Chapter 47: Double-Standard Divine Skill
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
December 28th. Fansa Academy entered the final exam period. Combat students had written exams on the first and second days, 1v1 battles on the third day, and team battles on the fourth day. On the night of the 27th, Yun Yingzhi planned to sleep while holding the little kit, but received a reminder from Yu Feiwen, and he suddenly realized that it was already the end of the semester.
Yu Feiwen asked him if he was going to the exams tomorrow. Yun Yingzhi didn’t want to go to the exams. However, if he didn’t attend, he would face a series of complicated problems. Other students would have winter break, but he would need to take make-up classes and exams. If it were another time, it would be fine; but now it was the Starshine Competition season, and every minute of vacation could be calculated in terms of money. Yun Yingzhi nudged Yun Yinghui and asked him how long he had managed to get leave for him.
Yun Yinghui’s eyelid twitched. He suddenly remembered what the Imperial Consort had said a few days ago about coming to Fansa Academy to watch the games. He paused and said, “Depends on your situation.”
Yun Yingzhi said, “I want to attend tomorrow’s exam.”
Yun Yinghui: “I’ll take you there tomorrow.”
Yun Yingzhi nodded.
The energetic little kit completely didn’t understand what the two adults were saying. He pounced on Yun Yinghui and patted him, then ran over to pat Yun Yingzhi. Yun Yingzhi looked at the little kit, who was very noticeable despite his young age, and thought… Tomorrow, Yun Yinghui probably wouldn’t be able to take him to Fansa Academy, because he had to take care of the two little ones.
Yun Yinghui said, “Tomorrow morning I’ll send the two little ones to…” Jarren and the Imperial Consort. Compared to leaving them with friends, he felt more at ease leaving them with the powerful emperor and Imperial Consort. At least he could be sure that the little egg’s space esper wouldn’t be able to act under Jarren’s esper. “I’ll have someone take care of the two little ones first, then I’ll take you to the academy.”
Yun Yingzhi said, “No, brother, I can go by myself.”
Yun Yinghui: “It’s okay. During finals, I want to be with you.”
After hesitating, Yun Yingzhi nodded. As a total slacker, just thinking about tomorrow’s exams, Yun Yingzhi didn’t dare sleep. He asked three equally lazy friends about the exam focus, cramming at the last minute. The little kit saw that Yun Yingzhi wasn’t sleeping and didn’t want to sleep either. He kept patting Yun Yingzhi.
He didn’t just pat Yun Yingzhi—he also patted Yun Yinghui. Seeing that neither adult responded, he ran to the incubation box, pressed against the glass like a little bunny pancake, and interacted with the little egg inside.
The little egg’s round egg body rotated. It was hard to tell front from back, but if it had a front and back, it was probably showing the little kit on its little butt. The little kit pressed against the glass and let out a small “ao,” opened the incubation box, and climbed in to tussle with the little egg.
Yun Yingzhi intervened in time, poked the little kit’s head, and said, “Don’t bully your brother,” covering his eyes with his hand. He propped up his tired eyes and memorized the key subjects.
In a daze, Yun Yingzhi fell asleep while holding the little kit. Yun Yinghui got up in the early morning and carried the incubation box and the little kit out of the hospital room. Obviously, both the little kit and the little egg were fast asleep, unaware that they were being taken away from their dad, sleeping especially soundly. Especially the little kit, who didn’t move at all in his sleep.
Riding the hovercar, it was still before 4 a.m. when Yun Yinghui brought the two little ones to the palace. At this time, Jarren and the Imperial Consort were still asleep. Yun Yinghui suddenly appeared at the palace with the two little ones, and the attendants went to report.
Jarren and the Imperial Consort were forced awake. Meanwhile, the two little ones finally sensed something was off and woke up. The little egg woke first, hopping several times inside the incubation box. Only then did the little kit wake up. The little kit looked at Yun Yinghui with a puzzled gaze. “Wu?”
Yun Yinghui patted the little kit’s head. The attendants led Yun Yinghui into the palace. Jarren was fully dressed, while the Imperial Consort, still half-asleep, squinted at Yun Yinghui. They suspected—no, this wasn’t suspicion, it was certainty—they seriously thought that Yun Yinghui bringing the two little ones at this hour was purely because Elvis wasn’t around. He couldn’t use a big machete on Elvis, couldn’t be disrespectful to them, so the only option was to bring the two little troublemakers to mess with them.
