This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

On the actual day of Kain's match against Serena, perhaps because this was the deciding battle for the champion of their year, their match was arranged to be the final battle of the day. Meaning that all the other rankings had been pretty much decided. They even removed all the stages for each group to form one larger central stage for the two of them.

However, considering both Kain and Serena had used the strategy of pushing their opponents off the stage, it was unknown who a larger battleground benefitted…Probably the viewers since Kain wouldn't be able to make a mist as thick that covered a stage several times the previous size.

Aside from Kain and Serena who would fight to confirm first and second place, the other rankings had been pretty much determined:

Confirmed Ranks 1-8:

Rank 3: Soren, Rank 4: Kairos, Rank 5: Ranya, Rank 6: Lucas, Rank 7: Dwayne, Rank 8: Hailey

Aiden and Addison finished at ranks 10 and 12, respectively. Leonara finished at rank 16. Finn finished at rank 17, and Bridge rank 20. Elias finished second in the bottom group at rank 42.

Aside from Bridge, there were no significant changes in the rankings aside from Bridge, who is now in the top 20 and will be moving into a single room.

Additionally, due to their being subtle differences in the size and spiritual power of each top 5 room, despite only being a one rank difference, Ranya and Kairos will need to switch rooms so that Kairos can get the benefits deserving of his rank 4 placement.

Thankfully with the existence of space rings and special skills, moving from one home to another is not nearly as a time consuming or difficult process as it was back on Earth.

With their own ranks already determined, all of the other students, regardless of if they were pleased with their new placement, were now much more relaxed. Kain could sense that their much more leisurely attitude has caused them to regard Kain and Serena's battle with an almost festive air.

Kain could even swear that he heard someone calling out bets, how much money was supposedly in the pot, and the payout odds of either Kain and Serena winning. Serena being the crowd favourite was definitely reflected in the odds called out. Kain could make a killing is he bet on himself and won! Unfortunately, it was too late to get involved.

Serena and Kain stood facing each other on the stage. Serena stood confidently next to her Elemental Guardian already in the form of the wind spirit. Kain, his expression impassive, tightened his grip on his spear. Despite not being able to make a dense mist that can cover the now enlarged stage, the presence of even a thin mist will help with concealing Bea's thin, difficult to see, mental threads.

At the signal to start, Kain released the mist and his remaining 8 Vespirae. However, his practiced movements proved fruitless when the wind spirit let out a massive gust to disperse all of the fog. Kain cursed under his breath; he knew better than to engage in a battle of attrition with Serena to try and produce more mist.

Her contract would never tire while dispersing the mist, so he quickly stopped wasting his spiritual power.

The crowd buzzed with anticipation. This was the peak battle, and thanks to Serena they'd get to see every moment clearly.

Kain wasn't too fazed by not being able to use the mist, already anticipating that she wouldn't give him that level of leisure. But it was worth a shot.

He knew that this fight would require every ounce of strategy he had developed in the simulations. While Serena's Elemental Guardian could be aggressive and relentless, Kain had learned to exploit weaknesses. He decided to bide his time, watching for the right moment to make his move.

Serena's contract sent sharp blades of wind towards him and all of the Vespirae.

He reacted swiftly, using his spear to deflect the projectiles that while sharp were not too heavy, while his Vespirae zipped around him, creating chaos in the air.

However, the wind blades cut through the air with alarming speed, and while he managed to deflect most of them, a few grazed his arm, drawing blood.

Kain took a deep breath and Bea released a series of mental threads, aiming to fragment Serena's focus. The threads weaved barely noticeable through the air, trying to connect with the wind spirit.

However, Serena noticed the threads and quickly had her contract shift forms, transforming into a fiery phoenix that soared into the air out of the range of the Vespirae and the threads. Kain channeled more spiritual power into Bea to support her extending hundreds of threads over such a great distance.

Those in the audience couldn't help but shudder at the scene. Some knowledge about Kain's abilities had already spread despite his best efforts, so they knew that if even one of those hundreds of delicate looking threads briefly made contact, Kain's unknown contract will use it to control the target.

Therefore, seeing hundreds of such threads, that couldn't be blocked by ordinary means, making their way towards the Elemental Guardian in the sky, they couldn't help but break out into a cold sweat on Serena's behalf. Especially, since the vast majority of them had bet on her.

The phoenix, now far above, unleashed a wave of flames that cascaded down toward Kain and the Vespirae. The fire ignited the air, and Kain felt the intense heat wash over him.

He commanded the Vespirae to create a barrier using their subtle control over the wind element, but considering that they didn't have a specific skill to achieve this effect, whatever shield they made wasn't too strong. It briefly blocked the attack, but the flames were relentless, forcing him to distance himself from blaze.

Due to their seemingly endless supply of spiritual power, Serena's Elemental Guardian was a lot more aggressive in its attacks than the one simulated in the Battlefield.

Likely, distracted by concern for Kain's well-being, Bea's advancing threads momentarily halted their advancement.

Seeing this opportunity, the Elemental Guardian dodged to stationary threads and began to fly away—straight towards Kain.