Kill The Old Ones!

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The City Lord, along with his secretary and some bodyguards, led the team—save Ren and the reserves—to room deeper into the mansion.

They arrived at a large room covered in white tiles, including the ceiling. In the middle, there is a large and bulky machine that resembles a tree trunk. Its branches were large tubes filled with wires, bolts, and ties.

Each one of these tubes ran from the ceiling, connected to seed pods arranged in a circular formation around the trunk.

These seed pods were, in fact, VR pods.

The City Lord and the group weren’t the only ones there. Some people were already in the room before they even arrived. These people wore formal clothing and looked important. Some wore the badge of the GMU, and the others wore the badge of the Imperial Court.

”I’ve already told you that the first round will happen in the VR world. More specifically, in a private server hosted by the world system itself to ensure that any foul play will be minimized,” Gabriel addressed the participants of his city as they approached the main trunk.

”This is the room where you’ll be in for that,” he continued. ”You’ll enter those seed pods once the time is right.”

”The people before are official staff of the GMU and the Imperial Court. I won’t make introductions because it’s very unlikely you’ll meet each other again. Besides, they’re just here to supervise and record information. In case of emergency, they will be the engineers that will fix this big-ass machine to save you.”

The staff didn’t look offended or surprised by the way Gabriel introduced them. He wasn’t wrong, anyway. There really was no reason for them and the participants to know each other, so it’s best to stay clear.

”For now, you may use any VR Pods you feel like using in this room. Get a feel, get comfortable. If you have any questions or concerns, tell us immediately. Don’t endure it or ignore it; this tournament is important, and so are the equipment.”

”I don’t want you complaining about the equipment for your failure to get a satisfactory result. That’s why I’m giving you the chance now. Go.”

The participants heard him loud and clear, so they got moving.

These VR Pods sure look like seeds. Its design was very different from the ones they’re used to, so at first, the participants were a bit unsure on how to operate them.

But it turns out that the design is where the difference ends. The way to open and enter the pods was exactly the same as the ones they have back home.

Matter of fact, being inside these seed pods feels more comfortable than the ones they’re used to. The controls were also user-friendly.

As for the realism, it’s a step above the ones they’re used to as well. In terms of percentage, it didn’t increase much, but personally, the little increase makes a whole world of a difference. It’s incredible, really.

One by one, the participants immersed themselves in the VR Pods and checked if everything was working as intended.

A couple of minutes passed and nobody had any complaints so far. Even the ones that immediately tested the limits of the pods as soon as they got in.

Noticing this, the City Lord was relieved. At least the equipment was fine.

He then glanced at the digital clock and saw that it’s about time. He then spoke to participants and said:

”Alright, testing is over. It’s about time for the tournament to begin; you are required to be in the server an hour before the official broadcast begins.”

”If you opened the channel list, the only one available should be labeled [WSS-09561A]. I’ll repeat, that is [WSS-09561A]. That should be the only channel in that list. If there’s more, say something immediately.”

One by one, the participants confirmed that it’s the only channel they can see.

”Alright, good. That’s the server for this tournament. Once you join it, I won’t be able to reach you anymore. You will appear in the lobby with all of the other representatives like yourselves.”

”You’ve prepared for this. Do your best. The whole city is watching. That’s all. Now, go and join the lobby.”

**

Adrian blinked a couple of times to adjust to the transfer.

The noise came first, then the visual clarity.

He arrived at the lobby where he and his fellow representatives will be gathered.

There are already a lot of people here, and there’s too much talking. Adrian habitually began inspecting everybody, and he shouldn’t have been surprised to find out that all of them were strong. They wouldn’t be here had they been weak.

He could feel that his friends were also doing the same. But more importantly, he could feel the hostility and killing thrumming beneath this atmosphere.

It’s like a hidden dagger—unseen, but definitely sharp enough to kill.

Adrian could also feel people inspecting him and his group.

”Let’s...find a place to sit down,” he suggested. ”The City Lord said that we have an hour before this actually starts.”

Nobody had an argument with that, so they searched for a location where they could sit down and get comfortable while waiting for the tournament to start.

”Lord Gabriel warned us that there will be a lot of people here,” Julius Vermont stated in a voice the group could hear. ”The top 10 for each city in the kingdom, 260 people.”

”Minus the seeded participants,” Erickson Kupkha interjected, causing Julius to glare at him.

”Obviously. But still, seeing this many people...and knowing that they’re all against us, this is going to be chaotic.”

”Might be the understatement of the year,” Lucian Skyrend muttered softly, but Adrian, who was nearby, heard him.

And honestly, he’s not wrong.

”9 o’clock, 500 meters away, you see them?” Alden Silvereye muttered softly for Adrian and the others to hear. ”P-City reps. They look scary.”

They looked over and yeah, Alden was spot on. Those people did look scary.

They wore this scowl that could scare children away. They are huddled in an isolated manner; they glare at everybody they see, and one could just see all sorts of nefarious tricks simmering in their heads.

”How did you know they’re from P-City?” Charles Atelier asked.

”Actually, I’m not sure.” Alden scratched his head. ”I’m taking a wild guess and totally judging by their looks.”

”Can’t blame you there,” Erickson Kupkha replied. ”They look like they want to eat everybody alive. I can smell their desperation all the way from here. The only ones who’d feel this way were those from bottom-ranked cities, especially P-City.”

”Memorize their faces just in case,” Adrian suggested. ”If they’re like this already, then there’s no reason to trust them in the battlefield. If they threaten you, eliminate them right away. Don’t show mercy. We can’t be generous in this kind of competition.”

The others felt solemn at his words. Yeah, that feels bad, but they could only apologize. This is the nature of this competition.

”Compared to then, the atmosphere of that team looks vibrant,” Lucian pointed out, and everybody else followed where he was pointing.

They saw a group of people who looked like they were having a picnic and completely unaware of the simmering tension around them. It’s as if they’re not taking this tournament seriously at all.

”Ah, they’re the R-City reps, reigning champs,” Charles stated. ”I am sure of this because I recognize a face in them. That guy with a big golden necklace with the warhammer beside him? He’s the heir of House Voran.”

”House Voran? Is that a noble house?” Magnus Stoneheart asked.

”Everybody who lives in R-City are nobles. House Voran is the same. I know him because my folks and House Voran had history. They used to be our loyal subordinates when the Ateliers were still the monarchs,” Charles revealed.

”Any useful intel about him? Aside from him looking strong?” Eric asked.

”All noble houses have bloodlines; House Voran is no different. Theirs is the Desolate Mammoth Bloodline. In terms of raw physical power, they probably stand at the upper half in all of human civilization. That said, they’re very prone to enter a berserk state where they can’t recognize friend from foe.”

”Desolate mammoths use the power of desolation—they can wither the vitality of those around them. In some cases, they siphon it for their own use.”

”So, superhuman strength, lifesteal, and berserk state? Yeah, it’s no wonder why he’s here then,” Lucian sighed, feeling a headache incoming.

His gaming terminologies to describe the Voran Heir’s capabilities simplified how troublesome the opponent was for everybody, and they too felt the might of a potential enemy.

”Let’s not ignore the representatives of other cities, especially those at the bottom half rankings,” Adrian reminded everybody.

Unlike them, he didn’t just pay attention to the first and last place. He observed everybody.

Through his talent—Heavenly Sword Heart—he could feel varying levels of threat, and he’s sure that some people here feel more dangerous than the representatives of R-City.

”We can’t underestimate anybody here, especially not when they all came this far.”