Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 352

The Bronze emblem with two gleaming lines shone on Ren's uniform as he observed the landscape through the carriage window. It was a beautiful day, the kind that made even ordinary scenery seem somehow enchanted.

Normally, he would be traveling home at night, but Luna, Larissa, and Liora had convinced Julius, Sirius, and Selphira to grant an exception, allowing him to leave early... skipping the closing ceremony, where they would have bestowed the honor upon him before everyone.

Ignatius had been irritated at having to present the prestigious "Best's Honor" in such an unceremonious and hurried manner, but the pressure from the three young nobles had been substantial.

The old director had muttered something about "protocol" and "tradition" before reluctantly yielding to the combined forces of Ashenway, Dravenholm and a bit of Starweaver influence.

A full year had passed since Ren first crossed the Academy's gates, a skinny boy with a supposedly useless mushroom on his head.

How ridiculously distant that day seemed now.

"Counting crystals mentally?" Lin's teasing voice interrupted his thoughts. She sat across from him. "Those outings were indeed productive…"

The "prodigy boy" couldn't leave without guards now. Selphira and Julius had arranged for Lin, Wei, and Yang to accompany him. Lin had been delighted with the well paid assignment, but the other two hadn't exactly loved sacrificing their vacation time for escort duty.

"I would have preferred more outings with professor Zhao," Ren responded distractedly.

Lin snorted, feigning indignation. "You miss the strict, boring old man instead of enjoying my charming company? You hurt my feelings." She placed a hand dramatically over her heart before breaking into a smile. "He'll return without doubt, don't worry... Better go back to counting your money."

Lin was indeed a charming lady. Her extreme exercise routines, on the other hand...

The carriage advanced along the road toward the city's outer zones, but...

From the window, one could see the enormous gap on the horizon where the kingdom's second most important school once stood. Now only a scar remained on the landscape, another effect of the fracture the city had suffered.

The kingdom's second school, built decades ago on the site of the second ring and the vein that no longer served a real purpose, had been relocated... Walls and all, stone by stone, the Goldcrests had created their own city, with their own "old reputable school" in the most literal sense.

Ren closed his eyes, letting his mind wander to the battle week that had just concluded. For the second consecutive time, he had swept the competition, though this time the victory had been much more difficult. His opponents had prepared specifically to counter his known abilities, forcing him to reveal new techniques he'd been saving.

"What are you thinking about with that silly smile?" asked Lin, gently nudging his shoulder. Her eyes held the warmth of a mentor who had come to genuinely care for her student, despite her persistent teasing.

"About how Min almost wet himself when my hydra lifted him five meters in the air," Ren replied, the memory bringing fresh amusement.

Lin burst into laughter, the sound filling the carriage. "And Liu's face when your light armor canceled his sound attack! He looked like he'd seen a ghost!"

"Mana cancellations always surprise," Ren conceded with false modesty.

The hydra had been his greatest advantage in combat. Upon evolving from Iron to Bronze 2, the creature had developed more than just a bigger body and a long neck, but a more complete and resistant crystalline armor that reflected and amplified the light control Ren possessed.

Each of his hands could now manifest a small, concentrated ray, though never as powerful as the one he generated from his chest in combination with his ring and mushroom. The versatility this granted him in battle had proven decisive in several close matches.

"I still can't believe everyone in Gray Wing has reached at least Bronze 2," commented Lin, shaking her head in amazement. The improvement rate was unprecedented, no dormitory in academy history had achieved such collective advancement in a single year.

"The power of knowledge," Ren responded, his smile growing. "And of having a good friend..."

"Are you getting more arrogant, little pupil? How about we start today's exercise while we wait to arrive?" _{frёeωebɳovel.com}

Ren pretended not to hear and looked at the horizon, continuing his reminiscence of the semester just past...

♢♢♢♢

Four months earlier...

The room was silent except for the held breaths of more than 20 people... Taro, Min, Liu, Liora and Larissa's group, Luna's group, the guard girls, Han's group, Roran's group, Lin, Wei, and Ren all watched Ren's small mushroom floating centimeters above the table like a tiny illuminated creature.