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"Thunder-Numb Spirit has broken free and dodged the Holy Sword!"
On the commentary stand, Tian Yiwan spoke at breakneck speed: "Now, the Lightning Field is raining down bolts again. Steel Sword Falcon just drained its energy for that Holy Sword, it's is likely running low. The rest of this match might see it stuck in a defensive struggle."
Tang Xueran glanced down at the time on her phone and noted: "It’s only been one minute since the Thunder-Numb Spirit first activated the field to transform the arena. A Perfection-level Lightning Field only strikes every 90 seconds. Since it’s striking again after only 60 seconds, it seems the Thunder-Numb Spirit's Lightning Field has broken through to the Ultimate level."
The audience fell silent for a fleeting second before a wave of noise rose like dust.
"Ultimate-level Lightning Field? Doesn't that mean these bolts can last, on and off, for half an hour?"
"No wonder Wu Tianjiao led with Thunder-Numb Spirit! It’s because her field reached the Ultimate stage!"
"With an Ultimate-level field, Qiao Sang is done for this match."
"I knew it! The bolts felt way stronger than usual..."
"Even without the breakthrough, the falcon was no match. Thunder-Numb Spirit was Wu Tianjiao’s second contract, it’s probably on the verge of becoming a King-level pet."
"Becoming a King-level isn't that easy. Talent, resources, and luck, you need all three. It's normal that it hasn't broken through yet."
"Sigh, I really thought the falcon could pull it off..."
"If she hadn't missed that Holy Sword, maybe. But the commentators say she is out of energy. She will be lucky to survive this next wave of lightning."
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In the family seating area, Little Treasure glared at a nearby spectator who was doubting his younger sister.
What do you know? She can evolve!
Ye Xiangting’s eyes flashed with worry. Qiao Sang had enjoyed a winning streak with mostly 3:0 records. Her mindset had shifted from initial maternal pride to a desperate hope for a win, and finally to a firm belief in her daughter's invincibility. It had been a long time since she had seen her daughter look this vulnerable on the field.
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On the field.
Dark clouds swirled, and lightning danced like crazed dragons, crashing down arrogantly. Gangbao, her body glowing with an iron-gray sheen, flapped her wings and moved rapidly to evade the strikes. The ground exploded wherever the bolts landed.
The lightning was dense, and Gangbao’s massive size made her an easy target. Despite her speed, several bolts slammed into her.
Her expression hasn't changed at all... isn't this entire evolution chain based on Bond Evolution? Wu Tianjiao felt the pressure lift. Relaxing slightly, she glanced at the young girl in the distance. Seeing that Qiao Sang showed no signs of agony or distorted features, a flicker of uncharacteristic confusion crossed her mind.
Simultaneously, Qiao Sang asked in her mind: Can you feel it?
"Gang Zhan." Gangbao replied.
No.
No sensation of Bond Evolution, and Holy Sword was dodged... Qiao Sang’s heart sank. The situation was turning dire. Honestly, she hadn't expected the Thunder-Numb Spirit to be able to dodge within the range of Air Absorption.
If only Gangbao had a biting skill like Yabao’s Fire Fang... Qiao Sang realized her thoughts were drifting and quickly snapped back. Gangbao evolving in this match was only a theory. The location matched the prophecy, and the opponent was right, but that was it.
It was easy to find a battle in this location, and there was more than one Thunder-Numb Spirit in the Central Sky Region. She had prepared herself for the possibility that this wasn't the moment. She had genuinely hoped the initial attack would land.
If Holy Sword had hit, the match would be over. But the spirit had overcome the suffocation, and the attack failed. With Gangbao's remaining energy, a second Holy Sword was likely impossible.
"Gang Zhan."
Gangbao’s voice rang out in her mind.
The match isn't over yet.
Qiao Sang blinked, her expression turning serious. Right. The match wasn't over. She had played too many winning games recently and had forgotten such a simple truth.
"Lei ma!"
On the field, the spirit’s fur bristled into sharp needles. Countless Lightning Needles shot out, pursuing Gangbao. With the sky raining bolts, Gangbao couldn't stop to counter-attack, she could only rely on precise maneuvers and Flash to dodge.
