CHAPTER 30: 030 BULLYING A LITTLE GIRL, YOU’RE REALLY A BEAST_1

"Heh, they actually lost quite miserably!"

Wen Jiang had just walked in when she saw a tiger-like Card Spirit being defeated in a competition space.

Across from it was an eagle Card Spirit.

[Red-beak Eagle], a B-Rank card, characterized by high-altitude flight and agile movements.

But in such a confined space, the [Red-beak Eagle] couldn’t leverage its advantages. It was clear that the tiger Card Spirit had a better chance of winning, yet the [Red-beak Eagle] managed to win. Obviously, the Spirit Card Master was clearly very skilled.

Wen Jiang looked over and saw that the one controlling the [Red-beak Eagle] Card Spirit was a little girl with a round face—She can’t be even ten years old!

The little girl, her cheeks flushed rosy from victory, happily said, "I won!"

Her opponent, the tiger’s Spirit Card Master, was a man in his thirties. Being defeated by a little girl clearly made it hard for him to save face, especially under the jeers of those around him as his face turned a deeper shade of red.

The world of Spirit Card Masters is just like that, unreasonable. Some are B-Level Spirit Card Masters from birth, possessing extraordinary spiritual power even as young children. It’s normal for kids just a few years old to defeat adults.

"Ahem, Little Winter Melon won. Who’s next?"

In the center of the arena stood a girl with a composed and open demeanor, who seemed to be Little Winter Melon’s older sister. She scanned the crowd with a smile. "Didn’t you all say you didn’t want to bully a little girl? My sister has proven herself by winning a match, so who’s next?"

The onlookers exchanged glances, but evidently, not a single one dared to step up.

Surely, it wasn’t *that* intimidating. A child’s spiritual power had its limits, and having already won a match, she must have been somewhat depleted, yet still, no one dared to challenge her.

The Spirit Card Masters at the Card Trial Hall varied greatly in quality; most were average and had little combat experience. Presumably, they didn’t want to make a fool of themselves by going up.

Wen Jiang found this interesting. A hint of mischief flashed in her eyes as she spoke out loud, "I’ll go."

Zero Egg: ...Are you an animal?

A little girl who’s not even ten, how could you possibly lay a hand on her!!

The crowd turned their heads in surprise when they heard Wen Jiang speak.

The older girl also looked towards Wen Jiang and nodded. "All right."

Wen Jiang stepped up to the Spirit Card Master’s position. The little girl, undaunted, looked at her with wide eyes. "Pretty sister, what card will you use?"

This kid sure knows how to sweet-talk, Wen Jiang thought, liking her.

Wen Jiang raised her hand and summoned a [Fat Orange].

The crowd erupted in murmurs, and the older sister’s face flickered with an odd expression.

[Fat Orange] was an Orange Cat card; a fat cat that looked too lazy to even get up was sprawled on the ground. When summoned by its master, it even initially considered rubbing against its master’s trouser leg.

It meowed softly and then lay down with its limbs in the air, clearly showing no interest in fighting.

This was one of the lowest-level B-Rank cards. Wen Jiang had bought it simply because it was a bargain. As a Card Spirit, [Fat Orange] certainly possessed combat abilities, but most of the time, it was only fit to be a pet Card Spirit. If used in actual combat, it clearly wouldn’t be as strong as a standard combat Card Spirit.

Moreover, [Fat Orange] against [Red-beak Eagle]?

Isn’t this just asking for a beatdown?

The little girl seemed to realize Wen Jiang wasn’t taking the fight seriously and pouted. "Don’t look down on me, sister. I’m really strong in combat."

Wen Jiang nodded, her expression serious. "I know, I’m not underestimating you."

Otherwise, I would have used an R-Rank Card to fight. Wouldn’t that have been even more disrespectful? But the little girl definitely couldn’t beat me. Claiming to go all out and then using my best card against such an opponent would be bullying. Using [Fat Orange] to test the Card Spirit’s combat abilities is just right.

"All right then." The little girl’s eyes grew serious too. "No matter what card you use, sister, I’ll do my best."

Both sides summoned their Card Spirits, and with a DING, the match officially began.

The [Red-beak Eagle] let out a piercing screech, initiating the attack.

The onlookers got excited.

"What is this woman thinking, fighting a [Red-beak Eagle] with a [Fat Orange]?"

