The second day of the tournament dawned bright and clear. Kael woke in his palace quarters feeling the pleasant ache of muscles well-used but not overtaxed. His companions stirred around him, each preparing mentally for whatever the day would bring.
"Morning, everyone," Kael said, stretching as golden sunlight streamed through the windows. "Ready for round two?"
Always ready, Fulminus projected with his characteristic fierce determination.
Let's see what today brings, Vera added, her calm presence steadying as always.
Breakfast was a quieter affair than the previous day—just Kael, Lyssa, Seraphina, and, surprisingly, King Aldric, who seemed to genuinely enjoy these more casual morning meals now that he could move without pain and eat without exhaustion.
"Your match yesterday created quite the buzz," the King observed as he sipped his coffee. "Five bonded mythbeasts moving with perfect coordination. The betting houses have already adjusted their odds on you significantly."
"People are betting on tournament outcomes?" Kael asked, slightly surprised.
"Of course," Seraphina replied with a laugh. "It's tradition. Half the excitement for spectators is wagering on who they think will win. You've gone from a hundred-to-one longshot to about twenty-to-one after just one match."
"Still not exactly favored odds," Lyssa pointed out.
"Give it time," the King said knowingly. "Win a few more matches as decisively as yesterday, and those odds will shift dramatically."
After breakfast, they made their way to the Grand Arena. The crowds were even larger than the previous day—word had spread about various standout competitors, and people wanted to see if the impressive performances from the day before would continue.
Kael checked in at the competitors' entrance and received his match assignment: Ring Five, mid-afternoon. Number 128 versus Number 37.
He made his way to the waiting area and settled in to watch other matches while his turn approached. The level of competition was noticeably higher on day two—the weakest competitors had been eliminated, leaving only those with genuine skill and power.
Hours passed as match after match unfolded. Kael observed carefully, noting patterns and strategies that might prove useful later. Some tamers relied on overwhelming single-target damage. Others prioritized defense and attrition. The most successful seemed to be those who could adapt their tactics mid-fight based on their opponent's approach.
Finally, the call came: "MATCH IN RING FIVE: NUMBER 128 VERSUS NUMBER 37!"
Kael made his way to the designated arena with his companions. The crowd's noise swelled as they recognized him—the Rank 2 tamer with five mythbeasts who'd demolished his first opponent in under three minutes.
His opponent was already waiting. A woman in her late twenties with a serious expression and a single mythbeast that made Kael's breath catch slightly.
The creature was a massive water serpent—easily twenty meters long, with scales that shimmered like mother-of-pearl. Its body coiled and uncoiled with fluid grace, muscles rippling beneath that beautiful exterior. This was no ordinary companion—this was a creature of significant power.
Assessment? Kael asked Fulminus mentally.
Rank 9 equivalent, Fulminus replied, his mental voice carrying respect rather than fear. Individually stronger than any of us. Probably stronger than two or three of us combined. But we still have numbers, and water-types typically have predictable attack patterns.
The woman stepped forward for the traditional greeting. "Sarah Whitmore. Rank 8 tamer, Coastal Branch. That's Torrent—he's been my companion for fifteen years."
"Kael Veyrin. Rank 2, Thornhaven Branch. These are Vera, Ember, Fulminus, Mushy, and Spritz."
Sarah's eyebrow rose. "Rank 2? You're either incredibly talented or incredibly lucky to have made it this far. Though looking at your five companions, I'm guessing talent."
"May the best tamer win," Kael replied.
They took their positions. The judge raised his hand.
"Standard rules apply! Begin when ready!"
"BEGIN!"
Kael's strategy formed instantly. "Vera, Mushy—tank and harass! Ember, Fulminus, Spritz—ranged assault! Keep mobile and don't let it catch you!"
The massive serpent moved with surprising speed, its body whipping forward in an attempt to catch multiple targets at once. But Vera's psychic barriers intercepted the strike, creating invisible walls that redirected the serpent's momentum.
Mushy immediately began generating poison mist, spreading it in thick clouds that would gradually weaken and disorient. The serpent hissed with irritation as toxic vapors surrounded it, but continued its assault with single-minded determination.
From range, Ember launched compressed fireballs that detonated against the serpent's scales. The creature's water affinity made it resistant to fire damage, but the impacts still disrupted its movements and created openings.
Fulminus struck from above with lightning, the electrical discharge making the serpent convulse. Water-types were vulnerable to electricity—a weakness Kael intended to exploit ruthlessly.
And Spritz, using his own water manipulation, created high-pressure cutting streams that sliced at the serpent from unexpected angles. The attacks didn't penetrate deeply, but they accumulated—dozens of small cuts that would eventually take their toll.
