https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-465-The-Fourth-Stage-of-the-National-Championship/13455049/
Chapter 464: Where Did Icechill Go?
Chapter 464: Where Did Icechill Go? (Combined)
On the battlefield, all the water droplets that had splashed from the Water Jet were now suspended in mid-air, controlled by Psychic Power.
The opponent’s intention was to force Lulu out... With just one glance, Qiao Sang saw through their plan.
The Water Fusion Trait wasn’t invincible. If the water Lulu had fused with was disturbed, she would be forced to emerge.
In the past, Lulu’s Water Fusion seemed unbeatable mainly because her opponents were not skilled enough to locate which puddle she had fused with.
But now, Jaw Spark was controlling all the water droplets, making it impossible for Lulu to hide.
Qiao Sang’s mind raced, devising a strategy to counter the enemy.
The main issue was the Defense Swap.
Once the Skill’s duration expired, Lulu would be safe even if she was forced out.
Jaw Spark had never used Defense Swap in previous matches, so it was likely a recent acquisition. If that was the case, the Skill Proficiency was almost certainly at the Novice level.
Speaking of which, what was the duration of a Novice-level Defense Swap... Never mind, let’s think differently... Since the duration of Defense Swap is uncertain, the key is to ensure Lulu is in a safe position during that time...
With this thought, Qiao Sang formulated a plan.
She needed to get Lulu to a place where the Frostflower Seal would have no effect.
There was no time for lengthy instructions, and detailed commands might be overheard by the opponent, so this was a test of her and Lulu's synchronization.
“Smash!” Tian Xiaoyun shouted, her expression excited.
Defense Swap was one of the Skills Jaw Spark’s prodigies had learned recently, and the success rate was only about 60%.
Using a Skill with a 60% success rate in a match was risky, but at that moment, Defense Swap was the best option.
Otherwise, defending against the Frostflower Seal while also dodging Icechill’s attacks would be impossible to sustain for long.
To her surprise, it worked perfectly at the critical moment.
Icechill’s most troublesome Skills were Healing Light and Frostflower Seal.
Jaw Spark had no Skills that could instantly defeat Icechill, but with Defense Swap, Icechill could be eliminated by the Frostflower Seal!
All Jaw Spark needed to do was force Icechill out before the Defense Swap expired, and the match would be over!
“Big Mouth!”
Jaw Spark’s eyes glowed blue as it looked down.
All the water droplets in mid-air suddenly began to fall vertically toward the ground.
Qiao Sang issued her command: “Jump to the opponent’s side.”
Which side?
Jaw Spark’s side?
Tian Xiaoyun was unperturbed.
Even if Lulu got close to Jaw Spark, what difference would it make? The snow from the Frostflower Seal would still fall, and getting too close to Jaw Spark would cause a headache.
Such a good opportunity for an attack—did Qiao Sang really think that by giving this command, she could make Jaw Spark stop using Psychic Power and Teleport Dodge instead?
No way!
As the water droplets fell, one of them began to shake violently.
With its Psychic Power, Jaw Spark could have controlled Lulu for a short time, but it was controlling all the water droplets on the field, and its Psychic Power was too spread out. A slight struggle from Lulu was enough to break the Bind.
The water droplet shook and then leaped forward in an arc, landing on the ground.
Snowflakes fell, and in an instant, two Ice Blossoms bloomed on Lulu’s body.
“Icechill!”
Lulu gritted her teeth, her body glowing blue, and then she leaped to a water droplet that was still falling.
At the same time, the Ice Blossoms on her body disappeared for a second.
In that second, Lulu had fused with the water droplet in front of her.
Is that even possible? Tian Xiaoyun was momentarily stunned, her mind struggling to process what had just happened.
Using Healing Light and Water Fusion together like that?
Tian Xiaoyun took a deep breath, remaining calm. The advantage was still on her side.
The area where Icechill had fused with the water was now clear, so she could narrow the range and use Psychic Power to control it again. If Icechill used the same trick, she would attack immediately when it appeared!
As this thought crossed Tian Xiaoyun’s mind, Lulu had already completed two consecutive jumps.
Now, she emerged from the water droplet for the third time and leaped forward, landing right in front of Jaw Spark.
“Big Mouth!”
