Chapter 36 - The More Intense the Wind Gusts, the Higher the Pig Flies

The pig owner and dog owner were both transported into Limitless City Arena’s designated combat pit.

The room was spacious and open-air and resembled a large tennis court. The gray battlefield was surrounded by a green periphery for the beastmasters to issue commands.

“Should we fight too?” Lu Ran eagerly asked Pig Farmer across the battlefield. Purely watching Captain Doofus fight had its limits for entertainment. After all, Lu Ran had never been all that interested in familiar PvP.

“Huh?” Pig Farmer was confused.

“Beastmasters are divided into two main styles,” Lu Ran explained. "One style enhances the familiar's abilities, letting it do all the fighting while the beastmaster stays safely on the sidelines. The other style uses the familiar to enhance the beastmaster, allowing them to join the battle directly.

“Which type are you? Oh, but I’m guessing you haven’t learned any beastmaster skills yet, so you probably haven’t decided yet. What does the Galaxy Guild member assessment require?”

“W-wait!” Pig Farmer backed up a step, waving his hands frantically. “The Galaxy Guild’s member assessment is completely familiar PvP. No way I’m getting involved myself.”

Lu Ran made a face.

“You look reasonably athletic.”

Pig Farmer shook his head. “The guild elders said that if you’re the first type and something happens to your familiar, you’ll suffer some backlash but won’t die. However, if you’re the second type, you’re risking your own life. They say the death rate for beastmasters of the second type is several times higher. They’re stronger, but their survival rates aren’t better. The elders always warn us never to choose the second type unless we’re reckless idiots. Wait... you don’t plan on becoming the second type, do you? Fighting alongside your familiar?”

Pig Farmer’s expression changed.

“Uh, not exactly.”

Lu Ran shrugged. The beastmaster skill he had picked up happened to align with the second type. For now, he didn’t have much of a choice.

Second-type beastmasters were stronger yet had higher death rates. It seemed to be a contradiction, but it was probably because their overconfidence got them killed.

“That’s good.” Pig Farmer sighed. “I admire those ancient cavalry generals who rode into battle on their warhorses, but that’s way too risky for me. We’re all amateurs with no formal training. Charging into battle would only get us killed. Maybe those cavalry troops out on the plains can handle fighting alongside their familiars.”

“There are other people who can do it,” Lu Ran interjected.

“Who?”

“Hunters.” Lu Ran chuckled. He pulled out his contract card and summoned Captain Doofus.

In the center of the battlefield, a circular summoning array burst forth with dazzling light.

“Awoooo!”

A wolf-shaped beast appeared.

“My ancestors were hunters. They often worked with hounds to hunt wild boars that threatened their crops.”

Huh?!

Pig Farmer also used his contract card to start summoning his boar.

“My pig isn’t an ordinary pig!”

Pig Farmer wiped some sweat off. He felt some pressure since Lu Ran had been on the Heavenly Familiar Ranking, but he still wanted to win. He wasn’t going to accept his own inferiority without a fight.

“Grrunk!”

With a flash of light, a wild boar over two meters long with sharp tusks and a coat of coarse earth-colored fur appeared!

The pig and dog stood before their beastmasters, locking eyes that flickered with hatred.

Captain Doofus hadn’t forgotten the grudge from their last encounter.

Seven days ago, Captain Doofus had displayed its fighting spirit only to be met with the wild boar’s dismissive glance.

“Grrr,”

Captain Doofus growled.

“Hrrnk!

” The boar flicked its tail.

This time it seriously focused on Captain Doofus without the contempt from before.

“Where’s your sword? Didn’t you use one in the secret realm?” Pig Farmer asked.

“No need for items. We can just fight with our bodies.”

“Alright. When my boar infuses itself with Rock-attribute energy, its defense is really strong. But compared to Wind-attribute beasts, its movement and attack speed are at a disadvantage. I want to test if there’s a good way to counter a fast opponent in real combat.”

“So you want Captain Doofus to attack with speed?” Lu Ran asked.

Pig Farmer nodded. “Exactly.”

“Alright. Captain Doofus, activate Haste,” Lu Ran commanded.

“Woof!”

