Chapter 404: How Is That Possible? I Fooled You
The proficiency of Mimi Sprite's Charm skill was an unknown factor. To eliminate the risk of being charmed, sending out a pet of the same gender as Mimi Sprite was the optimal choice.
Qiao Sang's gaze landed on the Mimi Sprite.
This was her first time battling against a Fairy-type pet...
Contestant Area.
In the Lianke Region contestant section:
"Zhang Xueming is a bit unlucky, being placed in the same group as Qiao Sang." A thick-browed, square-faced boy remarked.
Facing off against a super popular contestant, the pressure alone, regardless of winning or losing, was significant.
"Do you even know Zhang Xueming? Her mentality is rock-solid. She couldn't care less about some endangered pet." Said another boy with a chestnut-colored haircut.
"But Zhang Xueming is still unlucky. At this stage, the focus is obviously on high-tier pets. Qiao Sang's high-tier pet is the Blazing Star Canine, which is Fire and Psychic-type. Zhang Xueming's Ice Sea Lion is Ice-type, which is countered by Fire. Plus, the Psychic-type gives Qiao Sang another edge. She has no advantage at all." Commented a brown-haired boy nearby.
The chestnut-haired boy couldn't help but retort:
"Have you guys forgotten how her Mimi Sprite defeated the Octo-Turtle during the provincial competition?"
The boy who called Zhang Xueming unlucky fell silent.
The Octo-Turtle was a high-tier pet that had walked itself off the battlefield under the influence of Mimi Sprite's Charm.
After that match, the Octo-Turtle was reportedly so traumatized it nearly became withdrawn.
Indeed, Zhang Xueming not only had a high-tier Ice Sea Lion, but also a Mimi Sprite whose Charm had reached a terrifying level of mastery...
On the Field.
As the whistle blew, Mimi Sprite struck a pose and threw a flirtatious wink at Lubao.
At the same time, a special energy formed a heart-shaped wave and launched toward Lubao.
Lubao received the wink with a perplexed expression.
In the next moment, she opened her mouth and fired a jet of water about forty centimeters in diameter directly at Mimi Sprite.
Mimi Sprite swiftly dodged, and the water jet hit empty air.
Information is everything... Qiao Sang smiled in satisfaction, sending out Lubao had been the right choice.
"Female..." Zhang Xueming's expression remained calm, showing no sign of panic over the failed Charm.
She eyed the Ice Qiya, which was preparing to jump into the water puddle, and gave her next command:
"Disarming Voice."
"Mii~ Mii~ Mii~" Mimi Sprite began to sing.
Disarming Voice was a mid-tier Fairy-type skill that caused spiritual damage and had a chance to put the opponent to sleep. Unless the target had a Soundproof ability, this move was nearly unavoidable.
Just as Mimi Sprite started to sing, Qiao Sang issued her command:
"Healing Song."
Half-submerged in the water puddle, Lubao stuck her head out confidently and began to sing:
"Lu-lu~ Lu-lu~ Lu~ Lu-lu~ Lu~"
The two songs reverberated through the battlefield.
In the front rows, some of the previously frenzied spectators started to look calmer:
"Ice Qiya, you've got this."
"Both Ice Qiya and Mimi Sprite sing pretty well."
"Why do I feel like Mimi Sprite's singing sounds slightly better?"
"Actually... now that you mention it..."
"Why do I suddenly feel sleepy..."
"Me too..."
On the Field.
"Mii..." Mimi Sprite's face went tranquil, and it couldn't keep singing.
On the other side, Lubao also stopped her song, her head resting on the water puddle's surface, eyelids drooping heavily.
"Healing Light." Qiao Sang said calmly.
"Lu..."
Hearing her trainer, Lubao struggled to stay awake.
Just as her eyes were about to close, she snapped them open, only to have them droop again. She jerked them open once more, repeating this cycle until the blue gemstone on her forehead suddenly emitted a light that enveloped her entire body.
Healing Light, this needs to be interrupted... What skill should I use? Zhang Xueming pondered, her mind unusually calm.
When people become too calm, their spirits relax, their mental focus loosens, and their reaction speeds slow down, exactly what was happening to Zhang Xueming.
In the contestant area, coaches and players were abuzz.
"So this is what Healing Light looks like..."
"What's wrong with Zhang Xueming? Why didn't she interrupt Ice Qiya's Healing Light immediately?"
"Didn't you see her face? When have you ever seen her look so... Zen? She's clearly been affected."
"Is Healing Song's area of effect really that wide?"
"It must be because Ice Qiya's proficiency in the move is so high."
Once the blue light dissipated, Lubao dove into the water puddle and disappeared. Only then did Zhang Xueming seem to snap back to reality.
Her face turned serious.
I didn't expect Healing Song to affect me as well...
"Metronome!" Zhang Xueming called out.
Metronome was a versatile yet unpredictable skill that could randomly trigger any move within the same tier.
It was powerful but relied on luck. If you were unlucky, you might even teleport yourself out of bounds.
"Mii..."
Mimi Sprite sluggishly raised a tiny finger.
"Enchanting Idol!" Zhang Xueming shouted, noticing that Mimi Sprite still wasn't fully responsive.
"Mii?"
Hearing its trainer, Mimi Sprite blinked in confusion, as if to ask, What just happened?
At that moment, Lubao suddenly appeared behind Mimi Sprite, her tail wrapped in swirling water, striking down hard.
"Mii!!!"
Mimi Sprite cried out, tumbling backward and rolling a few times.
I need to heal it immediately... Zhang Xueming, her face tense, abruptly looked at Qiao Sang and asked, "What's Ice Qiya's Healing Song proficiency?"
Why is she suddenly asking that? Qiao Sang blinked at her in surprise.
In that split second when Qiao Sang glanced toward Zhang Xueming, the fallen Mimi Sprite gathered its energy. Multicolored light began to surge from its body.
"Lu!"
Lubao leapt into the air, her left forelimb forming a razor-sharp claw of ice that slashed down hard at Mimi Sprite.
"Mii!!!"
The light surrounding Mimi Sprite shattered as it let out a pained shriek.
So she managed to distract me too... Qiao Sang realized, startled.
To be honest, opponents who tried to interfere verbally were rare. In major competitions, under so many watchful eyes, trash talk was almost non-existent.
If there hadn't been intel noting Zhang Xueming's tendency for verbal interference, Qiao Sang wouldn't have been on guard.
Luckily, Lubao's focus never wavered from Mimi Sprite, or else that healing attempt might have succeeded.
This match had truly taught her a lesson...
Qiao Sang turned to Zhang Xueming with a serious expression.
"Healing Song? It's been mastered to the Ultimate level." Qiao Sang suddenly said.
What? Ultimate level?!
Zhang Xueming stared at her in shock, momentarily frozen. Her thoughts about the next move completely short-circuited.
In that moment of distraction, Lubao's water-wrapped tail struck Mimi Sprite again.
"Mii!!"
After a third consecutive hit, Mimi Sprite tumbled a few times and fell unconscious.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Zhang Xueming regained her composure, taking a deep breath, her expression complex. "
"Has Ice Qiya really mastered Healing Song to the Ultimate level?"
Qiao Sang smiled faintly:
"How is that possible? I fooled you."