The little kit saw Jarren and the Imperial Consort, immediately let out an “ao,” then turned his back, pressed his little face to Yun Yinghui, voice soft: “da.”
Yun Yinghui rubbed the little kit’s neck, first greeting the two, then said, “Today Fansa Academy is holding exams. I’ll take Yingzhi to the academy. I entrust Qianxi and Qiancheng to Your Majesty and the Imperial Consort.”
The little kit: “Da?” Following Yun Yinghui’s gaze, the little kit looked at Jarren and the Imperial Consort. “Ao!”
Inside the incubation box, the little egg also hopped repeatedly towards Jarren and the Imperial Consort. The Imperial Consort thought, Yun Yinghui clearly deliberately brought the two little ones to mess with him. He strode toward the little kit, saying, “Colonel Yinghui, rest assured, I’ll take good care of them.”
The Imperial Consort approached the little kit. Jarren, meanwhile, showed great interest in the incubation box.
The little kit’s pupils quivered. The little egg stopped hopping, lying quietly like a stone egg inside the incubation box. The little kit looked at Yun Yinghui, then at the Imperial Consort, and immediately used his paws to try climbing into Yun Yinghui’s clothes. However, before he could, Yun Yinghui held him in his hands. The little kit: “Da?” He looked at Yun Yinghui, confused.
Yun Yinghui comforted the little kit and placed him in the Imperial Consort’s hands. Jarren picked up the incubation box. The little kit shivered, tears dripping down. Yun Yinghui wiped the little kit’s tears and said goodbye to the two, leaving.
Almost at the exact moment Yun Yinghui turned, the little egg activated his space ability. The little kit leapt from the Imperial Consort’s hands into midair. The little kit and the little egg coordinated perfectly. The little egg appeared midair outside the incubation box, the little kit wrapped his paws around the little egg. The little egg tried to carry the little kit and use space ability to chase Yun Yinghui again.
But… It was too late. Jarren had already activated his space ability, sealing off the entire area.
When leaving the palace, Yun Yinghui heard the Imperial Consort say, “Two little ones, you can’t run away,” immediately followed by the little kit’s flexible, observant, and calculating soft “da.”
Yun Yinghui’s lips curved slightly; he thought the little kit looked extremely like Yun Yingzhi, too adorable.
Yun Yinghui returned to the hospital and sent the sleepy Yun Yingzhi to Fansa Academy. As a novice dad, Yun Yingzhi felt particularly relaxed. Even though the two little ones were gone, he didn’t panic. He asked Yun Yinghui about the two little ones, nodded his head bit by bit, as if he were about to fall asleep.
Suddenly, Jia Qingwan initiated a video call to Yun Yingzhi. Yun Yingzhi had been very sleepy, but upon seeing the incoming call, he immediately became fully alert. After connecting, Jia Qingwan asked directly, “Yingzhi, I’m contacting you about the source weapon.”
Thinking of that particular source weapon, Yun Yingzhi felt a little guilty. Not fully awake, his gaze drifted as he asked, “What’s the matter?”
After a pause, Jia Qingwan said, “Yingzhi, I know you really like attack-type source weapons. That one, does it really have no attack skill?”
“No!” Yun Yingzhi responded very quickly, though his gaze was even more unfocused. Jia Qingwan found Yun Yingzhi’s reaction a bit odd, and she looked at him with a suspicious gaze.
Yun Yingzhi cleared his throat lightly and said, “The competition rules required a purely defense-type source weapon. I made it according to the rules!”
Hearing this, Jia Qingwan felt a bit disappointed, saying, “Is that so?”
Yun Yingzhi nodded.
Jia Qingwan: “The competition organizers have already contacted me. The appraisal starts at 10 a.m. Yingzhi, don’t worry, I’ll present this source weapon very well.”
Yun Yingzhi was momentarily stunned. He wanted to say, It’s not that bad… He sincerely hoped Jia Qingwan would let the final skill slide.
Jia Qingwan smiled and said, “Yingzhi has exams today. During lunch break, if you want, you can watch the replay.”
Yun Yingzhi slowly nodded. The call ended.
