Chapter 990: One Minute

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

-----

The crowd began to buzz with speculation.

"What's going on? Both of them actually sent out General-level pets for the first round."

"No idea."

"If either of them had played it safe and sent out a King-level pet, wouldn't they have just secured the first point?"

"Qiao Sang used Steel Sword Falcon in her last match. I thought she’d switch it up with Ghost Ring King this time."

"Steel Sword Falcon has the super-tier skill Holy Sword. Its raw attack power is definitely higher than Ghost Ring King's."

"Actually, it makes sense for Wu Tianjiao to lead with Thunder-Numb Spirit."

"How so?"

"Her Thunder-Numb Spirit knows Lightning Field. It can transform the arena into a thunderous zone where lightning strikes continuously for a set duration. In a match last year, she led with it and the field lasted for fifteen minutes. They say it’s reached the Perfection level."

"Holy crap, that's powerful. Was it a long match?"

"It was a 3v3, just like the Regional Tournament."

"Wait, if the battle ends quickly, say, ten minutes, the next opponent coming out would still be hit by the lingering lightning?"

"Exactly. Why else do you think she puts it out first?"

"I get Wu Tianjiao's move, but why did Qiao Sang lead with Steel Sword Falcon?"

I gambled right, she really led with Thunder-Numb Spirit... Qiao Sang looked at the seven-meter-tall creature. It was yellow, quadrupedal, with purple manes on its head and body. Purple markings patterned its neck and torso, and its eyes glowed a sharp violet. Qiao Sang let out a long sigh of relief, her racing heart finally slowing down.

In Wu Tianjiao's past battle footage, Thunder-Numb Spirit rarely led in major tournaments. Even though she knew it had Lightning Field, Qiao Sang had calculated that the probability of it leading was statistically low.

However, Rong Yuhua’s intel noted that a day ago, right after the Quarter-Finals, Wu Tianjiao’s Thunder-Numb Spirit had successfully elevated its Lightning Field from Perfection to the Ultimate level during training.

A Ultimate-level Lightning Field could last for a full thirty minutes. Even if the pet fainted, the field would persist until the time ran out.

Maximize benefits with minimum combat power.

In B-rank Beast Master matches, the outcome is usually decided by King-level pets. If she were Wu Tianjiao, she would also lead with Thunder-Numb Spirit. After about one minute, the field would start raining down lightning. 

Even a King-level pet would take damage if it didn't focus on defense. In thirty minutes, if the battle moved fast enough, the lightning could affect even the opponent's third pet.

This intel was a lifesaver...

"Lei ma!"

Amidst her thoughts, the Thunder-Numb Spirit looked up and gave a high-pitched cry. Crackling electric arcs, like thunderous snakes, erupted across its body. Qiao Sang’s heart rate surged again. She knew she had chosen the right order, but the battle itself was the real test.

"Gang Zhan."

Gangbao flew into the air, her expression solemn. As she circulated her energy, her entire body took on a lustrous, iron-gray metallic sheen. Immediately after, with a powerful flap of her wings, hundreds of purple feathers burst forth, streaking toward the Thunder-Numb Spirit like glowing violet blades.

The Thunder-Numb Spirit glanced at the incoming feathers, its face unbothered. Dozens of electric arcs split from its body, transforming into thick bolts of lightning that intercepted the purple blades. Just as the lightning was about to strike, the feathers moved with uncanny fluidity, dodging past the edges of the bolts.

However, the lightning was faster. Another dozen bolts, initially slower, suddenly accelerated, accurately striking the feathers that had just swerved. The purple glow faded as the feathers fell to the ground.

Boom boom boom!

Simultaneously, the sky turned dark. Black clouds clustered above, and terrifying yellow lightning tore through the sky, crashing down from the clouds. Gangbao flapped her wings, weaving through the bolts in a high-speed game of evasion. The lightning struck the ground, blasting stone and earth into the air, leaving crater after crater.

"Thunder-Numb Spirit has activated Lightning Field!" In the commentary booth, Tian Yiwan spoke rapidly. 