Jaw Spark, having fought for so long, didn’t need its Beastmaster to give the command. Its Psychic Power immediately focused, trying to control the opponent in front of it.
"Big Mouth?"
But just as Psychic Power was about to converge, Jaw Spark froze.
Where was the opponent?
For a moment, the scene fell silent. After Lulu's leap, there was no further movement.
From the audience's perspective, all they saw was Icechill jump in Jaw Spark's direction and then vanish.
Tian Xiaoyun frowned and said,
"Again!"
"Big Mouth."
Jaw Spark moved to one side, its eyes glowing with Blue Light. Within a three-meter radius of its original position, water droplets suddenly rose into the air.
They then fell vertically.
Water splashed.
At this moment, the hearts of all the spectators from Yuhua Region and Ancient Fog Region were in their throats.
The imagined scene of Icechill being thrown out didn't happen. The water was just ordinary water, and Icechill wasn't hiding in it.
Where was Icechill? If she couldn't be found soon, the Defense Swap time would be up... Tian Xiaoyun steadied her nerves and issued the command,
"Expand the range!"
"Big Mouth."
Jaw Spark ascended to a certain height.
In an instant, all the water droplets within a six-meter radius of its previous position rose into the air and then crashed down heavily.
Still no sign of Icechill.
At this moment, Jaw Spark felt a bone-chilling cold.
An Ice Blossom bloomed on its head.
The Defense Swap time had arrived! Tian Xiaoyun's heart raced for a moment, and she quickly said, "Barrier!"
Barrier, though a Low-Rank Skill, had been in effect for a long time due to the Frostflower Seal. Its power was waning, and with Barrier, they might just hold on!
Just as Tian Xiaoyun thought this, Qiao Sang said,
"Frost Claw!"
"Evade!" Tian Xiaoyun's rich battle experience made her instinctively give the command.
Even though Icechill hadn't appeared yet, Jaw Spark absolutely couldn't be injured at this critical moment when Defense Swap was about to end!
Hearing her Beastmaster's words, Jaw Spark, which was about to activate Barrier, stopped the energy flow and teleported five meters away.
At this moment, three Ice Blossoms had bloomed on its body.
Jaw Spark endured the cold, raised its paw, and was about to continue casting Barrier.
Suddenly, one of the water droplets on its body twisted and deformed.
In the next second, Lulu, with a Frost Claw formed from ice, appeared in front of Jaw Spark.
Jaw Spark looked up, and its pupils were filled with Lulu's image.
"Swish!"
The sharp and icy Frost Claw fell mercilessly.
As a Psychic Pet, Jaw Spark's body defense was unable to withstand such close-range damage.
"Bang!"
Jaw Spark was knocked backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Icechill."
Lulu landed on the ground, her expression aloof.
Snowflakes fell.
Jaw Spark quickly became covered in intricate Ice Blossoms.
If there was any doubt before, the scene that just played out made it clear.
Icechill had been hiding on Jaw Spark's body! Tian Xiaoyun felt as if she had been struck on the head, her mind numb.
How could someone come up with such an operation in such a short time?
What was even more bewildering was that Qiao Sang's command was vague, telling Icechill to "jump to the opponent", but Icechill understood exactly what to do.
On the other side, Qiao Sang couldn't help but smile.
Jaw Spark had been hit by a Water Jet earlier and was still wet.
There was no safer place than on Jaw Spark's body.
To be honest, Lulu's understanding and coordination with her were getting better, as she knew that the command meant to jump into the water droplets on Jaw Spark's body, not just follow the literal meaning of the command.
"Icechill."
Lulu looked at the ice-encased opponent, flicked her tail, and turned to walk back to her Beastmaster with no change in expression.
But in the next second, she stumbled.
Qiao Sang quickly said, "Use Healing Light!"
Lulu had been close to Jaw Spark the whole time, likely enduring a headache to avoid giving herself away.
"Icechill."
A warm feeling welled up inside Lulu, knowing that her Beastmaster was always paying attention to her.
Blue Light appeared around her.
"Chirp!"
At the same time, the referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.
The audience, who had been momentarily silent, erupted into a wave of noise.
"What happened? Why did Icechill suddenly appear in front of Jaw Spark?!"