Yun Yinghui successfully brought Yun Yingzhi into Fansa Academy. Having been on leave for a while, Yun Yingzhi instantly became the center of attention. Many students gathered around, worriedly asking about his situation.
At 8:20 a.m., Yun Yingzhi and his classmates entered the exam hall and began the test.
At the Palace, Jarren held the little egg, and the Imperial Consort held the little kit. They had only taken care of the two for a few hours while Yun Yinghui was absent. Compared to these two little ones, they suddenly thought that the past expressionless Elvis wasn’t so bad. The young Elvis’s thoughts had been hard to guess, so there had been no need to try.
Now, looking at the little kit and the little egg… The little kit, who had been thrown over by Yun Yinghui, had been very obedient at first, hopping “da” here and there. Now, knowing the Imperial Consort would spoil him, he had begun to act without restraint. The little one even tried to climb onto the Imperial Consort’s head and bounce.
If it were only that, it would have been fine. The most exasperating thing was that the little kit and the little egg somehow communicated effortlessly. The two little ones would often roll together and fight.
Whenever the two little ones were about to fight, Jarren and the Imperial Consort became tense. Jarren worried that the little egg would get hurt; the Imperial Consort worried about every lost hair of the little kit. By the time they noticed, they nearly argued over the two little ones.
Suddenly, a communication tone rang. The Imperial Consort’s eyelid twitched. It was Elvis calling. The Imperial Consort said, “Elvis is on the call.”
Jarren, holding the little egg, looked at the Imperial Consort: “Elvis? Why is he calling suddenly?”
The Imperial Consort looked at the little kit, who was using his paws to claw, letting out “ao” at Jarren and the little egg, then “da” at him, gesturing for him to take revenge… Indeed, compared to Elvis, the little kit was cuter. The Imperial Consort said, “I don’t know.”
At this moment, Jarren and the Imperial Consort had completely forgotten that they had once instructed Elvis to call them at least every three days.
The Imperial Consort recalled his agreement with Yun Yinghui and directly rejected Elvis’s call. On the other end, Elvis sent him a private message asking if something had happened.
The Imperial Consort replied: if nothing’s wrong, don’t contact me.
The Imperial Consort soothed the little kit in the gentlest voice while giving the coldest reply to Elvis: “Okay, the little kit, let’s go play with big grandpa and little mischief, don’t be angry.”
The little kit excitedly said, “Aoao!”
Elvis continued to send private messages; the Imperial Consort ignored them. Jarren, who had previously looked cold, now had a full smile on his face. Perhaps because the Imperial Consort and the little kit were on the same side, the little egg, previously neglected, grudgingly accepted Jarren, and was now spinning in Jarren’s hands.
At this moment, Jarren received a call from Elvis. He frowned and rejected the call, sending a private message instead: Go find the person you like.
Compared to secretly taking the two little ones, Jarren hoped he could take them in a rightful manner. On the other end, Elvis: …
Time flew to 9 a.m. The Imperial Consort said, “The exams at Fansa Academy should have already started.”
Jarren said, “I’ve checked his grades…” The Imperial Consort glared at Jarren. Jarren looked at the little kit in the Imperial Consort’s hands and said, “Grades aren’t really important.”
The Imperial Consort seemed to think of something and said, “Speaking of which, the source weapon Yingzhi made yesterday should be appraised today.”
Almost the instant the Imperial Consort said the word “Yingzhi,” the little kit and the little egg both reacted.
The little kit patted the Imperial Consort, coquettishly making several rapid “aoaoao” sounds, signaling urgency. The little egg, previously obedient in Jarren’s hands, moved. As an egg, he had no awareness of his fragility, and leapt toward the Imperial Consort’s direction.
Jarren and the Imperial Consort’s hearts nearly jumped out at the sight. The only one unmoved was the little kit. The two adults immediately used their abilities to hold the little egg, who had already halted midair. The little kit blinked his big, black eyes at the little egg.
Jarren’s eyelid twitched as he tentatively said, “Yingzhi…”
Then… Jarren and the Imperial Consort saw this scene. The little egg, halted midair, spun half a circle and then leapt toward Jarren. At the same time, the little kit in the Imperial Consort’s hands also lunged toward Jarren. Jarren and the Imperial Consort exchanged a glance. The Imperial Consort’s lips curved slightly, saying, “Yingzhi.”
