Beast Taming: Starting From Zero-Chapter 747: Fierce Baboon

For the next several dozen minutes, the commentator continued introducing the competing contestants.

Each participant had a large number of fans present at the venue, and with their carefully crafted and unique entrances, no one felt like their time was being wasted.

The atmosphere remained quite lively, except for the moment when a certain 16-year-old girl made her entrance.

Qiao Sang took a rough mental note: There were over a hundred participants.

Once the commentator finished introducing all the contestants, a huge virtual screen above the center of the arena immediately displayed the photos of all the participants.

The next second, the photos began to shuffle and pair off.

Very soon, they were frozen into pairs.

Qiao Sang saw that the person paired with her was a black woman with golden blonde hair.

“Petra Nors.” Pirite suddenly said.

“She’s 31, a professional item specialist. She has three beast companions, one high-level, and two general-level.”

“Her ace beast is the Grass-type Elder Muzao.”

At this point, he paused and asked, “Do you know about Elder Muzao?"

Qiao Sang nodded.

“Elder Muzhao, a Grass-type general-level beast. The scent of the leaves on its body has a calming effect on the mind. In battle, once opponents get close enough to smell it, they lose the will to fight, and their combat effectiveness drops drastically.”

Upon hearing this, Pirite smiled in satisfaction.

Wood Algae Weng wasn’t a common beast on Chaosu Star. Given Qiao Sang’s young age, packed schedule, and the fact she hadn’t been on Chaosu Star for long, he assumed she might not be familiar with it. He didn’t expect her to actually know it.

“You’re right.” Pirite replied calmly.

“Her other two beasts aren’t worth worrying about, but this Wood Algae Weng evolved eight years ago. Its accumulated energy surpasses all your beasts. You’d better avoid a drawn-out battle.”

“And most importantly.”

He added, “Don’t forget, she’s an item specialist.”

It’s hard to determine what kind of opponent provides the most valuable training experience.

It’s not just about battling anyone.

If the opponent is too strong, it could crush one’s confidence, lead to self-doubt, and trigger a downward spiral. But if the opponent is too weak, it might breed arrogance and the illusion that others aren’t worth taking seriously.

Especially for a prodigy like Qiao Sang, who became a beast tamer within a year and reached a level most people take decades to attain.

A mismatch would just be a waste of time.

That’s why he thought of the Beast Tamer Star Tournament.

Though none of the contestants matched Qiao Sang’s talent, they had something else, age and experience. All were successful professionals in their respective fields.

Among ordinary people, they were already the cream of the crop.

Fighting them, Pirite believed, would help Qiao Sang improve.

“I understand.” Qiao Sang said.

---

The Beast Tamer Star Tournament wasn’t a high-level competition. Due to the age restriction, the strongest participants were only C-rank beast tamers.

But because the participants were all celebrities from various fields, the event drew massive attention and dominated online discussions.

Just the opening ceremony and contestant introductions alone had taken up nearly ten trending spots.

Many city plaza jumbo virtual screens were also broadcasting the event live.

On a middle floor of a certain skyscraper-

At this moment, a blond man stood in front of the glass window, watching the virtual screen below as it displayed the tournament broadcast.

“I remember you’re from Blue Star too. Do you know this kid?” The blond man asked.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yao paused his inspection of a beast companion and turned to look in the same direction as the blond man.

When he saw that familiar figure, he froze for a moment, then asked a question instead of answering: “What competition is this?”

“The Beast Tamer Star Tournament.” The blond man replied.

“All the participants are celebrities.”

Beast Tamer Star Tournament? Qiao Sang went to the Beast Tamer Star Tournament? She’s really living a colorful life… Liu Yao thought to himself.

Just then, the blond man said: “You still haven’t answered my question.”

Liu Yao turned back and resumed his inspection as he replied, “Her name is Qiao Sang…”

But as he spoke, something suddenly occurred to him. He paused and turned his head to ask:

“Did you just say ‘you also’? How do you know she’s from Blue Star?”

