Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 1004: Yabao vs. Sawtooth Dragon

Shortly afterward, the holographic "10" projection materialized across the arena.

Qiao Sang opted against withdrawing Yabao into her Beast Codex. Noticing her choice, the spectators up in the stands immediately kicked off a wave of chatter.

"Dragon Luck Field's influence hasn't faded yet, has it? Yuan Tianlong's bound to unleash the Sawtooth Dragon in this last bout. Pair that with the Dragon Luck Field... tsk, the sheer destructive force is beyond comprehension."

"How much longer do you reckon the Blazing Divine Lion can hold out?"

"Who claims the Blazing Divine Lion's doomed? He barely expended any stamina against the Disaster Dragon earlier. Plus, the Blazing Divine Lion possesses the Moonlight Power trait. With night fallen, his offensive might isn't bound to fall short of the Sawtooth Dragon's."

"Fair point, but his durability is nowhere near the Sawtooth Dragon's level."

"Wasn't Qiao Sang's plan to drag things out until the Dragon Luck Field vanished? What made her take down the Disaster Dragon in such a rush?"

"The Disaster Dragon pulled off that Malice and Taunt combo. Even a calm soul like the Ice Emperor Ram might've snapped, let alone the fiery Blazing Divine Lion."

"If I were in Qiao Sang's shoes, I'd yank the Blazing Divine Lion back right now and swap in the Steel Sword Falcon or Little Treasure to buy time until the Dragon Luck Field dissipates."

"Spot on. The Night Ring King would be ideal—it can vanish into stealth and warp around. Best of all, its tiny size lets it hide out for ages."

"The Steel Sword Falcon's capable of Bond Evolution already, so deploying her has to be the smart play. Remember her King-level state from the previous fight? That toughness was unreal; lightning struck and she didn't flinch."

"No telling if the Steel Sword Falcon can spark another temporary evolution so easily. That's not a trick you pull off on demand."

"Perhaps the bond between Steel Sword Falcon and Qiao Sang has grown so strong they can trigger evolutions whenever needed."

"Should the Steel Sword Falcon truly master Bond Evolution, even if her resilience can't fully withstand the Sawtooth Dragon's strikes, she could still drag the clock down."

"How exactly?"

"Picture this: During battles, foes rarely strike while a beast evolves. If Steel Sword Falcon emerges and shifts forms right away, the Sawtooth Dragon must hold back. Then, post-evolution, she reverts, evolves once more—back and forth, shifting states endlessly. Time would slip away fast."

"..."

"Keep wishing. Bond Evolution can't cycle like that in quick succession. And even if it could, the instant Steel Sword Falcon drops back to normal, the Sawtooth Dragon would obliterate her in a flash. It wouldn't pause for another glow-up."

As the buzz continued, the projection ticked to "1". The display faded away. Yuan Tianlong executed a series of hand seals. A vivid crimson star formation ignited across the terrain.

... Qiao Sang's pulse raced uncontrollably. She realized the fight ahead would be a grueling struggle.

"Yap yap!" Spotting the star array, Yabao locked his gaze on the impending clash. He fixed his stare on the emerging silhouette within the formation, claws scraping the earth as he assumed a ready posture.

"Saw saw."

A creature boasting enormous ears, a collar of jagged saw patterns, and vast purple wings edged with teeth-like serrations materialized. A twisted horn crowned its head, while its lower jaw sported prominent fangs. This was the Sawtooth Dragon.

"Yuan Tianlong's third beast has emerged—it's the Sawtooth Dragon!" Tian Yiwan announced.

The stadium exploded into thunderous applause. Qiao Sang's supporters couldn't contain their excitement either. Though many hadn't witnessed it live, tales of the Sawtooth Dragon's legendary 1-vs-3 feat—overpowering three King-level foes consecutively—were legendary. Whenever Yuan Tianlong's trump card came to mind, the Sawtooth Dragon topped the list.

Out on the battlefield.

As the Sawtooth Dragon took form, fierce winds whipped up around it. A formidable Overlord's Aura barreled toward Yabao. Under the crushing weight, Yabao's frame stiffened. The instant after, he blinked out of sight.

"SAW SAW!!!"

