Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Chapter 34 - Taming the Perfect Night

"Though we'll soon have to consider deeper zones," murmured Ren, studying the mana patterns. "The upper levels are almost depleted."

Liu frowned. "Guards still watch those areas."

"But with less personnel," Ren pointed out. "And the patrols are more predictable now."

"Are you suggesting...?" Taro began.

"I'm just saying we should keep our options open," Ren continued working on the vein. "Especially considering what we're doing tonight."

The processing of Taro's crystals.

The lunar phase would be perfect, and they would need sealing materials afterward...

"At least now we'll have more freedom to move," Min observed the almost deserted tunnel. "With everyone concentrated in the library..."

"Rich students can afford to buy their materials with what their parents send," Liu shook his head. "Those like us have to dig to buy ours. But don't forget that studying is important to pass the exams to the next rank... look at me, instead of coming to study it seems I came to dig."

The reduction in guards and students could be an advantage, especially when they needed to explore deeper to obtain extra materials.

But for now, they had to focus on tonight.

Ren smiled to himself.

The veins might be depleting, but there were still things to obtain.

♢♢♢♢

"It's almost time," Ren whispered as he rose from his bed.

Last training of the day with Lin had been brutal as always, but this night was too important to rest.

It was the moment he had been waiting for.

"We'll accompany you," Taro was already ready, holding his crystal bag.

"It's not necessary, you should sleep, I can do it alone..."

"Don't even try," Liu also stood up. "You've been bragging about your special method for a month. I won't miss the chance to see if you really know what you're talking about."

Min stirred in his bed. "I also..." a yawn interrupted his protest. "I also want..."

Seconds later, his snores filled the room.

"That one can't stay awake past 10, like a small child," Liu murmured as they silently left the dormitory.

The night air was cool as they headed toward the academy outskirts.

Ren guided them to a clearing where trees didn't obstruct the sky view.

"Here," he decided after studying the area. "The moonlight will reach without interference."

The sky shone with just over half its moons visible. Ren knew he needed exactly eight, the configuration would change soon, some would hide in minutes while others would emerge on the horizon.

"Help me with this," he spread a long board on the ground.

He began methodically examining Taro's crystals. Each piece was studied carefully before being placed or discarded.

"This one's too small," he murmured, replacing one. "This other has an irregular surface... we need the best quality possible."

"Does it really matter that much?" asked Taro while watching Ren reorganize the crystals with others he'd obtained from the mines.

"It must be big enough to reduce from 150 to 100 days," Ren continued his selection until he had exactly one hundred crystals arranged in ten perfect rows.

He covered the crystals with a black cloth, protecting them from premature light.

Then he took out something that made Liu lean forward with interest, a bronze crystal, flat and curved.