Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 1020: Witch Mystic Demon

"A human?" Qiao Sang stiffened, her face growing grave as she reflexively clutched the pet egg in her arms even closer.

Ghost-type pets in the wild taking in negative energy was one matter, yet a person deliberately confining others to enable Ghost-type pets to feed on negative energy marked a far graver and completely distinct issue.

After a prolonged pause, Qiao Sang shared her suspicion: "These Secret Realm Cracks... they aren't man-made, are they?"

Logically, with countless Secret Realm Cracks emerging, any ordinary individual's initial response would involve escaping or battling.

Should the purpose of venturing inside solely involve a Ghost-type pet absorbing negative energy, the process would commence right upon entry. No delay until this moment would occur.

The circumstances suggested prior knowledge of the cracks' emergence, followed by spatial sealing and subsequent energy intake.

Mikayla stayed quiet for several seconds before responding gravely:

"Psychic-type pets possess a Super-tier skill known as Spatial Oscillation. This ability destabilizes space within a specific region, triggering vibrations. With sufficient proficiency, these vibrations can remain imperceptible. At even greater mastery, cracks might form in space, contingent on the area's inherent instability."

She halted, her eyes lifting toward the multitude of Secret Realm Cracks overhead, then continued: "Secret Realm Cracks manifest daily in Lost Town, rendering the local space evidently unstable. Employing Spatial Oscillation with a Psychic-type pet here could plausibly generate numerous cracks all at once."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sang’s initial thought was: 

Her subsequent thought was: 

Qiao Sang turned to Mikayla and inquired, "Teacher, do we step in?"

In terms of statistics, pets mastering Super-tier skills typically achieve them at Emperor-level. Generating so many Secret Realm Cracks simultaneously demands extraordinarily high proficiency in Spatial Oscillation.

Such elevated proficiency implies extensive training over years, suggesting the pet's advanced age, with a strong likelihood of reaching Emperor-level or higher.

Ignoring the Tamer, Qiao Sang alone couldn't confront that Psychic-type pet. Solely Teacher Mikayla, as an S-level Tamer, held the power to address it.

Mikayla abruptly chuckled: "This presents a prime training chance. You seek out this individual."

Qiao Sang: ???

"Just me alone?" Qiao Sang ventured cautiously.

Mikayla glanced her way: "I'll intervene at the appropriate moment."

 Qiao Sang turned to Little Treasure and commanded clearly: "Deploy Shadow of Darkness to gather energy."

She stopped briefly, then specified: "Position it prominently."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure acknowledged with a nod, directing the enormous Ghost Ring King upward into the sky, paws pressed together.

The colossal Ghost Ring King expanded visibly until towering around 60 meters.

Instantly, attention from every human and pet locked onto it.

Witnessing a 60-meter-tall behemoth pet, dread rooted deep within the crowd's hearts surged. Even composed Tamers paled involuntarily.

"W-what pet is that?"

"Damn, it's finished! We're toast!"

"Ah! Home! Take me home! Forget the Spirit-Passing Cat!"

"Stay calm, folks! That's merely a Shadow of Darkness, controlled by a Tamer. It's aiding us!"

These words flipped the crowd's despair into elation.

They mistook it for a foe initially, but discovered an ally instead. Unfamiliar with the pet's identity, its capacity to summon such a massive Shadow of Darkness signaled immense power.

Beneath the crowd's hopeful stares, the huge Ghost Ring King parted its jaws and drew breath. Ghost Mist energy rushed into its maw like a massive surge.

... Stunned silence gripped the crowd at first, then outrage twisted their features as shouts erupted: "We risk our lives battling, and you snatch negative energy!"

"Whose pet? Show yourself if you dare!"

"Gobbling so much—won't your Ghost-type pet burst from excess?"

Amid this, wild Ghost-type pets launched assaults.

Fighters managed them, yet complaints persisted: "Bold enough to absorb, too cowardly to appear! Reveal yourself!"

"Look skyward! The foreigner! Spotted her entering with this Ghost-type earlier!"

"Perfect, a foreigner. Clear these wild ones, then we'll thrash you on sight!"

Negative energy within the Ghost Mist spiked sharply, evidently fueled by fury over a Ghost-type pet feeding during crisis.

Mikayla: ...

... Qiao Sang maintained composure, thoughts racing.

The enormous Ghost Ring King devoured vast quantities of negative energy.

Wild Ghost-type pets initially avoided it, but recognizing merely a Shadow of Darkness, assaults multiplied—including from irate Tamers upset by the timely absorption.

Attacks poured in, yet Yabao, Lubao, and Gangbao deflected every one.

As moments ticked by, Little Treasure released a satisfied belch.

Some 30 seconds later, a piercing whoosh sliced the air, like supersonic passage. A silver-white shockwave plummeted from above, precisely impaling the giant Ghost Ring King.

The giant form vanished in a flash.

Outcries ceased abruptly.

.. Qiao Sang gazed upward.

A roughly five-meter pet, predominantly silver-white with a tail double its body length, hovered serenely, fixing calm eyes on Little Treasure.

Around 20-year-old youth in black T-shirt stood nearby.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure sensed hostility from the arrival and instantly warped to Yabao’s position.

Noting this, the youth's eyes narrowed.

