Afternoon, in the Great Spirit Arena.
"Preliminary Round 12, Match 6!"
With the host's passionate announcement, the teams from Shrek Academy and Blazing Academy entered one after another.
Blazing Academy's lineup remained unchanged. Shrek Academy fielded Tang San, Xiao Wu, Yu Tianheng, Dai Mubai, Tai Long, Huang Yuan, and Jiangzhu.
'Not much different from the original lineup.' Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly.
Because Tang San's identity had already been exposed, and with Yu Tianheng's presence, there was none of the trash talk that the original described between the two teams.
They walked to the center of the arena, standing 20 meters apart, waiting for the referee.
The referee wasted no time. He raised his hand, giving both sides a minute to release Martial Souls and adjust formation. Then he quickly swung his arm down and shouted, "Begin!"
"Third soul skill, Meteor Shower!"
On Blazing Academy's side, the two auxiliary soul masters immediately boosted their teammates, including Huo Wu.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Huo Wu charged forward first.
"???"
Shrek's team, even Tang San, froze.
A control-type soul master leading the charge? That was unexpected.
'Isn't she supposed to be charging her soul skill?'
"Stick to the plan!" Tang San barked.
Without hesitation, Tai Long shouted, "Third soul skill, Demon Ape Golden Body!" His chest expanded as he pounded it, instantly transforming into a massive golden ape. He stomped the ground and barreled forward.
The rest of Shrek's team followed close behind, forming a sharp arrowhead formation.
'Trying to use Tai Long as the shield?' Yang Yunhai speculated.
Tai Long's Martial Soul was the Vigorous Orangutan. Though focused on raw strength, it had solid defense as well. His massive frame could shield others.
Yang Yunhai's gaze shifted to Huo Wu. She was flanked by the two support soul masters, with Huo Wushuang and Huo Lie on either side as power attackers, and Huo Yun and Huo Yu hovering above with their Fire Crane wings.
His brows rose slightly. 'Heh, if Tang San doesn't react in time, this could end badly.'
"Fourth soul skill, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's Fury!"
Yu Tianheng, having charged up mid-run, thrust his fist forward, lightning surging into the form of a dragon.
"Fourth soul skill, Explosive Dragon Dance!" Huo Wushuang immediately countered, releasing his own fiery horned dragon.
Boom!
The clash of explosive power lit up the field in dazzling sparks.
"Good chance!" Tang San's eyes flashed. Using the cover of firelight, he flicked his wrist, tossing out a glowing seed.
"Swish swish swish!" Vines shot forth.
"Second soul skill, Wolf Howl Bomb!"
"Second soul skill, White Tiger Light Wave!"
"First soul skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Huang Yuan, Dai Mubai, and Yu Tianheng, without hesitation, launched their ranged attacks straight at Huo Wu.
"Third soul skill, Defying Flame Ring!"
Huo Wu raised her hands, her three soul rings shining at once. With her teammates' boosts and her own amplification, a six-meter-high wall of fire burst forth, surging ahead with terrifying speed.
"A fusion skill?" Ning Fengzhi murmured in surprise from the stands.
Height, strength, and speed — all amplified.
Boom boom boom!
Explosions echoed as Shrek's attacks were overwhelmed. The fiery wall pressed forward relentlessly.
Tang San's vines snapped, bursting into glowing embers.
'Stronger and taller than I expected!' Tang San's heart sank. He quickly ran behind Tai Long, his Eight Spider Lances stabbing into the ground for support. The others lined up behind him in a single-file defense.
"Bang!" The wall of fire slammed into Tai Long, forcing him back several steps. He only barely held, thanks to his teammates behind him.
"Impressive, they actually resisted that." Yang Yunhai clicked his tongue and looked upward.
"Fourth soul skill, Fire Crane Inferno!" Huo Yu spread his wings, raining down burning feathers.
"Third soul skill, Fire Crane Clone!" Huo Yun followed with a blazing doppelgänger.
"First soul skill, Fire Blast!" Huo Wushuang hurled a crimson fireball.
"Third soul skill, Fireburst Seven Star Bomb!" Huo Lie flung multiple blasts in quick succession.
Front, back, left, and right — Shrek was surrounded in fire.
