Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 1021: Shadow Penetration

Qiao Sang couldn't help but start pondering instinctively.

Noticing the distant young girl offered no reply, the young man's face shifted through patches of light and shadow. In the end, he gave a bitter chuckle and barked: "Go!"

Besides the Witch Mystic Demon, the Dream Ghost, Fanged Dragon, and Arrow-Blade Swallow King all started gathering their power at nearly the same moment.

Those below gazed skyward, hearts weighed down as they buzzed in heated discussion: "Should we head up to assist?"

"Have you lost your mind? You're merely a C-level Tamer, while he's A-level!"

"It's not about choosing to help or not. Just look at us—do we even possess the strength? We can't manage these feral pets ourselves."

"I noticed the Emperor-level pets got captured. No idea what rank the leftover Tamer holds. Will she pull through?"

An elderly man clad in a black martial arts uniform, his hair snowy white, strode forth. He lifted his gaze to the heavens and declared with commanding presence:

"One brave soul staked their life to reveal this scoundrel's plot, letting the truth come to light. How can we stand by doing nothing? I've pursued the path of a Tamer all these years to champion justice. Plus, my time left is short. I'd sooner clash with him until my last breath than watch his scheme drain our negative energy and Death Qi!"

His gaze burned with resolve, his features set in unyielding determination, tinged with a fierce readiness to burn bright in defeat.

The onlookers heard him, their blood surging hot.

"Right! So he's an A-level Tamer—what of it? We're a huge crowd; why fear him? His Emperor-level pets are gone anyhow."

"Most of us don't have much life ahead regardless. Better to explode in a blaze of glory fighting than get drained dry by savage Ghost-types!"

"Spot on! He lured us here with tales of the Spirit-Passing Cat—his heart's pure evil. Scum like him tarnishes Ghost-type pets' name!"

The elder in black martial arts garb mounted the wide claw of his nine-meter-tall Ghost-type pet nearby and bellowed: "I'll lead the charge! Old friend, charge ahead!"

The towering nine-meter Ghost-type pet mirrored his steely resolve. It morphed into a bolt of violet light and rocketed toward the airborne youth.

The crowd instantly knew the ascending pet.

Only recently, this Bapan Clown had battled wild Ghost-type pets, rescuing countless souls.

The masses held their breaths without thinking, fists balled tight, faces etched with suspense and hope.

The violet streak blazed with speed and ferocity. In a flash, it closed to within roughly a hundred meters of the foe.

"Phantom Force!" the elder yelled.

Phantom Force, an advanced Ghost-type technique. It lets the user vanish momentarily to sneak up for a stealth strike, dodging barriers like Protect.

The term here goes beyond mere vanishing; it signifies slipping into another dimension to build momentum... Recollections of Phantom Force data raced through minds, heightening the eagerness in their stares.

Up above, the purple gleam winked out.

Suddenly, it burst back into view dozens of meters behind the youth, hurtling at him with a shrill, ominous whoosh.

The instant the Bapan Clown materialized, the Witch Mystic Demon whipped its head around. Its face stayed impassive as it parted its jaws leisurely.

A dense beam of darkness burst from its maw, slamming true into the Bapan Clown.

"Bapan!"

The Bapan Clown wailed in agony, plummeting skyward with the elder clutched to it.

The crowd: ...

Right then, a huge purple form swooped low, catching the elder securely.

"Gang Zhan."

Gangbao gently set the elder down safely, beat her wings, and soared upward once more.

The people traded looks, spotting the shared impulse to back off in each other's eyes.

"Perhaps we ought to drop it. He's A-level no matter what. Lacking his Emperor-level pets, his power still overwhelms us."

"The Bapan Clown got one-shotted. What chance do we have up there..."

"Precisely. We'd only hinder things."

"Better to watch if that sky-high Tamer can manage."

"I refuse to perish here. I've got half a year remaining..."

"Who'd choose death here? I'm just 27!"

"I figured you seemed youthful... so why'd you show up?"

"Got a fatal illness, days numbered. Hoped to snag the Spirit-Passing Cat then reincarnate into my mom's belly."

"...My bad."

A somber hush descended, filling the crowd's eyes anew with gloom and hopelessness.

All at once, a voice yelled: "Scatter!"

Shocked, the group peered up to spot an enormous shape tumbling from the clouds. Panic gripped them as they fled in all directions.

Bang!

Mere instants later, a thunderous impact rang out as the colossal form cratered the ground, splitting the earth wide.

As dust began to clear, the masses clustered round the vast depression to peer in.

A cry of astonishment rose: "It's the Fanged Dragon! That jerk's Fanged Dragon!"

The rest identified the fallen pet too. Shock yielded to delight, easing their strained faces, as they all craned necks skyward.

---

Far overhead.

The youth's visage darkened ominously. With a flick of his wrist, he withdrew the fainted Fanged Dragon and Dream Ghost—overpowered outright—back into his Beast Codex.

The Arrow-Blade Swallow King multiplied: one into two, two into four, four into a legion, becoming a vast flock of gleaming white specks hurtling straight at Qiao Sang, Yabao, and companions.

"Lu Di."

Lubao perched atop Yabao’s head, chill radiating from her form.

Temperatures plunged sharply nearby.

Frigid frost expanded swiftly.

In no time, every oncoming Arrow-Blade Swallow King solidified into frozen statues, suspended motionless.

Next, the iced flock crumbled to glittering shards, sparing just one crystalline Arrow-Blade Swallow King aloft.

Yabao parted his jaws; a crimson-golden ray formed swiftly and lanced forth.

Right then, a heavy dark surge welled behind the Arrow-Blade Swallow King, colliding squarely with the golden-red blast.

