SPLASH—
The moment Luo Sen’s voice fell, a monstrous torrent instantly erupted on the platform, roaring as it engulfed Yu Bao.
The Turbulent Duck’s Racial Skill—Turbulent Shroud!
The cubicle was made with special soundproofing materials, so the roaring cascade, like that of a Giant Beast, didn’t disturb the tranquility of the research lab.
Even so, the mere sight of the colossal wave crashing down like a mountain was enough to inspire terror!
Yu Bao instinctively tensed up, quickly activating its Yellow Earth Wall and Quicksand Shield, then used Thick Earth Blessing to buff the Quicksand Shield, the Yellow Earth Wall, and itself.
BOOM!
The torrent of water crashed down like a world-ending meteor. The arena was instantly shrouded in white spray, creating an effect almost comparable to activating White Mist.
The spray receded...
The Quicksand Shield had already disintegrated, and the Yellow Earth Wall was on the verge of collapse. Yu Bao gasped for breath, the Golden Light around its body growing faint, its fur completely soaked by the torrent.
The attack’s area of effect was simply too massive. Yu Bao had no way to dodge and could only defend its position.
However, compared to a traditional Yu Dian Dog, defense was not Yu Bao’s strong suit.
Even with the triple buff of Quicksand Shield, Yellow Earth Wall, and Thick Earth Blessing, blocking that terrifying strike had consumed nearly all of Yu Bao’s Energy!
Yu Bao panted, "Woof..."
’Jeez, this big duck is terrifying!’
’Xue Li is way cuter!’
...
"Woof?"
Noticing no response from the Beast Taming Space, Yu Bao froze. It quickly realized: this platform had a function that severed the connection between Tamer and pet, just like the White Flame Battle Spirit’s Extreme Sword Prison!
"Oh! The little doggo’s defensive capabilities are quite solid~" Qiu Yulian nodded with a bright smile.
"The Turbulent Duck is a Water Element Strong Attack Type Pet Beast. Even a One-star Earth Element Pet Beast would find it hard to withstand its assault..."
Luo Sen’s eyes glinted with excitement. "I never expected a Yu Dian Dog to be able to do this much! It seems my hypothesis was correct after all!"
The conversation outside didn’t affect the progress within the individual cubicles in the slightest.
In the arena, the Turbulent Duck shook its feathers and launched another wave of attacks:
Countless light-blue Light Arrays materialized around it, array overlapping array, rune overlapping rune, forming a gigantic screen that nearly spanned one side of the arena.
Then, all the Light Arrays flashed brightly. Raging torrents shot out, blanketing Yu Bao with the density of machine-gun fire!
A Water Element Middle Elite Skill, the Advanced Skill of High-pressure Water Gun—Strong Current Strangulation!
"Woof-arf!"
Even though it had temporarily lost its connection with Su Zhi, Yu Bao’s response was remarkably calm.
This time, it didn’t resort to a passive defensive strategy. Instead, it decisively activated Desert Concealment and charged head-on against the current.
In truth, this was almost a blessing from fate.
If the Turbulent Duck had used Turbulent Shroud again, Yu Bao would have had no chance to struggle and would have been taken out on the spot.
But it had used Strong Current Strangulation, a Skill equivalent to High-pressure Water Gun Plus.
Compared to the high-density barrage of Turbulent Shroud, Strong Current Strangulation had some gaps.
Yu Bao had read this weakness exactly, seizing a chance for survival from a desperate situation and staking everything on this one fight!
SWISH!
The sandstorm passed through the dense torrents, landing in a blind spot of the Light Arrays’ attack. Yu Bao’s form solidified again behind the Turbulent Duck’s left rear.
At the same time, the sand rapidly converged into a blade, transforming into an unstoppable Furious Sand Blade that shot toward the Turbulent Duck!
SWISH! SWISH!
