Chapter 134: The Grand Melee

The grand final contest was set to begin. All eyes were fixed on the massive dueling stage where history would be written. Mentor Fred, clad in his ornate robe, started, "Do you all understand the rules? Let me reiterate—"

Before he could finish, the doors to the arena flew open, and the commanding figure of Principal Mr. Henry entered. His presence alone commanded a hushed reverence from the attendees. "We have an emergency," he announced gravely. "Tomorrow, we urgently require the assistance of the top three contenders. Hence, we're modifying the rules."

Fred interjected, "Is the border in imminent danger, Mr. Henry?" The principal simply nodded, his face giving away nothing.

Li Yang's eyes narrowed. This academy had secrets deeper than he had thought.

Mentor Fred, gathering his thoughts, announced, "We're proceeding with a battle royale format. All ten contenders will fight simultaneously, and the last three standing will be declared victors."

The arena was rife with murmurings and speculation. But the urgency in the air was palpable.

Without further ado, a robust man with a fierce gaze took center stage. "I will claim victory in this battle!" he bellowed, exuding confidence. With a swift movement, he summoned a magnificent creature — the Tyrant Dragon from the ancient beast clan. "Behold, my mighty companion!" He was the third-ranked Zhou Kang.

Following Zhou Kang, a man in traditional wuxia attire stepped forward. At a glance, he seemed to have come straight out of a classic Chinese fantasy tale — perhaps even a cosplay enthusiast. Without wasting a moment, he called forth the versatile and agile Spirit Monkey. "I'm here to test my strength. Give it your all!" This was the seventh-ranked contender, Chen Liang.

Then, with the soft cadence of classical Chinese poetry, another young man entered, reciting, "Guan guan go the ospreys, on the islet in the river. A gentle and fair lady, a fit mate for a gentleman." Turning his gaze towards a woman in traditional Chinese garb, he continued, "Would you accept my pursuit?" This poetic young man, who ranked fifth, was named Liu Wei.

The ancient Chinese garb-clad lady, visibly blushing but maintaining her composure, responded, "This is neither the time nor the place for romance, Liu Wei." The crowd erupted in a mixture of laughter and anticipation.

As the participants continued to showcase their chosen beasts and set the stage for the impending battle, the energy in the arena was electric. The stakes were higher than ever, with the fate of the border and the prestige of the top rankings on the line. Each contender was sizing up their opponents, calculating strategies, and preparing mentally for the intense battle to come.

Li Yang stood, waiting for his turn, with Ares by his side. The weight of the challenge ahead was immense, but he was ready to face it head-on. He had come this far and wasn't going to back down now.