Liu Yao recognizes her, so she really is a Blue Star celebrity… The blond man thought.

“The commentator said so. She’s one of the contestants too.”

Liu Yao: ???

---

Open-air Pet Beast Battle Arena.

The competition was in full swing.

The Star Tournament lasted a total of eight days. The preliminary elimination rounds adopted a 2v2 battle format, which would take at least two days to fully complete.

Qiao Sang was near the top of the list, so her turn was today.

On the field.

Two General-level water-type pet beasts were fiercely attacking each other.

One had runes drawn all over its head and limbs, while the other was equipped with mechanical tools on its four legs.

Those spirit patterns seemed to allow faster skill charging and release… and that equipment, did it increase the pet’s movement speed? Qiao Sang watched the battle and kept speculating in her mind.

She only knew basic information about the pets from Chaosu, Star, just the species, types, and some typical behaviors. She didn’t know the more in-depth details like their strengths in battle.

So she wasn’t sure what exactly those tools or patterns were enhancing.

At that moment, Pirite spoke up: “That water-kettle beast’s runes speed up energy circulation and shorten the time needed to cast skills. From the looks of it, it probably reduces skill release by 1.5 seconds.”

Qiao Sang was stunned.

“How can you tell it’s 1.5 seconds?”

Pirite patiently explained: “Rune Inscriptions don’t work 24/7. Most only activate when needed. When activated, they emit a glow. That water-kettle beast used Water Pulse twice, on the second time, the pattern lit up, and the skill was released 1.5 seconds faster.”

Amazing… Qiao Sang was impressed. She asked, “Teacher, you know that much about runes?”

“I know their general functions.”

Pirite said mildly, “If you want to go far on the path of a professional Trainer, it’s not just about battles. Some competitions won’t allow tools or spirit patterns, but in the Secret Realms, everything that makes you stronger is allowed.”

“In the Secret Realms, you can use any means to get stronger.”

“You’ll understand all this in time, just like I did.”

Qiao Sang felt a subtle heaviness in his words.

“Back to the topic.” Pirite turned his eyes back to the field.

“That four-tailed water fox’s equipment, if I’m not wrong, lets it launch upward quickly.”

Just as he finished, the four-tailed water fox suddenly sprayed white mist from its mouth, shrouding the battlefield.

Then, a large figure shot up into the sky.

Looking closely, it was the four-tailed water fox.

The gear on its limbs was ejecting high-pressure gas, clearly what boosted it into the air.

So it’s a booster… Qiao Sang thought.

The water fox took advantage of the mist blinding the water-kettle beast and ended the match quickly while airborne

At this moment, a staff member approached and bent slightly, saying respectfully: “Miss Qiao Sang, you're up next. Please come with me. I’ll take you to the backstage prep area.”

Pirite naturally heard this and smiled slightly.

“Go on.”

“Okay.” Qiao Sang stood up and followed the staff member to the corridor behind the arena.

After waiting for about two minutes, a headphone-wearing staffer gestured, “Miss Qiao Sang, it’s your turn.”

Qiao Sang took a deep breath and stepped out of the corridor.

Logically, she shouldn’t be nervous, she had competed in the national campus league before.

But perhaps because she entered through connections, or because her earlier appearance was too awkward, she felt even more nervous than expected.

The announcer’s voice rang out: “Coming our way now are contestants Petra North and Qiao Sang!”

“Petra! Petra!”

“Petra! I love you!”

“Petra! Show her the strength of our Chaosu Star!”

The stands erupted in noise, all chanting Petra’s name.

Qiao Sang had already mentally prepared for the one-sided cheering and didn’t mind. She gazed at the blonde, dark-skinned woman walking out from the opposite tunnel and steadied herself.

This was just the beginning…

“3, 2, 1, battle start!” A mechanical voice echoed throughout the arena.

Qiao Sang quickly formed seals with both hands.

