Astral Pet Store (WN)

“According to the information available, the beasts are mainly coming from two locations…”

The commander in chief’s gray hair was meticulously combed. He gazed with concern at the sand table where a model of the Holy Light Base City and the surrounding area had been built.

“The Qinshan Mountains on the west and the Night River on the south. The two groups of beasts will meet here. Based on their traveling routes, we can reckon that their target would be the southwest side.”

“We have detected seven beast kings!”

“There should be some beast kings that haven’t shown themselves yet. Sir…”

The commander in chief looked at Legend Riverside. The former was not putting all of his hopes on Legend Riverside, but on the Tower!

Legend Riverside’s face was clouded.

Seven beast kings!

Not counting the ones that they had not found yet!

I only have four beast king battle pets!

Of course, he still had some advantage.

If he merged with his battle pets, it would only be a simple case of one plus one equals two. He could even try his hand confronting a beast king at the Void State!

He would certainly gain the upper hand if the beast kings were at the Ocean State, being able to finish them quickly unless the beast kings were of a special race. “Seven!”

The others present also looked worried.

“Sir, I wonder… could the Tower send another legendary battle pet warrior?” the commander-in-chief asked Legend Riverside. That might sound rude, and a legendary battle pet warrior with a petty heart would certainly be offended. But that was not the time to mince words.

The others were also looking at Legend Riverside with anticipation.

If there were two legendary battle pet warriors… the chances for survival would be greater. They wouldn’t have to be on edge and as worried as they were right then.

“It is hard.”

Legend Riverside shook his head and heaved a sigh. “You must have heard about the global situation. Every place needs reinforcements but we only have so many legendary battle pet warriors. Many base cities are currently under attack, but they have no legendary battle pet warriors to support them. The fact that I was able to come to the Holy Light Base City is because yours is a Class A base city in the Subcontinent District.”

People said nothing while overwhelmed by despair.

“Do not lose hope,” Legend Riverside comforted them, “Either way, I’m not leaving the Holy Light Base City. I understand there’s a great number of beast kings, but please try to distract them and buy me some time, so I can kill them one by one and as fast as I can!”

His words had boosted the listener’s confidence.

“Yes, you’re right.” “Thank you, sir, the Trainers Association will do its utmost.”

An old man stroked his beard and said with a smile, “Don’t be so pessimistic. Legend Riverside can help us kill some beast kings and the Holy Light Base City is not a push-over, to begin with. Our military forces can deal with one or two beast kings and our Trainers Association will also take part.”

The commander-in-chief’s eyes glowed. “Are you saying that you have some powerful battle

pets?”

“Naturally.”

The old man kept on stroking his bear. “Our Chairman has learned a thing or two from his latest round of closed-door cultivation. He is at the threshold of the Holy Spirit Rank. He managed to train three battle pets that are at the ninth rank but can compete against beast kings!”

“Holy Spirit?!”

How astonishing!

That old man’s tranquil state gave everyone hope.

Holy Spirit Trainer!

That was much better than the ninth-rank top trainer!

Of the entire Trainers Association, it had been a hundred years since a Holy Spirit Trainer had surfaced!

In all the history of the Trainers Association, there were only records of a couple of Holy Spirit Trainers. It was all because of the Holy Spirit Trainers’ effort that the Trainers Association had been able to become world-renowned, making the Holy Light Base City become the holy land for trainers in the Subcontinent District!

The Holy Light Base City was named after the Holy Spirit Trainers!

It was said that a Holy Spirit Trainer could inspire the intelligence and potential of a pet, turning the pet into a “Fate Challenger”! For a pet to challenge a beast king while still being below that rank… Such a pet would be considered as a “Fate Challenger”!

“I cannot believe he has made that breakthrough…” The commander-in-chief could barely conceal his excitement. Three Fate Challenger pets were equal to three beast kings. At the very least, they could buy enough time for Legend Riverside to kill the wild beast kings one by one.

Legend Riverside, too, was surprised. He eyed the old man with reverence.

The old man was the Vice Chairman of the Trainers Association.

It was known that legendary battle pet warriors didn’t care for the Trainers Association in the past, because all that the trainers had been able to nurture was still below the beast king rank.

Legendary battle pet warriors needed beast kings. Even the top trainers could only nurse their beast kings instead of training them. However, the Trainers Association had once again recovered its full glory with the appearance of a new Holy Spirit Trainer.

Even the legendary battle pet warriors from the Tower would come knocking on the association’s door! “Congratulations.” Legend Riverside cupped his fists. “I will pay him a visit after the mission is over. I hope he will receive me.”

“Of course, sir, we are in debt to you and we appreciate your help.” The old man sounded flattered.

The other people were glad and proud to see the change in Legend Riverside’s attitude.

Trainers were more valuable than battle pet warriors in their base city. There were still some legendary battle pet warriors, but the number of Holy Spirit Trainers in the world could be counted with one’s fingers!

The rarer, the more valuable.

That was the source of a trainers’ pride.

“Let’s talk about business.” The commander-in-chief was the first to come back to his senses. After congratulating the Vice Chairman, the former changed back to his solemn look again. “Even if we do have those battle pets, we cannot afford to be careless. After all, we haven’t found out the exact number of beast kings heading our way. I don’t know how many are in hiding and if there are more at the Void State…”

He wasn’t a legendary warrior, but the commander-in-chief clearly knew the states of the legendary rank.

The gap between the Void State and the Ocean State was enormous; that was what worried him.

