Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 993: Capybara Overlord

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"

"Steel Sword Falcon! Steel Sword Falcon!"

"It's no longer a Steel Sword Falcon."

"...Does it matter? The shape has changed, and Qiao Sang hasn't given it a new name yet. What should we call it otherwise?"

"You're right. Steel Sword Falcon! Steel Sword Falcon!"

"That ticket today was totally worth the cost. We witnessed the evolution of a completely new form for an extraterrestrial pet."

"Absolutely, the defenses of that King-level falcon are unbelievable. Those lightning strikes landed on her without any effect."

"By the way, is the entire evolution path truly Bond Evolution? Why didn't the trainer seem to suffer? Her face hardly showed any discomfort."

"You didn't catch it. Back when Gather Lightning struck, Qiao Sang's features contorted in pain. She probably just endures pain well. Don't trainers bonded to pets work on building their own toughness?"

"I can't figure out how she juggles everything. Her brain domain advances so quickly, her pets are incredibly powerful, and she even finds time to strengthen her own durability?"

"Just don't view her as an ordinary person."

"That evolution was awesome. And with the full chain relying on bonds, I'm tempted to head to Chaosu Star and bond one myself."

"Now that she's reached King-level, as long as she remains in battle, the Lightning Field won't pose an issue. Wu Tianjiao slipped up tactically."

"Not so sure. Freshly evolved, facing off against another King-level in this storm puts her at a disadvantage. Keep watching; the next round will wrap up before the field runs out."

"Qiao Sang might pull the falcon back for the following battle."

"Among her King-level pets, the falcon boasts the strongest defenses. Though Ram controls the Ice Field Domain, she can't stop lightning with ice. Yabao focuses purely on attacks. For Qiao Sang to handle the rest of the fight without hitches, she'll definitely keep the falcon battling. I'd wager on that."

The moment those words escaped the onlooker's lips, a soft white glow shimmered across Gangbao's form on the battlefield. Her body gradually diminished in size, and when the glow dimmed, she had shifted back to her Steel Sword Falcon appearance.

The individual seated close by laughed lightly. "Fine, you're on for that wager."

"..."

Besides the lighthearted bunch, the audience drew in sharp breaths once more, buzzing about the essence of Bond Evolution. From the announcer's platform, Tian Yiwan delivered the update right away: "The Steel Sword Falcon has just shifted back to her General-level state. Just as anticipated, she tapped into bond power for a short-term leap to King level."

Tang Xueran commented with disappointment, "Looks like the Steel Sword Falcon won't join the upcoming round."

As an otherworldly pet and a Flying-type, greatly prized in the Central Hollow Region, and especially as a pioneering galactic form, the crowd had yearned to witness more of her in action.

Everyone except Wu Tianjiao.

"What a relief she reverted..." Wu Tianjiao let out a deep breath. Her calculated odds of victory, previously at a mere 1%, surged upward again.

. Qiao Sang conveyed with a grin through their mental link.

"Gang Zhan..." Gangbao replied faintly. She shut her eyes and toppled over, a subtle smile lingering.

Right before she struck the ground, Qiao Sang flicked her wrist and drew her back into the Beast Codex.

---

In the family section.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure, who had been rooting enthusiastically for his trainer and little sister's triumph, quietly dropped his cheering tool upon seeing her withdrawn. Then, recalling the battle continued and that either Yabao or Lubao would step up next, he lifted his paws once more and waved them wildly: "Xun xun!"

"Xun xun!"

With the spotlight battle concluded and Gangbao removed, numerous folks spotted the stir. The spectators turned their gaze, murmuring: "Isn't that the Ghost Ring King?"

"Does it belong to Qiao Sang?"

"Of course! See, this is the family zone. Only kin can occupy these seats. The woman beside it is Qiao Sang's mother."

"Qiao Sang's Ghost Ring King shines with gold just in its rings and eyes. That one's hers for sure."

"Seems Qiao Sang planned all along to have the falcon fight, given the Ghost Ring King stays in the stands."

"Hold on! I've just pieced together something major!"

"What is it?"

"Could Qiao Sang have meant for the falcon to trigger Bond Evolution right in the battle? Did she deploy her initially to harness the battle's intensity to spark the bond?"

"That could be it! Qiao Sang hasn't led with a General pet since the other competitors were all B-rank trainers. It felt odd for her to do so in the semi-finals."

"I'm getting chills. She gambled a defeat in this vital contest solely to spark an evolution? What if it failed—wouldn't that spell catastrophe?"

"No way. Bond Evolution differs from others that rely on energy or resources. Bond power stays hidden, unpredictable... Unless she had already ignited it prior to this bout and merely used the clash to solidify the interim form."

"!!!"

"Xun xun..."

Noticing the attention on him, Little Treasure curbed his impulse to cry out and faded into invisibility without a sound. Ye Xiangting eyed the spot he'd occupied and spoke softly: "No need to conceal yourself. Gangbao has already made her entrance. It won't hurt if you reveal now. Even without your presence here, nobody would anticipate you joining this fight."

Little Treasure: ...

As he pondered sullenly, the figure "10" materialized in glowing light over the arena.

A robotic announcement rang out: "9, 8, 7..."

"Xun! Xun!"

