I Become the Baby Tiger in a Beast Taming World

Chapter 134: Chapter 130: Check Your Stats!

This is it.

This is where I find out how I stack up against my competition. And how Lobo measures up, too. Our main competition right now: Ophion and Zuba. But I am sure there are others.

We stand in the arena, awaiting the announcement of each beast’s stats. Of course, the announcer groups the beasts by house. It’s only fair, otherwise it would be chaos.

Kaline provides a telepathic commentary. [Blaze, see the big scoreboard?]

It’s hard to miss. It takes up half the arena on one side. There’s another identical scoreboard on the other side, just so everyone can see the scores no matter where they are sitting. Nevertheless, I let out a "mrrp" to show that I am paying attention.

She scratches my ears. [They won’t get to us for a while. The families from the major cities always go first.]

Ah. Of course.

[So, we just wait patiently.]

Kaline smiles. [Exactly. And we see what your competition is. Maartenwitz bored us all silly with every single profile of every single beast on the road.]

Of course.

Maartenwitz’s lecture lives in my brain, rent-free.

* * * * *

TWO DAYS AGO

"Don’t worry about the city animals," Maartenwitz drones without a hint of irony. "They have bigger arenas, more wealth, more advanced magic."

Sitting in our suite in the Palace of Beasts that is attached to the arena, we beasts all watch Maartenwitz and wonder if he has finally gone round the bend.

Puffing his pipe, Maartenwitz spurts fragrant smoke out of his mouth with every word. "No. Don’t worry about all their obvious advantages. What you need to worry about...is intimidation. Psychology. The idea that these beasts are somehow BETTER than you because of their advantages. Well, I will not have anyone from either of our houses"--he has proudly claimed the House of Lammermoor as well--"thinking or acting inferior to these beasts."

With Peridot partly coiled on his head, Niall folds his arms. He looks like an old-fashioned Indian snake charmer. "Maartenwitz has a point. You will see all those beasts such as Atum the Ruffed Lion of House Nitakret from the city of Quickpeak, Philippus the Iridescent Porcupine of House Nitakret from Quickpeak, Phanias the Jaguar of House Artemidoros from the city of Spiros, Burni the Dragon of House Garatain from the city of Spiros, and many others."

Perking up, Lobo woofs. In the mind-link privately to me and Lightning, he explains the reason for his excitement. [Several of those are our allies. Fellow players.]

Lightning is quick to hear what remains unspoken. [But not others?]

Lobo grimaces, his teeth flashing. [No. Phanias and Burni are not friends. Not just because of System. They’re immature. The others are willing to fight us and help us level up.]

[Sacrifices.] I’m moved to tears, almost, by the other players banding together with us to take down System. [So, we fight Atum and Philippus with everything we have.]

Lobo woofs. [And many others. They’re willing to take a dive for us.]

Maartenwitz’s voice snaps us back to attention. "All of you! This is important. Look sharp."

* * * * *

PRESENT

The four beasts that Maartenwitz talked about are being announced.

[Name: [Atum]

[Class: [Expert]

[Race: [Ruffed Lion

[Level: 10/10 [XP 40/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 97

[Defense: 95

[Magic: 90

[Resistance: 92

[Speed: 95

[Charisma: 93

[Luck: 91

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [F (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill){Telepathy](Skill)[Procreation (Skill)[Super Jump (Skill)]

_______________

[Name: [Philippus]

[Class: [Expert]

[Race: [Iridescent Porcupine

[Level:10/10 [XP 30/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 94

[Defense: 91

[Magic: 90

[Resistance: 89

[Speed: 91

[Charisma: 95

[Luck: 94

[Skills: [Needles (Attack Skill] [Bite (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Escape Power (Skill){Divine Vision/(Skill)[Telepathy](Skill)[Procreation (Skill)[Super Jump (Skill)]

___________________

[Name: [Phanias]

[Class: [Expert]

[Race: [Common Jaguar

[Level: 10/10 [XP 30/100 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: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill){Divine Vision/(Skill)[Telepathy](Skill)[Procreation (Skill)[Super Jump (Skill)]

_________________

[Name: [Burni]

[Class: [Expert]

[Race: [Common Dragon

[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] [Flying (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Fire Breath (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill){Divine Vision/(Skill)[Telepathy](Skill)[Procreation (Skill)[Super Jump (Skill)]

___________________

I seize up our two enemies and two allies in the guise of enemies.

Burni unfurls her magnificent green-gold wings and spurts flame. Her sleek, powerful grace is terrifying. The stare from her yellow eyes radiates pure cold animosity. Killer instinct.

