Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 901 - Taming the Fifth Year - Attrition - Balancing Chaos

Serpent current reserves: Approaching the threshold where combat effectiveness would begin seriously degrading.

The Wolverine intensified the earth assault, with earth projectiles becoming faster and more frequent.

”Took you long enough to figure it out,” Min called cheerfully. ”I was wondering how many elements youʼd try before going with the obvious answer!”

”I was being thorough,” Ren responded with mock dignity. ”Some of us value complete data collection over rushing to conclusions.”

”Some of us also value winning before opponents burn all their resources,” Min countered. ”But sure, letʼs call it ʼthorough investigationʼ instead of ʼoverthinking.ʼ”

Even in competitive battle, their friendship came through in the easy way they needled each other.

But the humor didnʼt reduce the seriousness of what came next.

The Wolverineʼs earth technique was ready. Massive. Overwhelming. Designed to end the fight decisively rather than prolonging exchanges that favored the serpentʼs sustainability through absorption.

The bombardment became nearly overwhelming. The serpentʼs evasion and explosive propulsion were barely sufficient to avoid the increased rate of incoming attacks. Several projectiles grazed its scales, leaving visible marks where impacts had occurred.

And simultaneously the Wolverine began demonstrating something that would inevitably make Min complain: Renʼs own control over fire and water was still greater than Minʼs despite the impressive innovation his friend had achieved.

Ren could control both elements with refinement exceeding what the serpent demonstrated, even though separately for now.

The gap wasnʼt enormous in water, both Minʼs beasts being specialists there. But in competitive combat, that gap was decisive when exploited properly.

And when Ren began using those elements not to attack but to interfere with the control and projectiles the serpent launched, the drop in effectiveness became immediately obvious.

Fire that Min generated was neutralized by fire control from Renʼs beast that knew the exact temperature and composition to cancel his efforts.

Efficiency ratio: approximately 3:1 in Renʼs favor.

Water was redirected by manipulation exploiting superior control under elemental influence.

When the serpent launched water projectiles, Renʼs Wolverine would generate counter-currents. Efficiency ratio: approximately 2:1.5 in Renʼs favor.again.

It was a demonstration of mastery stealing back the spotlight that Min had established with his dual-element beast revelation. A moment making clear that even his brilliant innovation wasnʼt sufficient when facing someone with fundamentally superior domain over the elements being contested.

The serpentʼs effective attack rate dropped as almost all its attempts were neutralized before reaching the target. And the mana expenditure for those failed attempts meant the serpent was burning through its reserves even faster than the evasion had been costing.

The situation was collapsing. Minʼs innovations had been impressive and had extended what may have been a quick defeat into several minutes of competitive exchange. But extensions werenʼt victories... And the underlying resource disparity combined with Renʼs superior elemental control was finally asserting itself decisively.

”Hey!” Min protested with genuine frustration and some self-aware humor. ”Youʼre stealing my essence and breaking my special moment again! First the invisibility, now water and fire elements. Canʼt you let me have at least one thing thatʼs uniquely mine?”

The complaint was delivered with theatrical exaggeration that drew laughter from the audience. A Finch and Theodoreʼs worthy act… Arms spread wide, appearance of mock betrayal and all the whole performance calculated to entertain even while making a legitimate point about Renʼs tendency to outshine everyone elseʼs efforts like some novelʼs main character.

”Oops, youʼre right, Iʼm sorry!” Ren called back with absolutely zero sincerity in his apology.

The exchange made the audience laugh harder. Appreciation of the dynamic between friends who competed seriously but maintained the capacity to joke even amid intense confrontation.

Several classmates shouted comments:

”Let Min have something, Ren!” ”Stop being so unfair!” ”Share the spotlight for once!”

But also:

”Thatʼs what you get for experimenting recklessly, Min!”

”Renʼs just made a different, accept it!”

All mixing into an engaged audience investment that made the battle compelling beyond just the exchanges.

Ren smiled at the protest but didnʼt ease the pressure he was applying.

The Wolverine continued the assault, pushing the serpent into an increasingly defensive position. Earth projectiles maintained their relentless barrage and were hitting more often now. Fire and water interference continued neutralizing the serpentʼs movement and counterattacks. The combination created a situation where Minʼs beast was expending enormous resources just to heal and survive rather than having any realistic chance of mounting an effective offense.

Serpent reserves Entering the range where combat effectiveness would degrade noticeably. Technique power would drop. Response times would slow. The cumulative effects of sustained high-intensity combat would begin manifesting as performance degradation.

Min recognized the deteriorating situation. His expression shifted from theatrical humor to focused calculation. He was running through options. Trying to find the tactical adjustment that would reverse momentum or at least extend the battle long enough for some unexpected development to create an opening.

But the Wolverine had overwhelming advantages in reserves, efficiency, and elemental control. Minʼs innovations had been impressive but they couldnʼt overcome the fundamental disparity in cultivation and mastery.

The serpent had seconds before it would be forced to withdraw or take bond damage.

And both Ren and Min knew it.

The question was whether Min would accept the inevitable gracefully or if he had one more surprise prepared. One final card to play before yielding the exchange.

Ren watched carefully. Min was creative. Min was unpredictable. Min had already revealed dual-element capability that nobody had anticipated.

What else might he have prepared that hadnʼt been shown yet?

The Wolverine maintained pressure while Renʼs mind calculated probabilities and prepared contingencies.

Because underestimating Min had proven costly multiple times during this battle.

And Ren wasnʼt going to make that mistake again, regardless of how certain victory appeared.

Min launched a last attack in an effort to create the opening that could reverse the momentum. A massive projectile of merged fire and water rotating and making it difficult to track its precise trajectory.

The projectile was enormous compared to previous attacks. It was a desperate move. All-or-nothing gambit where success might create an opening for comeback and failure would leave the serpent completely vulnerable.