The entire training grounds had fallen silent.
Derrick's warhound had attacked twice—yet both times, its fangs and claws had passed right through Meep as if it weren't even there.
Professor Aldric stroked his beard. "An intangible spirit... Very rare."
Ethan's heart pounded. He had no idea what was happening, but for the first time since summoning Meep, he felt something stir inside him. Hope.
Derrick gritted his teeth. "Fine. If I can't hit it, I'll just crush you instead!"
His warhound lunged at Ethan.
Ethan froze—he didn't have time to dodge—
But then—
Meep moved.
Faster than anything Ethan had ever seen.
One moment it was beside him, the next—
BOOM!
Derrick's warhound was sent flying across the arena.
The entire crowd gasped.
"W-What just happened?!" someone shouted.
Derrick scrambled back in shock. His massive warhound—twice the size of Meep—was whimpering on the ground, completely stunned.
Ethan stared at his tiny, round spirit in disbelief. "Meep… you just—"
Meep blinked innocently.
"Meep!"
Aldric's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "It seems your spirit is not only intangible but possesses an extreme burst of speed and impact. A rare form of acceleration magic, perhaps?"
Derrick clenched his fists. "Tch. Lucky shot, but this isn't over yet! Cerberus, Shadow Bind!"
Dark chains burst from the ground, wrapping around Meep. The warhound let out a victorious growl, its fangs gleaming.
The crowd smirked.
"That's it for him."
"Doesn't matter how fast it is if it's trapped!"
Ethan's stomach twisted. Meep was fast, but if it couldn't move—
CRACK.
The chains shattered.
Derrick's eyes widened. "What?!"
Meep simply phased through the binding.
Ethan's breath caught. Nothing could hold it.
He clenched his fists and grinned. "Derrick, I think you're out of luck."
Derrick growled. "Cerberus, again!"
The warhound lunged one final time—
But Meep vanished.
Not dodged. Vanished.
A split second later—
BAM!
Derrick's warhound was slammed into the ground, leaving a crater beneath it.
A shocked silence swept through the arena.
Ethan could hardly believe his eyes. "Meep… You just teleported?"
Meep blinked, looking as confused as he was. "Meep?"
Professor Aldric finally spoke. "Winner: Ethan Gray."
The audience exploded into noise.
"WHAT?!"
"HOW?!"
"A tiny furball just won against a warhound?!"
Derrick stood there, shaking in disbelief. "No way… I lost… to that?!"
Ethan stared at Meep, heart racing.
For the first time since arriving at Soulbound Academy…
He wasn't just some commoner anymore.
He had something special.
And he was going to find out just how powerful Meep truly was.