The two little ones’ small bodies froze midair, then rotated their little bodies and leapt back toward the Imperial Consort. Both little ones reacted strongly to the name “Yingzhi.” After trying this several times, the Imperial Consort couldn’t help it and let out a “pfft” of laughter. The little kit looked confused at the Imperial Consort: “Ao?”
Jarren said, “Yingzhi.” The two little ones immediately became alert and lunged toward Jarren again.
After repeating this several times, the two little ones finally realized something was off. When the Imperial Consort called Yun Yingzhi’s name for the Nth time, the little kit’s paws and feet lunged at the little egg and picked him up.
With the little kit’s tears falling “plop plop,” the two little ones looked like they were holding each other while crying, especially pitiful and helpless. The Imperial Consort shot Jarren a reproachful look: “How can you bully two little kids like this?”
Jarren felt a lump in his chest and was momentarily speechless. The Imperial Consort picked up the two little ones, who were crying in midair on the petals.
The little kit sniffled, holding the little egg with both paws and one hand, while raising the other hand to pat the Imperial Consort and pointing at Jarren to complain: “Da!”
The Imperial Consort patted the two little ones gently: “Yes, big grandpa was really too much.”
Jarren: “…”
The little kit still held the little egg. It was clear to both Jarren and the Imperial Consort that this time, the little egg had initiated first. To accommodate the two little ones who liked to leap around, the Imperial Consort created a bridge of petals in midair.
The little egg, carrying the little kit, rolled along the petal bridge toward Jarren. The little kit looked bewildered, rolling like a little bunny cake along with the little egg. Fortunately, the petals were soft enough not to hurt him. Soon, Jarren held the two little ones in his arms. The little kit blinked, looking at Jarren and then at the Imperial Consort, patting Jarren. Jarren and the little kit’s black pupils met: “Hmm?”
The little kit released the little egg, lay on his back, and wrapped his paws and feet around Jarren’s hand, pointing at the Imperial Consort to complain: “Da.”
Both Jarren and the Imperial Consort understood: the little kit was complaining to them about each other for calling Yun Yingzhi’s name indiscriminately, but hadn’t made Yun Yingzhi appear out of thin air. These two little ones were really amusing. The Imperial Consort sent a private message to Elvis: Chase the person you like. If you can’t, don’t come back.
The emperor opened the frontmost projection and entered the Starshine Competition livestream. Time: 9:50 a.m.
Just right—soon it would be time for the appraisal of the source weapon created by Yun Yingzhi. Yun Yingzhi’s previously created level-4 source weapon had amazed many, and even though everyone knew the preliminary round required purely defense-type source weapons, many still had high expectations for this one. Before the livestream began, a crowd had already gathered, waiting.
After finishing the first exam, Yun Yingzhi was utterly exhausted. His three slacker roommates, like him, looked completely drained and miserable. A student in the exam hall shouted loudly, “A13167, our Red Peony!”
Previously, hearing this, Yun Yingzhi would have felt a mix of embarrassment and anticipation for praise. He never minded compliments—the more intense, the better. But having just finished an exam, he had no energy. Too tired, both sleepy and drained. Clearly, cramming at the last minute didn’t work; studying well every day was the real way.
Another student said, “Three minutes to countdown—Red Peony’s source weapon appraisal begins!”
Yun Yingzhi was momentarily stunned, opening his personal terminal to check the time: 9:57 a.m. He thought to himself: there’s about half an hour until the next exam. This precious time could be used to watch the livestream appraisal for thirty minutes. Of course, as a student, this time should ideally be used for reviewing.
Suddenly, a student cast the exam hall projection to the front screen, and the Starshine Competition appraisal site appeared instantly.
Yun Yingzhi blinked: Wait, everyone isn’t studying yet?
A student asked confusedly, “It’s just a defense-type source weapon. I don’t understand why everyone’s so excited.”
Yun Yingzhi felt the same way.
“He’s different!” another student immediately shouted in rebuttal. Yun Yingzhi’s eyes curiously looked at that student. Under the curious gaze of others, that student excitedly said, “You can tell Red Peony isn’t a normal person!”
Yun Yingzhi felt a pang in his heart: Where do I look abnormal?
