Death… And Me

Chapter 3898: Nebula Divine Core

With the exception of the last three teams that successfully completed the second test, all seven other teams had captains who were members of one of the top ten powers. Even the teams without captains from those powers still had several members within their ranks who were affiliated with them.

So, it was not wrong to say that all ten powers still had at least one or two guys in the competition. As for the captains of those three teams, they weren’t part of a top ten power, but they weren’t too far. So, in overall power, they were too far behind the rest of the teams... if you don’t count Wisfreya, that is.

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After the second event ended, the teams were given a day to recover. Only then did Bugel contact them again.

”Congratulations to all ten teams. We will now move into the last showdown of this Martial Gathering,” Bugel spoke to all of them.

Bugel then waved his hand, and all ten Crystals began to float, shooting into the center of the floating island. Seems like those crystals wouldn’t be used for the second phase alone; they’d also be used for the last.

Following that, the ground beneath the ten teams shone golden. The various participants looked at that, and right after, they noticed that several golden cuffs appeared around their wrists and ankles. Finally, luminous chains connected to those cuffs and to each participant on each team.

They immediately tried to break it, but that wasn’t something some Saint Realm and below kids could ever hope to break. Of course, they didn’t panic, knowing it was likely part of the last phase.

”The last event is both a test of teamwork, strength, and cunningness. However, the essence of this last event remains: you have to win this as a team,” Bugel continued.

”No member of their own team can get more than ten meters away from their closest companion. Doing so will activate the cuffs and chains’ special ability, which will immediately create a Divine Energy pressure on par with the last moments of the Path of Endurance, and assault the entire team as a whole. Naturally, to make the pressure disappear, that member who stretched the chain more than ten meters just has to get close to his group again.”

”If a member of the team falls, he will drag the rest of the team with him. That rule is to make sure you don’t forget this is a team competition; killing or abandoning your teammates is prohibited. However, another team can attack and even kill you and your teammates if they wish. If three members of your team fall, your entire team will be disqualified.”

Bugel could see the annoyed expressions on all the captains’ faces. They were the only Saint Realm Experts in their own teams, so he understood how much they hated the possibility of losing because the weaker members of their teams were defeated or killed.

Of course, he still hasn’t finished his explanation. ”Now then, don’t get the wrong idea. This is not a battle against each other. In fact, to win this last event, you don’t need to lift a single finger against any of the other participants.”

*Brummmmm...*

In front of the ten teams, the center of the floating island began to change. An enormous formation, over three kilometers in radius, created a dome, and all the ten crystals from the previous phase were there. Those same crystals began to emanate mighty elemental powers, each with a different element.

That wasn’t all. Inside that dome, the elements and the terrain changed. Elemental Storms, worse than the first event, rumbled nonstop. The ground constantly shifted, opening and closing as lava spilled out. If not for everyone’s Divine Senses, it would be hard to even find the crystals inside.

”All you need to do to win this event is to hold your crystal for ten minutes. Any crystal will do, not necessarily the one you used in the second phase. It’s just that your own crystal will be slightly easier to hold, since you know what you poured into it.”

”However, your crystal will fight back. The elements of its discharges will change every minute as the power increases, making it even harder to hold on to it. If you drop it, the crystal will reset to its original state, and you can start again. You will need to work together, swapping members every time it happens... or not. That’s all up to you. I doubt that anyone can hold a crystal for more than two minutes straight, though.”

All ten teams understood. Holding the crystal and defending against the environmental dangers wouldn’t be your only problems. If the other teams see that one team is about to reach ten minutes holding their crystal, all other teams will gang up on them to make them drop the crystal. After all, it would be meaningless if your team could hold a crystal for ten minutes but someone had already started doing that ahead of you.

This last event might not even be about holding the crystal, but a proper free-for-all team battle. Maybe it wouldn’t be worth holding the crystal at all until you were sure that the other teams couldn’t come and knock on your door.

Bugel smiled at that sight, knowing that all those kids understood the principle of this last test. ”Alright, this is all you need to know. Now, to make sure you lot will give it your all, I will show you this:”

In the next moment, holographic screens appeared in front of the teams. On the other side of the videos, Bugel held a pale crystal, almost spherical, but still a crystal.

Wisfreya looked at that, and even she felt slightly excited. ”The Nebula Divine Core!”

She wasn’t the only one. Even the leaders and elders back in the main building looked at it with surprise in their eyes.

The twins’ group noticed Wisfreya’s change. They had no idea what it was. Yet, all the other groups were different. They all seemed to know exactly what it was.

Sure enough, Bugel explained. ”For those who don’t know, this is a Nebula Divine Core. It can be absorbed into one’s Dantian or Core, and it will increase the size of your Divine Energy pool permanently. It’s a one-time only item, and using another one again will provide no benefit. Yet, that one time is priceless. Every single member of the winning team will be granted one of those.”

Rean looked at the other teams, all of them obviously failing to hide their desires. ”Well, an item that can permanently increase one’s energy pool is definitely worth all the hype.”

Too bad that Rean, Roan, Kentucky, and Celis had absolutely no use for that thing. Why? Because they didn’t have Dantians and Cores anymore. Their own bodies were their Energy Storage, thanks to the new cultivation technique from the system.

”Maybe Tanxan, Zangeshu, and Foliana can still use it...” Celis pointed out.

Those three nodded. It probably wouldn’t have much use for them because of their high cultivation, but it was better than nothing. The rest of the participants, however, found that to be genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime treasure. They couldn’t lose that opportunity.

”Seems like you guys are ready to give it a go,” Bugel said, satisfied. ”Very well! You can enter the dome now!”