Child of Destiny

Top Eight Bracket

Empyrean Talons versus Earners Mercenary Group

Pandemonium Descendants versus Slayers Adventurer Team

Dragon Pavilion versus Hydra Guild

God’s Paradise versus Hand of Midas

These were the matchups for round 1 of the playoffs, which would also proceed with a double elimination format.

The broadcasting of the matches would also take place on a different day. It seemed like the organizers would like to maximize the profits that they could get from the players, who would be watching the matches.

There would be 2 matches to be broadcast every day, somewhat following the same schedule as the previous round.

At the same time, they also wanted to commission Miss Bunny and David to host each match and be the main commentators. After all, these two were the best duo in the circle to cover such matches.

But since there would be a broadcast every day, the pair could not just take the position straight away. After all, they still have to rest, so they had to fix their schedule.

After a couple of days of negotiations, the duo had agreed to cover the other match that would take place on the same day as the Empyrean Talons’.

As for the other matches for the next day after that, the organizers had decided to just invite some experts from other top teams that were unable to advance to the playoffs, along with some famous and expert analysts as their partners.

…

“Earners?” Shin raised his brows as he heard their next opponent and could not help but say. “It looks like we will be meeting those guys again.”

He paused for a moment as he remembered something before chuckling. “According to Uncle Nathan, Arthur will be coming back on the day of our match. I wonder what his reaction will be after learning about this.”

“Are you talking about that Flouree, am I right?” Leonard was also unable to hide his smile before saying. “I guess it will be interesting if they do meet each other.”

He then paused for a moment before asking. “What do you think is the real relationship between those two? I am sure that it is not as simple as he has told us previously.”

“Heh! Of course, there is something more to it,” Shin smirked. “I can smell that it is much deeper than that.”

“What are you? A dog?” said Cloe as she sat down beside Shin and prepared breakfast.

She was somewhat salivating as it had been a while since she had tasted the food that Shin usually prepared. Due to their busy schedule, Shin was unable to do such trivial stuff, leaving the job to the maids and chefs of the Springfield Family.

This should be his first cooking in a ‘long’ time.

Shin chuckled after seeing her current expression before changing the subject. “How’s the training with Huahua? Any significant progress?”

Cloe paused for a moment, pinching her chin with her thumb and index fingers, before replying. “It is not bad. Little Huahua is quite good and hardworking. She basically has mastered all the fundamental skills needed to be a good support-type player right now. All she needs is more experience to get used to it and the atmosphere in a competitive environment.”

Seeing Shin nodded, it was her turn to change the subject, pointing at the two. “How about you two? How’s your training?”

Leonard and Shin exchanged glances with each other before smiling.

“I am doing quite well. Due to my solid foundation, the next step for my breakthrough is quite steady,” said Leonard before adding. “Training in the ancient discipline of the Asad Tribe is progressing well, so it will not be long before I finish all the basic training.”

Shin nodded as he also answered. “On my side, I am only lacking two pieces needed for my breakthrough. One is the formation by Spiritual Force, while the other is an opportunity – an opportunity that pushes me to the edge and helps me with the breakthrough process.”

He then paused as he looked at Cloe while activating his True Sight Skill. From his perspective, he could see that the vitality within the latter’s body was overflowing. It was strong enough to be seen leaking out.

He could tell that Cloe must have reached a crucial stage of her Martial Arts despite not seeing her master, Martial King Lin Huang, for quite a while.

“The same can be said to you. It looks like you are also looking for this opportunity,” said Shin as he smiled.

Realizing that Shin must have figured out her current state, Cloe smiled. “It is not that bad. I just hit a wall that my master is taking about, and I am confused about how to break past it.”

She could not help but recall what her master had told her before. – “There is only so much hard work can do compared to a true talent. That is what everyone says. But if you just know which area you are good at and improve it continuously to the limit, then breaking past it, then you will have an opportunity to see something those ‘geniuses’ and ‘prodigies’ could not.” –

– “There is something that hard-working people can realize that talented people could not. All you have to do is find it yourself and you will gain a unique ‘talent’ of your own.” –

Shin observed Cloe’s expression for quite a while, trying to read her thoughts. But after seeing the determined look that she was wearing, he knew that she had already decided on something and did not need any help from the others.

“Looks like the training style of Old Man Lin is quite effective,” he mumbled before he recalled another thing – Cloe was supposed to be training in the Auxiliary Department as well before their big mission in that tomb.

He wondered how her studies in that area were. But after recalling that Cloe was also a top healer within the game, he could not help but smile bitterly, telling himself not to worry about something useless.

This girl would be fine by herself.

As they were eating, the group was also discussing their next plans for the tournament.

“I should be fine after this entire week,” said Leonard as he explained his situation. “Uncle Scar said that because of the inheritance that I have gotten from the Thunder Lord, the progress of my training is accelerating at an insane rate, so there is a high chance that we will be done much earlier.”

“Based on his estimate, another week of intensive training will be enough,” he added before sighing. “He also said that he can’t help but feel a little jealous of my inheritance.”

“According to him, there are only a few people who managed to find the lost inheritances of the previous eras. But the people who have been acknowledged by the respective legacies are even fewer.”

“In the entire tribe, there are only 3 people who are acknowledged, which includes me,” he thought for a moment before continuing. “And in the entire Land of Ancients, there are only 10 people altogether.”

Shin could not help but pause for a moment when he heard those words. He could not help but get swept by his thoughts, especially after hearing the words ‘Land of Ancients.’

“Land of Ancients?” he mumbled.

Seemingly taking those words as a question, Leonard suddenly explained. “Land of Ancients, it is the homeland of the Asad Tribe. But they are not the only ones living there; there are also the other ancient tribes and other ancient factions.”

Little did he know that Shin was more familiar with that place than Leonard.

It was at this moment that David suddenly appeared and sat along with the three. “It is the land beyond the unexplored areas of the Dark Continent.

“It is also very close to the Forbidden Valley, which is being guarded by the Fog Village – the place where I grew up,” he added as he helped himself with the delicacies laid on the table.

“Eh!?” Leonard and Cloe could not help but turn to David as they suddenly became curious about this.

But David had no intention of telling them about it for now. He turned to Shin and said seriously. “Junior Brother, come with me after this. I’ll be helping you with your training for today.”

Shin frowned deeply as he realized something, staring intently at David.

Faced with such an intense gaze, David could not help but sigh helplessly. “It is Master’s instructions.”

Shin paused and hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. “I see. I’ll do it.”

David then nodded before proceeding to eat.

The atmosphere immediately took a sudden turn, making Leonard and Cloe feel uncomfortable. The air was quite heavy and made them lose their appetite.

They continued to eat in silence until Shiella arrived.

“Oh! You guys are here-…” she was about to say something, but she suddenly noticed the variety of food laid on the table.

With her ‘experience’, she recognized that they were made by Shin, so she quickly found a spot and joined them for their ‘little’ breakfast.

Upon taking her seat, she suddenly added. “Shin, Leonard, and Cloe, come with me later. The academy has summoned us. It seems like there is a big assignment later.”

……