The atmosphere at the center main Soul Duel Stage of the Heavenly Fight Grand Arena was so tense it felt suffocating. The spectator stands were packed to capacity with a roaring crowd, all eyes fixed on the two teams confronting each other on stage. On one side stood Shrek Academy, wearing peculiar "shit-green" uniforms yet radiating extraordinary presence; opposite them was Blazing Academy, clad entirely in fiery red with heat waves faintly swirling around them.
In the VIP seats, Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Bishop Salas, and other dignitaries had already taken their places. Marco sat alone in a slightly off-center position, gazing calmly down at the competition arena. His presence drew sidelong glances from many, though none dared approach him.
"Preliminary round three: Shrek Academy versus Blazing Academy! Competitors, enter the arena!" the referee's sharp voice rang out.
For Shrek Academy, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang fielded seven starters: Dai Mubai (Assault), Tang San (Control), Xiao Wu (Assault), Zhu Zhuqing (Agile Attack), Ma Hongjun (Assault), Huang Yuan (Assault), and Jingling (Agile Attack). Ning Rongrong and Oscar, as support-type Soul Masters, were not deployed for this match.
Blazing Academy consisted of seven members led by captain Huo Wushuang and vice-captain Huo Wu. All their Martial Souls were fire-related, radiating blazing intensity.
As both teams stood facing each other at the center of the Soul Duel Stage, the air thickened with palpable tension. Huo Wu's fiery eyes, dancing with flames, locked directly onto Tang San at the center of Shrek's formation, burning with fighting spirit.
"Match—begin!" The referee's arm swept down, officially declaring the start of the duel!
"Release Martial Souls!"
Almost the instant the referee's words fell, both teams roared in unison as Soul Power erupted.
From Shrek Academy, Dai Mubai roared skyward with White Tiger Avatar, two yellow and two purple Soul Rings spiraling upward! Tang San's Blue Silver Grass surged wildly around him, with two yellow, one purple, and one black Soul Ring pulsating rhythmically! Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Huang Yuan, and Jingling also released their Martial Souls, their Soul Rings shining brilliantly!
Blazing Academy responded with equal force. Huo Wushuang's body erupted in flames as One-Horned Fire Tyrant Dragon Possession took hold, two yellow and two purple Soul Rings radiating majestic pressure! Huo Wu shouted sharply, her Fire Shadow Martial Soul materializing as her figure seemed composed of flames, encircled by two yellow and two purple Soul Rings! The remaining five members simultaneously unleashed their power, all displaying fire-attribute Martial Souls as a scorching heatwave instantly swept across the arena!
"Blazing Academy, attack!" Huo Wushuang, as captain, issued the first command! He knew their advantage lay in explosive power and elemental suppression—they needed to end this quickly!
"Second Spirit Ability, Blazing Wildfire!" Huo Wushuang roared, the flames around him surging into a sea of blazing fire that advanced with overwhelming force, threatening to incinerate everything in its path! The air distorted in its wake as scorching waves washed forward!
"Third Spirit Ability, Fire Crane Wildfire!" Brothers Huo Yun and Huo Yu, both possessing Fire Crane Martial Souls, simultaneously activated their spirit abilities. Two concentrated, ultra-high-temperature crimson fire streaks shot like arrows toward the center of Shrek's formation, targeting Tang San directly!
"First Spirit Ability, Fire Stars Like Silk!" Agile attack Soul Master Huo Xing blurred into motion, leaving only afterimages as countless fine, scorching fire stars spread out like a spider web, entangling Shrek's team members. Not only did they carry burning effects, but they also contained subtle binding force!
"Second Spirit Ability, Fire Leopard Assault!" Another agility-attack specialist, Huo Jun, crouched low and charged forward like a hunting leopard, his target directly aimed at Zhu Zhuqing on Shrek's flank, his sharp claws burning with raging flames!
Blazing Academy's offensive erupted like a volcanic explosion—swift, dense, and perfectly coordinated! The scorching flames nearly engulfed the entire Soul Duel Stage! They launched an all-out assault from the very beginning!
"Blue Silver Cage!" Tang San's Purple Demon Eyes operated at their peak as he calmly commanded! He immediately activated his fourth Spirit Ability, attempting to restrain the most ferocious Huo Wushuang and the Huo Yun-Huo Yu brothers! However, the resilient cage formed by Blue Silver Grass emitted sharp sizzling sounds the moment it touched the blazing flames, rapidly charring, withering, and turning to ashes before their eyes! The innate counter effect of fire against plant-type Martial Souls was displayed to its fullest extent here! Even the Blue Silver Cage enhanced by a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring only hindered their assault momentarily before being completely incinerated!