Little Treasure promptly cast aside his irritation, materialized again, and joined the audience in the countdown. The glow reached "1" and disappeared.

Silence enveloped the arena. Qiao Sang and Wu Tianjiao formed their seals at the same instant. Twin enormous crimson star formations ignited across the battlefield.

Two colossal shapes materialized inside their arrays. As one surfaced, the air's chill intensified sharply. Vast snowflakes started to flutter, dancing amid the raging lightning.

"Wu Tianjiao unleashes Capybara Overlord! Qiao Sang unleashes Ice Emperor Ram!" Tian Yiwan declared.

"Ice Emperor Ram commands the Ultimate-level Ice Armor and Healing Light. It handles both protection and recovery. Considering the Lightning Field, it's clearly the ideal pick." Tang Xueran broke it down.

---

On the battlefield.

Lubao had been aware of the lightning even inside the Codex. The instant she emerged, she formed a stunning ice armor encasing her frame. Bolts of lightning hammered down repeatedly, yet the armor withstood them. Now and then, a small fracture surfaced, only to mend itself immediately.

... Wu Tianjiao kept her composure intact.

Before her loomed the Capybara Overlord, its face serene. It gazed at the far-off foe, pausing briefly, and its pulse quickened. A strange redness flushed its cheeks.

Lightning thundered nonstop within three meters of the Capybara Overlord, yet it never struck the beast.

Qiao Sang remembered a key fact from the Thunder-Numb Spirit's profile.

Thanks to this ability, Wu Tianjiao trusted that her following pet would remain unscathed by the field. Even venturing beyond that three-meter boundary, it wouldn't get zapped.

As fellow pets under the same trainer, the Overlord bore the aroma intentionally deposited by the Thunder-Numb Spirit. Provided the pet skipped bathing or swimming pre-battle, the aroma endured.

Qiao Sang examined the thirteen-meter beast. Predominantly blue, featuring a deep blue head and back. Fish-bone markings adorned its flanks, with dark blue fins on chest and tail, a pointed horn along its spine, and it balanced on four sturdy legs. Information raced through her thoughts.

Capybara Overlord: Water-type King pet. Gentle nature. Employs ultrasonic waves to detect the feelings of creatures. Possesses the Water Veil ability, enveloping it in a watery layer to ward off burns.

It also holds Water Absorb, Hydration, and Breath Control.

Water Absorb lets it recover from Water attacks instead of harm. Hydration cures ailments during rain. Crucially, Breath Control enables masking its aura, and at advanced mastery, it can "lock" a scent onto itself to shield against outside disruptions removing it.

Thus, the Overlord could secure the Thunder-Numb Spirit's scent. Even under Lubao's Rain Prayer, the downpour wouldn't erase the aroma that deterred the lightning.

No matter if she chose Yabao or Lubao, the Capybara Overlord paired flawlessly with the Lightning Field.

While Qiao Sang mulled this over, the Capybara Overlord, cheeks still rosy, carried out its trainer's earlier directive and swung its tail downward sharply.

Qiao Sang's reflection broke off. "Domain."

"Lu Di."

Lubao called out. Defying the descending lightning, she released a palpable burst of icy breath. The chill deepened further. The terrain swiftly encased itself in a heavy layer of frost.

At the same moment, a five-meter-tall wall of water erupted around the Capybara Overlord. Before it could climb taller, both the wall and the Overlord within solidified into ice.

. Qiao Sang reflected inwardly.

Lubao observed her rival. In the following instant, six towering ice spikes like mountains formed near the Overlord and dove toward the middle.

Wu Tianjiao appeared grave but not excessively concerned. She had delved deeply into Qiao Sang's Ram. She issued no commands, merely perched on her green avian pet.

The Capybara Overlord stayed encased and still. Yet the overhead lightning, which had spared its area before, abruptly plunged down.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The lightning moved with blinding speed. Before the spikes could connect, over a dozen strikes pounded the spikes and the Overlord alike. The ice spikes fragmented into hefty pieces. Even the frost encasing the Capybara Overlord splintered with a crisp "clack," exposing a narrow split.

. Qiao Sang assessed.

It made sense why Wu Tianjiao seemed unperturbed. Upon freezing, the scent vanishes, drawing the lightning to shatter the ice and free her pet.

From the announcer's stand, Tian Yiwan exclaimed, "Ice Emperor Ram has frozen the Capybara Overlord, but the Lightning Field aids it now! The strikes demolish the ice and shatter the spikes! Can the Overlord escape the freeze?"

Tang Xueran explained, "The Overlord stayed protected thanks to the spirit's scent. Freezing conceals that scent, so the field targets it, assisting in breaking loose."

She let out a sigh, "This turns the lightning into an accidental ally for the Overlord against the freeze."

Plenty of viewers unaware of the specifics turned to nearby folks, inquiring about the scent and its tie to the lightning.

Nobody spotted the damp vapor seeping from that slim fissure in the ice layer.

Lubao's icy aura swelled. The split sealed shut.

The lightning kept battering the Capybara Overlord, but fresh fractures failed to form.

Tang Xueran observed, "The Ice Field Domain proves itself a supreme skill. With slight guidance from Ice Emperor Ram, even that fierce lightning fails to breach the ice."

As her words hung in the air, a thunderous roar resounded, and a heavy rain abruptly poured forth.