Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 212 - Taming the Finals (Unit 1) - 3

”This year, the gathering territory also encompasses some shadow stalker caves in the peripheral zones,” Zhao explained while the students gathered in a clearing, preparing to begin collection.

”...However, I must emphasize that nobody should approach or enter these caves without a teacherʼs company. They are significantly more dangerous than the exterior areas due to the sentinels.”

While Zhao continued with the general instructions, Ren studied the map they had been provided as he calculated distances and analyzed the marked geological formations to find the quickest route densest with resources.

It was no longer just him, Taro and Min, but a complete entourage that included Larissa, Luna and Liora, accompanied by their maids Maria, Mayo and Matilda, plus the six guards. Han and his group had also joined them, as well as Miraʼs.

Min leaned toward him, noticing his evident interest. ”Youʼre planning to enter one of those caves, arenʼt you?”

Ren nodded without lifting his gaze from the map. ”Itʼs easier to get good materials there. I need to restock parts for my upcoming projects.”

Taro, who had been listening, sighed in resignation. ”I suppose this means youʼll drag us into another dangerous adventure.”

”Nobodyʼs forcing you to come,” Ren responded, though a small smile formed on his lips.

”As if we had a choice,” Min laughed softly. ”The last time we left you alone, you came back with a hydra.”

A few meters away, Lin observed the conversation with a mixture of amusement and concern. Subtly, she approached Zhao while the students began to disperse.

”Heʼs going to enter one of the caves,” she commented without preamble.

Zhao followed her gaze to where Ren and his friends continued studying the map. ”I know. I expected it, in fact. He did the same thing the first time.”

”Shouldnʼt I stop him?”

”Stop him?” Zhao looked at her with an arched eyebrow. ”You should follow him to better understand his ability first... Besides, youʼll be there to save them if necessary. Weʼre here primarily to evaluate their gathering capacity. If he could handle the challenge before, he surely can do it now. The Lin I know isnʼt a worrywart mother...”

Lin nodded, understanding the reasoning and ignoring the last part. ”Iʼll go with them.”

”Iʼd join, but...” Zhao gestured toward the other students who were already beginning to explore the area.

”You have to supervise everyone,” Lin completed his thought. ”I understand. Iʼll make sure they donʼt get into too much trouble.”

Zhao studied her for a moment. ”Based on his first visit to this place... I think heʼs going to change your opinion of him even more.”

”My opinion is already very high,” Lin responded diplomatically, though she couldnʼt prevent a small smile. ”Letʼs see if he can really be... more interesting.”

♢♢♢♢

”Are you sure itʼs a good idea to head toward the caves so soon?” Mira asked as they advanced, pushing aside brambles that caught at their clothing. ”There are many materials we could gather first.”

”Day time is limited, weʼll just collect some thread along the way,” Ren responded. ”But the most valuable materials are primarily in that direction.”

Lin caught up with them when they had already moved considerably away from the main group.

”If you go to the cave, youʼll find a sentinel,” she commented casually, ”you should know that Iʼll only observe. Asking me for help will cost you points on the exam.”

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Ren stopped, turning to look at her. ”We donʼt need help, Master.”

”Arenʼt you overestimating your group of Bronzes and Irons against those dangerous beasts?” Lin crossed her arms, waiting for an explanation.

”I donʼt intend to use the groupʼs power... Iʼm going to do something I couldnʼt last time,” Ren responded, his mushrooms pulsing with determination. ”Take down a male shadow stalker by myself.”

Taro almost choked on his own saliva. ”You what?”

”Theyʼre much more dangerous than common Bronze beasts,” Min explained, his voice trembling slightly. ”And significantly more aggressive.”

”They also have a very annoying ability, theyʼre a bit more resistant, plus...” Ren added.

”Theyʼre mortally dangerous just by approaching them,” Lin completed, studying Ren with renewed interest. ”How do you plan to face one?”

In response, Ren simply patted his spear and the bow carefully secured to his back. ”I have some ideas.”

”Some ideas?” one of the guards repeated with evident concern. ”Those creatures are dangerous, especially for first-year students.”

”Theyʼre dangerous even for other Bronze-rank creatures,” another guard added. ”Lady Larissa, perhaps we should consider targets more appropriate for your level.”

Larissa smiled with that mischievous expression everyone had learned to recognize as a signal for trouble. ”Oh, but we have our beast expert here. Right, Ren?”

All eyes fell on Ren, who continued advancing with determination, the dried leaves crunching softly beneath his boots.

”Iʼm not an expert,” he responded automatically. ”I just understand them.”

”And your plan is...?” Luna asked.

”Kill it from a distance,” Ren explained. ”The sentinels are a considerable danger in close combat, but theyʼre vulnerable to ranged attacks. Most Bronze beasts lack those means, especially in nearby areas, and thatʼs why they canʼt beat them, but itʼs just a bad matchup... Theyʼre not actually that strong.”

Lin observed the exchange carefully, noting how Ren appeared completely confident as always.

”With that?” Min pointed to the bow Ren carried. ”Iʼve never seen you shoot an arrow before.”

”Thereʼs a first time for everything,” Ren responded, though his tone suggested he was more confident than he had a right to be.

They continued their way, now moving with greater stealth as they approached the edge of the designated territory. The forest grew denser here, shadows deeper, the air carrying a faint metallic scent that hinted at the proximity of the caves.

After almost half an hour of walking, the group reached the limit of the designated gathering area. Ren indicated they should stop to collect Weaver threads from a large nearby tree while he went ahead to survey the terrain.

♢♢♢♢

Several dozen meters away, the entrance to a cave opened on the side of a rocky hill.

”There,” Ren pointed discreetly toward the cave entrance, where the male shadow stalker stood guard.

An imposing creature mounted guard. Its whitish, semi-translucent body combined features of jellyfish and bat. Luminescent tentacles hung from its base, while enormous membranous wings pulsed rhythmically to keep it suspended.

The group observed from a distance, camouflaged with moss and bark coverings provided by Zhao, making them appear like simple bark stalkers at rest, a strategy that was almost unnecessary considering that several members of the group were already Bronze rank, but Maria insisted on being cautious.

”Itʼs bigger than I expected,” whispered Taro, adjusting his camouflage from behind a tree.

”The males always are,” Ren responded while preparing his bow. ”And much more dangerous than the females. Their ability to absorb vitality and mana works at a greater distance.”

”But itʼs not alone,” Liora added in a low voice, pointing toward the cave entrance. ”Thereʼs an entire colony of those same females in there.”

Ren nodded while preparing his bow, carefully selecting an arrow from his quiver. ”But weʼre outside their sensory range.”

”Are you sure you can hit it?” Han asked, studying the distance with a critical eye. ”Itʼs a complicated shot.”

Ren hesitated a moment before admitting: ”I donʼt know, Iʼve never tried it before.”