Battle Royale Mode

Chen Guan listened in silence. By the sound of it, his odds of winning were actually pretty good.

Unfortunately, most of his demon-series skills were hardly fit for the big stage. He might have to spend some popularity points to boost his stats and become a walking numerical monster.

Still, the rewards made it worth taking the gamble. If he managed to turn the tables and become the MVP, he would probably rake in another wave of popularity points as well. It was a positive feedback loop.

The only thing he cared about was Baobao’s food.

As if sensing his thoughts, Baobao anxiously circled his feet, pawing at the legs of Chen Guan’s pants.

“Hungry.”

Su Yuehe took out several monster cores of decent quality and fed them to Baobao, smiling as she rubbed its head.

Watching them, An Changqing shook his head helplessly and led the way toward the dormitory.

“Let’s get back and rest. We’re going to suffer for the next month.”

……

Inside the training arena.

Blinding fluorescent lights illuminated the synthetic track until it gleamed white. Chen Guan gripped his scythe tightly in both hands.

“Come on!”

Long Ao let out a thunderous roar.

Chen Guan drove his ankle into the ground and shot forward like an arrow. His scythe swept through the air in a low arc, heading straight for Long Ao’s legs.

Long Ao’s right fist surged forward, the black-iron knuckle guard around it smashing into the blade of the scythe. The ear-piercing clang of metal reverberated through the arena.

Using the impact to propel himself backward, Chen Guan performed a backflip and landed steadily, the scythe swinging behind his back.

“You’ve gotten stronger again.”

Long Ao shook his numb wrist and raised his chin proudly. “The stacking effect of Endless Combat. The longer I fight, the stronger I get.”

“I’m calling for a break.”

Chen Guan leaned against the wall to rest. In truth, he wasn’t tired at all. He had nearly forgotten what fatigue even felt like.

He had called a halt because of someone on the upper platform.

A frail figure wearing black-rimmed glasses was crouched up there, staring motionlessly at Chen Guan from the edge of the arena. The gaze made him deeply uncomfortable.

“That guy Shan Heng is here again.” Chen Guan pointed upward with his towel.

Long Ao flipped himself to his feet and rolled up his sleeves. “That kid comes here to spy on us every day. I’m going to drag him down and get some answers.”

Chen Guan reached out and held him back, shaking his head. “Let him watch. It’s not like he can figure anything out.”

After all, Huaqing’s school rules didn’t prohibit first-year students from watching second-year students spar. If they made a fuss, they would be the ones in the wrong.

Of course, if the guy dared follow them back to the dormitory, Chen Guan would let him experience the sensation of acute iron poisoning.

Su Yuehe rubbed her arms. Even she couldn’t stand the man. “The way he looks always gives me chills.”

An Changqing sheathed his sword and glanced at the figure above. “Once we’re on the battlefield, we’ll naturally find out what he’s capable of.”

At present, Shan Heng was the most likely candidate to become the top student of the first-year class. An Changqing was looking forward to seeing his strength.

……

Polaris Arena.

The enormous structure, built on the edge of a cliff, was drowning in a sea of people. The salty, fishy wind swept across the spectator stands.

Chen Guan stood in Huaqing Academy’s formation with the black coffin on his back and let out a long yawn.

Baobao obediently squatted at his feet. After a month of being fed, it had filled out considerably.

An Changqing straightened his tie and looked around. “There are more people here than I expected.”

A massive holographic projection hovered in the center of the arena.

Chen Beixuan was dressed a little more formally today. Standing at the front of the team, he bellowed loudly, “Everyone, look alive!”

“If we don’t win the championship this time, every single one of you will run one thousand kilometers with a full pack when we get back!”

The fourth-year team captain, Qin Wu, wore a crisp uniform and protested with a smile. “Teacher Chen, don’t scare everyone like that. We were the undefeated grand-slam champions last year.”

Chen Beixuan glared at him, clearly displeased. “Pride comes before a fall. As captain, you have to set an example.”

Li Yuqing, now a third-year student, chimed in from the side. “Even defending champions can’t afford to let their guard down. This year’s opponents are no pushovers.”

Chen Guan looked toward the back of the team. Shan Heng still looked exactly the same, head lowered as he repeatedly pushed his slipping glasses back up his nose.

“Hey, junior. Don’t get scared to tears later,” Long Ao teased casually.

Shan Heng stammered out a reply, not even daring to meet his eyes.

“I—I’ll do my best.”

Amid the roar of machinery, the arena gates rose.

“Now entering the arena is Team Zero Academy!” the female announcer cried in a high, impassioned voice.

A group of students in black combat uniforms marched into the arena. The blond young man at their head stopped and swept his gaze over Huaqing’s team.

He raised his right hand, pressed his thumb against his own throat, and dragged it forcefully across his neck with a mocking grin.

Long Ao’s temper flared instantly.

“That bastard’s asking to die.”

An Changqing grabbed his shoulder and spoke quickly. “That’s Charles, Zero Academy’s team captain. He’s been injected with the latest-generation genetic enhancer. Don’t act rashly.”

Long Ao shook off his hand and clenched his fists. “Let me run into him. I’ll still knock him flat.”

Next to enter was Japan’s Kamitani Academy. The young man leading them wore a pure-white kariginu and gently waved a folding fan, his smile warm and mild.

Several little figures cut from yellow paper floated and danced around him.

“What kind of trick is that?” Chen Guan asked, pointing at the figures overhead. He wasn’t particularly familiar with the Japanese contestants.

Su Yuehe, as reliable as ever, explained, “Those are shikigami. That boy is Kamitani Academy’s chief onmyoji, Shū Kashiwa, a fourth-year student.”

The last team to enter was North City Academy. They all wore matching uniforms and marched in perfect formation.

On the chairman’s platform, the higher-ups from the Human Council and the Superpower Association were already seated. One white-haired elder stepped up to the microphone.

“Children, welcome to the final stage of the Four-School League.”

The elder’s voice rang throughout the arena through the loudspeakers.

“This year’s league will no longer use the traditional arena-style format.”

“We will be adopting an entirely new free-for-all survival battle!”

The holographic projection behind him instantly switched to a map of an island, marked with dense forests, swamps, and an abandoned city.

“All participating students will be randomly transported to different locations across the island.”

“An energy barrier around the island will gradually contract, forcing you toward the central area.”

“The last team standing will win the overall championship for its academy! Teleportation will begin in one minute!”

The rules weren’t complicated. It was just like a four-character game Chen Guan had once played, except there would be no need to search for supplies.

An Changqing’s expression darkened completely. This was something he hadn’t known before the competition. “Random teleportation means we’ll be forced apart.”

Su Yuehe added, “It also means we might run into a fully assembled team from another academy right at the start.”

Long Ao rolled his neck, unconcerned. “Then we fight. No need to overthink it.”

Team captain Qin Wu hurried over and gave Long Ao a pointed warning. “Everyone, if we get separated, make your way toward the abandoned city at the center of the map. If you run into students from another academy along the way, don’t engage them head-on.”