"Yes, Master Leon, those are the rules," the dean reiterated, his gaze shifting to Christopher.
"Now, do you possess any proof that this Skeleton King does not rightfully belong to Master Leon?"
Christopher nodded, his expression composed. "Dean, if a beast bonded to a Tamer is slain, what consequences befall the Tamer?"
"If a beast is slain, the Tamer suffers a backlash, a severe impact upon their core and heart, often resulting in the expulsion of blood," the dean explained, then added, "But what if your assertion is incorrect? How do you propose to compensate Master Leon for such a grave error?"
"I will provide him with another Legendary-stage beast," Christopher stated confidently.
He then rubbed his rings, and two crimson lights erupted forth, materializing into two towering, fifteen-meter-tall red-feathered eagles that settled behind him.
"...."
"WOW!!!'
The arena erupted in gasps.
"Those... Those are two Legendary-stage beasts! One boasts a combat strength of level eight, and the other... Oh, heavens! A full level nine!" a student exclaimed, his voice laced with awe and terror.
The two eagles spread their immense wings, casting a shadow of astonishment over the entire arena.
"It appears some of you concealed your true strength during the registration test," the dean observed, his eyes fixed upon Mariana, Advika, and Mitchell, who stood a short distance away.
"Oh... these are not even my most formidable beasts," Christopher remarked with a disarming smile, stunning the dean and Leon. "Perhaps this one is among my strongest, but I possess others of even greater power."
'These two beasts alone could obliterate a small town... and he claims they are not his strongest? Is he truly a human?' the dean pondered, a tremor of unease running through him.
He cleared his throat and nodded. "Very well. If Leon is found innocent, you will bestow upon him one of these beasts?"
"No... I demand the strongest one!" Leon interjected, his voice sharp with greed.
"That insolent brat!" Katherine seethed, her hands clenching into fists.
"He has some nerve," Bella muttered, her eyes wide.
"Strongest one? One of these beasts could easily dismantle your skeleton! Let alone both of them... Silence yourself now!" Monica spat, advancing toward them, her expression frigid.
"Master Christopher, please proceed."
Every eye in the arena turned to Christopher. He raised a single finger and issued a concise command.
"Retrieve its core."
WHOOSH
The eagle with the level-nine combat strength hurtled toward the Skeleton King, its talons aimed for a devastating impact. Christopher released his hold on the Skeleton King, who swiftly leaped backward, landing on its feet.
"Do not permit that beast! Destroy it!" Leon shouted, his voice betraying his panic.
Everyone stared at him, aghast. Instead of remaining silent, he was issuing orders to the Skeleton King.
The skeleton nodded and, with a swift gesture, sent its broadsword soaring through the air towards it.
'This fool is truly unwise... Only Reaper or a mythical-stage beast could withstand my eagle... Dispatching the skeleton is merely a death sentence... Precisely as I intend,' Christopher mused, then commanded, "End it."
In a blur of motion, the eagle appeared before the skeleton. Before the skeleton could react, the eagle's talons seized its left hand and sword, crushing them with a single, brutal grip.
The skeleton recoiled, its remaining arm raised in a futile defense. Its eyes widened in horror as the eagle reappeared before it.
The talons ensnared the skeleton's skeletal frame, slamming it into the ground with bone-shattering force. The eagle's beak descended, pulverizing the skeleton king's armor, and with a vicious tug, extracted the core, instantly extinguishing the skeleton's life.
With a powerful beat of its wings, the fifteen-meter bird ascended, returning to Christopher.
The dean, Leon, and Monica retreated a step as the eagle landed behind Christopher, bowing its head.
Christopher extended his palm, a serene smile gracing his lips, as the eagle deposited the core.
All eyes were fixed on Leon, and after a tense twenty seconds, nothing transpired. Instead; Leon was drenched in sweat.
"Master Leon... who bestowed this beast upon you?" the dean inquired, his tone dark.
"This... My... My father gave it to me," Leon stammered.
"We would understand if it were for protection, but using it for competition is unacceptable... Furthermore, despite repeated inquiries, you maintained it was yours, so the responsibility lies with you!" Monica declared.
'Hmm... Who is his father?' Christopher wondered, retrieving his beasts into his rings.
"Very well... Your actions have been verified and are in violation of the rules. Master Leon Lil is hereby disqualified, all his points and victories are nullified... Your victory over Master Mitchell is also void. And you will be punished with two weeks of academy cleaning duty," the dean announced, his voice resonating throughout the arena.
"Two weeks... considering the academy's size. Ouch, I wouldn't dare do it for a day, let alone two weeks," Bella remarked, her surprise evident.
"Indeed, that punishment seems excessively harsh," Chloe agreed.
Katherine turned her head to them. "He targeted my brother; this punishment is too lenient."
Chloe and Bella exchanged glances, then nodded slowly, silently vowing never to offend Christopher in Katherine's presence.
"Understood."
That was all they could say.
_
Adrian sighed softly, relaxing in his seat.
"Master Adrian, shall we still challenge them?" a girl with blue hair and eyes inquired.
"No... Or do any of you possess beasts capable of confronting two of Christopher's eagles?" he asked.
The two exchanged glances and shook their heads.
"Then we will refrain from challenging them. Let us observe the outcome of the academy competition," he decided.
"Very well," the two nodded in unison.
Adrian turned his head to Adonis, who was seated a few rows away, only to find him sound asleep.
"You have to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.
_
[Some moments later.]
"Who dares to bully my son?!"
A thunderous voice echoed throughout the academy arena, silencing everyone.
They looked up to see a man standing atop a colossal black dragon, his face etched with cold fury.
"A mythical-stage beast?! With a level-nine combat strength?!"
The whole arena was utterly dumbfounded.