Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Audience Seating.

A middle-aged man in his forties, seated behind Wang Weidou, suddenly leaned forward and whispered, "This student, feeling confident about her abilities, disregards her classmates and has caused such an uproar, disturbing the order. Are we just going to let her be?"

Wang Weidou frowned, glancing at him.

"This is the school team's skill showcase. She's only stirring up excitement to encourage more people to challenge her. How exactly is that disrupting order?"

"True, but she’s already fought dozens of matches. No one else seems interested in challenging her, yet she insists on continuing."

The middle-aged man added, "There are still five school team members waiting. Isn't this wasting everyone's time?"

What kind of teacher complains about a student competing too much…?

Wang Weidou’s face darkened, about to respond when Liu Yao, sitting nearby, suddenly spoke up, "So, what do you suggest?"

"I believe that since the students can't beat her, it's time for one of us teachers to go up and knock her down a peg. That way, the remaining school team members can take their turns sooner." The man said seriously.

Just say you want the teleportation manual and stop beating around the bush. He almost couldn't hold back from snapping.

---

On the Field.

One challenger after another stepped up to compete.

Yabao's expression went from initial excitement to casual indifference, and finally, to exhaustion.

Not only was the prolonged battling wearing on him, but the opponents were just too weak!

One move was enough to take down each one, nothing like the intense, three-hundred-round fight he had envisioned.

"Yabao, that's the 101st challenger! Hang in there!" Qiao Sang shouted.

"Yap!" Hearing his trainer’s encouragement, Yabao perked up.

He could still go on! With a single Fire Whirl, the just-entered White Sand Fox was knocked out.

In the audience, among the second-year, Class 1 students, a freckled boy with glasses remarked, "This Flame Hound is not only powerful but also has incredible stamina. The students going up are too focused on academics and lack combat experience. At this rate, who knows how long it’ll take to wear it down."

"Zhou Ren, do you have a plan?" Asked a nearby classmate.

Though Zhou Ren was usually quiet, he was known for getting straight to the point when he spoke and was full of clever ideas. His classmate had a hunch Zhou Ren had thought of something.

"I do have an idea." Zhou Ren replied, pushing up his glasses, which gleamed with a flash of intelligence.

"What is it? Tell us!" His classmate urged.

The others leaned in to listen.

"From the moment she said anyone who defeats her would get the teleportation manual, it stopped being a one-on-one match." Zhou Ren began.

His classmate gestured for him to continue.

"I've noticed that after every five matches, the school nurse comes up to replenish the Flame Hound's energy and stamina." Zhou Ren explained.

"She might not even realize it, but repeating something in a set pattern suggests it's become a habit."

"So, most likely, she'll restore its condition after every fifth match."

"As long as we can inflict cumulative negative effects on the Flame Hound over four consecutive rounds, then send our strongest contender in for a decisive blow on the fifth, there’s a 95% chance we can take it down."

At that, everyone instinctively looked at Wang Yao, the class's top fighter.

Wang Yao's mouth twitched.

"Don’t look at me; I’m not taking advantage of anyone’s weakness."

No way she’d go for that. A one-on-one was one thing, but they wanted her to be part of a five-person ambush?

A classmate blurted, "Don’t you want that teleportation manual?"

Wang Yao shrugged.

"My family’s rich."

Showoff! Everyone turned their gaze back to Zhou Ren.

Zhou Ren coughed and said, "No worries. We can collaborate with other classes. We’re not the only ones who want to win."

"But the Flame Hound has lightning-fast reflexes and can teleport. Even long-range attacks would miss, let alone close combat." Another student remarked, turning back hesitantly.

"That’s why the choice of summoned creatures is critical." Zhou Ren continued.

"The first to go should be a poison-type creature with a Poison Mist ability. Its sole job is to release poison mist at the start, poisoning the Fire Spirit Dog."

"The goal is to weaken its attack so the second creature doesn’t get instantly knocked out."

"The second should be a fighting-type with a Counter move, which doubles the damage from the last hit it received back onto the attacker. Survive the hit, and it'll deal significant damage to the Flame Hound."

"In this state, it shouldn’t be able to one-shot the third creature, which should be a grass-type with a Photosynthesis move to restore its own health and drain the Flame Hound’s stamina."

"Under normal circumstances, these three rounds should wear it down. But we must plan for the worst. If the Flame Hound has the Blaze ability, we’ll need to find a creature with the Flash Fire ability, which nullifies fire-type moves."

"But the Flame Hound is also part psychic-type, so we can’t get careless. The fifth creature should be water-type and powerful. With this lineup, barring any surprises, the Flame Hound won’t stand a chance."

Everyone around listened in awe.

Wang Yao’s mouth twitched.

Wow, with a lineup like that, nothing could withstand it...

"What are we waiting for? Let’s start finding people who fit these criteria!"

"Right! I'll go check with the next class."

"I'll ask Class 9!"

"I’ll talk to the third-years!"

The students sprang into action.

Zhou Ren pushed up his glasses and fell silent, truly the unsung hero.

---

"Second-year, Class 1. Kong Nanhai."

The boy introduced himself politely, forming a seal with his hands.

A snake-like creature with black scales and golden armor from its lower body to its tail tip appeared on the field.

"Yabao, that’s the 106th challenger! Keep it up!" Qiao Sang called out.

"Yap!"

Yabao nodded.

The battle began.

"Golden Armor Snake, Poison Mist!" Kong Nanhai commanded.

The Golden Armor Snake opened its mouth, releasing a cloud of dark mist that slowly spread across the field.

Before the poison mist could reach Yabao, a Fire Whirl pierced through it, striking the Golden Armor Snake directly.

The central mist scattered, but the surrounding cloud lingered, creeping toward Yabao, who soon inhaled some of it.

Nice work! Zhou Ren’s heart surged with excitement.

"Golden Armor Snake is unable to battle. Qiao Sang wins." The female teacher announced flatly.

Kong Nanhai showed no surprise, as though he had expected this outcome.

Just as he prepared to step down, a voice rang out.

"Teacher, I’d like to request energy restoration for the Flame Hound."

Kong Nanhai: ???