T/N: The author uses a string of ??????? often to convey a strong sense of surprise, excitement, or admiration, similar to the effect of !!!!!! in English. It’s a way to emphasize a point or express intense emotions, rather than a literal series of questions.
Chapter 59: Second Round of Qualifiers, Youlan Academy’s Hopes Dashed!?
[First Round Qualifier, Youlan Academy First Team VS White Maple Academy Second Team]
[Battle Mode: Team Melee, Unlimited]
[Battle Map: Iron Cage Arena]
[Countdown complete, battle begin!]
“Boom!!!!”
The moment the battle began, the combined presence of the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer and the Red Prison Palace Master, their terrifying aura filling the arena, dominated everyone’s attention. Aside from the overwhelming pressure, they felt no hope of victory. Even the shadow serpent coiled around the White Maple Academy vice-captain trembled slightly.
Grey Dust, the infamous second core member of the Ten Greats academy, White Maple Academy’s trump card for this match…was already showing signs of fear before the battle even began!!!
Seeing this, Xiao Kui, Nimble-Fingered Xiao Kui, covered her forehead with her hand, her expression filled with regret.
“I should have known…”
“No, I did know, but I still held onto that sliver of hope, hoping for a favorable random mode…”
“That identical lineup…how could it not be Super Golden Wheel? There’s no way such a coincidence could exist.”
“In the end, I was just delusional” Xiao Kui sighed and shook her head, her heart filled with despair.
Since things had come to this, it meant that Strongest Moonlight Rabbit was done playing around…
Clearly, the reason her lineup looked different from Super Golden Wheel’s was because—
She had evolved again in just a few days!!!
The Golden Leaf and the Moonlight Rabbit had already been able to defeat Heavenly Tomb, one of the Ten Greats. After another round of enhancements, how could the White Maple Academy second team, without a Commander-Tier pet beast, possibly stand a chance!?
…
…
At this moment, the strange atmosphere in the arena exceeded everyone’s expectations. Ten seconds had passed since the battle began, but not a single pet beast had attacked yet. On this tiny map, they should be fighting for control and suppressing the opponent’s throwing abilities!!
And yet, the eight pet beasts of the White Maple Academy second team, despite their numerical advantage, were frozen in place by the aura of the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer and the Red Prison Palace Master, their minds filled with nothing but fear and anticipation of the impending attack.
“Bang!”
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed.
The second team vice-captain fired the Pustule Spike, countless fleshy projectiles erupting from its mouth, spraying towards the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer. The map was so small that even standing at opposite ends, the distance between them was less than a hundred meters. So, with the terrifying speed of a sniper-type Mechanical Species, the barrage of foul-smelling, acidic pustules reached the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer in the blink of an eye.
“…”
“…”
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!!!”
However, under everyone’s watchful gaze, the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer didn’t even move. The pustules, the moment they touched the outer edge of the Red Prison Palace Master’s blade aura, turned to dust, not even leaving a trace of ash. The two intersecting, crimson blade auras, like a planet’s rings, formed an impenetrable barrier around the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer.
Seeing this, the White Maple Academy second team members’ faces paled.
“That’s enough…”
“No need to waste time playing with High-Tier. Let’s end this with the next attack~~~” Lian Xing said listlessly.
Under everyone’s anxious gaze, the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer slowly raised its ears, the two Golden Wheels beginning to descend along the spiral bands.
At this moment, everyone watching the livestream—the White Maple Academy team, the Wind God Academy team, the Starlight Academy team who had instantly defeated their opponents and rushed to watch the broadcast, and all the Beast Tamers who had battled against Super Golden Wheel—realized…
The battle was about to end.
This was Strongest Moonlight Rabbit’s invincible form in Unlimited mode. No High-Tier pet beast could withstand a single attack from the combination of the Moonlight Rabbit and the Golden Leaf!!!
Meanwhile, the White Maple Academy vice-captain issued a tactical command.
“Block this attack with everything you’ve got!!”
“Minimize casualties, and I’ll take advantage of the chaos to attack their Beast Tamer!!” The elegant woman with long, black hair knew that even if her teammates were wiped out, her Grey Dust, as a Viral Species, could definitely survive this attack.
The counterattack would be their last hope.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——!!!!!”
As the High-Tier Earth Elemental Species, Earth Shield Shell, brought its hands together, countless giant spikes erupted from the ground, forming a wall before them. At the same time, the shadow serpent, Grey Dust, exhaled a stream of poisonous gas, which spread and split in the air, transforming into countless grey, cube-shaped things that floated in the air like raindrops, their forms indistinct.
“This is our last and only chance. Once those two Golden Wheels are thrown, the Moonlight Rabbit’s body will be exposed.”
“That’s my chance!!!” The vice-captain swallowed hard, holding her breath.
Viral Species’ incorporeal form was different from Elemental Species’ full elementalization. Elemental Species entered full elementalization to dodge attacks, while Viral Species used their incorporeal form to bypass enemy defenses, like computer viruses, existing solely to corrupt and invade.
High attack, low defense!
However…
Did they even have a chance!?
The moment the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer’s spinning Golden Wheels reached the end of their descent…
The battle… was over…
“Boom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
A deafening, earth-shattering explosion.
The scorching heat wave from the hollow rings on the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer’s ears blasted away all its teammates behind it. Only Lian Xing, cradled in the rabbit’s arms, was spared. At the same time, a blinding red light instantly pierced through the entire map, from one end to the other.
The Earth Shield Shell’s spike shield, Grey Dust’s incorporeal rain of cubes, the five team members, and all their pet beasts…every single one of them was instantly bisected by an invisible red line, their expressions frozen in shock.
“Bang!!!”
