Kazel took his stand, alone yet towering. Unlike the others who led lines of disciples behind them, he walked with no entourage—only his presence, and that alone was enough. His stride was smooth, his confidence effortless as if he had rehearsed this moment a thousand times over. Yet, it was not arrogance that reigned over the atmosphere, but something far more dangerous.
The crowd buzzed, drowning in a storm of emotions—disbelief, curiosity, awe. Murmurs spread like wildfire, each whisper feeding the growing tension. Was this truly the sickly boy they once dismissed?
From the second level, Noel watched with a quiet smile, his arms crossed over his chest. His boy—no, his heir—was standing exactly where he belonged.
Weh, on the other hand, furrowed his brows, his disbelief barely concealed. His gaze darted toward Noel, seeking an answer, but the man didn't spare him a glance. The silence between them was deafening.
"Hahaha," a boisterous laugh erupted from above. Pao Pao slapped his knee, grinning from ear to ear. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
"The Immortal Sect…" Wurong muttered, his eyes narrowing. "What an ancient name to resurrect."
"So this is your pick for the year?" Nobu asked, casting a glance at Pao Pao.
The merchant smirked but didn't bother turning. His gaze remained locked on Kazel, the only name that mattered in this moment.
On the battlefield of prodigies, Kazel now stood among the chosen—Yuanggai, Batu, Xie Lian, Jin Shui, Mei Rong, and Salma. The seven prodigies of the Land of the Lamb. Yet, unlike the others, who bore the weight of their sects on their backs, Kazel carried nothing. No name to protect. No legacy to uphold. And yet, the pressure of his peers slid off him like dust shaken from his shoulder.
He raised his chin, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The world had doubted him once. They would soon regret it.
The moment the announcer's words rang through the air, the energy in the coliseum shifted. The crowd roared in anticipation as the prodigies prepared to reveal their spirit beasts.
"What a way, what a start!" the announcer bellowed. "Then please, let's proceed with the annuals! Dear head disciples—show us YOUR BEAST!"
A hush of expectation fell over the audience before the first head disciple took center stage.
Mei Rong of the Blossom Sect stepped forward first. She closed her eyes, and a soft golden glow surrounded her. When she opened them, a Tiger Butterfly materialized behind her. Its enormous wings unfurled, glistening with gold and black patterns that shimmered under the sunlight. It fluttered with delicate grace, yet the aura it emitted was anything but gentle—it was a predator cloaked in beauty.
The crowd gasped."So elegant!""It looks harmless, but that thing can shred people with its wings alone!""Blossom Sect always brings something beautiful to the table!"
Mei Rong smirked, soaking in the admiration. "Try not to fall in love, boys. I know it's hard."
Yuanggai snorted. "A butterfly? What are you going to do, flutter me to death?"
Mei Rong rolled her eyes. "That's funny, coming from someone who thinks setting himself on fire makes him special."
Yuanggai clicked his tongue but said nothing.
Batu of the Iron Fortress Sect stepped forward next. With a deep breath, the ground beneath him quaked. A Green Tortoise appeared, its enormous shell glowing with an emerald hue. It exuded an unbreakable presence, like an ancient guardian that had stood the test of time.
The crowd murmured in approval."Look at that thing! A walking fortress!""Iron Fortress Sect never disappoints!""Batu's defense is unmatched! Who could even put a scratch on him?"
Batu smirked, crossing his arms. "Try breaking through my shell, I dare you."
Jin Shui scoffed. "Or I could just wait for you to get tired and move at the speed of a snail."
Batu shrugged. "You assume I need to move when my opponent crumbles before reaching me."
Next, Xie Lian of the Silent Moon Sect stepped forward. A piercing screech echoed across the coliseum as a Assault Owl shot out from behind him, its red eyes gleaming like rubies in the dark. Its wings spread wide, casting a shadow over some of the disciples.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"That thing is terrifying!"
"Silent Moon Sect always chooses something cold and ruthless!"
"If that owl targets you, you might as well give up!"
Mei Rong hummed. "Fast, silent, and deadly."
Xie Lian smirked. "Unlike you, I don't need to be flashy to be dangerous."
Mei Rong fanned herself dramatically. "Oh, dear, how will I ever recover from that insult?"
Jin Shui of the Serpent River Sect slithered forward, his presence eerily smooth. A low, menacing hiss filled the air before a Serpent Fang coiled into existence beside him. Its long, scaled body undulated like a flowing river, and its forked tongue flicked out, sensing everything around it.
The audience whispered among themselves."That thing is unsettling.""Serpent River Sect never plays fair.""Jin Shui is patient—he waits for his prey to tire before striking."
Yuanggai sneered. "You fight like one too—always waiting for an opening instead of facing your enemy head-on."
Jin Shui smirked. "And yet, a single bite is enough to kill. Your flames? Just flashy light shows."
Yuanggai clenched his jaw but didn't respond.
Then came Yuanggai. The moment he stepped forward, the temperature rose. A pillar of flame erupted from behind him, and from within, a Blazing Roc emerged. Its massive wings stretched wide, flickering with tongues of fire, its sharp talons glowing molten hot. The sheer heat of its presence forced some weaker disciples to step back.
The crowd roared in excitement."That's what I'm talking about!""Jade Lotus Sect's strongest disciple!""That fire could burn the whole arena down!"
Yuanggai smirked, relishing in the admiration. "I hope you all brought ice, or you might just melt."
Salma of the Rising Stone Sect stepped forward with a calm yet commanding aura. A chilling mist spread beneath her feet, and from the fog, a Snow Fox gracefully emerged. Its pristine white fur shimmered under the sunlight, and its tail swayed rhythmically. Its eyes, icy blue and calculating, surveyed the coliseum with silent judgment.
