Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 423 - Tamers War - Numbers

The soldiers could clearly see the dust cloud that the enormous serpentʼs swift advance generated, a trail of destruction approaching inexorably toward their positions.

Although it really wasnʼt the rear guard that would encounter it… geographically it was hitting more the flank of the armyʼs advance entering the expanded wall. Still, the poor soldiers had trouble deciding what to do against such a threat to their right side.

A squadron leader took command when it became clear that orders wouldnʼt arrive from the main chain of command soon enough.

”Attack together when it reaches range!” she shouted, trying to organize a defensive response. ”Donʼt let it get closer!”

Being in the rear formation, most troops in that position were distance throwers and healers, water, fire, and wind specialists who provided support to the main defenses. They didnʼt have enough earth or wood controllers to generate another defensive wall or advance significant fortifications.

But they attacked with everything they had anyway.

Dozens of fire projectiles streaked through the air like shooting stars, followed by compressed wind spears and pressurized water spheres. It was a numerous attack that would have devastated any normal opponent.

Yet Selphira simply split them with a pointed ice shield.

The defensive formation she created was a work of art as much as a demonstration of power control. Ice crystals rose before her in a simple long arrow point, their surface angled perfectly to deflect attacks rather than absorb them directly. Enemy projectiles crashed against the shield and were redirected harmlessly toward the sky or earth.

They were facing the most powerful person in the Kingdom in the Kingʼs absence. While she wasnʼt supreme in the air like Victor, that dominion belonged indisputably to the aerial forces commander, on land or water Selphira had absolute and indisputable mastery.

The number of lesser attacks didnʼt matter. They could never destroy her shield with their dispersed, lower-quality power.

The reality was stark and demoralizing. Hundreds of Silver-rank soldiers attacking simultaneously couldnʼt match the focused power of a single legendary tamer.

It was like trying to break a mountain with thousands of pebbles… maybe impressive in quantity, yet meaningless in effect.

♢♢♢♢

”Idiots!” A veteran voice cut through the growing panic.

An older Blackwood leader pushed his way to the ʼfrontʼ, his experience evident in every movement.

”Youʼre wasting them!” he shouted at the young commanders who had been coordinating the dispersed attacks. ”You must concentrate firepower!”

He pointed toward the wind specialists, who had been attacking independently.

”Accumulate the fire or water before launching and increase concentration with wind so everyoneʼs power comes together at once! Only then can you accomplish anything against someone of her level!”

It was a basic tactic any veteran would have used immediately. Selphira Ashenway wasnʼt an opponent who could be defeated by dispersed attacks, no matter how numerous they were. She required concentrated power applied at the center of her defense to have a chance at breaking it.

”Convergence formation!” the veteran ordered, assuming de facto command of the dispersed forces. ”Wind specialists, prepare concentration channels to feed fire and cool water! Fire and water, prepare maximum charges!”

The soldiers responded to the authority in his voice, reorganizing into the formation that could, perhaps, penetrate the defenses of a living legend.

But even as they organized, Selphira continued approaching implacably, and her smile suggested she had anticipated exactly this response.

ʼLetʼs see,ʼ she thought while observing their preparations, ʼif the current generation has forgotten what their leaders are able to do.ʼ

The answer, as she well knew, would probably be yes. But it would be interesting to discover exactly how much effort they would require to learn that lesson from scratch.

♢♢♢♢

Kharzan awakened again.

This time, however, there was urgency in his return, a need to understand exactly what had been happening while he was... absent.

Valdris immediately approached, his professionalism evident in the efficient way he reported the situation without unnecessary drama.

”The front has already received two more attacks from Sirius, my Lord,” he began, ”but despite the bombardmentsʼ power, theyʼve stabilized on that side.”

”Damage?”

”Controllable. The real problem is that the effort to maintain the front created a gap in the right flank.” Valdris pointed toward where distant explosions dotted the air. ”Wall soldiers, guided by Julius, are constantly bombarding that position.”

Kharzan grunted. Julius had grown to be a meticulous strategist, perfectly capable of exploiting any tactical weakness.

”I ordered return fire and sent flyers to that side,” Valdris continued, ”so itʼs been getting somewhat controlled. But they seem to maintain themselves mostly underground with hit-and-run tactics.”

”And the main advance?”

”Slowed even more. Weʼre advancing at less than half the original speed.”

Kharzan gritted his teeth. Every minute of delay gave Yano forces more time to organize, more opportunities for reinforcements to arrive, more chances for the entire operation to become the type of prolonged war that would favor their opponents.

”Finally,” Valdris made a significant pause, ”and perhaps most importantly... Selphira is about to reach the rear guard.”

Upon hearing the name of that cursed old woman, Kharzanʼs rage grew like fire fed by oil. The marks of his abyssal power responded to his fury, and his multiple beasts stirred, fed by thirst for revenge.

He immediately headed toward the rear guard, determined to personally face the woman who had humiliated his family and destroyed his home.

But Valdris stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder.

”My Lord,” he said with the calm voice of someone who had served for decades, ”Iʼve sent someone trustworthy from the Blackwoods to handle that situation for a while.”

”Selphira is mine!” Kharzan roared, but Valdris maintained his position.

”And itʼs not a good idea for you to face her yet… not in your current condition,” he replied without backing down. ”Youʼve lost consciousness three times in the last hour. Facing Selphira Ashenway in a compromised state isnʼt a valid tactic… itʼs suicide.”

Kharzan was foaming with rage, every instinct screaming at him to charge toward the personal battle he had been waiting for. But in the end, the cold logic that had kept him as leader of his faction prevailed over thirst for revenge.

Valdris was right. At minimum, he needed to make sure he wouldnʼt ”switch off” again at the most critical moment of confrontation.

”Fine,” he finally growled. ”But for now, I need to do something productive at the front...”

”While I canʼt go myself,” Kharzan continued, feeling how his beasts stirred within him, ”my most powerful beast can without too much risk.”

Valdris nodded, immediately understanding the implication, and signaled to section commanders.

The soldiers opened a wide space, retreating in organized formation to create a corridor free of obstacles.

What emerged from Kharzan was a spectacle that made even experienced veterans hold their breath.

His enormous Golden Lion materialized first, a beast the size of a small building whose mane radiated power that distorted the surrounding air. His Abyssal Scorpion followed, its pincers capable of splitting metal as if it were paper, and finally his corrupt Man oʼ War, its semi-ethereal tentacles creating hypnotic patterns in the air.

Two beasts supporting one high-level creature capable of devastating entire formations of lesser soldiers.

Kharzan kept his Corrupt Simurgh in his body along with two other minor monsters, ensuring he had personal defense against any attack. The Simurgh, with its accelerated regeneration capabilities, could keep him alive even if something managed to pierce his other defenses.

”What support do you want for the attack?” Valdris asked while observing the massive beasts preparing to advance.

”Nothing that canʼt withstand the roar,” Kharzan responded, referring to his Golden Lionʼs battle roar that could fatally affect lesser beasts from his own soldiers.

Valdris signaled, and dozens of soldiers summoned beasts specialized in distance attacks, creatures that could attack from safe positions without being too affected by the overwhelming power of Kharzanʼs beast.