Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Lin didn’t understand what had happened exactly.

Confusion being amplified by the speed with which the situation had changed from crisis to… something different that seemed equally urgent.

She got distracted observing the exchange to the point where she didn’t notice the mutant approaching her from the right flank.

The creature exploiting the moment of inattention to close a distance that normally would’ve already obtained Lin’s attention.

It wasn’t particularly dangerous despite everything…

She would’ve easily eliminated it if it got closer. Her reflexes being sufficient to respond before any Silver-rank threat materialized into real damage.

But she didn’t get the opportunity to demonstrate it because someone eliminated it first.

Intervention being so fast the mutant fell before Lin could appropriately react. A corpse hitting ground while Lin was still turning toward the threat that no longer existed.

Luna appeared from the shadows after having used the enormous wolf jaws that were only partially manifested.

The creature being barely visible and mostly non-solid in a new manner communicating Luna was also conserving energy now, avoiding the complete appearance of her beasts to steer clear of future mana shortages threatening all defenders.

It was the same logical conservation sacrificing some elimination speed in favor of sustainability. “Seems Liora found her balance and then the way to ‘burn’ corrupt energy,” Luna commented with her classic pretend monotone that was almost conversational despite the battle context surrounding them.

It was a small summary providing a partial explanation of what they’d just witnessed. Though specific details were still missing for complete comprehension.

Lin remained mostly confused while Luna continued directing her shadow to eliminate other advancing mutants.

“What exactly is happening?” Lin asked, demanding clarification without being discourteous about the urgency she felt.

22:47

She needed to understand so she could adapt… Could help.

Luna clarified while maintaining divided attention between combat and conversation.

“Ren wasn’t the only one losing control, that’s why we couldn’t come sooner. At least the desperate strategy he and Liora employed served to reduce pressure on defenders momentarily. Especially Ren… seems his aggressive absorption eliminated sufficient mutants that it even created a small respite our defensive lines needed for reorganizing.”

She paused to eliminate two more creatures before continuing. “But we couldn’t let him continue like that after seeing what almost happened to Liora when she was also absorbing corrupt energy without appropriately expelling it.”

It was another reference to the event happening on the other side of the defensive circle that Lin hadn’t directly witnessed.

“While you were trying to reason with Ren,” Luna elaborated, “Larissa and I had to ‘purify’ Liora with our water and light mana because corruption was seriously affecting her. Things were getting ugly until Larissa gave her some ‘loving strikes’ of intense light so she’d come to her senses.”

It was a very Luna-style direct description communicating the important parts in this urgent context. No embellishment or drama. Just facts presented efficiently so understanding could be achieved quickly.

Finch and Theodore, that were now trying to maintain the non combatants entertained to avoid further panic and chaos, would be sad at that…

But the image was clear enough. Liora had lost control like Ren and Larissa ended up literally beating sense back into her ‘sister’ through elemental attacks.

It wasn’t something easy to understand for tamers without spiritual beasts. But the spiritual nature of Liora’s fire helped her find an ‘expulsion’ route for corruption that the incomplete and relatively new and unadapted network of mutants can’t counter.

Liora’s spiritual core was separated from her normal mana core. Though they occupy the same space in a dynamic that’s quite strange when trying to conceptualize it.

It was a specialization coming from the unique path Liora followed with her spiritual beasts. But not only that…

Liora was brilliant when it came to ‘managing emotions’… She still was an adolescent, a ball of chaotic feelings and passion, but in the confines of that she was a genius of picking great choices. She didn’t just have the most mature emotional relationship with Ren. She had it with her beasts, her energy and her life in general despite her obscure family situation.

It was a ‘skill’ that went beyond combat power. Into territory that most tamers never even considered because they treated bonds as ‘limbs’ rather than relationships.

“In the end the light helped her and she managed to control the huge energy her now too big serpent absorbed with her Will o Wisp’s fire. Seems she just had to expel it somehow before it became too much.”

Luna outlined it simply. But the implications were enormous. If Liora could help Ren control his energy somehow now that she understood it better, they could use it to their advantage. And the general situation against mutants would likely improve considerably.

