...

...

Finally adjusting to the brightness, Yu Bao painstakingly opened his eyes.

Around him, countless longswords made of White Flame were arranged vertically, forming a cylindrical space.

Looking past them, he couldn’t see the arena or the audience, only a deep, dark void.

There was no sound, no response, as if everything had been enveloped by a deathly silence, dark and cold as the blades themselves.

"Woof!" Yu Bao tried to call for Su Zhi, but there was no reply. He flicked his tail anxiously.

It seemed some special power was blocking all communication between this place and the outside world.

Give up the struggle.

Just as Yu Bao was looking around, a deep, magnetic voice echoed in his mind.

More accurately, it wasn’t a voice, but a thought transmitted directly into his consciousness.

Yu Bao immediately tensed up, looking around warily before finally locking his gaze upward.

slowly descended, landing a few steps away from him, her flames burning with an unnerving stillness.

CLANG.

One of the countless White Flame Soldier’s Blades making up the space flew out and fused with 004’s right claw.

This is my domain. You cannot defeat me here.

Inside the Sword Prison, 004 raised her blade, aiming it at Yu Bao.

SWOOSH!

Seeing 004 suddenly blur into a white shadow, Yu Bao was startled and hastily activated Desert Concealment to dodge...

Those inside the Sword Prison couldn’t see out, but the view from the outside in was perfectly clear.

All the spectators saw the scene unfold: under the pressure of 004’s assault, Yu Bao struggled to parry but was repeatedly forced back.

"At this point, the outcome is pretty much decided."

In the broadcast studio, Selena sighed softly. She delivered her judgment with confidence, but her tone carried a strange hint of regret.

"004 has used the White Flame Battle Spirit’s Core Skill—Flame Punishment Hall. What we’re seeing now is Flame Punishment Hall: Extreme Sword Prison."

"This Skill, at the cost of overdrafting future Energy Value, uses countless White Flame Soldier’s Blades to create a sealed domain with a one-way barrier, trapping both the White Flame Battle Spirit and its enemy inside."

"Within this domain, all of the White Flame Battle Spirit’s injuries are temporarily healed. You can think of it as a state of near-invincibility."

"Unless facing an enemy of a much higher tier, it’s almost impossible to gain an advantage. In fact, this Skill was created specifically to take down superior foes."

"Isn’t that a little too overpowered?!" the female host quickly asked. "Is there no way to break the Extreme Sword Prison?"

"Of course there is. No Skill in the world is without a weakness."

Selena analyzed in a low voice.

"Inside the Extreme Sword Prison, whenever the White Flame Battle Spirit attacks its opponent, it receives an equal amount of pain in return. So even though the White Flame Battle Spirit is in a nearly invincible state, it’s actually in more pain than it would be in its normal form."

"And unlike conventional Skills, the Energy that constitutes the Extreme Sword Prison comes more from fighting spirit than from the Pet Beast’s own Energy reserves."

"If the White Flame Battle Spirit’s will is shaken by its opponent within the Extreme Sword Prison, the prison will naturally collapse on its own."

"Conversely, as long as the White Flame Battle Spirit’s fighting spirit remains unshaken, the Extreme Sword Prison can be maintained almost indefinitely."

"As the saying goes, heavy is the head that wears the crown. The Sword Prison grants the White Flame Battle Spirit immense Power, but it also presents a greater trial."

"I can’t believe a Skill like that exists..."

The female host blinked in surprise. "So, if Yu Bao manages to defeat 004 inside, or shake her fighting spirit, does he still have a chance to win?"

Selena nodded, then shook her head.

"Theoretically, yes. But it’s virtually impossible."

"Inside the Extreme Sword Prison, the Effects of Fire, Telekinesis, and Fighting Attribute Skills are amplified to an unprecedented degree, while the Effects of all other Attribute Skills are greatly diminished."

"Yu Bao has already exhausted a great deal of stamina fighting up to this point. Defeating 004 inside the prison is highly unrealistic."

"What’s more, the White Flame Battle Spirit is a Pet Beast that is inherently obsessed with battle. Unless they encounter a true Warrior, their fighting spirit won’t be easily shaken..."

A silence fell over the audience.

At some point, the live stream’s chat had gone quiet.

Lu Dongjie had forgotten to commentate, simply staring at the screen with a grave expression.

In front of their television, Su Mao and Wang Sujuan clasped their hands tightly, the same worry flickering in their eyes.

In the commander’s position, Su Zhi’s fists were clenched so tightly he didn’t even notice his nails digging into his palms.

...

...

The Sword Prison was deathly silent, with only the occasional sound of a blade cutting through the air and a body hitting the ground.

SWOOSH.

The white blade slashed past.

YIPE—

This time, Yu Bao failed to dodge. He staggered and fell under the blow, his blood staining his fur and the arena floor beneath him.

Give up the struggle.

Not far from Yu Bao, 004 stood with her blade, proud, powerful, and beautiful.

This was her final trump card, one she had never used before.

She admitted that Yu Bao was the strongest opponent she had ever faced—and as his opponent, the only thing she could do was defeat him with her own greatest strength.

What, can you still fight?

"Whimper..."

Yu Bao propped himself up on his injured forelegs, rising with the difficulty of a clumsy puppet. With the exertion, his blood dripped away faster and faster.

Only his dark brown eyes remained as steadfast as the earth itself.

’I... haven’t lost yet!’

Why do you still struggle?

SWOOSH.

This time, 004 didn’t use her blade. She just gave Yu Bao a gentle push with her left claw.

Yu Bao fell straight to the ground. He tried to get up again, but he was powerless.

No matter how much you struggle, the result will be the same.

retracted her blade and turned away.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

The inside of the Extreme Sword Prison was visible from the outside. The moment Yu Bao fell, the referee outside, signaled by the Bright-eyed Eagle, began the countdown.