Free Web NovelChapter 43: Chapter 43: The Grand Finale
There were no classes on Monday morning, so all the first-year high school students went to the school’s Battle Hall.
The first-year exchange tournament was scheduled for that morning. Outstanding students from the city’s 19 other high schools would form teams to visit Huai First Middle School and participate in a friendly competition initiated by the hosts.
After the host finished the opening remarks, the exchange tournament officially began.
Vice Principal Yan Shouzheng was personally serving as the commentator!
Watching the scrolling text on the hall’s large screen, Su Zhi asked curiously, "The first one up, Cao Mingyu, he’s the student council president, right?"
Shao Ya nodded. "That’s right. Cao Mingyu has always been ranked number one. He’s considered the first-year most likely to get his Pet Beast to One-star first."
Pet Beasts are rated from One-star to Five-star based on their Real-time Energy Value. The corresponding Energy Values are 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 40,000.
One-star is a level an ordinary person can reach through hard work alone.
In a small place like Huai City, having one or two One-star Pet Beasts is enough to live a comfortable life.
From Two-star and up, there’s a barrier. It’s basically impossible for a Pet Beast to reach that level unless it’s an Elite or Commander Race. As for Four-star and Five-star, only those of High Level Commander Race or above have a chance.
Those who can reach One-star or even Two-star before university are, without exception, top students scouted in advance by major universities!
Cao Mingyu’s Wave White indeed demonstrated a level of strength that matched his rank.
Facing its skillful and comprehensive Skills, the Cyan Feathered Falcon from the 19th Middle School stood no chance and was quickly taken down by a Continuous Combo.
"In the first match, a student from Huai First Middle School takes the first win, getting us off to a victorious start!"
The host turned to Yan Shouzheng at the opportune moment.
"Teacher Yan, what are your thoughts on this match?"
Yan Shouzheng smiled and pushed up his glasses. "A very exciting match."
"Our contestant, student Cao Mingyu, is the student council president. He has an excellent character, trains his Pet Beast with diligence and dedication, and has always been a role model for the entire grade. His Wave White is highly competitive."
"Student Lin Qiuyuan from the 19th Middle School also showed a positive competitive spirit. Losing by a hair’s breadth in the end is understandable. That’s how it is in the arena; sometimes it’s not about overall strength, but about success or failure in the details."
’But Teacher, that was clearly a one-sided slaughter...’ The host responded with a polite smile.
"Thank you, Teacher Yan, for your wonderful commentary! Our next match features..."
The arena matches continued one after another.
The stands were exceptionally lively. Some people were cheering for the contestants, some were discussing the matches, and, of course, even more were on their phones...
Su Zhi, Shao Ya, and Liu Yuhang were the type to watch and analyze the matches.
Even without Old Ban’s reminder, they knew the importance of reading the matches.
One-sided matches like the first one were actually rare. Most of the time, they were clashes between evenly matched opponents, with wins and losses on both sides.
Gradually, the mood of the group was no longer as relaxed as it was at the beginning.
"It seems the opponents from other schools aren’t easy to deal with either."
Seeing Huai First Middle School lose to the 3rd Middle School again in the eighteenth match, Su Zhi couldn’t help but remark.
Shao Ya nodded. "Huai First Middle School is relatively behind the curve in the entire Shanyou Province. We can’t guarantee a win against students who’ve transferred back from better schools."
Up to this point, Huai First Middle School had won a total of nine matches and lost nine. freeweɓnovel.cøm
The final match would decide whether public opinion about Huai First Middle School would be "still holding strong" or "gradually declining."
And the student appearing in the final, climactic match was naturally the one drawing the most attention.
Su Zhi laughed. "So that’s what Old Ban meant. He really knows how to put the pressure on me."
"Go, go, go!"
Shao Ya pumped her fist. "God Su will win for sure!"
Yu Bao looked at Xiaoyue with an eager gaze. "WOOF WOOF!" (Boss! It’s my turn!)
Xiaoyue nodded repeatedly and pushed him away with a paw. "MEOOOW..." (Okay, okay, I’ll be cheering for you, now go...)
As the host provided commentary, the battle information on the screen updated, and Su Zhi and Yu Bao walked onto the arena platform.