It was a most wishful rather than logical conclusion Lin immediately went for. But it was way better than the solution she’d contemplated, fusion and mutually destructive fight, that now might not be necessary if this different approach worked.

Hope… Actual hope. Maybe they wouldn’t all die here. Maybe they could actually win.

“Then I’ll help you,” Lin declared with renewed determination coming from having a new concrete direction instead of simply reacting to the crisis.

“With my full fusion if necessary. Even if I end up knocked out and eliminated by the beasts in the end. If that’s the price of saving my student and keeping the defense functioning, I’ll pay it without hesitation.”

It was willingness to sacrifice offered with sincerity admitting no debate. Commitment demonstrating exactly how much she valued her favorite student she’d trained for years.

Larissa appeared near them with a jump similar to Liora’s.

She smiled with an expression that was warm despite the tense circumstances. Appreciation being obvious in how she looked at Lin.

“It’s good you appreciate him so much,” she commented with a tone carrying genuine gratitude. “But surely that won’t be necessary if we execute this correctly.”

It was optimism contrasting with the grim evaluation Lin had made. But coming from a different perspective having seen solutions where Lin had only seen need for destructive containment.

“Stop fooling around!” Liora shouted from the position where she’d remained near Ren.

Voice carrying urgency cutting through the conversation the others were having. Not anger… But a desperate need to refocus attention on the immediate crisis rather than discussion of it.

“Ren is still unstable! We don’t have time, that nasty corruption is trying to seize him again right now!”

The three turned to look just in time to see another fireball that was totally spiritual in nature impact Ren directly.

The corruption that had been visible as black lines exploded dramatically in response. Reduction being obvious as Liora’s spiritual resolve countered part of the dark energy being burned by her Will or Wisp’s fire that operated on a plane specifically for spiritual channels instead of ordinary mana ones.

The effect was immediate. Black veins retreated, consumed by purple-black flames that burned without heat. That destroyed corruption without damaging the flesh beneath. That purified rather than merely burning.

Ren’s normal body color became even more visible.

Human features emerging from behind the darkness. Skin pale but recognizably his, expression confused but aware. Like he was waking from a nightmare and didn’t yet understand where he was or what had happened.

But the corruption seemed to have reacted to the interference this time.

Recognition of a threat to its existence provoking a response that was more aggressive. Intelligent countermeasure suggesting whatever drove the corruption wasn’t just a mindless force but something aware. Something that learned and adapted.

The tentacles that had been subtly forming at Ren’s feet stretched with speed and violence they hadn’t previously demonstrated.

Dark extensions reaching toward the mutant bodies scattered around the area where Ren had been massacring them. And they began consuming corpses more aggressively than the previous absorption had operated.

It was feeding and accelerating corruption’s growth. Like compensation for the energy Liora was burning. Increasing investment in expanding control over the host being disputed. The tentacles pulsed and drained corpses in seconds, converted death into power and channeled it back toward Ren.

Black lines covered Ren’s face again with alarming speed.

Dark veins propagating upward until reaching the features that had been partially clean just moments before. Spreading faster than before… Fighting back against Liora’s intervention with everything it had.

And they reached his eyes.

Covering sclera and iris with darkness that was absolute. Total black eclipsing natural white. His eyes went completely dark. Pure black.

It was like corruption was trying to cover his sight. His consciousness. His connection with reality permitting him to resist.

Trying to seize him completely through isolating his mind from sensory inputs that could anchor the rationality the darkness didn’t want him maintaining.

Liora recognized the escalation immediately.

Comprehending the window for successful intervention was rapidly closing. She began gathering a fireball that was much larger than previous projections she’d launched.

Spiritual power accumulation making the technique considerably more potent but also requiring preparation time she normally wouldn’t spend during active battle. The fire grew in her hands. Purple-black flames coalescing, becoming dense enough the air around them warped from spiritual pressure.

It was massive… Growing with each second as she fed more power into it. More Will… More everything she had.

“Hold him in place for a moment!” she shouted toward Lin, Luna, and Larissa with a voice carrying absolute urgency.

“Don’t let him move! I need a few seconds to prepare a technique strong enough to burn all the corruption at once!”