Legend Riverside put away his smile and nodded with a heavy mind. “We should be prepared for beast kings of the Void State.”

“The scientific research department has recently produced several new nuclear weapons. Their explosive power can be controlled in a small range but such weapons can inflict great harm on beast kings.”

The commander-in-chief added, “The Holy Light Base City has collected some rare formations in the past years. If we do our best, I think we can stall five beast kings… That is the best we can do.”

Legend Riverside gazed at the commander-in-chief.

Five beast kings!

That was better than any Class A base city was able to do. Class A base cities were usually able to deal with one or two beast kings; they would have to use some special means to terrorize the beast kings.

But the Holy Light Base City… had kept such secrets.

“I can have a try when we find beast kings of the Void State,” Legend Riverside said.

He could not hide his strength. They had to focus on the big picture and be honest. In this situation, anything that could sabotage their cooperation would result in death!

“Okay.”

The commander-in-chief pointed at the sand table. “We will go through this opening. The wild beasts should be coming from mountain passes where rocks are everywhere. The rocks have a high volume of metal and that makes the mountain pass a perfect spot for the battle pets of the stone family. It just so happens that we have specially-trained battle pets of the stone family…”

Legend Riverside frowned. “High volume of metal? How? I thought the rocks were the usual sedimentary kind.”

The commander in chief smiled. “Sir, you did not know this. We have secretly altered the mountain. We used battle pets of the stone family to inject metal elements into the rocks. This mountain is our base city’s first line of defense, just in case something happens. So, this is our most important strategic pass and we have made it so.”

Legend Riverside could not believe this. That seemingly unimportant mountain pass was a secret defense line for the Holy Light Base City! The other locals merely smiled. They naturally knew of such secrets, given their status as members of the base city’s upper class.

“You have my admiration.”

Legend Riverside seemed to be relaxed.

“Don’t mention it. Without some foresight, one is bound to run into trouble afterward.” The commander-in-chief went on and introduced his plan and arrangement.

Time flew.

They received updated information while they discussed, which helped them to fine-tune their plans right away. “Now that’s curious. The beasts are slowing down.”

“I think they have stopped. Are they going to rest for a while and then start the charge?” someone wondered.

That assumption was not without reason. The group of beasts would often have a leader that could be as intelligent as a human.

“I don’t think so. They are still far away from us. Are you saying that they’re going to charge from that distance? How I wish it were so; they wouldn’t have much strength left by the time they arrived.” “I think something happened,” Legend Riverside said in a low voice.

The others agreed. They were still worried; they did not know if that was good or bad news for them.

Soon, they learned another thing.

“The wild beasts moving toward the Qinshan Mountain are also stopping?”

The commander-in-chief was stunned. “Go and find out the reason at all costs. I must know!”

“Can it be that the leaders are coming out? Are they going to put all the wild beasts together so that they can focus on one place to strike?” some titled battle pet warriors voiced their concern.

Legend Riverside frowned as well. Sudden changes were the most difficult to deal with.

Ten minutes later.

Updated information.

The wild beasts coming from Ye River had stopped. In the meantime, some wild beasts from the Qinshan Mountain had left their group and a few were still going toward the base city.

“Noises of battles?”

“I don’t believe it!”

That information was shocking. A titled battle pet warrior took fatal risks and was able to collect some sensational information. He found traces of battles at the Qinshan Mountain, as well as wild beast corpses!

“Including beast kings? Are you kidding me?”

“Was that an internal strife? Or, did someone go after the wild beasts?” “What…?”

The commander-in-chief and Legend Riverside looked at each other speechlessly. That was beyond logic and reason.

An internal conflict was easier to accept. If it were a person who stopped the wild beasts, how bold would the person have to be to be able to kill beast kings? It was impossible!

“Have legendary battle pet warriors from the Tower come to lend a hand?” someone whispered.

It seemed to be the only logical explanation.

Apart from a team of legendary battle pet warriors from the Tower, who else was capable of such a feat?

Legend Riverside was confused. As far as he knew, no legendary battle pet warriors in the Tower had such free time. Were they just passing by? But they wouldn’t have attacked the beast kings when the sheer number of wild beasts was that massive.

As everyone was making their own conjectures, another jaw-dropping piece of news arrived.

Some wild beasts had also left the group at the Ye River; they were running for their lives. Someone had noticed a fierce battle but since they were too far away, they were unable to see the details.

That piece of information left the commander-in-chief, Legend Riverside, and everyone else utterly dumbstruck.

They were certain that someone had stopped the wild beasts before they even arrived!

That person had not needed them to help. He charged into the beasts and caused great casualties. How terrifying. “It must be a senior legendary battle pet warrior from the Tower who has learned of our plight and came over…” Legend Riverside shared his suspicions.

The Tower would always have the most comprehensive information. So, was there a more terrifying presence hidden behind groups of wild beasts that they didn’t know of? Was that the reason why the Tower had sent over a legendary battle pet warrior at the Void State as a reinforcement?

If the latter was true, Legend Riverside felt he could finally relax.

Half an hour later

Another report arrived. All the beasts that were headed toward the Holy Light Base City had stopped!

Some groups of beasts had been routed!

“What…?”

The Vice Chairman of the Trainers Association stuttered in shock, “So, so, we, we did nothing and… and the beasts stopped?”

The information seemed to be supporting that unbelievable theory.

So, they had only discussed their planning and analysis with fervor, but the threatening droves of beasts weren’t even a threat anymore.