The Sawtooth Dragon held its ground without budging. It merely parted its jaws and unleashed a thunderous bellow. Unseen sonic waves surged forth in waves. From an overhead view, fissures snaked across the arena floor, extending outward relentlessly.

Yabao, fresh from teleporting aloft, twisted in agony. The Sawtooth Dragon's maw parted once more, gathering silvery-white energy that swiftly coalesced into a ray, blasting fiercely at Yabao.

Ignoring the torment, Yabao tracked the dragon's motions closely. As the silver ray closed in, he warped again, reappearing over a hundred meters distant. His jaws spread wide. A crimson-and-golden ray erupted without delay.

The Sawtooth Dragon hastily summoned a translucent shield enveloping its form.

BOOM!!!

The crimson-and-golden ray crashed against the shield, demolishing it on contact. The force detonated upon the Sawtooth Dragon's hide.

"SAW SAW!"

The Sawtooth Dragon howled in distress, staggering back a good few paces.

... The audience fell into shocked silence. 

Before, folks gauged the Blazing Divine Lion's prowess through his Ultimate-rank Meteor Rain, the Super-tier Radiant Impact, and those fearsome teeth. The takeaway was vague at best—no one grasped his full might precisely, though consensus held he lagged behind the Sawtooth Dragon.

Now, doubts crept in.

"I'm starting to think the Blazing Divine Lion might pull off a victory?"

"I've said it all along—if he nails a Radiant Impact on the Sawtooth Dragon under Moonlight Power's boost, the beast might not endure it. See? It couldn't block that Explosive Fire Ball earlier."

"The Blazing Divine Lion's strikes don't scream early-stage King-level. Could he have hit mid-stage already?"

"Impossible. Among all competitors, who's got a mid-stage beast? Only Yuan Tianlong, with his Sawtooth Dragon."

"View it like this: The Blazing Divine Lion's blows connect with the dragon, and he evades the dragon's assaults. Sustain the dodges, and victory's his. Take a hit, and it's over."

"Right on. The Blazing Divine Lion packs heavy offense, but his guard's merely passable. The Sawtooth Dragon isn't built for tanking either, yet its resilience outstrips the Blazing Divine Lion's for sure. Mark my words; the Sawtooth Dragon takes it."

"The Blazing Divine Lion's Explosive Fire Ball connected with the Sawtooth Dragon!" Tian Yiwan called out with fervor.

Tang Xueran mused calmly: "The Sawtooth Dragon's initial suppression seems to barely faze the Blazing Divine Lion."

Tian Yiwan shot back without missing a beat: "That implies the Blazing Divine Lion's willpower is off the charts."

Yuan Tianlong observed his dragon's barrier shatter, his hunch solidified at last. His eyes gleamed with keen curiosity toward the Blazing Divine Lion.

Truth be told, in today's pro circuits, trainers often scout rival intel ahead of time. Spot a foe's beast type? Hire an identical one for practice. Matching breed, rank, traits, moves—the works. If cash flows, no matchup's out of reach. He'd followed suit before.

--

For this Regional Competition, lacking any intel on the Blazing Divine Lion, Yuan Tianlong hunted for a similar breed but came up empty. Absent benchmarks or hard numbers, and with scant records on Qiao Sang, his theory that the Blazing Divine Lion's power matched the Sawtooth Dragon's remained just that—a hunch.

Now, certainty dawned: The Blazing Divine Lion was mid-stage King-level. That prior strike lacked Moonlight Power's enhancement. He couldn't speak for other foes the Blazing Divine Lion faced, but the Sawtooth Dragon's toughness? He knew it intimately.

Yuan Tianlong glanced skyward at the hidden moon—veiled since the third round began—then shifted his focus back to the arena. 

While the Sawtooth Dragon reeled from the impact, Yabao craned his neck skyward and bared his teeth, seizing the moment to launch Meteor Rain. A crimson orb brimming with devastating might rocketed from his maw toward the heavens.

"Boom." Yuan Tianlong uttered steadily.

"SAW SAW!!!"

The Sawtooth Dragon righted itself and belted out a roar laced with menace. The unseen sonic waves morphed into an oppressive pressure, radiating everywhere. The crimson orb overhead crumbled under the assault, bursting with a sharp "bang."