In the blink of an eye, the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer had already retrieved the Red Prison Palace Masters. If it were before, it would have been sent flying by the impact of the returning Golden Wheels. But this time, the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer didn’t even budge, its massive body remaining perfectly still, only its snow-white robe fluttering slightly.
[Flexibility Enhancement, Sand Toss (Purple), Combo X0, Combo X1, Power Throw, Flurry]
[Limit Heavy Metal, Red Amber, Crimson Barrage]
Incorporeal form…was it even useful…?
Crimson Barrage, the bane of Elemental and Viral Species!!
“Whoosh—————”
In the next second, a breathtaking scene unfolded.
The entire Iron Cage Arena map was bisected by a red light, as if space itself had been cleaved in two. Except for Lian Xing and her pet beast lineup, every living being in the arena was instantly defeated.
The livestream chat fell silent.
Even the official commentator was speechless.
The White Maple Academy vice-captain stared at the screen in disbelief and horror.
A chance…
What chance?
She hadn’t even seen the Golden Wheels’ trajectory before they returned!!!
Facing such an impossible speed, how could her human eyes possibly react!?
[Battle concluded]
[Youlan Academy first team wins, advancing to the second round of qualifiers]
[White Maple Academy second team defeated, disqualified]
After logging out of their battle devices, a heavy silence filled the White Maple Academy training room. Their journey in this year’s Academy League was over.
The second team of a Ten Greats academy, eliminated in the first round of qualifiers…it was an unexpected upset, shocking countless fans. And their opponent was Youlan Academy, the team they had mercilessly crushed last year.
At this moment, in the tense and heavy atmosphere, Aurora, the girl with chestnut brown braids, one of the Ten Greats, stared at the screen, her expression grim. The final scene, frozen on the golden-haired girl’s cheerful starry eyes, perfectly showcased her unique and alluring beauty.
“Captain, Vice-Captain, Xiao Kui…we’re counting on you…”
“Avenge us,” The second team captain said, her eyes red-rimmed.
Xiao Kui nodded repeatedly, promising to avenge them.
However, Aurora remained silent, lost in thought.
As one of the Ten Greats, could she even win against that?
“Everyone, follow Strongest Moonlight Rabbit! Follow for a chance to win her stockings!!!”
“Youlan Academy won against White Maple Academy with a sneak attack! How despicable! I’ll never forgive them???????”
“Get out of here, White Maple Academy dogs! Go watch your rustic Ten Greats! Let’s admire Strongest Moonlight Rabbit’s beautiful legs instead???????”
“White Maple Academy dog here, now Lian Xing’s dog ??”
“Don’t look, don’t look! You’re not allowed to look at Lian Xing’s stockings! Only I can look???????”
“I’ll look, I’ll look, I’ll look, I’ll lick, I’ll lick, I’ll lick ?????????”
The first round of qualifiers had ended, but the discussion in the livestream chat remained heated. Many of Lian Xing’s new fans were going wild, their excitement bordering on insanity. After all, if Lian Xing kept winning, they could not only continue watching her…but also see her in person at the main tournament.
With this decisive victory, Lian Xing, with her beauty and strength, had stolen countless fans from White Maple Academy.
Meanwhile, in Youlan Academy’s rather simple training room…
Looking at the golden-haired girl who had stood up from her battle device, the substitutes and support staff were speechless with shock.
That was the renowned White Maple Academy.
And they had won the first round of qualifiers… just like that!?
It seemed like the opponents hadn’t even had a chance to attack!!!
Amidst the shock and joy, Tao Wan, who was slumped in her seat, complained with a hint of jealousy, “Xiao Xing, although killing each other’s pet beasts can affect teamwork, have you considered that constantly blowing us away might make us lose our love for you?”
“Map issues, please don’t take it personally~~~” Lian Xing rubbed her buns, her expression sheepish, sticking out her tongue.
She hadn’t intentionally blown away her teammates. After all, the map was so small that if the Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer used its full power, it couldn’t possibly protect them.
“Don’t worry, beauties, it won’t happen again next time!!!” Lian Xing promised confidently.
Aside from Tao Wan’s slight jealousy, the other team members had different reactions. Chi Yan looked at Lian Xing with awe and admiration, not minding even being killed by the aftershock. And the girl with the VR headset didn’t dare to speak at all. She had been worried that Lian Xing had only brought her along to bully and humiliate her, but it turned out she was just there to make up the numbers.
Meanwhile, Yu Bo, with her two fishtails, lay motionless on her device, the surrounding area flooded with her bodily fluids, unable to stand up until the support staff cleaned up the mess. But her gaze, fixed on Lian Xing, held a hint of obsessive affection.
At this moment, the Dean of Youlan Academy, standing beside them, suddenly sighed dejectedly.
“What’s wrong, old hag? Something the matter?” Chi Yan frowned, seeing this.
Knowing her mother, she should be ecstatic about winning against White Maple Academy’s second team in the first round of qualifiers. If she was looking so gloomy, it meant something must have gone wrong.
“Sigh, the draw for the second round of qualifiers is out.”
“We’re the ones being challenged, and our opponent is…”
“Cangying Academy, ranked 11th in the previous league…”
“…”
“…”
“Cangying Academy!!!” Everyone gasped, understanding the Dean’s despair.
Everyone knew that there were actually 13 “Ten Greats.” Although only the top ten teams were officially recognized as the Ten Greats, it didn’t mean the other academies didn’t have Commander-Tier pet beasts.
Cangying Academy, ranked 11th last year, had been just one step away from the Ten Greats. They naturally had a Commander-Tier pet beast!!!
Encountering a team with a Commander-Tier pet beast in the qualifiers, with a 1% probability…what kind of luck was that?
With Lian Xing, Youlan Academy’s lineup was the strongest it had ever been.
But…could they really be eliminated in the qualifiers!?
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