Seeing that head of ice-blue hair, Su Zhi felt his eyes well up with tears. He was like an unlucky kid trafficked to Northern Myanmar who had just been reunited with his mother, bursting with a sense of belonging.
"Captain Sai, help me!"
"He’s one of our kids from the Flying Shadow Alliance. Let him go."
Selena spoke calmly, but her quiet voice held a sharp edge, like a blade being drawn from its sheath.
Then, before Samika could even react, she reached out and plucked Su Zhi from his spot, lifting him up as if he were a chick.
Selena turned to leave, but Samika stepped in front of her.
Samika looked at Selena. "He’s only a summer camper with the Flying Shadow Alliance. He isn’t an official Alliance Member."
"Are you trying to tell me what to do?" Selena glared at Samika.
The tension between them ratcheted up, their glares so intense it seemed sparks might fly.
"My friend from the Flying Shadow Alliance, is it really necessary to raise such a fuss over a mere summer camper?"
Luo Sen walked to Samika’s side and grinned at Selena, revealing two rows of crimson teeth.
"Let’s call a spade a spade. It’s one thing for you to favor Su Zhi, but he hasn’t committed to joining the Flying Shadow Alliance. How can you claim he’s one of your people?"
Selena set Su Zhi down and pulled him behind her. "I could say the same to you. He hasn’t chosen to join your Divine Strategy Alliance, either.
"Su Zhi is the most outstanding camper in his cohort, and he has already expressed interest in joining the Flying Shadow Alliance. I’m sorry, but I can’t concede on this. Senior Luo Sen, I must ask you to stop pursuing Su Zhi."
"Outstanding?
"No! You uncouth brutes could never understand his excellence!"
Luo Sen’s tone suddenly grew fervent, and his body began to tremble violently. The eye-shaped light on his eyepatch pulsed with a flickering red glow.
"He represents the potential to restore the glory of Beast Taming! Only at the Divine Strategy Alliance can his so-called excellence be transformed into true worth! Placing him anywhere else would be an absolute, profligate waste!"
"My apologies. I don’t understand your academic theories."
Selena did her best to keep her voice even. "For now, at least, Su Zhi is resisting your decision. I am taking him back to the Flying Shadow Alliance. Please step aside."
"Interesting. And what if I don’t?"
Luo Sen grinned and took a step forward.
"Don’t forget, you’re on the Divine Strategy Alliance’s turf."
"Senior Luo Sen, please don’t be like this..."
Selena took a step back, a fine sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead, but she never stopped shielding Su Zhi behind her.
"Since you people enjoy resolving issues with violence, we’ll respect your tradition. Let’s settle this according to your customs: a Pet Beast Battle. The winner’s word is final."
As Luo Sen finished speaking, a pale white Beast Taming Light Array, the sign of a Tier One Beast Taming Space, lit up beside him. A green snake as thick as a man’s arm slowly slithered out of the Light Array—
[Pet Beast: Alpha (Cyan Leaf Snake)
Attribute: Wood Element
Race: Low Level Extraordinary
Real-time Energy Value: 100]
It was just the most common, lowest-level grass snake, and its Real-time Energy Value was pathetically weak.
Yet, the moment it appeared, Yu Bao tucked its tail between its legs and shot into Su Zhi’s arms.
To his surprise, Su Zhi realized Yu Bao was afraid.
"HISS—"
Alpha slithered directly onto the fighting stage, taking its position.
Selena bit her lip, told Su Zhi, "It’s fine," and followed Alpha onto the stage.
WHOOSH!
A purple Beast Taming Light Array flared to life. An Extreme Ice Phoenix burst from the Light Array, shaking out its vast and powerful wings.
[Pet Beast: Xue Mei (Extreme Ice Phoenix)
Attribute: Ice Element
Race: Middle Commander
Real-time Energy Value: 15903]
The Quasi-Four-star Level Giant Beast radiated an overwhelming pressure, promising annihilation. The very air around its wings seemed cold enough to freeze one’s soul.
However, fighting alongside such a powerful Giant Beast did not ease Selena’s tension in the slightest.
"Not bad. Worthy of the Flying Shadow Alliance’s Vice Alliance Reserve. Your future is bright."
Luo Sen grinned and took off his eyepatch.
The glowing panel on the eyepatch went dark. At the same time, the eye beneath was revealed. The whites of Luo Sen’s eyes were pitch-black, and his scarlet pupils were as piercing as embers in a pile of coal.
The moment he took off his eyepatch, Alpha’s body was enveloped in a red light.
On the surrounding walls, the snake’s previously thin and smooth shadow grew distorted and immense—
[Pet Beast: Alpha (Cyan Leaf Snake)
Attribute: Wood Element
Race: Low Level Extraordinary
Real-time Energy Value: 100...1342...10312...14239...15903]
Before Su Zhi’s astonished eyes, Alpha’s Energy Value rose until it matched Xue Mei’s, then stopped fluctuating.
It had increased nearly 160-fold.
"Pretty good," Luo Sen said, the smile on his face widening. "Give it a few decades and you might just surpass me."
"And now... let the spar begin!"
...
In the office of the Flying Shadow Alliance’s Leader, Chopper was carefully putting away women’s clothing.
He would soon have to attend the regular Nine Alliance meeting hosted by the Central Imperial Alliance. He figured a few of his more zealous colleagues might come in to tidy up his office for him.
These unmentionable garments had to be guarded as top-secret intelligence.
’If anyone found out, my career as Alliance Leader would be over...’
The door was suddenly kicked open.
"Shit! Don’t you know you’re supposed to announce yourself?!"
A flustered Chopper shoved the women’s clothing under his butt, his face flushing red as he cursed.
An Alliance Member in a light gray uniform ran in hastily, his face covered in sweat. "Alliance Leader? Why aren’t you answering Captain Sai’s calls!"
"Xiaosai needs me for something?"
"She said you need to check your messages, quick!"
"Huh? Is it that urgent? The big meeting’s about to start. Even if it’s an emergency, can’t it wait until after..."
Muttering to himself, Chopper opened his chat interface and froze on the spot—
[Selena: Divine Strategy Alliance is trying to snatch Su Zhi. Get here now.]
A moment later, a surge of pure fury shot through the good-tempered Alliance Leader.