Chapter 203 - 3: Training the War Rhinoceros and a New Paper

Chapter 203: Chapter 3: Training the War Rhinoceros and a New Paper

Mo Ning couldn’t help but shake his head and called out, "Barce!"

He saw War Rhino Barce’s intentions at a glance. The big fella was about to use its head to knock Andy to the ground, then kick dirt all over him.

This made it clear that Barce really didn’t like Andy.

Mo Ning felt the teasing was going too far, so he decided to stop it.

War Rhino Barce glanced at Mo Ning, gave a soft snort, then turned and walked away.

Andy stood rooted to the spot, practically exploding with jealousy and hatred.

He couldn’t understand it. Barce was the War Rhino he was responsible for, yet it obeyed Mo Ning after he said just a single word.

Why?

’This damn world!’

Mo Ning glanced at "Mr. Snot’s" expression and knew the man resented him even more now.

But he didn’t care. He just gave a slight shake of his head.

’Only the mediocre escape envy. If the guy wants to be jealous, let him.’

Mo Ning’s only regret was shouting out to begin with, just because he’d felt a bit sorry for the ungrateful wretch.

’Since War Rhino Barce enjoys teasing the fool, I should have just let it have its fun.’

Mo Ning beckoned to War Rhinoceros Kent and called out, "Kent, come here! I’ll give you a good brushing!"

With that, he turned and strode toward the tool shed.

"RROOOAR—!"

War Rhinoceros Kent let out an excited bellow, springing up from the ground and charging toward Mo Ning on all fours.

The massive creature weighed several tons. Its iron hooves pounded the ground, creating a muffled THUD-THUD-THUD that sent bits of dirt jumping into the air.

It quickly closed the distance to just three meters, its massive frame about to slam into Mo Ning’s back.

Andy, standing not far off, stared intently at the scene, desperately hoping the War Rhino would slam right into him and send the detestable Mo Ning flying.

But he was disappointed.

War Rhinoceros Kent suddenly slammed on the brakes, coming to a stop that seemed to defy the laws of physics.

This was the Talent Ability of the Iron-Horned War Rhinoceros.

The iconic Iron Horn on its forehead possessed a wondrous ability: absorbing kinetic energy.

It had managed this counterintuitive, abrupt halt by instantly transferring the kinetic energy of its charge into its Iron Horn.

After stopping, it even remembered to gently nuzzle Mo Ning’s back with its huge head.

War Rhinoceros Kent had perfect control over its strength and proximity. Its head barely touched Mo Ning’s blue robe, and the force was so perfectly gentle it was no stronger than a caress.

After its nuzzle, it became like a docile kitten, meekly following behind Mo Ning.

Andy watched from a dozen meters away, the sight so galling it made his eyes ache.

He couldn’t help but glance over at War Rhino Barce, which only made his heart ache with frustration.

’That kid Mo Ning has only been here a month. How did he get an ill-tempered War Rhino to be so completely docile?’

When he had first entered Taming Room 27, he’d heard that Barce had a better temperament than Kent, which was why he had specifically chosen it.

But after the two scenes that had just unfolded, a deep suspicion took root in Andy’s mind. ’Was that bastard Apprentice deliberately lying to me?’

He suppressed his doubts and silently cast the [Clean] Trick to start clearing the disgusting snot from his face.

The stuff was incredibly sticky. A single casting of the Trick wasn’t nearly enough to get it off; he would have to cast it several more times.

「Twenty-something meters away.」

War Rhinoceros Kent stood quietly outside the tool shed, waiting for Mo Ning’s "royal treatment."

When it saw Mo Ning walk out carrying a stiff-bristled brush, it got so excited it snorted twice in a row, the very picture of impatience.

Mo Ning laughed. "Alright, alright, I’m coming!"

He walked over to the War Rhino’s neck, gripped the meter-long, stiff-bristled brush with both hands, and began brushing vigorously.

Andy watched him secretly for a while, completely bewildered.

To him, Mo Ning’s movements looked incredibly stiff. The intervals between his brushstrokes were uneven, and the pressure he applied was inconsistent.

He looked for all the world like some clumsy oaf brushing a War Rhino for the very first time.

But when Andy glanced at Kent, he saw the behemoth’s eyes were slightly narrowed, the very picture of bliss.

On one hand, the amateurish technique; on the other, the blissful War Rhino.

The stark contrast utterly baffled Andy.

He had spied on Mo Ning brushing before and had even tried to copy his methods on Barce.

At the time, War Rhino Barce had seen him pick up the brush and had eagerly approached, clearly thrilled.

Andy had been filled with joy, thinking he’d finally found the secret. But things took a completely unexpected turn.

After only a dozen strokes, War Rhino Barce started squirming and bellowing restlessly.

At the time, Andy had assumed Barce didn’t like its neck being brushed, so he moved on to its belly.

But after just three strokes, Barce suddenly whipped its tail, snorted, and walked right away from him.

Andy was taken aback for a moment. Unwilling to give up, he grabbed the brush and chased after it, attempting to brush the War Rhino a few more times.

But Barce lost its temper. It took a sharp step back and savagely slammed its rear—a full size larger than a washbasin—into his shoulder.

Caught completely off guard, Andy was sent sprawling to the ground, landing flat on his back.

Thoroughly chastened, he could only walk away in disgrace.

Andy tried again later, but the moment War Rhino Barce saw him with the brush, it bolted, leaving Andy standing there, red-faced and embarrassed.

「Meanwhile.」

Mo Ning was meticulously brushing War Rhinoceros Kent.