Chapter 51

The skeleton that emerged from the shadows drew everyone’s attention, even Fang Xuyang was momentarily stunned.

The beast before them was not unfamiliar. Every high school student had seen it in their textbook illustrations, and its presence could occasionally be spotted in daily life.

For instance, in undead-themed movies featuring armies of skeleton warriors or as NPCs in hardcore haunted houses.

But it was very rare—or rather, no one had ever imagined encountering them in a beast battle arena.

As a second-generation beast tamer with excellent grades, the opponent Fang Xuyang considered his greatest rival, Mu Huiyue, had hidden a trump card that turned out to be…

A Bone Soldier?

The audience watching the livestream…

It was clear that others shared his confusion, as a flood of “…” filled the comment section, nearly covering up the on-screen image of Eren.

“Wow, it really is a little skeleton?”

“A little skeleton that evolved is still just a little skeleton, isn’t it?”

“I even considered the possibility of a youngling from some royal or mythical species…”

“But I never imagined it would actually be a little skeleton, hahaha…”

“How much better can a Bone Soldier really be compared to a little skeleton?”

“Isn’t this pile of bones basically a free meal for the Thunder Lion?”

“More like it’s here to be the meal…”

“…”

“But this Bone Soldier looks pretty cool, though…”

“I think so too! Look at that upright posture, the flames flickering in its eye sockets, and that cape…”

“Isn’t that just the Death Mist of an undead beast?”

“Cool or not, it’s still just a Bone Soldier, not a movie star…”

“Though if this Bone Soldier did act in a movie, it’d definitely make a great background extra, hahaha…”

“…”

After a brief moment of surprise, Fang Xuyang regained his composure and commanded the Thunder Lion to attack.

No matter what kind of beast Mu Huiyue summoned, Fang Xuyang was determined that the victor of this battle would be him!

“Thunder Lion, Stormfield!”

At the beast tamer’s command, the Thunder Lion let out a mighty roar, and the entire battlefield was blanketed in a layer of shimmering electric light.

Golden arcs of electricity surged like torrents, lifting every strand of the Thunder Lion’s mane. A radiant crystal on its chest flashed, and a bolt of lightning struck from thin air, its figure appearing like a thunder god descending amidst the brilliance.

Mu Huiyue’s gaze lingered on that gleaming crystal.

This was the result of Fang Xuyang’s beast-taming talent, [Wind and Thunder Sovereign], inherited from his father, the legendary Fang Chuan. Combined with a thunder-element crystal of the appropriate level, it allowed his beast to unleash high-tier domain skills ahead of time.

[Stormfield] could be seen as a precursor to the [Thunder Element: Sovereign Domain]. It transformed the battlefield into a lightning-aspected space, significantly amplifying the energy and power of thunder-element beasts and their skills. Additionally, it directly suppressed water-element creatures, which were weak to lightning.

The previously damp electric arcs in the forest, as well as the extraordinary wild creatures driven here, were all effects of [Stormfield].

In the past, Ellen in his little skeleton phase might have struggled against domain-type skills, but now…

Mu Huiyue smiled faintly. This was Ellen’s first official battle since his evolution—there was no way they would lose to someone who had come looking for trouble.

“Ellen, Intimidate!”

The tall, imposing skeleton raised its head, and black mist surged around it.

An invisible wave of energy radiated outward from Ellen as the center, spreading in an instant and colliding directly with the expanding Stormfield.

The crackling arcs of electricity seemed to freeze in place as if paused, halted by the invisible force. Moments later, they rapidly recoiled, retreating back into the crystal on the Thunder Lion’s chest.

The Thunder Lion remained in its majestic howling pose, but without the flashy backdrop of the Stormfield, it now stood awkwardly in a battlefield filled with shadows and fallen leaves, looking somewhat comical.

Fang Xuyang’s expression was one of utter disbelief, matched only by the explosion of incredulous comments in the livestream chat.

The previous “…” was now replaced with a flood of “????,” with countless question marks completely covering the screen.

“???? What just happened? The Stormfield was pushed back??”

“Did I see that right? Was that Intimidate??”

“The Bone Soldier used Intimidate??”

“Doesn’t that mean…”

“A sovereign-rank Bone Soldier???”

“A sovereign-rank Bone Soldier???”

“No way, a sovereign-rank Bone Soldier, right???”

Wave after wave of similar comments, overflowing with question marks, drowned out the battle visuals in the livestream.

Even if Mu Huiyue had summoned a sovereign-rank member of the Battle Wolf lineage, or even an emperor-rank Solar Flame Wolf, the audience wouldn’t have been this shocked.

After all, with Mu’s legendary background, cultivating an advanced evolution of the Cloud Pup lineage early on would at most be considered extraordinary talent.

But a sovereign-rank Bone Soldier?

“Are we sure this is a Bone Soldier and not some new species like a Lich King?”

