The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as Raine walked back to his dormitory, his body still weary from the Elemental Trials. The tournament had taken a toll on him—physically and mentally—but he felt a quiet sense of accomplishment as he reflected on his progress. The Chimera, a creature many considered near impossible to tame, had been subdued not by force but by patience and understanding. Raine couldn't help but feel a growing respect for the beasts he worked with and the unique bond they shared.
As he walked through the academy grounds, he overheard some of his classmates discussing their matches. The energy was palpable, and the competition was fierce. Raine was still feeling the weight of the upcoming Team Strategy Match, but it was the final event—the Grand Battle Royale—that loomed largest in his mind. Victory in that event could change everything.
The Team Strategy Match
The morning after the Elemental Trials, the participants were summoned to the academy's Strategy Arena for the next phase of the tournament: the Team Strategy Match. The students were to be paired with someone from a different tower—someone with contrasting abilities and strengths. The challenge was simple: work together to overcome various obstacles while facing off against other teams in a simulated battlefield.
Raine was paired with Lira Valence, a third-year student from the Obsidian Tower, known for her proficiency in shadow magic. Lira was quiet, observant, and unassuming, but there was a palpable air of danger around her. Raine had seen her work before—her ability to blend into the shadows was nothing short of terrifying. He wasn't sure how well their skills would mesh, but he had no choice but to trust in the academy's decisions.
When they met in the preparation room, Lira gave him a curt nod. "Don't get in my way."
Raine smirked, unfazed. "Likewise. Let's focus on the task at hand."
The arena was a sprawling, multi-terrain battlefield, designed to test both offensive and defensive capabilities. The teams had to capture objectives, strategize in real-time, and defeat opposing teams—all while being thrown unexpected challenges, such as magical traps and powerful creatures unleashed throughout the arena.
The first task was to secure a control point located at the heart of the arena, surrounded by dense fog. Lira immediately disappeared into the mist, her shadow magic cloaking her from view. Raine, on the other hand, summoned Beast Sprout and Azure Solfox, who acted as both scouts and combatants.
As they moved forward, Raine called out instructions to Lira. "We need to secure the point. I'll lead the charge; you handle the enemies from behind."
Lira's voice was barely a whisper. "Understood."
The mist thickened, and Raine felt his senses heighten. The enemy team—a mix of Gale and Tide mages—was closing in, unaware of their position. Raine's heart raced as he prepared for the inevitable clash. He had to rely on his beasts more than ever, knowing that brute force wasn't going to win them this match.
The battle erupted quickly. The Gale mages tried to create powerful windstorms, but Azure Solfox countered them with freezing ice walls, halting their attack. Beast Sprout, now in full fiery form, charged at the enemy, its flames scattering the shadows and pushing the Gale mages back.
Meanwhile, Lira moved like a wisp of smoke, her presence barely discernible. From the shadows, she summoned dark tendrils that ensnared the Tide mages, immobilizing them for just long enough for Raine's beasts to finish them off.
It was a clean victory—efficient and deadly. Their teamwork, despite their differing abilities, had proven effective. Lira and Raine had done more than simply defeat their enemies; they had worked together, balancing offense and defense with precision.
The Grand Battle Royale
After the team match, the students were granted a brief period of rest before the Grand Battle Royale—the final event of the tournament. The tension on the academy grounds was palpable, with students from all towers preparing for the ultimate showdown. Raine knew that this event would determine the true winners of the tournament, and with his current standing, he had a good chance of making it to the top.
The arena for the Battle Royale was nothing like the previous challenges. It was a massive, open area, with various magical terrains scattered throughout: forests, lakes, mountains, and vast open fields. Students would fight in free-for-all battles, with only the top three competitors emerging victorious.
Raine had no illusions about this event. He wasn't here to simply survive; he was here to win. But victory wouldn't come easily. The students here were powerful—some with incredible magical abilities, others with the raw physical strength to match. And Raine had only one advantage: his beasts.
The First Clash
As the battle began, Raine immediately assessed the situation. The arena was chaotic. Students from all towers were rushing to claim control of strategic points and power-ups scattered across the field. Raine quickly summoned Beast Sprout and Azure Solfox, positioning them at different points for reconnaissance and defense.
He moved swiftly, keeping a low profile. He wasn't going to engage recklessly. The key to winning this was knowing when to fight—and when to wait.
As he moved through the forest, he spotted Aiden Grey, a skilled War Tower student, in the distance, battling a Luminous Tower mage. Aiden was powerful, but Raine knew his strength lay in his beasts and his ability to adapt quickly.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the arena. Raine turned to see a massive creature—an Elemental Golem—charging toward him, its rocky fists pounding the ground with each step. It was one of the tournament's special summoned creatures, designed to challenge students and act as environmental hazards.
Raine's instincts kicked in. "Beast Sprout! Solfox! Get ready!"
The Elemental Golem was tough, its skin nearly impenetrable, but Raine had a plan. Using Flame Harmony, he enhanced Beast Sprout's fiery attacks to weaken the golem's stone form, while Solfox attacked from behind, freezing the golem's joints to slow its movements.
The battle was grueling, but with precision and calculated effort, Raine finally brought the golem down, earning him some precious points.
The Status Update:
Beast Taming: Journeyman (Training Progress: 75%)Wind Magic: Novice (Training Progress: 50%)Flame Harmony: MasteredSymbiosis Ritual: OngoingWealth: Moderate (Prize Pending)Reputation: Rising StarChampion Points: 55/100 (Tournament Status)
As Raine surveyed the battlefield, he knew the hardest part of the tournament was yet to come. The students were getting more desperate, and the challenges would only grow fiercer. But Raine had learned something crucial during the Elemental Trials and the Team Strategy Match—victory in this tournament wasn't just about power. It was about control, patience, and using every advantage to its fullest.
He wasn't just fighting for the prizes anymore. He was fighting for his future.
The crowd's roar echoed in the distance as the first clash ended, and Raine's heart began to race again. The game was on.