantom claws blocking her advance while Feng and Astor concentrated their attack on Maria.