Accompanied by the ring announcer’s commentary, Su Zhi and Yu Bao walked onto the stage.
Walking onto the stage at the same time was a tall, skinny boy. His glasses reflected a purple glint under the spotlights.
Following behind him, a slender, blue, long-tailed Pet Beast floated in the air on currents of Water. Its deep blue, vertical pupils sized up Yu Bao with a hint of apprehension.
"Woof." Yu Bao gave a crooked grin and pulled out a pair of aviator sunglasses, putting them on.
’You’re awestruck by my magnificent presence, aren’t you? I agree, I’m pretty intimidating.’
Su Zhi: "..."
Gao Yuxiang: "..."
Azure Wave Claw: "..."
It had, in fact, been a little scared, but now, suddenly, not so much anymore.
"Ahem. My Pet Beast is just a bit... lively," Su Zhi coughed, trying to ease the awkwardness.
"It’s fine!"
The tall and skinny Gao Yuxiang pushed up his glasses, his tone friendly. "Your Pet Beast is pretty amazing, having an Evolutionary Type so early. I probably can’t beat you... Let’s have a good match!"
"Likewise." Su Zhi scanned the Azure Wave Claw opposite him, his expression not entirely relaxed.
[Pet Beast: Netherworld (Azure Wave Claw)
Attribute: Water Element
Race: Low Level Elite
Real-time Energy Value: 2001]
’Its Real-time Energy Value just broke past the One-star mark. It seems my opponent is also a powerhouse whose Beast Taming Space has reached Tier Two.’
One had to remember that the campers who could attend the summer camp were already the best of the best from their respective schools and cities. Even so, eighty percent of the people at the camp still had a Tier One Beast Taming Space.
His opponent’s Pet Beast was not to be underestimated either.
Yu Bao’s Real-time Energy Value seemed much higher than the Azure Wave Claw’s, but the Water Attribute Azure Wave Claw had a four-times advantage over the Earth And Fire Dual Attribute Yu Bao, which was more than enough to close the gap in Energy Value.
This battle wouldn’t be so easy!
"Brother Xiang is on! His opponent is from the Flying Shadow Alliance!"
"What the hell? A Yu Dian Farm Dog?? He got an Evolutionary Type before his sophomore year even started? What kind of absolute tryhard is this!"
"That mutt’s Real-time Energy Value isn’t low, either. It’s at twenty-six hundred..."
"Calm down. It’s not like Brother Xiang hasn’t beaten opponents above his level before. He’s won against opponents way fiercer than this."
"Brother Xiang uses his brain for Beast Taming. He’ll adjust his tactics on the fly depending on his opponent. That mutt, on the other hand, doesn’t look too bright. He’ll probably get turned on his head."
"Nice, I love watching these kinds of matches where someone plays weak to beat the strong!"
"Anyway, I’m betting everything on Brother Xiang! I’ll laugh at anyone who bets wrong for the next two and a half years!"
"You have to go all in! This is a true gambler’s creed!"
In the audience, the summer camp members from the Purity Abyss Alliance were discussing excitedly.
The formal Alliance Members in the back row appeared much calmer, though there were still some whispers and habitual analyses.
In the very last row sat a long-haired woman, leaning back against a pink plush seat cushion. She wore black-framed glasses, and despite her rather delicate features, she gave off the feeling of a total salted fish.
The fact that she was wearing pajama pants and a pair of fuzzy slippers only made her seem even more like a salted fish.
If there was anything about her that wasn’t lazy, it was probably the standard-issue Alliance Member uniform and badge that everyone had:
Name: You Gu
Alliance Member Serial Number: 00000562
Suddenly, a gentle voice came from beside her. "Little Gugu~"
"Hmm?"
The woman with long, straight black hair turned her head in a daze. A blurry pink shape entered her vision, and then everything went dark as she was plunged into a stuffy warmth—
"Mmph... Can’t... breathe!"
"Oh, my, my, sorry about that~"
Qiu Yulian backed away slightly. Seeing You Gu coughing up a storm, she smiled gently and handed her a medicine box.
