Chapter 34: Cheerleading
Chapter 34: Cheerleading
The same venue, the same day, and the same person being discussed, but the conversation was entirely different.
"How long do you think he can last?"
The "he" was not explicitly named, but those around understood who it was.
"Three minutes."
"I think two minutes."
"With the experience from the first time, it should be at least five minutes."
"Is there any chance of winning?" one of the candidates who had been defeated by Lu Liangye asked.
"You're still here?" the person who said five minutes turned around in surprise.
The defeated candidate: "... I'm waiting for you to finish so I can hitch a ride back on a Blackbeak."
...
"Water Bubbles!"
As Sun Boyi announced the start of the battle, Lu Liangye's expression turned serious, and he issued his command first.
The Water Ring Carp raised its front limbs slightly, and dozens of translucent Water Bubbles immediately appeared in the air, forming a dense barrier between the Water Ring Carp and the Fangflare. The transparent Water Bubbles reflected the blue and red... afterimages.
"What's going on with that Fangflare?!" came a shout from the stands.
In fact, the Fangflare had initiated the attack first. Before the Water Bubbles even appeared, the Fangflare had already launched itself forward with incredible speed.
The Water Bubbles quickly surrounded the Fangflare.
Fire fears water, and some Fire Familiars even avoid bathing for an entire year because they despise water and don't want to get wet.
However, the Fangflare's pace did not falter, and it charged into the middle of the Water Bubbles without hesitation.
It continued to move forward at high speed, its movements incredibly agile, and not a single Water Bubble managed to touch a single hair on its body.
Qiao Sang was not surprised. Over the past period, the Fangflare's speed and burst power had improved significantly. It could dodge balls from a high-speed pitching machine in its fourth gear, so these slowly floating Water Bubbles were no challenge.
What good were numbers if they were just stationary obstacles?
The Water Ring Carp was still holding up its front limbs, controlling the energy output. The Water Bubbles not only obscured the Fangflare's movements but also blocked some of the Water Ring Carp's vision.
"Quick, dodge!"
Suddenly, the Beastmaster's urgent command rang in its ears. The Water Ring Carp tried to obey, but before it could lower its front limbs, a powerful impact sent it flying backward.
"Circle!"
The Water Ring Carp was both confused and in pain as it flew backward.
How did it end up flying?
"Final blow", Qiao Sang said, uttering her first words in the battle.
A scorching flame condensed into a ball the size of an adult's fist and mercilessly struck the Water Ring Carp, which was still writhing in agony.
The Water Ring Carp struggled for two seconds before going still.
"Water Ring Carp!"
Lu Liangye dashed toward his Familiar, panic in his voice as he saw the Water Ring Carp unresponsive. "Teacher! Teacher!"
Qin Wen calmly approached the Water Ring Carp and said, "Don't worry, a lick will fix it."
He then summoned Tongue Drip...
...
"Damn, did you see that?"
"Yeah, Lu Liangye couldn't last two minutes."
"That Fangflare is amazing."
"No, it's the Beastmaster! She didn't even give a command, and the Fangflare attacked!"
In a typical novice Beastmaster battle, the Familiars would follow the commands of their masters to perform their next actions.
For example, if the opponent said "Spark", they would know whether to have their Familiar defend, dodge, or counter with a specific skill.
However, that girl didn't give any commands at the start, yet the Fangflare used the Ram skill. The subsequent coordination and outcome clearly showed that the Fangflare was not acting on its own but under her tacit approval.
This level of tacit understanding only appeared in high-level matches.
Those higher-ranked Beastmasters would study their opponents' Familiars beforehand and devise a series of Signature Moves to keep their opponents guessing during the match.
This is also why most major competitions don't specify who attacks first.
It's all about the excitement.
Some high-level Beastmasters don't formulate strategies by studying their opponents; instead, they fully trust their familiars to do their best and only give commands when unexpected situations arise or during critical moments.
However, these scenarios are typically only seen among high-level Beastmasters.
The girl in front of them, however, is just a novice...
...
“What's her name?” Liu Yao asked.
“Qiao Sang, from Wencheng Junior High School,” Sun Boyi replied, glancing at the candidate's information in his hand.
“I remember Wencheng Junior High School had a student who was directly admitted to our school this year,” Zheng Guoping said.
“There was one, Dai Shushu. Her parents are ordinary people, so I remember her quite well,” Sun Boyi responded.
“Ordinary people?!! There are still ordinary people who can have children with spontaneous awakenings? What's her brain development level?” Zheng Guoping asked, surprised.
“5%,” Sun Boyi said.
“This child is quite promising. If her High School Entrance Exam results are good, let her join the Elite Beastmaster Class,” Liu Yao suggested.
“That's not a good idea. Even if she's a spontaneous awakening Beastmaster born to ordinary parents, her brain domain is only 5%. We established the Elite Beastmaster Class to compete with Li Tan. We need to consider all aspects. How is the familiar she bonded with? How is her combat ability? And...” Zheng Guoping hesitated, trailing off.
Because Sun Boyi was looking at him with a "you're an idiot" expression.
“What? Did I say something wrong?” Zheng Guoping glared back, clearly annoyed.
Sun Boyi slowly replied, “Vice Principal mentioned that if her High School Entrance Exam results are good. Do you think someone who has been directly admitted needs to take the High School Entrance Exam?”
Zheng Guoping: “...”
Oh, so you’re talking about that Qiao Sang...
Considering both Fangflare’s performance and her own combat skills, it seems she would have no problem joining the Elite Beastmaster Class...
But to be looked down upon...
So annoying...
Meanwhile, Qiao Sang, the subject of their conversation, was taking out a bottle of Miracle Milk for Fangflare from her backpack.
After two matches, she had secured one of the five special admission slots to Holy Water High School.
But her goal wasn't just to be one of the five; it was to be the first.
The second and fifth places still needed to score 50 points higher than the minimum High School Entrance Exam score, while the first place only needed to meet the minimum score.
She knew the difference.
Fifty points!
How many more problems would she have to solve to improve by that much?
And now, she was just one step away from those 50 points!
Fangflare, wearing its triangular sunglasses, lounged in the seat, holding the milk with one paw and drinking it contentedly.
The second match had just started, with the familiars being a Puffbird and a Long-Eared Cat.
“Yah!”
“Yah yah!”
“Yah yah!”
Fangflare sat up straight, holding the milk with one paw and waving the other to cheer.
After a while, it would take a sip of milk and then continue cheering.
Its cheering was for the Puffbird.
The Plump Homing Dove at home was good friends with it. Whenever it finished its own meal, it would push its energy meal over for the Puffbird to eat.
As a fellow Plump Homing Dove, Fangflare naturally had to cheer for the Puffbird.
“Yah!”
“Yah yah!”
“Yah yah!”
Ten minutes later.
Despite Fangflare's enthusiastic cheering, the Puffbird lost...
(End of Chapter)
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