Chapter 45 – Equally Impressive Melee Capabilities

A dull, thunderous roar suddenly exploded in everyone’s ears.

Everyone froze in unison, staring wide-eyed at the Rock Ghost not far away.

A full several seconds passed before the crowd erupted in a burst of exclamations.

“Holy shit, a second Pet Beast!?”

“What kind of Pet Beast is this? I’ve never seen this species!”

“Looks like it’s of the Earth Attribute!”

“What an intense pressure!”

“Lin Ze actually had this card hidden up his sleeve!”

Many people couldn’t help but show shock on their faces.

If it were merely the fact that Lin Ze possessed a second Pet Beast, that alone wouldn’t be particularly surprising.

But the formidable aura emanating from this Pet Beast before them, along with its towering, oppressive rock-hewn frame, all conveyed one single message.

Its strength was immense!

Even if it wasn’t Tier 4, it couldn’t be far off.

At the very least, it was at the level of Tier 3, Grade 8 or 9!

That was what made it so astonishing.

“What an intense pressure!”

Wu Tianze took a deep breath, his face filled with uncontrollable shock.

This junior was truly unfathomable!

Forget the Tier 4 Ice Attribute Pet Beast—he actually possessed a second Pet Beast of at least late Tier 3 with the Earth Attribute.

It was hard to imagine he was only eighteen this year.

Many Second Year students, even to this day, didn’t have strength at this level.

Giving Lin Ze a deep look, Wu Tianze turned his head and looked toward Jing Tao.

“What did you say just now?”

Jing Tao’s mouth twitched. He averted his gaze, pretending not to hear Wu Tianze’s question, while inwardly feeling like crying.

This junior was way too monstrous.

So that earlier display wasn’t even his full strength?

Oh my god!

Only now did Jing Tao truly understand—if he were to fight with everything on the line, he would most likely still lose to Lin Ze.

The Wind-Slicing Mantis was clearly no match for that hulking Pet Beast no matter how he looked at it.

“Damn, how did a monster of a Freshman like this show up this year!”

Jing Tao wore a bitter smile.

On the other side.

Zhang Man was equally stunned.

By the time she snapped back to her senses and looked at Lin Ze again, her eyes had completely lost their previous composure and confidence.

In their place was nothing but extreme solemnity.

“I have to admit, your strength has exceeded my expectations!”

It was only at this moment that Zhang Man truly regarded Lin Ze as an opponent worthy of her full attention.

Hearing this, Lin Ze merely gave a faint smile.

Without further ado, the two moved simultaneously in tacit understanding.

The battle erupted in an instant.

The Thorn-Shell Turtle launched the first attack, its spike-covered body charging forward like a war chariot, rumbling straight toward the Rock Ghost.

Seeing this, the Rock Ghost curled its lips into a ferocious grin.

It reached down, scraped a layer of dirt straight off the hard ground, kneaded it into a ball, and hurled it forcefully at the Thorn-Shell Turtle.

Clay Bomb!

Compared to the Thorn-Shell Turtle’s massive frame, the mud ball seemed utterly tiny.

Yet when it struck the Thorn-Shell Turtle, it exploded with a bang like a bomb.

The violent shockwave nearly sent the Thorn-Shell Turtle stumbling.

Before it could steady itself, another Clay Bomb came flying in.

Boom! Boom!

In the span of a few short moments, the Rock Ghost hurled five Clay Bombs, blasting the Thorn-Shell Turtle into a daze.

Even the spikes on its shell were snapped off in considerable numbers.

This sight left everyone utterly dumbfounded, their minds buzzing with only one thought.

A Tier 4 Pet Beast!

This was absolutely, without a doubt, a Tier 4 Pet Beast!

This discovery instantly stunned everyone present.

It was already astonishing enough that a second-year student possessed two Tier 4 pet beasts, but for Lin Ze, a freshman, to have the same was simply beyond belief!

Even Jing Tao and Wu Tianze, both second-year students, were utterly stunned by the sight.

