Scaled Control Doll… Qiao Sang scrutinized the beast that Wang Rui had summoned.

Months ago, when she first battled it with Yabao, she had felt doomed. But now, her emotions remained calm and unshaken.

A Psychic-type beast, just like Little Treasure, fragile but deadly. It all depends on who strikes first.

The starting whistle blew, breaking her train of thought.

“Close in and use Hypnosis!” Qiao Sang shouted decisively.

Her voice was so loud that even Wang Rui on the other side heard it clearly.

“Don’t let it get close!” Wang Rui immediately countered with a command.

The moment the words left his mouth, Little Treasure vanished from his spot and reappeared right in front of Scaled Control Doll.

Even though Wang Rui knew his beast wouldn’t be defeated so easily, a sense of unease crept up on him. After all, the shadow of Qiao Sang’s victories loomed large in his mind.

Scaled Control Doll didn’t flinch. It instantly used Teleport to put several meters between itself and Little Treasure.

The beast then raised its short claws, shooting multicolored rays toward its opponent.

Little Treasure grinned and vanished again, becoming invisible.

Bang!

The illusionary rays hit the ground, scattering debris in all directions.

“Use Mental Sense!” Wang Rui shouted without hesitation.

Mental Sense, a mid-level Psychic ability, allows a Psychic-type beast to detect the unique mental fluctuations of nearby life forms, even invisible Ghost-types. However, it only works on living beings.

Of course he’d use that move… Qiao Sang smirked. She had studied Wang Rui’s battle records thoroughly and knew that his Scaled Control Doll could use Mental Sense.

But even sensing requires time.

Scaled Control Doll closed its eyes, sending out an invisible wave of energy in all directions.

The moment the energy reached half a meter ahead, Scaled Conrol Doll’s eyes snapped open. It had detected its opponent directly in front of it!

For a brief second, the beast froze. It had never encountered a Ghost-type that could get so close without being detected.

“Counter!”

The Scaled Control Doll’s startled expression gave way to panic as it tried to Teleport again, only to find itself immobilized.

Little Treasure reappeared, holding one glowing blue claw upright. An invisible force tightly restrained Scaled Control doll, preventing it from moving or using its abilities.

How can Scaled Control Doll’s psychic strength not break free from Treasure-Seeking Demon’s Mental Grip… Wang Rui’s heart sank. He suddenly remembered Qiao Sang’s earlier command.

“Close your eyes!” He yelled, panic setting in.

The Scaled Control Doll obeyed, shutting its eyes tight.

“Pfft…” Qiao Sang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Wang Rui froze, bewildered by her reaction. A sense of dread overcame him.

Looking up, he saw Treasure-Seeking Demon high in the air, its blue glow dissipating.

Scaled Control Demon, still obediently keeping its eyes shut, stood motionless.

Meanwhile, Little Treasure’s right claw gathered a fierce white energy.

Wait… is that… Brick-Breaking?! Wang Rui was stunned. Isn’t that a Fighting-type move?!

“Dodge!” He shouted desperately.

But it was too late. Little Treasure mercilessly brought his claw down, slamming into the Scaled Control Doll.

“!!!”

The doll crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact. Before it could recover, a 20-centimeter Shadow Ball followed, hitting it squarely.

Boom!

Dust and debris flew as the Scaled Control Doll landed heavily, lying motionless.

The whistle blew, signaling the match’s end.

“Winner: Qiao Sang from Shengshui High!” The announcer declared.

Wang Rui looked across at Qiao Sang with a complex expression.

“You… you shouted that command loudly on purpose to mislead me, didn’t you? It was all a setup for Treasure-Seeking Demon to get close.”

Qiao Sang nodded modestly.

“I was inspired by Huang Kaijun’s tactics.”

Ever since witnessing Huang Kaijun’s strategies, she realized they could perfectly complement Little Treasure’s abilities. She’d tested the plan with Little Treasure just yesterday, and the results exceeded her expectations.

Wang Rui finally admitted defeat. Facing an opponent so strong and eager to learn, he couldn’t feel bitter.

Meanwhile, in the audience:

“Ha! I knew Qiao Sang shouted her command on purpose! She’s been silent in most of her matches, but this time she made sure her opponent heard every word.”

“Did you see that? Treasuere-Seeking Demon used Brick-Breaking! A Ghost-type using a Fighting move, what a beast!”

“Hold on… Could Treasure-Seeking Demon have a secondary Fighting-type attribute?”

“You’re overthinking it… But wow, that was cunning. She’s definitely pro-level material.”

The day’s matches concluded with Qiao Sang’s victory. According to the tournament structure, the final round would decide the overall champion between her and the winner of the first round.

Back in the resting area, Little Treasure eagerly retrieved a diamond-studded glove from his ring and slipped it on.

Per tournament rules, beasts couldn’t wear any accessories during matches.

This rule had been introduced after incidents where disguised gear gave unfair advantages, such as glasses that could detect energy fluctuations.

As Little Treasure gleefully showed off his glove, Qiao Sang smiled to herself.