The Turbulent Duck was prepared, having already gathered four offensive Light Arrays. Two of them calibrated and fired streams of water, blasting the Furious Sand Blade head-on.
Simultaneously, the other two Light Arrays fired backward, also spewing raging torrents.
Yu Bao, which had moved in early for a sneak attack, was stunned. However, without a point to leverage, it couldn’t activate Desert Concealment.
In its haste, Yu Bao used its Sand Manipulation Technique to ascend quickly, putting distance between itself and the Turbulent Duck on the ground.
The Turbulent Duck flapped its wings a few times and also took to the air, but after realizing it couldn’t match Yu Bao’s speed, it stopped chasing, folded its wings, and returned to the ground.
Yu Bao breathed a sigh of relief. But when it looked up again, it saw the enormous Light Array that had already appeared overhead.
At that moment, Yu Bao finally understood the kind of crushing pressure 004 must have felt when facing Xue Li’s ultimate move in the semifinals...
BOOM!!!
"Stop! Stop it right now!"
Su Zhi grabbed Luo Sen by the collar, his emotions spiraling out of control.
"Yu Bao is exhausted! It’s no match for that Turbulent Duck! Its life will be in danger if this continues!"
"Life in danger? Are you kidding me?"
Luo Sen scoffed and pushed him away.
"What do you think evolution is? Playing house? An exam? Just doing your best is good enough? It’s okay as long as you have no regrets?
"No! Evolution has always been accompanied by life-and-death struggles. The winner advances, the loser perishes! That is the final destination of life, and it has never changed since the dawn of time!"
"But..."
Su Zhi’s throat tightened as he looked toward the platform in the cubicle.
The torrent from the Broken Waterfall Judgment gradually dissipated. Underneath this apocalyptic wave, it seemed any defense, no matter how sturdy, would crumble to dust.
Wave after wave of spray and water crashed against the Energy Barrier. Everything on the field was shrouded in a haze, with visibility even lower than that of Tier Two White Mist.
However, as the spray and water receded, Su Zhi once again saw that small figure.
Even though its fur was soaked and the Golden Light on its body was incredibly faint, Yu Bao struggled to its feet and faced its opponent.
Su Zhi was surprised to find that under the pressure of this desperate situation, the duration and recovery speed of Yu Bao’s Thick Earth Blessing had visibly improved!
Just then, Yu Bao turned its head, and its gaze met Su Zhi’s.
Even with their connection through the Beast Taming Space severed, Su Zhi understood the look in Yu Bao’s eyes—
’I can still fight!’
"Su Zhi, Xiaosai has told me about you. In an era dominated by instrumental rationality, you’re one of the few Beast Tamers who invests genuine emotion in their Pet Beasts."
Qiu Yulian also looked at Su Zhi, the young man’s face reflected in her bright, charming eyes.
"If that’s the case, then you should have even more faith that your Pet Beast can do it. Don’t you think?"
"...Yeah!"
Su Zhi clenched his fists.
In that moment, both Tamer and pet turned their gazes to the Turbulent Duck opposite them, their resolve unwavering.
’Let’s just do this!’
"Quack!"
The Turbulent Duck charged forward on the waves, and Turbulent Shroud surged forth once more.
This time, however, Yu Bao didn’t defend or dodge. It met the attack with its own, using a Sandstorm to push right back!
The Turbulent Duck was astonished to find that the sand—which should have been ordinary and easily dispersed by its attack—was now shimmering with Golden Light and had actually pierced through the water curtain!
In the dual despair of losing contact with its master and facing a powerful foe, Yu Bao’s Thick Earth Blessing unleashed more powerful Energy than ever before.
No retreat, no defeat, no quarter.
Only battle! Only evolution!
The Turbulent Duck hastily activated a Flowing Shield, blocking the last vestiges of the Sandstorm’s power.
However, before it could mount a counterattack, Yu Bao was already upon it.