"Don’t underestimate this eight-year-old little sister. She’s really strong in combat."

"I bet the [Red-beak Eagle] will tear [Fat Orange] to shreds in one minute!"

The little girl’s sister crossed her arms, looking like she was enjoying the show.

Internally, she was silently scoffing. This girl clearly underestimates my sister. A pity, she’s about to be outsmarted. My sister is only eight but already a reservist member of the Holy Beast Association; it’s just her young age that prevents her from competing. She has a very rare talent. Although only B-Level, her spiritual power is strong enough to support prolonged battles—that’s why she could use the [Red-beak Eagle] to wear down the tiger Card Spirit in the previous match. Her combat awareness is, of course, equally outstanding. Even after one match, sustaining several more fights wouldn’t be difficult for her. And this challenger is using a [Fat Orange] card—

Just as the little girl’s sister was thinking this, her eyes suddenly sharpened as she watched the unfolding battle.

In theory, the [Red-beak Eagle] was faster than the [Fat Orange], especially under the command of a Spirit Card Master with remarkable instincts. Typically, a [Fat Orange] wouldn’t be able to evade the [Red-beak Eagle]’s attacks.

But that Orange Cat, appearing so lazy and indolent, managed an agile dodge the very moment the massive [Red-beak Eagle] swooped down from the sky, its sharp beak poised to bite. The plump Orange Cat rolled away in a nimble evasion.

WHOOSH—

The strike missed. While the little girl was somewhat surprised, she didn’t panic. She quickly maneuvered the [Red-beak Eagle] to slash at the Orange Cat with its talons.

The [Red-beak Eagle] is fast, the Orange Cat can’t escape! she thought confidently. But...

MEOW!

Just as the [Red-beak Eagle] was about to strike, the [Fat Orange]’s figure vanished in a blur. Like a blade, it shot into midair, leaping onto the [Red-beak Eagle]’s back with a speed that surpassed the eagle’s, letting out a loud meow.

The little girl’s eyes widened.

She had the illusion that the [Fat Orange]’s speed might actually be faster than the [Red-beak Eagle]’s?! How could this be?!

The moment the [Fat Orange] jumped onto the [Red-beak Eagle], she realized trouble was afoot. She immediately tried to control the [Red-beak Eagle] to roll its body furiously in an attempt to throw off the [Fat Orange].

Unfortunately, the [Fat Orange] clung on firmly. Its meows grew fiercer, and with a swipe of its paw, it sent several of the [Red-beak Eagle]’s feathers flying.

A deep claw mark appeared on the [Red-beak Eagle]’s back.

Card Spirits could exhibit signs of injury; they felt no pain, but it could affect the Spirit Card Master’s spiritual power.

The little girl took a heavy hit. Cold sweat suddenly trickled down her forehead as she felt her spiritual power start to become chaotic.

The [Red-beak Eagle] screamed skyward, flapping its wings in an attempt to fly high and shake off the Orange Cat. But the [Fat Orange] clung tenaciously to the [Red-beak Eagle]’s back, "MEOW MEOW MEOW," its claws fiercely raking, creating even more severe wounds on the eagle.

BANG—

The [Red-beak Eagle] finally couldn’t hold on any longer and dissipated into spiritual energy.

The card vanished. The little girl lost the match.

Everyone else was stunned.

An Orange Cat fighting a [Red-beak Eagle]—how did the battle end so quickly? The [Red-beak Eagle]’s speed was already so fast that they almost couldn’t keep up with their eyes; how could the [Fat Orange]’s speed actually surpass the [Red-beak Eagle]’s?!

The little girl’s face turned pale. Her sister immediately went to support her. "Little Winter Melon, are you feeling alright?"

Overuse of spiritual power could lead to a headache.

Little Winter Melon slowly shook her head. She looked at Wen Jiang and pouted. "Sister is so strong. Next time, after I recover, I’ll switch to another card..."

Wen Jiang looked at the child and remarked internally to Zero Egg, How did it turn out like this? Maybe I really should have used an R-Rank Card. Using a B-Rank seems to have ended it too quickly...

She actually hadn’t expected this. She had rated herself as B-Level, but for a moment, she forgot that her spiritual power was not B-Level.

Zero Egg: ...You really are a beast.