Chapter 624 - Two Parties

After a few inquiries, Han Wu learned that the challenge ground enforced a special rule regarding leveling up. Participants had to level up before they could unlock portions of their power. That rule ensured that everyone began from the same starting line, preserving fairness and balance.

Han Wu and the others had to admit that the rule was clever. He had to secretly admit that he had worried about having to carry both Commerce and Jia Gui. With this restriction in place, their chances of winning improved considerably.

When the day of the match arrived, the two parties faced each other. Both the Divine Civilization and the Divine River Civilization had sent representatives to serve as referees and professional emcees.

“The Divine Civilization and the Divine River Civilization have always coexisted peacefully. We hope that after this match, we can maintain this relationship,” announced the head delegate from the Divine Civilization to the opposing delegates before the match.

That statement carried a subtle warning. The Divine Civilization had made an exception accepting the challenge, and the Divine River Civilization was expected to follow the match’s rules no matter what.

Naturally, the Divine River Civilization’s delegates understood the implication at once.

“The Divine River Civilization always stands by its word. However, we’ve sent powerful fighters as our representatives this time. I hope that you will stand by your word as well,” the opposing head delegate said.

“Naturally.”

The opposing head delegate added, “There is one more matter to clarify. On this challenge ground, the champion will stake their lives. Death is a real risk. If you die inside, you die for real. I hope that your party has prepared for this.”

The head delegate from the Divine Civilization scoffed. “Don’t worry about it.”

With the formalities complete, both parties entered the battlefield’s perimeter. The two emcees also took their positions in the commentary booth.

“Good day, everyone, I am your number one emcee from the Divine River Civilization, Gold Mic Qiu Yun!”

“Hi there! I’m everyone’s friend, Yu Meng!” The Divine Civilization’s emcee was a pretty young woman. Her voice soothed the audience, and her fan club erupted across the livestream.

“My wife, Yu Meng! I heard her voice today! What a blissful day.”

“Yu Meng is my wife! Get out of here.”

“Yu Meng, stop working! I will make sure to give you the best life you could ever have!”

The livestream went wild even before the start of the match.

Yu Meng’s appearance ignited the entire livestream. Her influence drew in viewers from across the Divine Civilization. They all clamored for her attention, and some even went so far as to teach their units to mash the like button.

The livestream’s popularity skyrocketed.

Qiu Yun could only stare in disbelief. He felt almost unnecessary. Yu Meng alone could carry the excitement of the entire match. Even so, with his professional career on the line, he still controlled the stream and guided the audience’s focus back to the match itself.

The two emcees started introducing the participants from both parties.

Yu Meng took the lead with the Divine Civilization. “Every champion of the Divine Civilization is a top-tier expert! We have the newly ascended Wisdom God King; the ever-moving Commerce God King; the strongest student of Imperial College, Han Wu; Jia Gui, the strong World life form who earned great merit during the invasion against the Heaven Stair Civilization; and finally, the Origin of Mutation, a World life form capable of mutating genes!”

The livestream erupted.

“There are World life forms in this challenge. What kind of level is that supposed to be? Are they strong?”

“Go study more if you don’t even know this. World life forms can rival God Kings. This is basic knowledge. What kind of education did you even go through?”

“I’m actually a high-school teacher, and I didn’t know that. I’ve always thought that Sage life forms were the strongest.”

...

On the other side, Qiu Yun started introducing the Divine River Civilization’s participants. “The team we’ve sent this time consists entirely of first-series Super Genesoldiers! They are Torrent, Warmaster, Carnage, Oracle, and Selene!”

The livestream audience showed little reaction, but the Divine Civilization’s referee was stunned. They knew that the Divine River Civilization used numbers to classify their genes’ strength. The first series represented the pinnacle of their gene system. This was an all-star team! What shocked them even more were the five titles themselves. They were all notorious fighters of the Divine River Civilization.

Torrent was the strongest tank, known for exceptional leadership and battle prowess. Warmaster was born with innate equipment forged from Obsidrum, a rare metal capable of suppressing Divine Points and highly effective against Gods. Carnage was a man that could give the God King of War a run for his money. Oracle was the strongest sensory-type warrior, capable of detecting virtually anything. Selene was the civilization’s strongest summoner, able to call forth contracted beasts.

When the Divine Civilization’s referee recognized the five powerful Super Genesoldiers, they gasped. Almost everyone assumed that Han Wu was destined to lose this time.

The Origin of Mutation relayed the same information to Han Wu. As a first-series gene itself, it could clearly recognize the other first-series genes. Upon learning how powerful their opponents were, Han Wu felt a surge of concern. However, retreat was no longer an option.

“The enemy is strong. If we want to win, we have to defeat them quickly before they grow.” Xu Hai said after analyzing the situation. Unfortunately, he had too little data. With more information, he could have found a way to defeat all five Super Genesoldiers.

Han Wu nodded. “Alright.”

The Origin of Mutation considered advising him to withdraw if necessary, but it held back after seeing Han Wu’s resolve.

Before long, a flash of light transported them into the challenge ground, and their party appeared on the plaza. Two structures stood on the plaza. The first was the crystal that they had to protect. It could also summon life forms to aid them in battle. The second was a fountain that allowed rapid recovery by standing near it.

The moment Han Wu entered his territory, a notification appeared.

[Please select a unit to bind with the crystal. (The energy used to summon units is fixed at each level. Please select carefully.)]

Han Wu looked at them for input.

Xu Hai reassured him. “Do what you must. We believe in you.”

Commerce and Jia Gui offered no objections. At present, they were technically mercenaries, so they wouldn’t interfere with his decision.

The Origin of Mutation spoke next. “Choose your locusts. I will make them stronger.”

Han Wu nodded and bound his locust to the crystal.

[Binding Complete. Crystal Level: 1. Can summon 10 locusts per minute.]

[Locust, Level 1. Heroic life form. Abilities: Flight, Bite, Corrosive Spit.]

[Binding complete.]

[Five minutes until the first wave of beasts is summoned. Prepare yourself.]