Armipotent

Chapter 2246: First Duel

Tang Shaoyang hadn’t said a single thing in the world. He quickly found out that these people hadn’t changed a little bit. Just like the past experience, they tried to take advantage without doing the work. Even tried to scheme their way to make themselves stronger. Their intent was so obvious that it didn’t take a few seconds to figure it out immediately.

It was good that the vassal remained independent instead of absorbing them. If it came to a vote, they would win it anyway.

’We should revise our strategy. Maybe uniting the Earth is still the better choice, after all. The System’s events don’t really matter anymore since we are connected to the God Realm.’

The System’s event that could only be triggered with at least ten or more factions stood. The system’s tournament and the various monthly games became a competition between factions. The reward was quite tempting for them. A facility that could be stacked to upgrade the facility.

And it was always the Tang Empire that grabbed the first place. To make it fair for the vassals, they ensured that only one from the Tang Empire reached the top three. So yeah, these events benefited the empire and its vassals. They needed to calculate the loss of losing the System’s event in exchange for uniting Earth. Whether it was worth it or not, that was for later to discuss.

”How is it? The participating faction could state what they want, and then we can start a discussion from there. However, we only accept the strongest individual from each faction. I am not going to accept cannon fodder just for you to claim a greater reward!”

Zhang Mengyao made it clear that they were not going to accept a random God Rank. If the United Sovereign wanted a piece of cake of their choice, then they needed to send their strongest, their King, to join the duel. The same for the other factions.

”That’s what I thought...”

No one responded to the offer, yet these people wanted to cut her empire’s cake. She believed working together with the other factions would make Earth stronger. That was why they were willing to extend a hand to the United Sovereign. But she was too naive to believe so. She was still bitter and upset about her past naivety, and she was still bitter even now.

To make sure these people didn’t play a trick, they submitted the demand right away. They didn’t want prisoners, and then they drafted a contract for all factions that they agreed on for the Tang Empire to have the Uzaborge Kingdom’s territory.

What happened to the people of Bahmes? They would be taken into the system’s prison. It could be a dungeon or Dimensional Tower. Those people would be used as materials to generate dungeons and the Dimensional Tower. They would become a challenge or an aid, whatever the System set them up to be; their fate was left to the System.

The date was set, the demand was submitted. They received Bahmes’ demand as well. They wanted to keep the prisoner, and Tang Shaoyang figured out whose idea it was. It was Luke Ponteus’ attempt to get him, not that he could get him, since they had a place to leave.

The duel would be held seven days after the world congress, and it would be broadcast between the two worlds. The people from Earth and Bahmes could watch the duel as the System provided a live feed.

The people from Earth were nervous because this would determine their fate. Their fates were in the Tang Empire’s hands. It was the best hand that Earth had. If the Tang Empire could not win, let alone the other factions.

In each city, many massive screens were floating in different parts of the city. The Tang Empire also put a giant screen in front of the twin towers, the smart base. The Thousand Vows Pavilion sent their people to watch the fight, an experience for them to learn.

Despite the obvious display, the children were not allowed to watch under Tang Shaoyang’s command. It became the Emperor’s edict, where the parents were told to keep their children away. The duel would be ugly. The winner was decided when they killed their opponent, or their opponent surrendered.

Tang Shaoyang would not show mercy. He would kill them as cruelly as possible. That was to send a warning to the Elmsano Empire and also the Rivernius Dynasty.

It was fifteen minutes until the designated time for the duel. The screen was currently showing participants from both sides.

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[Earth]

1. Tang Shaoyang (Tang Empire)

2. Zhang Mengyao (Tang Empire)

3. Lu An (Tang Empire)

4. Moonsong (Tang Empire)

5. Wrath (Tang Empire)

——————————

——————————

[Bahmes]

1. Lander Vermote (Uzaborge Kingdom)

2. Marko Lozan (Varomaver Kingdom)

3. Nazario Vadim (Elmsano Empire)

4. Rodin Zelster (Elmsano Empire)

5. Timur Florea (Elmsano Empire)

——————————

The people from Earth were relieved to see Tang Shaoyang’s name in the list. Most recognized the other three names. Zhang Mengyao and Moonsong, the famed high-ranking officer in the Tarrior. Lu An was known as the Tang Empire’s Shadow. Once the shadow puts a mark on you, you will never be able to escape.

The last name was quite intriguing for them all. They saw the name in the top ten, but no one actually knew what Gluttony looked like. It was the same case with Ophelius and Ophelia. They knew the names, but never saw what they looked like.

The list also confirmed Feng Zhan’s intel. That also convinced the major factions that Tang Shaoyang was not lying about Bahmes information. Those three names came out in that list.

It also seemed the Elmsano Empire was not going to hide its involvement either. They could let their people join the two kingdoms temporarily, but no. Their people joined without changing their faction.

While people were relieved to see their strongest man participating in the duel, they were not at ease yet. They hadn’t won the duel yet. While they trusted Tang Shaoyang, it was hard for them to be at ease until they won the duel.

*** ***

Tang Shaoyang was in the waiting room with the other four participants. The room was big enough to fit a hundred people. There was nothing but a long table with five chairs. There was a screen on the wall that would broadcast the live feed.

”Can at least I get to fight once, brother?” Lu An was pleading his case again, not giving up after receiving the actual plan from Tang Shaoyang.

The plan was simple: Tang Shaoyang would come up as the first fighter, and he would wipe out the enemy by himself. Not willing to risk his people’s lives to face the unknown.

However, Lu An had a different idea as he wanted to try to fight against the God Rank of the God Realm. This would be a real test for him, testing how he would fare in the God Realm.

”Nope. Let’s not take any risk since we don’t really know how strong these people are. If you want to have an actual fight. You should try to join the tournament in the God Realm instead. I heard the famed kingdom would usually hold a tournament for fun. You can try that kind of tournament instead.”

Tang Shaoyang was firm with his decision. Zhang Mengyao tried but to no avail.

Moonsong didn’t dare to try. While technically he was the Emperor’s father-in-law, he didn’t dare to make such a request. Especially when her daughter, Sylvia, requested her husband not to let her father fight in the duel. In fact, the Emperor convinced Sylvia that he was just borrowing her father’s name to fill out the five participants.

Gluttony, the Golden Dragon, grumbled that he didn’t get to fight, but didn’t have the power to change it, either. The Emperor was just borrowing their names to fill out the requirement.

”It’s about my time!” Tang Shaoyang nudged his head toward the screen on the wall. His name appeared on the wall as the first duel.

[1st duel — Tang Shaoyang (Tang Empire) Vs Marko Lozan (Varomaver Kingdom)]