Two weeks had passed since the events of the last time,during of which Courage had dedicated most of his time to cultivating his beast. The hard work had been fruitful, yet the looming tension of competition hung in the air.
Today marked the start of the much-anticipated Academy League. The announcement was met with a mix of excitement and nerves among the students. The league system was straightforward but demanding: random pairings would determine the matches, with each student required to participate in two mandatory matches per week.
Victories and losses would directly influence a student's ranking, ensuring that future pairings would be with opponents of a similar rank. This dynamic system aimed to create a fair playing field while fostering growth.
Beyond the mandatory matches, students were also allowed to issue direct challenges to others, provided they had the approval of the instructors. These challenges added an element of strategy and rivalry, as ambitious students sought to climb the ranks or settle personal disputes.
During the two-week period leading up to the Academy League, Courage focused intently on preparing himself. He managed to increase his beetle's Beast Marks to around 350—a respectable pace of progress, as remarked by Dan .
However, this development came at a steep cost. Cultivating at this pace required a significant investment of spirit stones, and Courage had burned through a substantial portion of his savings, leaving him with only 195 stones. While he had started with an above-average amount compared to his peers, the rapid consumption rate posed a growing concern.
Barely two weeks had passed, and he had already spent nearly a third of his reserves. At this rate, his cultivation progress was unsustainable in the long term, forcing Courage to confront the harsh reality that he needed alternative methods to maintain his pace or risk falling behind.
The strain on his resources added an extra layer of pressure as the Academy League began. Courage would need to balance cultivation, league matches, and resource management—a juggling act that could determine whether he thrived or struggled in the days to come.
But for now, Courage set aside his concerns about resources and focused on the task at hand—his first match in the Academy League. The match was about to begin, and he was already standing within the academy arena.
The arena was modest in size, designed for small-scale duels rather than grand spectacles. It consisted of a square ring several meters across, slightly sunken below the observation stands. The stands were sparsely populated, with only a few students and instructors scattered around, offering an atmosphere of quiet anticipation rather than overwhelming noise or excitement.
Courage walked up to the edge of one of the stands, his boots echoing faintly on the metal surface. He looked down at the ring, its walled boundaries marking the limits of the fight. The tension in the air was palpable, but Courage took a steadying breath as Dan's voice echoed in his mind.
"You ready?" Dan’s tone was calm, a mix of encouragement and reassurance.
"As ready as I can be," Courage replied quietly, his voice tinged with nervousness. "We did train really hard these past days, didn’t we?"
"We sure did. But it’s okay to feel nervous—as long as you don’t let it hinder you. Take this first match as an opportunity, nothing tempers and strengthens the mind and will like the heat of battle."
Courage sighed, shaking off the lingering tension. "Sure."
"Good. Now go get ’em, tiger."
With those final words of encouragement, Dan’s voice faded from his mind. Courage had reached the top of the stand, now facing his opponent—a boy from another class. There wasn’t much to note about him; he looked ordinary, his posture steady but unremarkable.
Courage’s fingers tightened briefly into a fist before he relaxed, stepping forward. His first match was about to begin.
The arena grew silent as both Courage and his opponent prepared to summon their beasts. Courage took a steady breath, reaching inward to his domain. A glowing white light radiated from his torso, condensing into the form of his full strength beetle. The creature stood firm on its six sturdy legs, its chitin glinting faintly under the arena lights.
Opposite him, his opponent summoned his own beast—a lithe and sleek creature known as the Ember-Eyed Gecko. It was a striking contrast to the beetle, with scales shimmering in hues of crimson and orange, and small, flickering flames burning in its fiery yellow eyes. The air around it shimmered with heat.
The instructor at the edge of the ring raised his hand. "Begin!"
The Ember-Eyed Gecko moved first, darting forward with surprising speed. Its claws left faint scorch marks on the ground as it closed the distance, a flash of orange fire gathering in its mouth.
Courage reacted quickly. "Hold your ground!" he commanded his beetle. The full-strength beetle braced itself, lowering its horn in preparation.
