Chapter 417: The Two Stages of Substitute
Chapter 417: The Two Stages of Substitute
Muddy Python continuously unleashed Water Jet.
Shadow Split, a dozen shadows resembling black silk ribbons, darted past the Water Jets, fiercely and chaotically entangling Muddy Python from all directions.
The audience stands erupted in a cacophony of voices.
"Ah? Isn't that an Intermediate Beast?!"
"3D Shadow Control! Such a high proficiency!"
"This proficiency is even higher than the Advanced Skills of other contestants' High-Class Beast Companions!"
"I saw this Ghost-type Companion Beast drinking milk earlier and thought it was very young, but I didn't expect its Advanced Skill to be so advanced..."
"I suddenly remember, Qiao Sang is 15 years old, right?"
Most High-Class Beast Companions have Advanced Skills, but Advanced Skills with high proficiency are quite rare.
Skill Proficiency is a crucial factor.
At a certain level, an Intermediate Skill with high proficiency can even outperform an Advanced Skill with low proficiency.
However, unlike Low-Rank and Mid-Rank Skills, improving the proficiency of an Advanced Skill requires more than just time and resources.
A talentless familiar might spend a decade and a fortune but still not be able to advance an Advanced Skill from small success to mastery.
High-Class Beast Companions with high-proficiency Advanced Skills are often older Beastmasters.
The audience didn't expect to see such a high-proficiency Advanced Skill in a high school student's match, let alone from an Intermediate Beast.
In an instant, a dozen shadows tightly bound Muddy Python.
Muddy Python tried to bite one of the shadows wrapped around its body, but the shadow stretched without breaking.
Something felt off... Qiao Sang had a nagging feeling.
Indeed, Shadow Control's attack speed was fast, but after several Water Jets failed to have any effect, Muddy Python didn't even attempt to dodge, just standing still and allowing the shadows to bind it.
If this were the Provincial Tournament, it might be due to the opponent's lack of skill, but this was the Regional Tournament, which made it very strange.
According to the records, Muddy Python seemed to have the Substitute Skill, and its proficiency was reportedly at mastery... Qiao Sang scanned the arena, noticing a large number of water droplets falling above the Treasure Hunter Demon, as if it were a localized rain shower.
The memory suddenly became clear.
Qiao Sang recalled the details.
Muddy Python's Water Jets appeared to be resisting the shadows, but a few were sprayed randomly, with two hitting the area above the Treasure Hunter Demon.
These water droplets were the result of those two Water Jets.
At this stage of the Regional Tournament, every attack by a familiar had to have a purpose.
So, the water was deliberately sprayed... Qiao Sang realized this and called out loudly, "Look up, Hypnosis!"
Look up? Look up?! She figured it out?!
Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat.
He genuinely wanted to battle Icechill, but this was the National School Beast League Regional Tournament, and he had done his homework.
Even if he hadn't, his coach would have prepared a strategy.
It wasn't a secret that Qiao Sang's Treasure Hunter Demon knew 3D Shadow Control, and he had devised a plan for Muddy Python to face the Treasure Hunter Demon.
That's when you take advantage of the opponent's mistaken confidence and launch a surprise attack.
No matter how erratic the Treasure Hunter Demon's movements are, it is still a Fragile. If Muddy Python can successfully ambush and Bite it, the match is most likely over.
From the data, it's highly probable that the Treasure Hunter Demon will use Shadow Control to daze its opponent.
What he needs to do is force the Treasure Hunter Demon to use 3D Shadow Control.
In 2D Mode, Muddy Python can't easily change its position while under Shadow Control.
He had considered the possibility that the Treasure Hunter Demon might not use 3D Shadow Control, and that even if the ambush succeeded, it might still hold on. But he never expected the Treasure Hunter Demon to reveal its plan and predict Muddy Python's move before it even acted!
It's too late... Chen Ye felt like crying.
If Muddy Python's ambush fails, he might lose.
If he loses, Qiao Sang will still have three more familiars to fight.
With three more familiars, the chances of encountering Icechill in the next match would decrease!
Despite the many thoughts racing through Chen Ye's mind, only two seconds had actually passed in reality.
The Treasure Seeker had already raised its head, its eyes glowing blue.
Its short toes remained in place.
The Shadow Control was still in effect.
The Treasure Seeker's Shadow Control and Hypnosis skills had both reached a very high proficiency, allowing it to use them simultaneously.
The black shadows binding Muddy Python were tightening even more.
Suddenly, Muddy Python disappeared, transforming into a falling water droplet.
At the same moment, Muddy Python reappeared above the Treasure Seeker.
After the Position Swap, it immediately bit down with all its strength... Muddy Python remembered what its Beastmaster had said.
But before it could open its mouth, it met a pair of purple eyes.
"Water Muddy..."
Drowsiness washed over Muddy Python, and it uncontrollably closed its eyes.
"Bang!"
The next second, a loud thud echoed as Muddy Python hit the ground hard.
"Seek~ hic~"
The Treasure Seeker covered its mouth and giggled.
"Qu!"
The referee's Mechanical Pet floated over, examined Muddy Python, and blew the whistle.
The audience, who hadn't seen Icechill, remained relatively calm. Although there were no thunderous cheers, the discussions were intense.
"Is Qiao Sang really 15 years old? His combat awareness is too strong!"
"Chen Ye's strategy wasn't bad. He first sprayed water into the opponent's blind spot, making it think it was trapped, then used Substitute to swap places with the approaching water. Unfortunately, Qiao Sang saw through it."
"Indeed, he even forced the Treasure Hunter Demon to use 3D Shadow Control."
"I don't get it. Did he have to wait for the 3D Shadow Control before using Substitute?"
"Not necessarily, but at the time, the Ghost-type Companion Beast was using 2D Mode Shadow Control. In this mode, using Substitute can only block damage, not swap positions with other objects. In 3D Mode, the shadow isn't bound, so the original can swap positions."
"Chen Ye is a smart kid, which makes Qiao Sang even more impressive."
"Right, Qiao Sang is just too insane. How could anyone think that fast and see through it?"
"The Ghost-type Companion Beast's Hypnosis proficiency must be very high. The referee immediately declared Muddy Python the loser."
"Muddy Python's Substitute proficiency isn't bad either; it can swap positions with objects directly."
Substitute is divided into two stages based on proficiency.
The first stage is using a Substitute that looks exactly like the user to block damage.
The second stage is swapping positions with any object within a certain range, allowing that object to take the damage instead.
Muddy Python had undoubtedly reached the second stage.
Amid the audience's lively discussions, Yi Ao announced the start of the second match.
(End of Chapter)
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