...

PM the next afternoon, in the broadcast studio of the Huai City Competition Channel.

"Good evening, viewers, and welcome to today’s League News!"

The intelligent and sharp female host began with a smile.

Sitting beside her was a woman with long, ice-blue hair. She wore a yellow trench coat over a light gray Alliance Member uniform, and her entire aura was as cold as ice.

"I’m sure everyone has been following the annual city-wide Beast Taming High School League. After several days of intense competition, the finals are finally about to begin.

"Our studio has specially invited an Alliance Member from headquarters—Captain Selena of the Flying Shadow Alliance’s 31st team—to join us in the studio as a special guest commentator for the finals!"

The blue-haired woman nodded and gave a cool wave. "Hello, host. Hello, viewers."

The host offered a professional smile. "I’m sure our Huai City viewers are quite familiar with Captain Selena, as she was also our special guest commentator for the finals these past two years.

"So, Captain Selena, do you have any general expectations for the upcoming finals?"

"I won’t elaborate on the second and third-year divisions; the contestants are more or less the same as before. I’ll focus on the newer first-year division."

Selena nodded. "The contestants who advanced to the finals are Fang Yuan and Su Zhi. I’ve watched all of their matches."

"You could say contestant Su Zhi is the dark horse of this competition. He gives off a strong sense of unpredictability, always doing the unexpected."

"His Pet Beast appears unremarkable, but it possesses a surprising number of unexpected Skills, and even some original ones. This has given him a significant competitive edge."

"However, I personally believe Fang Yuan is more likely to win the championship."

The host chimed in at the right moment, "Is it because contestant Fang Yuan’s fundamentals are more solid?"

"That’s right. Contestant Fang Yuan’s Pet Beast has more comprehensive abilities and tactics, allowing him to handle any situation without being at a disadvantage. Su Zhi and his Envoy’s Pet, on the other hand, have situations they don’t excel in. When it comes to winning a championship, this is undoubtedly a major weakness."

"He prefers to lure his opponents into a rhythm he’s good at, then use his strengths to exploit their weaknesses. But against a well-rounded contestant like Fang Yuan, he might not be able to execute his game plan to the end."

"Furthermore, the difference in their stamina consumption is night and day."

"Contestant Su Zhi is a public entrant and didn’t have good luck with the bracket, facing the third and first seeds back-to-back before reaching the finals. In contrast, contestant Fang Yuan only spent a little extra time yesterday in his match against the fourth seed, Liu Yuhang."

"So, even though contestant Su Zhi has a lot of hype as a major dark horse, considering all the factors, contestant Fang Yuan will most likely be the one to have the last laugh and take the championship..."

Ten minutes before the match, in the contestant waiting room, Su Zhi and Yu Bao watched the special Alliance Member’s sharp critique of him on a phone.

Meanwhile, Su Zhi’s opponent—the tournament’s second seed, Fang Yuan—sat silently on the bench opposite him. 004 floated by Fang Yuan’s side, its flames as quiet as ever.

The two pairs of tamers and pets sat facing each other, their temperaments worlds apart.

The bright lights of the arena streamed in through the contestant tunnel.

A long, narrow beam of light cut through the darkness, separating the two of them.

"DING"

The preliminary Race Bell rang, signaling the contestants to enter the arena.

"If you have something to say, say it in the ring."

Fang Yuan shot Su Zhi one last glance, then led 004 out of the waiting room and down the tunnel.

Su Zhi and Yu Bao paid them no mind.

"Woof."

Yu Bao, who had been watching the news, licked his lips.

The blue-haired big sister was very pretty, but Yu Bao didn’t like the way she talked. So, he stretched out a paw and swiped down—

"Woof?"

Staring at the video of a beautiful woman dancing that had just appeared, Yu Bao tilted his head in curiosity.

"Don’t look. You can’t handle this."

Su Zhi covered Yu Bao’s eyes, preparing to critique it on his behalf...

"Hey, hey, hey!"

A crisp, bright voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

Su Zhi shuddered, quickly swiped the video away, and gave it a thumbs-down for good measure.

He turned to see Shao Ya looking at him with a comical expression.

"It’s fine. Su Baby is all grown up now. He can look at some ’study materials’~"

"..." Su Zhi pouted indignantly.

’So mad I’m shaking. I’m obviously a perfect gentleman; I rarely proceed when faced with risky clicks. This video app is tarnishing my good name out of thin air!’

Yu Bao saw Big Brother Xiaoyue behind Shao Ya and trotted over excitedly.

Today, Xiaoyue didn’t hide or show any disgust. It even groomed Yu Bao’s fur after he snuggled up.

The two of them watched the two Pet Beasts, and the contestant waiting room fell silent again.

Su Zhi glanced at Shao Ya—she had faint dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept well.

"Meeow."

After it finished grooming Yu Bao, Xiaoyue patted his shoulder with a paw.

Do your best. Big brother will be cheering for you.

Yu Bao nodded emphatically and ran back to Su Zhi’s side.

Su Zhi turned his gaze toward the contestant tunnel. The arena lights seemed especially blinding today.

"Well, I’m getting ready to go on."

Su Zhi took a deep breath, trying to sound calm.

Although he had long since mentally prepared himself in every way, actually standing at the finals and looking at the bright lights beyond the tunnel still filled him with a strange sense of nervousness.

"Do your best."

A pair of arms wrapped around him from behind.

Slender, yet filled with a sense of security.

Su Zhi could feel a reassuring warmth, see a flash of bright white in his peripheral vision, and smell the faint, pleasant scent of shampoo.

"Do your best. No matter the outcome, I’ll be watching you."

Her breath tickled his ear, warm.

Then, the arms gently let go.

The reassuring warmth left, the flash of white in his periphery vanished, and the faint scent dissipated.