Chapter 12: Clack, Clack

The news of Mu Huiyue’s formal battle against Luo Song spread like wildfire across the entire school.

On one side, there was Luo Song, a highly regarded competitor who had already secured a top-ten position in the school’s selection tournament. If all went as expected, he would be a strong contender for the national ranking matches.

On the other side, there was Mu Huiyue, the daughter of the legendary Mu Tong, a figure who had dominated the top of her grade since day one. Many students were only just learning today that she had finally awakened as a Beast Tamer.

This formal match held high stakes. If Mu Huiyue won, she would replace Luo Song and claim the tenth spot. If Luo Song won, he would not only secure his position but also eliminate a hidden rival, potentially skyrocketing in the rankings.

Mu Huiyue had already completed her registration for the tournament today, and the match would be officiated by a teacher responsible for the selection trials. The result would be recorded in their official records.

As soon as the news hit, students who had already gone home rushed back to the school. The battle hall quickly became packed with spectators. Apart from the obvious competition between the two, upperclassmen from the senior year shared whispers about the behind-the-scenes conflicts. The Mu family’s drama, particularly involving Mu Yixia, made the whole affair seem like a plot straight out of a prime-time soap opera.

But despite the intrigue surrounding their family issues, most students were more focused on the outcome of the battle. After all, they were at one of the top schools in the nation for college placement, where power and skill were everything. Any gossip just added extra spice to the match.

“…Who do you think will win?” one student asked.

“Hard to say,” another replied.

“Luo Song, probably. His grades are average, but he’s great in battle. He’s already in the top ten and the selection tournament hasn’t even been going for three days.”

“I’m betting on Miss Mu. Do you think the resources from Mu Tong’s family are something an ordinary student can compete with?”

“Wait, isn’t Mu Huiyue the top student in the senior grade?”

“So what if she’s smart? Luo Song’s Giant Gate Crocodile has already evolved once.”

“By the way, when did Mu Huiyue awaken? I remember the teachers were saying how it was a shame the top student couldn’t participate in the tournament.”

“What’s her contracted beast anyway?”

“If it’s an Emperor-tier creature, maybe she could stand a chance against Luo Song’s ace.”

“I bet it’s a Little Cloud Dog. Mu Tong is a known expert in breeding them…”

“Which type of Little Cloud Dog though? If it’s a type that counters Luo Song’s beast, maybe there’s hope.”

“Haha, you guys don’t know? Mu Huiyue’s first contracted beast? Look at what’s standing by her side.”

“…Wait, is that a little skeleton?”

“A little skeleton???”

“…What?”

“…What???”

Around them, murmurs and whispers flew back and forth, but Mu Huiyue stood on her side of the battle stage, completely unfazed by the chatter outside.

The selection committee had approved her battle request, and the referee teacher had even made a special arrangement to hold the match at the school’s battle arena. The entire atmosphere was charged with anticipation, as the crowd buzzed with curiosity about the impending showdown.

Mu Huiyue’s gaze fell behind the referee, and her eyes locked onto a girl standing amidst the crowd—someone who looked strikingly similar to her, yet whose demeanor and presence were completely different. It was Mu Yixia, the very “female lead” who had indirectly caused this battle to happen, finally making her grand entrance.

The two sisters exchanged a brief glance in the air, but Mu Huiyue quickly turned her attention back to the match. She had far more interest in the upcoming battle than in her half-sister, with whom she had little connection.

After extensive training and coordination with her contracted beast, Mu Huiyue was certain of one thing: her little skeleton, Eren, possessed combat awareness far beyond that of his own kind—and even some higher-tier races.

The chance of a bone staff landing a critical hit to cause dizziness was typically so low that it was almost negligible, which was why it was rated as an E-class skill. But Eren, in the second or third round of combat, was already able to locate and target the weak points of his opponents.

At first, Mu Huiyue had thought this was a mere coincidence, like the time with the Lickers or the Little Cloud Dogs. But after several practice sessions, Eren confirmed that, for most lower-tier extraordinary creatures, he could quickly observe their vulnerabilities during battle.

Even with more challenging C-class skills—rare for elite races—Eren adapted swiftly. His “Shadow Cloak” was becoming a permanent passive ability, blending effortlessly into Mu Huiyue’s shadow whenever there was no immediate danger. Meanwhile, his Phosphor Flames’ accuracy improved dramatically, and after a full day of practice, he could easily hit moving targets mid-air.

