Free Web NovelChapter 80: Chapter 77: Why Go So Hard?
If he kept up the current rhythm of evasion, it wouldn’t change the final outcome, but at least he could hold on a little longer for now.
Dodging upward meant losing his last bit of room to maneuver—a guaranteed defeat.
When facing a powerful opponent, a Pet Beast’s own psyche and instincts can take over, sometimes preventing it from following its Beast Tamer’s commands.
Yet, upon receiving the command, Yu Bao didn’t hesitate for a second.
Countdown: 00:09
Desert Concealment activated, launching him upward. Yu Bao transformed into a gust of wind and sand, shooting into the air!
For a moment, Mars didn’t quite react.
After all, from experience, he never thought this dog would dodge upward... and yet, that’s exactly what it did.
In an instant, Mars’s eyes refocused.
’Since the examinee is asking for it, he can’t blame me for not holding back!’
Mars got a running start, leaped, and bounded into the air right after him.
With the explosive Power of his hind legs, he rapidly closed the distance with Yu Bao.
"Yu Bao! Now! Use Sandstorm with everything you’ve got!"
"WOOF!" (*Got it!*)
The very instant Mars closed in on Yu Bao, sand surged and converged, forming a powerful whirlwind of grit between them!
BOOM!
A mere Tier Two Sandstorm, of course, couldn’t possibly injure the Quasi-Two-star Mars.
However, a Yu Dian Farm Dog was a ground-based Pet Beast, after all, with no way to gain purchase in mid-air. The impact of the Sandstorm sent Mars tumbling back to the ground.
Mars looked up.
Since the Sandstorm was unleashed at such close range, Yu Bao was also caught in the blast. His body, having just reached the apex of its jump and about to fall, was instead carried by the current, soaring high into the air!
Countdown: 00:03
Yu Bao rose twenty meters into the air. For a fleeting moment, he hung motionless, his ears gently brushing against the ceiling.
Countdown: 00:01
Countdown: 00:00
The green light, signaling that he had passed the assessment, lit up.
As he began his rapid descent, Yu Bao wagged his tail in mid-air.
"WOOF!"
’We won!’
"Stop celebrating! Watch your landing!"
Su Zhi was even more nervous than before, completely unaware that his fingernails were digging deep into his palms.
Even though Yu Bao was a Pet Beast with Extraordinary Power, a twenty-meter fall without any precautions would not leave him unscathed.
"Get ready to use Sandstorm to cushion the impact! Release it on my mark!"
"Woof..." (*I... I’m out of Energy...*)
"What???"
Su Zhi’s eyes flew wide open, his heart leaping into his throat.
Ten meters, five meters, three meters—
In the nick of time, a swift yellow shadow shot past, catching Yu Bao in mid-air.
THUD—
...
Mars landed steadily, releasing the scruff of Yu Bao’s neck.
"Yu Bao! Are you okay?"
Su Zhi scrambled to Yu Bao’s side, scooping him up and shaking him vigorously.
Su Zhi’s shaking sent Yu Bao’s eyes rolling in opposite directions. The dog could only manage a weak wave of his paw. "Woof..."
’I’m fine, just a little dizzy...’
"Phew..."
Seeing that Yu Bao was uninjured, Su Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief and set him down.
Yu Bao sat on the ground, still a bit dizzy. It took him a moment to recover before he looked over at Mars.
"*Pant...*" (*Thanks, senior...*)
"Woof." (*So you’re willing to die for an assessment, huh?*)
Mars gave him a light thump.
After confirming the examinee was fine, Mars gave a nod and returned to his Beast Taming Space, enveloped in a deep blue Light Array.
Su Zhi and Yu Bao turned to the examiners.
The Alliance committee members, who had been stone-faced throughout the examination, were now all smiling and applauding softly.
"Congratulations, you outstanding young man. You have successfully passed all the assessments. Once your application is approved in two weeks, you will officially become a member of the Alliance Youth Team."
