Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 22 - Taming Battle

”You wonʼt need them,” Ren smiled. ”I promise.”

”With the 100 crystals you have it will be more than enough if we overcharge them. The error in the extra 50 days is in the reduced amount of mana in the night crystal, the beetle adapts to the error late, 50 days late...”

”...Though I understand why they donʼt use larger crystals, mana poisoning is scary, but I hope youʼll let me slightly increase the amount,” Ren smiled.

”We just need to wait for a specific night thatʼs coming in a few days so they donʼt absorb the wrong moonsʼ light and the evolution doesnʼt stray from the correct path.”

Taro looked at Ren for a long moment. The mushrooms in his hair glowed with a steady light, as if reflecting the certainty in his words.

Could he believe this child with such terrible luck? Actually, his logic told him no. But subconsciously, Renʼs overwhelming confidence gave him tiny hopes.

”You know what?” Taro finally smiled. ”I hadnʼt started the mixture with the night essence anyway. I was waiting to have all the crystals to do it at once, so...”

He shrugged.

”I guess I lose nothing by doing it your way, 500-year of records wonʼt change to give my beetle another option if the professor was so sure there wasnʼt... And if youʼre wrong about the amount when overcharging the crystal, the school will give me the potion for poisoning once… at least that support is universal.”

”Iʼm telling you, you wonʼt need any of that,” Ren repeated and laughed at Taroʼs worried monologue.

”Yes, yes... But if youʼre wrong, nothing will happen to me anyway, thatʼs why Iʼm calm, and Iʼd still have time to collect the other 50 crystals to finish the common method, though weʼll have to dig... Theyʼll only give us one Iron-rank crystal daily and itʼs not an earth attribute... Though after using 100 for 100 days, Iʼm sure Iʼll already have another 50 just in case.”

”Hahaha, you talk and worry too much...”

As they walked to their next class, Ren noticed something.

”By the way, why didnʼt you collect rain crystals? Theyʼre cheaper but you could have exchanged them; I had 500 before coming... I even got 15 in the last few weeks thanks to the rains.”

”In the city?” Taro laughed without humor. ”Itʼs almost impossible to find them here. Besides, my beetle needs earth crystals, which are much more expensive. Plant users are lucky, they can use that basic and super cheap crystal in their first rank.”

Ren nodded, thoughtful. He would also need earth crystals for his evolution, though of a higher rank than Taroʼs...

As they walked toward combat class, Ren and Taro met Min in the hallway.

”Did you hear?” Min smiled, his water snake undulating around his neck. ”Professor Yang has a Stone Behemoth. A Behemoth! There are only three in the whole city.”

Ren, Min, and Taro had reached the end of the hallway, to the next class.

♢♢♢♢

The combat classroom was different from the others...

A circular amphitheater with an arena in the center, surrounded by ascending stands. The walls were marked with scars from past battles.

”Silence!” Professor Yangʼs voice thundered in the amphitheater. He was a tall, muscular man, with scars that spoke of years of real experience.

The stone Behemoth in Professor Yangʼs skin gleamed under the amphitheater lights. The rocky lines covering his muscles made him look carved from living granite, a perfect manifestation for a combat instructor.

”Welcome to the real reason the government has you in school!” Professor Yang smiled.

”Though before we begin with the important stuff,” Yang approached the board, ”I see in your faces that no one has explained how this school really works. Typical of old Wei.”

”Since... my colleague was probably too busy with theories to explain the basics to you, let me simplify your five teaching units.”

He drew five circles on the board.

”The Academy divides its teaching into five units. Each is worth one point, and you need at least three to maintain your support here. Losing three points, three times in a row, means youʼre a failure not worth cultivating.”

He pointed to the first circle.

”First, basic knowledge: history, economics, and life. Three boring but necessary subjects, without them you wouldnʼt even know how to pay your taxes.” Several students laughed. ”Passing all three counts as one unit.”

Several students were taking notes frantically.

He pointed to the second section.

”Then thereʼs Professor Weiʼs theoretical classes: cultivation and crystal processing. Another unit. Yes, theyʼre important,” he rolled his eyes, ”but theory alone wonʼt keep you alive.”

His tone suggested he considered this barely more useful than the basic classes.

”The third unit is exterior gathering, where youʼll learn something useful. Theyʼll teach you to survive while searching for cultivation materials. Two weeks every two months, weʼll go to designated zones. Youʼll learn to identify materials, detect monsters, and most importantly... when to fight and when to flee.”

The mushrooms in Renʼs hair glowed with interest as Yang continued:

”Fourth unit: practical crystals. Not endless theories, but real identification and gathering in the caves. Also a respectable unit. Youʼll learn to distinguish qualities, purity, and most importantly... not to poison yourselves too often by exposing yourself too much to concentrated mana.”

He straightened.

”And finally... Combat. My specialty is battle against monsters.”

A young woman entered the classroom, her light step contrasting with Yangʼs imposing presence.

”My assistant, Professor Lin, is expert in combat against other tamers.”

His eyes swept the class.

”And do you know why this is the most important unit? Because no matter how much theory you memorize, how many crystals you identify or how many materials you collect... if you canʼt defend yourself, all that knowledge will die with you.”

The rock in his skin crackled, as if emphasizing his words.

”Outside, monsters wonʼt wait for you to process your crystals correctly. And in the rival city... Some ʼhumansʼ can be just as dangerous.”

Ren sank a bit in his seat. With only a 10% increase in strength, this unit would be a brutal unit.

”This class,” his voice was rough as the stone covering him, ”will determine your baseline.”

He walked to the center of the arena.

”The final exam is simple: youʼll have to eliminate a real monster. Not one of those weak ones that prowl near the city, but a genuine beast from the outer zones.”

Murmurs filled the amphitheater.

”Thatʼs why I need to know where you stand. Professor Lin and I will design a specific training program for each of you, based on your performance today.”

Professor Lin began unrolling a scroll.

”Weʼll pair you according to your beasts and attributes. The goal is to show your current capabilities.”

Yang nodded.

”Some of you have strength increases, others speed. Some have beasts with special abilities. But now, before cultivating them is when your individualities as people can matter more than your beasts. We want to see how you use them, how you think in combat...”

”Ah, and one more thing,” Yang smiled. ”In my class, theory is learned through bruises.”

The mushrooms in Renʼs hair pulsed nervously. His 10% increase in strength seemed insignificant compared to his classmatesʼ beasts. Even in the early stages.

”First pair,” Lin read from the scroll, ”Jin and...”

The tiger boy straightened, his eyes fixed on Ren, waiting for his opportunity.