Chapter 24: Continuous storms

Once one person took the lead, others were quick to follow.

Everyone present harbored hopes of trying their luck; a good showing might just secure them some valuable resources.

After all, the grand spectacle of the Knightly Games required no registration fee whatsoever, whether for the initial qualifiers, the advanced duels, or even the ultimate title contention.

Simply signing up guaranteed participation!

Moreover, achieving any notable success would be met with substantial rewards from the Alliance.

Cultivating warriors and honing their combat prowess through competitive sport was the original ethos behind the Knightly Games.

Regardless of any corruption within the Alliance’s upper echelons, this particular aspect was never a matter of jest.

Consequently, in previous iterations of the Knightly Games, many participants entered with the mindset of either striking it rich by placing, or losing nothing by simply gaining experience and reputation.

However, no one anticipated that Lien would introduce such a ruthless rule this time: killing without consequence.

Thus, those who had intended to merely muddle through, hoping to snatch some benefits, were naturally unwilling to proceed.

As a result, while many rushed towards their respective team entrances, clutching their tokens, a significant number remained rooted to their spots, some even preparing to depart, faces contorted in anger.

`Hmph, if you wish to abandon your courage and play the coward, I have no objections. Simply return your token, and you may take your leave.`

Lien, of course, offered no pleasantries to these individuals.

Under the oppressive aura he had previously displayed, those already hesitant to fight harbored no thoughts of resistance, promptly surrendering their tokens and departing.

As for those who still intended to compete…

`We’re [Spirit-7]… Blast it all, why aren’t these numbers in sequence?`

Sephilia sprinted ahead, though they had already passed four entrances.

These four entrances, bafflingly, were not 1, 2, 3, 4, but rather 17, 25, 3, and 11.

Some behind them had even managed to locate their own designated entrance.

Melina trailed behind Sephilia.

`How much time do we have left?`

`Less than fifteen minutes. It should still be enough.`

Melina, however, furrowed her brow.

`No, I fear it won’t be enough. Thirty teams are competing this time. I’ve just calculated that each entrance is roughly two hundred meters apart. This means if we’re unlucky enough to have the furthest entrance, we’ll have to run nearly three thousand meters.`

No sooner had Melina’s words faded than Wynn’s voice emerged from Sephilia’s shadow.

`If our luck is truly abysmal, we might even be heading in the wrong direction, which would make the distance even greater.`

Melina and Sephilia were instantly speechless.

Both simultaneously thought to themselves: ‘It can’t be that bad, can it?’

If poor luck meant choosing the wrong direction, and by some twist, the very first entrance in the *opposite* direction happened to be theirs, wouldn’t they have to circle the entire arena?

Damn it, what a rip-off!

Could this idiotic rule really have been something Lien just cooked up on a whim?

`Use your spiritual energy, Sephilia. We’re running out of time,` Melina urged.

Sephilia shook her head.

`You can’t just casually expend your spiritual energy. Wynn, you’re the fastest. Go find the entrance. Once you do, use the communicator to tell us.`

As she spoke, Sephilia pulled a small box from her pocket, inside which rested three items resembling Bluetooth earbuds.

Of course, while they looked like Bluetooth earbuds, they were, in fact, ultra-long-range communicators.

Wynn caught one and slipped it into his ear.

Immediately, an imperceptible ripple of spiritual energy emanated outwards.

Melina’s vision blurred for a moment as a dark shadow shot forth from beneath Sephilia’s feet with astonishing speed.

`He…` She blinked, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Sephilia said, a touch of pride in her voice, `Surprised, aren’t you? Don’t let Wynn’s usual silence fool you. I suspect that when he gets serious, he’s actually more formidable than either of us.`

Melina asked, astonished, `More formidable than Melo?`

Sephilia was instantly speechless.

`So you didn’t even include yourself because you know your limits, is that it?`

`Heh-heh, well, I do tend to hold Melo back a bit…`

Sephilia ignored her, continuing, `If we were talking about a Radiant Knight, then Wynn naturally couldn’t compare. But against the current Melo, or rather, you, who controls Melo… I believe even if you could unleash another light cannon, you still wouldn’t be Wynn’s match.`

A faint smile touched Sephilia’s lips.

`He specializes in combat against people, understand?`

Melina immediately understood.

Sephilia glanced down at the time displayed on her token.

`Only ten minutes left. I hope we make it.`

`Found it, but… just get over here first.`

No sooner had she finished speaking than Wynn’s voice resonated through her earpiece.

Yet, from Wynn’s tone, it seemed some unexpected incident had occurred.

Sephilia’s spirits surged.

Without overthinking, she declared, `It must be just ahead! Use your spiritual energy, Melina!`

`Right!`

Melina affirmed.

Immediately after, both unleashed a surge of spiritual energy, rocketing forward in an instant!

****

However, upon their arrival, they discovered three other individuals standing directly at their designated entrance.

`Well, well? Looks like everyone’s finally here, eh?`

The three men blocked Entrance 7, while Wynn stood some distance away, subtly confronting them.

Sephilia joined Wynn, checking the time.

Seven minutes remained.

If they failed to enter the arena before the countdown ended, they would be disqualified.

‘How could they possibly fail without even stepping into the arena?!’

Sephilia’s temper flared instantly.

Her Radiant Great Hammer materialized onto her shoulder.

`Hey! I don’t care who you are or what you want. If I still see you here after a count of three, don’t blame me for getting rough!`

The three men exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.

`Hahaha, this little mare’s quite feisty. I like that temperament. You know, pinning a wild horse like you down on a bed, looking down at you from behind – that’s the most satisfying kind of conquest! I just wonder if your body is as fiery as your temper!`

The man in the middle extended his tongue, licking his lips suggestively.

Melina couldn’t help but mutter, `Where do these standardized novel villain archetypes even come from?`

Sephilia, however, was clearly not amused.

Their vulgar remarks and gazes, which seemed to strip her bare, filled her with a profound sense of physical revulsion.

`Melina, be careful yourself. Wynn, go! Don’t hold back, kill them!`

Sephilia issued her command, then swung her hammer, charging forward.

Wynn sighed, a hint of resignation in his expression, yet his movements were anything but slow; he melted into the shadows.

Melina hesitated for a moment, not acting rashly, but her right hand was already resting on her sword hilt.

She intended to assess the situation.

Especially the true intentions of the three men facing them.

‘Are they here to obstruct contestants? Are they hired thugs from another team? Or do they have some other agenda?’