Spirit Taming

Chapter 179: Foolish Mocking

"When are your battles?" Isa looked at Clark and Maria who were the only two in their group not to fight anyone yet.

"I have mine later tonight."

"And mine is in an hour." Clark then Maria responded while thinking about how they might have to face someone like Isa had to fight. Someone that did not study battle. An easy win. Unfortunately, those students were far and in between.

"I think we will be able to win against anyone in our year. Most of us have minimal battle experience. Compared to that, I also have a mentor that has taught me more in the ways of battle. By that I mean, Alexander has dropped me in a dungeon alone before." It wasn't that Clark was unha[py with this, he just didn't appreciate the education style.

"Bold statements. You know that Maria and I are studying all your weaknesses to beat you." Isa looked a little more false confident than Maria did in her statement. From what Clark could see, Maria had already accepted that she would not beat Clark. Isa was the one not convinced.

"I am wondering more, who will beat who between you and Maria. Especially since you two had a decent match in class the first time we all met." This was a while ago but still fresh in Clark's mind. Being able to battle it out in class has been great for education. However, with the rules changed they could use more of their strength. A better battle.

"Ha! It would definitely be-"

"Look at this. The first year group of rejects. Remember their faces because when you finish them off they may come crying. It would be hard to recognize them then" The voice seemed to have been waiting for them as soon as they left the building.

There were three boys that Clark didn't recognize outside that had clearly been waiting to catch them. Three that had very similar marked uniforms. "Oh look, three fools with a weak mentor. I assume you are here because one of the Cain family members ordered you to come here and show yourselves to us? It's easier that way. When you lose we can tell them how badly you perform in great detail."

The sharp replay from Clark was enough to sour the mood even further. "Don't you dare dishonor the Cain family name. They are powerful in their own right. If you even attempt to say another-"

"What? What will you do? You will go running to the Mourne family to fight your battles for you like a scared child? Sad that you think you can win anything by doing this." Maria had poison in her tone. She was ready to take everything on herself to win.

"How dare you! I will erase your chances of being in the competitions completely. When we face each other I will clean your weak beasts from the face of the earth. Then you can grovel before me and the strength of those who deserve it." The three boys stormed off back in to the arena.

"So that is your opponent. A Cain family lackey. How lucky for us. We don't have to watch you hold back against someone." Clark saw this as a great victory. They could take care of another arrogant lackey while also making a message to the Cain and Mourne family.

"I didn't need to worry in the first place. We are better than all of them. It was just a matter of time before one of us faced their servants. Not that they are actually members of the family. Their uniforms didn't have the Cain or Mourne family seal. They had some mentor's seal so they are just pawns even in that respect."

"You both look like hungry wolves." Isa giggled seeing that Maria had shown a face of excitement at the possibility to beat up on an opponent without holding back. When she looked at Clark it was even more intense. The pair was really a little too excited.

"That is fine. You both work the hardest when it comes to battle training. You deserve to let loose on opponents who deserve to be put in their place. When I encounter the right opponents I will match your enthusiasm." The promise from Ella just made the situation all the better. Now they would have more energy to go about their day.

"Should we head to the arena you are battling in? If you are going to fight soon you might as well be early so we can taunt them more." Clark saw that Maria was most likely going to rush to her arena for the battle anyways. It was easier to just flat out encourage her.

"Let's go then." Maria took the lead. She was proud that she was able to make a dent in someone's ego. Even more so when she reached the small arena that her battle would be in. There was a small audience. A small audience that included a few second year Cain family lackeys sent to watch the battle and report back.

"Do you smell that? I smell rotten blood and decaying garbage. How could such things be let in to the arena? Nova academy standards are much too low." Clark didn't hold back from beginning the taunts. He watched as all the students that came to witness the battle became red faced. Steam practically blew from their ears as their brains became hot with rage.

"Boooo"

"Goooo home, you aren't welcome here!"

"The academy doesn't support failures!"

The instant the group heard Clark they had started jeering. They wanted to push Maria out. Luckily, she had taken massive leaps in confidence. Maria no longer felt such insults. They rolled right off as she was ready to fight with her own strength.

Feeling the energy from Maira, Lit materialized out of the taming space. Clark could see that Lit's body had grown again under the nourishment of the spiritual sea taming space. What was even more amazing was how sneaky the Midnight eel was. It had materialized directly within Maria's shadow.

This tactic was something that Clark could notice because he knew of the Midnight eel's skills. He knew that it could hide in a shadow and where to look for it. Others that did not would miss this and become easy victims of a surprise attack later on. Not that Maria was intending to allow her trump card to be seen. The midnight eel was still too young.

"If the participants are present then you will be able to begin early by a few moments. If this is against your desires you may wait the remaining time." The referee knew that things would just become more intense so it was better to start the battle now. There weren't any others that needed this arena anyways so it was all the better.

"Good, Let's go, my beast." The boy who had mocked them first beckoned for a larger brown wolf to move. "Look at the power my pure earth wolf has. It was given to me as a gift for my hard work. Be ready to become food for it." The disgusting tone in the boys' voice made Calrk's entire group want to fight him. He was a clear insult to tamers everywhere.

"Use the size against him. That is a pure earth wolf and can manipulate the ground but it is very heavy. It will fall…hard." Clark's advice was a whisper. Just loud enough for Maria to hear without anything wrong.

"And easy win. Just watch me." Maria stepped on the arena with Lit taking the position on her shoulders with her tentacles wrapped around her. Maria brandished daggers while watching the earth wolf take a forward stance. The boy has a mace in his hands so that he could attempt to use blunt force to win.

"You can't even face me like that. You have no attack power. So easy to win." The vicious laughter was ignored as the referee called out for the battle to begin. For the fight that the Cain family lackey never expected.

The earth wolf howled on premature victory as it rushed at Maria like she was prey. Unfortunately, Maria was not some easy person to beat. She had been facing the speed of Calrk's ghost steps. Speed that outmatched the earth wolf who was too heavy to ever match him.

When it reached Maria and tried to bite out, she lowered her center of gravity and used her shoulder to catch under the neck of the earth wolf. The result of this caused the earth wolf to fall head over heels. Maria took barely a scratch as she watched the earth wolf fall and shake the ground.

The next opponent rushing at her stumbled as he realized he had just become one on one with Maria. One on one with a dagger coated in paralyzing poison that was aimed at his neck. If the silence of the situation could speak out, it would be calling for the medical and healing staff. They were going to be needed.