Though Pirite hadn’t mentioned anything about pre-match performances, he had talked about the match itself.

The Beast Tamer Star Tournament was different from the National Campus Beast Mastering League or regular Pet Beast Duels.

When the match starts, sealing can begin immediately, no waiting to summon pets and study each other first.

This made the matches more thrilling. From the get-go, it was a battle of seal speed, followed by pet reaction times.

Normally, the moment a pet appeared, it had to act immediately.

But since the opposing pet was unknown, acting instantly could lead to walking into a trap.

For example, in one earlier match, one player was 0.01 seconds faster and summoned a bird-type pet.

It immediately used Brave Bird Assault.

But the opponent summoned a grass-type pet that instantly formed a vine net, capturing the bird midair and gaining the upper hand.

Qiao Sang didn’t dare be careless and sped up her seal casting.

In panoramic view, two star arrays, one orange-yellow, the other green, lit up almost simultaneously.

The audience, who had been shouting Petra’s name, suddenly went silent as if muted.

Then noise exploded again: “An orange-yellow star array? Isn’t she only 16?”

“She faked her age, no doubt!”

“But she really does look like a teenager…”

“Do you believe someone can develop an orange-yellow star array at 16? I don’t!”

Everyone's attention shifted to Qiao Sang.

These spectators were all Trainers and knew how difficult brain domain development was.

Having talent was one thing.

But developing 30% of the brain domain at age 16? That was beyond belief.

How monstrous must she be to reach that level so young?

On the field.

Little Treasure appeared in the star array.

In the next second, he vanished.

An orange-yellow star array… Petra was still stunned.

However, because of the rules, most contestants had already instructed their pets beforehand, so they would act right upon appearance without needing verbal orders.

“Ba.”

A six-meter-tall, red-furred ape-like pet opened its mouth and spat out fire bullets.

Fierce Baboon, a dual fire/fighting-type Genera-level pet. Known for punch and kick-based combat moves, with strong lower-body strength.

When it repeatedly uses flying kicks, friction with the air sets its legs ablaze, raising internal temperature, boosting energy and speed further… Qiao Sang recalled its info.

Then she looked down at the red collar-like equipment around its neck.

HK Flame Ring, an enhancer that expands fire skill range…

For famous trainers like this, their pets' gear wasn’t hard to research, especially with their constant online presence and sponsorships.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fire bullets exploded continuously in midair.

“Will the invisible Ghost Ring King be forced to reveal itself by the fire barrage?” The commentator narrated enthusiastically.

Suddenly, he shouted, “Ghost Ring King appeared! But not because it was forced out, it’s behind the Fierce Baboon! How did it get there so fast through all those fire bullets?!”

On the field.

Little Treasure had appeared behind the Fierce Baboon, claws out, sending two black ribbon-like shadows toward its neck.

3D-mode Shadow Control… The crowd buzzed again.

Just as the shadows were about to strike, Petra shouted: “Baboon!”

The shadows reached the ape’s neck... But at that moment, the Fierce Baboon burst into flames.

The heat wave rolled back toward Little Treasure, forcing him to teleport away.

Fiery red flames danced. Within them, the Fierce Baboon’s eyes also turned crimson.

Flame Body trait… It must be at least grade A, how could it be activated so easily? And Petra yelling 'Baboon', was that its name? Qiao Sang reined in her thoughts and focused:

“Shadow of Darkness!”

“Xun~”

Little Treasure reappeared a hundred meters above the field, both claws raised.

A six-meter-tall Ghost Ring King emerged.

“That’s so strange!” The commentator ignored the attack and focused on something else.

“That Ghost Ring King’s speed is unnatural! It’s moving like a psychic-type pet!”

Petra also noticed the odd movement speed. She hesitated, then shouted: “Baboon, baboon, baboon!”

The Fierce Baboon used all four limbs to charge forward in a blur of flame. As it neared, it leapt high, jumped over the six-meter Ghost Ring King, and threw a fire punch straight at Little Treasure midair.