Right after barking, a sky-blue energy enveloped Captain Doofus, gradually flowing around him.

Pig Farmer grew serious.

The foundational Wind-attribute skill, Haste!? In just seven days, they’d already learned a new skill!?

It was rare for familiars under level ten to have mastered any skills. Even among the seventy familiars from the seven Limitless Cities on the Xia Empire’s Heavenly Familiar Ranking, more than half hadn’t yet mastered basic skills.

Those that made the rankings usually relied on basic energy infusion to overwhelm opponents with their species traits.

Formation, Projection, Acceleration, and Compression—each skill tree had advanced techniques that were incredibly difficult to master. Experts stated that even talented familiars required weeks of specialized practice to grasp the basic skills.

Captain Doofus learning sword qi in just two days was incredible, hence the reason it made the rankings.

Meanwhile, Pig Farmer’s boar hadn’t mastered any skills yet. It could only rely on the basic Rock-attribute energy infusion.

Pig Farmer was shocked that Lu Ran’s dog could also use Haste.

However, more surprises were yet to come.

“Let’s begin.”

Lu Ran’s words barely left his mouth when the energy around Captain Doofus surged like a flood, causing its outline to blur!

“What!?”

“Nnnk!?”

Pig Farmer and his boar both stared in shock.

“Woof!”

This is Haste! This is true power!

With gleaming eyes, Captain Doofus caught the boar’s serious expression. In a flash, Captain Doofus sprinted forward, kicking up dust clouds like a whirlwind!

“How is it so fast...?”

Pig Farmer was in disbelief. His wild boar instinctively infused itself in brown Rock-attributed energy, intently watching Captain Doofus.

Pig Farmer had given his boar a simple strategy against Wind-attribute beasts: tank the first hit using its strong defense, then counterattack. In theory, this was a good plan, but Captain Doofus’ speed was beyond the wild boar’s expectations. Captain Doofus seemed to have disappeared entirely.

“On the side!” Pig Farmer warned.

Despite moving at such high speeds, Captain Doofus could still change direction with ease. It instantly looped to the side and charged at the boar at full speed.

Before the boar had time to react to the impending danger, pain erupted from its side as the sky-blue shadow collided with the boar. Even its surrounding Rock-attribute energy infusion seemed to deform.

“Uughnk!”

Even with its protective Rock-attribute energy, the hit was so powerful that the boar let out a terrified squeal. Since the massive boar was lifted off the ground and sent flying meters away, no counterattack was possible!

With a heavy thud, the boar crashed to the ground, rolling over and over.

“Oonk!”

Pig Farmer was stunned.

Meanwhile, Captain Doofus exited Haste. There was a wide grin on its face as it basked in the satisfaction of revenge.

But then, Captain Doofus blinked in surprise as the wild boar struggled back to its feet, glaring fiercely.

“Impressive defense. A hit like that only left you lightly injured?” Lu Ran commented. “Seems like breaking through your defense with conventional attacks is tough.”

Is that a joke? Your puny husky just sent my boar flying! Is that a “conventional attack”? You’re calling that basic Haste!?

“Goldie, change of plans. We need to attack! It can’t break through your defenses. Don’t be afraid!”

Pig Farmer understood that they couldn’t just let Captain Doofus freely charge at a stationary target, so he instead ordered his boar to charge.

“Nnk!”

The boar began rumbling towards Captain Doofus. It wasn’t as fast, but its charging attack was perhaps even more intimidating.

Captain Doofus didn’t use its speed to dodge. Instead, it opened its mouth, gathering a ball of white wind. With a fierce howl, it unleashed the gale, halting the boar’s charge completely.

“Awoo!”

Pig Farmer was stunned again. “What the...?”

[Skill: Wind Roar]

[Description: A basic Wind-attribute skill that releases concentrated Wind-attribute energy from the mouth.]

As it was, the Projection-type skill didn’t do any damage. It only disrupted the opponent’s movements. It hadn’t been too difficult for Captain Doofus to learn the skill in conjunction with sword qi. After all, it was just blowing air, which was far easier than forming sword qi. Lu Ran didn’t consider it a result of training since it was too weak.

"Gnnk!"

