Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 880 – Taming the Fifth Year – Attrition – Sacrifice

Ron wasn’t in condition for facing a fresh Silver 3 opponent.

Ren sighed while processing the implications.

Min’s Giant Amphibian had a special capability to devour beasts for increasing its own power. Ability Ren had assumed Min would want to exploit if possible.

That’s why he’d supposed Min would emerge immediately to take advantage. That’s why he hadn’t put Ron as an enemy and not more than one fighter forward initially… He wanted to see if he’d really face the Amphibian first.

Ron would have no chance to even damage Min’s beast, so it would be an instant surrender and Ron would end fast retreating his beast.

But apparently Min and Luna were more interested in knowing which beast Ren would launch first rather than increasing the Amphibian’s power from the beginning.

It was a sacrifice of potential advantage in exchange for information. A trade suggesting they considered knowledge about Ren’s approach more valuable than any early power accumulation.

Smart, actually.

Two overpowered enemies would have given the Amphibian maybe a 10-15% boost. So sending only one person as bait for just an extra 5% or so manageable buff was the low risk option in his head.

Sadly he’d need to show his first choice before Min or Luna now…

Knowing which of Ren’s beasts entered first, knowing whether he’d start with Wolverine or something else, let them plan their strategy better around countering a more specific threat.

Information was power.

Ron couldn’t win this. That was clear.

Which meant Ren would need to enter without knowing what they would use.

He’d hoped for some reconnaissance like with Taro. For extracting additional information before committing. For seeing the first selection of Min or Luna’s main beasts before revealing his own opening.

But they’d denied him that advantage through the same tactic he’d used against Taro.

Now came the real battle.

Ren watched Ron’s Greater Fire Salamander struggle against the earth beast. Watched the inevitable outcome develop over maybe 1-2 minutes of one-sided combat. Watched Ron’s beast finally go down after fighting hard but ultimately being overwhelmed by a fresh opponent with superior cultivation.

Ron had done well. Extracted victory from his first match. Provided information. Forced the enemy to commit a second beast.

But now the advantage was Min and Luna’s.

They had information and Ren had no information… Still didn’t know which beast Min or Luna would use as opening when they finally emerged.

Master Yang’s voice carried across the arena: “1 – 1 Victory: Team Luna! Next combatant!”

This was it… Decision time.

But which one to pick?

Ren had to enter the arena and didn’t know if the first hard combatant would be Luna’s wolf or Min’s Amphibian. Information that would have been very useful for deciding which of his own beasts to deploy.

The uncertainty created tactical complications. Each of his three beasts had optimal matchups and suboptimal ones. Wrong choice could cost him battle before it properly began.

Since he couldn’t predict with certainty, he thought about bringing out the Hydra first for being the most resistant and stable of his three beasts. It could handle a bigger varieties of opponents effectively. Its high Defense making it difficult to defeat even for enemies with some skill advantage.

Extra earth affinity meant solid defensive positioning.

But there was a consideration complicating that choice.

Luna’s Gold 1 wolf was one of the greatest threats. And it still had a notable inclination toward darkness despite having access to 6 elements now.

And Ren’s Hydra had a light inclination too. The element providing significant advantage in direct clashes there.

Light versus darkness wasn’t an absolute counter like water versus fire. But it was a meaningful edge. Maybe 25-50% effectiveness bonus when techniques clashed. Enough to shift close exchanges into victories.

So it was better saving the Hydra for that confrontation when Luna inevitably invoked her wolf. The moment where the Hydra’s light capabilities would be most valuable.

Using the Hydra now if Min was his opponent before Luna would be an energy waste or even a beast loss that could be decisive later.

Strategic resource allocation. Don’t spend advantages where they provide minimal benefit. Save them for situations where they provide maximum benefit.

Basic principle… But applying it required discipline when immediate pressure suggested using the best tools immediately.

Normally Ren would use the Mantis to defeat weaker tamers and help save the other beasts’ energy. Reserving his more powerful beasts to deal only with the Gold-rank beasts Min and Luna would eventually bring.

Mantis was perfect for that role. Exceptional speed and damage making it easy for eliminating inferior opponents efficiently.

Against Silver 3 or lower opponents, the mantis would win without wasting too much mana.

Perfect tool for clearing chaff while conserving high-tier resources.

But now it would very probably be basically a sacrificial piece.

Because he didn’t know how many more “low level” companions from Luna and Min’s group would emerge before Luna or Min themselves had decided to enter.

Pattern suggested maybe 2-4 more, but it could be 1-2… Or could be zero if one of them entered immediately after this earth beast.

Uncertainty created risk, so the mantis seemed the most logical option anyway.

“Go ahead,” Ren murmured while activating the bond and allowing his mantis to manifest in the arena.

The creature appeared with a light gleam reflecting off an iridescent jade exoskeleton. Ready posture communicating preparation for the coming combat.

Two with scythe-like blades with grasping claws. Compound eyes providing nearly 360-degree vision. Lightweight build optimized for speed over raw strength.

Beautiful in an alien, predatory way. Like a sculpture made from living jade and glass.

The earth beast that had defeated Ron was still on the field. Had received little damage during the previous exchange and was almost in perfect condition and hidden underground.

It was an advantage that for Ren wasn’t too problematic.

Mantis had earth affinity too. Not as refined as his Wolverine’s… that beast was an elemental specialist. But sufficient for disrupting any normal Silver-rank earth manipulation.

The battle began without any prolonged ceremony.