Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 49

"Moth cats," Ren corrected. "Their fur is white as silk, and they have moth-like wings but can only glide. They weave nets between trees using threads they naturally produce. They’re daytime hunters, Shadow Stalkers are far too dangerous at night."

The mushrooms pulsed while he observed the ground, revealing patterns others might miss. "And those mounds that look like grass or dirt... they’re not what they appear to be."

"Are those beasts too?" Min asked, his water snake coiling closer in anticipation.

"Bark Stalkers," Ren explained, pointing to what appeared to be random terrain features.

"Imagine a toad the size of a small table, with a crab-like shell. They can change their skin’s color and texture to match their surroundings, piles of leaves, earth, even moss-covered rocks. Their camouflage is nearly perfect, which makes them particularly dangerous to unwary travelers."

"And these beasts all live together here without displacing each other?" Taro seemed fascinated.

"It’s an interesting cycle," Ren smiled, clearly enjoying sharing his knowledge with his friends. "The Shadow Stalkers dominate the night. From the air, they can safely absorb mana from the Bark Stalkers, they just need to avoid the Weavers’ threads hidden within the trees…

…The Bark Stalkers are practically defenseless against aerial attacks, their shells protect them from ground threats, but offer little protection from above."

"So the giant toads hunt during the day?"

"Exactly, to hide from Shadow Stalkers," Ren confirmed. "They conceal themselves near trees and wait for Moon Weavers to come down for drinking or gathering nest materials. A Weaver on the ground is easy prey if it doesn’t notice the Stalker in time. The Stalkers’ incredible camouflage makes them nearly impossible to spot until it’s too late."

"And when do the Weavers sleep then?" Min asked, leaning forward with growing interest.

"They sleep very little and are the only ones that can move both day and night, though they prefer daylight. Their webs are too fine to catch anything large, but Shadow Stalkers are very light. If one touches a thread in the darkness, every Weaver in that tree’s colony knows instantly."

Ren considered the possibilities, each opportunity in this not so complex ecosystem.

"The materials they produce are very valuable. Stalker skin, when properly processed, is perfect for mana storage bags, it can contain crystals without letting them contaminate before processing. The same adaptations that help them regulate mana in their bodies make their skin perfect for storage."

"Are the Weavers’ threads valuable too?" Taro seemed concerned about having to capture the nocturnal creatures Ren had described as dangerous.

"They’re used to make mana detection amulets," Ren explained. "A Moon Weaver’s natural silk can sense energy fluctuations with remarkable precision. The same sensitivity that alerts them to predators makes their silk perfect for detecting mana disturbances."

"But aren’t they dangerous too? You said if anything touches the web, the entire tree colony knows," Min observed worriedly as the beasts began to become more visible in the distance.

Each passing minute seemed to reveal more details of the ecosystem Ren had described.

"Not really... That’s why the school chooses this zone," Ren explained, gesturing at their surroundings.

"Shadow Stalkers only hunt at night when we’ll be in the protected camp. Weavers avoid anything larger than themselves, they’re cautious creatures by nature. And Bark Stalkers... well, they’re so slow that simply watching where you step is enough to avoid them."

"Also professor Zhao can easily control the area," he added thoughtfully.

"Even hungry Bronze beasts avoid this territory, the combination of mana-absorbing swarms and Weavers that can alert and flee from any intruder makes it not worth their effort. The energy cost of hunting here outweighs any potential rewards for larger predators."

The mushrooms pulsed while Ren made mental calculations.

At current market prices, a square meter of Shadow Stalker skin was worth hundreds of crystals due to its unique mana-containing properties.

Weaver silk, though more common, remained valuable for common miners and explorers who needed reliable mana detection. Even the herbs growing on Bark Stalkers’ protective scales had their market as mana poisoning remedies, though less efficient than those from inner rings.

"During the day," Zhao continued, his voice carrying the weight of experience, "we’ll focus on collecting Weaver silk. It’s the safest and most abundant resource in this zone." _{fгeewebnovёl.com}