Alex turned around.
Walked toward the Class 9 students.
The smile dropped from his face.
Expression serious now.
Leaned in close to their ears.
Whispered a few words.
The students’ eyes went wide.
"What?!"
"Alex, you..."
"Will this really work?"
Alex patted their shoulders.
"Leave the rest to ."
He smiled.
"Trust ."
The students looked at each other.
Shock and confusion all over their faces.
Why?
What did he say?
Can we really win like this?
But looking at Alex’s confident face—
They bit their lips.
Nodded.
Arena center.
A Class 1 student already stood there.
Lucas—brown hair, built like a tank.
He raised his hand.
"Summon!"
Light flashed.
A massive gray wolf appeared beside him.
Not that big, but still impressive.
Silver-gray fur, eyes glowing pale blue.
B rank [Wind Shadow Wolf]!
The wolf growled low.
Wind pressure exploded outward.
Students in the front row—hair flying everywhere.
Lucas rubbed the wolf’s head.
Face dripping with pride.
"Co on!"
He pointed at Class 9.
"Who wants to die first?"
Voice loud as hell.
A few Class 9 students walked onto the stage.
Crowd burst into laughter imdiately.
"Hahaha!"
"So Alex is using cannon fodder!"
"Thought he’d go one versus five!"
"Turns out he’s just a coward!"
"Dead!"
Rex stood in the crowd.
Laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach.
"I knew it!"
Slapped his thigh.
"This trash won’t go up himself!"
Principal frowned.
Looked at the arena.
Whispered to Wilson:
"Losing a few people first like this..."
"Will tank morale completely."
Shook his head.
"I don’t understand why Alex would do this."
Wilson said nothing.
Just stared at the arena.
Eyes narrowed.
Below the stage.
Bob scratched his head.
Turned to the student next to him.
"Shouldn’t Alex go first?"
Voice confused.
"With his Grade 10 cultivation..."
"Take out a few Class 1 people..."
"Then we support..."
Looked at those Class 9 students on stage.
"Their contract beasts..."
"It’s suicide..."
Arena.
A girl walked up.
Short, looked fragile.
Hands shaking.
"Summon..."
Voice barely a whisper.
Light flickered.
A small bird appeared on her shoulder.
Size of a palm.
Light blue feathers, round eyes.
D-rank [Skylark].
Crowd exploded with even louder laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"A skylark?!"
"What’s that thing gonna do? Sing?!"
"I’m dying!"
"She’s here to feed kills!"
Girl bit her lip.
Head down.
Eyes getting red.
Lucas looked at that tiny bird.
Laughed even harder.
"This is your tactic?"
Spread his arms wide.
"Co on, I won’t even move!"
"Hit !"
"See if you can break my defense!"
[Wind Shadow Wolf] growled too.
Like it was mocking her.
Laughter got louder.
"Standing still and letting her hit!"
"Hahaha! Brutal!"
"That girl’s gonna cry!"
Class 9 students clenched their fists.
So looked down.
Couldn’t watch.
Ms. Chen closed her eyes.
Nails digging into her palms.
Child...
Atmosphere crushing.
Everyone laughing.
Everyone waiting for the joke.
Girl lifted her head.
Glanced at Alex below.
Alex nodded.
Girl took a deep breath.
"Skylark, fly!"
The little bird shot into the sky.
Fast.
Blink—already ten-plus ters up.
Then—
Just circled there.
Wouldn’t co down.
Lucas froze.
"What?"
"Co down and fight!"
Bird kept flying.
Round and round.
Didn’t get close.
Lucas’s smile stiffened.
"Hey!"
"What kind of tactic is this?!"
"Get down here!"
Bird still flying.
[Wind Shadow Wolf] jumped.
Got maybe three, four ters high.
Nowhere close.
Paced on the ground, frantic.
Head up, barking like crazy.
Useless.
Bird flew too high.
Laughter faded.
People started frowning.
"This..."
"What’s she trying to do?"
"Just fly?"
Lucas’s face changed.
Pride turned ugly.
"Damn it!"
Gritted his teeth.
"Wind Shadow Wolf, sonic attack!"
Wolf howled at the sky.
Sound waves spread out.
But way off target.
Couldn’t hit anything.
Bird dodged easy.
Kept flying.
Lucas gave another order.
"Again!"
Wolf howled once more.
Sound wave shot out.
Still missed.
But this ti grazed the bird’s wing.
Bird wobbled.
Almost fell.
Girl’s face went pale.
"Skylark!"
Bird steadied itself.
Kept flying.
But slower now.
Like that.
Chase after chase.
Wolf kept using sonic attacks.
Bird kept dodging.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Nobody laughing now.
Everyone staring at that bird in the sky.
What kind of tactic is this...
Stalling?
Girl’s face got paler and paler.
Forehead covered in sweat.
Bird’s flight slowed way down.
Wings didn’t flap as hard anymore.
Lucas’s face went dark.
He’d been so arrogant just now.
But hadn’t landed a single hit.
Pissed him off.
Two more minutes passed.
Girl’s body swayed.
"Alex..."
Voice weak.
"Switch!"
Alex’s voice ca from below.
Girl let out a breath.
"Skylark, return."
Bird flew back imdiately.
Landed on her shoulder.
She walked off stage.
Legs shaking.
Lucas’s face got even uglier.
"What is this?!"
Pointed at Alex.
"You trying to exhaust us to death?!"
"Dream on!"
Shouted loud:
"Even with dozens of you, you can’t wear down!"
Alex rolled his eyes.