"Steel Sword Falcon tried to stop it with Wing Blades, but they were intercepted by electric shocks. Lightning Field will persist for a long time. This is going to be a tough fight for Steel Sword Falcon."

Tang Xueran added thoughtfully, "Steel Sword Falcon has incredible defense. I wonder if it can withstand the lightning under this field. Looking at its color, it has likely used Iron Defense. It seems it was prepared to tank from the start."

"Lightning Needle." Wu Tianjiao commanded.

Steel Sword Falcon’s strength lay in its defense and its super-tier skill, Holy Sword. Conversely, Thunder-Numb Spirit excelled in violent attack power and rapid movement. As her second contracted pet, Wu Tianjiao was confident it could break the falcon's defense and dodge the Holy Sword.

"Lei ma."

The Thunder-Numb Spirit gave a cry, and its fur stood on end like sharp needles. Electricity surged, and dozens of lightning-infused needles shot toward Gangbao in the sky. Gangbao tilted her right wing, diving to dodge hundreds of the needles.

However, a bolt of lightning from the field suddenly struck down at her new position with pinpoint accuracy. At the same moment, Qiao Sang felt a sudden jolt of pain, but it vanished quickly. In the sky, Gangbao continued her flight without a change in speed, as if the bolt hadn't even touched her.

Wu Tianjiao narrowed her eyes. Her defense is high, but that was just the first bolt.

"Lightning Web." She ordered.

"Lei ma."

The Thunder-Numb Spirit looked up and cried out. A thunderous roar shook the sky as dozens of descending bolts interlaced, weaving a twenty-meter-wide net of electricity that crashed down toward Gangbao.

Gangbao is fast, but her size is a disadvantage. Under such a dense barrage, she’s bound to get hit. The opponent is using other lightning skills to slow her down and increase the strike rate... Thunder-Numb Spirit is burning energy like crazy; they want to end this fast to pressure the next match... 

Qiao Sang’s mind raced. She sent a single word through her thoughts: Strike!

The moment the thought flashed, Gangbao, while maintaining her high-speed flight, erupted in a purple glow. Her feathers burst out and swirled around her like a vortex of blades, shredding the Lightning Web into pieces.

Another bolt from the field struck Gangbao. Her body wobbled slightly, but she steadied herself and kept moving. Suddenly, the lightning strikes from the clouds ceased.

The field hadn't vanished, but there was a one-minute 'lull' between the heavy barrages. Now's the time... Qiao Sang thought.

Simultaneously, Gangbao flapped her wings and changed direction, transforming into a streak of white light as she charged directly at the Thunder-Numb Spirit.

I remember Steel Sword Falcon has Air Absorption. I can't let it get close... but with its defense, it might try to tank hits to set it up. Let's see whose defense is stronger! Wu Tianjiao thought.

"Needles!"

"Lei ma!"

The Thunder-Numb Spirit cried out, its fur sharpening as yellow arcs crackled. Countless lightning needles were launched like a missile barrage toward the incoming white light. The sheer volume was several times greater than before. The audience held their breath, waiting for a violent collision.

But the expected head-on clash didn't happen. The white light swerved 90 degrees downward just before impact, then skimmed the ground in a graceful arc before continuing its charge.

The Thunder-Numb Spirit seemed to have anticipated the dodge; its fur bristled again.

It's going to attack... The thought flashed in Qiao Sang's mind.

Gangbao charged forward fearlessly. Thunder-Numb Spirit released a violent explosion of lightning. Given Gangbao’s size, getting close without taking a direct hit was impossible. Qiao Sang braced herself for the shared pain.

But at that moment, Gangbao hesitated for a fraction of a second and suddenly banked 90 degrees upward. The lightning hit nothing but air.

Qiao Sang was stunned. A thought crossed her mind. Gangbao felt my tension. She didn't want me to feel the pain of a direct hit... Qiao Sang felt a wave of complex emotion and deep gratitude.