Under the gaze of the crowd.

The moment they clashed, the Rock Ghost gained the upper hand over the Thorn-Shell Turtle.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Xiao Xue was also gaining the advantage in her battle against the Yellow Sand Lizardman.

Although the Yellow Sand Lizardman was swift and agile, it found itself hard-pressed under Xiao Xue’s relentless barrage of wide-area skill attacks.

After watching for a moment, Lin Ze understood the situation clearly.

Both the Thorn-Shell Turtle and the Yellow Sand Lizardman were around Tier 4, Stage 2 in power level, at most not exceeding Tier 4, Stage 3.

They were more than a full tier below Xiao Xue and the Rock Ghost, who were both at Tier 4, Stage 6.

Their defeat was only a matter of time.

Zhang Man naturally saw this as well, her eyes filled with an incredulous light.

She could never have imagined that a freshman’s pet beasts would completely outclass the two she had painstakingly raised.

If the evidence weren’t right before her eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it at all.

The surrounding spectators soon noticed the shift in the battle’s momentum.

“Am I seeing things? It looks like Lin Ze is gaining the upper hand?”

“…No, you’re not seeing things. Lin Ze really is in the advantage!”

“So impressive—they’re on a completely different level from us!”

“No kidding, any one of his pet beasts could crush you!”

“He’s also a freshman, but the gap is way too huge!”

Many were already numb from shock.

Guo Xinyi and Tan Yong’s group, meanwhile, felt waves of turmoil crashing within them.

Two Tier 4 pet beasts, and at least at Stage 5!

Their strength surpassed theirs by several degrees.

With such an enormous gap, there wasn’t even a thought of catching up—only awe remained.

Boom!

After hurling another Clay Bomb, the Rock Ghost suddenly plunged both hands into the ground, then wrenched upward with tremendous force.

The hard earth beneath its hands was as fragile as tofu, and in an instant, it tore out a massive chunk of rock.

Empowered by the Earth Element, the rock’s surface was instantly covered in a deep, bluish-gray hue.

The next moment.

The Rock Ghost let out a roar and hurled the stone with all its might. The boulder shot forth like a cannonball from a barrel, slamming into the Thorn-Shell Turtle with a thunderous impact.

Stone Shot Volley!

Thud!

A dull, heavy impact resounded, making everyone’s chests feel tight.

The enormous, heavy stone shattered into pieces on impact, and the Thorn-Shell Turtle, struck hard, let out a pained cry as cracks spread across its thick shell.

“Such powerful ranged suppression!”

Zhang Man’s expression shifted slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she gritted her teeth in determination.

As if receiving some kind of command, the Thorn-Shell Turtle’s body suddenly glowed, forming a thick, earthy-yellow protective barrier.

Immediately after.

It desperately charged forward, rumbling straight at the Rock Ghost.

“Want to fight up close?”

A hint of amusement flickered in Lin Ze’s eyes.

“Then I’ll grant you that wish.”

Sensing its master’s intent, the Rock Ghost grinned ferociously. It didn’t stop the turtle but allowed it to close the distance before swinging its fist with brutal force.

Normally, if a pet beast excelled at elemental manipulation—that is, leaning toward a caster type—its melee combat abilities would correspondingly be weaker.

In Zhang Man’s expectations, the Rock Ghost should have been exactly that kind of creature.

But what happened next left her utterly shocked.

The Rock Ghost’s melee combat prowess was equally outstanding.

Every punch he threw landed on the Thorn-Shell Turtle’s light barrier like boulders crashing down, the dull thudding sounds echoing without end.

Just by watching, one could clearly feel the terrifying force contained in each strike.

Clearly, Rock Ghost’s towering, burly frame was no mere decoration.

In an instant.

Not only did the Thorn-Shell Turtle fail to turn the tide, but it was once again pushed into extreme disadvantage.

“Even his close combat is this strong—what kind of monster is this!?”

Zhang Man widened her eyes and muttered to herself, already deeply shaken by sheer shock.