"Did she use a spirit ability? The masks actually split into two!"
"No, she hasn't even released her spirit rings, meaning she hasn't used any spirit power!"
"That girl's martial soul can exist in multiple forms?!"
The others stared in astonishment at Huo Wushuang, who was being attacked by the masks.
When Huo Wushuang heard two breaking sounds, how could he not be surprised? But his reaction was not slow. The first spirit ring encircling his body lit up, and the dark red scales covering his body seemed to come alive, flowing and condensing into a thick, crystalline armor over him.
"Boom—!"
A dull impact rang out like a struck bell. Huo Wushuang's solidified armor groaned under the pincer attack of the two masks, emitting a series of cracking sounds as if it could no longer bear the strain.
"Cough—!"
The armor-piercing ability of the masks easily shattered Huo Wushuang's defenses. His chest and back were tightly pressed by the two masks, and the immense impact sent a chilling "crack" sound from his chestbones as they broke. A large mouthful of thick, bloody fluid spewed from his throat.
When the masks retreated again, Huo Wushuang trembled all over, his face contorted in pain. He opened his blood-soaked mouth, his pearly white teeth stained crimson, and let out a heart-rending roar.
"Ah—!"
"Brother!" Huo Wu watched this scene with tears in her eyes, her mind blank. Her body instinctively wanted to rush onto the battle stage, but the other members of the Blazing Fire team quickly grabbed her arm.
"Sister Huo Wu, the match isn't over yet..."
The teammate holding Huo Wu's arm trembled slightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand from the strain.
Looking at her brother's tragic state, Huo Wu took a deep breath, bit her lip, and gritted out word by word: Su Dan Novel Network
"First match, we forfeit!"
The intense pain consumed all his thoughts. Huo Wushuang, who was still holding his head up but whose eyes were already glazed over, no longer had the will to fight.
Seeing this, Tang Sui thoughtfully mused.
Perhaps, maybe, the masks could also be worn as chest armor?
The three masks, sensing Tang Sui's thoughts: "......"
And then we're always the ones who get beaten, right?
Aren't you afraid we'll shatter?!
The referee, seeing Huo Wushuang's miserable state on the platform, inwardly felt a shock but still announced the result: "First match, Shrek Academy's Tang Sui wins! Please, the next participant from Blazing Fire Academy, come onto the stage to continue the challenge."
"Whoa—Suisui is too fierce. She only used her weapon martial soul, not her spirit rings or spirit power!"
"Yeah, that Huo Wushuang from Blazing Fire looks so pathetic. He's practically a sandwich now!"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun, their faces pale with shock, watched as the Blazing Fire Academy's team carefully helped the groaning Huo Wushuang, who had directly lost consciousness and stood stiffly on the field, off the stage. They then looked at Tang Sui, who was still thoughtfully pondering something as she watched Huo Wushuang being carried off, and instinctively shivered, goosebumps erupting all over them.
Zhao Wuji, watching from the stands, couldn't manage a smile for once.
He remembered how badly Tang Sui's masks had battered him when he first entered Shrek Academy. In the evening, her father had also called him out and, without using any spirit power or skills, had beaten him soundly. He had been miserable.
Now...
Tang Sui truly was part of the Clear Sky School family, just like her father. This father and daughter were both too ruthless!
He didn't want to end up like that Blazing Fire Academy's Huo Wushuang, turned into a cookie sandwich!
Zhao Wuji silently took a step back, retreating behind the Master, whose eyes were shining brightly, seeking a sense of security.
Xiao Wu, who had also been stunned, snapped back to attention and exclaimed, "I feel like the conditions Master set for Suisui were too simple, don't you think? It seems like she should have only gone on stage without using any spirit abilities at all."
Did she even need to use spirit power?
Pure close combat (or so it seemed) could already crush the opponent!
"It's not that simple. According to our predictions, Huo Wu will likely be the final participant. Her terrifying control over flames, and last time during the team battle, we still don't know what hidden trump cards she might have held back," Tang San shook his head, not letting his guard down despite Tang Sui's easy victory over Huo Wushuang.
Xiao Wu suddenly realized, "That's right. Huo Wu, that proud person, isn't glaring at you now, but at Suisui. I wonder what wicked schemes she's cooking up."
Hearing this, Tang San's lips curved into a slight smile. "Speaking of wicked schemes, Suisui is quite similar, actually."
Only two masks have appeared so far, but there's still one more yet to be revealed.
"What do you mean?" Xiao Wu suspiciously eyed Tang San, who had a "I know what you don't know I know" look on his face.
Tang San merely gave Xiao Wu a mysterious smile, earning him a grumpy punch to the shoulder.
Not far from them, the Master, watching Tang Sui on the stage as she waited for her next opponent, also wore a smile of relief. "Good. It seems Suisui is much more cautious than I imagined."
This little girl is still hiding a mask.
"Master, I don't understand what you're saying," Tai Long, standing beside the Master, scratched his head blankly.
The Master watched Tang Sui, who had already engaged the second member of the Blazing Fire Academy team, and said with a faint smile, "Originally, I intended to have Little San step down temporarily, as he has already revealed too much of his sharpness in this preliminary round. Having Suisui appear was first because she yearned for the stage, and second, to divert the attention of others."
"Suisui's feigned mysteriousness has worked even better than I expected. Moreover..." The Master glanced at the curious gazes from Flander and Qin Ming, and said meaningfully, "The opponent is now wary of two masks, but that may not be the case later on."