Chapter 266: Mammoth
1st Phase Betting Pool
Ronan Virex Odds: 1.2
Marco Odds: 2.7
Ronan Virex: 346,678,890 AC
Marco: 176,789,890 AC
2nd Phase Betting Pool
Ronan Virex Odds: 1.1
Marco Odds: 3.0
Ronan Virex: 567,890,678 AC
Marco: 298,786,394 AC
It was clear that the public didnât trust Marco at all. Even when he promised an overwhelming return if he somehow won, almost everyone was convinced that Ronan would take the match. The betting house reflected this confidence by lowering Ronanâs odds furtherâbetting on him was practically easy money.
The first reason was obvious: Marco wasnât trained at all. In his fight against Dhalia, even when his beast had been summoned, she defeated him firstâand she had done it without even calling out her own beast.
The second reason lay in Ronanâs reputation. He was infamous, relentless charges were deadly, and his beast mirrored that same ferocity. Together, they formed a deadly duo, especially against beasts like mammoths that leaned heavily toward endurance and defence rather than explosive offence.
The third and most obvious reason was social standing. Marco was a recently risen commoner, a rare genius, yesâbut Ronan hailed from an established noble house. To the public, that difference mattered.
Just as the betting window slammed shut, both combatants summoned their beasts simultaneously.
Ronanâs beast was the same towering 6-meter guardian-like entity as before, its massive frame plated in cooling lava. Jagged cracks ran across its armor, glowing brighter every time it gathered power to strike or move, as if molten light pulsed beneath hardened magma.
Moltenbrand Sentinel (Pseudo 3-star) â Super Bloodline
*pic*
Marcoâs beast, on the other hand, was a tanky 11 to 12-meter Ice Age mammoth. Its tusks were longer than a fully grown adult, arching dangerously forward, their tips coated in a faint sheen of frost. The beastâs eyes were deep and calm, fixed unflinchingly on the Sentinel, radiating quiet endurance.
Regalia Mammoth (Pseudo 3-star) â Super Bloodline
*pic*
Once again, Ronan was as fierce as ever. He charged toward Marco without hesitation, drawing his sword in one fluid motion.
At the same time, the Sentinel moved.
It was as if the sheer size difference didnât matter at all. A beast that had quadrupled its opponentâs mass was nothing more than an obstacle. The Sentinelâs entire body blazed with energy as it surged forward to strike the mammoth.
This was the difference between beasts that looked like real beasts and those that possessed a bipedal frame. The closer a beastâs body structure leaned toward that of humans, the smaller and more compact it tended to becomeâyet far more explosive in power.
The Sentinel leaped into the air and drove a punch straight toward the mammothâs forehead. The mammoth attempted to intercept it with its tusks, but the Sentinel twisted midair, maneuvering around them with precision.
Swoooosssshhh!
Flames erupted, washing over the mammoth from its head down to its forelimbs. Heat distorted the air as the massive beast released a thunderous cry.
Buaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
"Mammon! Use [Ice Burst]!" Marco shouted urgently.
It was the same skill Dhalia had used before.
The mammothâs tusks glowed with a bluish-white radianceâ
THUSSSSSS!
A wave of icy mist exploded outward, instantly extinguishing the flames and hardening the Sentinelâs surface. Frost spread across its magma armour, visibly slowing its movements. Yet before the restraint could fully take hold, heat surged from within the Sentinelâs core, molten cracks flaring brighter as it gradually forced itself to move again.
"Pay attention here!" Ronan barked.
He appeared right in front of Marco, his sword wrapped in writhing flames that hissed and crackled with violent intent.
Marco reacted just in time, drawing his own sword to meet the strike. Butâ
Klink! Klank! Klink! Tham!
Ronanâs swordsmanship completely outclassed him. Within just 3 exchanges, the blade in Marcoâs hand was sent flying.
Marco clenched his teeth as his fist began to glow yellow, aura condensing tightly around it.
"Aura?" Ronan said, a confident smile spreading across his face.
Marco lunged forward, throwing a straight punch aimed at Ronanâs chest. Ronan sidestepped with ease and, in the same motion, drove his sword straight through Marcoâs left chest.
"Arrggghh!" Marco groaned, staggering backward as Ronan pulled the blade free.
Seeing Marco injured, the mammoth panicked. It stomped its massive hoof into the ground, it was aura-coated as earth cracking beneath the impact.
TRRRUUUMMMMMMM!
A violent shockwave rippled outward, destabilizing both Ronan and the Sentinel. Ronan managed to regain his balance quickly, but the Sentinel wasnât as fortunate. One of the mammothâs tusks pierced straight through its abdomen, lifting the massive guardian off the ground.
It was almost as if the mammoth was taking revenge.
"Hrrrrhhhh..." the mammoth rumbled as its tusk began to glow. Cold energy surged directly into the Sentinelâs body, rapidly cooling the molten magma that formed its armor and creating a petrifying effect.
"Sentinel, use [Flame Burst]!" Ronan barked again, already preparing to dash toward Marco, who was clutching his wounded chest with a pained expression.
It was as if an engine revved deep inside the Sentinel. Its eyes flared with lightâ
Then came the burst.
A violent eruption of flames engulfed the surroundings, scorching the arena floor and forcing the air itself to recoil.
"I-Ice Burst!" Marco commanded through gritted teeth.
The mammoth truly lived up to its reputation as a tank. Even as its fur singed and burned, the beast remained calm, enduring the pain as it unleashed another wave of ice. Fire and frost collided head-on, steam and energy exploding outward as the clash of elements intensified.
By far, this was shaping up to be the most interesting match yet. A large part of the excitement came from the spectacular scenes created by the opposing elements.
Dhalia, in particular, was fully invested.
"I didnât know this guy had the same element as mine," she said thoughtfully. "Did he use Ice Burst? Hmmm... itâs not that proficient. Looks like I need to give him some pointers..."
As a noble raised in cold regions, Dhalia had been trained extensively in ice techniques. Her understanding of the element was far superior.
"Donât bother," Lyra replied calmly. "I can already see some Ice element professor taking interest in him."
She gestured subtly around them, reminding everyone that this was, after all, an academy.
Dhalia nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Leo and Leon were engaged in their own conversation.
"That mammoth looks very loyal and obedient to him," Leo commented, eyes fixed on the arena. "I wonder what someone needs to do to achieve that."
Leon nodded slowly.
"Iâm sure that in a few years, he might achieve soul fusion with that beast."
"Hmmm... I wonder what it would look like, seeing someone enter soul fusion..." Leo murmured, completely absorbed in the fight, missing the smirk that appeared on Leonâs face.
Before Leon could remark somethingâ
THAP!
Leon winced as something struck him with surprising force.
"Whoâ"
"What are you people talking about all alone, huh?" Uraan said loudly. "Didnât Vice Principal Tarun say we should get to know each other? Letâs talk!"
He had grown bored after losing his previous conversation partnerâMarco.
Uraan then turned toward Lily, who was seated close to Leo.
"Kuhum... Miss Lily," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "I think you should create some companionship with the other 2 ladies in the room."
Uraan chatted casually with Lyra and Dhalia, addressing them by their first names with ease. But around Lily, he was noticeably cautious. Somehow, his beast instincts were constantly on edge in her presenceâas if Lily had already plotted multiple ways to kill everyone in the room.