Chapter 73: The Arena Awaits

The Arena Awaits

"Hmph. See you in the arena!"

"We’ll take you down."

A few students marched indignantly into the teleportation array.

Their voices dripping with hostility.

Leon led Selena and Evelyn through the swirling light.

A flash of white.

And he emerged inside a massive coliseum.

The vast space was divided into countless individual arenas.

Each one was enormous.

Large enough to accommodate 50 teams without feeling cramped.

Leon found himself standing on the eastern section of his assigned arena.

Selena stood on his right.

Evelyn on his left.

Both women radiated quiet confidence.

"Quite the crowd," Evelyn murmured, her purple eyes scanning the stands.

Leon smirked. "They came to watch us lose. They’ll be disappointed."

Selena’s golden eyes gleamed. "Let them watch, darling. They’ll remember this day for years."

Leon pulled both women closer.

His arms around their waists.

"Stay close. I want to enjoy this."

Evelyn laughed softly. "You’re enjoying this too much."

"Can you blame me? My two beautiful women are about to show the whole city what real power looks like."

Selena leaned into him. "Flatterer."

"Only with you two."

In the spectator stands, figures flickered into existence one by one.

School administrators and teachers were taking their seats.

"Principal Lawrence, good to see you."

"Principal Douglas, I hear No. 2 High has produced some impressive talents this year."

"Heh. Your No. 1 High is still stealing the spotlight. I heard that Evelyn is an S-rank beast-girl!"

Principal Lawrence merely smiled.

Maintaining an air of mystery.

He hadn’t heard what had happened down on the ground.

He had no idea that Evelyn had been contracted by Leon.

At this moment, he was positively beaming with pride.

S-rank!

Aurelia City hadn’t seen a new S-rank in years.

"Principal! Principal!"

A teacher hurried over from the other side of the stands.

Cecilia.

Breathless and flustered.

"Our school’s Evelyn has dissolved her contract with Levis—and signed a new one with Leon!"

"What?!"

Principal Lawrence shot to his feet.

His composure shattered.

"This is madness!"

"How could she switch beast-soul masters right before the martial exams? Is she treating this like a game?!"

His face was flushed with agitation.

If he could, he would have personally marched down to confront Evelyn.

Principal Douglas, overhearing the exchange, perked up immediately.

His ears practically twitched with delight.

He leaned in, eager to watch the drama unfold.

No. 2 High was always overshadowed by No. 1.

This year, with an S-rank beast-girl emerging, he had worried the gap would be too wide to explain to the education board.

But now—that S-rank student was having issues of her own.

Switching beast-soul masters at the last minute was a major taboo in the martial exams.

A new partner meant poor coordination.

Unfamiliar synergy.

A disaster waiting to happen.

"Who’s she contracted with now? An S-rank beast-soul master? Leon... I don’t recognize that name."

Principal Douglas’s brow furrowed deeper as he racked his memory.

"S-rank? If Leon were S-rank, I’d wake up laughing in my sleep." Cecilia’s face was grim.

"Then...

A rank?

It’s unacceptable!

A beast-girl, one which could easily achieve an S-rank-why would she throw herself away on a D rank beast-soul master?"

Principal Lawrence shuddered, gritting his teeth. "Always looking so serene, how could Evelyn make such an irreparable mistake at this time?"

Principal Douglas smirked. "Principal Lawrence, your top student, Evelyn... How could she make such a beginner mistake? Has no one thought to let her know?"

Lawrence’s expression worsened; though his glare was fierce, inside he felt completely useless, even a bit helpless. After all, no one was unaware of Evelyn’s importance... But what else could he do now?

"Evelyn... She should have her reasons..." he sighed weakly, struggling to regain some composure.

But Principal Douglas wouldn’t give him an easy time: "So tell me, who is this Leon she contracted with? The beast-soul master she’s dealing with?"

"Who else... One of the beast-soul masters at the low D rank."

"D rank?!" Lawrence felt his mind spin; his vision blurs, and he looks towards Cecilia searching for the tiniest hint that the woman was joking. "Don’t tell me it’s the one that has been involved in rumors with Selena all the time?"

" isn’t that that garbage tier student that has been circulated around a lot? "

"Y-Yes, Principal."

"Leon’s aptitude is indeed D-rank!"

"What?!"

"Th-This... how is this possible?!" Lawrence stammered, his voice thick with disbelief.

"Has Evelyn lost her mind?!"

"I’m afraid so, Principal." Cecilia lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Hearing those words confirmed, Lawrence’s rage reignited.

He pointed at Cecilia and thundered:

"Cecilia! Is this how you teach your students?! Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve ruined Evelyn—and you’ve ruined No. 1 High!"

Cecilia flinched at his outburst.

Dropping to her knees in terror.

"Principal, I... I never thought it would turn out like this..."

Just then, Principal Douglas cut in smoothly:

"Oh, Principal Lawrence, why get so worked up? Perhaps this Leon is a hidden genius."

Lawrence whirled on him, eyes blazing with fury.

"A hidden genius? Do you take me for a fool?! A D-rank beast-soul master—what kind of genius could that possibly be?!" His voice dripped with contempt.

"You never know, Principal Lawrence."

Principal Douglas’s smile was infuriatingly serene.

"We both know aptitude doesn’t always determine a person’s true strength. Perhaps Leon is one of those rare exceptions—someone who defies all logic."

"Defies logic? If he defies logic, then I’m a god!"

Lawrence laughed bitterly.

Pointing a trembling finger at Principal Douglas.

"Don’t you dare gloat! Even if Evelyn fails this exam because of Leon, No. 2 High still won’t beat No. 1!"

Principal Douglas’s smile faltered slightly.

Caught off guard by the intensity of Lawrence’s reaction.

He had only wanted to vent a little.

To enjoy a rare moment of schadenfreude after years of being crushed by No. 1 High.

He hadn’t expected such a fierce backlash.

He raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Oh, Principal Lawrence, you’re taking this too seriously. I was only joking. No need to get so worked up."

"Hmph!"

Lawrence turned away.

His gaze fixed firmly on Evelyn’s arena.