The gecko spat a fireball mid-charge, aiming straight for the beetle. With a sharp buzz, the beetle unfurled its wings and leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The fireball exploded against the ground, leaving a blackened scorch mark where the beetle had stood moments before.
"Good!" Courage shouted. "Now counter!"
The beetle spun mid-air and landed, its horn glowing faintly with spirit energy. It charged forward with surprising speed, its weight causing the ground to tremble slightly. The gecko hissed, leaping sideways to avoid the beetle’s horn.
But Courage had anticipated this. "Sweep!"
The beetle shifted its charge, swinging its massive horn sideways like a club. The gecko, caught mid-leap, was struck by the edge of the horn and sent tumbling across the ring. It scrambled to its feet, growling, but its movements were a bit slower now.
"Don’t let it recover!" Courage commanded.
The beetle pressed forward, raising its horn for another strike. However, the gecko hissed sharply, its ember-like eyes flaring with intensity. It slammed its tail against the ground, creating a burst of flames that forced the beetle to retreat momentarily.
"Smart move," Courage muttered under his breath. The Ember-Eyed Gecko was wounded, but it wasn’t out of tricks yet.
The gecko shifted tactics, circling the beetle cautiously, its body low to the ground. Small embers flickered from its mouth as it prepared another attack. The beetle stood firm, its horn glowing brighter as it readied itself for the next clash.
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Both beasts stared each other down, the air between them crackling with tension. It was a battle of endurance and strategy now, and Courage could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he prepared his next move.
Then Dan's voice resounded " keep it cool you're doing alright, you've been using your spirit sense on your opponent right"
"Yeah"
"Ok so what did you learn"
In the matches it's not only the beasts that determine victory but also Thier tamers ability to command them as well as Thier ability to analyse Thier opponents and come up with a proper combat strategy accordingly
" Ok from what I detected this thing is a fire type obviously, and judging by what I see from it's marks and the way it fights it seems that it's ability most likely allows it to convert movement into fire power that it can then store and use in it's attacks "
"Good analysis, knowing this what do you think you should do"
" Restrict it's movement and thus cut off it's source of fire power "
"Correct "
Courage replied, "Well, that's easier said than done. The gecko's should now be very cautious after our previous attack, and restricting it will be tough, especially with its speed. I don’t want to end up chasing it around, either—that’ll only charge its flames more, and it’ll exhaust my beetle."
Courage’s hesitation was evident, and it was costing him. “Be decisive, Courage,” Dan said firmly, his tone cutting through the tension. “This fight can't drag on forever. The longer you take, the more ground you give that gecko to exploit. End this now. Listen carefully—force it into a corner where it can’t use its speed to its advantage, and when the moment comes, strike without hesitation.”
Courage nodded, taking in the advice. His grip on the edge of the arena tightened as he turned back to the fight.
The ember-eyed gecko and the full-strength beetle stood motionless for a brief moment, locked in an intense standoff. Their gazes burned with determination, but the calm didn’t last. In an instant, they clashed again, their movements a blur. The gecko darted around with incredible speed, circling the beetle to charge its flames, launching small fireballs from a safe distance. It attacked and retreated, staying just out of reach, frustrating the beetle’s attempts to close the gap.
But the beetle held its ground, dodging most of the attacks and deflecting some with sheer strength, swinging its limbs and horn powerfully to dissipate the fiery projectiles. The back-and-forth continued, the battlefield echoing with the sounds of combat. Several breaths of time passed, but Courage stayed focused, his eyes scanning the arena. He was waiting for the right moment.
Then, he saw it. The ember-eyed gecko’s pattern of movement left it too close to one of the arena's corners. Courage seized the opportunity. "Now!" he commanded, his voice sharp and precise.
At his signal, the full-strength beetle activated its ability: Maximum Effort. Its body surged with raw energy, drawing 100% of its strength but knowing the ability couldn’t last long, Courage quickly followed with another command. “Convert to speed—charge!”
With incredible force, the beetle funneled its power into its limbs and launched itself at the gecko with lightning speed. Startled, the gecko tried to retaliate, firing a rapid barrage of small fireballs in an attempt to stop the charge. But it was no use. The beetle plowed through the attacks, seemingly ignoring the damage as it barreled forward. The gecko, caught off guard by its opponent's reckless determination, failed to dodge in time.
