Chapter 611: A Sight to Behold
Chapter 611: A Sight to Behold
Wang Rui was very pleased with Qiao Sang's cooperation and immediately said:
"Summon Steel Sparrow's new form."
As a senior researcher at the Third District Flying Beast Research Institute, he was accustomed to being in a position of superiority, and his tone reflected that.
However, as soon as he spoke, he noticed the Principal glancing at him.
Wang Rui immediately remembered that they were at Sai Nan High School, a place frequented by scions of influential families, and recalled Qiao Sang's background.
While he wasn't afraid, Wang Rui decided to add a conciliatory note:
"Any Beastmaster who first discovers a new familiar form has the right to name it. Have you thought of a name for Steel Sparrow's new form? I'll report it for you after today's session."
Qiao Sang began forming the seals for summoning and said:
"I've thought about it. I'll call it Steel Guardian."
"Steel Guardian."
As if in agreement, Steel Sparrow, which usually remained quiet and in the background, let out a call.
"Steel Guardian, you named it based on its call, right?" Wang Rui's eyes lit up as he looked at Steel Sparrow's new form. He smiled and began to carefully examine it with his hands.
Steel Sparrow's expression was one of numbness.
It felt like it was going to be touched to death today...
Humans never used to be so fond of it...
"Stop standing there, take some photos!" As he touched Steel Sparrow, Wang Rui suddenly remembered something and turned to the assistants.
You've been touching it this whole time, how are we supposed to take photos... The assistants, though seething inwardly, each picked up their cameras and began to capture images of Steel Sparrow from every angle.
Wang Rui realized he was in the way and stepped aside.
After nearly ten minutes of photography, Wang Rui turned to Qiao Sang:
"Next, we need to conduct a battle to confirm if Steel Guardian is a Bond Evolution. Just follow the normal battle procedures. If Steel Guardian gets hurt and you feel the pain, let us know immediately."
"Sure!" Qiao Sang, in high spirits, replied enthusiastically.
She had returned late yesterday and hadn't had the chance to try out Steel Sparrow's new skills. The upcoming battle would be a good opportunity to test their effectiveness.
Moreover, Steel Sparrow was likely a Bond Evolution, and she was curious to see if the battles involving Bond Evolution familiars were as extraordinary as described online...
"Bernice, you're up." Wang Rui gestured to a blonde woman nearby.
The institute had received information that Steel Sparrow might be a Bond Evolution before they arrived. Considering that a Beastmaster would synchronize and feel the pain during a Bond Evolution battle, they had pre-selected an appropriate opponent.
Bernice had a recently evolved Intermediate Pet Beast, a Foam Crab, making her the best choice for the test.
Bernice moved to one side and began forming the seals without a word.
The Gray Star Array lit up, and soon a deep blue, 80-centimeter-tall crab with two protrusions on its head and six limbs appeared within the Star Array.
The other assistants set up their cameras to record the entire battle.
"Speaking of which, this is the first time I've seen an Interstellar Exchange Student in a battle here", the Principal said, sitting down and watching the scene with a sense of wonder.
Mudeli, inwardly rolling his eyes, thought: The Interstellar Exchange Students are in their junior year and don't know anyone here, so they rarely have opportunities for battles. Besides, even the native students of our school rarely have battles that you attend... But he nodded in agreement outwardly.
"I’m also watching Qiao Sang’s battle for the first time."
While they were talking, the match had already begun.
"Water Jet!" Bernice issued the command.
Qiao Sang’s expression was odd; she hadn’t encountered a Beastmaster who issued commands right at the start of a battle in a long time...
The Foam Crab’s right claw opened forward, and a Water Jet immediately shot out in a straight line.
The Water Jet wasn’t particularly fast, and to Steel Treasure, who was used to battling Fangy and others, it was even a bit slow.
At this speed and power, it felt like there was no need to dodge; she could just use Steel Wing to slice it apart... Qiao Sang thought as she observed the opponent’s familiar attack.
As soon as the thought arose, Steel Treasure’s wings crossed forward, transforming into two purple blades. In an instant, they sliced through the Water Jet in front of her.
Water splashed to the ground.
Just as I thought, this is the perfect opportunity to launch an attack. I can try out Blade Feather... Qiao Sang had this idea in her mind and was about to issue the corresponding command.
However, she saw Steel Treasure’s wings move backward, like arms pulling back.
Two feathers glowing with a purple light were instantly pulled out, resembling blades.
Next, Steel Treasure gripped the purple Blade Feather and transformed into a purple flash, swiftly charging at the opponent.
"Whoosh!"
In a blur, the purple blade light flashed and struck the Foam Crab.
Just a second before, Bernice had frantically issued the command to "dodge."
"Foam!"
The Foam Crab let out a pained cry, closed its eyes, and fell over.
This... Qiao Sang stared at the fallen Foam Crab, confused for a few seconds.
Did the opponent take this seriously?
Is it over already?
The scene fell into a momentary silence.
The Principal’s eyes lit up from his seat:
"I didn’t expect this Steel Sparrow to learn an Advanced Skill like Blade Feather right after Evolving into an Intermediate Pet Beast!"
