Chapter 392: Despair
Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas
Everybody quickly switched their attention from Wang Zheng’s choice of Golden Wheel to Kong Zhan. This ray of hope for the Silver Snake Coalition did not seem to be himself at all.
The Silver Snake Coalition members had discovered their leader’s oddness as well. Within the team, Kong Zhan commanded leadership, and he had proved himself with his skills as well. In both rounds, he had demonstrated spectacular skill, and was regarded as a potential contestant for the top 10 rookies because of it.
They had been anticipating Kong Zhan’s intervention to secure them a win. With his ability, defeating an Earthling should be easily within his grasp.
Kong Zhan clenched his fists tightly, sweat pouring. His face was flushed red. His Ability X was foresight and prediction …
The end of his life felt close at hand. Kong Zhan could sense the mind-numbingly terrifying energy from Wang Zheng’s body. There could not be more than five of such people in the whole IG. This was a true devil.
“Contestant Kong Zhan, choose your mech!” the judge prompted.
“I… forfeit.” In an instant, Kong Zhan seemed wasted, drained of all strength and color.
Everybody was silent. The judge was stunned. “Contestant Kong Zhan, a forfeit means surrender. You understand?”
Kong Zhan glanced at Wang Zheng. He seemed to have entered a dreamlike state. He had been ensnared by the demons of his own making. More accurately, the demons in his heart had finally been released.
“I…”
Looking into Wang Zheng’s eyes, he was filled with nothing but terror. Slowly, Kong Zhan’s mouth opened, although he said not a word. He collapsed to the floor.
Wang Zheng himself, let alone the others, was shocked. Damn, was he that frightening?
Neither friend nor foe could make sense of what had just transpired. Wang Zheng had merely entered the field, and furthermore had made a strange choice. This alone had scared the Silver Snake leader into fainting?
What was this?
If the place had not been packed with watchful eyes, Wang Zheng might have been accused of sorcery.
The paramedics intervened. “Quick! His Ability X is going haywire!”
Everybody was stunned. For such a thing to have happened at such a crucial time was a huge stroke of luck for the Solar System. Or perhaps it was the Silver Snake that had met ill fortune?
Just like that, the Solar System team led 2 to 1. One more win would see them through to the top 32.
At the same time, Manalasuo Republic was taking on Gaphalia Alliance’s team.
Gaphalia Alliance, who had drawn the shortest straw, was no strong veteran. But under excellent governance in the last decade, they had seen the entire alliance filled with a new, never-before-seen purpose.
Besides, half the members had been sent to the Arbiter Republic to study under the label of “exchange” for the last three years, only returning at the beginning of the IG qualifiers. Privately, some called Gaphalia “Little Arbiter”.
And Gaphalia had truly displayed the strength of “Little Arbiter”. They had sailed through so far, their performance praiseworthy. They indeed had the character of Arbitan warriors, daring and capable of battle.
“Manalasuo is indeed strong, but don’t forget that we’ve been through 10 times more training than they have. We will win!” Leader Bernier was full of confidence. In this IG, not a single team’s members had been through as much as they had. They had been chosen at the age of 14, and prepared specifically for this day.
At the start, 3,000 youths of 13 or 14 had been chosen. After a year, only 200 were left to receive the honor of advancing to the Arbiter Republic to learn the art of war.
Arbiter’s most grueling training camp… In a mere year, 200 had been whittled down to 42 healthy survivors. The rest either had their spirits broken, or had been physically maimed.
When the day to return dawned, only seven were left. With them as the nucleus, this Gaphalia team had been built.
“We’ll definitely win!”
Ho! How could they possibly be stopped here?
Hum…
A light screen suddenly blossomed from the second-in-command Ackley’s Skylink. It was a recorded video.
The video featured over a 100 youths, horrifically maimed, watching the spectacle on the stage…
“This was what the general sent to me. They are waiting for the news of our success.”
These were their past comrades, those who had forever lost their chance, the failures in Arbiter’s super-soldier training camp.
And they who were waiting in the preparation area were those who had succeeded.
Now, and in the future, they had to continue to be the victors. They owed it to their fallen comrades!
“Fight!”
ROAR!
The Gaphalia team was filled with determination.
On the platform, the various nations’ representatives frowned. The intelligence on Gaphalia was close to comprehensive. The training footage had also been reviewed. Ability wise, they were definitely not on par with Arbiter, but once they entered a frenzy, things were different. As though possessing some berserk factor, the more enraged they became, the better they fought, even doubling their ability.
Over at the Manalasuo Republic side, the reserves were warming up, while the main force… was bored. Some were even sipping milk tea. They were taking this very lightly.
Gaphalia, aka Little Arbiter? Keke, it was not even the real Arbiter, no cause for concern.
“Don’t waste too much time. When it ends, I want to review it!”
With that grim statement to the members, he left with the assistant leader, individually heading for the arenas in zone A and zone B. They completely did not regard their opponents as a threat. It was definitely a slight.
Zone A, Aslan Empire VS Mist Country team.
Mist country had three inhabitable planets and 17 large space cities, a business union. Their liberal stance had allowed them to accrue considerable human resources. In past IGs, they had always been a top 32 contender.
“Looks like the Mist Country team is going to be stopped at the top 64 this time.”
The first match had just ended in Aslan’s win. The substitute had been sent, while Mist Country’s leader had personally made an appearance. They had originally intended to take a point, seeing as it was Aslan’s substitute. Even if they lost subsequently, it would be a point in their favor.
Manalasuo’s leader appeared on the zone A viewing platform just as the second round was beginning. Mist Country had sent out their assistant leader. Ability wise, he was ahead of the leader, but he had character defects; he was the type that only knew how to fight.
However, even against Aslan’s substitute, he could not hold out for even five minutes, while the Aslan members were all calm, sweeping them unconcernedly in a 3-0. Aslan advanced.
Soon, Manalasuo against Gaphalia ended in a 3-0. A clean victory in three rounds.
Gaphalia, nicknamed “Little Arbiter” were perhaps at their strongest in terms of gusto and ability, compared to previous years. If they had had better luck, and matched against another team, perhaps they could have made history in a spectacular battle.
But against Manalasuo, they had not the quality. They could not be compared in the same class.
All three matches ended within 5 minutes. Gaphalia had indeed given their best and went berserk to the point where their powers had doubled. The Arbiter training camp’s berserk training had indeed been effective. All three main team contestants had given off a completely different feeling. However, the difference in ability was real, and their huge improvement was still insufficient. This was not something that morale could make up for. The dispirited members crumbled, wailing in sorrow. It did not bring them victory.
Back in the preparation zone, the assistant leader, who had headed for zone B, had returned, his gaze flinty.
“How was Atlantis?”
“As expected, a 3-0, and…”
“What?”
“They used Aslan’s Agile Guard, and not an Atlantean mech.”
The leader’s eyes flashed. “The outcome?”
“No weaker than us.” The assistant leader’s words had stoked the intensity of the leader’s gaze.
What was Atlantis trying to convey? Were they trying to tell the rest that they were unbeatable?!