Chapter twenty eight
Chapter 28: The Five vs. Five Battle
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Crow stood at the edge of the arena once again, but this time, the atmosphere was different. The crowd buzzed with excitement, their eyes locked on the next event: a Five vs. Five Battle. This was a significant match because it wasn't just about personal strength—it was about strategy, coordination, and how well one could control their team of beasts.
As per the rules, tamed creatures didn't count as people—they were treated as tools or weapons in the fight. The contestants would face off with five individuals, each of them having their own team of tamed creatures. However, only the human participants would count toward the score. The beasts, although powerful, were considered non-human assets and wouldn't count as actual combatants. This made the challenge even more interesting, as the participants could still use their tamed creatures, but they would have to fight strategically, using both their beasts and their own personal abilities to secure victory.
Crow had already proven his strength in the previous challenges, but this one would be different. He wasn't facing a single opponent; he was up against five.
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The Opponents
Crow's five opponents were a mix of the most skilled students in his class. All were considered elites, each with their own specialized abilities. There was Aria, the Elemental Sorceress, who could control all four elements. Liam, the Swordmaster, who wielded his sword with incredible precision and speed. Tessa, the Beast Tamer, who had a wide array of beasts—though not nearly as many as Crow. Dexter, the Shadow Assassin, who was quick and deadly with his stealthy movements. And finally, Naomi, the Battle Mage, whose magic attacks were fierce and unpredictable.
It was an impressive lineup, but Crow wasn't worried. He had his own powerful team of tamed beasts, each one more formidable than anything his opponents could summon. His Hell Hound, Ethereal Gloom Serpent, Thunder Python, Queen Bee, and Vermilion Bird were already waiting in his Taming Space, ready to be called upon when needed.
The match was about to begin, and Crow's mind was focused. He had a strategy, and he would make sure to use every advantage he had.
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The Battle Begins
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena: "The rules are simple! Five vs. five, no tamed beasts will count as people. The first team to eliminate all human opponents wins! Let the battle begin!"
The gates on both sides of the arena opened, and the five contestants from Crow's team stepped forward, facing their opponents across the sandy battlefield. Crow stood at the front of his team, his eyes scanning the opposition.
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"This is going to be interesting," Aria said, cracking her knuckles as she eyed Crow. "Let's see how you fare against five of us."
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Crow's response was calm and measured. "I don't need to fight all of you directly. I have my beasts for that."
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"We'll see about that," Liam smirked, gripping his sword tightly as he took his stance.
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With a single signal, the battle began. Tessa immediately summoned her beasts—a pair of Wolf Cubs—while Dexter vanished into the shadows, using his Shadow Step to get closer to Crow. Naomi, standing in the back, began to chant an incantation, her hands glowing with arcane energy.
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"Hell Hound, attack!" Crow shouted, and his Hell Hound leapt forward, charging toward the pair of wolf cubs that Tessa had summoned. With a ferocious growl, the Hell Hound clashed with the wolves, its fiery aura incinerating one of the cubs on impact.
Meanwhile, Crow's Thunder Python surged from his Taming Space, its body crackling with electricity as it made its way toward Naomi. "Thunder Strike!" Crow called, and the Thunder Python unleashed a surge of electricity toward Naomi. The battle mage raised a shield of arcane magic, blocking the attack, but the force of the hit sent her stumbling back.
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"Not bad," Naomi muttered, her eyes narrowing as she prepared a counterattack. But Crow wasn't done yet.
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"Ethereal Gloom Serpent, coil around them!" Crow ordered.
From the shadows, the Ethereal Gloom Serpent slithered forward, its form blending seamlessly into the surroundings. It wrapped around Dexter, who tried to evade, but the serpent was too fast. With a hiss, it tightened its grip, and Dexter let out a grunt of frustration as he struggled to break free.
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At the same time, Queen Bee and her swarm of Rare Bees were released, the air filling with a buzz as the bees descended upon the battlefield. They swarmed toward Liam, who was in the middle of a fierce sword fight with Crow's Vermilion Bird. The bird's fiery wings clashed against Liam's sword as he parried each strike with precision.
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"The queen bee has summoned the swarm," Tessa observed, realizing how dangerous the bees could be if left unchecked.
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Crow kept a close eye on the battlefield, ensuring his creatures were all in sync. His beasts were overwhelming his opponents, but he had to stay focused. He couldn't afford to underestimate them. Each opponent had their own unique abilities, and the fight could turn in any direction.
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"Aria, help me with the bees!" Liam shouted as he dodged a particularly vicious sting from one of the rare bees.
Aria nodded and raised her hand. The ground beneath her feet trembled as she unleashed her elemental power, calling forth a gust of wind to scatter the swarm. But Queen Bee wasn't done yet. She called forth more eggs, rapidly producing new bees that continued to attack.
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"I'm not out of tricks yet," Crow said, watching the fight unfold. With a flick of his wrist, he called upon his last beast.
"Vermilion Bird, take flight and incinerate them!"
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With that command, Vermilion Bird took to the sky, its wings ablaze with fire. It swooped down toward the remaining enemies, launching a barrage of flames toward Aria, who was forced to shield herself with a wall of earth.
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The battle raged on, but with Crow's strategy and his beasts working in perfect harmony, it became clear that his team had the upper hand. Liam and Naomi were already on the defensive, while Tessa struggled to maintain control of her own beasts. The rest of the students, witnessing Crow's mastery over his creatures, began to realize that he was not to be underestimated.
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"Give up yet?" Crow asked, his tone calm as ever. His Hell Hound, Thunder Python, Ethereal Gloom Serpent, Queen Bee, and Vermilion Bird were all in control of the fight, and Crow himself stood unfazed, knowing that victory was within his reach.
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"We're not done yet," Tessa called, though there was uncertainty in her voice. But it was clear—Crow and his beasts were unstoppable.
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As the final blows were struck and his opponents conceded defeat, Crow stood victorious once again. The crowd erupted in applause as his team of beasts had carried him to victory once more.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]
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Crow's Stats:
Level: 13
Strength: 800
Speed: 900
Intelligence: 850
Beast Mastery: 1000
Skills: Beast Taming, Command, Bond, Strategy
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Tamed Beasts' Stats:
1. Hell Hound: Level 10
Attack: 20,000
Defense: 18,000
Speed: 15,000
Special Ability: Inferno Lash
2. Ethereal Gloom Serpent: Level 6
Attack: 5,000
Defense: 4,500
Speed: 8,000
Special Ability: Ethereal Coil
3. Thunder Python: Level 6
Attack: 6,000
Defense: 4,000
Speed: 5,000
Special Ability: Thunder Strike
4. Queen Bee: Level 8
Attack: 4,000
Defense: 5,000
Speed: 3,500
Special Ability: Swarm of Bees
5. Vermilion Bird: Level 8
Attack: 10,000
Defense: 7,500
Speed: 15,000
Special Ability: Inferno Wings