 Pet data emerged in Qiao Sang's mind from afar. A realization struck: 

She eyed the youth, discovering his gaze already upon her.

Alertness sharpened in Qiao Sang.

The crowd peered up, spotting the Shadow of Darkness neutralized at last. Jubilation surged as voices clamored: "Brother! Well struck!"

"Perfect hit!"

"Whoa, not just any brother—this is elite! Luminsora! Emperor-level Luminsora!"

These revelations ignited hope in all eyes, like sighting salvation. Pleas poured forth: "Big shot, swiftly handle these wild pets!"

"Rescue us, big shot!"

"Big shot, make your move! I'm fading fast!"

The youth disregarded them, addressing Qiao Sang steadily: "Regrettable. A young Tamer like you, drawn here by Spirit-Passing Cat rumors too."

Qiao Sang's pulse quickened. She projected her voice for all: "The Spirit-Passing Cat intel—you spread it on purpose?"

Silence blanketed the air abruptly.

Minds blanked across the crowd.

Thanks to the youth, all had spotted Qiao Sang and caught her words.

This revelation stunned everyone. Gazes instinctively shifted skyward to the youth, awaiting response, as only pets clashed fiercely with wild Ghost-types.

The youth fixed her with a stare, wordless.

... Qiao Sang's spirits plummeted.

Breaking the oppressive quiet, she declared:

"You spread Spirit-Passing Cat news to draw crowds to Lost Town, sealed space to trap us, deployed Luminsora's Spatial Oscillation for these Secret Realm Cracks, sparking panic, despair, fear—all to feed your Ghost-type pet the energy. Correct?"

"Spot on." The youth confessed without hesitation.

Silence descended anew.

Shock, rage, bewilderment gripped the crowd.

Simultaneously, deeper despair and bafflement swelled within hearts.

Instantly, negative energy denser than prior emanated from nearly all.

Ghost Mist densified visibly.

Observing, the youth smirked: "Gratitude for revealing this. They'll perish aware of truth."

Qiao Sang's heart plunged deeper, yet recalling Teacher Mikayla nearby, she puffed up righteously: "Think I let my pet take negative energy to bait you out and expose truth to all?"

The youth arched a brow: "You believe you can handle me?"

Qiao Sang grinned: "Why couldn't I?"

To listeners, her words rang like divine reprieve. Heads whipped toward her, faces alight with shock and delight.

Beneath intense stares, Qiao Sang whispered: "Teacher, target lured. Your move."

Gangbao wore a expression.

Mikayla: ...

Mikayla stated evenly: "Call forth every pet. We advance as one."

Qiao Sang stood even prouder.

The youth's brow furrowed.

Facing Luminsora yet issuing such boasts implied madness—or genuine might.

He eyed those below, then smiled: "Care to shift battle elsewhere?"

Mikayla uttered nothing.

"Why?" Qiao Sang pressed.

The youth held position, tone steady: "Seeking more negative energy before Death Qi."

Implying combat here spelled mass deaths—delayed slightly.

Crowd pupils contracted, faces draining of color. It evoked draining them fully before devouring entirely.

Ghost Mist energy intensified further.

"Agreed." Mikayla consented.

"Summon your full roster first."

... Hearing this, the youth held back momentarily.

He opened mouth to retort, but abruptly froze. Hands lifted involuntarily, forming seals, as his Beast Codex activated independently.

Soon, five vast purple star arrays ignited before him together.

From arrays, five pets of differing builds materialized overhead.

... Utter despair flooded crowd eyes.

Qiao Sang identified immediately: among summoned five, another Emperor-level lurked.

"Handle white and blue ones away." Mikayla instructed.

"Pen pen." Spengami appeared, eyes shimmering blue.

Mikayla regarded Qiao Sang: "Remainder falls to you."

With that, she blinked from sight.

Vanishing alongside: Spengami, Water-Sealed Prancing Horse, Luminsora.

"..."

Qiao Sang faced the lingering youth and four pets. Silence reigned supreme.

"Yap yap!"

Battle fervor ignited in Yabao’s eyes.

Lubao fixed distant foes, chill aura emanating from her form.

Gangbao shot Tamer a grin, then eyed adversaries solemnly.

"Xun xun!"

With top threats removed, Little Treasure buoyed. He surveyed foes, then tauntingly crooked a stubby toe at a one-meter black-bodied pet boasting long white beard and keen horns—undeniably Ghost-type kin.

Then, youth recovered. Surveying summoned pets and Luminsora's absence, his visage soured profoundly.

Hands flew to reseal frantically, but Water-Sealed Prancing Horse and Luminsora refused recall.

Youth's countenance darkened further, paling noticeably.

Truthfully, such loss of control felt alien after ages.

Long-buried dread resurfaced. Inhaling deeply, he demanded: "Who exactly is she?"

Qiao Sang drew steady breath, tuned him out, composed herself, eyed four foes as data scrolled mentally.

Relief washed over her then.

Suddenly recalling detail, her stare locked on Witch Mystic Demon.

Foe's purple arrays capped contracts at six. Minus two Emperor-levels seized by Teacher Mikayla, these comprised the lot—including two Ghost-types. Dream Ghost, mere Mid-level, posed scant threat. 

-----