Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons-Chapter 300 - - Tamer’s Battle Week - 36 (Friendly Rivalry)

The team battles ended with enough time for Lin to announce the continuation of individual combats, just like the day before.

Of the initial 96 students, only 48 remained in competition, and this number would be reduced by half again after this next round.

"The following confrontations will determine the 24 finalists of the individual tournament," Lin explained, her voice carrying across the arena with authority.

Kai managed to advance to the next round, much to Min and Taro's visible displeasure, as did Cass. But not all was bad news… Luna and Liu also succeeded in moving forward.

The battles involving Larissa, Liora, and Klein would be postponed to allow their complete recovery.

♢♢♢♢

Min, fresh from his own victory, rejoined Ren and Taro at their usual spot in the stands.

Although he had won using his now "classic" invisibility strategy against a wind element tamer, his expression suggested a certain dissatisfaction.

"Another boring victory," he muttered, dropping onto the bench beside his friends. "I couldn't even show off much, and almost nobody applauded. Being invisible is..."

But his apparent bad mood transformed instantly into genuine concern when the next combat was announced:

"Ren Patinder versus Taro Terragon. Present yourselves in the arena in three minutes."

"Wait, so soon?" Min looked alternately at his two companions, eyes widening. "Today? But that means..."

"That one of us will advance and the other won't," Taro completed, resignation but also determination in his voice. His hands flexed unconsciously, the subtle markings of his beetle shifting across his skin.

Ren remained silent. His thoughts about this confrontation were complex; he knew Taro's capabilities better than almost any other opponent, but that worked in both directions.

"Don't be too hard on me," commented Taro with a slight smile as he stood up. "Though my defense might surprise you."

Ren nodded, returning the smile. "I won't underestimate you. In fact..."

As they walked toward the arena, Ren mentally evaluated the situation. Taro's defense was formidable: a 90% increase with each layer of his dual armor effectively meant 180% protection. This was superior even to the 160% strength that Ren could generate with his hydra, his fungus, and the ring together.

Taro's advantage didn't end there. His synergy between the Living Tunnel and the Hunter bug was more versatile and adaptable than the single standard defensive structure of Ren's hydra, which, although enhanced by the light of his mushrooms, had more limited options in terms of physical manifestation.

Of course, he had a powerful option, but...

Firing the light beam against Taro would be excessive and potentially dangerous in a friendly combat. His best option was to try to overcome that formidable defense with his increased strength of 160%, with his attack of 140% and depending significantly on the ring to match Taro's capabilities.

The arena was ready, freshly repaired after the earlier battles.

Lin positioned herself between them, her professional expression barely disguising the genuine interest in this particular confrontation.

"The rules remain the same. Are you ready?"

Ren and Taro nodded simultaneously, their eyes meeting in a moment of mutual respect.

"Begin."

There was no hesitation from either of them... both immediately invoked their respective armors.

Ren's body was covered with the characteristic translucent armor of his hydra, a bluish glow that reflected the internal light of his mushrooms. His hands transformed into the now-famous light claws, sharp and precise, extended as natural extensions of his arms.

Simultaneously, Taro deployed his double protection. The living mineral from the Living Tunnel formed the outer layer, while the Hunter bug provided an inner armor that controlled the outer one with fluidity. The result was an impressive crystalline carapace with a predominantly yellow tone, complemented by mineral claws made of polished crystal.

"Impressive," commented someone from the stands. "They look like different versions of the same technique."

For a moment, both remained motionless, studying each other. Then, as if responding to an invisible signal, they launched into the attack simultaneously.

The first exchange was an explosion of movement. Ren's claws traced arcs of light while Taro's responded with crystalline refraction. Each blow, each parry, revealed a deep knowledge of the other's style. The sound of light striking crystal created an almost musical accompaniment to their combat dance.

Ren clearly dominated the offensive. His superior strength allowed him to press constantly, forcing Taro to maintain a defensive posture.

"You weigh much more than you appear!" gasped Taro, blocking a particular downward strike that made his arms tremble despite the protection. "Or at least your blows do!"

"Muscle from my hydra combined with mine," replied Ren, without diminishing his attack rhythm. "I don't just overlap it, I integrate it."

The combat continued for a while in balance. Ren attacked, Taro blocked. Ren's blows had enough power to shatter stone, but barely managed to leave superficial damage on Taro's resistant mineral armor. Each impact sent small crystalline shards flying, but the armor reformed almost instantly.

Taro tried to trap him several times but Ren was too fast, with his 120% extra speed compared to Taro's 30% extra. Each attempt to ensnare Ren in crystalline bindings ended with the hydra tamer slipping away at the last moment.

From the stands, Min observed with pride and a little envy. "That's it," he murmured, as if witnessing the culmination of something he had been waiting to see for a long time. "They're showing what they can really do... That's what I want to do!"

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After several minutes of this exchange, Ren began to reconsider his strategy. Direct blows, however powerful, weren't managing to penetrate Taro's defense. It was time for a different approach.

'The joints,' he thought, recalling Lin's lessons. 'Or an impact against the ground. The armor protects against penetration, but concussion damage might...'

With this new perspective, Ren changed his tactic. Instead of continuing with frontal attacks, he began to look for openings for grips and projections. His movements became more fluid, less direct, as he circled Taro looking for the perfect opportunity.

Taro noticed the change, his eyes narrowing as he anticipated the new strategy. "You're going to try to take me down," he guessed, adjusting his posture for a lower center of gravity. His armor thickened subtly around his ankles and knees, preparing for the coming assault.

"Let's see if you can avoid it," replied Ren, his mushrooms pulsing with a rhythm that suggested intensified concentration.

Ren launched an apparently direct attack toward Taro's face, forcing him to raise his claws to defend his head. But instead of completing the blow, Ren spun at the last moment, positioning himself perfectly for a waist hold.

Taro, recognizing the feint too late, tried to step back, but Ren was already attached to him like a second skin. With a fluid movement that showcased the hours of practice with Lin, Ren executed a perfect projection: he lifted Taro over his hip and launched him in an ascending arc that momentarily seemed to defy gravity.

The audience held their breath as Taro reached the highest point of the trajectory, almost two meters above the arena. For an instant, he seemed suspended in the air, his mineral armor gleaming under the stadium lights, catching the sun in a dazzling display of crystalline reflections.

Then, gravity reclaimed its right.