The crowd's reaction was a mix of admiration and intimidation."It's beautiful!""Cold and ruthless, just like its master."
Yuanggai let out a low whistle. "Impressive, Salma. But ice melts against fire."
Salma smirked. "And fire dies when the air is cold enough."
The two locked eyes, the tension between them crackling like the opposing elements they wielded.
Then, all attention turned to the last one. The prodigies stood at the front, but there was still one who had yet to summon his beast.
Kazel.
The cheers of the crowd softened as curiosity replaced excitement.
"Wait, what beast does he even have?""The Immortal Sect... didn't they disappear?""Maybe he doesn't even have a beast."
The head disciples glanced at him, some with curiosity, others with amusement.
Yuanggai scoffed. "What's the matter? Can't summon it?"
Mei Rong smirked. "Maybe he's just shy."
Xie Lian raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe... he has nothing to show."
The announcer hesitated, then finally spoke, "And finally... Kazel of the Immortal Sect! Will you show us your beast?"
The entire coliseum held its breath.
For a moment, there was nothing. Kazel stood in the center of the grand stage, his smirk unwavering as he raised a single hand. The anticipation in the air was thick—everyone waited, some in eager curiosity, others in thinly veiled amusement.
Then, with a faint pulse of energy, a beast emerged.
A Mustang Black Rabbit.
Silence.
The beast, no bigger than a small dog, stood proudly beside Kazel. Its sleek black fur shimmered under the sunlight, and its long ears twitched in alertness. Despite its size, it had an air of quiet confidence—though that did little to change the immediate reaction.
The coliseum, once drowned in tension and awe from the previous spirit beasts, suddenly turned into a sea of stunned disbelief.
Then—laughter.
It started as a few murmurs, then rippled into outright mockery.
"Pfft—HAHAHA!""Wait, wait, wait! Is that really his beast?!""A rabbit?! He summoned a damn rabbit?!"
Even the other disciples couldn't hold back.
Yuanggai, wiping a tear from his eye, shook his head. "I almost thought you were serious, but this? This is what you're bringing to the Scale Dalgona?!"
Mei Rong giggled, covering her mouth. "Oh dear, Kazel, did you accidentally bring out a pet instead of your beast?"
Jin Shui leaned closer, his grin sly. "If you don't have a real spirit beast, you could've just said so."
Batu chuckled as he crossed his arms. "I guess not everyone here is a prodigy."
Even Xie Lian, who usually kept a composed demeanor, shook his head with an amused smile. "I expected something strange from you, but this... this is beyond my imagination."
The crowd was relentless.
"The Immortal Sect? More like the House of Pets!""Maybe he's planning to race it instead of fight!""What's it going to do? Hop around the battlefield?!"
Even among the higher seats, the reactions were mixed.
Nobu sighed and rubbed his temples. "And here I thought there would be an interesting underdog this year."
Wurong, arms crossed, gave Pao Pao a side glance. "This was your pick?"
Pao Pao, however, grinned widely. "Oh, you just wait."
Noel sat in his seat, unfazed by the spectacle. Weh, on the other hand, was visibly confused and irritated, whispering something under his breath.
Through it all, Kazel never flinched.
He simply smirked.
His gaze swept over the jeering crowd, the head disciples laughing amongst themselves, the amused spectators, the skeptics watching from above.
He lifted his hand and gently patted the Mustang Black Rabbit on its head.
"Oh, you really shouldn't have laughed at the rabbit," he mused, eyes locked onto Salma. "He just got adopted."
Before anyone could process his words, a second pulse of energy surged through the coliseum.
The air trembled.
From behind Kazel, two massive figures emerged.
At first, the crowd thought it was an illusion—a trick of the light. But no, they were real.
A pair of Shishi.
Majestic lion-like creatures with thick golden manes, their eyes glowing with a deep, ancient light. Their presence alone exuded an aura of dominance. One of them let out a low, guttural growl, while the other stomped its mighty paws on the ground, sending dust into the air.
Silence fell upon the coliseum.
Then—
"S-Shishi?!" Wurong's eyes went wide, his body leaning forward.
"No…" Nobu inhaled sharply, gripping his knee. "That's not just a Shishi… that's a pair! He hosts three beasts in his soul..." his pupils trembling.
The shock rippled through the prodigies.
Yuanggai clenched his fists, his Blazing Roc shifting uncomfortably behind him. Xie Lian's Assault Owl flared its wings, instinctively wary. Batu's Green Tortoise let out a defensive hiss. Mei Rong's Tiger Butterfly fluttered anxiously in place. Even Jin Shui, who had remained smug and uninterested before, looked like he had swallowed a stone.
Salma herself took a step back, her Snow Fox curling its tail around her legs. "That's…"
And then—
"Hahahahahaha!"
Pao Pao burst into laughter, slapping his knee, the sound of his amusement ringing loud and clear over the stunned audience.
The shockwave hit the crowd a second later.
"SHISHI?! A PAIR OF SHISHI?!""IS THIS REAL?!"I THOUGHT THOSE BEASTS WERE SO RARE THEY NEVER APPEARED IN COMPETITIONS! AT LEAST NEVER A PAIR!""KAZEL! KAZEL! KAZEL!"
A roar of cheers erupted from the stands. The very same people who had mocked him seconds ago were now chanting his name.
Rui and Lina, who had been gripping the edges of their seats in disbelief, finally snapped out of it. Saya smirked from her seat. Yiren, arms crossed, grinned.
Yet, in the midst of it all, Kazel simply stood there, arms crossed, his smirk unwavering.
He let the roars of his name fill the coliseum. Let the awe sink in. Let the weight of his presence settle upon everyone in attendance.
Weh, on the other hand, clenched his jaw. (What the hell is this…?!)