Chapter 179: Alden Claus, The Guardian Knight
While every VIP box reacted differently to the final pairing, the arena staff below had already completed every preparation.
The massive protective barrier returned to peak condition, and the entrance connecting the contestant area to the arena floor slowly opened.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
Upon the commentary platform floating above the Central Arena, Mithrash slowly rose to his feet after confirming that the protective barrier had been fully stabilized once more.
The professional smile on his face became even more pronounced, and when he raised the amplification crystal in his hand, his voice, magnified by a special magic array, instantly echoed clearly throughout the entire Central Arena, reaching countless viewing centers across the real world where the tournament was being broadcast live.
"The Round of Sixteen draw has officially concluded, and the first two contestants to step onto the battlefield are none other than Alden, Humanity’s Guardian Knight, who has advanced all the way here through nearly unshakable defensive capabilities, and the Nullborn Race contestant who effortlessly defeated his previous opponent with a speed that left everyone completely unable to comprehend, Ainos!"
As his words fell, the enormous projection screen stretching across the sky above the arena shifted once again.
The display that had previously shown all eight matchups gradually retreated to both sides until only the names of the first battle remained. The moment [Alden — Human Race] and [Ainos — Nullborn Race] were fully fixed before everyone’s eyes, the entire Human spectators’ section erupted into cheers even louder than before.
To the vast majority of ordinary players, Alden was undoubtedly one of the most dependable representatives among Humanity’s contestants in this tournament.
Compared to Lucien, whose true depth remained impossible to measure, Helen, whose exquisite elemental control constantly created miracles, and Zich, the mysterious newcomer who had never been willing to reveal his true strength, Alden’s power had always been far more straightforward and far easier to place one’s trust in.
He possessed no dazzling bursts of incredible speed, no terrifying skills capable of destroying an entire arena in a single instant, and no bizarre abilities beyond comprehension. Yet the enormous tower shield that almost never left his hand had once withstood the continuous assaults of dozens of monsters during the first stage’s siege.
In the previous elimination round, it had endured seventeen consecutive heavy strikes powerful enough to shatter solid rock walls before his opponent finally exhausted themselves and exposed an opening, allowing Alden to end the battle with a single strike from the Guardian Sword hanging at his waist.
His class was known as [Guardian Knight].
This was not an ordinary shield bearing class that simply specialized in strengthening defense. Rather, it was a unique class capable of absorbing, redirecting, and dispersing incoming force through its shield while simultaneously converting part of that impact into its own combat rhythm.
Because of this, Alden had almost never been defeated head on during prolonged battles, and the way he remained firmly standing no matter what attack he faced had made him one of the contestants many believed was best suited to facing the Nullborn Race.
And because of Zich’s last display, it was safe to say Humanity had even more hope in him than the Summoner.
"Alden!"
"Hold him off!"
"Show those Nullborn bastards that Humanity isn’t so easily defeated!"
"As long as he can block that strange movement, he’ll have a chance!"
One hopeful shout after another rang out across the Human spectators’ section. Even many young players who had gradually fallen silent after witnessing the Nullborns’ consecutive victories now stood up once more, waving their flags vigorously, as though the moment Alden succeeded in stopping Ainos’ impossible to track attacks, the seemingly invincible aura surrounding the Nullborn would finally be shattered.
However, compared to the rising cheers all around him, Aldden himself, standing within the contestant area, displayed no excitement whatsoever.
He simply stared quietly at the names upon the projection screen. The corners of his lips slowly lowered, and upon his normally calm and resolute face appeared an expression that was almost bitter, as though long before the drawing had even begun, he had already vaguely anticipated that he would eventually face precisely this opponent.
"So... it really was him..."
He muttered softly before reaching out to grasp the enormous tower shield resting beside him.
A heavy metallic scraping sound slowly echoed as the massive silver gray shield, large enough to completely conceal his body, was lifted effortlessly with one hand.
At the same time, the broad sword hanging from his waist lightly struck against his armor as he stepped forward.
Standing not far away, Brakka grinned after hearing those words. He originally intended to throw out his usual mocking remarks, yet the moment he saw the expression on Alden’s face, he unusually remained silent. Even someone like him, who always preferred solving everything through brute strength, could clearly sense the danger radiating from the Nullborn.
Meanwhile, the Nullborn Race player known as Ainos didn’t move from his spot. Only after Alden had already grasped his shield and begun walking toward the arena did he slowly step out from among the other three black robed contestants.
At the same time, inside the various VIP suites suspended high above the arena, more and more powerful figures who had originally paid little attention to the opening match gradually shifted their gaze toward the center of the battlefield.
Within the Velhari Race VIP suite, a crimson skinned giant several times larger than ordinary members of his race reclined upon a chair carved from the bones of an enormous beast. His left eye had been completely destroyed by a hideous scar stretching from his forehead to his jaw, leaving only his right eye gleaming with the sharpness of a wild beast. The moment he saw Alden raise his tower shield, an undisguised sneer spread across his lips.
"It seems humans enjoy placing all their hopes for victory upon this Alden."
The elderly Velhari seated beside him slowly shook his head before replying in a hoarse voice.
"That is no ordinary defense. His class allows him to redirect attacks. If the Nullborn contestant still relies solely upon speed and short blades, then perhaps this human really can force him to reveal something."
The crimson skinned giant did not immediately argue. He merely tapped his thick fingers twice against the chair’s armrest before letting out a cold laugh.
"Then let’s see how well the Humans fare."
Inside the Sorath Race VIP suite, however, the atmosphere was considerably colder.
Several pale skinned elders silently watched the arena below. After remaining quiet for a long time, one elderly man whose shoulders were still covered in transparent frost crystals finally spoke in a completely emotionless voice.
"If he can force that Nullborn Race contestant to attack the same point repeatedly... then perhaps there is still a chance."
"A chance?" Another Sorath powerhouse replied indifferently. "Our contestant in the previous round couldn’t even see how the opponent approached him. This human’s body may hide behind that shield... but his mind may not be able to keep pace with those attacks."
No one continued speaking because everyone understood that Alden’s true challenge had never been whether he could withstand Ainos’ attacks.
It was whether he could determine where those attacks would come from before they landed.
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