Chapter 86: Chapter 82: History Is Always Uncannily Similar
[Arena 7: Su Zhi/Yu Bao (Yu Dian Dog) vs. Zhang Wei/Ah Qing (Cyan Feathered Falcon)]
Zhang Wei, dressed in the Elite class uniform, stood proudly with his shock of blond hair, watching his opponent walk onto the stage.
Ah Qing stood on his shoulder, looking as if it had finally shaken off its funk. The ferocity of a sky-raptor had returned to its eyes.
The last time he’d lost to Su Zhi was, well, the last time.
Back then, Zhang Wei had been arrogant and ignorant. He’d misjudged his opponent’s strength and hidden cards, and had gotten thoroughly thrashed for it.
Ah Qing, who was usually just as wild as him, had fallen into a deep funk. For two whole weeks, it refused to talk, to cry out, to fly.
It even needed 50 yuan worth of food therapy every Thursday.
But—
As the saying goes, failure is often an opportunity in disguise.
As a student of the Elite class, Zhang Wei demonstrated the ability to adapt that was expected of him.
After that, he and Ah Qing turned over a new leaf. They shed their arrogance and impatience, focused on improving themselves, and made progress step by step.
Now, he was a completely new person.
In fact, during the time Su Zhi was suspended, Zhang Wei had been doing extremely well for himself, even making a small name for himself.
His Beast Taming Talent was "Storm Messenger." When activated, it could double the power of a Pet Beast’s Wind Element Skills for a short time.
And the Cyan Feathered Falcon was a fierce Wind Element Pet Beast, whose burst damage potential with the Wind Element was considerable.
Combined with this talent, Ah Qing won battle after battle. One could say it was invincible, dominating everyone ranked below twentieth in their grade!
Su Zhi’s two-week suspension gave Zhang Wei what he saw as the perfect opportunity to surpass him.
Without being able to afford a private tutor, missing two weeks of class meant falling two weeks behind!
’Su Zhi must have become just another face in the crowd by now.’
’This is the perfect chance to defeat Su Zhi and avenge my previous humiliation!’
Many of the students who had come to watch and cheer were paying close attention to this particular arena:
"Is that Zhang Wei from the Elite class? I think I’ve seen him on the model student wall on the first floor."
"Hey, that’s Su Zhi going up! The guy who was on the school’s official web page! This should be a good match!"
"Eh, I wouldn’t be so sure. Didn’t you guys hear? Su Zhi was suspended for two weeks for a disciplinary violation after the exchange tournament."
"Oh, right. If he’s been slacking for two weeks, then anything could happen."
"How could he possibly win? Zhang Wei’s Cyan Feathered Falcon has an Energy Value of 850. That’s ridiculously high..."
...
"We finally meet again. Perhaps it’s destiny that I avenge my loss here."
On the arena stage, Zhang Wei murmured to himself as he watched Su Zhi and Yu Bao approach.
Ah Qing felt a reflexive pain in its rear and shot Yu Bao a vicious glare.
"CAW!"
’You dared to kick my butt last time! I’m getting you back for that today!’
Su Zhi scanned Ah Qing with his phone, then exchanged a look with Yu Bao.
"Pfft..."
"?"
Zhang Wei’s eyes widened. "What are you laughing at?"
"It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I just remembered something funny... Pffft..."
"Nonsense! You’re clearly laughing at me! You haven’t even stopped!" Zhang Wei growled through clenched teeth.
Yu Bao sat politely by Su Zhi’s feet. ⌓‿⌓
Ah Qing: (╬ÒДÓ╬)
Zhang Wei’s fists clenched.
Zhang Wei forced a smile that was uglier than a grimace. "I hope you can still look so smug after I knock you off this stage..."
Su Zhi tucked his hands into his pockets. "It’s been so long. Why haven’t you learned to scan Energy Values before a fight?"
"Huh?"
Zhang Wei froze.
Before other fights, he would indeed scan his opponent to test the waters. But with Su Zhi having been suspended for two weeks, he had subconsciously decided it wasn’t necessary.
’Is this a trick?’
Zhang Wei hurriedly scanned Yu Bao...
And then he saw the four-digit Real-time Energy Value.
CRACK.
