Flashback
A Few Minutes Before the Battle, on the School Field
Sunlight illuminated a paper covered in strategic scribbles. Arthur sat in the center, surrounded by Jing Liu, Kai, and Jun. Wang Cheng and Lee were still recovering from their previous match.
"This upcoming three-on-three battle is the key," said Arthur, his voice calm yet authoritative. He looked at Jing Liu. "Liu, you are the strongest among us. That means you will be their primary target, especially from Lin Mei and her Mirror Illusion Spirit."
"Why don't we rely on our numerical advantage in this 3-on-3 fight?" Kai asked.
"This is to leave them with no excuses after they lose! Besides, I believe you will win easily!"
Jing Liu nodded slowly, his cold eyes scanning the diagram Arthur had drawn on the paper. "The mirror is troublesome. Its illusions can disrupt concentration."
"Exactly!" Arthur continued. "So, we won't give her a chance. The plan is: Bait and Misdirection."
He pointed to three circles on the paper. "You, Liu, are the bait. You will advance and let them focus on you. But you will not use your full power. Keep your spirit ring a secret."
Jing Liu crossed his arms. "Why? With my Frost Domain, I could end the fight quickly."
"And that's what they fear and expect," Arthur replied sharply. "If you reveal your trump card now, every future opponent will study it and prepare a counter. It's better to let them continue underestimating you, or keep them guessing about your strength. Ignorance is the greatest enemy in battle. Let it be our weapon!"
Arthur then turned to Kai and Jun. "And you two are the misdirection. Your task isn't to defeat them, but to make it impossible for them to defeat Liu."
"Jun," Arthur said, looking at the boy with the root spirit. "Your roots are for area control. Don't attack directly. Disrupt their movement, ensnare their feet, turn this arena into a maze for Xiao Ganyu and Hong. Force Lin Mei to constantly think about how to help them."
Jun nodded, his eyes shining with understanding. "Restrict their movement."
"Right! And Kai," Arthur looked at the wielder of the Steel Candle Hammer. "You are our surprise. Your steel candle can change shape. Use it to create barriers, traps, or even reinforce Jun's snares. Be creative. Make them confused and frustrated!"
Kai clenched his fist enthusiastically. "I can do it! I'll trap them!"
"Great!" Arthur finally looked at them all. "The combination of Jun's snares and Kai's creativity will force Lin Mei to divert her attention from Liu. And that's when, Liu, you will have an opening to disable Xiao Ganyu, their leader. Without their leader, their team will fall into chaos and their morale will shatter. They will surrender."
Jing Liu was silent for a moment, then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, a sign of agreement. "A good plan. I will play the role of the patient bait."
Back at the Battle Arena
Jing Liu's Team:
"Jing Liu, Level 12, Armor Spirit: Ice Armor!" Armor made of glittering, seemingly sturdy crystalline ice enveloped his body. The temperature around him dropped drastically. The yellow spirit ring on his hand glowed very faintly, almost invisible, saving its power for the right moment.
"Kai, Level 7, Tool Spirit: Steel Candle!" A large hammer with a head that looked like melting and re-solidifying metal wax appeared in his grasp.
"Jun, Level 7, Plant Spirit: Thorny Roots!" Dark brown vines with sharp thorns along their length appeared, coiling around his arms and legs, ready to spread across the ground.
Xiao Ganyu's Team:
"Xiao Ganyu, Level 9, Beast Spirit: Wind Wolf!" Grey fur grew on his arms, his nails elongated into claws, and his eyes glowed yellow. He snarled fiercely.
"Lin Mei, Level 12, Tool Spirit: Soulshard Mirror!" A round mirror with a silver, shattered-like glass edge appeared, floating in front of his palm. Each shard reflected the opponent's image in a disturbing way.
"Hong, Level 8, Beast Spirit: Iron Baboon!" The burly man's body enlarged, coarse iron-like fur grew, and his face elongated to resemble a baboon. He beat his chest loudly.
DONG! The bell for the second round echoed!
Action began immediately!
Lin Mei immediately raised his mirror. "False Reflection!" A dazzling light shot from the mirror, creating multiple illusions of Jing Liu around him. However, Jing Liu, following the plan, only exerted minimal ice energy to protect his eyes, pretending to stagger slightly and groan in pain.