“This is wild—seeing a skeleton frame that can use Intimidate, hahaha…”

“Someone pinch me! Am I dreaming, or is there really a sovereign-rank Bone Soldier in this world??”

“Look at Fang Xuyang’s face—doesn’t he look like he’s dreaming too?”

“Totally, hahaha…”

“…”

Domain-type skills are essentially extensions of a beast’s own energy. Intimidate from a sovereign species is considered an entry-level skill, while a fully realized domain belongs to emperor-level species with their Sovereign Domain.

A domain like Stormfield, activated by a war-grade species through a beast tamer’s talent, was naturally no match for the genuine Intimidate of a sovereign-rank beast.

After neutralizing the Stormfield, Mu Huiyue seized the momentum. The towering skeleton swiftly vanished into the shadows.

“Netherfire.“

The Bone Soldier emerged from the shadows, moving to the Thunder Lion’s flank. Its slender finger bones snapped with a crisp click.

In an instant, ghostly blue flames engulfed the Thunder Lion, causing spiritual damage that made it emit a harrowing scream of pain.

“Thunder Lion…!”

Fang Xuyang snapped back to his senses. The Netherfire couldn’t be extinguished in a physical sense. If he didn’t act quickly, the Thunder Lion would continue to suffer.

“Flash Thunder Charge!” he shouted urgently.

Electricity surged around the Thunder Lion, crackling with intensity. Under the effect of electromagnetic acceleration…

The Thunder Lion moved as fast as lightning, instantly darting toward the Bone Soldier.

However, Ellen had already slipped into the shadows the moment the surrounding electricity began to shift.

The Thunder Lion’s attack missed. It stopped and paced forward a couple of steps, its body still crackling with residual arcs of electricity. The ghostly blue flames of Netherfire had been completely extinguished.

Although the Flash Thunder Charge didn’t hit Ellen, it allowed the Thunder Lion to break free from the relentless burn of the Netherfire.

Using offensive skills as a means of defense showed that Fang Xuyang had some tactical sense, unlike most of his peers who were still stuck in a mindset of trading elemental counters and brute force skills.

“Use Lightning Strike!”

Seeing the Thunder Lion regain its footing, Fang Xuyang seized the opportunity to press the attack. Several bolts of thunder crashed down in response to his command.

The Thunder Lion’s skill execution was swift, and the layered Lightning Strikes fell one after another. Yet, not a single bolt managed to hit the Bone Soldier, who moved fluidly within the shadows.

In a battlefield shrouded in the forest’s pervasive shadows, Ellen had absolute confidence that he wouldn’t let any skill land on him.

“Use Netherfire again!” Mu Huiyue commanded.

The Bone Soldier moved through the shadows to the Thunder Lion’s flank. Just as it was about to emerge, Fang Xuyang’s command came even faster.

“Thunder Lion, use Lightning Strike on yourself!”

“Roar—!”

Without hesitation, a bolt of lightning struck the Thunder Lion directly.

With a loud crackling explosion, the intense burst of electricity illuminated the area around the Thunder Lion, scattering the shadows in the blinding light. The Bone Soldier lost its foothold in the disappearing shadows and had to retreat, reemerging from the edge of the remaining darkness.

“It worked…!” Fang Xuyang clenched his fist, silently praising his sharp judgment.

Although the shadow-stepping skill was troublesome, as long as the shadows were eliminated, the Bone Soldier would have no way to approach the Thunder Lion.

As the bright light faded, the Thunder Lion stood in the battlefield, panting lightly, its sharp gaze fixed on the Bone Soldier as it disappeared back into the shadows once more.

Lightning Strike is a C-tier lightning-element offensive skill. With its natural Lightning Adaptation trait, the Thunder Lion could withstand most of the damage from the attack, making it a viable defense against the Bone Soldier’s elusive ambushes.

“Use Flash Thunder Charge!” Fang Xuyang commanded.

The Thunder Lion transformed into a streak of golden light, racing toward the Bone Soldier with sparks and lightning trailing behind it.

The light scattered the accompanying shadows, forcing the tall skeleton to emerge from the darkness. Ellen pivoted on the spot, vanishing once more into a small patch of shadow beneath the fallen leaves.

Ellen’s composure remained unshaken despite the oncoming attacks. To him, the Thunder Lion’s signature Flash Thunder Charge lacked both the finesse and adaptability of the Shadow Step and Shadow Strike techniques steadily honed by smaller canines.

Shadows crept in again, only to be driven away by yet another Lightning Strike that hit the Thunder Lion itself, dispersing any chance of the Bone Soldier closing in.

“This kind of self-harming defensive strategy…” Mu Huiyue sighed softly to herself.

If it could create an opportunity for a counterattack, the sacrifice might be worth it. But the reality was that the Thunder Lion was expending all its energy merely to fend off ambushes from the shadows, leaving no strength to turn the tide.

