Astral Pet Store Chapter 3: Infinite Times of Death

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“The host has established connection to the Thunder Cloud Realm.”

“Connection valid for three days...”

“During the beginner’s quest, beginner’s protection will be granted to the host: unlimited number of deaths during the exploration!”

“Temporary contract between the host and the pet has been established...”

“Please head out on your own...”

Su Ping remained dazed amid this expansive, primordial landscape unfolding before him until the series of notifications echoing in his mind yanked him back to the present.

He stopped in his tracks. Right away, a warning line about danger caught his eye. Number of deaths?

A foreboding feeling surged within him.

Suddenly, an enormous shadow swept across overhead. The sky appeared to darken instantly.

Su Ping lifted his gaze, and his pupils expanded in shock at the view.

Vast wings capable of eclipsing the heavens and shrouding the sun churned through the endless expanse of clouds. Amid the deep violet wings, lightning crackled and thunder boomed; nearby clouds churned violently.

“What...”

“What the hell is this?!!”

Su Ping stood frozen in astonishment.

Even the largest blue whale would seem like a mere feather compared to this colossal creature!

As shock gripped him, a fierce windstorm blasted in moments, diving from above like countless razor-sharp blades slicing toward him.

“Run...”

The moment this thought hit Su Ping’s mind, agony exploded across his body. His vision blackened abruptly, engulfed by darkness.

“Am I dead?” Su Ping wondered, eyelids heavy. Yet soon, blinding light flooded in. He blinked open his eyes; the ancient, boundless vista persisted, though the surroundings had shifted. No longer encircled by towering trees, he found himself amid lush, towering grasses.

Recalling the system’s message, Su Ping snapped to awareness. Was this the unlimited deaths feature?

He could perish endlessly in this realm?

This realization eased him slightly. Still, the next instant urged him to unleash a barrage of curses.

True, death wasn’t permanent, but reliving the torment of being shredded apart was unbearable!

“System, I want to go home,” Su Ping pleaded desperately.

“The quest has not been accomplished. An early return is not allowed.”

“...”

“Warning! First profanity alert!”

“...!!”

Su Ping’s face drained of color. Stuck in this barren realm teeming with monstrous beasts for three full days? How many deaths awaited?

Mental collapse loomed near. What sort of twisted system was this?

“Rustle, rustle~!”

Suddenly, faint noises reached his ears.

The sound sent chills racing up Su Ping’s spine. He whipped around in panic, discovering the source: the Lightning Rat at his feet. This tiny creature had tagged along and now trembled in terror.

It too had witnessed the sky-blocking behemoth and was petrified.

“You poor little thing. You’ll suffer countless deaths alongside me for three days...”

Su Ping sighed hopelessly. Shared suffering offered scant comfort.

Perhaps due to the temporary contract, he felt a bond with the Lightning Rat. Pity swelled as he eyed the quivering beast. He knelt to stroke it soothingly.

As his hand caressed the Lightning Rat...

It dawned on Su Ping: his dispatch here aimed to toughen this little one.

To boost its power threefold in a week.

Daunting, no doubt. Yet the quest centered on the Lightning Rat!

This terrifying training ground existed for the Lightning Rat!

“Finishing the quest early hinges on the Lightning Rat hitting the target strength. Tough as it seems, only trying reveals the truth, right?”

With that resolve, Su Ping gazed at the Lightning Rat now calming in his grasp.

The once-trembling Lightning Rat settled under the comforting warmth of the hand, like a secure refuge. But unease flooded its heart abruptly.

Trusting instinct, the Lightning Rat peeked up with tiny eyes, beholding its temp master staring down with eyes gleaming in fright!

The Lightning Rat: “?”

“Come on. You can do this.” Su Ping flashed a grin.

The Lightning Rat shivered.

Sensing the peril, it thrashed wildly in Su Ping’s grip.

Though an agile Astral Pet, the Lightning Rat overpowered Su Ping easily. It broke free in a flash.

“Come back here!” Su Ping shouted instantly.

Regret hit as the words escaped; he recoiled.

In the beast-filled Thunder Cloud Realm, hollering invited doom.

Then he recalled the temporary contract. Focusing, he sensed a subtle consciousness linked to his.

That presence pulsed with fuzzy emotions and urges.

Fear, panic, astonishment, flee!

All from the Lightning Rat.

“So this is the contract’s bond with an Astral Pet? No surprise folks say master and pet share one mind. You can’t grasp it without living it...”

Su Ping’s eyes gleamed. This contract power was the dream divider between ordinary folk and Astral Pet Warriors, coveted for years.

“Squeak—”

Shrill squeaks pierced from distant foliage suddenly.

Alarmed, Su Ping dashed over.

There, the Lightning Rat faced off against a massive bug by a colossal grass stalk seven to eight meters tall. Fur spiked, teeth bared.

The bug stretched two meters, verdant with violet streaks. Electric sparks danced from the patterns.

Another thunder-type Astral Pet!

“Why does it resemble a caterpillar?” The bug evoked that image for Su Ping, though ferocity amplified a hundredfold.

“Damn, will this thing swallow us whole?” Chilling dread froze Su Ping’s blood at the maw’s jagged teeth. Prior death by sky-beast winds was swift; this bug promised hellish agony!

Suicide tempted him now.

Yet revival spawned randomly elsewhere.

One issue lingered.

No weapons nearby.

Su Ping scanned, spotting just a stone. Emotions churned.

Smash himself dead?

How hard to strike fatally once?

Failure left him half-alive in torment?

This dilemma haunted like profound philosophy.

“Squeak!”

As Su Ping pondered optimal self-bashing, a piercing cry rang out.

He glanced up.

The Lightning Rat neared death, snared by the bug. Centipede-like legs pierced its tender belly with razor tips. Blood gushed; it expired after feeble twitches.

Su Ping blanched. The sight was unbearable, igniting inexplicable rage.

The system chimed: “Revive pet on the spot. Yes or no?”

Stunned, Su Ping reacted.

As the bug lunged to devour the corpse, Su Ping bellowed, “Yes!”

Before his voice faded, the Lightning Rat—mid-swallow—dissolved into sparks, reforming before the bug.

Crack!

The bite whiffed.

The bug froze, prey inexplicably revived.

The insect: “???”

Su Ping skipped explanations. With the Lightning Rat restored, he commanded, “Attack the insect!”

Contract-borne emotions relayed the order instantly.

The Lightning Rat hesitated, death’s terror lingering. Su Ping’s yell stirred it; domestication’s obedience surged. It bolted instinctively.

Lightning swift!

Whoosh!

It accelerated, slamming the bug.

Bang!

The impact rocked the bug back. Midway, it stabilized. Legs whirred; it seized and ripped the Lightning Rat horrifically.

The Lightning Rat perished once more!

“Revive pet on the spot. Yes or no?”

“Do it!”

Su Ping commanded anew the instant revival hit.

Unlimited revives meant inevitable victory over the bug. Vast gap or not, the Lightning Rat held winning odds. Seize every sliver of hope!