Zhang Wei’s jaw hit the floor. His phone hit the floor. His eyes were as wide as saucers.
’Wait, Su Zhi was definitely suspended, right?’
’It was a suspension... not a national team training camp, right??’
’Other people get worse when they’re suspended, so why are you the complete opposite?!’
"Oh, right. I apologize for what I said last time."
Su Zhi chuckled lightly. "If we’re just talking about your hairstyle, you’re not that ugly."
"Don’t get cocky!"
Zhang Wei was breaking out in a cold sweat. He gritted his teeth, put his phone away, and forced his expression back to a semblance of calm.
’Don’t panic. It’s not a big deal.’
’It’s only 200 points higher than Ah Qing’s. Energy Value is never the sole deciding factor in a battle.’
’Maybe Su Zhi just fed his little dog some good resources and artificially inflated its Energy Value.’
’Ah Qing battles against the powerful Pet Beasts of the Elite class every day. I refuse to believe Yu Bao could get this strong just by staying home during a suspension!’
"DING—"
Once the contestants were ready, the match lights on all the arenas turned from blue to green, signaling the start of the first round of qualifiers.
"Ah Qing, Gale Wings! Wind Blade!"
"CAW!"
Ah Qing shot into the sky, its wings instantly covered in a green light.
Gale Wings, a Wind Element High Level Extraordinary Skill. It activates the user’s own Wind Energy to boost its agility and attack.
Following up Gale Wings with Wind Blade could double the Wind Blade’s density and power!
And Zhang Wei’s Beast Taming Talent, Storm Messenger, also had the effect of amplifying Wind Element Skills.
With both buffs stacked, Ah Qing could unleash a Wind Blade with four times its normal output!
Zhang Wei didn’t plan on dragging this out with Yu Bao. Otherwise, who knew what kind of incomprehensible trick they might pull.
’A swift and decisive battle!’
’I’ll go all out from the start!’
"WHOOSH!"
Green Wind Energy enveloped the high-speed, oscillating air currents, blanketing Yu Bao from all sides.
Amplified by Storm Messenger, all the Wind Blades looked a full size larger than normal.
A hit from a Wind Blade like this would send even a Stone Armor Rhinoceros, renowned for its Defense Power, flying—to say nothing of a mere Yu Dian Dog!
"SWOOSH—"
As expected, Yu Bao didn’t try to tank the hit, instead pulling out a Quicksand Shield to defend and counterattack.
Zhang Wei was prepared for this and commanded Ah Qing to evade.
Ah Qing executed a perfect falling leaf maneuver, dodging the Quicksand Shield and successfully circling around to Yu Bao’s blind spot!
"SWISH SWISH SWISH—"
A torrential downpour of Wind Blades rained down, and Yu Bao was scattered into dust and sand.
"It’s that Stand-In! Ah Qing, be on guard!"
"CAW!"
Ah Qing had extremely sharp motion vision and had already locked onto a strange wisp of sand flying upward.
’How interesting. It dares to dodge upwards?’
’The sky is my domain!’
"CAW!"
The instant Yu Bao took form, Ah Qing beat its wings and jabbed down viciously with its sharp beak.
With a POP, Yu Bao shattered into pieces, dissolving into sand.
Ah Qing was stunned.
’How is this one a Stand-In too?’
Suddenly, Zhang Wei’s panicked and somewhat despairing voice came from the ground:
"Ah Qing, dodge! Watch out above you!"
Above...? Ah Qing looked up blankly and saw Yu Bao, leaping down from the passing Quicksand Shield like a mountain crashing down on its head.
"(‵▽′) Woof!"
"BANG!"
"CAAAW—"
Ah Qing crashed to the ground like a downed airplane, unable to rise again.
SPLAT.
Yu Bao completed a perfect soft landing on Ah Qing’s body. Ah Qing’s body twitched, flopping twice like a salted fish.
History has a startling tendency to repeat itself.
[Arena 7, Su Zhi/Yu Bao (Yu Dian Dog) is victorious. Please proceed to...]
"Let’s go, Yu Bao. Next match."
"Woof!"
Yu Bao looked at the petrified, utterly dejected Zhang Wei and offered a smile: ⌓‿⌓
’Thanks for the match! You guys fought really well, too~’
CRACK.
Zhang Wei broke...
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