In mid-air, sixteen Sea Gnaw-Raccoons flailed their limbs, all wearing expressions of sheer panic.
The vice principal of Pinghai High School suddenly realized something and whipped his head around to look at the Flame-Listening Hound.
With that single glance, his mind went "buzz," and his expression froze.
Although he had suspected it moments ago, seeing it with his own eyes still delivered a powerful shock.
As expected, the Flame-Listening Hound's eyes had turned the specific shade of blue associated with the use of Psychokinesis.
Psychokinesis...
It really was Psychokinesis...
Controlling sixteen Sea Gnaw-Raccoons in different positions simultaneously—the proficiency of this Psychokinesis... The vice principal of Pinghai High School didn't dare continue that train of thought.
While he didn't dare think it, the other people in the spectator stands were discussing it fervently.
"This... this is the level of a high school student?!"
"Damn it! Why isn't a freakish student like this in our school!"
"Hiss... could this Psychokinesis be at the Perfection stage...?"
"Be bolder. Is it possible that, like Spark and Fire-Fang, it's already reached the Secret Art stage?"
"...Don't make jokes like that."
"I suddenly remember someone telling me that this student named Qiao Sang from Shengshui Middle School is apparently a freshman."
"Who told you that? You actually believe such nonsense? It's hard to find a few people in the entire country who could train to this level by their senior year, and you're telling me he's a freshman? What are you thinking! Tell me who said it! I'm going to go argue with them!"
"Wang Weidou."
"Who?"
"Wang Weidou, the principal of Shengshui Middle School."
"..."
"Why aren't you talking now? How about we go confirm it with him? He's been here for the past two days. See that third person from the left in the first row? That's him."
"...Get lost!"
"I'm talking to you nicely, why are you cursing!"
"..."
The match on the field continued.
Yabao dipped its head slightly, and the sixteen Sea Gnaw-Raccoons slammed heavily into the ground simultaneously.
"Gnaw!!!"
The Sea Gnaw-Raccoons vanished one after another, leaving only the last one screaming on the ground.
*So the original body has appeared...* With a thought, Qiao Sang was about to issue the command for "Flame Vortex," but Yabao seemed to sense something. Without waiting for its beast tamer to speak, a rotating flame containing a violent aura lunged toward the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon that hadn't yet stood up.
It was too late!
Zhou Jing's mind raced, analyzing the situation on the field.
Given the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon's current state, there wasn't enough time to dodge or cast a skill to counter before the attack arrived.
Since that was the case, the only option was... Zhou Jing took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and shouted decisively, "Hold on!"
*Hold on, my ass...* Qiao Sang almost wanted to laugh, but had to admit that "Hold on!", "Dodge!", "Show some backbone!", "Stand up!", "I believe in you!", and "Oli-gei!" were actually quite useful at times; after all, the protagonists in TV dramas always did that.
Just as Qiao Sang thought this, the flame struck the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon head-on and exploded, sending a heatwave rippling outward.
The Sea Gnaw-Raccoon did not fall.
Not only did it hold on!
It actually stood up!
Holy crap! It actually held on!
Qiao Sang was shocked! TV dramas didn't lie to me!
One had to understand that while Yabao's proficiency with Flame Vortex hadn't reached the Secret Art stage, and it hadn't been specifically trained for that skill, the Flame Vortexes used during recent combat training had brought its proficiency close to Perfection.
A Flame Vortex of this level hitting a wounded Sea Gnaw-Raccoon head-on should, if not knock it unconscious instantly, at least leave it severely injured and unable to crawl up!
Yet, not only did the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon not fall, it stood up?
The effect of "Hold on!" was actually this terrifying!
*Should I try this when Yabao and the others fight in the future...* Qiao Sang's mind wandered, but she didn't let her guard down, keeping a close eye on the movements on the field.
After glancing at the standing Sea Gnaw-Raccoon and the water that suddenly erupted to envelop its entire body, her expression turned serious.
Something was wrong...
Not only Qiao Sang, but the people in the spectator stands noticed it too.
"I didn't expect this Sea Gnaw-Raccoon to have the Torrent ability. It looks like the real fight starts now."
The Torrent ability: when a Water-type pet with this trait has severely low health, the power of all its Water-type skills is multiplied. It was the same effect as the Blaze ability.
The only difference was that one was for Water-types and the other for Fire-types.
"Your school's Zhou Jing is quite something; she hid it deep. It seems she'll be able to achieve quite a good result in this National Campus Beast Taming League," the man sitting next to the Pinghai High School vice principal said, turning his head.
The vice principal opened his mouth, but resisted the urge to speak.
He was afraid that if he spoke, Zhou Jing would lose.
*Torrent ability...* Qiao Sang repeated those words in her mind, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
Now we're talking!
Otherwise, if it fell instantly, how could Yabao have a satisfying fight!
"Ya!"
Yabao looked excited, its claws tensing as it assumed a posture ready to attack at any moment.
"Water Jet!" Seeing the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon enveloped in water, Zhou Jing suppressed her wild joy and issued the command.
The water surrounding the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon suddenly expanded several times over. It leaped into the air, shifting directions rapidly and fluidly, moving so fast that the human eye couldn't keep up.
It felt as if a streak of blue water was darting here and there.
Qiao Sang tilted her head slightly, calmly analyzing the blue figure in the air.
The speed was too fast. If Yabao used Psychokinesis, there was a high probability it wouldn't keep up, and it would likely be attacked during the gap while casting.
If Yabao couldn't teleport, this would indeed be a very troublesome opponent...
"Listen carefully!" Qiao Sang commanded.
"Ya!"
Yabao stopped trying to follow the blue figure with its eyes and instead pricked up its ears, using the sound of the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon's movements in the air to judge its exact position.
The water current continued to zig-zag in the air, getting faster and faster, almost forming an afterimage.
"Why isn't Qiao Sang giving any commands?" someone in the stands asked, puzzled.
"Didn't he just say 'Listen carefully'?" the person next to them replied.
"..."
While they were talking, the blue afterimage struck from an extremely tricky angle, diving in from a blind spot where Yabao couldn't see.
Just as it was about to collide, Yabao's figure abruptly vanished from the spot.
Zhou Jing's heart sank. It actually dodged that...
Then she suddenly thought of something and shouted nervously, "Don't stop!"
The current situation subconsciously reminded her of the previous match.
The moment Da Ban's High-Speed Spin stopped, the Flame-Listening Hound appeared and ended the battle.
To be cautious, it couldn't stop!
But just as she finished shouting, in the next second, her eyes widened like copper bells.
Holy crap!
Could someone tell her why there was a streak of red on top of the blue?!
The... the Flame-Listening Hound teleported onto the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon?!
"Ya!"
Yabao stood atop the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon, its claws sinking into the water to grip its body. Its fur blew backward wildly, looking quite elegant, like a great swordsman.
It would have been even better if its eyes hadn't been blown into slits.
Yabao opened its mouth, and scorching flames instantly swirled around its sharp teeth.
A massive Flame-Listening Hound head made of fire bit down mercilessly.
"Gnaw!!!"
The blue figure crashed to the ground.
Dust swirled and the water dissipated, revealing the Sea Gnaw-Raccoon with its eyes closed.
"Que!"
The whistle signaling the end of the match sounded.
(End of Chapter)