What left him speechless was a student chiming in: “Yeah, that A13167 participant is a troublemaker. Clearly a source weapon creator, yet his power and speed could rank among the combat students. He’s such a restless fighter, I don’t think he’d make a truly serious defense-type source weapon!”
Yun Yingzhi silently covered his face. Not that the source weapon he made was all that unruly—it really was just accidental. The only relief was that, theoretically, Jia Qingwan shouldn’t be able to activate the final skill. Immediately after, Yun Yingzhi heard everyone giving evaluations that made him unable to face them.
He thought: It would’ve been better if they said nothing at all.
In the livestream, the commentator said: “I think ever since A13167’s level-4 source weapon in the preliminaries, everyone has been curious about his second source weapon!”
“Same here.”
“Among all the simultaneous appraisals, our livestream currently has the highest traffic. Even though it’s a purely defense-type source weapon, so many people are watching. This shows how much everyone anticipates it!”
“Now, let’s invite A13167’s chosen source weapon soldier to conduct the appraisal!”
Jia Qingwan arrived at the appraisal site just after 8 a.m. Except for her, the other esper soldiers for testing the source weapon had mostly arrived. Jia Qingwan, an eight-level esper soldier, wore a mask and hat to avoid revealing her true identity.
Some esper soldiers in the crowd exchanged words: “I can’t wait to see the effect of A13167’s source weapon.”
“I wonder who’s appraising for him?”
As people speculated, the staff handed the appraisal results from the competition organizers to the esper soldiers present. It was at this moment that everyone learned Jia Qingwan was responsible for testing the source weapon created by participant A13167.
Instantly, she became the center of attention. Throughout Jia Qingwan’s academic career, she had always been the focus of the crowd. She was used to others’ gazes, so she didn’t pay attention—until…
One esper soldier in the crowd exclaimed, “Participant A13167 is already impossible to face, and the two esper soldiers responsible for appraising him are just as impossible.”
Jia Qingwan: “…” Her eyelid twitched. Thinking carefully, it made sense. Yun Yingzhi didn’t want to reveal himself for various reasons, and she and Jin Taichu also couldn’t be exposed. Next…she figured Yun Yinghui and the others certainly wouldn’t reveal their true identities either. Another esper soldier said, “What a collectively impossible team.”
Jia Qingwan: “…”
Someone else said, “I was already curious who participant A13167 was; now I’m even more curious.”
Jia Qingwan couldn’t resist. She opened her personal terminal and checked herself—good, hat and mask were secure, no one could recognize her. She focused all her attention on the appraisal results provided by the competition organizers.
The results were almost identical to what Yun Yingzhi had provided, mostly test data. There were five defensive skills and two passive skills, one of which was particularly interesting. The first defensive skill was simple: a water curtain. This skill was very energy-efficient, and the same defensive water curtain could light up thirty-six times, forming a range-defense water dome.
Starting from the second skill, the passive skills activated automatically. Non-targeted individuals would be locked, forming a one-sided cage. Jia Qingwan thought: no wonder everyone called him a battle machine. His mind really is full of combat.
She guessed that Yun Yingzhi designed it so people in defense could easily focus attacks on those trapped in the cage. Here, she was once again impressed by Yun Yingzhi’s design. The engravings in the source weapon were very flexible, and with the help of the passive engravings, those in the defensive layer could attack targets in the cage.
According to Jia Qingwan’s understanding, this was an extremely double-standard skill. Enemy attacks would be blocked by the defense layer, while under the passive skill, attacks from oneself and teammates could perfectly hit the enemy. Truly a double-standard divine skill.
Jia Qingwan felt a little regret, because this was a defense-type source weapon and she couldn’t showcase the double-standard skill in the appraisal. Continuing to look at the skills, she thought sincerely: no wonder this was a source weapon from Stellar. She felt this source weapon would definitely be a dream weapon for many.
However… honestly, Jia Qingwan still felt a little disappointed. She was a defensive soldier; all her awakened espers were defensive types. She was disappointed in herself. She also wanted to fight. She had many combat-type source weapons in her hands, but the troubling thing was that water, as the universally acknowledged weakest esper, couldn’t display much combat power even with various source weapons.
Compared to combat-type esper soldiers, she was more suited for defense. She knew this clearly, but still felt reluctant. Overlaying Yun Yingzhi’s source weapon introduction with the Starshine Competition official appraisal results, all were purely defensive skills. Jia Qingwan sighed softly.