The beetle’s horn struck the gecko head-on, sending it tumbling across the arena. The impact left the ember-eyed gecko struggling to regain its footing. Its tamer shouted frantically, trying to rally it, but the beetle was relentless. Adjusting its course, it charged again, closing the gap before the gecko could recover.
Trapped in the corner of the arena, the gecko was unable to escape. Courage’s plan had worked. He had used the flow of the battle to position his opponent where it had no room to maneuver. “Finish it now!” he commanded, his voice unwavering.
The full-strength beetle rose onto its hind legs, its front limbs poised to strike. With a furious barrage of punches and strikes, it unleashed its relentless assault. Ora ora ora ora ora! The sound of its attacks echoed as it pounded the gecko with unrelenting force.
The ember-eyed gecko fought back desperately, but its efforts were futile. It had depleted most of its firepower trying to repel the beetle’s earlier charge. Now cornered and unable to run to recharge it's fire, it was completely helpless.
The wild assault drew gasps and murmurs from the audience.
“Oh, that poor gecko...” one viewer whispered, wincing at the relentless barrage.
“Why does he have to beat it like that?” another muttered, shaking their head.
“Damn, does the gecko owe that beetle money or something? Relax a bit!” a spectator joked nervously.
“This is just brutal,” someone else said, unable to look away.
Oblivious to the chatter, Courage stayed focused, his resolve unwavering. He wasn’t attacking out of malice—he was determined to finish the fight and secure the victory. He directed his beetle to continue its relentless assault, unwilling to give the gecko any chance to recover. The crowd’s reactions didn’t reach him; his mind was locked on the match.
The referee’s voice finally broke through the tension, snapping Courage out of his tunnel vision. “Stop! Stop! Your opponent is unable to continue!”
Courage blinked, snapping back out of his thoughts. He glanced at the gecko, now lying on the ground, trembling in pain and barely able to move. Its ember-like eyes, once fierce and determined, now seemed to ask what it had done to deserve such a brutal defeat.
Dan’s voice cut through the moment laced with a hint of reproach. “Maybe you took it a bit too far.”
Courage didn’t respond immediately, his gaze lingering on the fallen gecko. “…,”unsure how to justify himself.
With that, the referee raised his hand and announced, “The winner of today’s match is Courage and his Full-Strength Beetle!”
And with that courage first match was over with a victory , once outside the arena Dan said " well done kid , your first battle as a tamer and you won it but remember this is only the beginning don't let one win get into your head no matter happens you should always...."
But before Dan can finish his speech courage shouted to himself " I am the freaking beeeeest" clearly overjoyed and celebrating his victory
Dan"....."
Maybe a little too much .
Obviously hyped up by his victory the usually calm courage was excited for his next match , he had experienced the sweet nectar of victory and he clearly wanted more but luckily Dan was there to discipline him and not let his excitement overtake him, and a few days later courage was having his second match
His opponent this time had a rock type beast called the rock jaw turtle, The Rock Jaw Turtle was an imposing creature, standing low to the ground with a body that seemed carved from stone. Its massive, jagged shell was layered with thick, uneven slabs of rock, offering a natural fortress that made it almost impervious to physical attacks. The creature’s head was broad and flat, its powerful jaws resembling a pair of stone crushers, capable of snapping through metal with ease. Its legs were short but sturdy, each step causing faint tremors on the ground, emphasizing its immense weight. Despite its bulk, the turtle exuded a sense of calm menace, as if it knew its raw strength alone was enough to deter most challengers.
Its tamer, a confident boy named Dax, stood on the opposite side of the arena. Dax’s posture radiated assurance, and his smirk only grew as he noticed Courage sizing up the Rock Jaw Turtle.
“Impressive, huh?” Dax called out, his voice carrying a tone of cocky pride. “This beast’s shell can tank anything you throw at it, and its jaws? Let’s just say your beast might end up as lunch.”