The needles chased her like a torrential slant of rain. Gangbao erupted in white light, her speed blurring. She tilted her body sharply, letting the needles graze the edges of the white light before they slammed into the ground.
The needles vanished. The Thunder-Numb Spirit roared, and the sky interwove a twenty-meter wide Lightning Web that descended toward Gangbao.
Gangbao accelerated. But then, electric arcs flickered under the spirit's feet, and it vanished.
Behind you! Qiao Sang shouted in her mind.
Gangbao, alert, accelerated again. But the Thunder-Numb Spirit was simply too fast. A thick bolt of lightning, several times faster than Gangbao's Spark, streaked across the ground, leveled with her, then shot straight up to slam into the white light with pinpoint accuracy.
The white light was sent flying upward, right into the Lightning Web. Electricity flared, and Gangbao’s figure reappeared, trapped.
"Thunder-Numb Spirit has slammed into the Steel Sword Falcon mid-Spark! The Lightning Web has successfully ensnared it!" Tian Yiwan shouted.
"A true battle of speed, and clearly, the Thunder-Numb Spirit is superior!"
Trapped by the web, Gangbao crashed to the ground. Crackling yellow arcs danced across her body. Qiao Sang felt waves of pain and numbness. She forced herself to ignore them and thought: Strike!
Gangbao raised a wing. At the same time, Wu Tianjiao spoke: "Gather Lightning."
Now that the falcon was pinned, it was time to end this.
"Lei ma!"
The spirit cried out, its fur standing up like needles. One particular needle on its head shot out, hovering directly above Gangbao.
It looks like Thunder-Numb Spirit is going for Gather Lightning, Tian Yiwan explained. "Everyone was familiar with this move. It was the spirit's famous combo: Activate Lightning Field, place a Lightning Needle over the opponent, and channel all the field’s lightning into that one point. Its power rivaled super-tier offensive skills."
The stands erupted with a mix of worry and excitement.
"One hit and that falcon is done."
"I didn't think Qiao Sang would lose a round first..."
"She wouldn't have lost if she sent out Yabao or Lubao."
"This was a huge tactical error in the lineup."
"I just checked—an Ultimate field lasts 30 minutes. The next two pets will have to fight under this lightning. Wu Tianjiao has a real shot at the finals now!"
Amidst the chatter, Gangbao slashed downward. Two phantom blades crossed into cold beams of light, shredding the Lightning Web apart.
But the Lightning Needle remained hovering. High in the sky, all the lightning from the black clouds suddenly converged and crashed down toward that needle!
The web was gone, and Gangbao tried to move. But the needle dropped instantly, making zero-distance contact with her head.
BOOM!
A massive explosion. Countless arcs of electricity erupted from the needle, blasting Gangbao. Qiao Sang felt a surge of agonizing pain and numbness. Before she could even form a thought, the full force of the gathered lightning from the sky slammed into Gangbao!
"GANG ZHAN!"
Under the flaring light, Gangbao let out a harrowing cry. Qiao Sang could no longer hold back, she stumbled back a step, her face twisted in pain.
That’s more like it. I thought the Bond Evolution was a myth because her expression didn't change earlier... Wu Tianjiao felt confident and looked at the girl in the distance. She quickly refocused. The falcon was the weakest link, Blazing Divine Lion and Ice Emperor Ram were the real threats.
"Steel Sword Falcon has been hit by the concentrated lightning!" Tian Yiwan lamented.
"Even with her legendary defense, I don't think she can survive that."
"Steel Sword Falcon shredded the web, but the needle exploded just in time to stop her movement." Tang Xueran added.
Tian Yiwan agreed: "That combo rivals super-tier power. From that scream, her defense has been shattered. Is this match over?"
The lightning dissipated. Another minute had passed. Everyone stared at the scorched figure on the field.
"Xun xun..." Little Treasure watched, looking tense. Even though he knew his sister was supposed to evolve, he couldn't help but be nervous.
On the field, Gangbao lay on the ground, her body charred black.
