Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 401: A Hired Instructor?

“We have a Sea Monkey standing for Thunder Prefecture, versus a Thundering Mustang from Tempest Prefecture!” Slazza announced, getting the crowd roaring with excitement. “Are you both ready... FIGHT!”

Catching the mustang off guard, the Sea Monkey jumped toward him. It was as if the monkey was trying to mount the horse, even when the disadvantage of essence type was obvious.

The Thundering Mustang accepted the challenge, covering his entire body in electricity. But the Sea Monkey still hopped on while the mustang started to dash around the arena.

Lightning crashed onto the monkey from all directions, and was especially powerful at such a close range.

But the monkey was unfazed. That’s when the mustang realized that the battle was all but over.

Earth essence covered the monkey’s body, shielding it from most of the lightning. At the same time, the ground beneath the horse’s feet turned to mud and started to consume the mustang’s legs. And, once the mustang was stopped, spikes of earth rocketed out of the ground to crush the mustang’s knees.

“It’s over!” Slazza shouted, pulling the mustang out of the mud and breaking the incoming spikes. “The final record is three wins for Thunder and two wins for Tempest! Thunder Prefecture has won the duel and will participate in the second round!”

.....

The Sea Monkey shrugged to the horse and left as if the fight was merely an inconvenience. The mustang was furious but didn’t dare talk back. Instead, the mustang bowed his head, shouting, “I’m sorry, Lady Inka!”

“Don’t mind the result,” Inka replied, holding up her hand. “You fought well and did not fail to represent Tempest. Please, return to the stands with your head held high.”

The mustang followed the order and silently joined the others from Tempest Prefecture. Those from Thunder Prefecture weren’t surprised in any way. To them, this was the expected outcome between an elite prefecture and a common prefecture.

“Hurry, which prefectures will fight next?!”

God Toseko’s shout caught the crowd off guard but not the prefecture lords. They had noticed his unchanging boredom throughout the first prefectural duel. The Thunder and Draco prefecture lords were a little curious as to why, but the other four lords had a good guess as to why Toseko was getting impatient.

“Now,” Slazza did just as the Noxious God wished and moved the competition along, “Prefecture lords, please present your card if it is numbered two!”

All four of the remaining lords chuckled and glanced at each other. Then, two held up their hands.

‘I’ll call in that information now.’

‘Ha, you got it,’ Warak chuckled in his mind.

“For the second duel, it will be the Draco and Toxic-shadow Prefectures dueling to join Thunder Prefecture in the second round!” Slazza announced.

Smiling softly, Warak got a good look at Isaac. “It will be a pleasure to face you in the final duel.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Isaac replied, screaming internally at his terrible luck.

Slazza continued, “This means we’ll watch the Nova and Razor Prefectures fighting in the third duel! But for now, we’ll move on to the first match of the second duel. Contestants numbered one, come down!”

The behemoth wyrm from Toxic-shadow slithered down the steps. In stark contrast, a human woman walked down by the wyrm’s side.

Grinning from ear to ear, Lord Isla looked at Treeda. “No hard feelings, but I think we both know how this will end.”

“This match? Or our duel?” Treeda asked.

“Both.”

“Hmmm, you have a point.” Shrugging, Treeda replied, “You’re right, Isla. No hard feelings. There are still a few years till the Mortal Championship, so consider this a learning experience for your candidates.”

“... Are you saying that I’ll lose?” Isla questioned, smiling in curiosity and annoyance.

“Yes. Perhaps not this match, but the duel, yes.”

“Truly? I’d love to see that,” Toseko chimed in. “What do you predict the record will be, Treeda?”

Blinking, Treeda sighed, “I’d say... at worst the record will be two to three. Two losses to Three wins. And If I’m lucky, four wins and one loss.”

“Oh really...” Isla sucked up her irked tone now that Toseko was speaking as well. “I doubt that. Perhaps you’ll gain two wins, but not three.”

“But who knows. That’s the prediction of the instructor I hired these past few days, not mine.”

“Instructor? Why would you need to hire help?” Isla scoffed.

“Oh, I’m sure his help was more beneficial than mine. I’ve already spent time with each of my candidates, but by adding some of his training they’ve been able to shine brighter than I expected,” retorted Treeda. “Just ask your brother. He knows the instructor is extremely capable.”

Clenching his fist, Isaac glared at Treeda. “You dared?”

“Wait, Treeda was right?” Isla asked Isaac, noticing how angry he was. “What’s so special about this instructor? And how did you two get him, not an elite prefecture?”

“Well, Isaac, would you like to answer her question, or shall I?” Treeda teased.

Since Isaac paused and said nothing, Toseko asked, “Treeda explain.”

Chuckling, Treeda did just that, “Isaac chose to trust his own staff instead of hiring one of the experts of this backwoods territory. So, instead, I hired him and brought him to Nightscape City with my candidates. And, let’s just say his particular insights about cultivation, battle, and certain essence types are very striking compared to the usual cultivator. I’m sure you’ll see the result of his teachings in some of my candidates, and in one of Isaac’s.”

“And in Isaac’s? Explain, brother!” Isla demanded.

Peimar also stared at the silent but furious lord. “Yes, Isaac, what is Treeda going on about? And, if the instructor is so valuable, why would you allow her to steal him away?”

“I’m not entirely sure what Treeda is going on about,” Isaac denied. “If she’s talking about who I think she is, the instructor in question is merely a perennial and has no accolades to their name.”

“I see... Then, you’d better not disappoint after getting me riled up, Treeda!” Toseko bellowed, understanding Treeda’s implied hint. He briefly glanced at the leopard sitting among the gorillas, and then back to the arena.

Slazza was waiting for the god’s nod. And now, ignoring the commotion among the lords, Slazza moved the competition forward. “A Permafrost Wyrm versus a human! Are you two ready... FIGHT!”