Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

The Initiate didn't ask Liam about Susanna or talk about anything else. He led Liam directly to the basement of the arena—where the training sector was located.

The arena had only one fighting platform where the students could watch the ranked fights. However, in the basement of this building, 20 training platforms were available for contracted trainings.

The place looked like a large shed with no interior walls, dark mostly, with only lighting on the 20 platforms distributed in a rectangular area measuring 140 by 180 meters.

The 20 platforms were separated by dark corridors where some members of the arena or groups of disciples could be seen waiting for their fights, chatting or even watching fights in progress.

Liam spotted four platforms where disciples were fighting, a common scene in this place that was rarely crowded.

The arena provided three training programs. The first program was the simplest, where a hall member would be assigned to spar with the contracting disciple. The second program offered a higher level of difficulty, with 2-3 Spirit Masters challenging the contractor.

Lastly, the most advanced and costly program was the collective battle, where 4 or more Spirit Masters from the hall would join forces to train the contractor.

Why would someone hire these programs? There could be many reasons. Lack of worthy companions to train with; lack of resources to train with Spirit Puppets; higher than normal level of combat, among others.

For his training fight, Liam was certain that Initiate Francis' motivation was to somehow please the Emerald Owls, teach him a lesson, and hide this oppression through normal training.

At the sight of the young man with the short brown hair, piercing gaze and slightly parted lips, Liam took a deep breath and prepared himself for the fight.

"It's about time. I thought you were going to run away from your responsibility, Initiate Porter," said a man named Hannibal Rowan. He was a mid-level member of the hall, someone of similar stature to Lazarus in relation to the Beasts Hall.

Liam avoided looking into the man's eyes, who looked like a typical soldier, dressed in black armor, with shaved hair and visible scars from his face to his feet.

He just said, "I'm still not that familiar with the hall's training. So I'd appreciate hearing its rules."

The man who had escorted him answered on behalf of the half-dozen people next to platform 13, "The hall's training match has no time limit. It lasts as long as the contractor can stand. For the warriors of the hall, they have the obligation to fight until they satisfy the contractor or until they lose their conscience.

Weapons or special devices in the confrontation are forbidden. Attacks on the genitals are forbidden, and finally, since this is a friendly fight, fatal blows are also forbidden.

However, serious training, such as that which the hall offers to its disciples, has its own risks, and not every Spirit Master knows the limits of their opponents. Be aware of serious injuries if you cannot keep up with the abilities of your companions and opponents."

Liam listened intently and couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the cheekiness of these people. They were explicitly telling him that while there could be no serious transgressions in combat, combat was unpredictable and certain moves could not be weakened. If he wasn't strong enough, he might get hurt, and he shouldn't blame anyone but himself.

'Even if Francis uses his strength to hurt me, I won't be able to ask my superiors for justice. This is the situation I find myself in.'

He closed his eyes for a moment, regretting but not wanting to say anything.

What could he do but accept it? With nothing to rely on in this situation and nothing to use against these Emerald Owl men, he could only play along with Hannibal Rowan's games.

'Thal'Korr, prepare for an unfair fight. These three fellows who will fight beside me will probably facilitate Francis' moves against us.' Liam glanced at the three other members of the hall who would be fighting alongside him in the collective battle against Francis.

Liam wasn't stupid to think that any of them could help him. This was his punishment for choosing Leopards!

He stepped onto the platform as he accepted the rules, looking at the faces of each of the participants. 'There will be consequences for what transpires today. It might take some time, but I will make sure to repay what occurs here.'

Francis stepped confidently onto the platform, while Hannibal crossed his arms at chest level, standing next to only two men.

Liam's three 'companions' in this fight joined the boy, positioning themselves on the same side of the platform as him, raising their fists and preparing for Hannibal's signal.

'This is going to be interesting.' The rough-looking man smiled, foreseeing the sorry state Liam would leave the arena in today.

"Begin." He ordered, and each of the five young men on the fighting platform summoned their Spirits.

Liam could try to get close to Francis during the summoning of the Spirits. This was a Spirit Master's most vulnerable moment during a fight. However, Francis was a 7-Star Spirit Lord, and Liam's three 6-Star Spirit Lord 'allies' were actually enemies in disguise.

If he let his guard down and attacked Francis with his fists, the result could be much worse than he wanted!

