I am Just an Average Tamer

Then the announcer stepped onto the stage in the arena.

The crowd bursted.

Then he raised a hand, calming the crowd.

"I'm Garvis, the host for today's event, first of all thank you for waiting patiently, but..."

He paused, letting the tension brim, "... the wait is over. The duels are about to BEGIN!"

He emphasises loudly.

Clap! Clap!

The crowed clapped and cheered.

--

An official, with pieces of paper in his hand entered the waiting room.

"Congratulations to all remaining participants. You've proven yourselves in the hunt… but now, it's time to see how you fare against each other."

A ripple of excitement—and tension—ran through the room.

"The next phase," he continued, "will be duels."

Murmurs broke out as the remaining contestants straightened up.

Another guild official stepped forward, holding a glowing crystal orb. He raised it high.

"There are two hundred of you left. You will face off one-on-one. Each of you may summon up to two beasts. There will be two rounds of elimination before we enter the final phase."

The orb pulsed—and suddenly, a massive illusionary board lit up along the wall, names flickering across it.

Contestants gathered scanning for their match-ups.

Kai folded his arms and focused on the board.

He quickly spotted his name—but something felt off.

His brows furrowed as he scanned again. And again.

No sign of Riven.

He glanced across the room.

Aria stood on the far side, arms folded, eyes fixed on the board.

Her usual calm was cracked—her brow tense, lips parted slightly like she was trying to make sense of it.

Their eyes met.

She shook her head once. Not in disbelief—more like denial.

Kai didn't say anything. Just held her gaze for a moment, then looked back at the board.

The glowing board dimmed.

The announcer raised a hand. "You'll now be split into two groups for staging. Each group will be sent to separate holding chambers. Prepare yourselves."

Magic circles lit up beneath their feet.

Soon, the remaining participants were split into two groups, each led to a different chamber.

The air buzzed with tension. Some stretched, others meditated, a few sat with their beasts already out, eyes locked on the steel doors ahead.

A moment later, a voice echoed through the halls once again.

"The first match... begins now!"

The crowd roared.

The massive arena doors slid open.

From the left walked a lean girl in deep green robes.

From the right, a bulky guy walked with an air of confidence.

They walked toward the elevated stone stage in the center of the arena, where a lone referee stood between them.

The referee stepped forward, clad in a dark cloak with the guild insignia. "Combatants. Ready?"

Both tamers nodded silently.

The referee raised a hand—

Then dropped it.

"Begin!"

The two tamers wasted no time.

One summoned a Windtalon Hawk, wings slicing the air as it rose high, while the other called forth a Stonehorn Lizard, its rocky scales glinting under the sun.

The crowd leaned in, breath held.

The hawk dived, its claws glowing with wind essence, but the lizard rolled, conjuring a shield of earth that cracked under the impact.

Dust exploded across the stage.

They clashed again—air howling, stone grinding—until finally, the hawk faltered mid-flight, its energy spent.

The Stonehorn Lizard let out a victorious roar as its tamer stood tall.

The crowd erupted into cheers, applause thundering through the arena as the winner raised a fist.

---

Meanwhile, Kai remained in the waiting area, watching quietly.

Aria appeared, sitting beside him.

"Congrats on making it to the second phase," she said.

Kai blinked, then gave a small nod.

"Same to you."

They sat in silence for a moment, watching the next pair walk into the arena.

Then Kai spoke again.

"Too bad Riven didn't make it."

Aria simply shrugged.

"It's probably his fault. He always underestimates people when it counts."

Kai said nothing, eyes back on the stage as the next match began.

Soon, Aria's name lit up on the board.

Kai turned to her with a calm nod.

"All the best."

She returned the nod silently, stood up and walked towards the arena.

From the opposite side, Darell strolled in, wearing the same smug expression from the forest.

His eyes glinted when he saw her.

"Tch. They're really letting pretty girls in these days, huh?" he sneered. "You sure you're in the right place? The garden's back that way."

The crowd murmured, a few scoffs echoing from the stands.

Aria raised a brow.

Then smirked.

"Don't worry. I'll go easy… on someone who's all bark and no bite."

The crowd snickered.

Darell's face darkened.

"You—!"

He didn't finish.

"Saberwolf, rip her apart!"

His beast lunged—fangs bared, claws ready to shred.

But Aria didn't even flinch.

"Iry," she said calmly.

The sleek obsidian panther leapt forward.

CRASH!

In three clean moves, Saberwolf was slammed into the ground, dazed and out cold.

Darell blinked, stunned.

"H-Heh—fine. Try this then!"

Gasps and cheers rang out.

He summoned a second beast—a Spiketail Raptor.

It didn't last ten seconds.

Ironfang danced around it, struck fast, and ended the fight with a brutal, graceful strike that left the raptor unconscious and twitching in the dust.

The crowd exploded.

Cheers, chants, whistles.

Darell dropped to his knees, stunned, mouth agape.

Aria didn't even glance back.

She turned and walked off the field, composed as ever.

She returned to her seat beside Kai and sat down like nothing happened.

Kai raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

"Didn't show him any mercy, huh?"

Aria shrugged, brushing invisible dust off her shoulder.

"Not my fault. He just didn't have what it takes to back up that big mouth."

After a few more battles, Kai's name appeared on the glowing board.

He stood up and stretched slightly.

Just then, Aria leaned toward him with a sly smile.

"If you beat your opponent quicker than I did, I'll treat you to a meal," she said, arms crossed like it was no big deal.

Kai smirked.

"I'll look forward to it."

He walked toward the arena, eyes scanning his opponent—a tall boy with twin wind falcons perched on his shoulders.

Kai didn't waste time.

"Drakelet, you're up."

The blue-scaled beast let out a low, rumbling growl and padded forward.

"Wind Falcons—Sky Spiral!" the boy commanded.

But the birds didn't even complete their arc before Drakelet vanished in a blur, leaping upward.

With two precise Thunder Claws, the falcons crashed to the ground, stunned.

The battle was over in under thirty seconds.

The crowd roared.

Kai gave a small nod and headed back.

Before he could say a word, Aria casually said,

"It's a tie."

He blinked.

She giggled.

"So now neither of us has to pay. Let's just make Riven treat us since he got knocked out early."

Kai laughed, shaking his head.

"Not a bad idea."

The battles rolled by one after another.

Beasts clashed. The crowd cheered for winners—shouted their names, stomped their feet, roared in approval.

For the losers?

No one really cared.

The crowd was buzzing as the final match of the first round was announced.

"From the western wing—Ralph Vondar!" the announcer called. A tall, lean boy with a silver staff casually walked out, waving confidently at the crowd.

Then came the second name.

"…and facing him—Ghost!"

The moment the name dropped, Kai's body tensed.

His eyes narrowed.

As a boy emerged—draped in all black, boots silent, a dark mask covered face below his eyes.

Aria leaned closer and whispered, "Something feels off about him."

Kai nodded slowly, watching the boy.

His mind raced.

Who was this guy?

'Is he just a random edgy kid who thought 'Ghost' sounded cool?'

It felt too deliberate.

Kai's fists clenched slightly.

Was he just being paranoid…?

Or...

Some was really targeting him?