Roran had begged.
Literally begged with the desperation of someone who saw opportunity slipping through their fingers.
"Please," he’d said, his hands pressed together as in prayer, dignity abandoned. "Just one spot. I can be useful, I swear."
Other classmates had joined the chorus of pleading. Offers of eternal loyalty, promises of future debts, even one had attempted to bribe Ren with underwear from his personal collection, thanks to a ridiculous rumor that Roran’s group had started through misunderstandings.
But there were only ten slots.
And Ren’s team was already complete, filled with people who’d earned their places through years of friendship too, but also proven capability.
And most importantly, synergy.
They had thirteen Silver beasts, an absurd quantity for a ten-person team.
But also..
Taro’s Royal Living Tunnel, a marvel of minerals and power that had caused a sensation when it evolved to Gold 1.
Shizu’s Golden Earth Wolverine, enormous, its fur gleaming with power comparable to Julius’s one now despite using less than half the time and crystals investment.
And Mako’s Greater Night Ambusher, a rare evolution that hadn’t been seen in several years coming back ’cheaply’ thanks to Ren’s guidance.
Three beasts at Gold rank alone gave them superiority over most teams.
Not to mention the Tier 3 Silver beasts filling out their roster.
Ren’s Hydra, still with only one head but with potential that made knowledgeable observers frown with concern and interest at the same time. And his Jade Wolverine that sparked curiosity for a beast most nobles thought they understood.
The Mantis with its illusions impossible to detect even for trained eyes would have been useful too but Ren decided to keep it known for as few people as possible for now.
Liu’s Bat and Hyena working in tandem. Min’s water Serpent and enormous Amphibian, both rare beasts that had already reached Silver 3 too. The maids with their beasts specialized in support and field control, roles often overlooked but essential for a well rounded team.
Not to mention the four beasts from the two "princesses" on the team, extra Tier 3 ones, and creatures that represented cultivation and resources most students couldn’t dream of accessing.
It was an army.
And Ren would guide them with the knowledge of someone who understood each strength, each weakness, each possible synergy between creatures that others didn’t even know could work together. Knowledge coming from an understanding of beasts that went beyond what any textbook could teach.
♢♢♢♢
Ren’s parents didn’t fully understand what they were seeing.
The combat arena was vast, and the beasts fighting in it were creatures of power that made the plants they’d known all their lives seem like decorative herbs in comparison. Their neighbors and them in those times calling themselves "tamers" felt disrespectful now.
Thankfully their own mature plants now and their Black Turtles weren’t weak by any measure, which helped them better understand the level they were observing, but they didn’t need to understand all the technical details to recognize the obvious truth unfolding before them.
Their son was dominating.

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