Chapter 176: Round of Sixteen [2]
As the names of all sixteen successful qualifiers gradually appeared across the enormous projection screen that covered nearly half the sky above the Central Arena, the spectators, who had already watched sixteen consecutive battles and were beginning to show signs of fatigue, displayed no intention of leaving.
Instead, the announcement that the next round was about to begin only made them even more excited.
Everyone knew that during the Round of 32, overwhelming mismatches were still possible due to large gaps in strength. However, once the tournament reached the Round of 16, every remaining contestant had already proven themselves to be genuine prodigies selected from countless young players. No matter who was matched against whom, there would no longer be any battle that could be won easily.
In the center of the arena, the staff responsible for restoring the battlefield quickly cleared away the remaining rubble, shattered ice, and flames that had yet to completely die out.
The protective magic array covering the entire combat zone was stabilized once again with the help of special crystals, while the countless cracks that had spread across the arena floor gradually healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, making it seem as though the earth rending battles that had taken place only moments ago had never happened at all.
On the floating commentator’s platform, Mithrash looked down at the now quiet Central Arena, the smile on his face broader than ever before. Slowly raising the amplification crystal in his hand, he said in a voice filled with anticipation,
"Ladies and gentlemen, after sixteen thrilling and fiercely contested battles, the Top Sixteen of this year’s Chosen One Tournament have officially been decided. From this moment onward, every remaining contestant possesses the strength to stand on their own. Therefore, the Round of 16 truly marks the beginning of clashes between the strongest."
Dragon Count slowly nodded in agreement.
"In this round, previous rankings, backgrounds, and public reputations no longer hold any meaning. The system does not consider anyone’s identity, nor does it deliberately avoid matching together the most favored contenders. If two true championship favorites happen to meet here, then one of them is destined to have their journey end today."
As those words fell, the atmosphere throughout the Central Arena immediately became far heavier.
Everyone understood that the Dragon Count was not merely trying to build suspense.
It was a very real possibility.
Among the sixteen remaining contestants were several of the Human Race’s most celebrated young players from the First Shelter, four members of the Nullborn Race who had yet to reveal their true strength, and elite representatives from the Sorath Race and the Velhari Race.
No matter how the system paired them, there was a high chance that a battle worthy of the quarterfinals, or even the semifinals, would occur far earlier than expected.
Within the contestant area, Braka stood with his arms folded across his chest, the excited grin on his face completely undisguised. To him, the stronger his opponent was, the more worthwhile the battle would become.
Helen, who had only recently finished her match, sat quietly in her seat. Although the healers had restored some color to her face, the enormous amount of mana she had exhausted had clearly yet to fully recover. From beginning to end, she kept her eyes closed, making use of every possible moment to rest.
Jayden maintained the same calm expression, as though nothing in the world could truly interest him. Only when he occasionally lifted his eyes toward the projection screen would an unmistakable trace of confidence flash across their depths, as if no matter what opponent was assigned to him, reaching the finals was already inevitable.
Lucien stood nearby, the warm smile no longer on his face. Compared to the relaxed appearance he presented, it was obvious that he took the upcoming draw far more seriously than he let on.
Alden’s expression was neutral, and no one could really tell what was going through his mind.
And lastly, Zich, his gaze slowly swept across the remaining fifteen competitors while repeatedly reviewing each person’s fighting style from the first round in his mind.
Especially the four Nullborns.
If he had the choice, he would rather not face the Nullborn Race this early.
Not because he feared them. Rather, because even now he lacked enough information to determine what kind of abilities they actually possessed. The speed and bizarre movement techniques they had displayed during their battles remained impossible to understand. No matter how many times Zich replayed those scenes in his mind, he still could not discover any consistent pattern.
To fight such an unknown opponent without adequate information would undoubtedly introduce countless unpredictable dangers into the battle.
And even with his powerful summons, if serious measures were not taken, he could still lose.
As the discussions throughout the arena gradually subsided, the white crystals floating beside each of the sixteen contestants slowly rose into the air once again. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, they drifted toward the sky before beginning to revolve rapidly around the enormous projection screen.
Yes, this time around, it was not a pillar of light!
At the same time, every contestant’s name disappeared completely.
In their place remained sixteen constantly shifting silhouettes of white light.
[Random Top Sixteen Matchmaking Will Now Begin.]
[All Eight Matches Will Be Determined Simultaneously.]
[Once Generated, Matchups Cannot Be Changed.]
The sixteen white crystals suddenly accelerated.
Blinding white light intertwined across the sky, forming what looked like an enormous whirlpool woven entirely from starlight.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators unconsciously held their breath.
Everyone eagerly waited to see what combinations would appear.
Buzz—
The first crystal abruptly stopped spinning.
Immediately afterward, the second crystal flew out from the vortex of light.
Both crystals released brilliant radiance simultaneously.
Moments later, the first matchup slowly appeared upon the massive holographic screen.
...
Thanks to everyone who supports this novel with their valuable Golden Tickets and Power Stones. I really appreciate it. The next Chapter will be up shortly.
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