Beast Taming: I'm Really Just a Forest Ranger

The sunset painted the sky red.

“Woof woof woof!”

The Fire Dog, covered in fiery red fur, pushed through the bushes, its bright eyes gazing into the distance, letting out a series of barks.

“Captain, something’s up.”

“Hmm.”

Nie Li gently responded, her deep gaze fixed ahead, the black uniform accentuating her graceful figure as she gradually sank into contemplation.

They were members of the 8th branch, 7th team of the Investigation Department, specializing in handling all special missions related to Qinling.

As the Spiritual Energy Revival continues to advance, the original team structure could no longer meet the increasing variety of demands. Thus, the initial ten teams were changed into ten branches, each overseeing multiple teams.

This way, the increased manpower in each branch allowed different teams to guard different areas, greatly enhancing the efficiency in solving special missions.

Even so, special incidents in various regions emerged one after another, keeping Investigation Department members busy day and night.

Several hours ago,

upon receiving information from the Beastmaster Office in Xuanhe Village, the five members of the 7th team quickly headed to Anchang Village to capture the poacher, and then followed instructions to swiftly proceed to the wooden cabin.

“We should be close.”

Seeing the Fire Dog reacting intensely, constantly sniffing the ground, Nie Li spoke softly.

Before setting off, they had the Fire Dog smell the living supplies left by the three poachers at the temporary base.

Upon arriving in the vicinity, the Fire Dog picked up the same scent, warning everyone to be cautious.

“Summon your Pet Beasts and remember the operation’s purpose,” Nie Li said calmly.

She looked very young, and upon closer inspection, even had a baby face, like a naive college student.

Coupled with her short, neat hair, she might even be stopped by security at a bar: “Kid, minors aren’t allowed inside.”

Yet, her four teammates did not underestimate Nie Li’s reminders, instead nodding heavily in agreement.

One Summoning Array after another appeared on the ground, with Pet Beasts emerging in succession.

Seeing everyone and their Pet Beasts ready, Nie Li nodded slightly, lowering her voice: “Let’s go over it again.”

“The first plan is to eliminate the look-out Shadow Owl, then infiltrate the cabin and control them without alerting them, thus avoiding battle if possible.”

“If infiltration fails, the primary target is Viper, control his Bone-breaking War Mastiff and Hammer Beast, secondary target is the Star-Weaving Illusion Butterfly.”

“Note, both the Bone-breaking War Mastiff and Hammer Beast are Tier Two in strength, powerful in combat, and Viper is ruthless, so act cautiously and decisively.”

“Lastly…”

Nie Li’s speech gradually slowed, she scanned each unusually serious face, solemnly saying, “This is your first capture mission, remember the training teachings.”

“Your opponents are three ruthless poachers, their combat style is surely unlike any Beastmaster you’ve faced before, one slip-up and you could get injured or even killed.”

“So help each other, cooperate together.”

“Team coordination is your only advantage.”

“I hope we don’t have to carry you out later.”

These words instantly made the four members tense, the atmosphere in the air became heavy and oppressive, only the sound of gulping echoed one after another.

…..

“Squeak!”

The Cloud Fox leapt lightly, its fluffy tail swaying like cotton candy.

Bam!

The Monstrous Strong Monkey swung a heavy punch, forcefully hitting the spot where the Cloud Fox had just been, instantly creating a shallow pit.

“Roar!”

Seeing its attack miss again, the Monstrous Strong Monkey let out a furious roar, its chest covered in black fur fluttering in the wind.

“Squeak~”

The Cloud Fox seized the chance to make a face at the Monstrous Strong Monkey, whose rage skyrocketed, pounding its chest, stomping the ground, irrationally chasing after the Cloud Fox.

During the earlier battle, although the Cloud Fox couldn’t inflict substantial damage, its occasional harassment drove the Monstrous Strong Monkey mad.

