Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

(Sorry for vanishing for like 3 days. Don't worry, I'll try speed up my updates.)

Qiao Sang stared at Fire fang Dog in slight disbelief.

After such a heavy fall, it's still this energetic...

Looks like she underestimated it…

Since Fire fang Dog had already expressed its opinion, she naturally gave it her full support.

Seeing Fire fang Dog staggering yet still wearing a face full of confidence, as if it could defeat its opponent, Qiao Sang's gaze firmed up.

She wanted to win.

It was no longer the mindset she had before the match, believing she couldn't win.

Nor was it the confident feeling from previous matches, where she'd thoroughly researched her opponents and had the assurance of victory.

Instead, it was a youthful impulsiveness she hadn't felt in a long time.

A burning passion, something only the young possess, reignited deep in her heart.

Isn't it just a continuation of the fight?!

At worst, Fire fang Dog might get a little hurt!

Even the Fire fang Dog fighting in the arena isn't afraid!

What does she, the Beastmaster who only needs to command from the sidelines, have to fear?!

"Flame Charge!" Qiao Sang resolutely ordered.

Some of the audience members seated further away, watching the large screen, noticed that at this moment, the expressions of contestant Qiao Sang and Fire fang Dog overlapped, looking almost identical.

Fire fang Dog didn't hesitate; it immediately sprang into action.

This time, it was different from previous Flame Charges.

There was no need to gather momentum for the energy to erupt from within. With just a quick push from its hind legs, flames burst from within, wrapping its entire body.

From its demeanor, you couldn't tell it had just been injured.

The Scale Controller Doll, floating at a relatively low altitude, was still within Fire fang Dog’s reach as it leaped powerfully mid-charge.

Scale Controller Doll had just expended all its strength casting a wide-area Psychic attack.

Its short arms drooped, and before it could even catch its breath, it saw Fire fang Dog, wreathed in flames, charging towards it ferociously.

It froze for a moment, then felt the temperature around it rise dramatically.

When it snapped out of it, the flame-cloaked Fire fang Dog was already right in front of it.

Startled, Scale Controller Doll hastily teleported to another direction.

"Psychic."

Scale Controller Doll had barely steadied itself when it heard its Beastmaster’s command.

Hurriedly, it stretched out its short arms, summoning what little energy remained within.

"Another failure. At this stage, Teleportation is virtually unbeatable among beasts of this level." The commentator remarked.

Fire fang Dog missed its target.

However, the flames surrounding it didn’t dissipate.

It turned sharply and charged at Scale Controller Doll once again.

But midway through the charge, its body suddenly froze.

Before it realized what had happened, it crashed heavily to the ground.

"Flame Charge!" Qiao Sang issued the same command again.

Fire fang Dog struggled to its feet, flames once again enveloping its body.

The audience began discussing the scene.

"This Fire fang Dog's determination is something else. You have a Fire fang Dog as your third contracted beast, right? How does it compare to this one?"

"Are you talking about my Fatty? Haha."

"It's pointless to keep attacking like this. The opponent can teleport, and their Psychic ability is fully developed. Isn't this a waste of effort?"

"Who cares what others think, as long as it’s entertaining."

"I’m just worried for Fire fang Dog."

"This is a match. If you're going to worry over every little injury, you might as well go play house."

"..."

---

On the field.

Before Fire fang Dog could even get close this time, Scale Controller Doll didn’t bother teleporting, simply using Psychic to freeze Fire fang Dog in place.

Bang!

The sound of another hard crash onto the ground.

Qiao Sang clenched her fists as she watched Fire fang Dog, battered and bruised, struggle to its feet once more.

Suppressing the tremble in her heart, she called out forcefully, "Flame Charge!"

At this point, no one could understand.

"What’s wrong with Qiao Sang?"

"Wasn’t she acting really smart in the previous rounds?"

"Flame Charge is powerful, sure, but what’s the point if it can’t hit the opponent?"

"Maybe she’s just going for broke. If she’s going to lose anyway, she might as well show off her own determination."

At the commentator's desk.