Gangbao, Gangbao... Qiao Sang had regained control over her expression and called out in her mind.
Gangbao’s wing twitched. The mechanical referee, about to enter the field, paused its teleportation sequence. With a heave of her wings, Gangbao struggled to her feet.
The crowd gasped. They knew Wu Tianjiao’s strength, they had never seen a pet of the same rank stand up after a concentrated Gather Lightning.
"It stood up! The Steel Sword Falcon stood up!" Tian Yiwan was visibly shocked.
"It's defense is truly extraordinary," Tang Xueran remarked. But she must be at her limit.
"Needle." Wu Tianjiao commanded, showing no hesitation in finishing the job.
"Lei ma!"
The spirit’s fur bristled. Countless Lightning Needles shot toward Gangbao.
If we just defend, she'll just keep attacking. Gangbao will just take damage until she falls. Better to gamble... Qiao Sang thought. For a moment, she forgot about the evolution, she just wanted to land one more hit so Gangbao wouldn't go down for nothing.
Just as the thought surfaced, Gangbao spread her wings. All her feathers glowed with purple light, launching toward the spirit like a thousand blades!
Use Scary Face! Qiao Sang remembered a move Gangbao rarely used. Scary Face, a Normal-type mid-tier skill, uses a terrifying expression to frighten the target and drastically reduce their speed.
"GANG ZHAN!"
Gangbao glared at the Thunder-Numb Spirit. Her eyes were consumed by purple energy, cold, emotionless, and hauntingly terrifying.
Bang bang bang!
The Lightning Needles slammed into Gangbao, but she kept her gaze fixed on her opponent, her expression unmoving.
"Lei ma..."
The Thunder-Numb Spirit felt its skin crawl. It felt an immense pressure, the illusion of being stalked by something monstrous. In that split second of hesitation, the rain of purple feathers struck the spirit simultaneously.
"LEI MA!"
The spirit let out a pained shriek.
"The needles hit the falcon!" Tian Yiwan shouted.
"But the falcon used Scary Face to land a perfect Wing Blade counter-attack!"
The words had barely left his mouth when Gangbao’s body swayed. She collapsed to the ground, dust rising around her. Wu Tianjiao, whose face had briefly paled, regained her composure and looked at the fallen falcon with a hint of respect.
To counter-attack even now... this falcon's defense is insane. And Qiao Sang, I didn't expect her to keep Scary Face in her back pocket. Finally, it's over.
"Lei ma..."
The Thunder-Numb Spirit stood panting, its body covered in wounds. After a brief silence, the crowd began to roar. Everyone believed the match was done.
Gangbao, Qiao Sang called out.
"Gang Zhan..." Two seconds later, the weak reply came.
I can't...
Can you feel the bond? Qiao Sang asked.
"Gang Zhan..." The reply was faint. No.
It's okay if it didn't happen. Can you try to retract your feathers before you pass out? I can't recall them into the Beast Codex once they're out... Qiao Sang said. She added softly: You didn't leave a single feather behind this time.
Gangbao: ...
"Gang Zhan..." But I can't get up.
Can you try to channel the bond power? Qiao Sang asked. You're still conscious. They say bond power can trigger a pet's latent energy.
"Gang Zhan..." Gangbao replied. You still want me to try to evolve.
Don't you want to try? Qiao Sang asked.
"Gang Zhan..." Gangbao was incredibly weak. I do, but I'm really at my limit.
But the match isn't over yet, Qiao Sang said, each word deliberate in their shared mind. That's what you told me. The referee hasn't announced the result. We still have a chance.
Gangbao froze, remembering her own words from earlier in the battle.
"Gang Zhan..." She chirped in their mind. I'll try. But don't get your hopes up.
No. The match isn't over. I am keeping my hopes up, Qiao Sang said.
Gangbao didn't respond again.
On the field, the mechanical referee observed the fallen Gangbao for a moment and began to raise its claw with the green flag toward Wu Tianjiao’s side.
At that exact moment, a blinding white light erupted from Gangbao’s body.
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That was close. Gangbao was about to become a bald bird
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