Chapter 754: Genderless Enchantment
Chapter 754: Genderless Enchantment (Combined)
"Ghost Ring King hypnotized Snow Lion King!" The Announcer passionately announced, "Snow Lion King has fallen! Will this match end here?"
As he spoke, the Mechanical Familiar referee flew from the sidelines to Snow Lion King's side.
Ten seconds later, the Mechanical Familiar referee blew the End-of-Match Whistle.
The Announcer promptly announced the result: "The result of the first match is out! Let's congratulate contestant Qiao Sang for securing the first victory!"
A wave of excitement and discussion rippled through the audience stands.
Apart from Grot's fans, the other spectators quickly accepted the result, especially the Professional Beastmasters, who began analyzing the match objectively.
"Tile Split followed by Psychic Hammer and then Hypnosis—no one's head could withstand that. I remember Snow Lion's weakness is its head."
"The monocular glasses artifact Ghost Ring King is wearing, I believe, is a creation by Master Zhu Hong. It can lock onto the opponent's weaknesses."
"No wonder it kept attacking Snow Lion King's head."
"Ghost Ring King's Hypnosis proficiency must be very high. Why didn't the opponent wake up within the specified time?"
"Hypnosis is just a mid-tier skill. I don't think that's the main reason. I believe it's mainly due to the two consecutive blows to the head earlier."
"Initially, Grot had the advantage, but he was too focused on the Dark Shadow and Shadow Control combination techniques, neglecting Ghost Ring King. With its ability to teleport, it could easily close in and strike once the combination techniques were dropped. I think Snow Lion King shouldn't have easily abandoned the Ice Fog Rain combination technique at the start."
"Indeed, that technique could have effectively countered Ghost Ring King."
"You guys don't understand. Snow Lion King couldn't perform Ice Fog and Ice Crystal Wall simultaneously. If it didn't stop the Ice Fog to defend, how could it prevent the opponent from attacking?"
"It's all about timing. I think Qiao Sang must be a Professional Beastmaster."
"Haven't they already found out? She's a freshman in the Beast Mastery Department of the Beastmaster Alliance."
"Ah? She's still a student?!"
"Is anyone else curious about how Ghost Ring King learned Tile Split?"
Amidst the audience's discussion, the Treasure Seeker teleported back to its Beastmaster's side.
It adjusted its monocular glasses, then clenched its claws into a fist and pressed it against its forehead, mimicking a pose it had learned from a TV show.
"Xunxun..."
The Treasure Seeker didn't look at the audience stands, but its ears were always listening to the surroundings.
Unfortunately, it never heard the words it was hoping for, like "cool" or "awesome."
Just as the Treasure Seeker was feeling dejected, a heart-wrenching voice reached its ears:
"Grot! You are the coolest! If it's a charm contest, Snow Lion King didn't lose!!!"
"Xun? Xun?!" The Treasure Seeker couldn't believe its ears.
It widened its eyes and looked toward the source of the voice, abandoning its pose.
At that moment, Qiao Sang waved her hand and recalled the Treasure Seeker into the Beastmaster Codex.
She had come to the match to train, and since it was for training, it was best to send out different familiars for each match... Qiao Sang glanced at Grot, who was also recalling his familiar into the Beastmaster Codex.
Ever since she confirmed Grot as her opponent, she had specifically looked up his second General-Class Beast Companion in the Contestant Area.
Xianbao Butterfly, a General-Class Fairy Companion, emits a wave from its antennae that dispels hostility and brings about a peaceful mood, effectively ending battles.
However, it is not a peace-loving familiar. Instead, it prefers to weaken its opponent's hostility first, then strike when they are off guard. Once in battle mode, it shows no fear, even when facing formidable and fearsome opponents.
Qiao Sang pondered this subconsciously.
An opponent like this would be perfect for Steel Treasure to battle. It is calm and intelligent, and even without the desire to fight, it remains vigilant and focused in battle...
But the Xianbao Butterfly is a General-Class Beast Companion that has evolved over five years. In every aspect, Steel Treasure is no match for it.
I need to maintain the momentum for my upcoming promotion. For now, it's better to send out Fangy, who has a better chance of success...
As he was thinking, a mechanical voice announced:
"3, 2, 1, match begins!"
Qiao Sang instantly focused, his hands reflexively forming seals at a rapid pace.
This time, the Star Array lit up only about a second after the opponent's.
"Performance begins!" Grochi seemed in great spirits, as if the previous loss had not affected him at all. This is the professional demeanor of a Coordinator: no matter the situation, they quickly regain their composure and present their best to the audience.
