I am Just an Average Tamer-Chapter 156: cxxxc

Cassian exhaled deeply. He wasn’t winded. Not even close. His black scarf fluttered behind him, caught in a lazy breeze as he gazed across the small clearing ahead.

There were three of them.

A tall boy in spiked armor with a spiked club slung over his shoulder—brawler class.

A wiry girl with jet-black braids and curved daggers—probably a rogue or assassin type.

And a third, lanky one, holding a beast staff with a three-eyed vulture perched atop. Beast tamer. Probably the team’s scout.

Cassian rolled his neck. "Didn’t expect company."

The rogue girl scoffed. "Didn’t expect a loner to make it this far."

The brawler cracked his knuckles. "He’s the dual blade guy, ain’t he? The one who split that rock beast in half during the second trial."

The beast tamer’s vulture cawed once, eyes locked on Cassian. "Doesn’t matter. Three tokens are on the line."

Cassian smiled faintly and lowered into a stance—one blade in reverse grip, the other straight.

"Then come take them."

✦ Spectator View – Arena Balcony ✦

"He’s surrounded," one noble girl murmured, sipping from a crystal goblet as she watched the glowing panel overhead.

"No," Professor Eldrin said, adjusting his monocle. "He’s baiting them."

"...What?"

"Watch his footing. He’s already picked his route. Cassian isn’t trapped. They are."

✦ Battle Begins ✦

The rogue dashed first, blades gleaming with a coating of dark poison.

Cassian pivoted—not backward, but forward. He met her halfway, blocked her right dagger with one blade, then twisted and slammed the hilt of his second into her gut.

She wheezed and stumbled.

From behind, the brawler surged in with a warcry, his club descending like a meteor.

Cassian side-stepped at the last second, letting the club smash the ground. Dirt exploded.

In one fluid motion, Cassian spun, kicked off the brawler’s back, and flipped over him—landing behind the rogue again. A quick slice—she barely parried in time, losing her balance.

The brawler growled, charging once more.

The beast tamer muttered a chant, and the vulture let out a screech. A pulse of sonic energy rippled forward—Cassian’s scarf snapped violently from the wave.

He stumbled.

The rogue girl grinned. "Got you—"

Cassian vanished from her sight.

She blinked—then screamed.

His blade was at her throat.

"I don’t like poison," he said, and disarmed her with a quick flick.

She dropped to her knees.

The brawler, now enraged, roared and went into a berserker charge—club spinning in a deadly arc. Trees cracked as he slammed through them.

Cassian dashed straight at him.

And then—

He slid low, spinning. His right blade carved through the brawler’s thigh armor—slicing tendon.

The brawler howled, collapsing to one knee.

Cassian didn’t stop. He leapt, twirled, and struck with both blades in a crossing X.

The brawler’s chest armor split in a spark shower—he was knocked flat.

✦ Spectator View ✦

The crowd erupted.

"Did you see that spin?!"

"Holy hells, he broke the guy’s stance in three steps!"

Professor Maelis scribbled furiously on a scroll. "Form flawless. Fluid momentum. This one... has the makings of a blade master."

Another professor leaned in. "I call dibs on mentoring him."

✦ Beast Tamer’s Last Stand ✦

Now only one was left.

The lanky boy took two steps back. His hands trembled slightly, though he tried to maintain a calm expression.

"Stay back, Orka!" he shouted.

The vulture shrieked and launched, wings extending wide. Feathers shimmered with rune-like energy.

Cassian narrowed his eyes.

The beast opened its third eye—dark energy lancing toward him.

Cassian sheathed one blade.

He raised his other, angled perfectly—

And sliced.

The energy wave cracked, split in half, and dispersed.

He dashed.

Orka screeched, diving down to intercept. Cassian flung a dust pouch mid-run—exploding in the air with blinding powder.

The bird faltered.

Cassian reached the beast tamer and placed his blade’s flat against his neck.

The boy froze.

Cassian tilted his head. "Wanna keep your token?"

The boy nodded.

"Then stay down."

The boy sat. Fast.

✦ Aftermath ✦

Cassian flicked his blade clean and turned toward the forest center’s monolith.

Three tokens now hung from his belt.

He began walking calmly, his scarf fluttering in the fading light.

✦ Spectators ✦

The crowd exploded in cheers again.

Even the nobles clapped now.

One girl in the VIP box leaned to her friend. "He’s... kind of cool, no?"

"He’s terrifying," her friend muttered, eyes wide.

Cassian didn’t care about the cheers.He didn’t even look up.

He had only one goal: Pass the trial. Graduate. Rise.

The forest hadn’t beaten him.

