Min and Luna would be formidable rivals…
That was certainty not requiring extensive analysis to confirm. They'd already demonstrated it during previous battles.
Especially Luna's wolf.
That beast had been an enigma from the first mont Ren had seen it using the knowledge.
Even when he'd had access to his fungus and active knowledge, when he could consult information about practically any creature species that existed, he hadn't been able to completely understand what made Luna's wolf... different.
It wasn't simply a question of power. Ren had confronted beasts more powerful in raw mana terms.
And it also wasn't its elental versatility, although the wolf certainly had access to capabilities exceeding a bit what its species normally demonstrated.
Luna's wolf seed to have access to 6 elents already. That shouldn't be possible without ancient knowledge or artifacts, so artificial modification or enhancent like his green mana did to his beasts. And what was left of Luna's family wasn't known for either as much as he knew.
So: mystery.
It was still subtle anyway... Not an overwhelming advantage, just consistent 5-10% edge in every exchange that accumulated into significant superiority over ti.
And that small faster learning was showing now with the extra elents… Should be 4 or 5 until now, not 6.
There were theories. Always theories when facing sothing not completely understood.
Perhaps Luna had cultivated the beast using a thod Ren didn't know… An ancient technique found and preserved in her family through generations that was hidden even to his beast's network.
Possible. Families guarded their cultivation thods jealously.
Perhaps it had been altered by exposure to sothing in so ruin like Luna's blood line, modifying its fundantal nature in ways not following normal beast evolution patterns.
Also possible. Ruins contained many unknown things. Ancient things.
Ren didn't understand everything. The corruption was the most obvious example, but there were others. Mutations was another example.
Perhaps the wolf was a naturally occurring anomaly… A statistical outlier.
Nature produced exceptions. One-in-million cases that broke rules. Maybe Luna had just been incredibly lucky to bond with one.
But theorizing without sufficient data was an exercise tending toward unfounded speculation. And Ren had learned from Wei that speculation without verification was more dangerous than simply admitting ignorance and proceeding with appropriate caution.
So he didn't know exactly what made the wolf special.
And honestly, it wasn't worth worrying excessively about it on battle's eve.
Tomorrow he'd give his best according to the rules the exam had established.
Would use capabilities he had available. Would adapt to what Luna presented. And would execute with the precision he'd perfected during countless training hours.
The strategies were prepared. His Wolverine's capabilities were mostly known already... Ice elent was revealed now so he could use it freely. Shadow and light manipulation had been demonstrated sufficiently that hiding it was pointless. Seven elents were accessible, eight if counting ice as separate from water/wind fusion.
He had tools, experience and training that exceeded what most Gold tars ever received.
And most importantly: had grown beyond where he'd been when this exam started.
Fighting Liu had taught him.
Fighting Larissa had taught him.
Fighting Taro had taught him.
Fighting Liora had taught him.
Tomorrow would teach him sothing else.
And surely it would be fun.
That was the anticipation making him smile slightly while watching the moons shine over quiet fields.
His rewards were already secured.
No anxiety about the outco. No worry about victory or defeat consequences.
Simply pure appreciation of the fact that tomorrow he'd have the opportunity to face opponents who would push him to demonstrate how far he'd co during these years of exponential growth.
The battle against Taro and Liora had been satisfying in ways few other experiences equaled.
Watching them execute with skill he'd helped cultivate.
That was the kind of confrontation making all training effort worthwhile.
The mont where you confronted soone genuinely skilled and both of you pushed limits together. Where outco was uncertain and technique mattered more than raw power. Where creativity and adaptation determined success more than simple cultivation level.
That was combat at its best. That was why Ren had spent thousands of hours training when he could have rested.
Luna and Min promised to provide perhaps a greater challenge.
Luna's mysterious wolf with its inexplicable advantages. Min's occasional silly brilliance and whatever surprise he was obviously planning based on that mischievous expression earlier as he congratulated him.
Two strong opponents simultaneously.
Variables. Complications…
Ren anticipated it with excitent that would only fully release when battle began and he could imrse himself in the combat flow without external restrictions or worries.
Pure. Simple. Perfect…
He heard footsteps approaching through the hallway leading to his room. Irregular rhythm suggesting soone was being helped to walk rather than moving independently.
Ren left the balcony and moved toward the door.
He opened it to find Min and Liu supporting Taro between them, their friend's arms over both their shoulders while they distributed weight to minimize the effort Taro needed for staying upright.
Taro appeared considerably better than imdiately after the battle. Color had returned to his face. But still had that bluish pallor coming from damaged bonds recovering. Still moved carefully, like soone aware that extensive motion would be uncomfortable for at least all night.
Bond damage was like that., just... wrongness.
For now: rest, limited movent, no bond usage beyond maintaining basic cultivation.
They'd apparently gone to get him from the infirmary where he'd been resting under healer supervision monitoring his recovery. A Gold-rank double, a VIP with a very promising future now.
"Room service for mister Patinder," Min declared cheerfully while helping Taro toward a chair near Ren's desk. "One roasted-ass-kicked-extra-crispy friend, delivered fresh from the dical wing."
"Extra big portion," Liu added with a matching grin. "May take long to chew… Should eat fast before it gets too cold."
Taro rolled his eyes but smiled. "I did my best and am not that fat… You're both terrible people and I hate you."
"No you don't," Min said confidently while helping Taro settle into his seat and activated his more advanced "double tar Gold-rank healing" in his back.
"No I don't," Taro agreed with resignation.
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