Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 980: Not Meteor Rain!

Seismic Toss is a high-tier Fighting-type skill.

This move was no stranger to Qiao Sang. She had faced it previously during the National Campus Beast Mastering League, where Yabao had also been the one to confront it.

The key distinction lay in their mastery; while the Red-Swift Dragon from before had only reached the "Proficient" stage, the data for the Aggro-Bust Sparrow King indicated its skill level was "Perfect."

Glancing toward the heavens, Qiao Sang noted that the red and white specks visible just moments ago had vanished. Members of the audience were already pulling out their phones, pointing them at the sky in anticipation of the aerial assault's descent.

Suddenly, a flash streaked across the firmament as a white beam of light plummeted downward. Although the sheer velocity made it impossible to discern the figures within, Qiao Sang was certain that Yabao was still maintaining a relentless grip on the Sparrow King.

Action was necessary. The Sparrow King possessed a high-level Rock Head trait. Even if Yabao managed to hold on as he had against the Red-Swift Dragon, the impact would result in Yabao sustaining far more damage.

In an instant, a thunderous BOOM resonated as the white pillar of light crashed into the arena. The earth fractured, sending shards of debris flying in every direction. At the center of the impact, the ground caved in to form a massive crater nearly one hundred meters wide, with swirling dust temporarily masking the outcome.

... A wave of triumph washed over Qi Fuqing.

With his Teleport and lightning-fast reflexes, the Divine Blazing Lion was nearly impossible to hit with a direct strike. The only effective strategy was to launch a counter-attack at the precise millisecond he arrived to execute a Fire Fang. Everything was unfolding exactly as she had envisioned.

However, Qi Fuqing’s satisfaction quickly turned to unease:

At that exact moment, Qiao Sang’s voice rang out: "Explode!"

As the dust within the crater began to settle, the spectators caught a glimpse of a battered Yabao. Despite his injuries, his expression remained fierce as he continued to bite down ruthlessly on the Sparrow King’s wing!

Yabao’s wings of flame were still flickering, though they had shrunken considerably. Enduring the agony, he concentrated his energy, and a gold-red light brimming with destructive power began to glow deep within his throat. When Yabao finally released his grip, a golden-red beam erupted—a Fire Blast at point-blank range that slammed into the Sparrow King with devastating force.

BOOM!!!

"Ao-ao!"

With a pained shriek, the Sparrow King was sent tumbling backward, carving a hundred-meter trench into the arena floor!

Qi Fuqing: !!!

A collective gasp filled the stadium. From the broadcast booth, Tian Yiwan shouted with excitement: "The Sparrow King successfully landed the Seismic Toss, but the Divine Blazing Lion refused to let go! He stayed attached even after hitting the ground, creating an opening for a massive Fire Blast!"

Tang Xueran chimed in, "Both combatants have now sustained heavy damage."

---

Inside the crater, Yabao steadied his swaying body, stood up, and ignited into a streak of fire as he lunged toward the downed Sparrow King.

"Flash!" Qi Fuqing commanded without hesitation. Normal movement wouldn't be enough, but a Quick Attack might provide the necessary evasion.

Fighting through the pain, the Sparrow King beat its wings and transformed into a white blur, soaring upward. The fire streak reached the bird's previous location before making a sharp 90-degree turn, pursuing the white light into the clouds.

"Ao-bao..." The Sparrow King’s flight slowed as the severe wing injury finally hampered its mobility. That brief hesitation was all the opening Yabao needed to collide with the bird at full speed.

The Sparrow King cried out as it was knocked higher into the air before it began to fall. Hovering high above, Yabao opened his maw as golden-red energy gathered once again.

Qi Fuqing’s eyes widened in alarm. "Substitute!"

The energy beam struck the Sparrow King, slamming it back into the dirt. A fresh explosion rocked the arena, but Yabao suddenly shifted his gaze. The target on the ground vanished; the real Sparrow King had reappeared a hundred meters away.

... Qiao Sang recognized the technique immediately. It was a superb defensive maneuver, though it drained a quarter of the user's total energy.

Qiao Sang raised her hand and executed a sharp snap of her fingers.

Qi Fuqing recognized that specific signal. Her gaze sharpened as she resolved to seize the initiative. "Storm!"

She reasoned that if the Divine Blazing Lion tried to stay back and fire energy orbs, her storm would neutralize the attack even if he attempted to teleport.

"Ao-bao!" With a grimace of pain, the Sparrow King beat its wings upward. A violent hurricane formed instantly, sweeping toward the Divine Blazing Lion.

.

Yabao didn't look for an opening to fire energy orbs. Instead, the moment the Sparrow King’s wings moved, Yabao teleported directly behind it. He seized the bird with his claws, his wing-flames surging in size as he hauled the Sparrow King straight up toward the stratosphere.

Sparrow King: ???

Qi Fuqing: !!!

"What is happening? Is that a Seismic Toss?"

The spectators were in an uproar.

"Is that Radiant Impact? Does he have to take the enemy up that high for it?"

"I don't believe so..."

"Who claimed Qiao Sang's finger snap always signaled a Meteor Rain? They almost had me fooled."

"The Divine Blazing Lion has dragged the Sparrow King into the high heavens!" Tian Yiwan cried out. "This is... Radiant Impact!"

... Qiao Sang felt a sense of pride in her tactical audible. If her commands became predictable, her opponents would read her like an open book.

"Ao-bao!" The bird shrieked as the golden flames scorched it. Reaching the peak of his ascent, Yabao began a vertical dive at a terrifying velocity.

The Sparrow King attempted a desperate counter, trying to sink an electric-charged Thunder Fang into Yabao. However, Yabao’s eyes suddenly shimmered with a blue light.

The bird felt its body grow immensely heavy, as if an invisible giant was pulling it toward the earth. Before it could recover, the descent reached its climax. The golden sphere of light slammed home.

BOOM!!!

The ground disintegrated as the Sparrow King was driven deep into the subsoil. The resulting shockwave shattered the arena's surface, leaving golden flames flickering in the distorted air.

As the fire subsided, Yabao was the only one left standing. Beside him, the Sparrow King lay scorched and senseless.

"The Aggro-Bust Sparrow King has been defeated!" Tian Yiwan yelled.

"It appears no beast of the same rank can survive the Divine Blazing Lion's Radiant Impact! Is Qiao Sang about to clinch the second match?"

The referee signaled with the green flag. Yabao puffed out his chest, accepting the roar of the crowd with a winner's poise, even with his flame wings burning low.

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"

"Divine Blazing Lion! Divine Blazing Lion!"

"That was incredible! I knew she was Top 8 material!"

"How did that bird drop so fast at the end? Why couldn't it pull away?"

"The Divine Blazing Lion has Psychic abilities. He likely used Psychic or Gravity to pin it down."

"Let’s offer our congratulations to Qiao Sang for taking the second match!" Tang Xueran announced.

"I feel we could almost congratulate her on the entire series," Tian Yiwan added. But at that moment, Qiao Sang withdrew Yabao.

"Oh, she’s recalled the Divine Blazing Lion. Perhaps the celebrations are a bit premature."

"Not necessarily," Tang Xueran said with a laugh.

"She might just be bringing the Ice Emperor Ram back onto the field."

---

Qi Fuqing exhaled slowly. Falling to a representative of the National Bureau was no disgrace. She recalled her ace pet.

The ten-second countdown commenced.

"9, 8... 3, 2, 1."

The star arrays shimmered into existence once more. Two beasts of completely different proportions appeared on the stage.

"Mo-mo."

"Xun xun~"