A butterfly familiar appeared on the field, about two meters in size, predominantly white with short, inward-curving antennae, water-blue compound eyes, and a pair of pink wings.
"Xianbao~"
As soon as it appeared, the Xianbao Butterfly gave a flirtatious wink. A pink, heart-shaped energy wave immediately headed toward the opponent.
At that moment, Fangy appeared in the Star Array.
"Tooth!"
Realizing it was his turn to battle, Fangy let out an excited roar, causing a powerful gust of wind to rise around it.
It looked at its opponent and then absorbed the pink energy wave.
"Once again, Grochi has the upper hand!" the Announcer's voice rang out. "Xianbao Butterfly used Enchantment! Flame Kiru is frozen in place! Has the Enchantment succeeded?"
Since the first day of the match, the Announcer had researched Qiao Sang's familiar to provide accurate information during the battles.
"Of course it succeeded", Grochi said with a smirk. "Because my Xianbao Butterfly has no gender!"
At these words, Grochi's fans in the audience stands erupted into screams.
"Ah! Grochi! Grochi!"
"Xianbao Butterfly! Xianbao Butterfly!"
"Enchantment is unbeatable! Enchantment is unbeatable!"
The rest of the audience was captivated by the unfamiliar familiar.
When Qiao Sang was in the Contestant Area, the camera had given a close-up of the red familiar sitting on his knee, wearing a Miniaturization Band.
Unfamiliar familiars always grab the audience's attention first.
Especially when they differ from what people imagined.
"Oh my gosh! I always thought that Miniaturization Band was just a decoration!"
"Who wouldn't! Qiao Sang already has Ghost Ring King and Iceapura, two General-Class Beast Companions! The size and presence of this familiar on the field look like a General-Class Beast Companion too!"
"Looks like a General-Class Beast Companion to me..."
"Damn, so Qiao Sang has three General-Class Beast Companions?!"
The battle had just begun, but the audience was already in an uproar.
Not because the familiar from Blue Star was a General-Class Beast Companion, but because Qiao Sang, at just 16 years old, already had three General-Class Beast Companions.
On the field.
Qiao Sang automatically blocked out the voices around her, focusing all her attention on the match.
Genderless... Qiao Sang's heart sank.
After learning that Grochi's second familiar was a Xianbao Butterfly, she had only searched for information specifically about "Xianbao Butterfly."
The Xianbao Butterfly isn't usually genderless, so it seems Grochi's Xianbao Butterfly is an exception...
So, a genderless familiar can cast Enchantment without regard for gender and still succeed... That's pretty impressive... Qiao Sang gathered her thoughts and quickly considered her next move.
Enchantment makes the opponent's reactions sluggish and makes it hard for them to act, but they will snap out of it as soon as they take a hit...
Fangy should be able to withstand one attack, but the Xianbao Butterfly's Evolution time is long, and its energy is higher than Fangy's. One hit might severely injure Fangy...
"Xianbao~ Wood~"
As Qiao Sang's thoughts raced, the Xianbao Butterfly pouted its lips and suddenly blew a kiss toward Fangy.
A pink, lip-shaped energy beam shot out.
"Fangy Fangy"
Fangy stood in place, gazing at the Xianbao Butterfly with a dazed expression, completely entranced.
Kiss of Drain, a Fairy-type High-Rank Skill, can drain the opponent's energy and convert it to its own.
Qiao Sang immediately recognized the skill the Xianbao Butterfly was using.
Fangy's energy is already lower than others, and if it gets drained, it could be disastrous!
Being drained of energy without the pain of an attack can keep the target under Enchantment. What a devious combo... There's no choice but to take a risk... Qiao Sang's heart raced as she called out loudly:
"You're about to lose!"
"Fangy Fangy?!" Her voice was like a bell, jolting Fangy out of its daze.
Fangy's ears twitched, and its entranced eyes instantly cleared.
It let out an angry roar, vanishing from its spot and reappearing in front of the Xianbao Butterfly.
"Flame Kiru has woken up thanks to Qiao Sang's call!" the announcer exclaimed, narrating the current situation. "It teleported in front of the Xianbao Butterfly, dodging the Kiss of Drain attack!"
The audience stands fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a roar of excitement.
"Teleport? A dual Fire and Psychic-type familiar?!"
"Damn! I'm starting to get jealous. Why do all these rare familiars bond with the same person? Give me one, will you?!"
"Why did saying 'You're about to lose' wake up Flame Kiru? Does that phrase mean something to it?"
"I've heard that saying something a familiar cares about can stimulate it when it's under the influence of a skill. Since that phrase woke up Flame Kiru, it must be something it deeply cares about."