The ability to dodge an opponent’s signature move by using their shadow was a high-level trick, and Eren was able to pull it off the first time he received the order.

Despite being just a juvenile beast, Mu Huiyue often felt that Eren, standing on the battlefield, looked more like a battle-hardened warrior than the obedient little skeleton she knew.

The spar with Ah Yue had been a warm-up, but now, she was eager to face Luo Song in a full-fledged battle.

Luo Song, on the opposite side of the battlefield, didn’t hesitate. As both sides were ready, the referee raised his hands and announced, “We will now begin the official selection match. Only one contracted beast per side. The match ends when one side loses their combat ability. All results will be recorded as part of the tournament ranking. Are both sides ready?”

“Understood,” Mu Huiyue and Luo Song replied simultaneously.

“Let the match begin!” The referee waved his arms.

“Go, my ace—!” Luo Song shouted, and a lead-gray summoning circle lit up in the arena.

When the light faded, an extraordinary creature appeared, towering above the crowd. It resembled a crocodile standing on two legs, with tough armor-like skin and sharp claws. Its elongated snout revealed rows of gleaming fangs, and it suddenly let out a deafening roar that filled the air with bloodlust.

“Roar—!”

Luo Song had no intention of holding back as he unleashed his ace beast.

[Name]: Giant Gate Crocodile
[Attribute]: Steel
[Race Rank]: Lower-Tier War General
[Growth Stage]: Juvenile
[Talent Core]: Sharp Fangs (Steel, C-Class)

On the other side, Mu Huiyue patted Eren’s shoulder. The little skeleton walked confidently into the battle zone, its fists clenched, ready for combat.

The size difference between the two beasts was staggering. The Giant Gate Crocodile’s massive jaws looked capable of swallowing the slender skeleton whole. Many students watching gasped, some already cringing at the mismatch.

Luo Song sneered, waving his hand forward, “Giant Gate Crocodile, use your sharp fangs to devour it!”

The giant crocodile let out a roar and charged, its steel teeth gleaming as it lunged at the small skeleton.

Eren sighed inwardly. Why did his opponents always seem to be creatures that specialized in biting? He didn’t enjoy being nibbled on by dogs, and certainly not by crocodiles.

But Mu Huiyue had anticipated this. Yesterday, she had already noticed that Eren didn’t like dealing with biting skills, so she had prepared several countermeasures.

Given the crocodile’s size and speed, she decided to deploy…

“Eren, Shadow Cloak!”

Mu Huiyue’s command came just as Eren was thinking the same thing. Their synchronization was flawless. Eren became a wisp of black mist and merged into the shadows cast by the Giant Gate Crocodile. A moment later, he reappeared behind the beast, having avoided its deadly fangs.

“Bone Strike!” Mu Huiyue called out.

A white, jagged leg bone appeared in Eren’s grasp as he swung it forcefully at the croc’s bent knee.

The crocodile stumbled, its massive form wobbling dangerously.

The force behind the Bone Strike was minimal, but hitting a vulnerable spot like the knee made even the massive Giant Gate Crocodile stagger, a fact that Eren, as a fellow bipedal creature, had instinctively understood.

“Now, Phosphor Flame!” Mu Huiyue ordered.

Eren stepped back, and nine ethereal blue flames flickered behind him, quickly merging into a single mass before shooting forward.

Seeing the flames approaching, Luo Song’s eyes widened, and he clenched his teeth, “Giant Gate Crocodile, use Heavy Armor!”

The crocodile’s armored hide shimmered with an iron-like glow, turning into steel plating just in time to block the incoming Phosphor Flame.

Heavy Armor, a C-class Steel-type skill, dramatically boosted defense. But its hurried use couldn’t fully protect the beast from the fire element, its natural counter.

“Giant Gate Crocodile!” Luo Song called out in alarm as the Phosphor Flame burned through the steel armor, leaving scorch marks on its body. The beast staggered, rolling to extinguish the flames, but it stood up panting heavily, visibly weakened.

The exchange had happened in the blink of an eye, faster than anyone had expected—even faster than Luo Song himself could react. The crowd around the arena was still in shock.

