This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

As expected, it wasn't until Venessa collapsed on the stage that the First Celestial side was

finally

ready to send up their next representative. Considering that the time-limit between when one participant clears the stage and another goes up, was about to be reached, if she hadn't collapsed they would have had to send up the next participant.

However, using the excuse that they couldn't start the timer until the previous student had completely cleared from the arena, and they took their sweet time clearing said student's contracts, they did manage to draw out what was probably the longest break between matches since the tournament began.

After Venessa stepped down, considering neither of the participants involved in making the poisonous mist remained on the stage, both sides agreed to allow a staff member to clear the gas in the stage—something that can only be done if both sides agree.

Unfortunately, while only Venessa was on the stage there was no way that First Celestial would have agreed. Alternatively, if Venessa had been immune to the poison, there is no way that Dark Moon would have agreed to clear it.

However, since the poison was only harmful to both of the next participants, it was unanimously agreed to clear it.

The next two individuals sent to the stage were expected—the Vice Captains of each team.

On behalf of Dark Moon, Ravi wearing the black and silver uniform of Dark Moon had dark bronze skin, hazel eyes, and chiselled features.

A stark visual contrast, Isolde Blackheart, had pale and delicate features like her younger brother, pale blue eyes, and ashen-grey hair.

All of Ravi's spiritual creatures were insect-species. And as, one of the most populace and diverse groups, naturally he had a wide variety of potential contracts to select from. Among S-rank affinities, his definitely would rank towards the top in terms of the breadth of species he could contract.

The first was his initial contract a dual metal and wind-attribute praying mantis with long, sweeping limbs and sharp blades that glinted under the arena lights—the Zephyrstrike Mantis. Considering that Ravi was just from an ordinary family, it's impressive that he managed to evolve and train what was originally only a bronze-quality Blade Mantis to diamond-quality and blue-grade, which is a testament to how much effort he had put in.

The second blue-grade contract was the light-attribute Dawn Butterfly. It is an exquisite butterfly with golden wings that shimmered with iridescent light. Its wings emit soft, radiant beams that illuminate the surroundings and cast golden halos around it.

Flying next to it was the blue-grade Vermix. It appeared like an enormous dragonfly with translucent wings that crackled with lightning. Its body was armoured in a sleek, dark metallic exoskeleton that hummed with electric power, and its eyes glowed a vibrant electric blue.

The fourth blue-grade contract was a massive dark-attribute spider with jet-black fur and glowing red eyes, from a species unfamiliar to Kain. However, he had heard that it was provided as a reward in a previous year from the college and was born in one of the college's relics.

The last blue-grade contract was a massive golden-brown beetle with armor-like plating and wings that shimmered with dust and sand—a Seismic Stone Scarab.

Ravi's final contract was green-grade, but is actually his contract with the most potential, and probably the contract that many would be the most envious over. It was also another contract provided by the school, and was a perfect advertisement for how much they were willing to invest into their students. It was a golden cicada with the time-attribute. With such a powerful attribute, despite it being one grade below most of the creatures on the field, it was still a great threat.

Unfortunately, Kain had never seen Ravi activate his gift, although he was sure that he had one. Therefore, he wasn't sure if the gift would have any beneficial effects on the match.

Isolde, unlike Ravi, had all 6 of her contracts at glue-grade. Moreover, like her brother, they all were powerful spiritual creatures with the infernal-bloodline.

The one in the center was a large, flame-wrapped Burning Abyssal Phoenix with black and red feathers that appeared to burn with eternal fire. Its eyes were like molten lava, and its wings left trails of fire in the air.

Flying alongside the phoenix was a Demonwing Harpy. She had a lithe, birdlike body and long, muscular legs ending in sharp, obsidian claws. Her massive bat-like wings were made of leathery, ember-glowing membranes, capable of unleashing fiery winds. Its humanoid face had glowing molten amber eyes and a wide, sharp-toothed grin. Her long, black, smoke-like hair flickered with streaks of flame, and her presence radiated an oppressive, sulfurous heat. Her chest was covered with an armor-like material composed of feathers that directly grew from her. Her claws and tail both emanated sharpness and power, indicating that they were additional close-combat weapons at its disposal.

The third contract appeared with an earthshaking roar. It was a massive, lion-like creature with a spiny tail that ended in a scorpion-like stinger. Its body was armored in hell-forged scales and its claws easily tore into the stage as it walked—a Manticore.

The fourth was one of the opponent's most regularly used contract, and one the Dark Moon staff had done extensive research on—an Infernal Sentinel Gargoyle. The stone gargoyle had fiery, demonic eyes and cracks in its rocky body that glowed with embers. Its wings were bat-like, and its sharp claws appeared to be forged from blackened iron.

Her fifth contract, while lacking in frontal combat abilities, had profound mental manipulation abilities—the Soulreaver Incubus. It was a seductive, yet menacing, humanoid demon with sleek, obsidian skin and bat-like wings that shimmered in the darkness. Its eyes were like pools of a liquid night sky, and its smile revealed sharp, predatory teeth.

Her sixth and final contract was a Dreadclaw Demon—a terrifying creature that resembled a twisted, hulking gorilla, with blackened fur and claws that had a corrosive effect. Its glowing eyes pierce through the darkness, and a dark shadowy aura emanated from its body.