Chapter 65: Mastery
Just as the Scale Controller Doll split into four, Qiao Sang quickly added points to the Beast Tamer Codex under the Shadow Clone skill.
During regular training, the Fire Fang Dog focused on practicing offensive skills, so Shadow Clone wasn't practiced often. As a result, its proficiency in the skill had not yet reached mastery.
But that didn't matter.
If she didn't use her cheat ability now, then when?
Qiao Sang secretly praised herself for her quick thinking.
On the other side, Hou Xiangyu didn't lose his composure. He calmly assessed the situation on the field and quickly made a decision.
"The one farthest from you."
No one understood what he meant by this, but the Scale Controller Doll did.
All four Scale Controller Doll simultaneously fired Phantom Rays at the farthest Fire Fang Dog.
The targeted Fire Fang Dog started to move, dodging the incoming attacks. Four rays attacked from different directions, and while it dodged one, another was already at its feet.
Thankfully, the Fire Fang Dog's nimble movements allowed it to evade.
However, under the relentless barrage of attacks, the Fire Fang Dog was clearly struggling more and more.
Just as one Phantom Ray was about to hit the Fire Fang Dog, another Fire Fang Dog suddenly dashed over and intercepted the attack, dissipating as a result.
Seeing this, the audience understood everything.
This Fire Fang Dog was the real one!
Amazing!
How did he figure that out?!
The audience was left wondering, but Qiao Sang had already guessed.
Earlier, when the Fire Fang Dog had shown confusion about its suddenly strengthened Shadow Clone skill, it tilted its head.
Among the eight Fire Fang Dogs, only the real one made this lifelike gesture, setting it apart from the others.
Hou Xiangyu's keen observation was truly exceptional.
But this relentless skill-spamming was exactly what she wanted.
As long as the Fire Fang Dog could keep dodging and exhaust the Scale Controller Doll's energy...
Before Qiao Sang could finish her optimistic thought, a Phantom Ray struck the Fire Fang Dog, sending it flying.
"Fire Fang Dog!"
Qiao Sang couldn't help but cry out.
She couldn't deny the fear that crept into her heart.
Since contracting with the Fire Fang Dog, their journey had been too smooth, and this was the first time it had been injured.
Even though she knew this was a battle of unequal strength, Qiao Sang still had the desire to win.
Backing down before the final moment was neither her style nor the Fire Fang Dog's.
Qiao Sang steadied herself.
On the field, the Fire Fang Dog had already risen to its feet, trembling but determined.
It looked at its Beast Tamer and nodded, its expression resolute.
Qiao Sang understood that the Fire Fang Dog was telling her it was okay and could continue fighting.
The Phantom Ray had caused damage, but it hadn't confused the Fire Fang Dog.
Now calm, Qiao Sang quickly formulated a new strategy.
"Copy it."
Since Hou Xiangyu was a long-standing note in her memo, Qiao Sang had naturally studied him.
But the single Teleport had rendered her original strategy meaningless, forcing her to improvise.
The Fire Fang Dog didn't hesitate. All the remaining clones, including the real one, shot flames at the four floating Scale Controller Dolls.
The Fire Fang Dog had more clones than the Scale Controller Dolls, so there were naturally more Fire Whirls than Phantom Rays.
Faced with an unequal number of attacks, the four Scale Controller Dolls had to stop their Phantom Rays and switch directions, using Teleport to evade.
The Fire Fang Dog continuously changed its position and kept up the fiery assault.
Hou Xiangyu looked at the multiple Fire Fang Dogs darting across the field, and it became impossible to distinguish the real one.
This was getting troublesome.
He sighed. What he thought would be an easy victory had turned into a drawn-out battle, and he still hadn't won.
If this dragged on any longer, the Scale Controller Doll might run out of energy.
The prolonged Phantom Ray assault had already consumed much of the Scale Controller Doll's energy.
Psychic-type beasts rely on their internal energy even for defense. If that energy is depleted, defeat is certain.
He had hoped to save his trump card for the division match next semester, but it seemed he would have to use it now in the Bai Xin Competition.
"Use all your psychic power!" Hou Xiangyu shouted to the Scale Controller Doll.
Qiao Sang frowned, a bad feeling rising within her.
The Scale Controller Doll, still teleporting to avoid the flames, heard the command. It spread its short arms, and three of the clones instantly disappeared, leaving only the original floating in the air.
After teleporting to a safe distance to avoid the concentrated flames, the Scale Controller Doll no longer emitted the faint transparent psychic waves it had before. Instead, blue psychic waves radiated from it.
"This is..." The commentator exclaimed in surprise.
"This psychic power has reached the mastery level." San Duo finished for him.
In the guest seating area:
"As expected of someone accepted into Litan High School. To train a Scale Controller Doll to this level at such a young age..."
"Normally, it would take four to five years to reach this level of psychic power."
"When someone contracts a Psychic-type beast, it's common to buy a bunch of Psychic Fruits to quickly enhance their strength. That's the normal situation."
"It seems this Scale Controller Doll is running low on energy. The books say that when a Scale Controller Doll's energy is below half of its peak, it floats less than 5 meters off the ground. Look, it's only about 3 meters up." Commented the guest who had passed the breeder qualification exam.
Another guest glanced at him and asked, "If you know so much, why haven't you passed the F-level breeder exam?"
The guest who had passed the breeder qualification exam: ...
On the battlefield:
Under the Scale Controller Doll's full-powered psychic control, all the Fire Fang Dogs were lifted into the air.
This guy was hiding so much!
Qiao Sang was frustrated by the scene before her.
A psychic power at the mastery level could control a large area without needing to lock onto specific targets.
How could they dodge this?
Unless the controlled beast was stronger than the one controlling it, there was no escape.
The Fire Fang Dog floated in the air, completely bewildered.
How did it end up floating?
This feeling...
It's kind of fun!
However, before the Fire Fang Dog could fully enjoy the sensation, he was suddenly pressed downward, crashing hard to the ground.
"Yap!" The Fire Fang Dog cried out in pain.
With that crash, all the remaining clones disappeared one after another, leaving only one Fire Fang Dog lying on the ground.
Should I admit defeat?
Qiao Sang sighed inwardly.
Facing a Psychic-type beast with mastery-level psychic power, winning was impossible. Continuing the battle would only worsen the Fire Fang Dog's injuries.
Reaching this point was already an accomplishment.
As long as she won her next match against Li Rangyi, she could still secure third place.
Yes, she wanted to win.
But if there was no hope after trying, she wouldn't blindly persist.
Just as Qiao Sang was about to give up, the Fire Fang Dog, injured and trembling, stood up again.
"Yap!"
The Fire Fang Dog turned its head to look at its Beast Tamer, impatient with her hesitation.
Hurry and give a command!
He wanted to beat this guy!
He had never suffered such a loss before.
(End of Chapter)