Ren swiftly retreated from the excluded area, darting back toward the courtyard's center where everyone had gathered. Elias attempted to command the group, desperately trying to restore order, but chaos reigned supreme. Initially, only five or six beasts had infiltrated the courtyard; now at least twenty or thirty creatures of various shapes, sizes, and abilities swarmed the area.
A gigantic snake creature lunged at Ren, who nimbly sidestepped as he activated his soul punch. His fist tore through the beast, seemingly killing it instantly. Unknown to anyone, however, the creature possessed a rare ability called "second chance"—it could heal any fatal injury and resurrect with undiminished power. Each death only made it stronger, with its true weakness being its well-protected brain hidden deep within its skull.
Ren attempted another soul punch, but sharp pain shot through his wrist, forcing him to cancel the skill. As the beast slashed at him and dove to devour his head, Ren simply employed soul-step, allowing the creature to pass harmlessly through him.
Meanwhile, Lucas, the blonde prodigy, reduced multiple snake beasts to charcoal. He soared into the air and conjured a massive fireball with his advanced fire magic.
"Incinerate!" Lucas shouted, directing the flames toward numerous wolf, snake, and lizard-like creatures. The beasts had no chance to escape—the moment the spell struck, they instantly burned to crisps.
Several fighters paused after dispatching their opponents to witness this impressive display.
"How is he so talented?" a young boy asked, awe evident in his voice.
"I don't know, but it's pretty cool he can burn multiple beasts like that in one go," another student replied admiringly.
Leon entered the courtyard, dressed in a dark robe with two daggers sheathed on his back. His dark hair obscured his face as he surveyed the magical beasts before him. With a determined nod, he locked eyes on his targets and charged forward, slicing through creatures with deadly precision—severing heads, slashing tails, and cutting some completely in half.
A swift, humanoid beast with glowing red skin evaded Leon's blade. Leon leaped forward for another strike, but the creature dodged again, launching several fireballs in retaliation. Leon deliberately allowed some projectiles to hit his robe, absorbing their impact.
Upon contact, the fireballs transformed, turning black before redirecting toward the beast with doubled power. This was Leon's special ability—throwback—which corrupted any attack that struck his robe and sent it back with enhanced force.
The crimson beast, displaying unexpected intelligence, snatched one of the corrupted flames mid-air and hurled it back at Leon. Unable to corrupt an already-tainted flame, Leon had no choice but to evade. He dove aside, rolling across the ground to avoid further fiery assaults.
The crimson beast lunged at Leon, unleashing a barrage of fireballs that filled the air with searing heat. Leon twisted and turned, but couldn't evade them all. Several flames struck him, scorching his skin and singeing his clothing. The relentless assault overwhelmed him; even his enchanted robe, capable of absorbing and corrupting magic, might prove insufficient against such raw power.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Leon dodged what he could, his movements becoming increasingly desperate as burns spread across his body. Sweat poured down his face as he struggled to maintain his footing.
Ren witnessed Leon's plight, his heart pounding with concern for his companion. Without hesitation, he charged forward, disregarding Solar's protests echoing within his mind. Solar's objections faded into background noise as Ren's protective instincts took over.
"Get away from him!" Ren bellowed, channeling his energy into a powerful soul punch aimed at the crimson beast. The creature swiveled its massive head toward Ren, its attention diverted from its previous target. Though the beast evaded Ren's attack, the distraction proved crucial.
Leon seized the opportunity, summoning his remaining strength to spring forward. With one fluid motion, he slashed his dagger through the air, cleanly severing the beast's head from its body.
Exhaustion washed over Ren as he struggled to catch his breath, while Leon, though injured, remained combat-ready. For the moment, they had successfully contained the beasts, buying themselves precious time.
Meanwhile, in the north wing, something stirred behind the prison bars. A shadow materialized from the floor, slipping through the cell like smoke through a keyhole. A young man emerged, clad in dark attire that matched his raven hair. His void-like eyes surveyed the bars before settling on the stairwell—his path to freedom.
"Thought you could escape me, Ren?" he whispered, malice dripping from every syllable. "You assumed this beast rampage would distract me from my revenge? How mistaken you are. I've acquired power beyond imagination, yet you never considered I would use it. Well, Ren, the time has come—the moment for my retribution is here."
Thus began Rex's vengeful crusade—the boy once falsely accused, dragged away without a voice, imprisoned without recourse. Now he stood free, consumed by an insatiable hunger for vengeance that burned hotter than any beast's flame.