bioinnovel Chapter 198 The Champion Won't Avoid the Laning Phase
Chapter 198 The Champion Won't Avoid the Laning Phase
The first match of the semifinals was between Yūkiin and Gekiyōin, on the map Styx Crossing.
[Please select your battle pets.]
The lineups on both sides were displayed one by one on the big screen, and the information was no different from the lineups shown to everyone during the previous matches.
【Ghost Institute I, Manro - Complete Form·Cursed Species·Phantom Mist Sandflower】
【Ghost Courtyard I, Yu Guiwan - Complete Form·Cursed Species·Soul Burial Coffin】
【Ghost Courtyard I, Cen Muxue - Complete Form·Cursed Species·Blood Tear Doll】
【Ghost Courtyard I, Luo Zhaoyan - Complete Form Cursed Species Dream Eater】
【Ghost Courtyard I, Cloud Dream Farewell - Complete Form·Cursed Species·Thousand-Eyed Eclipse】
【VS】
【Moonlight Academy I, Cloud Gazing - Complete Form · Biological Species · Radiant Moon Phoenix】
【Moonlight Academy I, Chen Qingci - Complete Form · Biological Species · Oboroguruma】
【Moonlight Academy I, Wen Yening – Complete Level, Biological Species, Liyue Jellyfish】
【Gekiyouin I, Hanamaki-ko - Complete Form · Biological Species · Tsukuyomi Night Raven】
【Moonlight Inn I, Mutsuki - Complete Form · Biological Species · Nine-Turn White Moon Silkworm Fairy】
As the light and shadow shifted, the two contestants and their pets found themselves in a gloomy world.
The sky was an impenetrable, deep gray, as if forever stuck at the juncture of dusk and night. A jet-black river stretched between the two banks, its waters flowing silently, occasionally churning up a wave that splashed against the rocks on the shore, making a soft hissing sound, as if even the stones were being corroded.
The banks of the river are covered with dense clusters of spider lilies, their blood-red petals swaying gently in the still air, as if whispering in a language only the dead can understand.
A narrow stone bridge spans the River Styx, with only enough space for two people to pass side by side. Dark red vines climb all over the bridge railings, and occasionally a few vines will twitch slightly as if they were alive.
This is the Styx Crossing. A deathly place that provides extreme bonuses to cursed pets and harbors malice towards other types of pets.
Manluo stood on the east bank of the stone bridge, with the Illusory Mist Sand Flower silently floating in mid-air behind her.
Her long neck curved gracefully like a plesiosaur, and five pink to blood-red datura flowers bloomed one after another on the side of her neck, the golden patterns on the edges of the petals flickering with her breath.
Dark green scales tightly covered its body, and a pale purple mist seeped out from between each scale. The mist did not disperse, but rather lingered around it like a thin veil.
The two bells at the tail occasionally sway, producing a dull "clang—" sound, not loud, but seemingly able to penetrate to the bone.
Deep purple pupils slowly swept across the opposite bank. Wherever the gaze fell, the spider lilies on the bank withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, their petals curling, turning black, and finally turning into ashes that drifted onto the river surface.
The kingly aura of the cursed species is amplified to the extreme on this map.
On the west bank of the stone bridge, the Nine-Turned White Moon Silkworm Fairy floated quietly, radiating a soft, moon-white light. Its body was large but not bulky, pure white as snow, and its form resembled both a silkworm and a fairy, hence the name Silkworm Fairy.
Nine striking golden rings lit up around its body, and the curse aura emanating from the Styx River dissipated automatically when people approached within a three-zhang radius of it, as if even the curse itself feared it.
The two top-tier pet beasts faced each other across the river. The battle had not yet begun, but the air was already tense, like a string stretched to its limit.
Mutsuki crossed her arms and looked across the stone bridge at Manluo on the opposite bank. The arrogant smile on her lips, which had never disappeared since she entered, deepened even more now.
She tilted her head slightly, as if she had thought of something interesting, and suddenly turned around to look at her four teammates behind her.
"Yun Wangshu, Chen Qingci, Wen Yening, Hua Manxi."
Mutsuki's voice wasn't loud, but it brooked no argument: "You four, go find a secluded corner and play by yourselves."
Upon hearing this, the four members of the Moonlight Academy team were simultaneously stunned.
Yun Wangshu blinked: "Captain, what do you mean by that?"
"Literal meaning."
Mutsuki shrugged and said casually, "I'm going to have a one-on-one match with last year's champion. You guys are just getting in the way; you might as well find somewhere else to fight."
Yun Wangshu asked in surprise, "This time...aren't you going to just wipe out the entire enemy team?"
Mutsuki nodded slightly and said, "Yes, take your time this time, play a little longer."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the bridge, after hearing Mutsuki's words, Manro turned around and looked at her teammates.
Her expression remained calm, her pure eyes like a bottomless pool, unfathomable in their depths. Her lips moved slightly, her voice soft and gentle, carrying a special tenderness.
"Returning late, snow falling at dusk, words spoken, farewell in a dream."
Manluo said softly, "Would you like to go somewhere further away?"
Yu Guiwan frowned, a hint of worry appearing on her face: "Captain, are you going to deal with Muyue alone?"
"We are not obligated to accept her arrangements."
Manlu shook her head, then nodded, her gaze sweeping across the stone bridge to the arrogant figure on the opposite bank.
The corners of her mouth curved slightly, a very shallow curve, yet it carried an indescribable meaning.
"I could tell she really wanted to play one-on-one with me."
Manluo's tone remained unhurried: "Besides, I also want to have a one-on-one match with her."
Just as Cen Muxue was about to speak, Manluo gently pressed her shoulder with her hand.
Manluo's hands were small, but they carried a reassuring warmth.
"Champions don't shy away from the laning phase."
Manluo said, her voice now filled with determination: "You all need to perform well elsewhere, and don't lose to those four from Yueyao Academy."
The four exchanged glances and ultimately chose to obey their captain's orders.
The members of the Ghost Institute have almost absolute trust in Manro, which stems not only from her title as the previous champion, but also from Manro's personal charm.
In the stands, everyone witnessed this astonishing scene—the captains on both sides simultaneously ordered their teammates to step back, leaving open space on both sides of the stone bridge.
Bao Xiaoxing's excited voice rang out from the commentary booth: "Ladies and gentlemen! What's going on? Manluo from Youguiyuan and Mutsuki from Yueyaoyuan have both chosen to have their teammates retreat! Are they going to have a one-on-one duel? On the semi-final stage?"
Xue Youyou rested her hands on the commentary platform, leaning slightly forward, her interest clearly even greater than before.
She laughed heartily and said in a low voice, "Interesting, you two thought of the same thing. You're both proud beast tamers."