Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

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The Water Python launched a continuous barrage of Water Guns.

The dark shadows split apart, transforming into a dozen strands of shadow resembling black silk ribbons. These shadows wove through the streams of water, ferociously closing in on the Water Python from all directions.

The audience erupted in excited chatter.

"Wait, isn't this supposed to be a mid-level pet beast?!"

"A three-dimensional version of Shadow Control! Is the mastery level this advanced?!"

"This mastery level is even higher than the advanced skills of other contestants' high-level pet beasts!"

"I thought this little ghost-type pet was still drinking milk, it looked so young! Who would have thought its advanced skills were trained to this extent…"

High-level pet beasts generally possess advanced skills, but achieving high mastery of those skills is rare.

Skill mastery is a crucial factor.

Once a skill reaches a certain level of mastery, a highly mastered intermediate skill can easily surpass a poorly mastered advanced skill. However, achieving high mastery in advanced skills is significantly more challenging than in intermediate or basic skills. It requires not only time and resources but also exceptional talent.

Even with years of effort and copious investments, a talentless pet beast might not progress its mastery of an advanced skill from novice to expert.

This is why seeing such high mastery of an advanced skill, performed by a mid-level pet beast during a high school competition, stunned the crowd.

In the blink of an eye, the dozen shadows bound the Water Python tightly.

The Water Python lowered its head and bit at one of the shadows binding it. The shadow shifted under the strain but refused to break.

Something felt off. Qiao Sang frowned.

Indeed, the speed of Shadow Control's attack was swift. Yet the Water Python's behavior was unusual. Despite the ineffectiveness of its Water Guns, it made no effort to dodge and simply allowed itself to be tied up.

In regional competitions, where opponents were far more experienced than in provincial matches, such passivity was suspect.

She recalled from the data that the Water Python possessed the Substitute skill and had likely mastered it to a high level.

Scanning the battlefield, Qiao Sang’s eyes settled on the area above Little Treasure.

Droplets of water were falling like light rain in a small area, originating from two specific Water Gun shots earlier.

Her mind raced back to earlier events.

The Water Python's Water Guns seemed aimed at the shadows, but a few shots had deliberately sprayed above Little Treasure. Those seemingly random attacks had a purpose, they were setting up this trap.

Everything clicked.

"Look up! Hypnosis!" Qiao Sang shouted.

"Look up? Look up?! She already figured it out?!"

Chen Ye's heart pounded.

Sure, he'd wanted to face Ice Xilu, but this was the National Campus Beast Mastering League Regional Competition, he couldn't afford to slack. Both he and his coach had devised strategies to handle Qiao Sang's Treasure-Seeking Demon. Ṛ

One key plan was to bait the Treasure-Seeking Demon into using its three-dimensional Shadow Control. In theory, if he could trap the Treasure-Seeking Demon while it attacked, the Water Python could successfully counterattack. The Treasure-Seeking Demon was fragile; one strong attack could decide the match.

But he'd never expected Qiao Sang to see through everything before the Water Python could act!

It was too late.

Little Treasure tilted his head upward, blue light glowing in his eyes. His stubby toes remained pointed at the ground, still controlling the shadows.

With his high mastery level, Little Treasure could simultaneously maintain both Shadow Control and Hypnosis.

The shadows binding the Water Python tightened further.

Suddenly, the Water Python dissolved into a droplet of falling water.

Above Little Treasure, the Water Python reappeared, mid-leap, poised to strike. It remembered its master's instructions: Go all out with this final attack.

But just as it opened its maw, it met Little Treasure’s glowing purple eyes.

“Waaaa…”

Sleepiness overwhelmed the Water Python. Its eyelids drooped, and it fell into a deep slumber.

Boom!

The next second, the Water Python crashed heavily to the ground.

“Xun~ hic~”

Little Treasure covered his mouth, giggling.

"Buzz!"

The referee's mechanical pet floated over, inspected the Water Python, and blew its whistle.

Though the audience was calmer than they might have been had Ice Xilu appeared, the discussion was electric.

"Qiao Sang is seriously just 15? Her battle sense is insane!"

"Chen Ye's strategy wasn’t bad. He sprayed water into the opponent's blind spot, creating an opening to switch positions with Substitute. But Qiao Sang completely saw through it."

"Yeah, he even successfully baited the three-dimensional Shadow Control!"

"Why did he have to wait for the three-dimensional version, though?"

"It's not about waiting, it’s just that when the Treasure-Seeking Demon used the two-dimensional version, the shadows would have locked him down. A Substitute wouldn't let him swap positions, only block the damage. But the three-dimensional version leaves the shadows loose, so he could switch positions."

"Chen Ye's strategy was solid. But it only made Qiao Sang look more incredible."

"Seriously! How does she think this fast? Is it even humanly possible to see through all that?"

"And the Treasure-Seeking Demon's Hypnosis skill is terrifyingly well-trained. The referee ruled the match immediately."

"The Water Python’s Substitute is impressive too, being able to swap with objects is no joke."

The Substitute skill is divided into two stages based on mastery:

1. Creating an identical substitute at the original position to block attacks.

2. Swapping places with any object within a certain range to evade attacks.

The Water Python had clearly achieved the latter.

Amid the audience's enthusiastic commentary, Yi Ao announced the start of the second match.

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