"I told you before," Ren stepped forward, cutting off Klein's monologue. "That kind of thinking is for halfwits." Klein froze in the doorway. His golden lion manifested more fully. "What did you say?" "Having a beast that is decent in the lower ranks doesn't give you the right to look down on others." Ren's mushrooms pulsed with growing intensity, their light steady and unwavering. "Or to threaten humiliation... or to treat people like objects." "A decent beast?" Klein turned fully. "My golden lion's lineage is the culmination of generations of noble cultivation. You dare call it decent? What next, will you compare it to your pathetic mushrooms?" "Your beast or your noble genes don't make you a better person than anyone else," Ren's voice remained firm, unbending. "And tomorrow won't be the easy victory you imagine against my awesome spore!" Min and Taro straightened slightly at his words. It wasn't a promise of victory, both understood the real odds too well for that. But it was a promise of dignity. "Are you challenging me, mushroom?" Klein stepped forward, but Ren held his ground. "I'm reminding you that arrogance has a price." Ren met Klein's gaze steadily. "And that my friends deserve respect, regardless of tomorrow's outcome." Feng and Astor exchanged wary glances. Few dared confront Klein like this. "Tomorrow," Klein practically spat the word, "you'll regret every single one of those words. And when I'm done with you and your pathetic friends, everyone will see the difference between…" "The difference between someone who needs to humiliate others to feel superior," Ren cut in, "and those who win or lose with dignity." Outside in the dark hallway, the girl held her breath. Her mistake in being seen had caused Klein to reveal something perturbing, but at least now she knew... Though now she would have to report this unexpected development. The Goldcrest heir was saying very concerning things, and she didn't like hearing that at all... At least Ren seemed unwilling to let Klein say whatever he wanted about it. The silence that followed within the room crackled with tension. Golden patterns danced across Klein's skin, pulsing with fury. "Tomorrow," Klein finally spoke, his voice cold as winter frost. "In the arena. We'll settle this once and for all." "Tomorrow," Ren nodded once. When Klein and his followers finally left, Min released the breath he'd been holding. "What was all that about?" Taro asked as they finally closed the door. "Klein being Klein," Min shrugged, though worry lined his face. "He's trying to intimidate you," Liu suggested. "Though I don't know what he meant about Luna... Wait! Is he jealous because Ren seduced her in the room the other day?" "Don't be ridiculous..." Ren sighed. "Ren," Taro began hesitantly, "we..." "I know," Ren turned to face Taro and Min. "I know the odds aren't in our favor. But that doesn't mean we have to accept his threats or his contempt." "You're right. Even if we lose," Min smiled faintly, "at least we'll do it on our terms." "And he'll have to earn his victory," Taro added, his voice stronger now. Liu watched from his corner, a small smile playing on his lips. They might not win tomorrow, but something more important had been strengthened tonight. Ren's mushrooms pulsed softly as he began planning tomorrow's battle. He couldn't promise them victory, but he could ensure Klein never forgot this encounter. ♢♢♢♢ Luna, Liora, and Larissa gathered in the main room each night, a ritual as familiar as breathing. Stay tuned for updates on freewebnovel.com Two of the three cousins shared the characteristic blue hair of the adjacent family, while one bore the blonde of the main line. Each wore it differently, like variations on a noble theme. "You won't believe the horror story I just heard!" One burst into the room, practically trembling with disgust. "Klein is shouting to the four winds that he has a fiancée!" "That's impossible," another replied, sitting ramrod straight with an irritated expression. "Marriage promises can't even be made until sixteen." "B-but that's in 6 years..." mumbled the third cousin from her corner, half-hidden behind a beast manual. "And he went straight to Ren's room to make a scene!" continued the first. The book quivered slightly. "To... to Ren's room?" "Oh, does that interest you?" The storyteller's smile widened mischievously. "It was quite interesting. He defended the right to free choice and everything." "Who did he defend?" the other two asked in unison, one demanding and barely audible. A blush crept across one face, its owner immediately turning away in a futile attempt to hide it. "Is that a blush I see?" "D-don't be silly," the blushing girl kept her face turned away. "It's just warm in here." "B-but we just opened the windows..." "Don't take her side!" The maids, who had remained discreetly in the corners until now, exchanged amused glances. "Young Ren has certainly been showing interesting facets lately," one commented. "Especially in the mines," added another, causing one of the cousins to visibly tense. "It's fascinating how he always knows where to find the best veins and win battles without a beast!" "And how he seems to understand beasts so well..." came the comment from behind the book. "And how certain someone always seems to be aware of his movements," a maid added with feigned innocence. "Enough!" The blushing cousin stood abruptly. "It's not... it's not what you're implying." "And what exactly are we implying?" The playful smile grew. "We haven't mentioned anything about certain eyes following a certain figure in Yang's classes..." The book dropped, revealing a startled face. "Y-you noticed too?" "That's enough!" The blushing girl began herding her cousins toward the door. "The tournament is tomorrow and we need rest." The maids hid their smiles as they watched their young lady practically expel her cousins from the room, their protests and laughter echoing down the hallway. When she finally closed the door, she leaned against it with an exasperated sigh. "Young Ren is quite peculiar, isn't he, my lady?" a maid commented while preparing the bed. The only response was a soft groan and the sound of someone burying their face in a pillow. ♢♢♢♢ The crystal dissolved in Ren's hand, the last of his daily cultivation. In the adjacent bed, Taro absorbed his dose as well. Neither spoke. There was no need. Last night's words still echoed in the room, the promise of dignity. The training field awaited them, ready for battle. Luna's team versus Jin would be an interesting match, but everyone knew who would win. All eyes were on the second battle. The Goldcrest heir against the mushroom boy who seemed to win in interesting ways, leveraging the beasts' low rank to cushion his spore's virtual uselessness. Klein was already there, his golden lion manifesting across his skin. Feng and Astor flanked him, the red cobra and rhinoceros creating an intimidating tableau. In the stands, Ren saw the three cousins with their three maids watching intently. Beside them, the six new students remained silent. What he had said last night... It was a promise that, regardless of the outcome, this battle would be remembered. "First semifinal!" Yang announced. "Team..."