It wasn’t until the Giant Gate Crocodile stood up that murmurs began to ripple through the spectators.

“What was that skill? Shadow Cloak…?”

“And Phosphor Flame! That’s a special fire skill only undead creatures can learn. I’ve never seen it in action before!”

“That was so smooth! Did you see how the skeleton just popped up behind the crocodile?”

“To think that such a useless skill like Bone Strike could actually have an effect…”

“Is the little skeleton actually gaining the upper hand now…?”

Murmurs trickled into Luo Song’s ears as he clenched his fists, glaring at the small skeleton that seemed to be handling things with ease.

“Giantscale Crocodile, use Missile Barrage!”

The crocodile’s armored hide glistened with an iron-like sheen, and a series of sharp, jagged projectiles erupted from its back, raining down in a barrage toward the enemy.

With the missile storm as cover, the Giant Gate Crocodile surged forward, its claws gleaming with white light.

“Steel Claw!”

“Eren, go straight in!” Mu Huiyue ordered calmly, without a hint of hesitation.

For a moment, Luo Song was stunned. This command was insane! The small skeleton had no defense against the steel-type Giant Gate Crocodile. One direct hit from those claws or a missile could knock Eren out in an instant.

But Eren leapt high into the air, fearlessly charging right at the oncoming storm of steel and missiles.

“Reassemble!”

At Mu Huiyue’s command, the skeleton fragmented into four pieces, scattering mid-air. The missiles passed harmlessly through the gaps between its parts, and just as the steel claws were about to strike, the fragments reassembled, bypassing the attack and reforming behind the crocodile.

“Do it again, Phosphor Flame!” Mu Huiyue shouted.

“Missile Barrage!” Luo Song responded in a panic.

The ethereal blue fireball collided with the flying projectiles in mid-air, and an explosion erupted, scattering dust and debris all around.

Amid the lingering dust and confusion, the small skeleton reappeared, silently sliding into the Giant Gate Crocodile’s blind spot. It was as if it had teleported, changing position so quickly that even Luo Song hadn’t noticed.

“Bone Strike.”

Mu Huiyue’s gaze remained fixed on the small skeleton, her mind in sync with him. Thanks to their connection in the Beast Master space, she knew every move Eren was capable of and wouldn’t miss the slightest opportunity in battle.

A swirling black mist enveloped Eren as he raised his bone club and struck it heavily into the croc’s joint.

“Roar—!”

As the dust settled, the Giant Gate Crocodile let out a pained howl, crashing to the ground, exposing its vulnerable, unprotected belly.

What awaited it was the prepared Phosphor Flame from the small skeleton.

Boom—!

The fire spell hit with perfect precision.

The students watching couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

“Holy sh*t…” a student in the front row muttered, wide-eyed. “Can the little skeleton teleport?”

He was no more than ten meters from the battlefield, and yet, he hadn’t even seen how the skeleton had moved behind the Giant Gate Crocodile. The only explanation he could think of was a telekinetic move.

But a death-type skeleton couldn’t possibly learn such a telekinetic technique.

“It wasn’t teleportation. It blended into the shadow cast by the Phosphor Flame,” came a calm voice from beside him. The student turned and his eyes widened again.

“God Lin!”

The speaker was Lin Fei, the current top-ranked student in the school selection trials, and the ace of the Longning Beast Master team. He had led the team to second place in the high school league.

Lin Fei was the undisputed top student at the school, with rumors saying Mu Huiyue only maintained her top score in written exams because this star athlete had been away competing, leaving her with fewer chances to attend classes and take exams.

The students around them glanced over, surprised to see Lin Fei had even come to watch this match.

“With the Phosphor Flame’s shadow moving, the Giant Gate Crocodile had no way of detecting it. An interesting strategy,” Lin Fei said, his voice light and easygoing. He wore the school’s loose, casual sports uniform, and his smile made him appear harmless, despite his reputation.

He glanced over at the wobbling Giant Gate Crocodile, which was still trying to regain its footing. The crocodile had a significant advantage in stamina, but Mu Huiyue’s small skeleton had already gained the upper hand. It would take multiple attacks to wear the croc down, but there was no doubt that the battle’s outcome was sealed.

“Mu Huiyue… she’s become much more interesting than before.”