Torrent was incredibly powerful—when it managed to catch Vera's psychic barrier with its coils, the sheer crushing force nearly shattered her defenses. When it used its water manipulation to create massive waves, everyone had to scatter to avoid being swept away.
But the serpent was fighting five opponents simultaneously, each one coordinating with the others. When it focused on Vera, Fulminus struck from behind. When it turned to attack Fulminus, Ember's flames forced it to redirect. When it tried to eliminate the aerial threats, Mushy's accumulated poison made its movements sluggish.
The fight lasted nearly ten minutes—far longer than yesterday's match. Sarah directed her companion with skill born from years of partnership, exploiting every opening, trying to eliminate Kael's mythbeasts one by one.
But ultimately, numbers and coordination won out. Torrent was powerful, but fighting five coordinated opponents took its toll. The accumulated lightning damage, poison effects, flame burns, and psychic impacts gradually overwhelmed even its considerable endurance.
The serpent finally collapsed, breathing heavily but clearly unable to continue. Sarah immediately called the surrender before her companion could be pushed to serious injury.
"MATCH! Winner: Number 128, Kael Veyrin!"
Kael approached Sarah as their mythbeasts recovered. "That was a tough fight. Torrent is incredibly powerful—if it had been a one-on-one match, any of my companions would have lost."
"But you had five," Sarah replied, not bitterly but with acknowledgment. "And you used them brilliantly. That coordination... how long have you been training together?"
"A few months," Kael admitted.
Sarah's eyes widened. "Months? That level of coordination usually takes years to develop. You're either a prodigy or you've found some kind of training method that works wonders for your companions."
"Bit of both, maybe." Kael smiled. "Your serpent is magnificent, though. The power and speed it showed—that's the result of dedicated training and a strong bond."
"Thank you." Sarah reached out to pat Torrent's massive head affectionately. "We've been through a lot together. Good luck in your next matches—I think you'll need it. The competition only gets tougher from here."
As Kael left Ring Five, he could hear the crowd's reactions—impressed murmuring about how he'd overcome such a powerful opponent through coordination and strategy rather than raw strength.
He made his way to the VIP area where Lyssa and Seraphina were waiting. Both of them looked relieved when he appeared.
"That one looked tough," Lyssa said immediately. "That serpent was massive."
"It was," Kael agreed. "Probably the strongest single opponent I've faced so far. If it had been one-on-one, I would have lost."
"But it wasn't one-on-one," Seraphina pointed out. "Your advantage is having five well-trained companions who work together perfectly. Use that advantage—there's no shame in winning through strategy rather than pure power."
They stayed for a few more matches, watching other competitors fight, but eventually decided to return to the palace as the afternoon stretched into evening. The walk back was pleasant; Kael's companions were tired but satisfied from their victory.
Dinner that night was less formal than their first palace meal—just Kael, Lyssa, Seraphina, and occasionally King Aldric when he had time between his royal duties. They discussed the day's fight in detail, analyzing what had worked well and what could be improved.
"That serpent's water manipulation was impressive," Kael said between bites of roasted vegetables. "I noticed it could create waves and water barriers almost instantly. That kind of control takes years to develop."
"Which means you'll face similar or even more impressive abilities as you advance," Lyssa pointed out. "Each round eliminates the weaker competitors, concentrating the talent pool."
"Good," Kael replied with a grin. "I want to face the best. That's the only way to know how strong we really are."
Spoken like Fulminus, Vera observed dryly through their bond. All eagerness for the next challenge.
Nothing wrong with that, Fulminus retorted. We're not here to barely win. We're here to dominate.
After dinner, Kael returned to his quarters and immediately fell into a deep sleep, his companions arranged around the room in their usual positions. The intensive training and back-to-back tournament days were taxing, but everyone's spirits remained high.
---
Day three began much like day two. Breakfast, travel to the arena, and wait for his match assignment. The crowds seemed to grow larger each day as word spread about standout competitors who were defying expectations.
Kael's third match came in mid-morning. His opponent was a young man around his own age with two mythbeasts—a bear-type creature and a wolf companion. Both were strong, probably Rank 7 equivalent individually, but they lacked the coordination that came from intensive training.
The fight was decisive. Vera tanked the bear's charges while Mushy's poison gradually sapped its strength. Ember and Fulminus tag-teamed the wolf with fire and lightning. Spritz provided supporting attacks from range with high-pressure water strikes.
The match ended in under five minutes. Kael's opponent was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that he'd been outmatched in both numbers and tactical execution.
