SPLASH—

A gigantic pillar of water slammed onto the arena, sending a spray of water flying everywhere.

The Energy Barrier was primarily designed to block more lethal explosions and shockwaves. The water spray was automatically judged harmless and allowed to fly out of the arena.

In the stands, dozens of meters away and nearly twenty meters high, Shao Ya and Su Zhi quickly ducked to avoid getting their clothes soaked by the flying spray.

Many spectators who didn’t react in time weren’t so lucky and let out a collective gasp.

This was immediately followed by a tide of applause—

’Finally got hit by a Skill! These tickets were worth every penny!’

Su Zhi stood up, gripping the railing. "Don’t tell me that’s...?" he asked in disbelief.

"That’s right. Broken Waterfall Judgment."

Shao Ya gently tucked her hair behind her ear, her azure eyes fixed on the arena.

"The Hao Waterfowl’s Core Skill. A Water Element Middle Elite Skill."

"..." Su Zhi glanced at a demonstration video of Broken Waterfall Judgment on his browser: a stream of water poured from a dark blue Light Array, a little over two meters in diameter, attacking the opponent from above.

Then he compared it to the Light Array in the arena, which was over twenty meters in diameter, and fell into deep thought.

...???

’Is that really the same Skill?’

Shao Ya said in a low voice, "This is what makes Broken Waterfall Judgment so powerful. Its might and attack radius are directly proportional to the Hao Waterfowl’s individual—no, *induckvidual*—ability. A fully grown Hao Waterfowl can even create an attack Light Array tens of meters in diameter! That’s also how the Hao Waterfowl got its name."

"But only a fully grown Hao Waterfowl..."

Su Zhi’s mouth fell open, a mix of shock and admiration on his face. "Just what kind of hardship did Liu Yuhang and Xue Li go through to reach this level?"

Shao Ya thought for a moment, then shook her head with a wry smile.

"I don’t know either. When it comes to hard work, I’m still leagues behind the class rep."

In the command position, the look on Fang Yuan’s face turned grim.

The Energy Barrier had activated automatically, shielding him from the spray.

But even so, as he watched the water relentlessly pound against his Energy Shield, Fang Yuan could still feel the terrifying power of the attack!

Within the torrential flood, a white figure struggled to stay afloat, resisting an apocalyptic pressure.

Layers of the Refusing Flame Blessing shattered one after another. 004 struggled to hold on, her center of gravity becoming unstable under the terrifying assault of the water pillar.

After all, 004 possessed the Fire Attribute; facing such a Strong Attack from the Water Element was bound to be stressful.

’However, Broken Waterfall Judgment’s momentum is gradually weakening—they’re almost at their limit!’

High in the air, the attack Light Array for Broken Waterfall Judgment began to dim.

The ferocious torrent of water softened, and its vast attack radius slowly shrank.

The blue light on Xue Li’s body receded. Even with her special training, maintaining such a Strong Attack was a massive drain on her Energy.

"Prepare to counterattack."

Fang Yuan calmed his emotions and issued a short command through the Beast Taming Space.

also looked battered. The flames on her body flickered constantly in the torrent, their intensity greatly diminished.

But the moment she received the command, she adjusted immediately, snapping back into a combat stance.

’Now, all I have to do is wait for Xue Li to run out of Energy and fall.’

However, Xue Li ended the skill’s release early, riding the last of the torrent’s momentum down from the sky.

At the same time, Xue Li flapped her wings, whipping up a ferocious wave that swept toward 004—Towering Waves!

SPLASH—

crossed her claws to resist the impact.

THUD.

Xue Li landed steadily.

Simultaneously, a dense White Mist began to rise, instantly enveloping the entire arena!

"She still had enough Energy to use Towering Waves and White Mist..."

Su Zhi was amazed by Xue Li’s stamina.

’He even wondered if Xue Li had gone easy on Yu Bao to let it win during the qualifying match.’

But Shao Ya frowned and shook her head. "The class rep is in a tough spot now."

"Why do you say that?" Su Zhi asked curiously.

"Xue Li had already seized the offensive initiative. The correct strategy would have been to keep applying pressure. That’s the only way a Hao Waterfowl can leverage its advantage in continuous attacks."

Shao Ya sighed. "White Mist is positioned more for defense and Control Field. Releasing it at this point can only mean one thing...

"Xue Li’s Energy is probably running low."

...

...

On the arena, within the White Mist.

Xue Li panted, her wings propped on the ground, her webbed feet trembling nonstop.

Even though she was the one who had released the White Mist, she looked helpless shrouded within it.

"Xue Li, Xue Li! Are you okay?"

Liu Yuhang’s anxious voice came from the Beast Taming Space.

"Using a Core Skill you just awakened put too much strain on you. Don’t push yourself so hard from now on. Just do your best!"

"...Quack!"

Xue Li stubbornly shook her head and panted as she struggled back to her feet.

’...It’s not over yet. How can we know who’s won or lost!’

Suddenly, a strong sense of danger washed over her from the front left.

The White Mist had the function of sensing an opponent’s movements. A current of water instantly appeared under Xue Li’s feet, carrying her away as if she were on roller skates.

At almost the same instant, a sharp sound of something cutting through the air came from the spot where Xue Li had just been standing.

Xue Li’s gaze hardened. A bowl-sized orb of light blue energy materialized beside her.

’Drop dead! Eat my High-pressure Water Gun!’

WHOOSH—

The jet of water pierced the White Mist and shot past the edge of the arena.

The spectators in the lower rows were in for a treat. Having just been sprayed by Broken Waterfall Judgment, they were now hit by the after-spray of the High-pressure Water Gun, their phone screens turning into colorful messes.

"Quack?"

Xue Li took two wary steps back. She hadn’t felt the feedback of a successful hit.

