Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 781 - Taming the Fifth Year - True Challenge - 5

It was condensed elemental fire…

Not external fire that could be extinguished. Fire imbued directly into the blades themselves. Converting them into elemental weapons that carried a persistent effect.

The vampire descended again with confidence. Trying to force a close-quarters exchange again while still trusting in its regeneration to offset any damage received.

The mantis countered the approach with perfect timing.

Blade-arms cut through a defensive posture that covered the head. This time carrying fire with them into the wound.

They impacted the vampireʼs shoulder. Opening a deep wound that should have closed immediately like the others.

But the elemental fire entered the wound itself.

Burning from within where blood control couldnʼt simply expel it.

The vampire shrieked. Not an attack scream but the sound of real pain that made obvious the genuine damage.

It pulled away, beating wings desperately to create distance from a new threat it couldnʼt regenerate through.

The wound kept trying to close through automatic blood control activation.

But the fire interfered with the process. Cauterized tissue that attempted regenerating. Created continuous damage that the vampire had to heal actively instead of closing passively through natural ability.

The wound took fifteen seconds to close completely. Three times slower than previous injuries.

And the vampire had spent significantly more mana accomplishing the healing against the persistent fire damage.

Liu observed his beast with surprise that broke his calm expression. ”The regeneration is weak to fire element?”

But he didnʼt have time for adjusting strategy based on new information.

The mantis was already attacking again before the vampire could recover position.

This time from a different angle that exploited the momentary disorientation. Faster approach. Using the same wind element but with small explosions of fire like Linʼs technique for extra propulsion that the vampire couldnʼt cancel at all despite its own air control.

Blade-arms connected again without mercy. Opposite shoulder symmetrically. Fire imbuing burning into the fresh wound.

More pain. More forced regeneration. More mana spent on healing instead of attacking.

The vampire tried counterattacking the next attack at point-blank range where sonic attack would be unavoidable. It screamed with full power.

But the mantis had already retreated and protected its single ʼearʼ. Dodging just outside effective range before sound could damage it.

Hit and run. Exactly the tactic it had been using throughout the entire fight.

Except now armed with weapons that actually worked against regeneration.

The pattern repeated. The mantis darting in, landing fire-imbued strikes, retreating before retaliation could connect.

Each hit forced the vampire to spend mana healing.

Each healing took longer than the last as fire damage accumulated faster than it could be completely purged.

The vampireʼs movements were slowing as mana reserves were focused into regeneration.

And in the stands, observers leaned forward as they realized what was happening.

The Bronze-rank mantis was actually winning against the Gold-rank vampire through systematic exploitation of its weakness.

Fire imbuing that turned regeneration advantage into liability draining resources faster than they could be recovered.

But before surrendering to inevitable defeat, Liu changed his approach completely. If he couldnʼt catch the mantis through normal pursuit, if his sonic attacks kept missing the impossibly fast target...

He needed betting on something more costly but with greater potential reward.

He made his bat descend low, almost touching the arena floor in a controlled fall.

The mantis followed, maintaining pressure like a predator sensing a wounded prey.

And then the vampire launched his attack abruptly, a screaming sonic attack not toward where the mantis was positioned, but toward the ground so the sound would bounce and hit both of them with the reflected shockwave.

The mantis moved backward at the last moment to reduce the impact that expanded with the bounce effect.

But the reduced scream and flying rocks struck it partially despite the impromptu evasive maneuvers.

Not a direct impact that would have eliminated it instantly. But sufficient to damage and unbalance it in the air where it was already somewhat clumsy and had to move in relatively straight lines. Enough to affect its wings control and give the vampire opportunity to counterattack.

The mantis couldnʼt regenerate like its opponent.

It was now or never for Liuʼs vampire...

The wounded and lacerated vampire ignored the pain and closed the distance explosively with everything it had left.

Fifteen meters became ten in a heartbeat.

Five.

Three meters.

Two.

One.

Maximum absorption range achieved.

The ”blood” full of energy from the mantis began leaving its body through the vampiric draining skill.

But it was slow, needed better contact for a more effective transfer...

It opened its mouth wide, fangs gleaming with hunger. If it could reach biting range, it could drain much faster through direct contact.

The vampire had finally accomplished what it had been seeking throughout the prolonged fight.

It caught the mantis in grappling range.

Not with a complete bite that would end things instantly. Not with a decent grip that prevented escape. Sufficient prolonged contact to activate its most potent ability of blood absorption that drained life force.

The mantis weakened visibly under the effect. Its movements losing some of their incredible speed. The glow of its blade-arms dimming fast as energy was siphoned away.

Liu smiled with satisfaction at finally turning the tide. ”There.”

Ren realized with his huge perception speed that if things continued this way for a full second his beast wouldnʼt make it in time, so he charged the mimic with a different element and ʼspokeʼ a single word through their bond.

”Wood.”

The mantisʼs blade-arms changed immediately. The fire element disappeared. Green energy replaced it.

Wood element. Life and growth perverted into a weapon through elemental manipulation.

The blades impacted the vampireʼs chest just as it was about to complete its bite for maximum drain.

The vampire felt the pain of the strike, however it didnʼt surrender the advantage it had gained, managing to bite the ”small” mantis with some of his fangs penetrating the chitin...

But the wood element had already entered the wound before the energy could be stolen fully.

And it began growing with unnatural speed.

Not just plants sprouting... But elemental energy that interfered with the vampireʼs vital processes. Entangling itself in its blood. Interrupting regeneration in a manner different from fireʼs cauterization.

Absorbing back the energy from the vampire.

Where fire cauterized and burned, destroying tissue that attempted healing through sheer destructive force...

Wood element parasitized. Grew using the vampireʼs own vital energy against itself. Forcing it to purge the foreign energy before being able to heal properly from the wounds.

And that energy returned to the mantis in a reverse flow...

The energy of both beasts now flowed in a continuous circle passing from mantis to vampire through bite, but while the vampire didnʼt release its grip, the mantis kept generating cuts from its chest position using blade-arms.

At first they were even in the exchange, energy draining both ways.

But the cuts increased in frequency and the vegetal absorption grew stronger...

And soon the vampire looked visibly more exhausted, also thanks to previous expenditures that had already depleted reserves significantly.

But it only needed to bury its teeth slightly deeper, harder, if it could break through the mantisʼs thorax completely...

The audience was completely silent now in unprecedented attention.

Observing with an absolute focus that made breathing seem too loud.

Because both sides had a path toward victory visible to those who understood the mechanics.

And nobody knew who would reach their win condition first.

Liu looked at Ren from across the arena with an expression mixing determination and growing concern.

Ren smiled and returned the gaze with calm that suggested confidence rather than worry.

Liu realized something at that moment...

Ren still hadnʼt used everything he possessed in reserve.