Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 72

"The carriages are reinforced," Zhao explained to three of the auxiliaries. "We'll maintain a tight formation to take advantage of our lucky fungus's crystal and... Keep an eye open, we can't assume there won't be more attempts tonight..."

They were ready to depart, with only one auxiliary remaining near the clearing's edge where the carriages waited, when...

"Wait!"

Han shouted while running from nearby bushes toward the last carriage, adjusting his belt, his face red from exertion and his clumsy movements betraying his rush to reach the carriages before they left.

"I'm coming!"

"Finally!" Klein snorted with irritation. "I thought you'd gotten lost in the forest."

"Hey Han, weren't you just going to 'pee'!" Jin smiled maliciously. "Congratulations on holding it so long during battle and in the hole without soiling your pants! New endurance record!"

Laughter erupted in several carriages. Even some of the more serious students couldn't contain a smile.

The echo of laughter bounced between trees while Han, his face now the color of a ripe tomato, climbed into the last carriage.

"Shut up!" he muttered, though his voice was lost among more laughter when Jin began dramatically imitating someone desperate to find a bush.

"Silence and order!" the snail auxiliary tried to sound severe, though the corner of his mouth curved slightly. "Everyone to your places!"

Ren observed the scene from the front carriage, the mushrooms in his hair pulsing softly with the more relaxed atmosphere. After so much tension, even a silly joke served to lighten the weight of what had happened.

That's when he saw it again.

A quick movement caught his attention from the corner of his eye. At first he thought it was another Shadow Stalker, but the flight pattern was different.

The mushrooms in his hair pulsed with curiosity when he managed to better distinguish the form: a flying beast, but its feathers... had a color that didn't correspond to any species in the area.

'How strange,' he thought as the carriage pulled away. 'Those markings...'

"Move out!" the lynx auxiliary's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

The carriages began moving, the laughter from Jin's joke finally fading.

♢♢♢♢

They finally arrived at their dorm…

The creak of the door opening made Liu jump in his bed.

"Who...?" he sat up alarmed, his bat briefly manifesting before recognizing his companions. "You're back already? But it's barely..."

"Long story," Taro mumbled while collapsing onto his bed without even removing his shoes.

Min was already snoring before his head hit the pillow. His water snake coiled lazily around his neck, also exhausted.

"Did something happen?" Liu watched with concern as Ren carefully stored several sealed containers under his bed.

"We'll tell you tomorrow," Ren barely managed to remove his boots before sinking into his mattress. The mushrooms in his hair barely pulsed, as if they too needed rest.

"But..." Liu began, only to notice his three companions were already deeply asleep.

Sleep enveloped Ren like a warm blanket.

His body ached from the day's effort, but it was a satisfying pain. Images of the mysterious bird and its markings floated in his mind as he sank into well-deserved rest...

♢♢♢♢

Some hours later…

A ray of light hit his face directly.

Ren grunted, trying to turn away from it.

Something wasn't right.

The ray was moving in his eyes.

And there was a shadow...

His eyes opened slowly, his blurry vision gradually focusing on...

The beautiful face of a woman floating right above him, her radiant smile promising pain in his immediate future.

"Good morning, my favorite student!"

Ren screamed, or at least tried to. The sound was muffled when Lin covered his mouth with her hand.

"Shhh," her smile widened. "Let your companions sleep a bit longer. They don't have special training today."

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"Tfainfing?" Ren tried to speak through Lin's hand.