Dark Shadow Control, a high-tier skill.
It is a skill that allows one to control a target's movements by manipulating their shadow through shadows.
As the skill's proficiency increases, the shadows can break through surface limitations and transform into physical attacks, shifting from two dimensions to three. It is a powerful skill that provides both control and offensive capabilities.
Qiao Sang fell silent.
The feeling was like this: she knew this was a tempting game and had used her willpower to resist it, but in the next second, someone told her that by playing this game, there was a certain chance of winning a million-dollar cash prize.
That's right, Dark Shadow Control was that million-dollar prize.
This was a high-tier skill!
If she were to find a professional pet training institution in reality to learn this, it wouldn't be possible without a seven-figure sum.
Moreover, it was highly likely that Ya Bao had been able to exceed the conventional energy range during the primary stage only after learning Mars Rain.
By the same logic, if Little Treasure Ghost could learn Dark Shadow Control, would its energy value also be able to exceed the norm?
Thinking of this, Qiao Sang was instantly tempted.
What did it matter if there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance? Weren't there still pets that could learn skills through virtual helmets? If that were the case, why couldn't that pet be Little Treasure Ghost!
"Xun?"
Little Treasure Ghost noticed something strange about its Beast Tamer and tilted its head.
"It's nothing, I'm just thinking about the skill you're going to learn next," Qiao Sang said.
"Xun?"
Little Treasure Ghost tilted its head again.
What skill?
"Dark Shadow Control. Once you learn it, you'll basically be invincible among pets of the same rank," Qiao Sang answered.
However, before Little Treasure Ghost could react, Ya Bao, who was standing nearby, heard this and its eyes lit up. It excitedly leaned in front of its Beast Tamer to make its presence known.
"Ya!"
"Ya ya!"
It wanted to learn too!
Qiao Sang said heartlessly, "This is a skill that only Ghost-type pets can learn. You can't learn it."
"Ya..."
Ya Bao's ears instantly drooped.
Qiao Sang comforted it, "Haven't you noticed that you're already an invincible existence among pets of the same level? The Mars Rain you know is an exclusive high-tier Fire-type skill; Little Treasure Ghost can't learn it."
"Ya!"
Ya Bao thought about it and decided its Beast Tamer made sense. Its ears immediately stood up again, and it even reached out a paw to pat Little Treasure Ghost on the head, signaling it to study hard.
"Xun..."
Little Treasure Ghost nodded helplessly.
In truth, it was currently only interested in evolution. What was the point of being invincible among the same rank if it didn't help it evolve?
Qiao Sang didn't know its inner thoughts and simply assumed Little Treasure Ghost had agreed. Still worried, she added a reminder: "You can study for a maximum of two hours a day. Don't exceed that."
"Xun..."
Little Treasure Ghost curled its lip.
Were two hours too many...
Qiao Sang paused for a moment and smiled, "Try it first. If you feel two hours is too much, you can rest early."
"Xun!"
Hearing this, Little Treasure Ghost suddenly perked up.
Seeing Little Treasure Ghost's reaction, Ya Bao shook its head from the side.
The little brother is no good; as expected, it'll still have to rely on itself for fighting in the future.
Qiao Sang took the disc from Little Treasure Ghost's paw and inserted it into the virtual helmet's drive slot.
The virtual helmet didn't need to be connected to a power source to start; as long as it was charged, it could be used outdoors like a mobile phone. Looking at the green indicator light that flashed after starting, it was clear the virtual helmet had power.
Qiao Sang placed the virtual helmet on Little Treasure Ghost's head and instructed, "Don't panic once you're inside. Just watch. If you need to do something, there will be prompts inside."
Little Treasure Ghost looked bewildered. Before it could understand why it had to wear a helmet to learn a skill, it felt a slight tingling sensation where the metal touched its head, and then its consciousness rapidly sank.
Boom!
"Respected player, welcome to the teaching world of Dark Shadow Control."
...
"Ya?"
Ya Bao curiously circled around Little Treasure Ghost, who was wearing the virtual helmet, occasionally tapping the helmet on its head with its paw.
Wasn't it learning a skill? How could it learn while wearing this thing without moving?
Qiao Sang squatted down beside them to check the remaining four discs and explained, "Once it wears this helmet, someone inside will teach it."
Ya Bao froze for a moment, then wagged its tail and looked at its Beast Tamer with shining eyes.
"Ya!"
"Ya ya!"
It wanted to wear one and learn skills too!
Qiao Sang: "..."
*Do you think your head size matches this virtual helmet...* Naturally, Qiao Sang wouldn't say this out loud.
She looked up at Ya Bao and said seriously, "Nine out of ten pets who wear this fail to learn the skill. Moreover, virtual helmets are for lazier pets. You are so smart and diligent that you have no need for this."
Ya Bao paused, recalling the scenes where Little Treasure Ghost often lay motionless on its Beast Tamer's head.
Indeed, the little brother was too lazy.
"Ya!"
Ya Bao nodded, completely agreeing with its Beast Tamer's words.
After fooling Ya Bao, Qiao Sang lowered her head to continue checking the remaining discs.
Hypnosis, Shadow Ball, Substitute, Taunt.
All of them were skills suitable for Ghost-type pets.
This mission was worth it... Qiao Sang couldn't help but lament.
Aside from Hypnosis, the other three were skills that Little Treasure Ghost currently didn't know but could learn.
Shadow Ball, an offensive skill, was a preferred attacking method among Ghost-type pets.
Substitute required one-fourth of the user's maximum energy to create and could block some move damage and effects.
In a sense, Substitute was similar to Shadow Clone, but compared to Shadow Clone, Substitute was more deceptive.
A Shadow Clone might dissipate after a trip or taking some damage.
But a Substitute would not.
After all, this skill was created using a quarter of the body's total energy, making it more durable.
As for Taunt...
Looking at the disc for the Taunt skill in her hand, Qiao Sang fell silent.
The first thing she thought of was the scene in the secret room of the sewer where Little Treasure Ghost gave the middle finger to the clone puppet.
If the data page for Little Treasure Ghost in the Beast Encyclopedia hadn't lacked the Taunt skill, she would have suspected it had already mastered it instinctively.
Qiao Sang silently placed the Taunt disc at the very bottom.
A skill with zero damage that only draws aggro... it was better left unlearned.
...
Two hours later, Little Treasure Ghost took off the virtual helmet, looking as if it hadn't had enough.
"How do you feel?" Qiao Sang asked immediately.
"Xun!"
Little Treasure Ghost looked at its Beast Tamer and gave a thumbs-up in affirmation.
The feeling was simply fantastic!
"It's good that it feels okay." Qiao Sang said worriedly, "Remember, a maximum of two hours a day."
"Xun~"
Little Treasure Ghost patted its chest with its paw as a guarantee.
That night.
Qiao Sang and Ya Bao went to sleep on time.
Little Treasure Ghost first floated in front of Qiao Sang and stared at her for five seconds. Still uneasy, it extended a short claw to lift her eyelid and peek; seeing no reaction, it finally felt relieved.
Then it floated over to Ya Bao and circled around once.
After confirming that both its Beast Tamer and Ya Bao were asleep, Little Treasure Ghost floated to the virtual helmet and carefully placed it on its head, then imitated its Beast Tamer's movements and pressed the virtual helmet twice.
Boom!
"Respected player, welcome to the teaching world of Dark Shadow Control."
Little Treasure Ghost looked excitedly at the illusory space before its eyes.
Amidst its excitement, it didn't forget to comfort itself.
It wasn't doing this for fun; everything was for the sake of learning the skill and becoming invincible among its rank!
(End of Chapter)