"Fire fang Dog stands again! It hasn't given up! Even if it loses this match, Fire fang Dog's unyielding spirit will be forever remembered!" The commentator said, moved.

Once again, flames wrapped around Fire fang Dog.

Seeing it charge forward again purely on willpower, some of the softer-hearted audience members couldn’t help but cover their eyes, unwilling to witness what came next.

Bang!

Another hard crash onto the ground.

Hearing the sound, those who had covered their eyes opened them.

And then froze in disbelief.

"Holy crap! What happened? Why is Scale Controller Doll the one on the ground?!"

No one around had an answer.

They didn’t know either!

Qiao Sang was elated.

Her strategy had been flawless!

Although she wasn’t entirely familiar with Psychic-type skills, she could make some judgments based on the situation on the field.

At the start, Scale Controller Doll’s Psychic ability hadn’t been fully developed, and it was only when it was forced into a corner that it unleashed its full strength.

She had suspected that Psychic power could be controlled.

The stronger the Psychic force, the more energy it consumes.

So, to conserve energy, Scale Controller Doll had likely been using a controlled level of power in its Psychic attacks.

Fire fang Dog’s first two Flame Charges were meant to deceive Scale Controller Doll into thinking it only needed a portion of its power to restrain Fire fang Dog.

Of course, Fire fang Dog wasn’t aware of her plan.

It was simply following her orders and giving it its all.

However, on the third Flame Charge, she had upgraded the move from beginner level to adept through the Beastmaster’s Codex.

Though it was just a leap from beginner to adept, Flame Charge is already a high-damage, mid-tier move.

Scale Controller Doll, blinded by the previous two Flame Charges, expected the third to be of similar strength.

And the result?

Just as she had predicted.

Scale Controller Doll's Psychic attack couldn’t withstand the suddenly enhanced Flame Charge.

"Yap!"

"Yap!"

Fire fang Dog barked twice.

The first was out of joy, the second out of pain.

It had completely forgotten to maintain its aloof expression and leapt up in excitement before collapsing from exhaustion.

Luckily, it quickly got back on its feet.

On the other side, the Scale Controller Doll wasn’t engulfed in flames, but it felt like it was burning alive.

“Scale!!”

The Scale Controller Doll rolled on the ground, crying out in pain.

Hou Xiangyu’s heart sank.

He knew the Scale Controller Doll had been afflicted with a burn status.

Flame Charge was a skill with a certain chance of causing burns.

Once burned, the damage would continue over time.

The Scale Controller Doll didn’t have much energy left, and its defense wasn’t strong.

At this rate, it would likely lose...

But the opponent wasn’t in much better shape either.

“Stand up! Illusion Ray!” Hou Xiangyu shouted.

“Fire Whirl!” Qiao Sang commanded at the same time.

The Fire fang Dog was severely injured. If the opponent had enough energy to release a sweeping Illusion Ray, there would be no way to dodge.

Since that was the case...It could only face it head-on!

The Scale Controller Doll, enduring the constant burning pain, stood up and raised its short claws, gathering all the remaining energy within its body.

Meanwhile, the Fire fang Dog also did its best to concentrate its remaining energy.

Boom!

The two forces collided, but neither canceled the other out.

The Illusion Ray overpowered the Fire Whirl and shot straight toward the Fire fang Dog.

We’ve won!

Hou Xiangyu thought to himself.

He never expected to be so thrilled by defeating a Fire fang Dog that was still in its early stages.

“The winner is Hou...”

The referee stopped mid-sentence.

The Fire fang Dog, which had fallen, struggled to its feet once again!

This time, its gaze was fierce, its eyes faintly bloodshot, and its body was surrounded by fiery orange-red flames.

This wasn’t Flame Charge—this was...

“This is Blaze!” The commentator exclaimed, standing up in excitement.

Hou Xiangyu nearly spat blood.

What was wrong with this Fire fang Dog?

Would it ever go down?

At that moment, the Scale Controller Doll, having exhausted all its energy, closed its eyes and collapsed, unable to stand any longer.

The arena fell into silence.