Hearing Master Yu Xiaogang's words, everyone fell silent. Zhao Zilong and Dai Mubai exchanged a glance, then had no choice but to accept that they would be sitting this one out. With Dai Mubai and Zhao Zilong benched, Tang San naturally became the team's backbone.
Tang San understood that without Zhao Zilong and Dai Mubai, things could not go as smoothly as their previous Soul Fights. The teams they had faced before had all had lower Soul Power than the Berserk Team, whose members were all above level 35. Even with Zhao Zilong and Dai Mubai in the match, the Shrek Battle Team would still be at a disadvantage in Soul Power, let alone now, when their two strongest members had been taken out.
The teacher is right. Our chances are at most thirty percent now, perhaps even lower. To win, we'll need a good strategy. With that thought, Tang San began assigning tactics to everyone.
Zhao Zilong leaned back against the sofa without saying a word. With both Dai Mubai and him sitting out, could the Shrek Battle Team still win?
In the original story, the Shrek Seven Devils had only narrowly defeated the Berserk Team. But now Tang San didn't have the Eight Spider Lances, and the one with the highest Soul Power was Xiao Wu, who was only level 33. Winning against a stronger opponent would not be easy.
Crazy Rhino was especially troublesome. At level 39, he was a Power Attack System Soul Elder. Xiao Wu and Meng Yiran were both Agility Attack System Soul Masters, and they would have a hard time going head-to-head with a Power Attack System Soul Elder.
After more than ten minutes, Tang San had more or less finished laying out the tactics. Yu Xiaogang spoke up. "The Shrek Battle Team is at a complete disadvantage in this Soul Fight. Even Xiao Wu, the one among you with the highest Soul Power, is two levels below the Berserk Team member with the lowest Soul Power. So this time, I'll allow you to use hidden weapons. Of course, you may only use hidden weapons thrown by hand. You cannot use the mechanical hidden weapons Tang San gave you. Those are to be your trump card in future matches against stronger teams."
"Yes, teacher." Hearing that they could use hidden weapons, Tang San was delighted. If they were allowed to use them, then even if the other side's Soul Power far surpassed theirs, he would still have a chance of winning.
At this point, Zhao Zilong understood. Yu Xiaogang thought he and Dai Mubai had stolen the limelight from Tang San, so he planned to let Tang San take charge of the battle. Zhao Zilong was speechless.
After all, in the original story, Tang San's strength had clearly been a cut above the rest of the Shrek team. Even Dai Mubai, whose Soul Power was higher than Tang San's, couldn't match him.
But now, because Zhao Zilong had appeared, Tang San had been held back by him, and naturally didn't shine as brightly as he had in the original story. Even after reaching level 31 in Soul Power, Tang San had lost more often than he had won in his duels with Dai Mubai. He had lost the commanding presence he'd had when leading Shrek to victory in the original story.
And now, Master clearly wanted to give Tang San a chance to prove himself. That was why he had specifically allowed Tang San to use his hidden weapons.
Soon, the Soul Fight began: the Berserk Team vs. the Shrek Battle Team.
With their combat strength limited, the Shrek Battle Team, whose formation had previously been rather flexible, took up a 3-1-3 formation. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Meng Yiran stood in front; Tang San was in the middle; Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun stayed in the rear. After all, they couldn't win without the support of their two Support Soul Masters.
At the host's announcement, both sides summoned their Martial Souls. Seeing that three members of Shrek were still Soul Grandmasters, the Berserk Team's captain, Crazy Rhino, curled his lip into a scornful smile. "Hmph, you still have three Soul Grandmasters? I remember your team had a level 38 Soul Elder. Why isn't he here? Is he too scared to come out of hiding?"
Tang San replied coldly, "We're enough to deal with the Berserk Team."
"Hmph, how arrogant. Brothers, take them down!" At Crazy Rhino's command, the team members charged forward.
Ning Rongrong immediately began supporting them, using her first and second Soul Skills on Xiao Wu, Meng Yiran, and Zhu Zhuqing.
The three girls launched their attacks, but on the Berserk Team's side, aside from Spider Woman, the Ruyi Disk Soul Master who served as their Control Type Soul Master, everyone else was either a Power Attack System or Agility Attack System Soul Master.
Three against five-they had already been at a disadvantage in Soul Power, and now they were outnumbered too.
"Take out their Support Soul Masters first..." Spider Woman, the Control Type Soul Master at the back, ordered.
Though Shrek was at a disadvantage in Soul Power, Ning Rongrong and Oscar had both spent more than half a year learning hidden-weapon techniques. They were nowhere near as skilled as Tang San and Zhao Zilong, but their aim had improved. When they saw someone coming, they immediately took the hidden weapons they had prepared from their bags and threw them at the oncoming enemies. Ma Hongjun and Tang San also stayed beside Ning Rongrong and Oscar to protect them.
"Hmph, resorting to these little trinkets..." To Soul Masters, Ning Rongrong and Oscar's hidden-weapon attacks didn't amount to anything.
Little trinkets? Looks like they really are underestimating us! Hearing the Berserk Team members' words, Tang San grew annoyed. He took several Dragon Whisker Needles from his Soul Tool and tossed them at the team members with a series of "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." Tang San's hidden-weapon technique was empowered by the Mysterious Heaven Skill. The needles pierced through their Soul Power defenses and sank into their bodies.
The Berserk Team members cried out in pain. Goat Horn was furious too. "Damn it, all you do is use despicable tricks!"
Crazy Rhino said coldly, "Don't panic. We still have the advantage in Soul Power. Be careful around them."
"Wait, Crazy Rhino. These needles seem to be poisoned," Mountain Monkey quickly realized.
"What?" Hearing this, Crazy Rhino flew into a rage. Their Support Soul Master could increase their attack power and speed, but couldn't cure poison!
"Damn it. In that case, let's finish this quickly!" Crazy Rhino roared and charged straight at them.
Seeing the Berserk Team charge again, Tang San called out, "Everyone, be careful!"
Tang San knew the Berserk Team had only one Support Soul Master and had neither healing nor Food Type Soul Master abilities, so they could only try to end the fight quickly. His poison needles had just wounded three of them, and Shrek also had a Food Type Soul Master who could provide Soul Power, so they could keep fighting for a long time.
The Berserk Team's full-force assault once again plunged the Shrek members into a bitter fight. Even though Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar were all throwing hidden weapons, Ning Rongrong and Oscar were still only beginners at controlling them. They could do no more than harass the enemy a little. Only Tang San's hidden weapons could threaten the Berserk Team members.
However, the Berserk Team had already become wary of Tang San's hidden weapons, so they were no longer easy to hit.
After all, hidden weapons relied on surprise to win. If they couldn't be used to catch the enemy off guard, their threat would be greatly reduced.
"Xiao Ao, sausages..." Before long, the Shrek members had used up a great deal of their Soul Power and stamina, and Oscar's restorative sausages came in handy.
Crazy Rhino was even more furious. They were clearly stronger than their opponents, yet the other side relied on such despicable tricks, throwing flying needles and darts, and kept forcing them to fight timidly.
He looked at the Ruyi Disk Soul Master behind him. "Damn it! We can't drag this out. They have a Food Type Soul Master. Take them all down in one go!"
"Ruyi Disk: Berserk..."
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