Beside her, Phanias the Jaguar extends his claws and snarls, throwing back his head. Like Burni, his gaze is hardly collegial.

[They belong to me.]

System. Naturally. I ignore it. So does Lobo. Lightning chooses not to engage. Her warmth washes over me, and through her, I feel Finn and Leonie. They are my strength now.

Next, we turn to our allies. Atum the Ruffed Lion stands taller than I and reminds me of Mufasa from The Lion King. His eyes glitter with fierce competitive spirit. No telepathy is exchanged, but I feel a sense of solidarity. Next to him, quills shining with multicolored light, Philippus the Iridescent Porcupine has a wise expression. He also has one extra foot. Five paws? That’s either a mutation or typical of his species.

The stats from the bigger cities whiz by until our names and stats are displayed in full color on the twin screens. We stand extra strong, proud, defiant, dignified. Peridot levitates in the air and hovers above Niall. Gussie soars gracefully. I only wish that Lightning were with us.

___________________

[Name: [Blaze]

[Class: [Journeyman]

[Race: [Common Tiger

[Level: 6/10 [XP 30/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 62

[Defense: 54

[Magic: 50

[Resistance: 55

[Speed: 59

[Charisma: 67

[Luck: 61

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill){Divine Vision/(Skill)[Telepathy](Skill)[Procreation (Skill)[Super Jump (Skill)]

___________________

[Name: [Demos]

[Class: [Journeyman]

[Race: [Common Brown Bear]

[Level: 6/10 [XP 30/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 62

[Defense: 51

[Magic: 51

[Resistance: 53

[Speed: 55

[Charisma: 69

[Luck: 60

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill) [Telepathy(Skill)]

____________

[Name: [Gussie]

[Class: [Novice]

[Race: [Tropical Parrot

[Level: 3/10 [XP 40/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 24

[Defense: 22

[Magic: 23

[Resistance: 21

[Speed: 25

[Charisma: 28

[Luck: 20

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Fly (Attack Skill)] [Speak (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Telepathy(Skill]

_____________

[Name: [Lobo]

[Class: [Journeyman]

[Race: [Common Wolf]

[Level: 6/10 [XP 30/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 62

[Defense: 50

[Magic: 51

[Resistance: 53

[Speed: 55

[Charisma: 62

[Luck: 61

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill) [Telepathy(Skill)]

___________________

[Name: Peridot

[Class: Novice

[Race: Flying Jungle Snake

[Level: 3/10 [XP 25/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 24

[Defense: 22

[Magic: 23

[Resistance: 21

[Speed: 25

[Charisma: 28

[Luck: 20

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Crush (Attack Skill)] [Flying (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skill] [Escape Power (Skill) [Telepathy(Skill)]

___________________

[Name: Einswine

[Class: Expert

[Race: Boar

[Level: 10/10 [XP 20/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 120

[Defense: 100

[Magic: 90

[Resistance: 85

[Speed: 89

[Charisma: 99

[Luck: 100

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Stampede (Attack Skill)] [Hunting (Skill)] [Telepathy(Skill)][Charging (Skill]

___________________

[Name: Ophion

[Class: Advanced

[Race: Northern Python

[Level: 8/10 [XP 35/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 70

[Defense: 70

[Magic: 65

[Resistance: 62

[Speed: 71

[Charisma:75

[Luck: 73

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Crush (Attack Skill)] [Flying (Skill)][Telepathy (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skill]

___________________

[Name: Zuba

[Class: Advanced

[Race: Baboon

[Level: 8/10 [XP 35/100 STATUS: Full

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

[Strength: 61

[Defense: 55

[Magic: 69

[Resistance: 60

[Speed: 65

[Charisma:75

[Luck: 70

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Crush (Attack Skill)][Telepathy (Skill)] [Using Tools (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skill]

___________________

Ophion and Zuba glower at us. Naturally, they oppose us too.

[They’re coming around to our side.] Lobo keeps his tail still, his posture aggressive. On paper, Ophion and Zuba are our enemies. [We will still have to fight them. Individually, and then we’ll double-team them during the final bout should they make it that far. They’re not as advanced as the others.]

The parade of stats continues, and I commit many of them to memory. Anything that I don’t memorize, Lobo has, and Lightning is a masterful observer. Maybe System made a mistake sidelining her. She’s our secret weapon.

The announcer concludes, "Those are our champions, everyone! The first rounds will begin shortly. Matches will be selected at random. Beasts, clear the arena. The first bouts will begin in one hour."

Now we wait! Whatever happens, I’m ready for it. This is it! The final countdown.