Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 892

Chapter 892: Chapter 892 - Taming the Fifth Year - Attrition - Cool Defeat - 2

The compact projectiles of flame energy detonated with heat that would have seriously burned an opponent without appropriate defense.

Total expenditure: approximately 10% of the total mana points. Nearly everything the Mantis had left. Leaving maybe 5% in reserve for emergency defensive techniques if the Amphibian counterattacked during the performance.

But when the fireballs impacted against the Amphibian, because a few did hit it directly, they caused no damage despite the considerable energy they contained.

The thick mucus layer covering its transparent skin acted as an extraordinary insulator protecting against extreme temperature in both directions. The same substance allowing the Amphibian to resist the cold it generated also defended against the heat that fire attacks attempted to inflict, a barrier that dispersed thermal energy before it could penetrate to underlying tissues.

The mucus was thick across most of the body. Composed of complex proteins and polysaccharides that had extremely high specific heat capacity, meaning they could absorb enormous amounts of thermal energy with minimal temperature change. When fire struck, the outer layer of mucus absorbed the heat, preventing it from reaching the skin beneath. When cold radiated outward, the same layer insulated the Amphibian’s core body temperature from the extreme cold it was projecting.

It was the same reason the Amphibian could resist its own explosions without significant effort. The chemical detonations occurred at the mucus surface. The mucus absorbed the thermal energy and the shock. The underlying tissues remained protected.

Min observed the attacks with an expression of momentary confusion, processing why Ren would be spending the Mantis’s last resources on a technique that clearly wasn’t damaging his beast.

Was it desperation? A panicked response from someone who didn’t know what else to do?

"Ren?" Min called across the arena with genuine puzzlement. "What are you..."

Then his eyes widened slightly as understanding arrived.

The answer became clear when you observed the effect on the environment rather than the effect on the Amphibian directly.

The zone around where the fireballs detonated heated notably, with local temperature rising several degrees as flame energy dispersed into the arena. And a good portion of the frost that had covered the sand began melting under the influence of residual heat, with ice converting back to water that soaked into the ground again.

Not enough to reverse conditions completely. The Amphibian still radiated cold that maintained the arena’s center frozen. But it was partial mitigation that would make it easier for Ren’s next beast to operate the wood element without it being immediately at a disadvantage from hostile ambient temperature.

Ground conditions in melted zones: muddy but no longer frozen solid. Roots could potentially penetrate. Seeds could potentially germinate if given enough energy. Plants could potentially establish themselves.

"Clever," Min said quietly, his earlier confusion resolving into respect.

He understood now. Ren wasn’t trying to damage the Amphibian with those last attacks. Wasn’t flailing desperately hoping something would work. Was deliberately investing final resources in battlefield preparation that would pay dividends for the Hydra or Wolverine when they entered.

It was the kind of thinking that separated good tamers from great ones. Recognizing when a battle was lost and immediately shifting focus to the next battle rather than wasting resources trying to salvage the unsalvageable.

It was an investment in the future rather than an attempt to win in the present, a calculated use of the Mantis’s last resources.

The environmental modification was subtle but meaningful. Not warm but above freezing. Workable conditions for plant growth if properly supported with mana.

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