Chapter 241 - 188: Respective Improvements
"She can’t dodge it. You forgot she’s injured..."
Even from their seats in the stands, the students could feel the suffocating pressure.
Yet, on the stage, Fang Yuan and Lilith, the ones truly facing this pressure, were eerily calm, like blades waiting to be drawn.
In truth, Tang Shuai wasn’t afraid of them trying to out-speed him with a preemptive strike.
Lilith’s Nether Flame Body was injured. Her high-speed offense wouldn’t last long—not nearly long enough to break the Thorn Armor Dragon’s defense!
To his surprise, however, Lilith didn’t flee or dodge in the face of Iron Wall’s ferocious advance. Instead, she met it head-on.
"Lilith, use Everlasting Life."
"CHIRP!"
Golden light patterns flowed across Lilith’s body.
The moment they clashed, she sidestepped the Thorn Armor Dragon’s stomp. The White Flame Soldier’s Blade ignited on her left claw and struck its ankle with precise force.
The blow wasn’t powerful, but it was just enough to pierce Iron Wall’s scales and hit the nerve-dense spot beneath.
"AWOOO!" Pained, Iron Wall roared and swung its tail at Lilith.
Lilith, however, anticipated its counterattack. Knowing it expected her to retreat, she instead pressed forward. The Thorn Armor Dragon’s tail swipe missed, leaving it in an even more awkward position.
Simultaneously, the White Flame Soldier’s Blade sliced down again, this time on the base of its tail.
"PFFT—"
"AWOOO!!!" The Thorn Armor Dragon’s tail pulsed with pain mid-swing, causing it to stumble and lose its balance.
Lilith, however, was not in a hurry to press her advantage, instead using this time to create distance and reset her own rhythm.
The Thorn Armor Dragon hastily put up a guard. Lilith, again capitalizing on its defensive mindset, created more distance while simultaneously launching a White Flame·Blade Form that struck its unprotected right foot.
The Thorn Armor Dragon quickly began to falter. Only then did Lilith advance again, beginning the unhurried harvest...
Watching the situation collapse so quickly, Tang Shuai’s mind went blank as he directed his Pet Beast from afar.
Just as he had imagined, Lilith’s speed was indeed much slower, at times even giving the impression she was taking a walk.
Nearly every one of Lilith’s attacks and dodges was just barely executed at the last possible second.
But contrary to his expectations... the slower Lilith hadn’t lost her combat effectiveness. She remained a constant threat.
He couldn’t understand why, but he saw that Lilith seemed to have used... Everlasting Life.
Fire Element Low Level Elite Skill, Everlasting Life. Effect: In exchange for a portion of maximum mobility, it enhances the user’s energy stability, endurance, and the fluidity of their Skill Transition.
Defensive Fire Element Pet Beasts would typically learn this Skill, but there aren’t many defensive Pet Beasts in the Fire Element...
’Wait, aren’t you a White Flame Battle Spirit?’
’A mobile, Strong Attack Type Pet Beast... learned a Skill that sacrifices mobility???’
"BANG!"
Five minutes later, the Thorn Armor Dragon fell with a crash, unable to get up again.
"CHIRP CHIRP!"
Lilith happily twirled in place before diving into Fang Yuan’s arms.
’We won!’
"Yeah, not bad." Fang Yuan ruffled the top of her head.
To be safe, he hadn’t immediately put Lilith back on her original intense training regimen. And, just as the doctor had warned, he’d discovered the hidden dangers of that method himself.
While helping Lilith recover from her injury, Fang Yuan had adjusted her training plan and tactical options.
The injury had instead become an opportunity for a breakthrough, forcing them to change their way of thinking.
Through their joint efforts, Fang Yuan and Lilith had recently developed a slow-paced assault tactic perfectly suited for her.
Even now that Lilith has recovered, this tactic will still be of great benefit to her future training and competitions.
This time, Fang Yuan had to admit that he saw a bit of Su Zhi in himself.
’Su Zhi...’
Fang Yuan walked off the stage, his gaze seeming to pierce through the roof of the Battle Hall, reaching straight to the high heavens.
’The one who gave me a new lease on life, and the one I’m most desperate to defeat!’
A soft voice suddenly called out from nearby, "Fang Yuan!"
Fang Yuan looked towards the sound—
A girl with her hair in a bun was running toward him. She was cute enough—not stunning, but pleasant and easy on the eyes.
Fang Yuan remembered her name was Xu Ruo. He thought she sat in front of him in class, but he couldn’t recall anything else about her.
"Need something?" Fang Yuan asked, tilting his head.
Xu Ruo held out a bottle of water with both hands, carefully offering it to him. "G-good job!"
"Oh, thanks."
Fang Yuan glanced toward the stands and saw other people drinking water. ’She probably didn’t buy this just for me,’ he figured, so he thanked her and took it.
Lilith blinked curiously, sizing up Xu Ruo.
Xu Ruo blinked back, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. Finally, as if she’d reached a decision, she clenched her fists.
"Um, Fang Yuan, I’ve been running into some trouble with my training, and I was wondering... if you’d be free to train together at the Battle Hall this weekend!"
Fang Yuan replied instantly, "I’m busy this weekend. I have training camp for the team tournament."
Xu Ruo pouted. "Oh..."
Fang Yuan added, "Next weekend is fine."
"Yay!"
The girl’s eyes lit up, and she bounced on the spot with excitement. Remembering Fang Yuan was watching, she hastily straightened up and gave a stiff bow.
"Th-then I’ll see you then!"
The girl waved a flustered goodbye and ran off.
Watching the girl trot away, Fang Yuan’s lips curled into a slight smile.
’I was going to be training anyway. It wouldn’t hurt to give her a pointer or two during my breaks.’
’Why is she so excited? It’s not like it’s a date.’
"Lilith, let’s go."
"CHIRP."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"CHIRP~"
"Absolutely not. My only goal is Beast Taming. Only an idiot would get played by a girl like Su Zhi does."
·