'A single mistake… and disaster follows.' Yang Yunhai arched a brow, noting Huo Wu beginning to gather her soul power.
Tang San had underestimated both the height and intensity of her Defying Flame Ring.
If he'd calculated correctly, Huang Yuan, Dai Mubai, and Yu Tianheng's earlier volley would've canceled out the first wave. Tai Long could then block a second, while Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing closed the gap to overwhelm Huo Wu. The Fire Crane brothers would have been forced to descend, limiting their options.
That would've been Shrek's best chance.
But… he miscalculated.
'They've yet to learn the lesson: plan for defeat first, not just victory.' Yang Yunhai shook his head.
What else could be expected? Their leader, Xiaogang, had been holed up in Nuoding Academy for nearly twenty years. Tang San, despite two lives, was still a shut-in. The others trusted them blindly.
"Xiao San!" Xiaogang's face turned pale in the stands.
On the stage, panic broke out.
"Third soul skill, Spider Web Restraint!"
"First soul skill, White Tiger Shield Barrier!"
"Second soul skill—"
Dai Mubai, Yu Tianheng, and the others scrambled to defend. Tang San clutched Xiao Wu's waist.
"Xiao Wu, use Teleport, now!"
"No, Brother San, I won't leave you!" Xiao Wu cried, eyes brimming red.
Yang Yunhai shivered. 'Ugh, goosebumps all over.'
Even Dugu Yan winced. Zhu Zhuqing twitched her lips.
Tang San ignored them all. With grim determination, he hurled Xiao Wu away using even his hidden weapon techniques.
Flames crashed down.
Boom boom boom!
The arena erupted in thunderous blasts.
"Fourth soul skill, Brilliant Sun!"
Huo Wu hurled her condensed fireball, erupting into a blazing explosion.
The fiery mushroom cloud rose high.
"Xiao San!" In the stands, Xiaogang shrieked, eyes blazing with fury.
"Referee, I protest! That girl deliberately attempted murder! She wasn't trying to win, she was trying to kill! That violates the rules — Blazing Academy should be disqualified!"
"???" Onstage, Huo Wu froze, then snapped, pointing at him.
"Old man, shut up! Any idiot can see I shortened my charge-up, reducing the blast! If I wanted to kill, why wouldn't I fully charge it like against Heaven Dou Academy?"
"And are you blind? Your team was throwing everything at us! Should I have just stood still and waited to lose?"
"My fourth soul skill drains me massively. If I hadn't fired, I'd have been helpless against their counterattack. Use your head — or shut up!"
"If you can't handle losing, then don't compete!"
"And did anyone die?!"
She jabbed her finger toward him. "I'll bet my life on it — if anyone died, I'll kill myself right here! But if no one died, you cut your own throat!"
The audience roared.
'Classic Huo Wu… fiery indeed.' Even her teammates stared in awe.
"Exactly! She's right!" Elephant Armored and Canghui students cheered too, sneering at Xiaogang.
Xiaogang's face burned crimson.
When the flames cleared, Shrek's seven lay sprawled on the ground, scorched and trembling. Tai Long looked the worst, while Jiangzhu escaped with only faint burns thanks to her position. Xiao Wu, flung by Tang San, had singed clothes and raw scrapes, but was relatively better off.
'Thank heavens I wasn't on the field.' Ning Rongrong turned away, pale but secretly relieved.
"Blazing Academy wins!" The referee's voice rang out.
Xiaogang said nothing, bolting toward the tunnel. Liu Erlong shot Huo Wu a glare full of fury before following.
"Hmph. Let's go." Huo Wu sneered, leading her team away.
In the VIP stands, Ning Fengzhi shook his head slightly. He easily guessed Shrek's flawed tactics. He also knew the brains behind them were always Xiaogang and Tang San.
'Still far too inexperienced.'
Xue Ye mistook his look for criticism of Huo Wu. "That girl is a bit hot-tempered."
"Her temperament isn't malicious," Ning Fengzhi replied with a gentle smile.
On the way back, Dugu Yan laughed brightly. "Today's match was so satisfying!"
Yang Yunhai smiled faintly. 'I can't deny that. It really was.'
(End of Chapter)
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