"Dumbass."
Not loud.
But everyone heard it.
Crowd went silent.
Then—
Soone couldn’t hold back a laugh.
"Pfft..."
Lucas’s face turned red.
"What did you say?!"
Alex ignored him.
Turned to the Class 9 students.
"Next."
Another guy walked up.
Summoned his contract beast.
C-rank [Gale Sparrow].
Also a bird.
Bit bigger than the skylark.
Faster too.
Guy glanced at Alex.
Alex nodded.
"Gale Sparrow, fly!"
Bird shot into the sky.
Sa as before.
High up.
Wouldn’t co down.
Lucas’s face went completely black.
"Again?!"
"You..."
[Wind Shadow Wolf] started chasing again.
Started using sonic attacks again.
Still couldn’t hit.
Crowd went totally quiet.
Everyone figured it out.
This is a tactic.
War of attrition.
Principal frowned.
Whispered:
"This..."
"He’s trying to drain all their stamina?"
Wilson’s eyes narrowed.
Stared at the arena.
Corner of his mouth curled up slightly.
"Interesting."
Class 9 students went up one by one.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
All flying-type contract beasts.
F-rank [White Dove].
D-rank [Iron Beak Eagle].
C-rank [Whirlwind Sparrow].
Sa tactic every ti.
Fly high.
Don’t co down.
Lucas was going crazy on stage.
One hour.
Over an hour.
He’d been getting played with the whole ti.
[Wind Shadow Wolf]’s sonic attacks landed no tis at all!.
He did beat a few Class 9 students by making them tired
But—
So frustrating.
Those birds were like walking a dog.
Flew just fast enough.
Just out of reach.
Wolf jumped—short by a bit.
Sonic attack fired—missed by a bit.
Worst part—
One [White Dove] actually took a dump.
Landed right on [Wind Shadow Wolf]’s head.
Crowd burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Holy shit!"
"Bird poop!"
"I’m dead!"
Lucas’s face turned green.
"You..."
His fists clenched so hard they cracked.
"You bunch of dirty cheaters!"
"Fight fair if you dare!"
Alex yawned from below.
"Huh?"
"Can’t hear you."
Laughter got even louder.
And—
The tide turned.
People started mocking Class 1 now.
"Over an hour..."
"Didn’t even touch a feather..."
"Got himself all worked up instead..."
"And they’re Class 1?"
"B rank contract beast? Hilarious."
"Got walked for an hour by F-rank birds!"
Rex’s face looked ugly too.
Stood in the crowd.
Teeth clenched.
This trash...
Actually thought of this disgusting tactic...
The few Class 1 students gathered together.
Discussed strategy with Mr. Zhang.
Ethan’s face dark.
"We can’t keep going like this."
"We’re losing all our face."
Lucas walked over, drenched in sweat.
"What do we do?"
"I..."
Panting.
"I can barely hold on..."
[Wind Shadow Wolf] collapsed on the ground too.
Tongue hanging out.
Been howling nonstop, voice hoarse now.
A girl—Emma, master of [Frost Fox]—frowned.
"My contract beast has ranged attacks..."
"But can’t hit that high either..."
Another guy—Michael, master of [Thunder Hawk]—shook his head.
"I can fly..."
"But not as fast as those little birds."
"Plus they drop down the second they see go up..."
"Then they switch..."
Ethan gritted his teeth.
"My [Blazing Lion] does have high-altitude attacks..."
Paused.
"Fireballs can reach pretty high."
"Large area too."
Lucas’s eyes lit up.
"Then you..."
"No."
Ethan cut him off.
"I’m saving myself for Alex."
"Can’t go now."
Stared at Alex below.
"That guy definitely has a backup plan."
"I need to save myself for him."
Mr. Zhang pushed his glasses.
Face ugly.
Keep stalling like this—
Waste of ti aside.
Class 1’s reputation would be completely gone.
One A-rank, four B ranks.
Getting walked for over an hour by a bunch of F, D, C-rank trash contract beasts.
How could they face anyone after this got out?
He took a deep breath.
"You guys wait."
Turned and walked toward the principal.
Principal stood with Wilson.
Watching what was happening in the arena.
Mr. Zhang walked over.
"Principal."
Voice low.
"I have a suggestion."
Principal turned his head.
"What?"
Mr. Zhang pushed his glasses.
"The current situation..."
"Is a complete waste of ti."
"And..."
Paused.
"This doesn’t show real strength at all."
"Just exploiting loopholes in the rules."
Principal frowned.
Said nothing.
Mr. Zhang continued:
"I suggest..."
"Reducing the height and range of the competition area."
"That way both sides can actually fight."
"That way we can see the contract beasts’ real capabilities."
Tone got more serious.
"Otherwise..."
"This match is a joke."
Principal was silent for a few seconds.
Glanced at the arena.
Lucas still chasing.
A [Whirlwind Sparrow] still flying up there.
Wouldn’t co down.
Yeah...
Bit embarrassing.
"Fine."
Principal nodded.
"I agree."
Walked to the arena center.
Raised his hand.
"Pause!"
Voice carried across the whole venue.
Everyone stopped.
Lucas let out a breath.
Almost collapsed.
Principal cleared his throat.
"Given the current situation..."
"I’m adjusting the competition rules."
Crowd burst into noise.
"What?"
"Adjusting rules?"
"Now?"
Principal continued:
"From now on..."
"Competition area height is limited to ten ters."
"Range reduced to directly above the arena."
"Going out of bounds counts as a loss."
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