It unleashed Furious Sand Blade, shimmering with Golden Light—but unlike any time before, this Furious Sand Blade was burning with vivid, crimson flames!
Outside the cubicle, Su Zhi stared in surprise at the vigorously burning flames. "This is..."
"This is ’Sub-attribute Awakening’."
Luo Sen grinned, revealing a mouth full of eerie, red teeth.
"I believe you’ve had Yu Bao absorb resources with the Fire Attribute before. By now, it has accumulated a fair amount of Fire Element Energy within its body.
"Although the Yu Dian Dog is an Earth Element Pet Beast, it is born with the potential to control Fire Element Energy, which it will release when induced or suppressed. If you think back carefully, you’ll realize Yu Bao has actually done it once before."
"The City League!"
Su Zhi’s eyes flew wide open.
In the finals, when Yu Bao transformed into a Furious Sand Blade and charged at 004, it was burning with vivid, crimson flames.
Because the White Flame Battle Spirit had the Fire Attribute, Su Zhi hadn’t given it much thought at the time. But now, with Luo Sen’s reminder, he immediately realized something was off:
All of the White Flame Battle Spirit’s flames were white, so how could they have triggered crimson flames?
"From the look on your face, I see you’ve figured it out."
Luo Sen nodded in approval.
"Correct. The flames in that City League final were an ’induced’ release. A powerful opponent with the Fire Attribute triggered a resonance in Yu Bao’s own Attribute, allowing it to temporarily gain control over flames.
"The downside to an ’induced’ release is that it builds up a resistance. Now, unless a Fire Element Pet Beast far stronger than that White Flame Battle Spirit appears, it would be difficult to make the Fire Element Energy inside Yu Bao resonate again.
"Therefore, I opted for the other method: a ’suppressed’ release. The Water Element Turbulent Duck has a natural advantage over Fire Element Pet Beasts. When the Fire Element inside Yu Bao perceived a powerful threat from its opposing Attribute, it would accelerate its awakening."
Su Zhi asked hurriedly, "So what’s Yu Bao’s current condition?"
Hearing Su Zhi’s question, Luo Sen grinned, revealing a mouth full of unsettling red teeth.
"Absolutely perfect!"
BEEP—
A green light suddenly lit up on the platform. The Turbulent Duck blinked and ceased its attack.
[Assignable Attribute Points... 0.20]
Having gotten carried away by its flame awakening, Yu Bao had just struck a "this little kitty’s got claws" pose to face the next attack, only to find its opponent had suddenly stopped. It tilted its head in confusion.
"Quack," the Turbulent Duck vocalized, indicating the fight was over. It then gave a thumbs-up with its wing.
’You’re pretty good, little bro.’
"Woof." Yu Bao waved its paw shyly.
’Bao, you really can’t take a compliment, can you...’ Su Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he watched the scene on the platform.
Once the cubicle fully opened, an impatient Yu Bao immediately leaped back into Su Zhi’s arms with a cry, nuzzling him again and again.
’Waaah! It’s been so long! I missed you so much, Su Zhi!’
"It’s only been ten minutes," Su Zhi retorted, but he still lovingly rubbed the little guy’s head.
’Fighting a Pet Beast that powerful and of a higher tier, Yu Bao must have suffered so much, endured so much... ’
’Huh? It doesn’t seem to be injured at all?’
’In fact, it even looks a little healthier?’
"I set up a special charging field for the battle platform. Any Pet Beast marked by the field will be continuously replenished with Energy."
Luo Sen explained leisurely, "After all, I couldn’t let your Pet Beast get truly injured."
Su Zhi was furious. "Then why didn’t you say so from the beginning?? You were acting so serious just now!"
Luo Sen grinned. "Where’s the fun in that? If I’d told you earlier, how could I have scared you?"
"..."
Su Zhi’s mouth twitched. He was speechless.
’Sure enough, the line between a genius and a madman is sometimes very blurry.’
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