"Huh?" freewēbnoveℓ.com
Su Zhi blinked in surprise. "Isn’t there a third assessment?" he asked reflexively.
"Two rounds weren’t enough excitement for you?"
Yan Dingyi chuckled. "How about we ramp up the difficulty and have another go?"
Su Zhi immediately changed his tune. "Thank you to the Alliance for this opportunity! I will strive to be a worthy member of the Alliance Youth Team, always ready to face hardship and putting the team before myself..."
"Hahaha, this kid!"
"It’s no wonder he gets along with Peng Kai."
The examiners all laughed, filling the examination hall with a cheerful atmosphere.
"The third assessment actually begins even before the first—from the moment a candidate enters this examination hall, we are observing them from every angle, judging their character."
Yang Shuyue smiled gently.
"Your case is a little special, though. In fact, the third round had already started for you back on the subway, when I learned you were a candidate.
"To be honest, you have some traits that aren’t exactly ideal for a Beast Tamer... but I personally admire them. Besides, you’ve demonstrated immense talent, and your strengths far outweigh your flaws. So—congratulations on passing the third assessment!"
Su Zhi bowed deeply. "Thank you, Sister A... I mean, thank you, Examiner Yang!"
"You were about to call me Sister Ai, weren’t you? I heard that!"
The examination hall was once again filled with a cheerful atmosphere. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
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Once everything was settled, Su Zhi and Yu Bao trotted to the waiting room.
The white-haired girl who had been waiting at the door for some time tilted her head. "Hi!"
Su Zhi tried his best not to look too surprised. "What are you doing here? How did you know..."
"Senior Yang Jingyue told me. I happened to be the first one to finish my quiz today, so I came along with her."
Su Zhi glanced down and finally noticed that Senior Yang Jingyue was there too. He awkwardly averted his gaze.
’She’s so short... I honestly didn’t see her.’
After asking, he learned that Yang Jingyue and Yang Shuyue were, in fact, sisters.
"WOOF!"
Yu Bao also spotted big brother Xiaoyue sitting at Shao Ya’s feet and bounded over joyfully, all Bling Bling.
’Big bro, let me tell you! I just...’
"Meeeow." Xiaoyue pushed him away with a paw, a troubled look on his face.
’I don’t want to hear it!’
’Damn it, I’m never coming to see this dumb dog again...’
Su Zhi glanced at the time. "Shall we head home together?"
"Okay," Shao Ya agreed, turning to wave at Yang Jingyue. "Goodbye, Senior!"
"Bye-bye, Xiaoya~"
They took the subway back as well.
It was a little after ten in the morning. The wage slaves were at their desks and the student drones were in class, making it the quietest time on the subway.
The entire car was empty, making it feel exceptionally spacious.
Fighting an opponent above his tier had taken a huge toll on Yu Bao. As soon as they boarded the subway, he leaned against Xiaoyue and fell fast asleep.
Xiaoyue looked disgusted, but he didn’t move away or even stir.
’Who could blame the dumb dog for being so tired after his morning exam?’
’As his big bro, I guess I can reluctantly make this sacrifice.’
’This is the last time! I absolutely, positively will not spoil this dumb dog anymore!’
Su Zhi and Shao Ya sat opposite the two Pet Beasts, watching the tunnel lights flicker past the window.
"That strategy you chose to break the stalemate was so dangerous. Yu Bao could have been seriously hurt!"
Shao Ya scolded him, her nose wrinkled. "It was just an assessment, not a real fight! You can’t risk everything like that!"
Su Zhi mumbled, "I just suddenly felt like giving it my all..."
"Oh?"
Shao Ya blinked curiously. "And why is that?"
"...No reason."
Su Zhi pretended to look at the scenery outside, though there wasn’t much to see.
Shao Ya covered her mouth with her hand to hide a smile, also turning her gaze to their reflections in the window.
The subway car fell silent again.
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