...
On the field.
This familiar has Psychic-type attributes as well? Grochi's pupils dilated, a mix of envy and jealousy rising in his chest.
He opened his mouth to give an order, but Flame Kiru's actions were too fast.
Its mouth opened wide, and flames instantly engulfed its fangs.
A massive, ten-meter-long Flame Kiru's head condensed, moving in sync with its actions, and it lunged at the Xianbao Butterfly with a fierce bite!
The Xianbao Butterfly couldn't dodge in time and was completely engulfed by the flames.
"Xianbao!!!"
Agonizing pain tore through the Xianbao Butterfly, and it let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Grochi's face changed dramatically, but his extensive battle experience quickly made him realize this was an opportunity.
"Use Wave of Peace now!"
As long as the opponent loses their will to fight, the situation can still be turned around!
"Xian, treasure!"
Hearing her Beastmaster's voice, the Xianbao Butterfly in the Flame forced itself to endure the pain and moved its antennae.
At the same moment, Qiao Sang gave the command:
"Blazing Bomb!"
A pink wave spread out from the Xianbao Butterfly's antennae in a ripple-like pattern.
Fangy, maintaining its Bite stance on the Xianbao Butterfly, condensed a sphere of flame that was red on the outside and golden on the inside in its throat.
"Boom!!!"
With a thunderous explosion, a beam of red and gold light shot out from the point where Flame Kiru and the Xianbao Butterfly clashed, extending dozens of meters.
As it approached the boundary of the arena, the light, filled with frenzied energy, suddenly burst open, causing a more spectacular fire lotus to surge forth.
A black figure was blasted away, crashing into the wall just a few meters from the edge of the arena and the audience stands before finally coming to a stop.
The black figure was embedded in the wall.
The camera zoomed in for a close-up.
The black figure in the wall had its eyes closed; it was the Xianbao Butterfly that had made a stunning entrance earlier!
"Blazing Bomb! The power of a Blazing Bomb at such close range is truly unstoppable! It managed to send the Xianbao Butterfly flying out of the arena with a single strike!" the Announcer exclaimed. "The Xianbao Butterfly's defensive strength is notoriously weak, so I think the result of this match is clear!"
The Mechanical Familiar referee flew to the Xianbao Butterfly's side, observed for a moment, and then blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.
Grouchy gave a long, deep look at Qiao Sang from a distance, then waved his hand to recall the Xianbao Butterfly into the Beastmaster Codex.
"Fangy"
Fangy stood on the field, not showing the usual excitement or lifting its head at a 45-degree angle to await the audience's cheers. Instead, it looked bewildered, then turned its head and walked calmly toward its Beastmaster.
What a terrifying Wave of Peace! Thankfully, Fangy managed to release the Blazing Bomb in time... Qiao Sang felt incredibly relieved about the decision she had made just now.
The Wave of Peace from the Xianbao Butterfly seemed similar to Healing Waves, but its effects were clearly more terrifying.
At least, if the opponent had used Healing Waves, Fangy wouldn't have been affected after such a violent explosion.
At that moment, the Announcer's voice rang out: "Let's congratulate contestant Qiao Sang on winning this match!"
Clap, clap, clap... The thunderous applause was followed by a cacophony of voices from all directions:
"Fire-type and Psychic Type, both with top-tier speed and attack power. Grouchy's loss isn't surprising."
"Too bad he faced a freak. Otherwise, I think Grouchy could have made it into the top ten..."
"The main issue is that we've never seen Qiao Sang's familiar before. It clearly looks like a Fire-type and Flying-type Companion, but it also has Psychic Type abilities. Who could have guessed? I think the matches in the coming days will be more interesting once everyone knows what they're up against."
"Fangy has already mastered Flame Fang, and she's only 16. How did she manage to raise it to this level so quickly? It must have cost a fortune..."
"Qiao Sang is from Yulinton University. Will she stay with us at Supernest?"
"Damn, she might!"
With her performance in the previous matches, the audience was highly accepting of the outcome of this match, except for Grouchy's fans.
On the way to the tunnel, Qiao Sang waited for a while, but Fangy didn't shrink on its own. She finally couldn't help but ask:
"Aren't you going to shrink?"
"Ya Ya."
Fangy looked bewildered, then seemed to remember something. Its body slowly shrank, and it raised its head to call out to its Beastmaster, indicating that it was done.
Qiao Sang: "."
It feels like it's not just more peaceful, but also a bit dazed.
This is too scary. I need to get Lulu to use Healing Light on it right away!
(End of Chapter)
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