Chapter 531: A Deserved Loss
Chapter 531: A Deserved Loss
Steel Sparrow's claws quickly retracted, evading Palm Strike Lad's attack.
"Brilliant!" the Announcer exclaimed upon seeing this. "Although Steel Sparrow isn't as fast as Palm Strike Lad, its reaction time is excellent, and it has great control over its body."
"Exactly", the White Young Man beside him added. "If Steel Sparrow had only relied on its flight to dodge, it wouldn't have avoided the attack. The way it retracted its claws was nothing short of brilliant."
The White Young Man was none other than yesterday's E-Rank Beastmaster Arena Battles Champion of the Day.
There was an unwritten rule in the Familiar Arena Battles: the Champion of the Day would be invited to join the Announcer for the live commentary the following day.
This job not only brought fame but also attracted a batch of fans and a substantial reward, so few would turn it down.
While the two were conversing, Steel Sparrow flapped its wings and dodged to a higher position.
It seemed that this familiar called Palm Strike Lad was a Combat-type Companion. Close combat was risky, and it was best to attack from a distance. Steel Sparrow's long-range attack skills were limited to... Qiao Sang had a thought and quickly said:
"Air Blades."
Without hesitation, Steel Sparrow flapped its wings forcefully, and several white blades of condensed air appeared out of nowhere, hurtling toward Palm Strike Lad's position.
Palm Strike Lad didn't dodge; instead, it quickly tore off the White Tape from its wrist and began to swing it.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The White Tape, now over two meters long, emitted a white glow as it was swung, creating a chain of white light around Palm Strike Lad's body, forming an impenetrable defense.
The Air Blades were completely neutralized in just a few moments.
What kind of skill is this... Qiao Sang remained outwardly calm but was inwardly perplexed.
He had thought that after his relentless studies, he had shed the "Slacker" label, but now he couldn't even recognize a skill!
"This artifact is quite practical", the Announcer remarked. "The lightweight protective cloth can be used as a defensive artifact by inputting energy, and it's light enough to carry around. Every time I see Palm Strike Lad use it, I want one for myself."
The White Young Man shook his head. "The lightweight protective cloth can only handle a limited amount of energy, and its defensive capabilities are limited. The perfect defense just now was possible because Palm Strike Lad is stronger than Steel Sparrow. If Palm Strike Lad's opponent had significantly more energy, this lightweight protective cloth would be useless."
So it's an artifact. No wonder. After all these sleepless nights of study, how could I not recognize a skill used by an Intermediate Beast... Qiao Sang's expression changed from one of realization to shock.
Damn! So artifacts are allowed in the Arena Battles!
"Close combat!" Cash issued the command.
Palm Strike Lad, upon hearing the order, discarded the White Tape and used its legs to leap into the air, reaching a position parallel to Steel Sparrow. It clenched its fists, tensed its muscles, and unleashed a terrifying force, aiming a punch at Steel Sparrow.
Steel Sparrow, driven by its combat experience from birth, instinctively tried to dodge by flapping its wings.
But just as it was about to flap, it heard its Beastmaster's voice:
"Head! Steel Wing!"
Steel Sparrow hesitated for a fraction of a second.
To it, dodging was the best choice.
Its opponent was stronger, and facing a stronger opponent head-on was unwise. It should have engaged in a skirmish, looking for the right moment to strike.
In that split second, Palm Strike Lad's fist, carrying a fierce gust of wind, was right in front of Steel Sparrow.
"Clang!"
Steel Sparrow gritted its teeth, suppressing the instinct to flap its wings and create distance. It tilted its body 90 degrees upward.
As it did so, its wings transformed into two silver steel blades!
Steel Sparrow and Palm Strike Lad's fist narrowly missed each other.
Palm Strike Lad's attack missed, but it didn't pause. It immediately pivoted, and its right leg, tensed with muscle, swung toward Steel Sparrow.
"Head!" Steel Sparrow's mind flashed with its Beastmaster's words.
Its eyes locked onto the opponent's head, and it swiftly transformed its wings into steel blades, striking Palm Strike Lad's face with a fierce blow.
"Slap, slap!"
Palm Strike Lad's legs were too long, making it a step too slow. It flew backward and crashed heavily onto the ground.
"Clang, clang..."
Steel Sparrow was momentarily stunned, not expecting its attack to succeed.
Cash's face darkened, and he looked visibly displeased.
The audience who had bet on Cash also looked unhappy, but the match wasn't over yet, so they didn't start hurling insults immediately.
"Get up!" Cash shouted.
Before Qiao Sang could give any further commands, Steel Sparrow's eyes flickered, recognizing the best moment to attack.
It flapped its wings forcefully, sending several Air Blades toward Palm Strike Lad's face.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The Air Blades struck the ground, sending rocks flying and partially obscuring Palm Strike Lad's vision with dust.
"Steel Wing! Head!" Seeing Palm Strike Lad roll to the edge of the stage, Qiao Sang called out.
Steel Sparrow's most powerful skill, Steel Wing, was at the Proficient level, and with its Sharpness trait, it could deal significant damage even to a Sophomore Year Familiar.
Combat Familiars' weaknesses are often in their heads and necks. This Palm Strike Lad had a White Tape wrapped around its neck, so Qiao Sang couldn't risk targeting an unprotected head as the best choice for an attack!
"Clang, clang!"
This time, Steel Sparrow didn't hesitate, and its expression even showed a hint of excitement.
It dived down, its wings transforming into silver steel blades, and mercilessly struck Palm Strike Lad's head.
"Protect your head!" Cash's heart skipped a beat, and he shouted loudly.
Palm Strike Lad, hearing its Beastmaster's command, quickly crossed its fists to block its face.
Steel Sparrow's eyes flickered, and it slightly twisted its body, changing its attack point from the face to the top of the head.
"Slap, slap!"
Palm Strike Lad let out a painful cry and fell silent.
The large holographic screen at the back promptly displayed the match result:
[Cash vs. Qiao Sang, 0:1]
The audience who had bet on Cash winning immediately rose in anger, almost ready to throw trash onto the stage.
"Cash! You're a piece of trash! You actually lost to a kid!"
"Palm Strike Lad is a level higher than Steel Sparrow and still can't win! Get off the stage and stop embarrassing yourself!"
"Cash, you're a real waste of space!"
Amidst the angry shouts, the Announcer didn't forget his job:
"It seems this new player at the Arena Battles is no ordinary contestant. Facing a stronger opponent, they didn't back down at all. Instead of relying on Steel Sparrow's flight ability to maintain distance and wear down Palm Strike Lad, they seized the opportunity to counterattack when Palm Strike Lad initiated a close-range attack."
"Indeed", the White Young Man nodded. "This Steel Sparrow has been well-trained. The core of combat skills is the control of the body. The higher the body control, the more precise the reactions can be under the same physical condition. From the way Steel Sparrow narrowly avoided Palm Strike Lad's close-range attack and took advantage of the opening to strike successfully, it's clear that it has excellent body control."
"Moreover, the final blow also demonstrates its adaptability", the Announcer added. "Palm Strike Lad blocked the front of its head, and Steel Sparrow, being less than a meter away, knew to change its attack point to the top of the head in such a short time and distance. Most familiars wouldn't be able to make that adjustment so quickly."
Finally, he concluded:
"Cash's loss in this round was well-deserved."
(End of Chapter)
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