Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 288

Yang positioned himself between both teams, his expression as impenetrable as always. "The rules remain the same. Victory by incapacitation or surrender." He looked to both sides, evaluating the combatants' readiness. "Begin."

What followed was a display of speed that left many spectators open-mouthed. Luna invoked her shadow wolf, her body acquiring that characteristic spectral black outline as she executed a spatial jump, disappearing into darkness to reappear right behind Liora.

But Liora had anticipated the movement. Her will-o'-wisp manifested in a spiral of blue flames that enveloped her just as Luna attacked, teleporting her out of range and pushing the Starweaver away.

"Predictable as always, cousin," Liora smiled, flames dancing between her fingers. "You always attack first the element you consider most dangerous to your team."

Meanwhile, Larissa had executed her own spatial jump, appearing next to Luna with her mineral spear prepared. The mineral fairy beside her shimmered with a golden radiance.

Mayo reacted quickly, fusing with her cloud bird and projecting a thick mist that began forming around Luna, making visibility difficult.

"That won't work!" exclaimed Larissa, her eyes glowing with a golden tone. "I can see through your mist!"

Her words were confirmed when her spear pierced the haze with precision, forcing Luna to execute an evasive maneuver within the shadows that barely saved her from a direct hit.

The entire exchange had lasted barely a second...

"Mana vision!" Taro exclaimed from the stands. "The cousins can see energy patterns directly!"

Ren nodded. "All of them have it..."

In the arena, Matilda had begun fortifying her position, her tree turtle creating a perimeter of stakes that emerged from the ground in defensive formations and giving Luna jumping points with the wood shadows. But she had barely completed the first line when Liora turned her attention toward her.

"I don't think so," she murmured, extending both hands.

Her will-o'-wisp split into dozens of small flames that flew like independent projectiles toward the stakes. Upon contact, the wood instantly carbonized, turning to ash before they could serve as a barrier or anchor points.

"Matilda, watch out!" warned Luna, trying to execute another jump to help her companion.

But she was intercepted by Larissa, who appeared directly behind her. Luna's shadow claws barely had time to stop the brilliant mineral stake. The clash of opposing energies when both collided right after teleportation created an energy wave that pushed both of them backward.

"Your fight is with me, Luna," declared Larissa, her eyes fixed on her cousin's as they both separated from the impact.

Mayo tried to reduce the effect of Liora's fire with her watery mist to save Matilda, but that distracted her...

Maria had directed her attack against Mayo. With her reinforced armadillo shell, charged like a tank, unstoppable and precise.

"Mayo, behind you!" shouted Matilda, but the warning came too late.

Maria hit Mayo from a blind angle. The cloud bird tamer fell rolling several meters, her concentration broken and the mist protecting Matilda momentarily dissipating.

"Defensive formation!" ordered Luna, trying to regroup her team.

But Team Larissa's coordination was flawless.

Indeed, each new appearance showed signs of fatigue in both combatants. Their breathing became more labored, sweat beaded on their foreheads, and the intervals between jumps progressively increased.

Meanwhile, Mayo had managed to recover to counterattack against Maria. Her cloud bird, fully manifested in her body, gave her advantages for her own hand-to-hand combat style against the armadillo.

"Interesting concept!" acknowledged Maria, her voice calm despite the situation. "But your blows have always been too soft."

With a precise movement, she sent a kick directly at Mayo's leg, ignoring the blow to her face thanks to her armor.

Mayo screamed when her leg was impacted, the pain from the armored strike transmitting through her body. But she didn't give up and caught Maria's arm and leg, throwing her hard against the ground.

She couldn't knock her out with her armor and increased defense, but she could contain her and...

"Luna!" she called desperately. "I can't maintain her for too…"

Her words were interrupted when Liora appeared behind her, a ball of will-o'-wisp materialized in her hand.

"I'm sorry," Liora murmured, placing the burning hand inches from Mayo's neck. "It's nothing personal."

Mayo assessed her situation, although she had Maria trapped, she realized that Matilda was already out of combat, and closed her eyes, mixing frustration and respect for the superior tactics.

Liora eliminated her.