It was impossible for a Beginner Beast to learn an Advanced Skill, so he hadn’t even considered it.
Mudeli lowered his voice, puzzled:
"Wasn’t the person sent by the Research Institute too weak? The command speed didn’t keep up with the battle at all."
The Principal thought for a moment and said:
"The people from the Research Institute spend all their time there, so their combat skills are generally not very good. They probably didn’t expect Qiao Sang’s Steel Sparrow to have an Advanced Skill like Blade Feather after just Evolving."
"Moreover, Qiao Sang is an Exchange Student from the Blue Star Dragon Nation’s Junior Year Division, and even though Steel Sparrow bonded with her after she arrived at Supernest, her strength couldn’t be too weak."
"If Steel Sparrow really underwent a Bond Evolution, the synergy during the battle would definitely be stronger than that of the people from the Research Institute."
"I think they just considered the pain of Bond Evolution and forgot about Qiao Sang’s strength."
"I see." Mudeli realized, then said in an understanding tone, "But it’s not entirely their fault. Normally, no one would expect an Intermediate Pet Beast that just Evolved to have an Advanced Skill and use it so proficiently."
The Principal didn’t speak, indicating his agreement.
Generally, familiars gain one or two new skills after Evolving. For Low-Rank skills, it’s easy to get used to them quickly, but for Mid-Rank and High-Rank skills, it usually takes some time to master them.
Qiao Sang’s situation was indeed rare, so it was understandable that the Research Institute people didn’t consider it.
Wang Rui clearly realized he hadn’t thought it through completely. He coughed and looked at Qiao Sang, trying to make amends:
"Although this is a regular battle, our true purpose is to determine whether Steel Guardian underwent a Bond Evolution. So, you can actually take it a bit easier."
The research institute is not without individuals who have high-level, General-Class, or even Royal-Tier familiars. However, considering the potential harm to the Beastmaster if it were a Bond Evolution, sending out an Intermediate Pet Beast of the same level was deemed the best choice.
But no one expected the Intermediate familiar to be instantly defeated...
Why didn't you say so earlier... Qiao Sang thought to herself, maintaining a serious expression as she replied, "I understand."
"Steel Guardian..."
Steel Treasure silently reinserted the two purple-glowing feathers.
"Scott, you're up", Wang Rui said.
The research institute wasn't the only place where Bernice had an Intermediate Pet Beast; it was just that her familiar had only recently evolved to that level.
Bernice recalled Foam Crab and awkwardly stepped back.
A middle-aged white man with brown hair and blue eyes stepped onto the field.
He formed seals with his hands, and from the Green Star Array, a bird familiar about 70 centimeters tall appeared. Its body was mostly yellow, with a lighter yellow belly, and it had a very round shape.
To prevent another wasted match, Qiao Sang spoke up, "Steel Treasure, remember our purpose for this battle."
Phew, almost said to go easy... Qiao Sang sighed in relief internally.
Although the idea of going easy was first suggested by the researcher Wang Rui, she felt it would be too arrogant to say it herself, especially since she was facing someone several decades her senior.
"Steel Guardian."
Steel Treasure called out, indicating it understood.
It felt quite pleased, as it could sense its own significant improvement from the previous battle.
"Joy Bird, Air Blades", Scott commanded.
"Chirp chirp!"
Joy Bird flapped its wings, and a dozen air-condensing blades shot out in unison.
This attack was a good opportunity. From their expressions, it seemed they were just testing and wouldn't fight to the bitter end. Perhaps if Steel Treasure deliberately slowed its dodging and got hit, it might all be over... A thought flashed through Qiao Sang's mind.
Just as Steel Treasure was about to use Iron Wall, the same idea crossed its mind.
Its body froze, and one of the Air Blades struck it.
At the same time, Qiao Sang felt a slight pain in her chest.
The pain was real, but not enough to make her cry out.
So, I was right... Qiao Sang felt a sense of "I knew it" as she sensed the pain in her chest. Then, she thought of something, her expression changed, and she took a step back, exclaiming, "Ah!"
Scott paused, immediately stopping his commands.
"Steel Guardian..."
Steel Treasure couldn't help but give its Beastmaster a look that said, "Your acting is terrible."
The principal, observing from the side, fell into thought.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but it seemed like Qiao Sang was faking it...
Mudeli silently facepalmed, thinking, You were just supposed to go easy, not overdo it.
The other researchers, however, were not so rational. They immediately perked up, their faces flushed with excitement.
"Did you feel the pain when Steel Guardian was hit just now?" Wang Rui immediately ran up, his face brimming with excitement.
Although they had heard from the principal of Sai Nan High School that Steel Sparrow's new evolution was a Bond Evolution, it was still just a hypothesis without concrete proof.
They had expected it to take a long time to confirm Steel Guardian's true evolution path, but the possibility that it was indeed a Bond Evolution was now looking very real!
Qiao Sang clutched her chest, her voice weak as she nodded.
"Steel Guardian..."
Steel Treasure silently turned away.
Can't watch, can't watch...
(End of Chapter)
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