030: Combat Pet Card - Poison Mosquito

Yaxi Street.

All the streetlights on the entire street looked like old men with cloudy eyes.

The light emanating from the lamp covers was somewhat dim, making visibility on the entire street quite poor at night. Occasionally, when a car drove by, its headlights would illuminate half the street.

Mosquito sent away all his brothers, including Xie Dong, and sneaked alone into an alley across Yaxi Street.

Even before dealing with Tang Jian, he had already sent his brothers to find out Tang Jian's movements, knowing that Tang Jian would pass through this Yaxi Street alley every day, whether returning home or going out.

And this alley, precisely, was completely dark at night, without even a streetlight. It was a dark passage formed between two old buildings, very suitable for doing unsavory things at night.

Mosquito calculated the time, pulled a black stocking from his pocket, and pulled it over his head. His entire face was obscured, but two holes were perfectly cut out for his eyes, clearly prepared beforehand.

His cold, dark eyes shifted slightly. He leaned against the corner of the alley wall, and with a flick of his sleeve, a card appeared in his hand.

It was a White Card, with intricate and complex lines and dotted patterns on its surface.

Looking closely, one could see that these lines and dots actually formed a black mosquito with a long, hideous, stinger-like proboscis, long legs dangling, and wings flapping.

Pet-type Combat Card – White Quality Four-Star Card – Poison Mosquito!

This card's market price was around 30,000.

Because it was a pet-type Combat Card, its price was even more expensive than some seven-star auxiliary cards of the same rank.

Mosquito's ability to gain a reputation on the streets in the vicinity was also due to this Poison Mosquito Card.

"Just one little sting, and that kid will be sick for several days. Hehehe, where should I sting him?"

Mosquito rubbed the Poison Mosquito Card in his hand, a cold smirk appearing on his face, shrouded by the black stocking.

To him, students like Tang Jian, from the ivory tower, no matter how good their vitality or Card Energy, were too naive. They were nowhere near comparable to a Card User like him, who had been through countless brawls and scraped by in society.

Especially since he was one of the best among them, possessing a pet Combat Card.

The Poison Mosquito's lethality was immense. If it stung a fatal area and injected its venom into the enemy's body, then ordinary people with less than 10 vitality would certainly die.

Even if it wasn't a fatal area, it would immediately cause that part of the body to swell up, itching terribly. In severe cases, various infectious diseases could arise, leading to severe fever, vomiting, drowsiness, and even coma.

Mosquito at this moment was like a sinister Poison Mosquito lurking in the shadows, waiting for its prey to arrive.

Tang Jian was eager to get home. He had spent a lot of money recently; the 25,000 he received from Sun Yiying was basically all used up, which was why he had made such great progress in these ten days.

However, after absorbing all the Energy Cards purchased with the 25,000, he still had over 16,000 points of energy remaining, not yet consumed.

Tomorrow was the start of the Interstellar Tower assessment. Tang Jian planned to activate the Dream Realm again tonight, striving to raise his strength another level.

He stepped into the dimly lit Yaxi Street, heading towards another slightly damp, unnamed alley.

As soon as he entered this alley, Tang Jian's heart subtly constricted. He felt a shiver run through him, a sense of unease.

This feeling was not unfamiliar to him. In his previous life, before encountering danger multiple times, he had experienced this kind of intuitive premonition.

Even recently, while fighting in the Dream Realm, he had felt something similar.

"Hmm?"

Tang Jian's footsteps abruptly halted. His bright, dark eyes scanned the dark alley, his gaze like that of a hunting dog observing its prey, full of vigilance.

Mosquito, deep in the alley, narrowed his eyes, quite surprised.

From his position, he could see the figure appearing at the brightly lit mouth of the alley opposite, and he was certain it was Tang Jian.

But Tang Jian couldn't possibly see him hidden in the darkness. Yet, Tang Jian had now stopped at the alley entrance and hadn't come further in.

"Did he sense it? He really does have some tricks up his sleeve."

Mosquito recalled Xie Dong's description, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. He quickly condensed Card Energy onto the card in his palm.

Buzz—

The card deformed. The lifelike mosquito depicted on the card's surface suddenly had crimson eyes, and it actually protruded directly from the card and flew out.

This Poison Mosquito vibrated its wings, its compound eyes and antennae rotating. Its forelegs, covered in black spots and rings, rubbed against its hideous, spiky proboscis. It dragged its heavy hind legs and flew out fiercely.

Almost the instant the Poison Mosquito flew out, Mosquito slammed himself against the wall, his face extremely pale, panting heavily. His gaze, however, was cruel as he stared intently at the Poison Mosquito's flight path, fixated on his prey at the mouth of the alley ahead.

His internal Card Energy was almost completely depleted in that instant, but with the Poison Mosquito summoned, this battle could be concluded.

"How dare he!"

Just then, from a dark corner trailing behind Tang Jian, a pair of beautiful eyes flashed with killing intent and ferocity. Sun Yiying almost couldn't resist rushing out of the shadows at that moment.

However, seeing Tang Jian's next move, Sun Yiying forced herself to hold still, staring intently at a card Tang Jian pulled out.

Mechanical-type Combat Card – Sleeve Arrow.

Tang Jian's eyes became incredibly cold and dark.

The moment he heard that faint "buzzing" sound, he instantly entered combat mode. All his Card Energy was highly concentrated, ready to activate a card and attack at the earliest possible moment.

Just now, he had clearly seen a pair of crimson lights suddenly appear at the opposite alley entrance, and then he quickly heard a faint "buzzing" sound.

It was rare to have mosquitoes this season, and even if there were, unless it was a swarm, such a strong buzzing sound was impossible.

At that instant, a piece of information quickly flashed through Tang Jian's mind.

His experience from his previous life immediately warned him that he had encountered a Card Cultivator, and the card the opponent had activated was a pet-type Combat Card, the Poison Mosquito.

Now, the buzzing sound had faded completely, barely audible, and the initial crimson glow had vanished too.

Tang Jian knew this meant the Poison Mosquito had entered a stealth state. If he made even the slightest rash move and gave the Poison Mosquito an opening, this predator would swiftly launch a lightning-fast attack.

The Poison Mosquito could perform "high-difficulty maneuvers" such as front and back rolls, dives, sharp turns, and sudden accelerations or decelerations at will.

Moreover, the Poison Mosquito didn't rely on that pair of crimson compound eyes for hunting but rather its antennae.

The short hairs on its antennae reacted to changes in airborne chemicals, being particularly sensitive to compounds like carbon dioxide and lactic acid, as well as humidity.

Now, the Poison Mosquito lurking in the night was like an assassin hidden in the darkness, waiting patiently to strike, ready to launch a fatal blow at any moment.

Tang Jian narrowed his eyes, then suddenly shot forward like a spring, taking a diagonal step.

At that instant, Sun Yiying, hidden behind him, watched his movement and her eyes lit up.

Tactical Footwork – Arrow Step Sprint.

This footwork was different from the casual steps of normal walking; it was like a fierce tiger launching an attack, with the soles of its feet digging into the ground, a "clawing" motion, and its spine and other muscles coordinating with the leg sprint to generate power. It was difficult to execute without mastering combat techniques.

Almost the moment Tang Jian surged forward, a terrifying buzzing of flapping wings suddenly rang out, and a black shadow flashed past him from behind in an instant.

Missed—

The Sleeve Arrow Card in Tang Jian's hand suddenly lit up, and he swung his arm out like a whip.

A crisp crack echoed clearly in the alley—