Battle 8 vs. Han Yue
• Opponent's beast used a venomous wind attack.
• Mystic's pressure coil absorbed and neutralized toxins.
• Yumei exploited openings with electric surges.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 8/10
Command Execution: 4/5
Tactical Adaptation: 13/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 8/10
Total: 33/40
⸻
Battle 9 vs. Luo Jing
• Luo's beast utilized erratic flight patterns.
• Mystic adapted her cloud movements to mirror, cutting off escape routes.
• Yumei's elemental calls synchronized with Mystic's lightning strikes.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 9/10
Command Execution: 5/5
Tactical Adaptation: 13/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 9/10
Total: 36/40
⸻
Battle 10 vs. Qi Wei
• Qi's beast had strong wind blades.
• Mystic's cloud veils and pressure coils absorbed most damage.
• Yumei used soul qi blasts to disrupt Qi's control.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 9/10
Command Execution: 4/5
Tactical Adaptation: 12/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 9/10
Total: 34/40
⸻
Battle 11 vs. Ding Yan
• Opponent deployed aggressive aerial charges.
• Mystic's thunder god strike halted charges.
• Yumei's quick qi surges pushed enemy back.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 10/10
Command Execution: 5/5
Tactical Adaptation: 13/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 10/10
Total: 38/40
⸻
Battle 12 vs. Wu Feng
• Wu's beast used stormy air currents to mask attacks.
• Mystic created counter-storms that interfered.
• Yumei exploited the confusion with precise lightning strikes.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 9/10
Command Execution: 5/5
Tactical Adaptation: 13/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 9/10
Total: 36/40
⸻
Battle 13 vs. Shen Xi
• Shen's beast summoned dense fog.
• Mystic's cloud storm dispersed fog while protecting Yumei's qi.
• Yumei landed crucial elemental blasts.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 10/10
Command Execution: 5/5
Tactical Adaptation: 14/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 10/10
Total: 39/40
⸻
Battle 14 vs. Bai An
• Bai's beast used wind slicing techniques.
• Mystic's pressure coil slowed attacks.
• Yumei synchronized with Mystic for counterblasts.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 8/10
Command Execution: 5/5
Tactical Adaptation: 12/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 8/10
Total: 33/40
⸻
Battle 15 vs. Xiao Yun
• Xiao's beast was fast but reckless.
• Mystic's cloud domain slowed Xiao's approach.
• Yumei struck precise lightning bursts to finish.
Score:
Combat Synergy: 10/10
Command Execution: 5/5
Tactical Adaptation: 13/15
Qi Bond Resonance: 9/10
Total: 37/40
⸻
Summary:
After 15 intense sky battles, Fan Yumei and Mystic stood strong with consistent high scores averaging around 35+ points. The only real stumble was the narrow loss by half a point in battle 4, which knocked them from the very top spot. Still, their synergy and control were among the best seen.
⸻
Each match sharpened our synchronization, but the fourth elimination round of those preliminaries hit a hard wall. Mystic's playful spirit nearly cost us dearly — her instinct to frolic and toy clashed with the precision needed in those final moments. A razor-thin gap opened in the cloud veil, and an opponent's strike landed just enough to snatch victory from our grasp by half a point.
It was a bitter loss, but a lesson carved deep in both our souls.
Then the sky battles ended, cheers echoing through the arena as they touched down.
The sky battles ended with cheers and applause. The crowd had witnessed something rare—growth, power, and heart. Mystic was no longer just a young beast; she was a queen of storms, but even queens have their trials.
As the arena layers began to shift back to normal, I took a deep breath and let the cloud dome dissipate slowly, the mist curling back toward Mystic's forehead.
She lowered her head slightly, eyes bright but calm.
I smiled softly. "We'll get there. We have to."
⸻
Mystic hovered silently above the crowd-filled seating area where I had left Jin Minhe, Liang Chenwu, Zhou Qian, and Kai Shi after their solo elite battles.
I raised a hand, signaling them to gather as Mystic descended smoothly without a harness, her massive form gliding gracefully between rows of spectators and holo-ad panels.
One by one, they stepped forward.
Jin's panda shifted lazily beside him, but the beast's eyes brightened as Mystic neared. Jin gave me a small smile.
"Alright, everyone," I called out, stepping onto Mystic's back. "Time to move. The ground-level battles are starting soon."
They each climbed aboard, taking careful positions—no harnesses, just qi-guided balance.
Mystic flexed her fins, and with a rush of wind and a graceful arc, we lifted off from the tiered stands.
Below, the glowing combat rings awaited, humming with energy barriers and activated holo-casters.
The arena shifted from the open air of Sky-Class aerial space to the enclosed intensity of ground-level beast combat.
Landing lightly near Gate Twelve, Mystic folded into a crouch.
I dismounted and helped Jin's panda settle.
Jin grinned, brushing a hand through the panda's fur.
"You know," he said, "some guy spammed the battle chat screen calling you 'his favorite niece Yuyu.' I thought it was a joke until I recognized the style."
I rolled my eyes, smirking. "That's Uncle Hanji for you. Very enthusiastic."
Liang, Zhou, and Kai exchanged amused glances.
The arena's announcement system crackled:
🎙️ "Attention all Federation Class beast combatants: the next round of ground-level battles is commencing. Please proceed to your assigned rings."
Jin checked his comm device, nodding. "Looks like we're first up."
His panda yawned, completely unbothered.
Jin and his panda were among the first names called.
Mystic stood beside me, calm and ready, her faint cloud tendrils shimmering lightly as the next stage of competition awaited.