"What's wrong with you, can't you see? Icechill jumped into the water on Jaw Spark's body!"
Where did the water come from on Jaw Spark?
"It's a pig. Didn't Icechill spray it with a Water Jet at the beginning?"
"Qiao Sang's thinking is so meticulous!"
"Icechill, I love you!"
"Damn, didn't you think it was amazing when Icechill started using Healing Light in the snow, jumping and melting into the water?!"
"Amazing! It's really amazing! The Healing Light looked like it was instant, and it perfectly timed the melting into the water droplets when the Ice Blossom on its body disappeared. If any step had gone wrong, Icechill might have lost."
"Ah! Icechill, I knew you would win!"
"Actually, doesn't anyone find the chemistry between Qiao Sang and Icechill incredible? If Qiao Sang's final command was given to me and my Stingbug, we would have mindlessly jumped in front of the opponent."
"Don't treat Qiao Sang like a normal person. Aside from her strength, the idea of having Icechill melt into the water on Jaw Spark's body, who could think of that in such a short time?"
"…If you put it that way, I understand."
The crowd at Holy Water High School was shouting Qiao Sang and Icechill's names wildly, feeling incredibly proud to be at the same school as Qiao Sang.
At this moment, a boy sitting next to Jin Fanfei leaned in and asked:
"Are you from the same school as Qiao Sang?"
Jin Fanfei, who was usually socially anxious, was still caught up in the excitement and didn't feel the usual panic when strangers spoke to her.
She nodded vigorously.
"I heard Qiao Sang's grades are terrible, and she even got a zero once. Is that true?" the boy asked.
Jin Fanfei glared at him. "Who said that! Our school is the best in the city, and Qiao Sang is in the best class in our grade. She's the smartest student in the class!"
The boy looked a bit embarrassed. "I read it online."
Jin Fanfei said angrily, "The internet is full of fake news. How can you believe it!"
"I get it…"
…
First row of the audience stands.
"Ah!" Minister Lan jumped up from her seat in excitement.
"Minister Lan?" The man next to her, who looked to be in his thirties, gave her a puzzled look.
Minister Lan quietly sat back down but couldn't help turning to ask:
"Didn't you find that match incredibly exciting?!"
It was exciting, but not to the point of such excitement. We're all old folks; what exciting match haven't we seen… The man internally grumbled but carefully said:
"It was exciting, but with the national live stream and cameras focused on us as representatives of the region, I had to contain myself."
…Minister Lan fell silent.
…
That evening, 15th floor of Moting Hotel.
Fangy and Treasure Seeker were watching Lulu's match video on the computer. Qiao Sang was reviewing the day's battle with them.
"Intelligence can sometimes be inaccurate. We can't always rely on pre-planned strategies. Lulu did a great job today."
"Icechill."
Lulu flicked her tail, indicating it was just routine.
Fangy watched the video with increasing excitement, then suddenly remembered something and turned to Lulu with a battle-ready look in his eyes.
Qiao Sang could read Fangy's mind from just one expression.
After finally forgetting about the idea of battling Lulu, he seemed to recall it just from watching the video… Before Fangy could issue a challenge, Qiao Sang quickly spoke up:
"The upcoming matches will be more challenging. The remaining opponents are very strong. The next match is the day after tomorrow, so we'll train as usual tomorrow. Don't do anything else, get plenty of rest, and ensure you're in the best condition for the match."
"Fangy!"
Fangy's eyes lit up, and he nodded excitedly, no longer mentioning a battle with Lulu.
A match with Lulu could happen anytime, but a match in the tournament couldn't.
Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction. Fangy was smart and understood quickly.
"Xunxun?"
Treasure Seeker called out curiously.
Usually, only one of them competed in each match. If it wasn't him the next day, could he do something else?
At this question, Fangy and Lulu both looked over.
Qiao Sang paused, then said, "We don't know who our next opponent will be, so all of us need to be ready to compete. I don't know who will be the best fit for the next match."
"Xunxun~" Treasure Seeker nodded.
That made sense.
Fangy and Lulu both had the same "I see" expression.
A thought suddenly flashed through Qiao Sang's mind: Treasure Seeker's questions are getting more frequent. He's so eager to learn; it's a shame he's not in school…
(End of Chapter)
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