Fang Xuyang was indeed skilled in tactical maneuvers, but he couldn’t be considered a beast tamer who truly thought for his beasts.

Moreover, Ellen, of course, had more than just Shadow Stepping as a means of ambushing.

“Ellen, Soul Tremor.”

The Bone Soldier emerged from the shadows, its jawbone cracking open. A silent tremor surged toward the Thunder Lion, carrying an added Intimidate effect.

The sudden mental strike froze the Thunder Lion in place, unable to even raise its claws.

“Thunder Lion!” Fang Xuyang quickly scanned the Thunder Lion’s skill list in his mind, but he couldn’t find a single skill that could be used in this situation.

“Bone Spike Assault!” Mu Huiyue didn’t give them a moment to hesitate.

The tall, imposing skeleton struck a graceful T-pose. A long white bone materialized in its hand, covered layer by layer in black, flowing liquid, giving the bone a sharp metallic sheen.

That was the effect of a C-tier steel-type reinforcement skill: Calciumization.

Ellen gripped the white bone with one hand, holding it at eye level as if wielding a sharp spear.

In the next moment, his figure flickered and appeared in front of the Thunder Lion, piercing through its abdomen.

Bone Spike Assault—hit!

The Thunder Lion let out a horrific scream as it fell to the ground, a pool of faint golden blood spreading around it. The Bone Spike Assault had landed directly on a vital spot, and the Thunder Lion couldn’t even react in time.

“Thunder Lion, get up!” Fang Xuyang’s voice carried a hint of panic.

He had believed he was fully prepared when he initiated this battle, but who would have thought his Thunder Lion would be completely overwhelmed.

At this rate, he would lose to Mu Huiyue…

“Get up!” Fang Xuyang shouted, his eyes flashing with lightning.

The crystal on the Thunder Lion’s chest erupted in a brilliant light, arcs of electricity sealing its abdominal wound and even supporting the collapsed part of its body. It struggled to rise, using its front paws to push itself up.

Beast Tamer Talent: Wind and Thunder Monarch!

Golden arcs of electricity burst from the Thunder Lion’s eyes, its mane flaring up, crackling with numerous electric arcs. Its entire body radiated scorching electrical light, as though it were burning its remaining energy.

“Lightning Strike!“

“Roar—!”

The Thunder Lion threw its head back in a mighty roar, countless bolts of thunder crashing to the ground, nearly lighting up the entire battlefield.

No command from Mu Huiyue was needed—Ellen had already slipped into the shadows.

In a large-scale Lightning Strike, if this were a formal battlefield, it might force Ellen to lose his ability to blend into the shadows for a brief moment.

But in this wild, secret forest realm, even light-type beasts wouldn’t be able to dispel all the shadows.

The shadows made the Thunder Lion’s efforts futile.

After the Thunderstorm Cascade, the battlefield was left with nothing but scorched, withered leaves. The Bone Soldier emerged from the edges of the shadows, completely unharmed, standing right in front of its opponent.

The tall skeleton now appeared like a death god returning from hell—no matter the tactics used, it could not be defeated.

“It seems the failures you’ve experienced in the past still haven’t helped you see your own shortcomings,” Mu Huiyue shook her head and said. “The difference between wild battles and formal arenas… not to mention the state of your beast.”

After using Lightning Strike, the Thunder Lion was on the verge of collapsing, yet it still struggled to stand, unwilling to disobey its beast tamer’s commands.

Long before the battle began, Mu Huiyue had already noticed that the Thunder Lion’s condition wasn’t as good as it seemed.

Looking at the changes in the score, Fang Xuyang and the Thunder Lion had been battling since entering the secret realm. His beast tamer talent didn’t have a recovery effect, and the Thunder Lion had been pushing through without rest.

Facing the Bone Soldier with Shadow Stealth, the Thunder Lion was not without the strength to fight back.

Its lightning-fast speed, enhanced by electromagnetic acceleration, was its greatest weapon. As long as it kept a close watch on the surrounding shadows, the Thunder Lion could rely on its speed to dodge most ambushes.

Unfortunately, its beast tamer was too fixated on winning and didn’t notice this small opening on the battlefield.

Upon hearing Mu Huiyue’s words, Fang Xuyang’s pupils contracted, and a look of fear appeared on his face.

He was afraid of losing to Mu Huiyue, just as he had countless times before, when he witnessed her victories over him.

“End this battle, Ellen.” Mu Huiyue no longer looked at him.

Click.

The Bone Soldier stood elegantly, extending its long finger bones and snapping its fingers.

The eerie blue flames surged up, enveloping the Thunder Lion’s body.

It let out a painful howl before its massive body crashed to the ground.

A winged recording terminal flew over, confirming the Thunder Lion’s condition. Afterward, the battle result appeared in the projection frame.

Thunder Lion 0:1 Bone Soldier.

Mu Huiyue wins this battle!