No matter how the strongman constantly reminded the Monstrous Strong Monkey to calm down, it still charged at the Cloud Fox, intent on capturing it.

The strongman cursed angrily: “Idiot not listening to orders.”

The heavy body made the ground tremble, the Monstrous Strong Monkey closing in on the Cloud Fox, seemingly able to grab it with extended arms.

Just then, from the dense foliage on both sides, two slender figures suddenly darted out, the Scaly Green Snake and Ripple Shadow Snake simultaneously launched an attack, wrapping around the Monstrous Strong Monkey’s arms, tightening forcefully.

“Roar!!!”

The pain spread throughout its body, the Monstrous Strong Monkey roared angrily, trying to yank the two snakes off, suddenly two more figures rushed into view at a startling speed.

“Chirp chirp chirp!”

The Leader of the Violent Cloud Sparrow charged with the only Violent Cloud Sparrow, its beak gleaming sharply, suddenly rushing towards the Monstrous Strong Monkey’s head.

In an instant, the Monstrous Strong Monkey found itself in a dilemma.

Pulling off the snakes meant unable to fend off the Violent Cloud Sparrow, protecting its head left the snakes unchecked.

At the moment of decision, the Scaly Green Snake and Ripple Shadow Snake exchanged a glance, exerting more pressure, leaving the Monstrous Strong Monkey’s arms with deep blood marks.

“Roar!”

Now the Monstrous Strong Monkey couldn’t care about the two Violent Cloud Sparrows anymore, the sharp gleam filled its vision, the head aching, blood seeping from its cheeks, its massive body swaying.

“Squeak!”

The Cloud Fox suddenly appeared, taking a running jump and headbutting the Monstrous Strong Monkey’s abdomen.

Thud!

But the Monstrous Strong Monkey’s body was too hard, the Cloud Fox felt like it crashed into a steel plate, its head aching instantly, then bounced off, landing on the ground.

“Squeak squeak squeak…”

The attack didn’t work, instead injuring itself, the Cloud Fox reached out its paws to cover its head, whimpering plaintively.

However, the insignificant charge initiated by the Cloud Fox became the last straw that broke the camel’s back, as the Monstrous Strong Monkey, in its final moments of blurred consciousness, glared at the Cloud Fox, and then fell straight backward.

Dust flew into the air.

“Ee…”

The Cloud Fox finally let out a long breath, despite its aching head, a smile was still evident in its eyes.

After this intense battle, all the little ones were exhausted and unable to participate in the following fight.

“Chirp chirp…”

The Leader of the Violent Cloud Sparrow, gasping heavily, stood proudly on the face of the Monstrous Strong Monkey with its tail held high.

Then, it turned its head toward the stout man not far away, summoning the Violent Cloud Sparrow to muster their last bit of strength to attack.

It flapped its wings and swung its claws, leaving bloodstains on the stout man’s face.

How dare you look down on me!

At the same time,

Run Run Duck quickly gained the upper hand in its fierce battle with the Hammer Beast.

Run Run Duck naturally had an advantage over the earth-type Pet Beast, coupled with its advancement to Commander level, its combat power qualitatively soared.

Moreover, with the Fallen Meteor Horned Beast helping to block skills, Run Run Duck simply needed to sit steadily on its back and unleash a gush of water when the Hammer Beast emerged from underground.

If the Hammer Beast chose to remain underground, the Fallen Meteor Horned Beast would stomp heavily on the ground with its limbs, causing the earth to tremble and forcing the Hammer Beast to appear.

By then, a Water Surge would be ready and waiting.

This was the real-life version of whack-a-mole.

In just a moment, the Hammer Beast’s condition became precarious, it emerged from underground again, exerting its last bit of strength to leap high, slashing at Run Run Duck with its cold-glinting foreclaws.

This was the Hammer Beast’s desperate counterattack.

Yet in the face of absolute disparity in raw power, all this seemed comical and absurd.