But upon seeing his opponent, Su Zhi raised his eyebrows in surprise.
’It’s actually Fang Yuan?’
’I actually jinxed it...’
"We meet again," Fang Yuan said without expression.
Su Zhi nodded. "Ah, hello."
On the main platform in the distance, the host and commentator were also paying close attention to the final match.
"This is the last match of the day. We see student Su Zhi from Huai First Middle School going up against student Fang Yuan from the 2nd Middle School. Teacher Yan, are you familiar with these two students?"
"I am familiar with student Fang Yuan," Yan Shouzheng said with a smile. "Student Fang Yuan is Principal Fang’s son. We’ve met a few times privately and even had a meal together. He is an exceptionally hardworking and down-to-earth student. I have no doubt that even if Fang Yuan were at Huai First Middle School, he would be among the top students."
"To receive the endorsement of Huai First Middle School’s strictest teacher, it seems student Fang Yuan is truly outstanding!" the host said with a small laugh.
Yan Shouzheng continued, "As for student Su Zhi, I’m not familiar with him. He wasn’t prominent before, but he has improved rapidly recently. He must have his own extraordinary qualities."
’Especially his extraordinary rebelliousness...’ Yan Shouzheng complained inwardly.
"This will be a spectacular showdown. Both students are excellent. I can’t predict the outcome, so let’s let the arena be the judge."
"Teacher Yan, your commentary has certainly piqued my interest! Let’s watch and see what happens!"
On the platform, as a faint white Beast Taming Light Array lit up in front of Fang Yuan, Su Zhi finally saw his Pet Beast—
Its faint white body was shaped like a flame, covered in faint, complex, light-red patterns. Its floating, flaming claws were wrapped in Rune Chains, giving it a menacing aura, yet its pale pink eyes were as tranquil as still water.
A three-attribute Pet Beast of Fire, Telekinesis, and Battle: the White Flame Battle Spirit!
This type of Pet Beast is a Low Level Elite Race, but it’s rarer than many Middle Elite ones. It seems Fang Yuan’s family is anything but simple.
And after scanning his opponent’s Energy Value, Su Zhi instantly became fully alert.
Real-time Energy Value: 799!
’Xiaoyue only just broke 800 last Saturday, and that was with the boost from the Wood Magnet Crystal!’
"545, huh... A pretty good number."
Fang Yuan calmly put his phone away. "But I’m a little disappointed. Perhaps my expectations were too high."
"004? What a strange name."
Upon seeing the Energy Value, Shao Ya’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Holy crap, what did this guy feed his Pet Beast? Teacher Zhou? Can Su Zhi even win this?"
"It’s looking grim."
Zhou Shengfa’s face was taut. "Yu Bao has already improved very quickly. In less than two weeks, it’s made the same progress other Pet Beasts take four or five weeks to achieve."
"If this were the city league, Yu Bao would have a real chance of catching up to that White Flame Battle Spirit."
"But right now... there’s a significant gap in their Real-time Energy Values. Even if it’s not enough for a complete stomp, the White Flame Battle Spirit already has a huge advantage."
Zhou Shengfa suddenly felt a pang of regret.
He had originally put Su Zhi in the match to get him some experience and let him adapt to the competition.
There were nineteen matches in the exchange tournament. Based on last year’s experience, Huai First Middle School should have won sixty to seventy percent of them, so it wouldn’t have mattered if Su Zhi lost one match. Besides, he hadn’t thought Su Zhi would lose.
But he really hadn’t expected the earlier matches to be so fiercely contested.
He also hadn’t expected Su Zhi’s opponent to be this strong.
He had personally pushed Su Zhi into the spotlight, where victory and defeat would be decided.
Even without a gap in strength, this kind of high-pressure environment would create immense mental pressure!
...
Or not.
On the platform, Su Zhi was as calm as ever, his attention already focused on the two Pet Beasts.
Fang Yuan was the same. Both of them had reached their peak level of concentration.
"Please give it your all," Fang Yuan’s voice was still devoid of emotion.
"DING—"
The Race Bell let out a crisp ring.
"SHWOOSH!"
The instant the bell rang, the White Flame Battle Spirit, 004, transformed into a blurry afterimage and shot toward Yu Bao like a bolt of lightning!
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