"I was afraid you might pass out before you even got here, so I checked your office and dorm first. That’s why I’m a little late~"
"Mm, it’s okay. Thanks, Sister Yulian."
You Gu took the box, opened it, pulled out a vial of oral liquid, and downed it in one go. Only then did she look a bit less like a salted fish.
Then she flopped back, slid down her cushion, and looked even more like a salted fish.
Qiu Yulian patted her leg and sighed softly. "Gugu, you really need to take care of your health. Your talent is such a pain."
"It’s fine, I’m used to it..."
You Gu’s gaze swept over the arena below. "That camper named Su Zhi, is he the culprit who made the old man step in a few days ago?"
"Yes! That’s him."
Qiu Yulian smiled radiantly and sat beside her. "Who does Little Gugu think will win?"
"Uhm... Gao Yuxiang, I guess?
"That Yu Dian Farm Dog should be pretty strong, but it’s at a four-times disadvantage against the Azure Wave Claw, so it probably won’t be a smooth fight...
"And that camper, Gao Yuxiang, is also quite outstanding. He adjusts his tactics to exploit his opponent’s weaknesses. Once the Azure Wave Claw starts kiting, the other side might not be able to do anything... So, it should be Gao Yuxiang who wins?"
After saying a whole lot in a small voice, You Gu looked sideways at Qiu Yulian as if seeking her opinion.
"I don’t know either~" Qiu Yulian shook her head, her face full of adoration.
"Oh, then Su Zhi is going to win."
"Aha? So fickle?"
You Gu pouted. "Every time you use that tone of voice, it means I must have guessed wrong."
Qiu Yulian: "Hehe~"
You Gu: "Mmph, don’t hug me... it’s hot..."
Qiu Yulian: "Ehehe~"
You Gu: "Don’t nibble on me... Ouch! That hurts!"
·
On the stage, the Race Bell light turned blue, and both sides entered their ready states.
As Su Zhi walked to his command position, he felt something was off: he saw the guy opposite him take off his glasses and gently brush his hair back.
Su Zhi was a little dumbfounded.
’What is this, an Aizen moment!?’
"DING!"
The Race Bell rang. The Azure Wave Claw shot out at extreme speed, lunging towards Yu Bao with bared fangs and claws, like a true beast fighting in the wild.
Yu Bao reacted quickly as well, instantly casting a Tier Two Sandstorm that rapidly enveloped the area.
Yu Bao didn’t incorporate its newly acquired Fire Element Energy. In this battle, the Fire Element Energy would be more of a liability.
Pure sand was enough to stop the aggressive Water!
"WHOOSH!"
The moment the Sandstorm engulfed it, a small curtain of water rapidly formed in front of the Azure Wave Claw. Its body tensed in an instant, minimizing its impact surface, and it safely escaped the Sandstorm.
The Azure Wave Claw’s Racial Skill, the Water Element Low Level Elite Skill, Shield of Torrents.
During their seasonal migrations, Azure Wave Claws often needed to fight against fierce counter-currents, so they naturally evolved this Skill.
Its defensive area was small, but it could negate the vast majority of impacts from the front.
The instant the Sandstorm’s momentum faded, the Azure Wave Claw whipped its tail and shot forward, rapidly closing in on Yu Bao’s left flank.
Its sharp claws rose high, wrapped in a ferocious current of water, and struck viciously at Yu Bao.
The Azure Wave Claw’s Core Skill, the Water Element Middle Elite Skills, Torrential Breakthrough Strike!
"CRACK—"
Unable to react in time, Yu Bao was shattered on the spot, turning into a pile of sand.
Realizing it had hit empty air, the Azure Wave Claw quickly scanned its surroundings and soon spotted the real Yu Bao, which had used Desert Concealment to sneak behind it. It fired two High-pressure Water Guns in greeting.
Yu Bao had intended to launch a sneak attack with Furious Sand Blade but gained no advantage. It was forced to clash with Netherworld’s High-pressure Water Guns, canceling them both out.
"SWISH!"
Almost in the same instant, Netherworld began to circle Yu Bao rapidly, harassing it with High-pressure Water Guns from time to time to disrupt its defensive rhythm.