'Today, I will endure what you have prepared for me.'

With his teeth gritted, he braced himself, knowing all too well the impending agony that awaited him as his opponent's Spirits launched their attack.

The moment Liam's enemies summoned their Spirits, eight creatures of mana condensed next to their masters. The weakest of these Spirits had a 4-Star cultivation, and the strongest was Thal'Korr.

Liam had little experience in combat, but normally Spirits had a cultivation one or two stars below that of their masters.

The Spirit Master needed a safety margin to train their Spirits without hindering their growth!

The six men around changed their expressions a little when they sensed Thal'Korr's level. The Spirit was at the peak of 5-Star, very close to the same level as Liam.

However, the difference between him and Francis' strongest Spirit was not significant.

'Tsk! Your Spirit isn't bad, but are you just going to use one?'

Francis put aside the small smile he had earlier as he waved his hands and ordered his Spirits to move against Liam.

Liam's 'companions' also advanced, pretending to move against their opponent, sending eath one of their Spirits against Francis. But each o them kept one Spirit behind—the common thing to happen in Spirit Master battles.

The body of Spirit Master was usually the most vulnerable essence in a fight. It wasn't uncommon for the strongest Spirit, or even the one with the most defensive power, to stay behind at the master's side.

'Isn't he going to call his second Spirit?' One of the three wondered while standing next to a Spirit in the shape of a brown bear. He glanced in Liam's direction out of the corner of his eye.

Liam was no fool to attack with Thal'Korr. Keeping his Spirit at his side, he prepared for enemy attacks as he saw Francis' two Spirits attack or approach him.

While the three Spirits moving against Francis seemed to be engaged in a fierce contest with Francis' demon Spirit, the other went against Liam and Thal'Korr. But even the demon Spirit that was entertaining the three opponents close to Francis had room to send long-range attacks against Liam.

Liam had to move as he felt attacks in the form of flaming black claws flying at him before a red snake Spirit, at least ten feet long, approached him and Thal'Korr.

'Fast!'

Liam tried to get Thal'Korr to use his shadow suppression on the red creature, but it was moving too fast for its own shadows to hurt it.

When it was close enough to both of them, the snake leaped into the air and opened its mouth. It revealed its long, inoculating teeth, from which a colored droplet of venom seemed to emerge.

This was a creature made of mana. Its poison could enter the body of living beings and cause serious problems, much worse than the ordinary poison of a normal snake.

Liam stepped back as Thal'Korr appeared in front of him and attacked the creature with his claws.

But he was careful with the venom, for it was dangerous not only to Liam, but to Spirits as well.

Concentrating on this snake for the last few seconds, Liam didn't notice when the battle surrounded him, with the other four Spirits appearing close to him.

'Fuck!! Shameless brats!'

He saw that the Spirits of his 'allies' not only deliberately missed their attacks on Francis' demon but also rushed towards him!

They 'missed' their attacks on the enemy Spirit in this training session, and attacked 'accidentally' their own ally!

Liam dodged the first few moves. Being stronger than the Spirits he was fighting, but also having superior physical attributes than teammates of the same level, he lasted a minute without getting hurt.

But this wasn't a fair fight. It was a 4-on-1 confrontation!

When Liam's mana consumption reached a point where he was nearing exhaustion, with Thal'Korr unable to help him and the enemies in better condition, his situation deteriorated.

Pow!

"Aaaaaagh!"

One of Francis' green-skinned demon claws struck Liam's stomach at the navel, knocking him off balance as he opened his mouth in pain.

Liam lost track of time and space, wounded like this for the first time in battle, while Thal'Korr fought on his behalf.

Each of Liam's three 'allies' landed blows on him, one kicking him in the head with a demon Spirit, another crashing his bull's horns into the target's back. The last of them stomped on the black-haired boy's legs.

Liam howled in pain, with broken bones, punctured organs, and much, much pain!

At that moment, he remembered his arrival in Twin Land, powerless, wounded, in the hands of an unknown enemy. For a second, the still flames of his heart rose stronger, reminding him he was among enemies.

His eyes fluttered with emotion as his cry of pain subsided. He looked in the direction of the smiling opponents, their expressions etched on his soul.

'I swear by what is most sacred. You will pay for this!'

When Thal'Korr exploded, however, Liam could no longer resist. He lost consciousness as they continued to attack.

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