Teams usually put their strongest beasts either at the beginning for early advantage or saved for the end as final trump cards. Rarely in middle positions where they could be wasted without decisive impact on the whole match outcome.

"And you?" asked one of the team members with a question everyone was wondering. "Will you never fight?"

"I don't think you can handle ALL the battles so yes, I will," Ren said simply without arrogance, just stating a fact when thinking of his close friends. "But you can see me as an insurance. We're saving my beasts to secure the final outcome if things go wrong."

Some members looked uncomfortable with that decision, pride stinging at implication they might need rescuing.

"Why don't you like showing off a bit?" Ron asked with genuine curiosity rather than criticism. "In your place I wouldn't let anyone steal my spotlight..."

"Because displaying off, whatever you may have, denotes insecurity," Ren explained with wisdom that seemed beyond his years. "It's better not to become addicted to attention and validation from others. Or so my mother says... But don't worry about my reasoning. If everyone participates it's better because you practice and learn through real combat. And if things go badly for you, you can always leave me the biggest problems at the end."

It was conservative mentality but a generally correct approach. Trusting his companions to handle the majority of work while he served as a safety net that prevented catastrophic failure.

But it was also practical philosophy because if Ren entered too early and swept the first turns easily... what would his teammates learn from watching? What experience would they gain from being carried rather than contributing?

This was an exam slightly different from common Yano culture, yes. But it was also opportunity for growth in a method rarely appreciated in a kingdom that favored fused combat over beast command.

Battles of beasts against beasts where strategy mattered as much as raw power.

FIRST BATTLE

Ron stepped up to the arena against Team Three's first opponent with nervous energy that came from being chosen to start rather than hide in middle positions.

Exactly as Ren had predicted with an accuracy that was becoming unsettling for him, his enemy was a wind beast from their surplus of three. Low Silver rank similar to Ron's salamander, making this matchup about elemental and skill advantage rather than power differential.

The combat started cautiously with both beasts circling each other while their tamers assessed capabilities and looked for openings to exploit.

Then the wind beast struck first, launching cutting air blades that would have shredded many other beasts.

But Ron's salamander absorbed the oxygen-rich wind attacks and converted them into fuel for its flames. What should have been a problem became an advantage.

Flames intensified with each wind blade that tried to strike, growing hotter and more concentrated as the opposing tamer unknowingly fed Ron's beast exactly what it needed.

Ron had trained elemental control extensively under Ren's small guidance during some random weekend cultivation sessions. His salamander could concentrate fire in precise points rather than simply throwing flames indiscriminately in all directions like most fire beasts at his rank.

It was an absolute advantage in a matchup that could have favored the speed and flexibility of the wind element.

After only two minutes of intense combat that felt longer to participants, the wind beast collapsed from exhaustion and overheating. Ron's salamander still had almost all its reserves intact, barely winded from the brief exchange.

Victory for Team Five in a dominant fashion that set the tone.

Score: 1-0

Ron's salamander faced Team Three's second fighter without rest period, adrenaline and heat still coursing through its system.

This time the opponent was a fire element, one of their two fire beasts.

The elemental advantage neutralized meant the fight came down to control and stamina. Ron's beast still had most of its reserves while the entering fresh opponent had a slightly fuller tank.

The exchange was fierce with flames meeting flames in collisions that created heat waves distorting the air. Both beasts trying to overwhelm the other through superior heat and intensity.

Ron's superior control showed in how he directed flames to specific targets rather than general area attacks that wasted energy. Each strike purposeful, each burst of heat calculated to maximize damage while conserving stamina.

Ten minutes of brutal exchange before the opposing fire beast faltered, its tamer having burned through reserves too quickly trying to overpower rather than outmaneuver.

Score: 2-0

Team Three's leader was sweating now, realizing their opening strategy had been completely countered through better planning.

The third opponent came in with a water beast that managed to counter Ron's fire salamander easily since it had already claimed two victories that made it weary.

This matchup went as expected with the water element suppressing the fire through overwhelming type advantage that couldn't be overcome through skill alone. Ron's salamander fought valiantly but was fastly worn down by continuous water attacks that extinguished its flames faster than they could be rekindled.

Score: 2-1

But Bolo was ready, stepping into the arena with his wood element Treant that towered over most beasts at its rank through sheer physical bulk.

The water beast that had just defeated Ron was not tired from that exchange, stamina almost full... But against the elemental advantage, it stood no chance.

Bolo's Treant absorbed the water attacks like they were nutrients, roots drinking in moisture that should have been a weapon but became sustenance instead. Then it counterattacked with vine whips that struck with force of battering rams, wood enhanced by the water it had absorbed.

The water beast went down quickly, unable to harm an opponent that benefited from most of its attacks.

Score: 3-1

Bolo's Treant claimed another victory against an earth beast that tried using rock attacks. Wood broke through earth defenses through persistent assault, vines finding cracks in stone armor until the earth beast collapsed from accumulated damage.

Score: 4-1

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