Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

However, there were no storms at this time of year. You could even describe the sea as calm and tranquil. While the surrounding waters had some small waves, the moment they reached the Storm Strait, the surface became as smooth as a mirror.

"Don’t be fooled by how calm it is now. When a Hao Waterfowl performs its evolutionary ritual, the fiercest storm on all of Blue Star will erupt right here to test its spirit."

"Oh, so that’s how it is. Thank you, sister."

"Eheheh~"

The resident Beast Tamer who was educating everyone was an older woman. Although she clearly had a few wrinkles, she’d maintained her appearance quite well.

Hearing Su Zhi call her "sister," the woman’s face immediately broke into a delighted smile, and even her prominent wrinkles seemed to fade a little.

Liu Yuhang raised his hand. "Aun—... Sister, we have a non-guaranteed appointment. Has the other Beast Tamer not arrived? If not, could we go ahead and start the evolution?"

Hearing Liu Yuhang almost call her "auntie," the resident Beast Tamer’s brow visibly furrowed, only to smooth out again when he corrected himself.

"She’s been here for a while, waiting for you all inside. Katie, come on out."

"Okay, Auntie!"

The lighthouse door opened at her call, and a slender figure came running out with a PITTER-PATTER.

The girl had a classic baby face, but her eyes held a contradictory mix of maturity and high spirits. A slightly loose, light green sun shirt paired with black leggings perfectly accentuated her slender figure.

Her appearance was certainly eye-catching.

But she was flat as an airport runway, so Su Zhi wasn’t particularly interested.

Shao Ya stood with her hands behind her back, pretending to look at the scenery, but she was watching Su Zhi out of the corner of her eye. When she saw that he really wasn’t staring at the other girl and was looking at her instead, her rebellious strand of hair twitched with a hint of delight.

"Chirp~"

Seeing this, Shan Bao narrowed its eyes, its cheeks flushing red.

"So you’re the other one with an appointment?"

The girl named Katie leaned forward, sizing up Liu Yuhang and the Xue Li on his shoulder.

"Ah... yes."

Liu Yuhang stammered his reply. As if on cue, the evening breeze carried the girl’s scent to his nose, leaving the inexperienced young man flustered and at a loss.

"This evolution opportunity is really important to us... so even though you’re a girl, I don’t plan on backing down! I’m very sorry!"

Liu Yuhang said, trying to stay calm.

Katie, however, just tilted her head as a tender-green Beast Taming Light Array lit up beside her.

A moment later, a mantis with a body like a tree trunk and massive serrated forelimbs appeared within the Light Array—

[Pet Beast: Meili (Iron Birch Mantis)

Attribute: Wood Element, Fighting Element

Race: High Level Elite Race

Real-time Energy Value: 4140]

"But, little bro, if we follow convention and decide the spot with a Pet Beast Battle, you probably won’t be getting this opportunity, you know?"

"Ngh..." Liu Yuhang clenched his fists.

Although the two Hao Waterfowl would normally be the ones to duel, there was no rule stating that other Pet Beasts couldn’t participate. In this situation, Katie, having bonded with two Pet Beasts, naturally held a crushing advantage.

A smile played on Katie’s lips as she studied Liu Yuhang’s expression with great interest.

Just as she was about to say something, the girl’s gaze shifted, her attention drawn to Yu Bao not far away—

"SHHH... SHHH..."

Yu Bao was using its Earth Force Field to draw in the sand on the beach.

Compared to human sand artists who draw with their fingers, Yu Bao could achieve much more flexible control with its Earth Force Field, allowing it to render even the most minute details with extreme precision.

In just a few seconds, a sand drawing with photorealistic detail was complete:

Beneath a starry sky, the ocean tide breathed against the shore. A lighthouse towered into the clouds, casting a conspicuous light to guide distant ships home.

On the beach, a young man and a Yu Dian Dog sat together watching the stars. A little chick... er, it was probably a Flash Gold Sparrow, was also nestled in the Yu Dian Dog’s embrace, looking exceptionally cozy.

"Woof!"

Yu Bao solemnly presented it to Su Zhi.

This was its latest masterpiece: *Wu Bao in the Garage*!

’That’s enough out of you...’

Su Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but his mind wasn’t on that right now. He was more concerned about what Liu Yuhang was going to do.

Turning his head, Su Zhi noticed Katie watching, completely captivated.

"It’s drawn so well..." Katie murmured. Snapping back to reality, she gave Su Zhi a very interested look.

"Your Pet Beast?"

Su Zhi: "Yeah."

"If you’re interested, it can draw one for you, too. Right? Right?"

