Chapter 101: The Second Arrival
Chapter 101: The Second Arrival
Qiao Sang parked her bicycle by the roadside, took a photo to mark the spot, and then joined the shared flight route.
The Great Winged Sparrow is an Evolution type of the Grape Finch, typically around 2.5 meters in size.
A Beastmaster riding a Flying Beast is no problem, but to carry a passenger, they need a Flying License.
The Air Authority has clear regulations for Flying Beasts carrying passengers.
Flying Beasts between 1.5 and 2 meters can carry two people.
Those between 2 and 2.5 meters can carry three people.
And those between 2.5 and 3 meters can carry four people.
The Great Winged Sparrow hovers around the line between a three-person and a four-person mount.
For Flying Beasts that hover around this size, the Air Authority requires annual inspections to determine the exact capacity.
However, some Flying Beasts that don't quite meet the standards still fly overloaded.
Qiao Sang was against this practice, but circumstances were different now.
She didn't dare ask if the Great Winged Sparrow was overloaded, fearing the worst...
On the way, the middle-aged man chattered nonstop.
At first, the two young people were cold and unwilling to engage, but eventually, they started talking under the man's persistent chatter.
From their conversation, Qiao Sang learned that the two were also heading to Jin Song Village for the Second Leg of the competition, which helped her relax.
"I feel the prize for the individual first place is better than the team first place. If I didn't have to earn money for my family, I'd definitely try for it", the middle-aged man said.
Third Uncle was aiming for the individual first place in the marathon.
He had even parted ways with his original team because their desired prizes overlapped, indicating how popular the individual first prize was.
Third Uncle supported his entire family with his earnings.
He had two familiars to raise, his eldest son was attending Beastmaster University, and Ye Jingwen wanted to study Spirit Gardening, a costly field, as evidenced by the numerous Spirit Plants in their backyard.
Qiao Sang's mind raced with thoughts of what the prize could be.
Cash, Spirit Plants, crates of familiar energy food—practical things.
"Cliff God and his familiar's latest photo album, taken during this year's Interstellar Cup. It's a first edition, and I wonder how this small town got their hands on it", the young man said.
Qiao Sang: "..."
She wanted to turn back...
...
When they arrived at the Second Leg checkpoint in Jin Song Village, quite a few people were already gathered there.
After registering at the contestant re-inspection point, Qiao Sang brought Fangflare to the designated location at the village entrance.
"Just follow the group, remember the Bellowing Swamp Crocodile? The one with the hard skin, yellow color, and big mouth you greeted this morning", Qiao Sang said, concerned.
"Claw."
Fangflare patted its chest, indicating it was ready.
"There will be tables with water along the route if you get tired. Just help yourself", Qiao Sang instructed.
"Claw."
Fangflare nodded.
Actually, it preferred milk when tired, but since Qiao Sang hadn't mentioned it, there was probably only water.
After giving all the necessary instructions, Qiao Sang left the track.
Since the competition involved familiars, Beastmasters could only wait on the sides of the track.
This time, 233 teams, consisting of 699 Beastmasters and 1,398 familiars, were participating in the Marathon Relay.
At the village entrance, about 200 familiars, including some High-Class Beast Companions, were gathered.
But even so, Fangflare standing there would not go unnoticed. Its unique Sunglasses and flame-like fur caught the attention of many.
"Whose Fangflare is this?"
"Wow, this red familiar is so cool!"
"Judging by its color and appearance, it seems to be a Fire Pet Beast."
"It looks a lot like the champion familiar from the Newcomer Competition a while back."
Qiao Sang turned around, surprised to find someone who had watched the Newcomer Competition. It was a child, no more than ten years old.
Good kid, sharp eyes.
Qiao Sang silently praised.
Time slowly passed.
Thirteen minutes later, a rumbling sound approached from a distance.
"Xun!"
Treasure Seeker pointed in the direction of the sound, excitedly calling out.
Qiao Sang followed the direction and froze in place, rubbing her eyes in disbelief, almost thinking she was hallucinating.
A brown, shelled familiar... rolled over.
Yes, it rolled...
The brown, shelled familiar kept rolling. Just as Qiao Sang thought it had mistakenly entered the track, a male voice called out, "There, there, you can stop now!"
The brown, shelled familiar then stopped rolling and slowly extended its head and limbs.
It wore an A112 race bib on its right front paw and a yellow Relay Band around its neck.
Qiao Sang was dazed. It was a Dual-Tailed Land Turtle...
This was a participating familiar?
Isn't a marathon supposed to be about running?!
How could it be... rolling!
This Dual-Tailed Land Turtle was clearly well-trained, showing no signs of dizziness after rolling for so long. It steadily handed the yellow Relay Band to a Six-Tentacled Snail.
The next scene completely changed Qiao Sang's understanding of the Marathon Relay.
The Six-Tentacled Snail, now wearing the yellow Relay Band, used three of its fleshy Antennae to spray a thick, sticky liquid on the ground.
Then it climbed onto the sticky liquid, which made the ground incredibly smooth. As soon as it touched the surface, it slid forward several meters.
It continued to spray the sticky liquid as it moved, its speed so fast that it quickly disappeared from sight.
Qiao Sang stared in amazement. What she saw was nothing like the marathons she knew.
Right...
This is a familiar marathon...
It makes sense that it's different from human marathons...
She had always assumed that this marathon would involve running on land, swimming in water, and flying in the sky.
She never expected it to be like this...
Most of the events held in society were Familiar Battle competitions and Elegant Coordination competitions. The rules of less popular competitions weren't known by everyone.
She had taken the rules of the Marathon Relay for granted and hadn't bothered to learn them thoroughly.
Qiao Sang looked at Fangflare, who was wearing Sunglasses and looked very confident, and felt a bit regretful.
If other familiars all used such fancy tricks, her Fangy, who would run with its legs, would definitely lose. Would it end up in last place...
With the first team completing the handoff, the second familiar soon approached.
It was a Desert-Tail Fox, panting heavily as it ran over, not using any special abilities or Skills.
But perhaps it saw the handoff area.
In the next second, its two-meter-long tail glowed with a sandy light, and a pile of Floating Sand appeared under its limbs. A Narrow Path made of sand also formed on the ground in front of it.
The Floating Sand carried the Desert-Tail Fox along the Narrow Path until it reached the handoff area.
Then it took off the yellow Relay Band from its neck and handed it to Fangflare, who was wearing Sunglasses.
Qiao Sang was shocked.
What the heck! The second one to arrive is Ye Ranran's Desert-Tail Fox!
(End of Chapter)
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