In the dormitory room, Min and Taro were visibly depressed.
"Five thousand for second place," Min collapsed onto his bed. "And a thousand points for third and fourth."
"Not even real money for fifth to eighth place," Taro sighed, absently turning his daily cultivation crystal between his fingers. His beetle's markings had dulled to match his mood.
Liu laughed from his desk. "What did you expect? That they'd hand out fortunes like Ren's?"
Ren listened while organizing his materials, trying to find space where none existed.
"Anyway," Liu continued, "it's not like you had a chance of winning. Luna's famous wolf will sweep everyone aside, and if not her, it'll be Klein's expensive beasts or some other noble."
"Liu's right... maybe we should focus on the mines," Min murmured, then grimaced. "Although lately..."
"It's impossible to find decent veins," Taro completed the thought. "And Ren always disappears shortly after we enter to search for good veins alone... Selfish mushroom."
Ren's mushrooms pulsed as guilt pricked at his conscience. His expeditions to the depths were still too dangerous to bring a group that would make more noise.
"The interrupted gathering trip was terrible too," Min continued, his snake mimicking his dejected posture. "Only 1000 crystals from the weaver's thread. I can only say I did better than the rest with 1500 because I sold the thread to Ren."
"At least you got extra," Taro sank deeper into his bed. "If my mother hadn't sent money, I still wouldn't have the defense rune. Twelve thousand crystals..."
"You would have gotten it," Ren interjected. "Though barely 5 days before the hundred days limit."
"How are we supposed to cultivate higher ranks ?" Min complained. "The mines are practically empty in the safe levels now, and we've already lost 5 days of gathering outside."
Ren considered how to cheer up his friends...
"We can try to win at least one round and I'll give you my 1000 crystal prize. If we don't manage even that... This tournament is just preliminary," he began. "The important one will be the final exam. By then, Taro will have evolved and we'll have a better chance."
"If I evolve," Taro muttered.
"You will," Ren affirmed with conviction. "And when you rank up, you'll be able to get better materials. I'll teach you how to deal with the weaker worms, there are specific techniques you can use with your next ability that..."
"And now you're going to disappear with Taro in the mines?" Liu teased.
Ren ignored the comment and turned to Min. "You could start your cultivation too. Your snake has potential and..."
"Ah, no," Min waved his hands nervously. "I prefer... I prefer to wait and see how it goes for Taro first."
"Fine, I won't insist... But back to the tournament topic, you should at least try, we've practiced. Besides," he continued, "we don't need to win to pass Yang's class. Just give a good demonstration and..."
The bell's ring interrupted him.
The four exchanged glances. It was time.
"At least," Min tried to joke as they stood up, "if we lose quickly, we can go to the mines before other teams finish."
"And follow Ren, maybe this time we'll catch him before he disappears and reveal his secrets," Liu added. "We'll find his magical vein of infinite crystals."
The training field had been transformed for the tournament.
In the first semester zone, only eight teams were going to fight.
The teams had arrived and Yang explained the battle format. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the packed earth as students took their positions.
Ren, Min, and Taro observed their competitors with careful attention.
Klein stood proudly apart with his team, his golden lion manifesting in brilliant patterns. Feng and Astor flanked him.
Near them, another team of nobles who constantly sought their approval practiced their formations.
Luna and her two companions (maids) remained silent in their corner, her shadow wolf barely visible as a rippling darkness around her.
The other noble girls (her cousins and the other maid) maintained a calculated distance from everyone else.
Jin and his group occupied the opposite end of the field, and beside them had formed another team that lately seemed to gravitate toward their influence.
Han and his companions were there too.
In the stands, six new girls observed the preparations. Though they had arrived recently, they had already integrated themselves into the noble circle, orbiting especially around Luna and her cousins.
It was curious how the teachers barely made them participate in class, and now they wouldn't compete in the tournament either.
"Remember that since most of you are young and your beasts are still not very resistant, no weapons or offensive skills in dangerous body areas will be allowed or Yang and I will stop you and disqualify you," Lin warned them.
"First match," Yang announced. "Jin's team versus Larissa's team."
The maid with the armadillo took central position, Larissa and Liora flanking her.
Facing them, Jin smiled as Kai advanced to the vanguard, his green scales gleaming under the sun. Cass moved to the right, her eagle partially manifesting in shimmering feather patterns across her skin.
"Begin!" Yang gave the signal.
Kai launched forward, activating his speed enhanced by his lizard legs. The maid responded by activating the armadillo's shield skill, creating a semicircular barrier that covered all three of them.
But Cass and Jin ran to the sides, their movements fluid and practiced.
Cass began launching small cutting wind bursts while Jin circled around the shield to attack from behind, his spiritual claws gleaming with ethereal light.
Liora's blue hair rippled like flames as she dodged the wind cuts, but she didn't counterattack. Her movements were graceful, almost dance-like, but she was clearly holding back.
The faint glow around Larissa intensified slightly when Jin approached, but she too didn't respond with power. Instead, she relied solely on hand-to-hand combat techniques to counter Jin's advances.
"We have them cornered!" Kai pressed against the shield.
The maid maintained her position, the armadillo channeling more power into the barrier. Larissa and Liora continued moving with grace, dodging attacks but never utilizing their beasts skills.
Ren observed from the stands, noting how the two nobles contained their beast features and abilities as always...
For most, it would be difficult to guess the girls' beasts for this reason, since many beasts shared flames or glows, but not for Ren.
Liora's will o' wisp could have launched devastating flames, while Larissa's mineral light fairy could have easily blinded their opponents or defended its tamer even better than Kai's lizard.
Even short spatial jumps would have completely changed the course of the battle.
Because both could do them.
They were truly powerful creatures like Luna's wolf, but for some reason, they didn't want to show them.