He had carved through it like a storm.

The crimson sun dipped low, shadows stretching across the forest like fingers of creeping dread. The air grew heavier with each breath, thickened not just with the incoming miasma but with the simmering tension as more participants converged toward the center.

Cassian adjusted the twin gauntlets strapped to his forearms, their runes faintly pulsing violet. His dark grey cloak fluttered behind him as he moved with sharp, confident steps through the foliage. Unlike many, he hadn’t rushed. No—Cassian waited for the right moment, and now, his path to the center lay clear, save for the skirmishes that erupted ahead.

He stopped.

The ground trembled faintly.

Boom. Boom.

Heavy footfalls.

Through the fog, a towering beast burst into view—a six-legged ursine construct of stone and bone, runes etched deep into its granite hide. Its controller—a short, silver-haired girl with cybernetic goggles—stood behind it, issuing commands.

Cassian cracked his neck.

"Finally," he muttered. "Someone who might be worth it."

The girl pointed at him. "Crush him, Borok!"

The golem roared.

Cassian’s eyes sharpened as he raised both arms, whispering under his breath. The runes on his gauntlets flared, and his body flickered—

CRASH!

The beast’s paw slammed into the ground where he had just been.

But Cassian was already in the air, flipping over the golem’s head.

Mid-spin, his right gauntlet expanded, forming a jagged energy blade. With precision, he drove it down toward Borok’s rune core, but—

CLANG!

A stone panel jutted up, blocking the strike.

"Smart," Cassian muttered, landing behind the golem.

"Borok, tail swipe!"

The golem twisted unnaturally, stone spikes along its tail whipping toward him.

Cassian ducked, rolled under, and clapped both gauntlets together. Arcane circuits lit up, and suddenly—

Fzzzzzp—BOOM!

A shockwave pulsed from him, shattering the nearest tree and staggering Borok mid-move.

The girl’s expression finally cracked.

"Cassian Zareth," she muttered. "That’s who you are."

Cassian winked. "Better late than never."

He bolted forward. At the last second, he pivoted, sliding low under Borok’s front legs and drove his blade upward—this time, scraping past the stone plating and into the inner core.

The golem convulsed.

But its paw caught Cassian’s side and flung him like a ragdoll into a boulder.

Thud!

"Urgh—" He coughed blood, vision flickering for a moment.

Vael, watching from high up in the trees with Kai, twitched slightly. But Kai remained still. "Let’s see how the boy recovers."

The crowd outside the forest roared.

"Is that Cassian? He’s fighting a damn golem tank!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"The girl’s one of the top ranked from Ventoria."

"But Zareth’s not backing down..."

Inside the arena chamber, Professor Selric leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "That boy... his adaptability is insane."

"Wait—look!"

Cassian stood, staggered—but grinning.

He raised his left gauntlet. The energy blade retracted.

Instead, he slammed his fists together again.

This time, an ethereal projection of himself shot forward—a decoy.

The golem swiped.

Wrong target.

Cassian came from behind, now dual-wielding two thin energy whips, and began to carve into Borok’s legs—using precision instead of brute force.

The girl reacted. "Defensive shell—engage!"

A blue dome shimmered around her.

Cassian grinned, eyes glowing with violet arcana.

"So you hide now?"

He whispered a new command.

His right gauntlet buzzed and morphed into a hand-cannon-like structure.

He held it up.

Boom!

The blast wasn’t aimed at her—it shot upward, into the trees.

Then—

CRACK!

A massive branch snapped and came crashing down on her barrier, the sheer force creating a distraction. Cassian used the moment, dashed forward, and hit the core panel on Borok’s back again—this time with amplified energy.

BZZZZT-THRUMM!

Borok let out a mechanized groan and collapsed, smoke rising from its core.

The girl’s shield flickered and dropped.

And Cassian stood before her, one gauntlet sparking, the other aimed at her chest.

"Don’t."

She froze, breathing hard.

Cassian stepped back, letting the smoke and silence claim the battlefield.

"You’re good," he said. "But I’m better."

The crowd exploded again.

"Did you see that finish?!"

"That golem never stood a chance in the end!"

"He used the forest like a damn weapon."

Inside the professors’ stand, another mentor leaned forward. "He’s got top-tier control over mid-tier gear. That’s pure tactical intelligence."

Professor Loriel nodded. "He’s what you’d call dangerous—not just because he’s strong. But because he thinks ahead."

Back in the forest, Cassian exhaled and rolled his shoulders.

Then he walked past the fallen golem, casually picking up a token glinting beside it.

One more for the collection.

The miasma behind him crept closer.

Cassian never looked back.