Shao Ya took a step forward, positioning herself slightly in front and to the left of Su Zhi, nudging him with her elbow.

Su Zhi suppressed a laugh, a smile tugging at his lips. He nodded, his bright white bangs bobbing in his eyes.

Katie covered her mouth and giggled, her big eyes darting about thoughtfully.

"How about this! Since I’m competing with that little bro for the evolution spot, our Hao Waterfowl will naturally have to face off."

"But before that, I want my Iron Birch Mantis to have a Pet Beast Battle with your Yu Dian Farm Dog. If you can win, then regardless of whether that little bro wins or loses, I’ll give the opportunity to you guys.

"—And you’ll throw in a sand portrait for me. How about it?"

"Of course," Su Zhi immediately agreed.

’No loss if I lose, but if I win, I can help Liu Yuhang secure the evolution spot. That’s a huge win!’

He had to admit, Yu Bao’s drawing skill was quite the cultural asset, always coming in handy at the most unexpected times.

"Thanks, Brother Shu." Liu Yuhang nodded with a smile, though his expression was complicated.

"No problem!" Su Zhi clapped him on the shoulder.

"Yu Bao, give it your all! Xue Li’s future happiness depends on you!"

"Woof!"

’That sounds a little weird... But it doesn’t matter. I’m all fired up!’

The two sides backed away from each other. The battle began!

"Meili, use Rapid Wind Slash to maintain the offensive!"

"SWISH! SWISH!"

Meili nodded, its sharp forelimbs whipping through the air, launching a series of powerful blades of wind.

Rapid Wind Slash was a Wood Skill. It activated the Wood Energy within the user’s body to increase the strength and speed of its forelimbs, but the resulting shockwaves dealt true Wind Element damage.

From the detail that Yu Bao could draw in the sand, Katie had already figured out it had the Earth Force Field skill. A rash, head-on attack would only put her on the defensive.

Therefore, the purpose of Rapid Wind Slash wasn’t to attack, but to disrupt the opponent’s setup!

At almost the same instant it launched the shockwaves, Meili followed up, its powerful hind legs kicking off the ground as it shot toward Yu Bao like a swift shadow.

It moved so fast, it was practically in sync with the wind blades!

However, just as it was about to reach Yu Bao, Meili’s figure suddenly swerved. It didn’t attack, but instead appeared behind and to the left of Yu Bao.

Katie knew full well that the Yu Dian Farm Dog’s strength lay in close-quarters offense and defense. Her own Iron Birch Mantis, which specialized in fast attacks, was actually countered by Yu Bao to some extent.

’Only by incorporating more variations into my attacks can I achieve victory!’

"Now, Meili! Thorny Prison!"

"SHIING—"

At the exact moment the wind blades struck Yu Bao, Meili viciously plunged its pair of serrated forelimbs into the ground.

At the same time, several long, flexible thorns shot out from beneath the sand, trussing Yu Bao up completely.

’Now you can’t escape!’

Seeing the time was ripe, Meili raised its forelimbs and closed in for the kill.

The wind blades hit Yu Bao first, and Meili’s serrated claws were just about to come down.

Just as it was about to strike, Meili’s eyes shot wide open. After being hit by the wind blades, Yu Bao suddenly swelled up, and several red cracks even appeared on the surface of its body...

"BANG!"

Yu Bao exploded.

"?!"

Meili was fast enough to avoid the blast. It looked back with lingering fear, then turned to Katie in confusion.

’What happened?’

’I swear I didn’t even hit it. You can’t just fake an injury like that, can you?’

Katie’s brow furrowed. "Meili, watch out! In the air!"

"???" Meili looked up blankly, only to see the real Yu Bao sitting enthroned in the sky, treading on Suspended Sand and Flying Fire.

Yu Bao gave its sunglasses a tactical push.

Dust and flames gathered around it, like an apocalyptic rain of fire, blanketing the sky to engulf Meili.

"SNAP."

Yu Bao snapped its fingers.

’Omae wa mou shindeiru.’

"WHOOSH—"

A storm of fire and sand instantly crashed down, completely enveloping Meili. The beach provided a natural source of sand, allowing the primarily Earth-Element Yu Bao to display even greater combat power than usual.

Before the dust had even settled, Yu Bao, its back to the swirling sand, slowly descended back to the ground and walked toward Su Zhi without turning around.

A true man never looks back at an explosion.

Su Zhi quickly warned, "Yu Bao, watch out! It can still fight!"

"?" Yu Bao whipped its head around, only for a pair of massive, serrated forelimbs to fill its vision, rapidly closing in.

"HOLY WOOF!"

·

·