’You’ve already brought out your Pet Beast. It wouldn’t be right for me to refuse now...’ Su Zhi thought to himself, looking at the Cold Realm Ice Spine opposite him.

Besides, Su Zhi also wanted Yu Bao to have more opportunities to spar with an expert.

Although this Cold Realm Ice Spine was Selena’s third Pet Beast, it was by no means weak. In fact, its Real-time Energy Value was even slightly higher than Yu Bao’s.

Selena was an official Alliance Member and even a squad leader. Under her command, the Cold Realm Ice Spine was sure to be a formidable opponent.

’Getting to face off against an expert like her will be a great learning experience, even if we lose!’

Su Zhi then looked toward Yu Bao. "Yu Bao, you up for a match?"

"Woof!"

Yu Bao wagged his tail, unable to wait.

’I’m stuck on the Sand Shadow Guard anyway, so I might as well play a round to take my mind off things. Even a Wise One needs to balance work and play!’

And so, the two sides took their positions in the sandpit, creating distance between them.

Su Zhi knew Selena was giving him a handicap. The sandpit environment was more favorable for Yu Bao.

Of course, the boost from the terrain was negligible. The outcome would still be decided by their respective strengths.

Before the match, both sides communicated with their Pet Beasts.

Selena sent a message through her Beast Taming Space. "Xue Ao, our opponent is yesterday’s high school division champion. Stay sharp, and don’t underestimate him."

"Hwah?"

’This little mutt? How much Energy Value could he possibly have?’

"His announced Energy Value from yesterday’s final was 1134. Even if it dropped temporarily after a high-intensity battle, it won’t be that low."

"Hwaah~"

’That’s still not as high as mine, though~’

"..." Selena massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Xue Ao was a Pet Beast she had only recently contracted. He was outstanding in every way, except for his overly arrogant personality. This was because no Pet Beast among his peers had ever managed to defeat him...

Selena genuinely hoped Yu Bao could win and knock Xue Ao down a peg.

However, she wasn’t holding out much hope.

After all, Xue Ao was the Pet Beast of an Alliance Member. The intensity of his training and competition was on a completely different level from that of a high schooler’s Pet Beast, even a city league champion.

’Oh well,’ she thought. ’I was just planning on having some fun anyway.’

Selena decided she would just have the Alliance Leader spar with him when she got back. That would give Xue Ao a taste of the real world...

「Meanwhile, on the other side」

"Yu Bao, our opponent is very strong. Plus, the Ice Element has an advantage over the Earth Element, so we probably can’t win this one.

"But that’s okay. She’s an expert, after all. Don’t take it too seriously; the important thing is to have fun."

"Woof."

Yu Bao nodded, understanding completely.

’I already won the city league. There are no more matches I absolutely have to win.’

’And since it’s not a must-win, I’m certainly not going to go all out.’

’No dog knows how to slack off better than me!’

"Let’s start whenever you’re ready."

"Yes. I’m ready for your instruction, senior!"

The two sides created more distance between them, clearing an open space the size of a battle ring.

As a cultured and graceful dog, Yu Bao flashed his sunny, cheerful, ancestral smile: ⌓‿⌓

’Let’s have a fun game!’

Xue Ao: "...?"

’What’s with that little mutt’s expression? Is he provoking me?’

’The nerve! I’m always the one who does the provoking, not the other way around!’

"SWOOSH!"

Xue Ao spun in place, and a biting cold wind carrying hailstones instantly swept toward his opponent.

—Frost Storm, an Ice Element High Level Extraordinary Skill, and a powerful Output Skill!

"WHOOSH!"

Yu Bao stood his ground as a storm of wind and sand rose up, howling as it charged forward.

The icy blast and the sandstorm tore at each other, colliding as pure white frost and ice entwined with pale yellow sand, creating a bizarre spectacle in midair.

Faintly, it seemed the yellow sand was overpowering the blizzard!

"Hwah?!"

Xue Ao took two tactical steps backward, surprise written all over its faceless face.

’I watched yesterday’s final. Yu Bao’s Sandstorm shouldn’t have been this powerful. Don’t tell me the video doesn’t do it justice and you have to see it live?’

Selena watched from the side with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

’I didn’t expect Xue Ao to get a reality check right from the start. The effect is perfect.’

’It’s just that... while recordings can certainly distort a Skill’s true power, Yu Bao’s Sandstorm still seems a bit on the strong side, no?’

This was the first time in a long while that Selena, a professional Alliance Member, had misjudged something.

"Hwah!"

Realizing it was losing the clash of projectiles, Xue Ao quickly changed tactics, plopping down and burrowing into the sand.

At the same time, a thick wall of ice instantly condensed around Xue Ao, protecting it completely.

The Cold Realm Ice Spine’s Racial Skill, an Ice Element Middle Elite Skill: Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Wall!

"Hwaah~" A hint of smugness crept into Xue Ao’s cry.

’Unlike some trash Defense Skill like Yellow Earth Wall, Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Wall is hailed as the Strongest Ice Element Defense Skill.’

It was formed from multiple composite layers of ice, with vacuum zones in the gaps between layers. These multiple Vacuum Shields could effectively withstand any impact.

’Forget Yu Bao, who isn’t even known for offense. Even a Fire Element Pet Beast that excels at attacking would have to work hard to break my defense—’

"CRACK CRACK CRACK"

Before Xue Ao’s astonished gaze, a Furious Sand Blade shimmering with Golden Light shattered the layers of ice walls and rushed toward it without losing any speed...

"QAQ HWAH!!!"

"CRACK CRACK CRACK—BANG!"

The Furious Sand Blade punched clean through the ice wall, penetrated the wall on the other side, and finally slammed into the stadium’s outer wall.

"...?"

Selena’s eyebrows shot up, her eyes wide and her rosy lips slightly parted—the very picture of utter shock.

Her "Ice Beauty" persona had completely vanished.

’Was that his original Skill, Furious Sand Blade?’

’How can its attack power be this high? It even shattered the Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Wall, which is supposed to be the strongest defense among its Same Tier??’

Xue Ao, having dodged the attack by dropping to the ground, stared at the dust cloud rising in the distance. It then looked back at the seemingly harmless little mutt across the field, its expression full of lingering fear.

’Are you really that scary, bro?’

"Woof!"

Yu Bao, on the other hand, just wagged his tail excitedly.

’Alright! A successful armor penetration!’