Chapter 984: Zip-Head Bird

Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 

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Mimicry Master, a General-type King-level pet. It can scan an opponent with its eyes and instantly copy their appearance or simulate targets it has encountered in the past. Not only that, but it can also mimic the opponent's moves. However, the mimicked moves are merely illusions, visual copies with zero actual power.

That said, Yu Zhenyi's Mimicry Master knows several genuine skills of different attributes. Often, when you think a skill is a harmless mimicry, it turns out to be real. Therefore, it’s best to defend against everything.

Additionally, note: The Mimicry Master’s Mimicry trait has reached A-level. It can mimic not just living beings, but also inanimate objects like dust and rocks, and even active skills... As Qiao Sang read about the trait's power, she was reminded of her time on Planet Supersaturate, using a Mimic Dummy to attend class for her. A wave of bittersweet nostalgia hit her.

What good is mimicry if it can't simulate a voice for normal communication?

At the King-level, mimicry was less effective if an opponent used clones, as the bond between a Beast Master and their pet would allow them to identify the real one instantly. 

However, the ability to mimic skills and environmental objects like sand and rocks was something she needed to be wary of. Qiao Sang reined in her thoughts and continued studying the data.

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Time passed, and the matches proceeded in an orderly fashion. The Top 8 round was divided into four groups. Qiao Sang was in the third group, scheduled for the afternoon.

To avoid being mobbed, she had a quick meal backstage, briefed Yabao and the others on their opponents, and returned to the contestant area. The sun was fierce, and most of the audience hadn't arrived yet, but those present erupted in cheers the moment she sat down.

Qiao Sang offered a polite smile. As a B-rank Beast Master, her five senses far exceeded those of ordinary people. Even at a distance, she spotted a specific group in the stands.

That’s... Qiao Sang narrowed her eyes.

A youth was holding a Little Song Swallow, waving his arms toward her. Beside him was another man and her opponent for this round, Yu Zhenyi. The Little Song Swallow was waving a support stick enthusiastically, clearly a fan. It was the same one that had asked for an autograph the night before.

"Gangbao, is that the Little Song Swallow from yesterday?"

"Gang Zhan..." Gangbao looked over but chirped that she couldn't see clearly from this distance.

"Lu Di." Lubao, her head poking out of the backpack, chirped affirmatively.

So I was right... Qiao Sang’s brow furrowed. Yu Zhenyi was sitting right next to the swallow’s Beast Master, chatting as if they were old acquaintances. It seemed Gangbao’s suspicion about the refreshing song being an intentional distraction was correct.

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1:30 PM.

"The first group of the afternoon is about to take the stage!" Tian Yiwan shouted with passion. 

"On one side, the 'King of Simulation', Yu Zhenyi! On the other, the strongest dark horse of the season, Qiao Sang!"

As they were introduced, two teal bird pets flew out from the sides of the arena. The cheers for Qiao Sang were like a tidal wave, drowning out everything else. Even the favorite to win, Yuan Tianlong, seemed slightly less popular at this moment.

The 10 countdown appeared in light and shadow.

3, 2, 1!

Both signaled simultaneously. Two brilliant red star arrays lit up, and two massive figures appeared. Instantly, the temperature in the arena plummeted as snowflakes began to fall.

"Qiao Sang and Yu Zhenyi have sent out Ice Emperor Ram and Zip-Head Bird respectively!"

Zip-Head Bird, an Electric and Flying dual-type. It emits blinding light to stun opponents before striking with lightning. Its light is so powerful it can turn a moonless night into bright daylight for miles. Qiao Sang recalled the data: yellow body, red eyes, yellow mask-like patterns on its face, and two yellow spherical light emitters on its wingtips.

"Zip!" The bird flapped its wings, turning into a streak of yellow lightning as it ascended hundreds of meters to look down from above. Yellow arcs of electricity crackled around it, vaporizing the falling snow before it could even touch its feathers.

That distance... it's outside Lubao's Ice Field Domain, Qiao Sang analyzed. The opponent had flown high immediately to stay safe from the domain and the Ice Flower Seal.

"Domain, Stairs." Qiao Sang commanded.

Lubao couldn't fly, so she had two ways to get closer to the sky. One was Rain Prayer combined with her Melting Water trait to move upward through the rain, but that was risky against an Electric-type. The second way was safer.

Lubao stepped forward, her body emitting a visible chill. Instantly, a thick layer of ice spread across the ground, turning the arena into a frozen world.

"Thunder!" Yu Zhenyi commanded.

Terrifying bolts of lightning crashed down from the sky toward Lubao. The audience gasped. "The Ice Field can't reach that high! Ice Emperor Ram is just a sitting duck!"

On the field, massive ice spikes, Gigantic Ice Spikes, suddenly materialized in the air at an angle, forming a literal staircase. Lubao leaped onto the nearest spike and used it as a platform to jump higher and higher. The lightning struck empty air.

Within the Ice Field, the size and location of Gigantic Ice Spikes can be controlled with a single thought, Qiao Sang thought calmly. If the opponent enters the domain's vertical range, the match is over.

"Thunderstorm Weather!" Yu Zhenyi countered.

"Zip!" The bird amplified its energy. The sky darkened as dense thunderclouds gathered. Arcs of lightning slithered through the clouds like restless snakes.

CRACK!

Countless bolts of yellow electricity rained down, covering half the field. The ice spikes shattered into massive chunks. One bolt shot straight for the jumping Lubao. Just before it hit, a thick, crystalline layer of Ice Armor formed around her.

BOOM! The lightning slammed into her.

"Jump!" Qiao Sang yelled.

Amidst the debris of shattered ice, Lubao exerted her strength. A new ice spike appeared under her feet at the exact moment she needed it. She leaped upward as the spike below her was obliterated by lightning.

She emerged from the electrical barrage unscathed. Lubao had practiced Ice Armor to the Ultimate level, and with the domain's boost, her defense was nearly impenetrable unless the opponent focused all their power into a single point.

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"Ascend! Thunder Flash!" Yu Zhenyi shouted.

The Zip-Head Bird streaked higher, maintaining its distance. Then, a massive bolt of lightning tore through the sky, falling toward Lubao like divine punishment.

Qiao Sang remembered Yu Zhenyi's previous matches. "Eyes closed! Move!"

Lubao trusted her implicitly and shut her eyes tight, jumping to a new position. Simultaneously, the two emitters on the bird’s wings flashed with a blinding, eye-searing light that turned the dark sky into a white void.

The audience shielded their eyes, nearly blinded. This was a combo move: Using Flash and Thunder together to stun the opponent and ensure a hit.

BOOM!

The lightning struck the ground, creating a massive crater. High above, Lubao was already jumping up her invisible stairs, eyes still closed, moving by sheer intuition and Qiao Sang's guidance.

"Now." Qiao Sang commanded. 

"Ice."

Lubao snapped her eyes open and looked at the Zip-Head Bird.

The next second, the bird was frozen solid in mid-air, maintaining its downward-staring posture.

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