Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 892 - Taming the Fifth Year - Attrition - Cool Defeat - 2

The compact projectiles of flame energy detonated with heat that would have seriously burned an opponent without appropriate defense. Total expenditure: approximately 10% of the total mana points. Nearly everything the Mantis had left. Leaving maybe 5% in reserve for emergency defensive techniques if the Amphibian counterattacked during the performance.

But when the fireballs impacted against the Amphibian, because a few did hit it directly, they caused no damage despite the considerable energy they contained.

The thick mucus layer covering its transparent skin acted as an extraordinary insulator protecting against extreme temperature in both directions. The same substance allowing the Amphibian to resist the cold it generated also defended against the heat that fire attacks attempted to inflict, a barrier that dispersed thermal energy before it could penetrate to underlying tissues.

The mucus was thick across most of the body. Composed of complex proteins and polysaccharides that had extremely high specific heat capacity, meaning they could absorb enormous amounts of thermal energy with minimal temperature change. When fire struck, the outer layer of mucus absorbed the heat, preventing it from reaching the skin beneath. When cold radiated outward, the same layer insulated the Amphibianʼs core body temperature from the extreme cold it was projecting.

It was the same reason the Amphibian could withstand its own explosions without significant effort. The chemical detonations occurred at the mucus surface. The mucus absorbed the thermal energy and the shock. The underlying tissues remained protected.

Min observed the attacks with an expression of momentary confusion, processing why Ren would be spending the Mantisʼs last resources on a technique that clearly wasnʼt damaging his beast.

Was it desperation? A panicked response from someone who didnʼt know what else to do?

”Ren?” Min called across the arena with genuine puzzlement. ”What are you…”

Then his eyes widened slightly as understanding arrived.

The answer became clear when you noticed the effect on the environment rather than the effect on the Amphibian directly.

The zone around where the fireballs detonated heated notably, with local temperature rising several degrees as flame energy dispersed into the arena. And a good portion of the frost that had covered the sand began melting under the influence of residual heat, with ice converting back to water that soaked into the ground again.

Not enough to reverse conditions completely. The Amphibian still radiated cold that maintained the arenaʼs center frozen. But it was partial mitigation that would make it easier for Renʼs next beast to operate the wood element without it being immediately at a disadvantage from hostile ambient temperature.

Ground conditions in melted zones: muddy but no longer frozen solid. Roots could potentially penetrate. Seeds could potentially germinate if given enough energy. Plants could potentially establish themselves.

”Clever,” Min said quietly, his earlier confusion resolving into respect.

He understood now. Ren wasnʼt trying to damage the Amphibian with those last attacks. Wasnʼt flailing desperately hoping something would work. Was deliberately investing final resources in battlefield preparation that would pay dividends for the Hydra or Wolverine when they entered.

It was the kind of thinking that separated good tamers from great ones. Recognizing when a battle was lost and immediately shifting focus to the next battle rather than wasting resources trying to salvage the unsalvageable.

It was an investment in the future rather than an attempt to win in the present, a calculated use of the Mantisʼs last resources.

The environmental modification was subtle but meaningful. Not warm but above freezing. Workable conditions for plant growth if properly supported with mana.

But Min had recognized the intention finally. ”Youʼre not getting a free setup!” he shouted while ordering an attack that would finish the exchange before the Mantis could contribute more to the preparations.

The Amphibian fired massive water jets, hydraulic projection crossing the distance between combatants in a fraction of a second.

The water pressure was enormous. Kinetic energy to the level of being able to punch through reinforced concrete at close range.

But they were still slow attacks by the Mantisʼs normal speed standards. Yet the exhaustion and cold had compromised its legendary agility. And if they connected directly, they would completely crush the Mantis. The pressure would be adequate to fracture its exoskeleton and sever the bond through massive trauma.

Also, the Mantis was still connected to the roots it had established during the previous battle phase, even though most of the plants were dead and frozen.

Those roots had worked to withstand the push from the explosions and to absorb energy from a good ”safe” distance, but now provided anchors that prevented executing the last-second evasive maneuvers needed.

However, thinking quickly, it generated a small but thick barrier of rock in front of itself, positioned diagonally toward the ground.

The barrier appeared fast, being short distance control connected to its feet but it needed to crouch. The water impacted the barrier and it barely resisted the pressure. The rock creaked. Fractures appeared. The structure would hold for maybe 1-2 seconds under the sustained hydraulic assault.

But the diagonal angle directed the water downward rather than allowing it to continue toward the Mantis. The deflected water struck the ground with enormous force, displacing sand and frozen soil beneath the Mantisʼs position. The ground shifted… The root anchors loosened as their connections were undermined by the churning earth freeing the beast.

The Mantis jumped at exactly the right moment, right before the rock barrier collapsed under pressure it could no longer redirect into the subground without a support point.

The leap was not graceful. Not the fluid motion it would normally execute… But sufficient to escape the collapsing barrier and the redirected water that had been about to crush it.

The rock barrier shattered completely under the continued water pressure, fragmenting into pieces that scattered across the arena floor. The water jets continued for another second before Min cut them off, recognizing the attack had missed.

The fire attacks had been interrupted before the Mantis could launch the final 2-3 fireballs it had been preparing. But it didnʼt have too many remaining anyway and was already at 5% reserves after making the wall.

And then, recognizing that there was no way to continue effectively with the exhausted resources and accumulated damage, Ren gave the Mantis rest.

The creature disappeared in a flash of light marking retreat to its tamerʼs core. Voluntary withdrawal. ʼTactical surrenderʼ preserving what remained of the bond rather than receiving damage from continuing when a victory for the mantis or even any more ʼhelpʼ to the next beast was impossible.