WHAT! I Have To Kill Heaven's Son To Live!

Reon stared ahead as the familiar system panels materialized before his eyes, his pupils widening in astonishment.

[Both of Host's Legendary-Lineage Companion Beasts have successfully awakened their Bloodlines.]

[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Passive Skill: "Echo of the Beast Soul" from your profession: Miraculous Beast Tamer.]

[Skill Description: The Host permanently inherits a portion of the abilities and skills from contracted beasts.]

["Echo of the Beast Soul" is now in effect.]

[Congratulations, Host. You have gained 1-Star Mist Aura.]

[Congratulations, Host. You have gained 1-Star Lightning Qi.]

"Damn… that's one hell of a powerful ability," Reon muttered, eyes gleaming.

With a wave of his hand, the panels faded away, and a satisfied smile formed on his lips.

'Haha! That beating I took wasn't in vain after all. Not only did Little Tiger awaken her bloodline, and I reunited with Nira while Cloudia gained the Celestial Elemental Heart, but I also obtained this incredible passive skill!'

'Kyaa~ I am so happy today!'

Then, his gaze shifted upward to the Spiritual Screen above, settling on the countdown timer glowing faintly at the bottom.

'Looks like it's almost time to leave this Secret Realm.'

Raising his voice, he called out:

"Cloudia, Little Tiger — it's time to return to the Inner Beast Domain."

"Yes, Master," the two girls replied in unison.

Swoosh!

Their figures vanished in a flash of light.

Moments later—

WHOOSH!

A spiral of wind surged around Reon as his body shimmered—

—and reappeared in the Dueling Arena.

He exhaled deeply.

'Finally… I'm back.'

'Strange… it doesn't feel nearly as bad as the first time I was thrown into the Secret Realm. Maybe I've grown used to it…'

But as he looked ahead, the reason became painfully clear.

The once-crowded Dueling Arena—where thousands had stood shoulder to shoulder—was now nearly barren.

Less than three hundred disciples remained.

Gaps stretched between every survivor, an eerie silence hanging over the scene before the whispers began to swell.

Panic, disbelief, and grief filled the air like a suffocating fog.

-This many survived…?"

"No way… that's barely one-tenth of all who entered."

"I survived… I actually survived… Thank the heavens, I can go back to my mother!"

"I still can't believe it… I survived that nightmare and will become an Inner Disciple!"

"I thought I was dead for sure… But I lived. I lived through that massacre…"

"Massacre? Wait, who attacked you?!"

"It was Shao Bing… That monster! One of this year's so-called geniuses!"

"Y-You mean Shao Bing from the Shao Clan of Ninzhou County?! The one who awakened an Earth-Rank Constitution?!"

"Yes! I saw him tear through disciples like wheat under a scythe!"

"By the heavens… that's a feat worthy of being told to your grandchildren!"

"Yeah! You're practically a legend just for surviving!"

"No one could have predicted this… we thought it was just a normal competition!"

"Why would the Elders allow something like this?! Don't they care about disciple lives at all?!"

"They don't… not if you're considered 'useless.'"

But not everyone was murmuring quietly.

Cries and wails broke through the arena.

Some screamed in mourning, others in agony.

"Waaahhh! I lost my senior brother!"

"AHHH! My junior sister… She was the love of my life! How am I supposed to go on?!"

"UGHHH! My right hand is gone… I'll never hold a sword again…"

Reon observed it all in silence, his eyes calm but heavy with understanding.

'Everyone's panicking… and it's no surprise. After all, the Inner Disciple Selection Ceremony has never been held like this before.'

Then suddenly—

A realization struck Reon.

"X-Xu Yang!!"

Panic surged through him as he began darting around the arena, eyes scanning every figure.

'N-No… please be safe, Xiao Yang! Please!'

But at the same time—

Another figure was also running, desperately searching through the thinning crowd.

It was Xu Yang.

The moment Reon's eyes locked onto him, he rushed forward and pulled his junior brother into a tight embrace.

"Xiao Yang! I'm so glad you're safe!"

"Me too, Brother Taiyang," Xu Yang replied, smiling warmly. "Though I knew no one would be able to hurt you, I was still worried… I heard some terrifying rumors—spies slaughtering disciples."

"Yeah," Reon nodded grimly. "It's true. But they couldn't touch me."

"Wait… does that mean you faced them?"

Reon's eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within.

"Yes. And I killed them all."

Xu Yang's eyes widened in awe.

"I knew it! Brother Taiyang is incredible!"

Reon chuckled softly, then asked with curiosity.

"But what about you? How did you manage to survive? Did someone help you?"

"Nope," Xu Yang grinned sheepishly.

"I was lucky. I found a puppet near where I landed—and a trap nearby. So I tricked the puppet into triggering the trap, and ended up getting the purple crystal. After that, I just hid there the whole time."

Reon blinked in surprise.

'Damn… that's some protagonist-level luck.'

"You did well, Xiao Yang," Reon said genuinely.

Then—

"Attention, everyone."

A deep voice boomed across the arena, amplified with Spiritual Energy, silencing all chatter.

It was the same Minor Elder who had addressed them before.

"It seems… this many of you managed to survive. How utterly pathetic."

His words struck like ice.

"Anyway, the second round will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves."

Disciples immediately burst into whispers, complaints, and disbelief.

"What?! After everything we went through… this is what that damn Minor Elder says?!"

"No explanation for the bloodshed? The deaths? The massacre?!"

"They don't even care about us! Two days in that death trap without sleep or food—can't we even rest for a bit?!"

"They're treating us like trash!"

"Scum! They're all scum!"

Suddenly—

"SILENCE!"

The Elder's roar shook the air as oppressive Spiritual Pressure erupted from him, forcing everyone into submission.

The arena fell quiet.

"We begin the second round in three minutes. If anyone wishes to withdraw, now is your chance to leave."

Not a single disciple moved.

A sinister grin tugged at the Elder's lips.

"Hmph. That's more like it."

"Now… for the second round, each of you will face—a Minor Elder in battle. Prepare yourselves."

"WHAT?!"

The disciples collectively cried out.