The boar wanted to cry. It really tried to move but couldn’t! The little husky that it once looked down on now seemed harder to fight than the boss they had had to team up for! It was a freak of nature!

“Oink! Oink oink oink!”

The boar fought even harder.

But Captain Doofus was just getting started. It increased its energy acceleration, making the wind gusts even stronger and more relentless. The boar’s charge was fully disrupted, and it was lifted off the ground again, tumbling through the air before landing heavily with a squeal of pain.

Beads of sweat once again rolled down Pig Farmer’s forehead.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

Captain Doofus stared at Pig Farmer as if questioning his earlier remark that Captain Doofus couldn’t break through the boar’s defenses.

"Awoooo!"

Captain Doofus opened its mouth again. This time, instead of using Wind Roar, the wind visibly gathered and formed a white sword entirely shaped by Wind-attribute energy between its teeth!

Energy formation skill: Wind Sword!

Items weren’t allowed in their fight, so Captain Doofus made its own massive sword out of wind!

Pig Farmer was dumbfounded yet again!

This is... energy formation!?

Acceleration, Projection, and now Formation!? What is this dog!?

“Oh?”

Even Lu Ran was amazed, to say nothing of Pig Farmer. He hadn’t taught Captain Doofus energy formation. Captain Doofus had figured it out on its own!

Then again, Captain Doofus always channeled Wind-attribute energy through the Cascading Wind Sword. As a result, Captain Doofus was very familiar with a sword’s structure. Combined with decent comprehension and energy control, Captain Doofus learning energy formation with some additional motivation from Pig Farmer’s comment was reasonable... or maybe not!

In just under ten days, Captain Doofus was on the verge of mastering all four advanced skills! It was absurd!

“Captain Doofus, release it. No swords.”

Lu Ran was concerned about injuring the opponent. Practicing against a high-defense opponent was very useful.

“Woo...”

Captain Doofus obediently did as commanded and looked at the wild boar shakily getting to its feet.

“I...”

Pig Farmer fell silent.

He realized he had been wrong from the start. He shouldn’t have held out hope for a victory. Any familiar on the Heavenly Familiar Rankings was a monster. Had Lu Ran only been pushed off the rankings because he hadn’t entered any secret realms in the past seven days!?

***

That night, Lu Ran and Pig Farmer said their goodbyes.

Pig Farmer gained valuable experience by being destroyed by a Wind-attribute familiar. Meanwhile, Lu Ran didn’t hesitate to claim the Awakening Leaf as his training reward.

[Five Poisons Saintess: You haven’t been back in so long. My parents are worried. When are you coming back? We can have a meal together.]

Lu Ran returned to his room and replied to Fang Lan’s message.

[I’ll be back today.]

It had really been too long since he had seen them. Also, school was starting soon, so it would be a good idea to contact White Dragon to resolve the attendance issues.

The Demon Cat Forest could wait until next time.

Lu Ran sadly parted ways with another five crystal coins and teleported home. He took a shower and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

Just as he was about to call Fang Lan for dinner plans, a dark figure climbed onto the TV and stared at him with its red eyes.

It was a small, deep brown lizard with a tan underbelly. The very imposing creature resembled a miniature dragon. Its most striking feature was its red pupils surrounded by golden irises.

“What? Didn’t I leave you enough food and water before I left?” Lu Ran asked the red-eyed crocodile skink gifted to him by Fang Lan on his birthday.

Lu Ran liked to call it the Red-Eyes Black Dragon. He also liked to call it the Sudden Death King.

Through telepathy, Lu Ran could sometimes pick up on its thoughts.

There aren’t any of the grasshoppers I like today. I’m dying!

It’s so dark! I’m scared! I’m dying!

That dog is terrifying! I’m dying!

The poop scooper is so ugly! I’m dying!

I don’t even know why, but I’m dying!

Lu Ran sighed. Anything out of the norm, and it wanted to die. Of course, most of the time, it just played dead. Lu Ran thought it was an achievement that he hadn’t killed it by accident yet, with how timid it was. The fact it even showed itself to him was remarkable.

“Ah, I know.”

Lu Ran thought of the Awakening Leaf.

“Sudden Death King, come here. I’ve got something good for you to eat. It’s time to test your potential.”