To truly carry out revenge, one essential prerequisite remained:
Donât lose!
âXun! Xun!â
Little Treasure turned his focus to the Twin-Tailed Tortoise. His playful demeanor was replaced with a serious expression.
The match began.
Little Treasure disappeared on the spot, cloaked in invisibility.
Meanwhile, Guo Jiacong, the representative from Sixth Beasts Academy in Hanggang, had already given up mentally. He didnât issue any commands to counter the attack.
It wasnât just about how terrifying Qiao Sang was as a person. Her membership in the elite Shengshu High school team alone was enough to make him feel utterly hopeless.
Guo Jiacongâs defeatist mentality wasnât unique.
Plenty of participants lost their will to fight the moment they were matched against students from prestigious schools.
Without knowing their opponentâs true strength, they had already psyched themselves out.
However, there were two kinds of people with such mindsets:
1. Those who still put in their best effort to test their limits.
2. Those who resigned to saving their energy for winnable matches.
Guo Jiacong fell into the second category.
âLupa!â
The Twin-Tailed Tortoise, however, didnât share its handlerâs defeatist attitude. Its eyes scanned the surroundings cautiously.
While it was looking left, Little Treasure appeared suddenly on its right, sticking out his large tongue, aiming for a quick lick.
Sensing the sudden shadow to its right, the tortoise instinctively retracted its head into its shell, narrowly avoiding the attack.
âXu ln!â
Little Treasure pouted and vanished again.
âLupa!â
The Twin-Tailed Tortoise cautiously poked its head out, calling to its Beastmaster with a determined cry.
Surprised, Guo Jiacong hadnât expected his partner to show such spirit after two crushing defeats at the hands of Shengshui students.
Just then, Little Treasure reappeared like a phantom, his face mere millimeters from the tortoise's head.
âWatch out!â Guo Jiacong shouted in alarm.
Before Little Treasure could act, the tortoise quickly withdrew its head again.
âXun!â
Little Treasure disappeared yet again.
This time, something in Guo Jiacongâs resolve shifted. His eyes sharpened with newfound determination.
Wait a minute.
Although Qiao Sang was strong, she hadnât sent out her infamous Flame Hound.
This small, underdeveloped-looking Treasure-Seeking Demon was obviously weaker than a typical one of its species.
If thatâs the case⊠why not give it a try?
Even if victory seemed impossible, perhaps a draw could still earn him a single point.
Reinvigorated, Guo Jiacong issued his first command. âSand Splash!â
âLupa!â
The Twin-Tailed Tortoise sprang into action. Stretching out its claws, it scraped at the ground, sending up a dense cloud of dust to obscure the battlefield.
Sand Splash was a low-level Ground-type skill, simple but effective at disrupting visibility.
As the dust settled, Little Treasureâs form remained hidden.
âOne minute in.â Someone in the audience commented while checking their watch.
âLooks like this Treasure-Seeking Demon isnât nearly as overpowered as the Flame Hound. I thought it would dominate, but itâs struggling.â
âWhat were you expecting?â Another spectator lazily replied.
âFor someone her age, having a green-star formation and a Flame Hound is already extraordinary. If all her beasts were as ridiculously strong, no one else would stand a chance.â
âThatâs fair. This Treasure-Seeking Demon seems reliant on close combat. With the dust cloud as a barrier, itâs hesitant to approach. If the tortoise keeps up the Sand Splash, this match might drag on indefinitely.â
âRelax. The rules prohibit prolonged inaction. Even stealthy Ghost-types like this are monitored by sensors on the field. If the Treasure-Seeking Demon leaves the boundary or stays idle too long, the referee wouldâve already issued a warning.â
âIâm not worried about fouls, but⊠wait, what the?!â
The speakerâs jaw dropped, his eyes glued to the field.
The lazy man beside him sat up straight, equally dumbfounded.
On the battlefield, an invisible force dragged the Twin-Tailed Tortoise out of the dust cloud and suspended it mid-air.
âLUPA!!!â
The tortoise, usually calm and composed, let out a terrified scream, tears streaming down its face.
It was afraid of heights.
Before it could regain composure, the unseen force stopped pulling it upward.
âLupaâŠâ
Trembling, the tortoise hung motionless in the air, too scared to move.
But relief was short-lived.
The next moment, its body spun violently like a top.
âLUPAAAA!!!â
âXun, xun~â
Little Treasure materialized on the ground, his paw connected to a shadow stretching toward the tortoise. As he traced circles with one paw, he stifled giggles with the other.
See? If youâd just let me lick you, this wouldnât have been necessary.
Watching its partnerâs predicament, Guo Jiacong was stunned. âWhat⊠what is this?!â
âShadow Control?!â Hanggang Sixth Beast High Schoolâs coach exclaimed, his voice cracking with disbelief.
âThatâs a high-tier Ghost-type skill! How is this possible?!â
Chen Shengtang, the vice principal, grimaced, his voice hoarse.
âQiao Sang⊠she was this close to enrolling in our academy. So close!â
ââŠâ The coach rolled his eyes.
Not this again.
On the field, Little Treasure released the shadow.
BANG!
With a loud thud, the Twin-Tailed Tortoise hit the ground, unconscious.
Guo Jiacong stared blankly at his partnerâs motionless form.
âWhat⊠just happened?â
Somewhere in the audience, a man in a black suit abruptly stood. Rushing out of the arena, he frantically dialed a number on his phone.
âPrincipal! We have a problem!â