Yu Bao had no choice but to use Yellow Earth Wall to protect itself, simultaneously casting Thick Earth Blessing to switch to a defensive stance.
Even so, High-pressure Water Guns occasionally pierced the Yellow Earth Wall and struck Yu Bao.
Although Yu Bao wasn’t about to be taken out on the spot by a High-pressure Water Gun, after evolving into a Yu Dian Farm Dog, it found facing the Water Element even more difficult than before its evolution.
Su Zhi’s face darkened as he watched Gao Yuxiang in the command position opposite him.
After taking off his glasses and slicking back his hair, his entire demeanor had changed. His eyes were pure and focused. Where was that go-with-the-flow attitude from before?
’Well, I’ll be. A real drama king, aren’t you!’
"Yu Bao, get serious! Be careful you don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!"
"Woof!" Yu Bao nodded with effort.
The pressure from its opponent was so immense that it was impossible not to get serious.
The advantage of the Yu Dian Farm Dog lay in its access to numerous powerful combined Earth and Fire Skills later on, which were both low-cost and highly effective. Its Core Skill, Yanhuang Blessing, could grant its body high durability, allowing it to stand firm even against Attributes that countered it.
However, in the initial stage right after evolution, the Yu Dian Farm Dog had not yet adapted to its newly awakened Attribute, nor had it mastered its powerful Skills. This was, paradoxically, its weakest point.
"Netherworld, maintain cautious engagement. The opponent’s Skills are quite unusual, possibly from an unconventional training method. Be on guard for other trump cards."
"Hiss hiss!"
Receiving the Azure Wave Claw’s feedback, Gao Yuxiang continued to stare intently at the action in the arena, a faint purple light flowing in his eyes.
Beast Taming Talent: [Strong Recognition Vision]
Effect: At the cost of overdrafting one’s energy for a period of time in the future, it temporarily boosts the thinking speed and reaction agility of oneself and one’s Pet Beast.
It was a somewhat underwhelming talent. Compared to other Overdraft Talents, Xu Jianzhi’s Battle Frenzy was much simpler and more effective.
But Gao Yuxiang had always believed: there are no useless talents, only useless Beast Tamers.
Through long training and countless matches, Gao Yuxiang and Netherworld had gradually mastered their own fighting style:
Use superior thinking speed and reaction time to seize the initiative, identify the opponent’s weaknesses in the shortest time possible, and then crush them before they can react!
To be honest, the fact that the Yu Dian Farm Dog’s Real-time Energy Value was a whole chunk higher than his Azure Wave Claw’s did put some pressure on him, but not much.
The Yu Dian Farm Dog was a balanced Pet Beast that leaned toward offense and defense, while the Azure Wave Claw excelled at speed and quick attacks, giving it a stylistic advantage.
This Yu Dian Farm Dog had some ridiculously unorthodox skills, and its Skill System leaned more towards non-contact combat.
But with its faster thinking speed and reaction time, the Azure Wave Claw could adapt quickly and wouldn’t be left behind.
Now, all he had to do was stick to the plan, play it safe, and slowly force it into a disadvantageous position.
’The advantage is mine in this fight!’
Unless that Yu Dian Farm Dog can fly, otherwise...
Otherwise...
"...???"
Watching Yu Bao ride a platform of Suspended Sand into the air, Gao Yuxiang’s mouth fell open in a daze.
"...Hiss?"
Netherworld also looked at its master, completely bewildered.
’What do we do? It can fly. I can’t get that high.’
High above the arena, Yu Bao looked down at its opponent below and offered a smile that was simultaneously poised, cultured, and full of respect.
⌓‿⌓
’Oh, my powerful opponent, you who have pleased me! I shall treat you with the highest of honors!’
Gao Yuxiang’s face twisted. "Not good! Quick, prepare to def—"
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!"
Before he could finish, a Sandstorm, Quicksand Shield, Yellow Earth Wall, and Furious Sand Blade followed one after another, repeatedly plowing over every inch of the arena.
When the dust and sand settled—
Netherworld lay on its back, its four limbs twitching slightly, tongue lolling out.
Another Pet Beast has lost its dreams.jpg
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