Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 323

"He hasn't been here for at least several weeks," murmured Zhao, kneeling to examine the floor more closely. His fingers traced the dust patterns and cold ash remains. The owl feathers on his skin pulsed with mana as he enhanced his senses to detect any lingering traces of the King's presence.

He rose slowly, a knot forming in his stomach. Victor had assured him that the stubborn King had only one resting place. If Dragarion wasn't here, there was only one possible explanation: he hadn't returned from the platinum ring. The implications sent a cold shiver down Zhao's spine.

"Trouble in battle?" he wondered aloud, his voice echoing hollowly in the empty cave.

The decision he now faced was difficult. Waiting indefinitely in territory dominated by Gold 1 creatures wasn't a comfortable situation, even with the ointment trick and his two beasts. The Golden Noses outside might be temporarily fooled, but the effect wouldn't last forever. And they were far from being the only danger lurking in these lands.

The alternative was even riskier: venturing into the platinum ring to search for the King.

"A Silver 3 tamer in the depths of the platinum ring," Zhao reflected, mentally assessing his chances. Even as a double tamer... "Almost suicide."

The platinum ring was territory of terrible creatures. At his current level, he couldn't defend against a single hit from one of them, much less against several. If they found him, it would all be over. His mission, his life, everything he'd worked for… gone in an instant.

However, the mission was too important to abandon. The fate of too many depended on it.

"If the King is in trouble..."

But even if he decided to risk it, the journey itself presented monumental challenges. Reaching the platinum ring would take days flying through gold rings 2 and 3, and that wasn't the most concerning part. The real problem was the three platinum rings: a vast territory, twice as extensive as the gold rings, with hundreds of kilometers of unknown terrain.

The maps Victor had provided were useful but insufficiently detailed for such dangerous territory.

He knew the theoretical location of the Wood Element mana point, finding it was basic geometry, and he could see the enormous crystal mountain when close, but... could he really get there? The landscape would be alien, the dangers unknown, and the margin for error nonexistent.

And then there was the mana problem. In the gold ring, he already needed to consume a potion every three days to counteract the effects of the concentration. In the platinum one, he would need many more, and his supply was limited. The dense mana atmosphere would crush him if he wasn't careful.

"Will my improved hiding abilities be enough?" he whispered.

The Camouflage Raptor contracted its pupils, a gesture Zhao interpreted as doubt. Even with its mimicry ability and the owl's natural stealth, staying hidden in territory where beasts had supernatural senses would be extremely difficult. The slightest mistake and he would be discovered.

Zhao closed his eyes, considering all variables. His self-preservation instinct advised him to return, report the situation, and let Victor, of higher rank and power, decide a new course of action. The logical, prudent choice.

But something else, something deeper, urged him forward. A sense of duty that transcended mere self-interest.

"If I don't deliver this message in time..." he murmured, thinking of the city's political situation. The delicate balance between factions, the growing tensions, the possibility of conflict. "And if the King is truly in danger..."

His decision hung like suspended in the air, while the sun began to descend on the horizon, casting long shadows across the strange landscape. The luminescent vegetation glowed more intensely as darkness approached, creating an eerie, yet beautiful tableau.

Returning meant abandoning his mission; continuing could mean never returning at all.

♢♢♢♢

Night had fallen over the academy when the Gray Wing boys gathered in their room.

The first semester officially concluded, the free day used to its fullest, and now all that remained was preparing for what would come next.

Min dramatically collapsed onto his bed, his Water Snake and Invisible Amphibian materializing to settle beside him. The serpent coiled lazily while the amphibian, barely visible as a transparent outline, perched next to his shoulder.

"You won't believe what happened when I got home!" he exclaimed, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. His excitement was palpable, the water snake briefly pulsing in response to his emotions.

"Let me guess," Taro responded, meticulously organizing his books for the new semester. "You showed off that you're a double tamer."

"Exactly!" Min sat up, enthusiastic. "At first they didn't believe me, of course. My uncle Ferian, the 'high noble' who's always bothering me for being 'clumsy and unserious', looked at me as if I'd told him a Stone Lurker could fly."

Liu smiled, already anticipating the outcome. "What did you do?"

"A complete show!" Min jumped from the bed, gesturing widely. "First I summoned my snake, normal up to that point. Then, while everyone was nodding condescendingly, boom! I manifested my amphibian."

He imitated his family's expressions of surprise, exaggeratedly opening his eyes and mouth. His water snake mimicked the movements, creating a comedic mirror of his antics.

"But that wasn't all," he continued, his enthusiasm growing. "I showed them my complex water figures. For the grand finale, I became completely invisible. I silently slipped around the room and appeared behind my 'dear' uncle Ferian."

Min burst out laughing at the memory, wiping away tears of mirth.

"You should have seen his face when I whispered in his ear. He jumped so hard he fell backward, spilling his entire cup of wine on himself. His shiny silk robe ruined!"

Everyone laughed at the mental image of the pompous uncle covered in wine. Even Ren's usually reserved demeanor cracked into genuine amusement.

"What about you, Liu?" Taro asked, setting aside the last of his books. "How did your family react?"

Liu smiled discreetly, his more reserved attitude contrasting with Min's exuberance.

"It was quieter, but equally gratifying," he explained, a soft warmth entering his voice. "My father always had realistic expectations about my bat, so when I showed them my second contract and explained the advantages of the combination..."

"Someday I'll be able to do the same," he murmured, more to himself than to the others. _{freēwēbηovel.c૦m}