Hearing her sigh, some people looked at her puzzled. Someone in the crowd guessed, “What’s wrong with her?”
“She seems not very satisfied with the source weapon created by participant A13167?”
Jia Qingwan glanced at them, withdrew her gaze, and focused on the engravings on the source weapon in her hands.
Jia Qingwan: “…”
Jia Qingwan: “?”
Jia Qingwan: “Hmm!?”
Suddenly, she recalled Yun Yingzhi’s flustered, sneaky, particularly guilty expression from not long ago. After thinking for a moment, Jia Qingwan sent a private message to Yun Yinghui: ?
Yun Yinghui replied: What’s wrong?
Jia Qingwan: Yinghui, I think you really misunderstand little brother Yingzhi.
Yun Yinghui: What’s wrong with him?
Jia Qingwan paused, then sent after a sigh: I think the crowd’s view is correct.
Yun Yinghui: What?
Jia Qingwan: Little Yingzhi really is a battle machine running at the front lines.
Yun Yinghui: Don’t say that, he’s not.
Jia Qingwan: “…”
Time slowly passed. Before long, it was ten o’clock. Jia Qingwan entered the appraisal site. The appraisal site was open-air. Commentators wearing Starshine Competition uniforms began explaining the source weapon’s level and skill effects.
Defense-type source weapon appraisals were conducted via attacks. Output instruments were supplied with source energy, and the output values tested the final defense threshold of the source weapon.
The commentators spoke at length.
The livestream chat was full of comments.
—Just from the explanation, Red Peony is amazing!
—I agree. If my teammates had such a source weapon, I’d feel so reassured.
Suddenly, Jia Qingwan interrupted the commentator. The commentator was stunned, looking at her curiously.
—?
—Why is she interrupting the commentator?
—Compared to this, it’s quite interesting. Red Peony is impossible to face, and the esper soldiers he invited are also impossible to face.
She perfectly filmed the appraisal site. Jia Qingwan looked at the commentator: “I am the tester specially invited by participant A13167.” Under everyone’s gaze, she continued: “As a tester, I have the responsibility to present his source weapon in the most comprehensive way possible.”
The commentator paused: “Yes.”
Jia Qingwan nodded slightly and continued in her pleasant voice: “Therefore, I hope to conduct the test in a team battle format.”
The commentator was momentarily stunned. In her time at Starshine Competition, this was the first time she had encountered a soldier requesting this.
Jia Qingwan’s presence was commanding: “I believe the skills of this source weapon can only be fully demonstrated in a team battle format.”
The commentator felt the esper soldier in front of her was very opinionated and difficult to handle. Looking at the livestream chat, many people were very interested and frequently urged the commentator to agree to Jia Qingwan’s request.
The commentator said: “Please wait a moment. I’ll ask the organizers.”
Soon after, the commentator looked at Jia Qingwan and asked: “How many people do you think are suitable for the team battle? 5v5, or…”
Jia Qingwan directly said: “25v25.”
The commentator was stunned.
Jia Qingwan added: “100v100 is fine too.”
The livestream chat exploded.
—Hahaha, I’m dying laughing. Did you see the commentator’s stunned look?
—Can’t wait!
—So weird. Compared to other livestreams, why are there so many people here?
—Are there even people who don’t know Red Peony?
The commentator quickly said: “No, I think 25v25 is perfect!”
Jia Qingwan: “Fine.” Her voice carried a tone of “whatever.”
Starshine Competition’s efficiency was impressive. From Jia Qingwan making the request to agreeing and inviting soldiers, it took less than fifteen minutes. Instantly, fifty esper soldiers appeared at the appraisal site. The esper soldiers were divided into two teams, each with twenty-five people.
The commentator said: “Now both teams have ten minutes to get to know their teammates.”
As he spoke, the two teams engaged in lively discussion. During the discussion, the twenty-five esper soldiers on the opposing team occasionally glanced at Jia Qingwan, wary of the source weapon in her hands. On Jia Qingwan’s side, she was clearly the center.
Jia Qingwan said: “At the start of the battle, I will use the strongest defensive skill.”
Her teammates nodded.
Jia Qingwan: “You just focus on attacking.”
