I Become the Baby Tiger in a Beast Taming World

Chapter 146: Chapter 142: Ch-ch-changes

[System! This can’t be right! I’m supposed to be paired with Lobo, and yet Lobo is with Einswine for this match.]

I blast System right out of the gate.

Furious but with banked fire, Lobo agrees. [You said that we both had to win together for us to beat you.]

[Hmmm, so I did. Clever of you to remember that.]

System’s cavalier attitude is a burr in my already sensitive hide. [So, why the change-up?]

[Oh, like a wise man on Earth once said, ’Turn and face the strange.]]

Lobo growls. [Are you trying to ruin David Bowie for me forever?]

System goes into a robotic rendition of David Bowie’s classic hit "Changes," and we almost revolt. The Bowie anthem to life’s unpredictability is a favorite of Damon’s and mine, which System must know.

I cut into the macabre serenade. [Let me spell out your strategy for you: Divide and conquer. Even though Lobo and I trust Einswine and Demos, who are brothers to us, you think that you can pick us off one by one by separating us, thus guaranteeing our defeat. Do I have it right?]

Lobo wags his tail, impressed. [I’d buy that.]

System is arctic. [You think this is just playtime? Playtime is over. Let’s see how well you do on your own.]

Lobo and I exchange a silent understanding. No matter what, neither of us will lose.

The announcer repeats the call for Lobo’s match. "Attention! Lobo of House Riddlehoeven. Demos of House Riddlehoeven. Please proceed to the platform to meet Tormenta of House Stormbrand and Tufaan of House Stormbrand."

I boop Lobo on his nose. [You can do this.]

Minette and Vedette usher Lobo and Demos to the platform, where a pair of storm mages, Typhon and Mistral, await them. I don’t see their faces, concealed by hoods. They wear swirling cloaks and robes designed to resemble storm clouds and fog. Meanwhile, their beasts fly and slither impatiently on the platform. Tempesta, a fiery thunderbird, digs her talons into the slap, while her partner Tufaan, a fire serpent, rears up, spreading an incandescent glow over all.

The platform rises in the air, trailing fire and smoke and creating an infernal spectacle. The announcer calls out, "3...2...1...BEGIN!"

[Name: [Tempesta]

[Class: [Expert]

[Race: [Thunderbird]

[Level: 10/10 [XP 10/100 STATUS: Full

[HP: 6/6 [MP: 0/0 [Stamina 100/100

[Strength: 91

[Defense: 93

[Magic: 89

[Resistance: 95

[Speed: 98

[Charisma: 92

[Luck: 90

[Skills: [Fly (Attack Skill] [Fire (Attack Skill)] [Bite(Skill)] [Thunder (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill){Divine Vision/(Skill)[Telepathy](Skill)[Procreation (Skill)[

_________________

[Name: [Tufaani]

[Class: [Expert]

[Race: [Fire Serpent]

[Level: 10/10 [XP 34/100 STATUS: Full

[HP: 6/6 [MP: 0/0 [Stamina 100/100

[Strength: 90

[Defense: 92

[Magic: 89

[Resistance: 91

[Speed: 95

[Charisma: 90

[Luck: 94

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Fire (Attack Skill)] [Slither (Skill)] Escape Power (Skill){Divine Vision/(Skill)[Telepathy](Skill)[Procreation (Skill)

___________

Like Burni and Phanias, these two are overpowered compared to Lobo and Demos. Also, they both possess fire, a definite hazard. However, System shouldn’t count its thunderbirds before they hatch.

Lightning messages me. [System thinks it’s being cute, reshuffling the deck.]

I grunt. [That’s probably not the only ace it has up its sleeve.]

A spiraling halo of fire surrounds Tufaani, a long, sinuous serpent, rust and cocoa brown in color, while the thunderbird has red wings and a white body, resembling the Native American creature, but not copying it completely. Her fire is concealed. Maybe held in reserve for the opportune moment. Perhaps Tempesta has limits on her power and unleashes bursts of it whenever she chooses to.

Demos generates Shooting Stars. As useless against fire creatures as an umbrella with holes in it in a rainstorm. However, there’s a method to Demos’ madness. Shooting Stars are a distraction, nothing more.

Tempesta’s tamer, Mistral, creates a spiraling vortex that forms a ring around the thunderbird. The stormy vortex spins, distorting the air and scattering Demos’ Shooting Stars. An easy win. However, Demos and Lobo have a plan.

Vedette and Minette have been working on something, too. They link together, energy cords forming like a shimmering cat’s-cradle. Spontaneously, an identical web manifests between Demos and Lobo. A protective net that might shield them from storm, stress, and fire. All that practice all these weeks is paying dividends now!

