Spirit Taming

Chapter 472: Better Suited

'Earth drilling rat egg- common

The earth drilling rat is similar to any rat. It enjoys eating grains and any food it can find left behind by other beasts or humans. Instead of the normal teeth a rat has, the earth drilling rat forms a tough beak of stone to be able to drill in to the earth. It also uses this to attack other rats.

It lacks the ability to grow and is only ever known to become a larger earth drilling rat, fondly called a drilling rat king. But that is not at all an evolution or powerful change in the beast whatsoever.

The earth drilling rats are the favorite food for…'

The first egg that Clark gave a look to was a disappointment. It was a pest species. However, the next five eggs were all the same. This gambling on random eggs was something that would easily bankrupt a small merchant. It would cost a decent amount of silver to have someone evaluate a beast egg with a guarantee that they knew what beast was within.

Furthermore, those that purchased them would have to sell them as beast food for other beasts. A loss of profit since each egg here was at least going to be a few silver coins. This was without being identified by an educated tamer who studied the beast breeding and egg process.

Therefore, those eggs with proof that they were a certain beast already cost multiple silver coins, if not a whole gold coin. Not that they had the real valuable beast eggs here. Those were sent to auctions.

"Don't have such a sour look young man. You said you would purchase a lot. Look at all of these beast eggs." The merchant in charge of the massive table was pushing a little. He wanted to snag Clark's money without any more effect since Clark had been so haughty before. "These are all from an egg shop. It closed down when the master of the shop passed away without an heir.

That means these are all eggs from his shop. A few are even in the large scale auction tonight. Invite only of course."

"Oh? So this wasn't just gathered from merchants and tossed together? How lucky. That means I will be seeing those other eggs tonight." The merchant froze. He hadn't expected that someone here would actually be attending the large auction. That was something many that shopped for goods at the bulk markets couldn't touch.

"Hey kid, don't take that egg. Take the one next to it. You two are more suited for each other." Clark stopped a younger looking child trying to choose an egg. From the appearance, the kid was here to purchase a beast egg that was cheaper. He had reached out for one of the cheapest eggs that Clark had already glanced at.

"Umm, but i need-"

"I know you want to pick a cheap one. But look at your spirit beast beside you, it's a mud crawler. An earth and water affinity beast with a tough mud shell. You won't want a beast that might clash with it. The egg here is called a mud man. It is a beast that is water and earth as well.

It could hide on the shell of your mud crawler and attack or defend. It should help more."

Clark hadn't put much attention on the slightly stunned merchant. Instead, he had caught the boy in his eye. The small brown crablike beast that clearly had a shell made of mud was on the little boy's shoulder. There was just a feeling that Clark would be doing something wrong if he let him take the earth drilling rat with him.

A beast that would most likely try and drill through the shell of his other beast causing a clash.

"But how can you tell? They are both unmarked?" The boy was hesitant. This was a stranger after all.

"I have some good eyes. If you don't trust me, then I will pay for it. I will be buying a few beasts here. Specifically, three mud men here." Clark had spotted the mud men first and was sure that he could take them away for a profit. They could grow in to mud giants if treated properly.

'Mud man- uncommon

The mud man is a beast of water and earth affinity. They can slowly grow in mud puddles or breed with one another by splitting off half their bodies to create a new mud man. They take the shape of a rough human figure made of mud. This is similar to slime type beast but the mud man does not have a core. It instead resides within the mud that makes up its body.

Therefore, they can reform from the smaller amounts of mud left.

While losing parts of their body greatly weakens a mud man, their resilience is what makes them powerful. Even if they grow to become a mud giant over time, they can be destroyed and recovered from a small piece. That piece can become a mud man and grow again which normally makes it more powerful.

The mud man needs water and earth type growth materials such as..'

Clark paid for the four eggs, taking three for himself and handing the third to the boy. "And don't say you need to pay me back. Just make sure you grow up and make it in to Terra Academy. If you ever meet someone named Purple, tell them that Clark helped you pick out a second beast once upon a time. He will remember me." Clark saw the boy's eyes widen. He knew exactly who Purple was.

An idol of their city.

The merchant also listened and wondered just who this kid was. He clearly could go elsewhere instead of this shabby bulk market. But he was also willing to help this random boy without even batting an eye. Just to help him have a beast that was better suited to him. "Alright, let's keep looking at these eggs…" Clark changed his view again to return to his task.

'Pale mole…

Green glow work…

Rough tailed rat…

Stalactite monkey- rare

The stalactite money is a very unique earth type beast. It is born on the ceilings of caves and lives there its entire life. It uses its innate earth typing to maintain a hold on the stalactites. It also drinks dripping water from them to regain nutrients. It also hunts the beasts that dare to fly or crawl too close to the ceiling.

It has the potential to grow in to a cave collapsing money if it is able to consume the proper materials such as…'

Clark didn't even have to read much of what was in the analysis. He grabbed up the egg immediately and kept looking. His search found many more of the previous weaker beasts that they wouldn't be able to sell. However, he managed to find one egg that made no sense being in an earth related environment like this.

'Kelpie- rare

The kelpie is a water type beast that looks similar to a horse crossed with a fish. It also has some seaweed that makes up its hair. It is known for helping some and also eating others that come in to its territory. It enjoys the sun and the waters of lakes or beaches. It depends on how it is raised in what it will prefer, saltwater or freshwater.

They have a very powerful potential to control water and attack at will. This makes them one of the best beasts to use when guarding a small location since they have both long and close ranged attacks. It depends on the location though. Not that this changes the popularity of the kelpie.

They are often able to grow…'

"There are not any lakes or saltwater beaches around here, correct?" Clark saw the confusion on the merchant's face. But his eyes became a little clearer upon thinking.

"One nearby dungeon is called the seaside oasis. It is populated by many beasts that should not be this close to land." The merchant knew that he had just won some major points.

"Ah, so that's how you have this egg. I didn't expect a seafaring beast to be here. I will throw in an extra silver coin for it." Clark paid for the egg and kept looking, but out of the large table, he found nothing more to be interested in. but during his focused analysis of the table, the boy that he had helped ran off. It seemed that excitement could only be contained for so long.

"Well, I would say I gave everything a fair look. You had some good eggs here. If you look for business in the future you might be able to sell to us. My name is Clark, I am from Nova Academy. You should have heard rumors about my classmates and business partners taking the first year tournament as our own this year." Clark left the stunned merchant where he stood.

He knew he had just dealt a tough blow since it would stun anyone that had heard the rumors.