Besides, she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but there was an indescribable sense of disharmony when the High-pressure Water Gun disturbed the White Mist...

"Xue Li, watch out!"

"Quack!"

As she was thinking, Liu Yuhang and Xue Li once again received feedback on 004’s movement.

’The White Mist is like an arena-wide radar, leaving no place for a moving opponent to hide!’

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

She fired the High-pressure Water Gun again and again, aiming toward the other side of the White Mist.

’In truth, Xue Li knew deep down that her defeat was only a matter of time.’

’Broken Waterfall Judgment was an all-or-nothing gamble. She had only just awakened the Core Skill a short time ago and wasn’t proficient with it.’

’But 004 was clearly injured. If Broken Waterfall Judgment could have just held on a little longer, maybe 004 really would have been defeated...’

’But there are no "what ifs" in a match.’

Xue Li couldn’t maintain her offensive, and 004 hadn’t lost her ability to fight.

From the moment she had unleashed Broken Waterfall Judgment, Xue Li had lost her decisive offensive power. Now, she no longer had a Strong Attack capable of settling the match.

...

’Even so, so what?’

Time seemed to rewind to that afternoon when they had competed over who was bigger.

Her opponent seemed to be the tall and sturdy Thorn Armor Dragon, or the elusive White Flame Battle Spirit, or some other unbeatable existence.

In that moment, the two versions of Xue Li overlapped.

Things were different now, yet they were also uncannily the same.

"...Quack!"

Xue Li fought through her exhaustion, maintaining the High-pressure Water Gun assault.

’Her Beast Tamer had said that even when facing an unbeatable opponent, you must never show any fear!’

Suddenly, a white figure flashed before her.

Before Xue Li could react, 004 appeared as if from thin air, raising her White Flame Soldier’s Blade—

SHING—

...

The White Mist that had enveloped the arena gradually dispersed.

Tier Two White Mist could completely block all lines of sight; even the big screens only showed a vast expanse of white. So, the moment the mist cleared, every spectator’s gaze fell upon the arena.

was still standing. The one who had fallen was Xue Li.

The White Mist could sense an opponent, but using an attack would temporarily disrupt its Perception.

had continuously created Telekinesis Clones to bait Xue Li into attacking, all while following the trajectory of the High-pressure Water Gun to close in on her.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

The referee began the countdown.

Victory could be determined in two ways: either by knocking the opponent out of the arena, or by rendering them unable to resist for more than ten seconds.

"Four, three, two..."

glanced at the Hao Waterfowl on the ground with her pale pink eyes and retracted her White Flame Soldier’s Blade.

Just as 004 was about to turn and leave, Xue Li suddenly stretched out her neck and bit down on her right claw.

"Quack!"

The dusty, bedraggled little duck forced a few syllables from her throat.

’Where do you think you’re going? I haven’t lost yet!’

SWISH! SWISH!

violently shook her claw, lifting Xue Li clean off the ground and swinging her back and forth like a kite with a broken string.

Even so, she didn’t let go. She was like a bear trap, focused only on clamping down on her target, even if it meant being ripped up by the roots.

THUD! THUD!

then began slamming Xue Li hard against the arena floor.

On the second slam, Xue Li’s consciousness finally wavered, and she let go, falling to the floor.

The massive battle stadium fell silent.

The referee paused for a moment before restarting the count:

"Ten... nine..."

"...Quack!"

But the moment she heard the countdown, Xue Li scrambled to her feet again.

Ignoring the powerful counterattack that might come, ignoring the damage she might take, she once again threw everything she had into biting down on 004’s claw.

Xue Li stared intently into her eyes.

’I... haven’t lost yet!’

A flicker of anger finally appeared in 004’s eyes.

’She had been holding back because she didn’t want to hurt this Hao Waterfowl. But since her opponent was being so stubborn, she would have to get serious!’

raised her other claw high, transforming it into a White Flame Long Saber.

"Stop!"

At the last second, Liu Yuhang ran from his command position and dove between 004 and Xue Li.

The referee raised his right hand and made his ruling: Liu Yuhang had left his command position, which was considered a voluntary forfeit. Fang Yuan was the winner.

The timer stopped: 1:03:34.13

The second semifinal match, which had lasted over an hour, was finally over.

hadn’t expected the opposing Beast Tamer to do that. She froze for a moment, then retracted her blade and retreated to the other side of the arena.

Liu Yuhang knelt on one knee and gathered Xue Li into his arms.

"Quack..."

Xue Li struggled to open her eyes and looked at her Beast Tamer.

’What are you doing, quack...’

"You fought so well... It was my fault. I panicked and ran out, and that’s why we lost. I’m sorry."

Liu Yuhang’s cheeks trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"It was my fault. Can you forgive me, Xue Li?"

"Quack..."

’It’s okay, don’t cry, quack. My Beast Tamer is the best...’

With the last of her strength, Xue Li nuzzled against Liu Yuhang’s chest, then closed her eyes and fell asleep in his arms.

The match was over. The winner and loser were decided.

Liu Yuhang staggered, unsteady on his feet. The long, high-intensity synchronized command had taken a huge toll on him, even though his body and Spirit had been forged to be as hard as steel.

Fang Yuan stared at his opponent, his expression complex.

’He suddenly felt that if Liu Yuhang were to offer a handshake now, he wouldn’t refuse.’

Su Zhi, Shao Ya, and Cao Mingyu all ran onto the arena to help him, giving him water, applying medicated oil, and offering quiet words of comfort.

Cotton, who was rather large, gently took Xue Li from Liu Yuhang’s arms, holding her in its mouth.

And so, the first-year division semifinals came to an end.

Amidst thunderous applause, the group helped support Liu Yuhang as they quietly walked off the arena.

•

•