With the battle over, the members of Shrek Academy let out a collective sigh of relief.
Ma Hongjun glanced over at Shui Bing'er, who was trying her best not to cry, and for once, he kept his jokes to himself. He muttered quietly, "Well, it looks like Yin Ge was a bit gentler this time. At least he didn't make Goddess Bing'er cry and sing in front of everyone..."
On the stage, Ye Yin looked at Shui Bing'er, who stood stubbornly with tears welling in her eyes. "Miss Shui, you have conceded."
Shui Bing'er bit her lower lip, her ice-blue eyes filled with a complicated mix of emotions as she stared back at him. Was there hatred? Of course. But as she looked into his calm eyes, she couldn't help but remember the Soul Cleansing Fruit that had saved Huo Wu. She also thought about how he had shattered her team's powerful fusion skill. His methods this time were completely different from how he had dealt with the other academies.
Feng Xiaotian, Hu Yanli, Huo Wu... they had all been treated very differently. Compared to them, her team had gotten off easy. At the very least, they hadn't suffered any major psychological trauma or public humiliation.
In the end, she simply turned her head away, refusing to look at Ye Yin any longer. Her voice was filled with a stubborn pride as she said, "My skills were not good enough. I have nothing more to say."
Supported by Shen Liuyu and her other teammates, the seven girls of Tianshui Academy walked away from the arena, their spirits low. Their backs looked desolate, but they still carried themselves with pride.
As they left, the audience erupted in warm applause. The cheers were not just for Shrek's victory, but also as a tribute to Tianshui Academy, who had managed to maintain their dignity even in defeat. Among the string of shocking victories Shrek had achieved, Tianshui Academy's loss seemed almost normal. At least they hadn't started farting, limping, or wailing uncontrollably. They certainly hadn't blown themselves up. All they had endured was a forced, romantic snowfall, followed by some pitiful tears. This was by far the most dignified exit any of the Five Element Academies had made when facing Shrek.
"Tianshui Academy didn't have the worst loss! They at least kept their dignity!"
"Yeah, just look at the others... it's just too painful to watch!"
"That kid Ye Yin seems to go a little easy on the beauties, doesn't he?"
"What are you talking about? Isn't Huo Wu a beauty? She was crying and wailing, and that explosion was really something else."
The story of the "Ice and Snow Drifting into Winter Love Song" and the image of Shui Bing'er's tearful face quickly became the most popular topic of conversation in Heaven Dou City. Some creative individuals even drew comics depicting a crying Shui Bing'er pointing an accusing finger at Ye Yin. These comics sold out across the city, their sales second only to the infamous surströmming.
After defeating Tianshui Academy, Shrek Academy had only one opponent left among the Five Element Academies: Thunder Academy.
Inside Thunder Academy's lounge, the atmosphere was heavy and tense. Yu Tianxin stood before a tactics board, his finger tapping firmly on Ye Yin's name.
"Everyone, listen up! We have to win this battle. Failure is not an option," he declared, his voice firm. "We have only one target: Ye Yin! We've all seen what happened to Feng Xiaotian, Hu Yanli, Huo Wu, and Shui Bing'er. We can't give him any chance to use that mysterious Curse of his."
Lei Dong, the team's vice-captain, spoke in a deep voice. "Captain, my Thunder Web will be our first line of defense. My third Spirit Ability has a powerful paralyzing effect, a controllable range, and it activates quickly. As long as I can trap him in it, his spirit power will be delayed, even if he's a Spirit King. I'll use all my strength to keep him under control."
A teammate standing beside him nodded in agreement and made a sharp, cutting gesture with his hand. "As long as we can stop him from moving, you can use your Thunder Dragon Claw to injure him and throw him out of the arena, Captain! The rest of us will do whatever it takes to stop the other Shrek members from rescuing him."
A spark of lightning flashed in Yu Tianxin's eyes. "Excellent! Lei Dong, your Thunder Web is the key to our victory. After running countless simulations, this is the fastest way we've found to restrain him. The outcome of this match depends entirely on you!"
Lei Dong pounded his chest, and faint, web-like currents of electricity spread across his uniform. "Don't worry, Captain! I won't fail my mission!"
Shrek Academy continued its winning streak, remaining undefeated. Their name was now famous throughout Heaven Dou City, not just for their members' shocking spirit ring configurations and incredible power, but also for their captain, Ye Yin. His mysterious and unpredictable Curse ability, which seemed to specialize in punishing anyone who defied him, struck fear into the hearts of the other top teams. The Five Element Academies had suffered one humiliating defeat after another, losing all their prestige.
Most of Shrek Academy's matches were now considered uninteresting. The only battle anyone cared about was their upcoming fight against Thunder Academy.
When the two teams finally walked into the Grand Spirit Arena, the atmosphere was so tense you could feel it in the air. The seven members of Thunder Academy wore deep purple uniforms embroidered with silver lightning patterns. Their eyes were as sharp as lightning, and a faint crackling sound seemed to follow them. Their captain, Yu Tianxin, stood at the front, tall and imposing with a stern expression. His short black hair stood on end, as if it contained limitless thunderous power. He knew that facing Shrek, and especially Ye Yin, meant he couldn't afford to be careless for even a second. He couldn't give his opponent any opportunity to use that strange Curse.
Behind him was the vice-captain, Lei Dong, whose Spirit was the Thunder Spider. He was already running through the upcoming battle in his mind, over and over again. The gazes of all seven team members were fixed on one person: Ye Yin. Every one of them looked more serious and apprehensive than ever before.
This was a battle they had to win. Losing to any other academy just meant losing a match. But losing to Shrek Academy was different. The horrifying and bizarre fates of their peers—Feng Xiaotian farting in public, Hu Yanli's team limping and collapsing, Huo Wu singing while she self-destructed, and Shui Bing'er's blizzard turning into a romantic snowstorm—haunted their minds like a nightmare.
"Thunder Academy, Captain Yu Tianxin, Level 45 Attack-System Battle Spirit Ancestor."
"Shrek Academy, Captain Ye Yin, Level 52 Support-System Battle Spirit King."
The entire stadium was unusually quiet as everyone held their breath. This match wasn't just about winning or losing; it was the final stand for the Five Element Academies to defend their honor. Could Thunder Academy finally break Shrek's winning streak and end the ridiculous curse?
"Both sides will have one minute to prepare!" the referee announced.
As his voice fell, both teams began to adjust their formations. Thunder Academy did something unexpected: their control-system Spirit Master moved to the front, almost as if he were a defense-system Spirit Master.
The moment the preparation time ended, a dazzling light burst forth from all seven members of Thunder Academy at once. Four spirit rings—two yellow and two purple—shone brightly around Yu Tianxin. A loud dragon's roar echoed through the arena as the phantom of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon soared into the air. Violent thunder power, so dense it was almost visible, swirled around him.
At the same time, Lei Dong, with his Thunder Spider Spirit attached to him, activated his own power. Web-like patterns spread out as his four spirit rings flickered, gathering energy for his third Spirit Ability, ready to trap Ye Yin.
"Match, begin!"
The referee's words had barely left his mouth when Lei Dong's third spirit ring lit up instantly.
"Third Spirit Ability, Thunder Web!"
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