I am Just an Average Tamer

The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"

"Go!'

Leon shouted, his twin fanged hounds lunging forward.

Ghost didn't speak. He simply raised a hand.

From the swirling shadows behind him, a beast emerged.

A massive Shadow Wolf, its body flickering like smoke, deep violet eyes glowing menacingly.

One moment it stood still.

The next—

Whoosh!

It vanished in a blur and reappeared mid-air, jaws clamping down on both hounds at once.

A pulse of dark energy followed, exploding outward in a shadowy shockwave.

BOOM!

The hounds hit the ground.

Not moving.

The crowd blinked.

Gasps rippled through the arena.

The silence was deafening.

Then the announcer's voice rang out.

"The winner is—Ghost!"

A moment passed.

And then the crowd erupted.

Cheers flooded the air, people chanting his name like he was some kind of legend already.

"Ghost! Ghost! Ghost!"

But the boy didn't react.

He just turned, cloak swaying slightly, and began walking out of the arena—calmly and quietly, like he hadn't just obliterated his opponent with a single move.

Kai stared after him, eyes locked.

Then—

As of sensing him, the boy glanced his way.

Just a flick of his gaze.

That's all it took.

Kai froze.

A chill ran down his spine. His heart pounded—hard—and his hands began to tremble.

He quickly grabbed his wrist, clenching his fist.

"What the hell…?" he whispered to himself.

'Why am I… afraid?'

The boy vanished behind the gates.

The announcer's voice brought everyone back.

"Alright folks, we will now take a 30-minute break before round two begins!"

The crowd shifted, buzzing with excitement and speculations.

Aria nudged Kai gently.

"What do you think about Ghost?" she asked, eyes narrowed. "Any clue who he might be? He's young… but strong."

Kai shook his head slowly, his gaze still lingering on the path Ghost walked.

"I have no idea," he said honestly, looking into her eyes. "Never seen him before."

Then he looked back toward the gate where Ghost had disappeared.

"But you're right."

His voice dropped slightly.

"He's strong. And dangerous."

Aria said nothing, but her gaze didn't leave Kai.

------

The thirty-minute break ended, and the announcer's voice echoed through the arena once again.

"Let the second round begin!"

Cheers erupted from all corners as the first match kicked off.

Unlike the earlier fights, these were tougher, grittier—both contestants giving their all.

The second match was just as intense, dragging on with back-and-forth momentum shifts.

Then came the third match.

The air changed.

"Next battle—Kai versus Ghost!"

The crowd roared louder than ever before.

"Ghost! Ghost! Ghost!"

His name echoed like thunder through the stands.

But Kai wasn't completely outshined.

Among the chaos, Elina and Lina cheered his name, joined by a small group of girls who were also waving wildly.

He could guess why.

Charm stat working overtime.

But none of it mattered.

Not right now.

Because Ghost was already standing across from him.

Still and silent.

Unreadable behind that mask.

'What could be his rank?'

Kai stepped into the arena calmly, eyes locked on his opponent.

He stared at him again.

But this time... he didn't feel that pressure. No sudden chill.

Just calm focus.

'Excluding the previous feeling, his aura seemed to be of Mid-Intermediate Core. And his beast at Low-Intermediate Core.'

Still, he wasn't going to take chances.

He reached into his mind—and summoned her.

"Vex. Let's go."

The Phantom Lynx appeared beside him.

Who was at Peak-Intermediate Core.

His strongest beast.

'Time to put some pressure on Ghost.'

"Start!" the referee announced.

Vex blurred—vanishing with Ghost Steps, cloaked instantly in stealth.

Fast.

Precise.

And—

Deadly.

Kai's eyes locked on Ghost, waiting for a reaction.

But. Nothing.

Then—

SCHLIK.

His shadow flickered

A black blur swept across the arena.

Vex reappeared mid-air, and.

Boom!

Slammed into the wall, unconscious.

It only took one clean slash across her side.

Which even Kai didn't see coming.

The Shadow Wolf stood at Ghost's side again—completely calm.

Kai's eyes went wide; breath caught in his throat. Disbelief quickly turned into creeping

fear.

'How…?'

The crowd exploded.

"Ghost! Ghost! Ghost!"

Elina and Lina slumped in shock—but instantly bounced back up, yelling harder than ever for Kai.

Aria leaned forward slightly, narrowing her eyes, arms crossed tightly.

Kai clenched his fists.

This… wasn't going to be easy.

This was something else entirely.

"Drakelet," he called.

The little scaled beast appeared; lightning crackled around it.

Then—

For the first time since the tournament began—

Ghost spoke.

His voice was calm. Low.

But it sliced through the noise like a blade.

"I'll break you... completely."

The crowd fell silent.

Kai froze. His blood ran cold.

That wasn't trash talk. That was a promise.

Before he could react—before he could even blink—

With a blur of movement.

CRACK.

Drakelet collapsed.

Blood pooled beneath the small dragonling's side, staining the marble crimson.

Kai's heart stopped.

"No—!"

He rushed forward, falling to his knees, cradling Drakelet in his arms.

He was breathing… but barely.

"No no no—stay with me," Kai whispered.

"Match over!" the announcer declared.

"Victor—Ghost!"

The crowd roared louder than ever before.

But Ghost said nothing.

He just turned away, cloak swirling, and walked off the stage without a glance back.

Medics rushed in a moment later, one of them gently taking Drakelet from Kai's arms.

"We've got him, he'll live." the healer said, rushing away.

Kai stood, fists clenched, watching as they carried his partner away.

And then, he followed after them.

Up in the stands, Lina's fists trembled, her nails digging into her palms. "That bastard…"

Elina's wide eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Drakelet…"

Lina placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be okay," she said. "It's just part of the game, remember? He'll be fine."

Elina hesitated… then nodded.

Meanwhile, the announcer's voice echoed once again.

"Next match—Aria versus Ethan!"

Aria stood.

But before stepping forward, she cast a single glance toward the hallway Ghost had vanished into.

Her eyes narrowed.

Then she turned—and walked to the arena, calm as ever.

But her steps hit harder than before.