Chapter 23: The Road to the Semi-Finals

The arena buzzed with excitement as the names of the top four participants were called out. These were the best of the best, the ones who had battled their way through countless opponents to earn their place in the semi-finals. Karma stood among them, his heart racing with anticipation. He had come so far, pushing past every challenge, but the sight of the remaining participants gave him pause.

As he scanned the faces of his opponents, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. **Rudeus**, **Vera**, and **Orin**—each one of them was a guild master, leading smaller, unrecognized guilds that hadn't yet gained fame or prestige. But despite their lack of renown, their confidence was palpable, their gazes sharp and calculating. These weren't ordinary opponents—they were seasoned veterans, and Karma could sense their power from the way they carried themselves.

"**You've made it a long way, Karma,**" Rudeus said, his voice smooth and dripping with arrogance. He was a tall man with a powerful build, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. His robes indicated his proficiency with magic as well. "**But I don't think you'll go any further. We've all seen what you can do, and while you've been impressive, this is where your journey ends.**"

The other two, Vera and Orin, nodded in agreement, smirking at Karma. Vera, a rogue-like figure with sharp, cunning eyes, gave a mocking bow. "**We, the remaining participants, have agreed to make the semi-finals more... interesting. What do you say, Karma? We propose a small change to the rules.**"

Karma raised an eyebrow. "**What kind of change?**"

Orin, the third guild master, chuckled and stepped forward. He was a broad-shouldered man with a heavy warhammer slung over his back, his face scarred from years of battle. "**We're proposing that you, as the only tamer left, remove the restriction of using just one monster. It'll be more entertaining if you're allowed to summon multiple creatures. After all, you'll need all the help you can get, right?**"

The three of them laughed, their confidence radiating through the arena.

Karma's eyes narrowed. He knew what they were doing. They were trying to throw him off, make him feel inferior because he was a tamer. But what they didn't realize was that their request was about to backfire. He wasn't some weak adventurer who relied on one monster. He had faced overwhelming odds before and had grown stronger with every battle.

Before he could respond, the **tournament board meeting** chimed in. The voice of one of the tournament officials echoed through the arena.

"**The request has been heard. Karma, the tamer, may now use more than one monster in the upcoming battles.**"

Rudeus grinned, clearly satisfied with the result. "**Well, there you have it. This will be fun.**"

Karma, however, wasn't fazed. Instead, he gave them a cold smile. "**You've just made your worst mistake.**"

The confidence of the three guild masters faltered for a moment, but they quickly recovered, laughing it off as they turned to leave. Karma stood alone in the arena, clenching his fists. The semi-finals were only five days away, and he knew that his opponents were formidable. But now, with the restriction removed, he had an ace up his sleeve.

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**At the Inn: Forming a Plan**

Back at the inn, Karma sat on his bed, his mind buzzing with strategies. He now had the advantage of using multiple monsters, but the question was how to use them effectively. He couldn't afford to rush into the battle without a solid plan.

"**I could keep Shiro, Kuro, and the Tyrants hidden using Miniaturization,**" Karma muttered to himself, pacing the room. "**But then I would need to time their release perfectly. And what about my sword? I'll need to rely on close combat too... I have to close the distance against Rudeus before he can overwhelm me with both swordsmanship and magic.**"

Karma ran through various scenarios in his mind, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized something: **He didn't know the battle styles of the others.**

Sure, he had seen snippets of their abilities during the tournament, but they had all been holding back, just as he had. The semi-finals would be different—everyone would be fighting at their full potential, and without knowing how Rudeus, Vera, or Orin truly fought, Karma's strategy was incomplete.

"**This is pointless,**" Karma muttered, throwing his hands in the air. "**I can't form a proper strategy if I don't know what I'm up against.**"

Frustration bubbled inside him. He needed to find a way to tip the scales in his favor, but what could he do with the time he had left? His mind kept returning to one thought—**magic**. He needed something new, something powerful to help him overcome the unpredictability of his opponents.

That's when it hit him: the **Intermediate Tamer's Guide**.