"Damn it! Blue Silver Grass is too heavily countered!" Dai Mubai roared, charging forward through the scorching heatwave. "Third Spirit Ability, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!" His body swelled, muscles bulging, drastically increasing his defense and power as he forcefully dispersed part of the wildfire flames. Yet the intense heat still scorched his skin red, sending waves of stinging pain.
"Second Spirit Ability, Bewitchment!" Pink light flashed in Xiao Wu's eyes as she targeted Huo Wu, who was coordinating from the center, attempting to disrupt her rhythm. However, flames danced around Huo Wu's body, her mental defense seemingly strong, as she only staggered slightly before the flames in her beautiful eyes burned brighter. She snorted coldly and recovered, "Pathetic tricks! Huo Xing, focus on that cat girl!"
"First Spirit Ability, Netherworld Thrust!" Zhu Zhuqing moved like lightning, avoiding the frontal inferno as she struck from the flank toward Huo Xing, who was executing Fire Stars Like Silk. Her sharp claws trailed cold gleams, clashing with the dense fire stars and creating crackling explosions.
Ma Hongjun excitedly shouted, "Playing with fire? Your grandpa here is your ancestor! First Spirit Ability, Phoenix Fire Line!" The purple-red Phoenix Flame he spat out was of exceptional quality, its temperature far surpassing ordinary flames, actually suppressing the Huo Yun-Huo Yu brothers' Fire Crane Wildfire instead. Purple and crimson flames intertwined, emitting violent energy fluctuations that forced Huo Yun and Huo Yu to increase their Soul Power output in shock and fury.
Huang Yuan and Jingling coordinated with Dai Mubai, resisting the frontal inferno's impact and the heavy blows from Huo Jun attempting to flank them.
From the initial clash, Shrek was clearly at a disadvantage! Tang San's Blue Silver Grass control was nearly useless, creating a huge gap in the team's defense and forcing them to rely on individual strength to withstand the attribute-countering flame attacks. Blazing Academy held absolute initiative through perfect attribute counter and seamless coordination.
In the VIP seats, Ning Fengzhi slightly frowned, "The attribute counter is too obvious. Little San's Blue Silver Grass can hardly function." Below the stage, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang also wore a grave expression. Though he had anticipated this, witnessing such a significant disadvantage still weighed heavily on him.
Bishop Salas curled the corners of his mouth in a barely noticeable smirk. Huo Wu revealed a triumphant expression, shouting sharply, "Maintain suppression! Don't give them any breathing room! Huo Yun, Huo Yu, eliminate that fatso first!"
Huo Yun and Huo Yu, upon receiving the order, flashed fierce looks in their eyes and simultaneously erupted with even stronger Soul Power! "Fourth Spirit Ability, Fire Crane Incinerates the Sky!" Their figures seemed to merge, transforming into two enormous flaming crane silhouettes that intertwined as they charged toward Ma Hongjun! This was their strongest fusion technique, its power already approaching the Soul King level!
Ma Hongjun's expression changed as he felt immense pressure. "Third Spirit Ability, Phoenix Wings Soaring!" The Evil Fire Phoenix's wings spread open, carrying his plump body soaring into the sky as he attempted to evade. Simultaneously, he continuously spewed Phoenix Fire Lines from his mouth to block the crane silhouettes.
However, Huo Wu had already anticipated his move. "Trying to escape? Second Spirit Ability, Repelling Fire Ring!" With a graceful wave of her jade-like hand, a scorching ring of fire suddenly erupted with her as the center. The area of effect was extremely large, not only repelling Xiao Wu who was trying to approach once again, but also precisely sweeping past Ma Hongjun in midair!
Suspended in the air with nowhere to gain leverage, Ma Hongjun was caught by this sudden Repelling Fire Ring. His movement instantly stalled, his internal Soul Power thrown into chaos, and the flight trajectory of his Phoenix Wings Soaring was interrupted! "Not good!" he exclaimed inwardly.
In that very moment when his old strength was exhausted and new strength had yet to be generated, the Huo Yun and Huo Yu brothers' fusion technique "Fire Crane Incinerates the Sky" had already reached him! The two enormous flaming crane silhouettes slammed fiercely into Ma Hongjun!
"BOOM——!!!"
A violent explosion erupted! Violet-red Phoenix Flames and crimson fire crane flames wildly intertwined and annihilated each other! Ma Hongjun let out a miserable scream as his plump body fell from the sky like a broken kite, crashing heavily onto the Soul Duel Stage. His clothes were torn, his entire body charred black, and he spat out fresh blood. After struggling a few times, he actually couldn't get up immediately! Clearly, he had suffered severe injuries!
"Fatty!" Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others stared with eyes wide in fury!
"Damn fatty!" Oscar and Ning Rongrong, watching from below the stage, also cried out in alarm!