"Liu!" Kai shouted worriedly.
"Execute the plan!" Jing Liu commanded in a firm voice, signaling with his hand.
Jun immediately knelt and plunged his hands into the ground. "Thorny Snare!" Thorny roots burst from the ground like giant snakes, immediately surrounding the area around Xiao Ganyu and Hong.
Xiao Ganyu, who was preparing to charge, was forced to leap back with wolf-like agility. "How cunning!" he grumbled as a root nearly ensnared his ankle.
The larger and stronger Hong relied on his brute strength. With a loud roar, he tore through the approaching roots with his iron claws. "THESE WEAK ROOTS WON'T HOLD ME!" But for every root he destroyed, two new ones emerged, significantly slowing his progress.
Kai didn't stand idle. He slammed his hammer into the ground. "Wax Wall!" Molten steel wax sprayed from the hammer, quickly solidifying into a chest-high wall blocking Hong's path to Jing Liu.
"Jun, now!" Jing Liu shouted.
Jun gritted his teeth, exerting more spiritual energy. His roots grew thicker and more numerous, tightly entangling the legs and arms of Hong, who was busy with the wax wall. "I can't... move!" Hong roared, trapped.
Lin Mei, seeing his two teammates hindered, shifted his attention from Jing Liu. "Fools! Let me handle the plant controller!" His mirror spun, aiming at Jun.
But Jing Liu had anticipated this. "Did you forget I'm here?" He raised his hand, and a sharp Ice Spear formed in the air and shot fiercely towards Lin Mei, forcing him to cancel his attack and block with his mirror. Crack! Shards of ice scattered.
Meanwhile, Kai saw an opportunity. "Hammer Forge!" He didn't attack the enemy directly but struck his own wax wall! Molten steel wax splattered everywhere, landing on Hong's trapped body and Jun's snares. Upon touching his skin and the plant restraints, the wax instantly solidified, creating a hard layer of metal that fused Hong with Jun's snare! "AAAAARGH! RELEASE ME!" Hong screamed in pain and frustration, completely immobilized.
Xiao Ganyu, enraged seeing his teammate trapped, ignored the surrounding snares and charged forward at full speed. "LIN MEI! ATTACK JING LIU NOW JU- ARGH!" His shout was cut short as his foot caught on another of Jun's roots, sending him crashing hard to the ground.
And that was his final mistake. Jing Liu, who had already started moving the moment Xiao Ganyu began his charge, was now right in front of him. With a quick and efficient motion, without any excessive burst of ice or cold aura, his ice-armored fist struck squarely at Xiao Ganyu's solar plexus. Thud!
"Ugh!" Xiao Ganyu coughed, his eyes wide. All the air was knocked out of his lungs. He crumpled, trying to breathe but unable to, his body twitching weakly on the ground.
"Xiao Ganyu, defeated!"
Lin Mei froze, his eyes shifting from the utterly useless Hong, to the fallen Xiao Ganyu, then to Jing Liu standing calmly upright as if nothing had happened. He saw Jing Liu's yellow spirit ring that hadn't even glowed fully. Frustration and acknowledgment of their tactical defeat overwhelmed him. With a trembling hand, he lowered his mirror. "Enough... we surrender."
"The three-on-three match is over! The winners are Jing Liu's team!"
Cheers from the audience erupted! Jing Liu looked at Kai and Jun, their faces shining with sweat and victory. They did it! They won the battle against theoretically stronger opponents by executing Arthur's plan perfectly.
He walked over to them, helping the exhausted Kai and Jun to their feet. "You were amazing. Just as Arthur said."
Kai laughed heartily, still catching his breath. "Arthur's plan was great! But the fight itself was so exciting too!"
Jun nodded, his face pale but satisfied, his gaze full of respect for Jing Liu and towards Arthur, who was smiling from the sidelines. "A perfect strategy. Our teamwork... was good."
Jing Liu looked at his still-hidden yellow ring. *Arthur's decision was correct.* His power remained a mystery, a secret weapon waiting for a more critical moment. Today's victory belonged to Dormitory 7 thanks to their teamwork. The look full of acknowledgment and curiosity from Lin Mei in the distance signaled that Arthur's plan had succeeded completely.
TO BE CONTINUED...