Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 301 - Tamer’s Battle Week - 37

Taro descended in free fall, but Ren wasnʼt satisfied with that...

He captured him in mid-flight and pulled to increase his falling speed, directing him head-first toward the ground with brutal force.

The impact would have knocked any normal opponent unconscious, but Taro had an ace up his sleeve.

Just before his head struck the ground, he channeled his beetleʼs elemental control, instantly softening the earth. His head and part of his torso sank into the modified terrain, considerably cushioning the impact.

”Ingenious!” exclaimed Min from the stands, impressed by his friendʼs adaptation.

But Taro didnʼt stop there. While partially buried, his mineral armor began to transform rapidly, sharp spikes emerging from its surface in all directions like a defensive hedgehog. The crystalline protrusions glinted in the arena light, forming a deadly barrier around his body.

Ren jumped back just in time to avoid being impaled, but his expression showed more satisfaction than frustration. ”I knew it wouldnʼt be that easy,” he murmured, as Taro freed himself from the ground with a powerful elemental push that sent dirt flying in all directions.

Without giving Taro time to completely stabilize, Ren counterattacked. This time, he covered the surface of his feet into something similar to diamond. The kick connected cleanly with Taroʼs side, breaking several of the spikes and sending him flying several meters through the air until he landed heavily.

”That...” gasped Taro as he got up, small cracks now visible in his armor where the reinforced foot had impacted. ”Hurt a bit.”

Ren observed how Taroʼs armor regenerated while he circled him cautiously, evaluating his strategy. The blows were effective in destabilizing Taro, but not enough to overcome his extraordinary defense. The Living Tunnelʼs minerals reformed almost as quickly as they were damaged, flowing like liquid before hardening again.

He needed something more decisive.

Taro had completely recovered, so Ren decided to change tactics again. He launched himself forward as if he were going to repeat the previous attack pattern, but at the last instant he slid under Taroʼs guard, aiming directly at one of his joints.

With another technique learned from his teacher, Ren caught Taroʼs right arm in a perfectly executed lock. Using his superior strength, he began applying pressure, seeking to force a surrender without causing real damage.

”Surrender!” Ren urged, increasing the tension.

Taro grunted with the effort of resisting, but he had another resource. His mineral armor, controlled by the hunter bug, began to flow like a liquid, trying to envelop Ren and trap him in a crystalline embrace that would harden around his limbs.

”Too good of a defense!” Ren freed himself with an explosive movement, moving away just before the armor could solidify around his extremities. ”I think I shouldnʼt have given you such a problematic beast combination.”

Taro smiled, his breathing labored but his determination intact. ”Ready for another round?”

Ren studied him for a moment, his mushrooms pulsing as he made a decision. He had been avoiding a certain tactic considering it potentially unfair to Taro, but his friendʼs resistance left him no alternative.

”Sorry about this,” he murmured, more to himself than to Taro.

With an explosion of speed that surprised even those familiar with his capabilities, Ren launched himself forward. In a movement almost imperceptible due to its rapidity, he swept Taroʼs legs with a perfectly executed circular kick so fast that it didnʼt give his friend even time to transform his armor.

Before Taro could even fall, Ren positioned his back on the ground, both feet coated with diamond protection to avoid damage from the forming spikes. With a coordinated push of his legs, he catapulted Taro upward.

”Again with the throws!” exclaimed Taro as he rose higher this time, mentally preparing to modify the ground again and cushion his fall.

But elevating Taro wasnʼt Renʼs final objective. While his friend reached the highest point of his trajectory, Ren was already in motion. He launched himself running at maximum speed, perfectly calculating the point where Taro would begin to descend.

Then, in a maneuver that drew collective gasps from the audience, Ren jumped with the accumulated momentum and executed a perfect dropkick, his reinforced feet connecting directly with Taroʼs side in mid-air.

The impact was brutal and resonated throughout the arena, sending Taro flying in a new trajectory, completely out of his control. He spun several times in the air before landing heavily and rolling several meters by inertia, leaving a trail in the arenaʼs dirt.

Ren landed gracefully and rose immediately.

To everyoneʼs surprise, Taro stood up again. His armor showed significant cracks where the impact had occurred, but the damage was still minor and already regenerating. He staggered slightly, evidently dazed by the spins he took, but his posture indicated he was ready to continue.

”That...” he murmured, shaking his head to clear his vision. ”That was good.”

Ren advanced a few steps, for what Taro thought would be another exchange, but then something strange happened. He stopped abruptly, bringing a hand to the back of his neck with a remorseful expression.

”Iʼm sorry, Taro,” he said loudly enough for his friend to hear.

Taro looked at him confused, not understanding why Ren was apologizing again in the middle of combat. ”What are you going on about?”

It was then that Lin advanced to the center of the arena, her professional expression carrying a flash of amusement in her eyes.

”Victory for Ren Patinder!” she announced. ”By opponentʼs exit from the combat area.”

Taro blinked in bewilderment and then looked at his feet. Indeed, Renʼs powerful impact had sent him completely outside the marked circle that delimited the official combat zone. He was standing in the neutral space between the arena and the stands, disqualified without even realizing it.

”Oh,” was all he could say, between surprise and resigned laughter. ”I should have seen that coming.”

The applause was immediate and enthusiastic, rippling through the stands.

Ren retracted his claws, offering his hand to Taro. ”That double armor of yours is ridiculously resistant,” he commented, a genuine smile on his face. ”You forced me to use dirty tricks.”

Taro accepted the hand, acknowledging his defeat with a small tinge of disappointment. ”You hit as if you were triple your size,” he responded, returning the smile. ”I was a fool to think I could hold out until you got tired. You always find some solution, not dirty, creative...”

As both headed toward the exit, the crowd continued applauding. It wasnʼt just a demonstration of skill they had witnessed, but an exhibition of true camaraderie, where respect and admiration transcended the competition itself.

Min was waiting for them at the entrance, his expression reflecting pride and a bit of envy. ”That armor battle,” he declared, putting an arm over each oneʼs shoulders, ”was the coolest thing Iʼve seen in the entire tournament. And that includes myself.”

The three laughed as they walked away.