Courage narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. The Rock Jaw Turtle was clearly a tank, built for defense and raw power. If Courage’s beetle got caught by those jaws or failed to penetrate that shell, the match could turn into an endurance contest that he might not win.
He needed to find a strategy that could bypass the turtle’s defenses .
Dan’s voice echoed in his mind, calm and analytical. “This one’s a tough nut to crack, but every beast has a weakness. The Rock Jaw Turtle is slow and relies heavily on its shell for defense. your beast can definitely outmaneuver it and if you can find a way to destabilize it, you might have a chance.”
Courage nodded, his eyes scanning the turtle. “Its legs are short, and it’s not built for speed. If I can keep my beetle mobile and avoid its jaws, I might be able to wear it down.”
“Good thinking,” Dan replied. “But don’t underestimate its strength. One wrong move, and your beetle could be crushed. Focus on precision and timing.”
The referee raised his hand, signaling the start of the match. “Begin!”
The Rock Jaw Turtle lumbered forward, its heavy steps causing the ground to shake slightly. Its tamer, Dax, stood confidently, arms crossed, as if he had already won. “Let’s see what your beetle can do against this!” he taunted.
Courage ignored the taunt, focusing on his beetle. “Stay mobile! Don’t let it catch you!”
The beetle buzzed its wings, darting around the arena with agility. The turtle’s head swiveled slowly, tracking the beetle’s movements, but it was clear that the turtle’s speed was no match for the beetle’s. Courage’s strategy was working—for now.
“Keep it up!” Dan encouraged. “Look for an opening!”
The beetle continued to dart around the turtle, occasionally landing quick strikes with its horn or limbs. However, the turtle’s shell absorbed most of the impact, leaving it unharmed. Dax smirked, clearly unimpressed. “Is that all you’ve got? My turtle’s barely feeling it!”
Courage gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He needed to find a way to deal real damage. “Dan, any ideas?”
“The turtle’s underbelly might be less armored,” Dan suggested. “If you can flip it over, you might have a shot.”
Courage nodded, a plan forming in his mind. “aim for its legs! Try to destabilize it!”
The beetle obeyed, swooping low and targeting the turtle’s legs with precise strikes. The turtle growled, its movements becoming slightly unsteady as the beetle’s attacks landed. Dax’s smirk faltered, and he shouted, “Don’t let it get to you! Crush that bug!”
The turtle lunged forward, its jaws snapping shut with a loud *clack*, but the beetle dodged just in time. Courage’s heart raced as he saw an opportunity. “Now! Maximum Effort!”
The beetle’s body surged with energy as it activated its ability. With a powerful burst of speed, it charged at the turtle, aiming for its legs. The impact caused the turtle to stagger, its balance faltering. Courage seized the moment. “Flip it over!”
The beetle hooked its horn under the turtle’s shell and, with a mighty heave, flipped the massive creature onto its back. The crowd gasped as the turtle flailed, its legs kicking helplessly in the air.
“Finish it!” Courage commanded.
The beetle unleashed a flurry of strikes on the turtle’s exposed underbelly, its attacks landing with great force. The turtle roared in pain, its defenses finally breached. Dax’s confidence shattered, and he shouted, “No! Get up! Fight back!”
But it was too late. The turtle’s movements slowed, and it eventually went still, unable to continue. The referee stepped forward, raising his hand. “The winner is Courage and his Full-Strength Beetle!”
The crowd erupted in cheers, though some still murmured about the intensity of Courage’s victories. Courage, however, was too focused on the win to notice. He breathed a sigh of relief, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline.
Dan’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Good job, kid. You’re learning fast. But remember, each match will only get tougher from here. Don’t get complacent.”
Courage nodded, his excitement tempered by Dan’s words. “I know. I’ll won't forget.”
As he left the arena, Courage couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. He had won his second match, proving that his hard work and strategy were really paying off. But he also knew that the road ahead would be challenging. The Academy League was just beginning, and Courage was determined to rise to the top, no matter the obstacles.
With Dan’s guidance and his own determination, Courage was ready to face whatever came next. The heat of battle had ignited a fire within him, and he was eager to see how far he could go.