"You're the real deal," the young man said as they shook hands after. "Everyone was saying you were just lucky, that your first two wins were flukes. But watching you fight up close, your companions move like they're reading your mind. That's not luck. That's skill."
"Thank you," Kael replied sincerely. "Your bear and wolf fought valiantly. With more coordination training, they'd be even more formidable."
Day three's victory felt almost routine, which Kael knew was a dangerous mindset. He couldn't afford to get complacent—each new opponent would be progressively stronger, more experienced, better trained.
That evening's dinner conversation reflected everyone's growing confidence.
"Three wins in three days," Seraphina said with obvious pride. "You're officially in the top thirty-two competitors. Tomorrow's match will put you in the top sixteen if you win."
"Then the format changes—single matches with everyone watching. That's when things get really interesting." Lyssa added.
"I'm looking forward to it," Kael admitted. "Fighting in front of the entire arena, with all attention focused on one match at a time. That's where we'll really see what everyone can do."
---
Day four arrived with palpable tension. This was the final day of preliminary rounds—after today, only sixteen competitors would remain.
Kael's match was scheduled for early afternoon in Ring Three. His opponent was a woman in her early thirties with three bonded mythbeasts—a significant challenge.
Her companions were a hawk-type creature with razor-sharp talons, a panther with shadow-manipulation abilities, and a smaller fox-like mythbeast that seemed to specialize in illusions and misdirection.
The match was the toughest yet. The hawk's aerial superiority contested Fulminus's usual dominance of the sky. The shadow panther's abilities made it difficult to track and predict. And the fox's illusions created phantom attacks that forced Kael's companions to waste energy defending against nothing.
But Kael had been watching matches for three days now, learning patterns and strategies. He'd anticipated facing illusion tactics eventually.
"Vera—use your psychic senses to track real threats! Ignore visual cues! Everyone else—trust Vera's targeting!"
It worked. Vera's psychic awareness could distinguish between real mythbeasts and illusory projections. Once his companions stopped reacting to the fox's illusions and focused only on Vera's mental guidance, the opposing tamer's strategy collapsed.
The fight lasted nearly fifteen minutes—the longest yet—but eventually Kael's numerical advantage and coordination proved decisive. The woman's three mythbeasts, despite their skill and power, couldn't overcome five well-trained opponents working in perfect sync.
"MATCH! Winner: Number 128, Kael Veyrin!"
The crowd's roar was louder than on previous days. Kael had now won four consecutive matches, each one against progressively stronger opponents. His name was beginning to spread beyond just the betting houses—people were starting to recognize the Rank 2 tamer from Thornhaven who fought with five companions.
His opponent approached after the match. "That was incredible. I've been training for twelve years, and I've never seen coordination like that. Your psychic tiger is feeding targeting information to everyone else while they fight... that's genius. Simple, but genius."
"Thank you," Kael said. "Your illusion tactics almost worked. If I hadn't been watching matches and learning to expect different strategies, I might not have adapted quickly enough."
"Keep watching and learning," she advised. "Tomorrow you'll face the top. Those are the ones who've survived four rounds of elimination. They're not just strong—they're smart, adaptable, and experienced. You'll need every advantage you have."
That evening's dinner had a celebratory atmosphere despite the exhaustion. King Aldric joined them, along with Queen Catherine, Duke Hadrian, and, surprisingly, even the twins Harald and Jasmine seemed interested in discussing Kael's tournament performance.
"Four wins," Harald said, and there was grudging respect in his voice now. "I thought you'd be eliminated by day two. I was wrong."
"We all underestimated you," Jasmine admitted. "But watching your matches, seeing how you fight... you've clearly put in tremendous work to achieve that level of coordination."
"Tomorrow the real tournament starts," Seraphina said, her eyes bright with excitement. "With it being single matches with everyone watching."
"The toughest fights," Lyssa added. "But I'm confident you'll do great."
"We all are," Queen Catherine said warmly. "You've proven yourself already just by making it this far as a Rank 2 tamer. Everything from here is just showing everyone else what we already know—that rank isn't everything."
Kael felt warmth spread through his chest at their support. "Thank you, everyone. Really. Having people believe in me makes this easier."
Having us makes it possible, Vera corrected gently through their bond. You're not alone in this.
Never alone, Ember agreed.
We fight together, Fulminus added. Tomorrow and every day after.
Together, Mushy and Spritz echoed.
Kael smiled, feeling the truth of those words settle into his bones. Tomorrow would bring another challenge. Another opponent who'd survived four rounds of elimination. Another test of everything they'd trained for.
But he wasn't worried. They'd faced every challenge so far and overcome it. Tomorrow would be no different.
The top sixteen awaited. And Kael intended to claim his place among them.