[Lobo!] The message comes from Lightning. [Will that lattice withstand fire?]

Lobo barely sounds like he’s breaking a sweat. [Anything! Within reason. It doesn’t matter what. As long as we can sustain it.]

Demos offers an "uff" in passing. [He has to keep his end up...]

Lobo woofs. [Excuse me, my threads don’t drift.]

[See that they don’t.] Demos acts overbearing, pun intended. [I can’t maintain it all by myself.]

The whirlwind slices toward them like a buzzsaw, and in a one-two punch, Tufaan’s flames lance toward them. How the flames still stay strong in the wind is a mystery to me, but this pair must have practiced their routine in their sleep. No missteps. No gaps. System didn’t play fair. Demos and Lobo might have met their match.

NO! I can’t think like that. Spot a weakness. There has to be one. Either in the beasts or the tamers. Now, the tamers smell cold and hot at the same time. Cold because their focus never wavers. Hot because they are bonded to beings of fire. Could the be their weakness?

[Lobo! Storms and fire at the same time. It’s an impossible mix.]

Sparks from the flames bombard the energy mesh, eroding it. Minette and Vedette strain to strengthen it, their teeth gritted and their foreheads taut. None of the flames kiss Demos or Lobo. No burning fur.

Lobo responds in a voice that sounds like he’s running a marathon. [It seems to be working now. My body hates me with all the power we’re drawing.]

[Oh, stop complaining.] Demos is pure grit. [We can’t lose here. For the honor of our house.]

[Demos! Do you see any clash between the fire and the wind?]

Demos offers an "uff" while concentrating his hardest. [Maybe.]

Lobo barks. [Well, don’t keep it to yourself.]

Demos sniffs, and I can feel him being congested from the winds and the fire. The smoke and particles and wind must play havoc with his nose. [When Tufaan shoots flame, Tempesta slows down the storm.]

I think on my feet. [Then keep Tufaan firing on all burners. Don’t let up. Tempesta has fire, too, but they’re not using it right now.]

[Could be a case of not wanting overkill.] Lobo still sounds winded, but his strategic mind is indefatigable. [Too much fire can be a hazard. It could burn out of control. Hence, the balance.]

Demos and Lobo Super Jump at once, with the energy threads stretched taut between them, then going slack, then taut again. Tufaan shoots jets of fire constantly, and Tempesta caws, a thunderous boom. Probably warning Tufaan to cool it, literally. But Tufaan has tunnel vision, and keeps firing upon Demos and Lobo while they complete their leap.

A jet of flame aimed at them forces them to land with a sickening THUD, and Lobo’s leg gives way. NO! He stumbles. He’s up!

[LOBO!] Dread seizes me. [Howl once if you’re okay!]

The most beautiful sound in the world, Lobo’s howl captivates the entire arena.

The announcer narrates at a breakneck pace. "Oh dear! Lobo took quite a spill there. He’s on his feet, favoring his right leg, but still in the match. You heard his proud howl! His dauntless battle cry. He will finish this!"

[LOBO!] That’s Lightning, panicked. [Are you hurt?]

[I’ll live.] Lobo’s voice is raw and strained. [I will definitely need healing after this, but I can finish the fight. I’ve come too far to roll over now...That was too close.]

A streak of flame burns toward Lobo and he and Demos roll to the side, the silver energy threads stretching between them, almost like melted cheese that has been pulled too far. SNAP!

The web is gone. Minette and Vedette groan in unison and attempt to rebuild it, doing an elaborate weaving motion with their hands. However, Tempesta lets loose with her own fire, almost like flaming bolts of lightning that seem to scorch the very air around Lobo and Demos. A thin film of smoke rises.

Doubling down, Tempesta and Tufaan change tactics and shoot fire at the same time. WHOOOSH! A wall of flame leaps up, forcing Demos and Lobo to roll away from it. Struggling to their feet, they gaze at their opponents through the haze and the flames.

[Super Jump!] I don’t hold back. [If you can, Super Jump! Get away from the flames.]

Lobo and Demos don’t need to be told twice. Without a running start, they rocket through the air, clearing the blazing barrier and plummeting down in a parabola toward Tufaan and Tempesta. While the bird soars up at warp speed, Tufaan hesitates for a second.

SMACK! Both Lobo and Demos hit Tufaan at the same time, two places on his long scaly body. Jerking and convulsing, Tufaan groans from the impact and lies limp, hissing, unable to get up.

The announcer shouts, "5...4...3...2..1...Tufaan is down!"

Thank goodness. One opponent down, one to go!

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!