Suddenly, a familiar face appeared on the massive display board overhead.

Alric – 999

Jera – 994

The moment that rat-like face showed up—ranked that high, no less—it caught the attention of Leo, Lily, and Miho alike.

Especially Miho.

She hadn't challenged any high-ranking students, and because of that, her rank had dropped from 994 to 1468. Meanwhile, Alric clearly had taken the risk, clawing his way into the top 1000 and securing the monthly salary of 1000 AC.

Miho, on the other hand, only received 500 AC for being ranked within 1001–2000. Still, no one around her was willing to let her take unnecessary risks unless she had the power to back it up.

Leon noticed their interest. After a brief inquiry, he pieced it together—Alric was Miho's former master. And more importantly, the one responsible for her trauma.

His expression hardened as he began watching the match with renewed focus.

Leo flicked his gaze toward the display, quickly scanning Alric's beasts.

Windbreath Hound (Mid 2-star) – Mortal Bloodline

Windbreath Hound (Peak 1-star) – Mortal Bloodline

Windbreath Hound (Mid 1-star) – Ordinary Bloodline

They were essentially the same species as Lily's Lunaria. Just inferior in bloodline.

Makes sense, Leo thought. Kendru must have bred these wolf variants.

The opponent didn't seem to be a beast master. Instead, he wielded a massive greatsword, faint elemental energies swirling around both his body and blade.

"An elemental swordsman," Leon commented.

The swordsman moved first.

Wind surged around his legs, fire wrapped around the blade, and a thin layer of earth reinforced his body. He charged straight into the fray, parrying and counterattacking all 3 wolves at once. With a single, powerful slash, he took down the Mid 1-star hound.

But the Mid 2-star hound seized the opening.

It lunged, slamming into him and sending him staggering back. The earthen layer coating his body cracked like spiderwebs, and blood spilled from his mouth as he struggled to regain footing.

Seeing the opportunity, Alric drew his own sword and joined the assault.

Under the combined pressure of 3 beings, the swordsman finally collapsed.

Even so, Alric was panting heavily. His Peak 1-star hound had already been defeated, and the remaining Mid 2-star beast was visibly injured.

It was a narrow win.

CRP: +7

"The swordsman was decent," Leon said calmly, eyes fixed on the ring. "But no individual can win against a coordinated assault. This is exactly why the Empire favours Beast Masters."

According to the host, the swordsman was a High 2-star.

Yet he had still fallen to weaker opponents—simply because he was outnumbered.

Leon turned toward Miho, who had been watching the entire exchange with quiet intensity.

"Don't worry," he said reassuringly. "If you utilize your strength properly, you can defeat him."

Miho blushed slightly, with head down and nodded.

After consuming Soul Crystals, magic plant berries, and undergoing intense training, she had already reached High 2-star. Given her speed, Leon estimated she would reach Peak 2-star by the end of the month.

And that was without contracting a beast core.

Once Leo found a suitable elemental beast core with a high bloodline and she bonded with it, her strength would soar.

Soon, Miho's phone vibrated.

She was being called backstage.

With 3 rings already occupied, the 4th ring opened specifically for her match. The moment she stepped onto the platform, cheers erupted across the arena as the opponent's name appeared.

Miho – 1468

Hima – 1308

The instant spectators realised it was a match between 2 girls, the collective viewership of Arena 3 skyrocketed—from nearly 5 million to over 20 million.

Gooners everywhere… Leo thought flatly.

Leon's mood visibly dampened at the audience reaction, especially from the boys seated behind them, though he made an effort not to show it too openly.

Meanwhile, Lily puffed her chest proudly.

"Of course," she said smugly. "Miho is beautiful. That reaction is only natural. I am her personal makeup artist."

Leo, however, was more focused on the opponent.

The brown-haired woman's expression twisted into visible disgust as she looked at Miho—whose appearance was leagues above her own. Combined with Miho's lower rank, she clearly planned to teach her a lesson.

"Hmph," she sneered. "A pretty face means nothing in this world without strength. Let me make your face as ugly as your rank."

With a sharp wave of her hand, 2 beasts materialized.

Hollowwood Reaver (Low 2-star) – Mortal Bloodline

Hollowwood Reaver (Mid 1-star) – Ordinary Bloodline

Both were humanoid plant beasts. One stood nearly 2.5 meters tall, while the other barely reached half a meter. Their bark-textured bodies housed gaping cavities in their chests, where red vines writhed endlessly, eager to lash out.

Miho remained calm, carefully observing the beasts as the countdown ticked down.

Seeing that they were plant-type, her hand naturally drifted toward the flame beast core secured at her waist. The belt—specially sewn by Lily—held nearly 8 elemental beastcores, with even more stored in a side pouch resting against her hip.

Leon nodded in approval.

He that trained her to ignore taunts completely, treat them as grains of sand. And she had followed that lesson faithfully.

Miho had also trained with a katana in extra academy classes, choosing the class because she admired Lily, who used a sword. However, swords didn't align with her nature, making her opt for katana and since her training was still incomplete, she relied entirely on her Spirit Reinforcer talent for now.

Receiving no response, the brown-haired girl's expression darkened.

"Attack!"

Swoosh!

Red vines shot out from the beasts' chest cavities at terrifying speed.

Miho sidestepped smoothly, her body blurring as she narrowly avoided the attack. With a flick of her wrist, she invoked her talent, forming a blazing fireball in her palm and hurling it forward.

The larger beast dodged—

Kraaaa—!

—but the smaller one wasn't fast enough.

It ignited instantly, vanishing in flames before being teleported away, defeated.

The brown-haired girl gritted her teeth.

Refusing to accept that a lower-ranked student could overpower her, she drew her short sword and lunged at Miho. But Miho's physical strength—boosted by countless berries and her increased soul rank—was on a completely different level.

Tak!

In a single clean motion, Miho struck her wrist. The sword clattered to the ground.

She immediately grabbed an ice beast core with her other hand, invoking her talent once more. Frost coated her other fist as she stepped in and threw a straight punch.

BAM! Crip!

Hima was sent flying.

Ice crystallized over her distorted face, shattering with a glass-like sound as she crashed onto the ground. Seeing its master fall, the remaining beast went berserk, unleashing every vine it had to bind Miho.

Miho retreated swiftly.

Fireballs flew in rapid succession, engulfing the beast in flames. Whenever the fire began to fade, new flames engulfed its body anew.

Flame upon flame.

The cycle continued until the Hollowwood Reaver finally collapsed and vanished.

The match was over.

Clean Win.

CRP: +10

"Ohhhh!" the host exclaimed excitedly. "We have our first clean win by a contestant who is not a beast master!"

"Let's give a round of applause to contestant Miho for her fabulous performance!"

"Her recent registered rank is high 2-star, and with talent related to spirits, she could potentially be a strong future powerhouse!"

The arena erupted.

The loudest cheers came—unsurprisingly—from the boys.

"OHHH! Please marry me!"

"Make me your slave!"

"I'm ready to lick your feet!"

"Hmph! You have the qualification to join my Harem."

Leon especially glared at the person who commented on the last sentence, making the person sweat as to why Leon looked pissed.

The people commenting online were more unrestrained, which Leon and others ignored.

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