Boom!

Blazing infernos and scorching gusts erupted in cataclysmic force, the blast's ripple warping the air itself.

The iced Arrow-Blade Swallow King caught the brunt; its frost casing exploded apart, hurling it rearward through the maelstrom.

"Lubao." Qiao Sang commanded.

Lubao stayed silent, merely spreading more icy aura from her frame.

The following instant, with crisp "ka-ka" cracks, thick frost engulfed the tumbling Arrow-Blade Swallow King, the remote youth, and Witch Mystic Demon alike, encasing them as frozen effigies.

Witnessing this, the crowd froze in awe before erupting in thrilled roars: "Complete lockdown!"

"Victory's theirs! They're really clinching it!"

"Damn, dominating an A-level Tamer. What's this powerhouse's tier?!"

"Gotta be A-level herself! Spotted the villain lacked Emperor-level pets, but spared us by skipping her own Emperor summon."

"True. An Emperor clash would've engulfed us all."

"Never dreamed so many elites would flock to Lost Town."

"Fortunate it involved the Spirit-Passing Cat, drawing these aces."

"This pro looks barely teenaged, holding her youth so well. Didn't peg her for someone with little time left..."

"Recalling how I badmouthed her pet earlier, I oughta drop dead!"

Numerous folks voiced frenzied delight or outright fervor.

They'd figured doom sealed today, fodder for another's Ghost-type pet. Never foresaw a hero unveiling the ruse, let alone one vastly stronger than guessed, overpowering an A-level Tamer outright!

Qiao Sang lifted her hand to snap her fingers but recalled the masses below, lowering it discreetly as she uttered: "Burst."

Yabao bared his fangs; the crimson-golden ray fired anew.

None spotted the subtle eye twitch within the Witch Mystic Demon’s icy prison.

Boom!

The crimson-golden ray hammered the Arrow-Blade Swallow King squarely.

The blast's fury rent the frost sheath, sending it spiraling earthward.

Simultaneously, a meter-wide void yawned open behind Qiao Sang.

A violet talon bearing three stubby digits eased out gradually.

"Heads up!"

Before cheers could peak over the Swallow King's drop, this ghostly vision drew horrified yells from below, faces paling in terror.

Qiao Sang tuned out battle clamor as always and missed the warnings, yet a primal chill and dire peril prickled her spine. She whipped her head around on reflex.

Concurrently, Yabao unleashed a crimson-golden ray straight at the Witch Mystic Demon.

With a "bang," the ice burst asunder; the Witch Mystic Demon got skewered through, dissolving away.

"Xun xun!"

Then Little Treasure screeched sharply.

Before Qiao Sang glimpsed the threat astern, darkness swallowed her sight. Light flashed back as she sat astride Yabao hundreds of meters distant.

Her old spot now hosted a black void with a protruding claw.

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure sighed in relief.

 Qiao Sang knew that claw at once, realization dawning with a shiver-inducing chill.

The sight evoked an Interstellar Cup bout she'd watched live. There, a humanoid Emperor-level pet had erupted from a black hole too.

 Qiao Sang calmed herself and delved into swift assessment:

Seems the Witch Mystic Demon deployed a decoy before. Ghost-types pull off such feats via Shadow Penetration, warping real-space distances to manifest spookily wherever desired...

As thoughts churned, Gangbao thrashed her wings, unleashing a storm of violet-shining plumes like myriad arrows at the youth—freed from ice by Lubao’s warp.

A black void materialized before the youth. Every inbound purple edge plunged inside and vanished.

 Qiao Sang's spirits dropped; she glanced involuntarily at the masses battling feral Ghost-types below.

 With that in mind, Qiao Sang called out firmly: "Together from different positions!"

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure warped overhead the youth and slashed his claws. Threads of inky shadow spewed from his digits, cascading wildly below.

Gangbao blurred into purple radiance, flanking the youth's left, her wings unleashing hundreds more violet razors.

Yabao gaped wide, dread power swelling inside.

Lubao emanated palpable frost.

The youth's gaze pierced sharp as he roared: "Don't worry about me!"

The very moment his cry peaked, Qiao Sang sensed icy pressure atop her skull.

She glanced up to find a claw perched there. The Witch Mystic Demon’s head lurked unseen in the void, eyes concealed.

"Wuwu." A steady, ancient tone echoed from the darkness.

Yabao and allies halted rigid, actions frozen.

"Hahaha..." The youth laughed madly.

At once, a brilliant scarlet stellar formation ignited overhead.

"Qing qing!"

A wrathful bellow thundered, unleashing a savage windstorm from on high.

The tempest, shredding all resistance, blasted the youth plummeting from the skies.

...Qiao Sang reeled in total confusion, one notion pounding in her head:

Next came another: 

Despite the Witch Mystic Demon’s talon lingering on her crown, the spectacle gripped her so fiercely that Qiao Sang blanked on her peril for the moment.

In that split-second reverie, the frosty touch lifted from her head.

"Wuwu!"

A void yawned amid the youth's descent. The Witch Mystic Demon cracked at last, bursting fully from the rift with anxious features, claws outstretched to snag its Tamer.

"Xun xun!"

"Gang Zhan!"

"Yap yap!"

"Lu Di!"

Yabao and team flared with fury, powering up attacks in unison.

Shadow Balls, violet razors, crimson-golden blasts, and massive Gigantic Ice Spikes barreled down in convergence.

The Witch Mystic Demon detected doom looming. It yanked free entirely and pivoted, enfolding its Tamer protectively.

BOOM!!!

All assaults hammered its form.

"Wuwu!"

The Witch Mystic Demon shrieked in pain.