57: Chapter 57 Could it be that the Flameclaw Beast has broken through to the second tier?

Among all the members participating in this rescue operation, besides the special case of Lin Chen, everyone was at least a Primary Beastmaster with a Second-rank pet beast, as well as several Intermediate Beastmasters.

As staff of the Beast Control Bureau, their pet beasts were well-trained and coordinated seamlessly. After experiencing the initial apprehension and panic caused by unclear information, they quickly adjusted their tactics and collaborated with each other.

With the arrival of the rescue team, the chaotic battle in the valley shifted abruptly.

However, the tenacity of the Dark Species far exceeded expectations.

They seemed to feel no pain and know no fear. Even with mangled limbs or on the brink of death, as long as those crimson eyes hadn't gone out, they would struggle to pounce on the nearest life form and launch suicidal attacks.

Once killed by one, the corpse would transform into a new Dark Species, creating a continuous cycle.

Even more troublesome was that their numbers didn't seem fixed.

The dense darkness in the distance was like an invisible nest exit, from which new Dark Species constantly emerged, putting continuous pressure on the rescue team.

Lin Chen quickly scanned the entire battlefield.

Although he and the Flame Claw Beast had made significant progress, they couldn't yet get involved in battles between Third-rank pet beasts; that was a level he couldn't interfere with.

He soon fixed his gaze on Zhou Ming and the others.

At this moment, three Second-rank Dark Species were frantically assaulting their crumbling defensive line.

Seeing this, Lin Chen waved his arm and shouted, "I'm coming to help you!"

At the same time.

Zhou Ming slumped onto the ground, his chest heaving violently like a broken bellows, gasping for air as bean-sized beads of sweat mixed with bloodstains on his face rolled down.

He felt a burning pain in his lungs, his limbs were so weak they felt like they didn't belong to him, and his spirit was exhausted to the extreme.

The Flame Eagle was equally weak. Person and pet slumped together, no longer capable of fighting in the short term.

He barely lifted his heavy eyelids and looked at his companions who were still gritting their teeth and persevering nearby.

Everyone's condition was similar to his; some were exhausted and still gasping for breath, while others were injured, their clothes stained with blood and their faces filled with pain.

Among the crowd, only Su Qingyuan still stood as straight as a pine.

Zhou Ming's face was full of admiration.

If it weren't for Su Qingyuan, their group would likely have been torn to pieces during the first wave of the frantic assault.

It was she who commanded the Green Feather Wind Bird to tear open gaps in the predicament time and again;

It was she who, with her calm orders and precise predictions, commanded them to barely maintain this fragile defensive circle;

And her Green Feather Wind Bird had even completed a breakthrough during the previous battle.

One month!

It had only been a month since they became Beast Tamers, and Su Qingyuan's Green Feather Wind Bird had actually broken through from the First-rank to the Second-rank!

What kind of terrifying growth speed was this?

Zhou Ming had originally shared the same thought as Li Heng—that if Lin Chen participated in the Young Eagle Cup, he might be able to compete with Su Qingyuan for the championship.

But now it seemed that Su Qingyuan's excellence was even greater than Brother Chen's.

After all, Brother Chen's Flame Claw Beast hadn't yet broken through to the Second-rank.

Su Qingyuan naturally didn't know about the churning emotions in Zhou Ming's heart.

She slightly raised her eyes and looked toward the entrance of the valley.

When she saw the rescue personnel wearing the Beast Management Bureau uniforms, a ripple of relief finally flickered deep in her eyes.

She said, "The rescue team is here. Hold on, we're safe."

After saying that, she let out a soft breath.

The Abyss Fissure had appeared too suddenly, completely disrupting her original plan to find nurturing resources in the mountains.

To deal with the onslaught of the Dark Species, she had been forced to have the Green Feather Wind Bird break through to the Second-rank ahead of schedule.

Now that the rescue forces had arrived and the situation was finally under control, her nerves, which had been stretched to the limit, could relax slightly.

"Brother Chen!"

Suddenly, Zhou Ming's surprised shout rang in her ears like a pebble thrown into a calm pool of water.

Su Qingyuan followed Zhou Ming's gaze.

She saw a tall young man leading a fierce-looking Flame Claw Beast, sprinting toward them.

It was Lin Chen.

The fellow student she had encountered by chance at the Nursery, who had gotten into the same academy as her, and whom Zhou Ming spoke of with such high praise.

Su Qingyuan's gaze lingered for a moment on the Beast Control Bureau uniform Lin Chen was wearing, then she looked away.

One more Apprentice Beastmaster wouldn't make any difference to the current situation.

Lin Chen was extremely fast and soon rushed to the outer edge of the defensive circle.

His gaze was like lightning as he instantly locked onto the three Second-rank Dark Species that were frantically assaulting the defensive line, especially the particularly conspicuous Velvet-Tusk Boar.

"Er Huo!"

"Ga Gu!"

"Small Explosion!"

The Flame Claw Beast roared in response, its eyes flashing with fierce light.

Without any fancy probing or maneuvering, in order to quickly kill this Velvet-Tusk Boar, the Flame Claw Beast used its ultimate move right from the start.

Its chest swelled high at a speed visible to the naked eye, and brilliant orange flames surged wildly in its mouth.

"Brother Chen, be careful! This Velvet-Tusk Boar is at the Second-rank, and its hide is incredibly thick. Wait for me to catch my breath and recover, then I'll have the Flame Eagle help..."

Seeing this, Zhou Ming, who was slumped on the ground, felt his heart tighten and hurriedly shouted a warning in a hoarse voice.

But before he could finish his sentence, a thick orange pillar of fire roared out, carrying rolling heat waves as it slammed violently into the Velvet-Tusk Boar!

Wherever the pillar of fire passed, the air seemed to be scorched into distorted trails, leaving charred marks on the ground.

"Roar! Roar!"

In that instant, the Dark Velvet-Tusk Boar seemed to sense a fatal threat and let out a roar, the black light flowing around its body becoming extremely violent.

BOOM!!

As the fire pillar swallowed the Velvet-Tusk Boar, an explosion rang out, and brilliant firelight shot into the sky, illuminating the surroundings and reflecting in Zhou Ming's eyes, which were widened to their limit in shock.

When the flames dissipated, only a massive carcass remained in its place.

[Killed a Second-rank Dark Species, gained 12 experience points]

With just one strike, the Velvet-Tusk Boar that had been fighting fiercely with everyone for so long vanished from this world.

Lin Chen turned his head to look at Zhou Ming with a questioning look on his face: "By the way, what were you saying just now?"

Zhou Ming's mouth was open, holding his half-propped-up posture, making meaningless gasping sounds in his throat while staring unblinkingly at the still-smoking carcass.

What was he trying to say before?

Oh, to warn Brother Chen to be careful, that it was a very powerful Second-rank pet beast, and to wait for him to recover and help...

Help?

Help with what?

Help by clapping and celebrating Brother Chen easily taking it down?

Could it be that the Flame Claw Beast has also broken through to the Second-rank?

At this moment, Zhou Ming felt like his brain was stalling, his worldview suffering a second impact.

Seeing Zhou Ming dazed and not responding for a long time, Lin Chen didn't mind. He turned his gaze away and looked at the other two Second-rank Dark Species.

In the eyes of others, these Dark Species were in a bizarre state, hideous and purely evil beings.

But in the eyes of the pure-minded Lin Chen, as long as these Dark Species didn't hurt anyone, they were actually quite cute.

After all, they could all provide help for Er Huo's growth.

"Er Huo, next one."