---

**The Monster Fusion Spell**

Karma grabbed the well-worn **Intermediate Tamer's Guide** from his bag and flipped through the pages. He had already learned several crucial spells from this book, but perhaps there was something he had missed, something that could give him an edge in the semi-finals.

His fingers stopped on a page that he had glossed over before. **Monster Fusion.**

Karma's eyes widened as he read the description of the spell. **Monster Fusion** was a temporary ability that allowed a tamer to fuse two of their tamed monsters into a single, more powerful form. The spell amplified the stats of the fused monsters, combining their strength, speed, and abilities into one.

"**This... this could work,**" Karma whispered to himself, his heart racing. "**If I fuse my Tyrants, I could create something incredibly powerful. Their strength and endurance combined into one would make for an unstoppable force in battle.**"

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how perfect the spell was for this situation. The Tyrants—giant ants with immense physical strength and endurance—were already formidable, but fusing them together would create a monster capable of overwhelming even a skilled warrior like Rudeus.

Karma read on, absorbing the requirements for the spell. It required intense concentration and mana control, but more importantly, it required that the monsters be of the same species, which made his Tyrants the ideal candidates for fusion.

"**I'll need to train, though,**" Karma said, already making a mental checklist. "**Five days isn't a lot of time, but I can do it. I'll practice fusing the Tyrants and work on maintaining my synchronization with Shiro. If I can master this spell in time, I'll be ready for Rudeus.**"

With his plan in place, Karma spent the next few hours reviewing the finer details of the **Monster Fusion** spell. The ritual would take time to master, but once he had it, his opponents wouldn't stand a chance. The Tyrants, once fused, would become a force of nature on the battlefield—an unstoppable juggernaut of power and speed.

---

**The Training Begins**

The next five days were grueling. Karma dedicated himself entirely to mastering the **Monster Fusion** spell, spending hours each day in the nearby forest, away from the distractions of the city. He would summon his two Tyrants and practice fusing them, focusing on maintaining control over the combined entity.

At first, the fusion was unstable. The fused Tyrant would lose its balance or become too slow to be effective. But with each attempt, Karma grew more adept at controlling the process, fine-tuning his mana output and ensuring that the fusion was smooth and powerful.

Each day, Karma pushed himself harder, training not only with the Tyrants but also with Shiro. He needed to maintain his bond with the rabbit, ensuring that their synchronization remained strong. By the end of the fifth day, Karma had successfully mastered the **Monster Fusion** spell, and he could feel the power radiating from the fused Tyrant.

His opponent, **Rudeus**, would be both a formidable swordsman and a skilled magician. But now, Karma had something that Rudeus couldn't predict—a fused monster with the strength and endurance to overpower even the strongest warriors.

As Karma walked back to the inn on the evening of the fifth day, he felt a renewed sense of confidence. His body was sore, and his mind was tired, but the training had been worth it. He was ready for the semi-finals.

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**Preparing for Battle**

The night before the semi-finals, Karma sat quietly in his room, his tamed monsters resting beside him. The air in the inn was thick with tension, and outside, the sounds of the city faded into a distant hum.

He closed his eyes, replaying the strategies in his mind. He had his sword, his spells, and now, the power of **Monster Fusion**. His opponents were strong, but Karma knew that he had pushed himself to the limit—and beyond.

Tomorrow, he would face **Rudeus**, the powerful guild master. But no matter what tricks or abilities Rudeus had up his sleeve, Karma would be ready. The semi-finals awaited, and Karma had no intention of losing.

With a deep breath, he whispered to his companions, "**Tomorrow, we fight. Let's make them regret underestimating us.

**"

The semi-finals would be the ultimate test—but Karma knew one thing for certain: **He was ready.**

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**Author's Notes:**

This chapter focuses on Karma's preparation for the semi-finals, introducing the powerful new spell **Monster Fusion** and highlighting Karma's determination to master it in time. The tension builds as the stakes grow higher, and readers can feel Karma's resolve as he trains relentlessly. The semi-finals promise to be an epic battle, with Karma using his newfound abilities to overcome the powerful guild master Rudeus. The stage is set for an exciting clash in the next chapter!