She sighed in her heart and communicated through their bond: "I practiced defense so hard on Chaosu Star so that you could fight in the arena without any reservations. Just charge. I can take it."

Gangbao felt a stir in her heart. The dodge had been instinctive. She knew her Master had trained her own defense to protect her, but in this moment, she felt the absolute sincerity in Qiao Sang's words. The power of a bond is a miraculous thing.

"It seems Steel Sword Falcon is avoiding a head-on clash." Tian Yiwan noted.

Tang Xueran analyzed, "Thunder-Numb Spirit clearly has higher energy. It makes sense not to face it head-on. Perhaps Qiao Sang wants to use the falcon's defense to drag the match out."

The longer the match lasted, the less pressure there would be on the two King-level pets following.

She dodged? I thought she’d charge right through. The reports said the falcon's defense was legendary, but it seems it's afraid of a single direct hit... Wu Tianjiao scoffed internally.

In the sky, the white light of the charge obscured Gangbao’s expression. Suddenly, the light veered downward with unstoppable momentum, charging at the Thunder-Numb Spirit again.

Wu Tianjiao reacted instantly: "Thunder!"

The Thunder-Numb Spirit's fur stood up like needles, and violent electric arcs coalesced into a massive, thick bolt of lightning that blasted toward the descending white light.

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion.

"Gang Zhan!"

This time, Gangbao didn't dodge. Lightning flared and crackled across her body. Simultaneously, Qiao Sang felt a wave of pain and numbness. She forced her expression to remain neutral, pushing the sensation out of her mind to focus entirely on her pet.

Gangbao’s gaze shifted from pain to absolute resolve. Her body, hard as steel, forced its way through the powerful electricity. She spread her wings and lunged forward.

The air surged around her as the white light expanded. Gangbao shredded through the violent lightning and slammed into the Thunder-Numb Spirit with a devastating tackle!

"Lei..."

The Thunder-Numb Spirit let out a cry of pain, but as it opened its mouth to scream again, its expression turned to one of agony, it looked like it couldn't breathe.

"Steel Sword Falcon tanked the lightning and slammed into Thunder-Numb Spirit!" Tian Yiwan shouted. 

"Incredible defense! Not only did it attack through that barrage, but it also used Air Absorb. It looks like Thunder-Numb Spirit is suffocating!"

The audience erupted. They were far more familiar with the veteran Thunder-Numb Spirit than this new Steel Sword Falcon. Everyone knew how powerful the spirit's attacks were. No one expected the falcon's defense to be so high that it could execute a Spark Tackle and Air Absorb combo while being directly electrocuted.

On the field, the Thunder-Numb Spirit was sent flying. Gangbao followed the momentum, staying glued to her opponent. Simultaneously, a massive, ten-meter-long sword of light began to coalesce high in the sky.

After flying back dozens of meters, the Thunder-Numb Spirit managed to stop itself. The giant sword of light whistled through the air, plunging toward the spot where the two pets were.

Holy Sword... Wu Tianjiao, still reeling from the fact that the falcon had tanked the hit, watched the sky. Even though she hadn't planned for this matchup, she had briefed her pet on all of Qiao Sang's team. Though Air Absorption prevented verbal commands, she trusted her pet's years of experience to dodge this.

Steel Sword Falcon is only a General-level. Using Holy Sword must have nearly drained its energy. This match is almost over.

The Thunder-Numb Spirit struggled for air, but its eyes were wide open. It saw the descending sword of light and felt a surge of intense danger. Energy surged within its body as it transformed into a flash of lightning, breaking free from Gangbao’s proximity and reappearing a hundred meters away on the ground.

It was so fast that, if not for the lingering trail of yellow light, one would have thought it had teleported.

Gangbao's heart sank as the sword of light dissipated.

"Lei ma..." The Thunder-Numb Spirit stared at Gangbao with a menacing glare, electricity dancing on its skin.

Then, a low rumble of thunder echoed. Within the dark clouds, bolts of lightning began to flicker again.

The one-minute lull was over.

-----

Previous Chapter_Next Chapter

-----