But in the end, it couldn't break free from the ice.
"...3, 2, 1! Match over!" the referee announced loudly. "The winner, Liu Yi!"
The entire venue fell silent for a second, then erupted in deafening cheers.
"They won! They won! A Junior stage defeated an Intermediate stage!"
"That was incredible! The timing of that Ice Spike was spot on!"
"Liu Yi! Liu Yi! Liu Yi!"
"Ice Fox! Ice Fox! Ice Fox!"
At the commentary desk, Ning Qiu's voice trembled with excitement: "Unbelievable! Contestant Liu Yi and the Ice Fox have defeated the Intermediate stage Blazing Flame Mouse! Let's congratulate Contestant Liu Yi for being the first to secure a spot in the Top 8!"
Tang Ningzhi showed an appreciative smile: "She saw through her opponent's weakness from the very beginning. Cui Xiangming relied too heavily on the B-rank skill Blazing Charge and neglected to hone his basic skills, while the Blazing Flame Mouse's energy was insufficient to support multiple uses of a B-rank skill."
Tang Ningzhi continued, "The Ice Fox's performance was also quite surprising, whether it was a Junior pet being able to unleash a B-rank skill, or the timing of its Ice Armor. Coupled with the proficiency displayed by the skills it released, it's hard to believe it's currently just a Junior pet."
On the field, Cui Xiangming knelt, staring in disbelief at his Blazing Flame Mouse, frozen in ice.
Medical personnel quickly entered the arena, using a special thawing agent to rescue the Blazing Flame Mouse.
Liu Yi walked over to Ziyue and gently stroked her slightly scorched fur on one side. "Great job, Ziyue, we won."
"Bingbing..."
Ziyue rubbed against her palm.
After this battle, facing an opponent one rank higher and with a type disadvantage, Ziyue's energy was almost completely depleted.
Ning Qiu's voice came through the loudspeaker from the commentary desk: "Following tournament tradition, both contestants please shake hands after the match."
Cui Xiangming walked to the center of the arena with a grim expression. At the referee's signal, both quickly shook hands.
"Alright, next, please say a word to each other."
Cui Xiangming lowered his head slightly, remaining silent, seemingly still unable to believe he had lost.
Liu Yi, holding Ziyue, looked at her opponent and said with a smile, "My apologies, you won't even make the Top 8 this year."
Cui Xiangming suddenly lifted his head, his eyes practically spitting fire.
He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms: "You—"
"Your Blazing Flame Mouse has great potential, but it's a pity it followed the wrong master," Liu Yi added immediately.
Liu Yi couldn't understand such actions that jeopardized a pet's future development.
Her words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Cui Xiangming.
He stared blankly at Liu Yi's retreating figure as she carried the Ice Fox towards the player tunnel, then looked down at the weakened Blazing Flame Mouse in the medical personnel's arms.
The Blazing Flame Mouse gazed at him with wet eyes, the flame on its tail flickering so faintly it was almost extinguished.
At the commentary desk, Tang Ningzhi looked thoughtful: "It seems Contestant Cui Xiangming needs to reconsider how he treats his pets."
"Indeed!" Ning Qiu turned to the camera. "Let's take a short break; the second Top 16 match is about to begin!"
Liu Yi walked out of the player tunnel with Ziyue, running into Qi Zimeng and Huo Nanyun in the player waiting area.
"Liu Yi! You're amazing!" Qi Zimeng rushed over excitedly. "That was an Intermediate stage Blazing Flame Mouse!"
Huo Nanyun also nodded: "Very impressive."
"Thanks," Liu Yi said, looking at Ziyue. "But Ziyue is quite exhausted, I need to take her to the Medical Room."
"Go quickly!" Qi Zimeng waved her hand. "My match is coming up soon too!"
...
Inside the Medical Room, Ziyue was placed in a treatment chamber.
Liu Yi sat nearby, looking at the updated information on her electronic bracelet:
【Congratulations on advancing to the Top 8! The Top 8 will be held on August 21st】
【Current Opponent: To Be Determined】
The Medical Room door suddenly opened, and a familiar figure walked in.
Tang Ningzhi.
She wore a simple white suit, her black hair neatly tied back, and a Quasi-Master Beast Tamer badge pinned to her chest.
"Good performance." Tang Ningzhi walked to the treatment chamber and looked at Ziyue inside. "This Ice Fox has been exceptionally well-trained by you."
Liu Yi stood up: "Thank you, Senior Tang."
Tang Ningzhi waved her hand: "No need to be so formal. In terms of talent, I can't compare to you two sisters. Just call me Sister Ningzhi, like your older sister does."
She took a small box from her bag: "This is a Harmony Orb; it's very helpful for stabilizing a pet's energy."
Liu Yi took the box, feeling a gentle ripple of energy from within: "This is too valuable..."
"Consider it a welcoming gift," Tang Ningzhi smiled. "Your sister always said you were a genius; it seems she wasn't exaggerating."
She glanced at the time: "I need to get back to the commentary desk. Oh, and—"
Tang Ningzhi walked to the Medical Room door, then turned back and said, "A Moonlight Marten is different from a Blazing Flame Mouse."
Liu Yi nodded: "Yes, I understand that clearly."
...
That evening, at Liu Yi's home.
Ziyue was sprawled on the sofa, playing with the Harmony Orb Tang Ningzhi had given her.
Liu Yi took out her phone to check today's match results.
Qi Zimeng narrowly defeated her opponent, advancing to the Top 8.
Huo Nanyun also beat her opponent, moving on to the Top 8.
Su Wenxi's match ended in just 5 seconds; her Moonlight Marten's Crescent Leap followed by a Moonlight Slash took down her opponent's pet before it could even react.
She clicked on the Beast Tamer Forum and found that discussions about her and Cui Xiangming's match had flooded the screen:
《Shocking! Junior Stage Defeats Intermediate Stage! Liu Yi's Tactical Analysis!》
《Cui Xiangming's Blazing Flame Mouse's Unstable Evolution Confirmed! Professional Breeder's Analysis Video!》
《Liu Yi's Ice Fox Fan Club 1/999+, anyone else joining!》
Liu Yi was about to close the page when a new post suddenly popped up:
《Su Wenxi Post-Match Interview: Eager for a Battle with Liu Yi》
Clicking it opened a video.
In the footage, Su Wenxi's usual coolness was gone, her eyes sparkling with fighting spirit: "Liu Yi's Ice Fox is very strong; I look forward to meeting her in the Finals."
The reporter pressed on: "If you encounter Contestant Liu Yi, how confident are you?"
Su Wenxi gently stroked her Moonlight Marten's fur, lowering her gaze: "Completely confident."
The video cut abruptly, and the comment section instantly exploded:
【Arrogant! So arrogant!】
【She has the right to be arrogant, doesn't she? Five seconds to end a battle!】
【Actually, it's not arrogance. It's just normal confidence in her Intermediate stage pet! Not everyone's Intermediate stage pet is like Cui Xiangming's!】
【Waiting for the Ice Fox to teach her a lesson.】
Liu Yi closed the post and noticed Ziyue had, at some point, crouched on the coffee table, pawing at the electronic bracelet.
The screen lit up, displaying tomorrow's battle information:
【Contestant: Liu Yi (Trainee Beast Tamer)】
【Registered Pet: Ice Fox (Junior stage)】
【Top 8: August 21st, 10:00 AM, Central Main Arena】
【Opponent: Qi Zimeng (Trainee Beast Tamer)】
【Registered Pet: Thunder-patterned Hound (Junior stage)】
Rate on N.U.