They exchanged glances, a little confused. Why attack if the test was of a defensive source weapon? Shouldn’t they be a weak, helpless background for the defensive weapon to protect? Until now, that’s what they thought. However, it didn’t stop them from agreeing to Jia Qingwan’s request. Soon, ten minutes passed.
As the commentator shouted, “Battle start!” Both sides’ esper soldiers moved in unison.
Jia Qingwan did not hesitate. She immediately activated the source weapon’s strongest defensive skill. Instantly, the entire appraisal site was enveloped in a defensive fortress formed by condensed water. Layer upon layer of water curtains stretched across the battlefield. The flowing blue walls of water twisted and turned like a masterpiece of art.
In this battle, Jia Qingwan gained the initiative. Before the twenty-five enemy esper soldiers could react, she lowered the fortress, suppressing them. The livestream chat erupted with confusion.
—Wait, isn’t defense supposed to block attacks? Shouldn’t it be used after being attacked?
—No one has even attacked yet, so why is the young lady activating a defensive skill directly? And a massive one at that—doesn’t that waste source energy?
—Is she being too cautious? Using defense first just in case they attack?
Amid the confusion, Jia Qingwan issued a command: “Attack!”
At her words, her teammates immediately launched attacks at the enemy esper soldiers. The passive engravings activated, and then…
Everyone saw the following: Their attacks swept across the enemy soldiers, while the attacks from enemy esper soldiers inside the defensive fortress were blocked by wave after wave of water curtains. The omnipresent water stacked layer upon layer, gradually reducing the enemy’s attack power. The most shocking thing was that, due to the special nature of the water, the source consumption was surprisingly low.
—Wait a second, the skill she used is defensive, but based on how the battle is going, this is clearly imprisoning the enemies in a cage, right?
—Those trapped inside cannot escape, and any attempt to attack is swallowed by the layers of water.
—Imagining myself as an enemy, this battle feels suffocating. Water-type defense can really be this strong?!
—This is the first time I’ve seen defensive espers used like this! This isn’t an attack skill, right? Look, the water curtains don’t block allies’ attacks but perfectly stop every enemy strike.
—The commentator said it: this isn’t her controlling it—it’s the passive engraving effect. Truly a source weapon crafted by little brother Red Peony with a mind full of combat!
The livestream continued. Unsurprisingly, the enemy team retreated step by step. Jia Qingwan’s team pressed the attack, splitting the enemy soldiers into different water cages, leaving them in an extremely awkward position. Jia Qingwan’s eyes flickered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the eighteen testing dummies on the open-air appraisal field.
She restrained herself for a moment… then couldn’t help it. She walked toward the dummies. She felt it was necessary to fully demonstrate this source weapon to everyone—that was the right way to do it. Some teammates looked at her in confusion.
—What is she doing?
—Testing dummies aren’t even required for a defensive source weapon, right?
—I just looked at the data Starshine Competition released. I can only call this the ultimate defensive source weapon design: intricate, interlocking, and incredibly powerful!
Amid the confusion, Jia Qingwan activated all eighteen testing dummies. She issued the command and entered Level 7 test mode.
At this moment, the entire test site was unbelievably beautiful. The ice-blue water curtains of the defensive fortress flowed elegantly, color-shaped espers blossomed within the water, and the ripples of overlapping water streams rose and fell like waves. Water could almost be called one of the most beautiful skills.
At the same time, the enemy esper soldiers had already been completely defeated.
—This tester is amazing. She must have a lot of source energy to maintain this fortress for so long.
—Forget that—what I want to know is what she is planning to do next.
Soon, everyone found out. In that instant, all the water in the fortress swept over the eighteen testing dummies. Then…the water curtains layered over them.
The dummies reported:
-10
-30
-70
The numbers kept accumulating.
—Wait, this is a defensive source weapon?
—Level 6 source weapon, eighteen testing dummies together, output has already reached a peak equivalent to Level 7.
Then, one of the camera drones accidentally entered the water curtain range. In that moment…the drone instantly broke apart within the water.
—It must be water pressure!
—I think it’s deep-sea pressure!
—Not only that, this water also devours and destroys. Look carefully at the dense currents—each one is a little vortex. That drone’s remains have been completely swallowed!
—So scary!
At the same time, all eighteen testing dummies gave the same feedback.
—Output exceeded the Level 7 limit. Should we test at the next level?
This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.