Qiao Sang pondered silently.

"The Blazing Divine Lion fired off Meteor Rain, yet the Sawtooth Dragon's Boom obliterated the orb before it could disperse!" Tian Yiwan described the frenzy.

The Sawtooth Dragon beat its wings, soaring upward. Its jaws unhinged, unleashing yet another silvery-white ray. Yabao blinked away. The Sawtooth Dragon's mouth stayed agape.

"SAW SAW!!!"

A screech sharper than before tore through the air. The invisible waves pulsed outward. Numerous onlookers clutched their heads, grimacing; a few nursed budding migraines.

Yabao rematerialized roughly ten meters to the dragon's rear, features twisted in suffering. As though the Sawtooth Dragon sensed him without looking, silvery light gathered at its tail tip. In a swift lash, the appendage cracked true and fierce toward Yabao.

BANG!

Yabao plummeted straight down from above, cratering the earth on collision. The landing zone fractured dramatically, carving a vast, alarming depression. The Sawtooth Dragon angled its gaze downward and unleashed a twisting silvery-white surge straight into the depression.

BOOM!!!

The stadium trembled as the terrain ruptured. A brutal blast tore through the pit and nearby areas. Innumerable stones shattered in the turmoil.

Meanwhile, Yabao—supposedly trapped below—flashed behind the Sawtooth Dragon. He parted his lips, exposing deadly incisors. Aligned with a spectral flame skull, he clamped down with savage force.

"SAW SAW!"

The dragon wailed. Yabao's face hardened with ferocity; his flank flames unfurled abruptly. Clinging tight in his vise, he dragged the Sawtooth Dragon earthward. On striking, an immense blast detonated. Blazing inferno spewed from their clash point like molten fury from the depths.

BANG BANG BANG!

Fire kept erupting wildly. The battlefield transformed into a fiery inferno in moments.

The furious volley spanned barely a dozen seconds. The trainers scarcely found openings to direct their beasts. The throng watched, pulses pounding, swept up in raw thrill.

"The Sawtooth Dragon deployed Boom, the Blazing Divine Lion materialized in its blind spot, and the dragon nailed a Dragon Tail!" Tian Yiwan reported, his words accelerating at the close.

"The Blazing Divine Lion crashes down! The dragon capitalizes with Dragon Pulse! Wait— the Blazing Divine Lion warps behind and unleashes Fire Fang! He's got the grip!"

Tang Xueran matched the blistering tempo: "The Blazing Divine Lion slams the Sawtooth Dragon alongside him—Hellfire! Right on landing, he ignites Hellfire!"

Tian Yiwan enthused: "Never anticipated such ferocity from the opening bell. Can't wait to see the next clash unfold."

No sooner had he spoken than a colossal BOOM thundered. A silvery-white ray lanced from the Sawtooth Dragon's throat, hurling Yabao skyward. The mighty backlash detonated aloft, a horrifying spectacle. Yabao tumbled downward.

"Saw saw..." The dragon hauled itself upright, eyeing the descending crimson shape. It channeled its strength, hunting for a strike window.

Then Yuan Tianlong commanded: "Dragon Sonic Blast."

The Sawtooth Dragon's demeanor sharpened to utmost gravity.

Qiao Sang's face grew grave. She bellowed: "Rise!"

Dragon Sonic Blast ranked as a Super-tier sonic assault. It ravaged nerves and struck with explosive force. Ears plugged or not, Yabao couldn't fully shield against it.

The optimal counter? Relocate beyond the waves' grasp. A typical swift Fire-type couldn't manage, but Yabao wielded Psychic abilities and Teleport. He could pull it off.

As Yabao plummeted, his eyes flew wide and he disappeared. For an instant, no trace of him lingered on the field.

Spectators scanned the arena frantically. Per regulations, beasts must stay within bounds during combat—straying counts as a violation. Three infractions spell instant defeat.

"The Blazing Divine Lion's overhead!" A voice yelled abruptly.

All heads tilted upward. Far above, a red speck gleamed like a blood-red star.

Simultaneously, the Sawtooth Dragon—jaws still parted—snapped them shut and swiveled to bob its head at Yuan Tianlong.

Qiao Sang: ...