Run Run Duck opened its mouth and gushed out a surging column of water, repelling it, while the Fallen Meteor Horned Beast charged forward, its massive horns tossing the Hammer Beast, and then forcefully bumping it against a nearby sturdy tree.

Bang!

The Hammer Beast’s head was dizzy, its entire body in pain, as falling leaves gently covered its form.

“Amazing Run Run Duck.”

Seeing Run Run Duck easily defeat the Hammer Beast, Yang Yue’s eyes brightened with genuine admiration.

They had previously seen Run Run Duck watering in action, but never imagined its prowess was so astonishing, effortlessly defeating the Hammer Beast that had been a thorn in their side.

If the entire battle process was summarized, it would be like this scene—Run Run Duck sprays water, Hammer Beast digs underground, Fallen Meteor Horned Beast stomps the ground, Run Run Duck sprays water, Hammer Beast falls.

“Quack quack~”

Run Run Duck laughed with its hands on its hips, genuinely proud of its own strength.

Indeed, I am the third strongest in the farm!

Yet in the next moment, Run Run Duck suddenly remembered something, fixing its light blue eyes on the Viper, angrily flapping its wings.

Give back my Spirit Fish!

The Viper cared little about Run Run Duck. It didn’t even concern itself with Run Run Duck’s battle with the Hammer Beast. Its attention was entirely focused on the battle between the Bone-breaking War Mastiff and Cola.

It knew very well that the outcome between the Bone-breaking War Mastiff and Cola was the decisive factor in this melee.

As for the Hammer Beast…

This was merely a transitional Pet Beast it had casually contracted when becoming a Beastmaster, and it would unhesitatingly sever the contract once it found a more suitable Pet Beast.

“Bone-breaking War Mastiff, Iron Collapse.”

The Bone-breaking War Mastiff roared in rage, abruptly swinging its slender tail to smash the ground fiercely.

In that instant, [Iron Collapse] caused the ground to shake violently, cracking with numerous fractures, as countless shards shot rapidly towards Cola.

“Howl~”

Cola raised its head to howl, emanating a heroic aura, its light brown fur wildly fluttering as a fierce gale swept from all directions, trapping countless fragments within.

The ground beneath quivered intensely as Cola swiftly executed [Wind Stepping], and the wind trail brushed across the field like a blue silk, dragging it swiftly towards the Bone-breaking War Mastiff, its sharp gaze emitting a faint light.

At this moment, all people and Pet Beasts on the scene were staring intently at this fierce battle.

Except for the Leader of the Violent Cloud Sparrow.

It had pinned the masked man and stout man who had spoken ill of it to the ground earlier, rampantly clawing at them.

Their clothes were torn, and skin bore visible blood marks.

Yang Yue suddenly spoke: “I told you not to provoke the Violent Cloud Sparrow.”

As Cola actively moved closer, the distance between the two quickly closed, an unavoidable close-range skirmish was imminent.

“Steel Fang Shattering Strike.”

Seeing the situation growing increasingly unfavorable, Viper simultaneously thought about retreat strategies while issuing commands.

“Roar!!!”

The Bone-breaking War Mastiff roared forward, with its scales rubbing together making metallic sounds, suddenly opening its blood-filled maw, sharp fangs wrapped in white light lunged at Cola!

After the previous skirmish, Cola was already familiar with this move, twisting its body to easily evade.

At the same time,

The agile Cola quickly moved to the side, three Wind Blades consecutively slashed the Bone-breaking War Mastiff’s shoulder, causing its metallic scales to spawn a series of dazzling, fiery sparks.

The Bone-breaking War Mastiff roared painfully, its slender tail swept across, only to see Cola lightly leap, effortlessly dodging.

“Howl.”

Cola paced in place, choosing not to pursue the victory, instead casting a teasing glance at the Bone-breaking War Mastiff.

“So simple?” Yang Yue exclaimed in surprise.

Li Qing suddenly uttered the phrase: “Old man playing with a kid.”