Chapter 192: The Race Isn't Won by the Swiftest
Chapter 192: The Race Isn’t Won by the Swiftest (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Countless black metallic spheres launched simultaneously, each trailing a student like a mechanical shadow to record every Disaster Beast slain and update the battlefield leaderboard in real-time.
Meanwhile, more spheres hovered across the sky, monitoring the entire Disaster Beast Park.
Deep within the park, a cleared expanse buzzed with tension.
“Kaboom! Kaboom!”
A colossal glowing portal tore through the barrier between Earth and the Otherworld, its radiant circle humming with energy.
“Graaah! Graaah!”
Scores of level one and two Disaster Beasts burst through the rift, their eyes glowing crimson.
“Thump! Thump!”
A swarm of dark shadows flooded into the forest, while squadrons of jade-green fighter jets circled above, guns primed.
“Bang! Bang!”
“Splosh!”
The moment winged Disaster Beasts emerged, they were shredded by machine-gun fire, their mangled corpses splattering onto the ground.
With over 100,000 Disaster Beasts unleashed, the Great Beast Hunt Tournament officially began.
---
“Spurt!”
Huo Wanyang, a hulking giant of a man, smirked as an Ironthorn Boar charged. His rock-carved muscles tensed, and his three-meter Great Axe sliced through the air with a deafening roar, unleashing a shockwave of Vital Force.
The blade severed the beast’s throat in a crimson spray.
“Thud!”
The Boar collapsed, its Points tally updating to +1.
Shrugging his 100kg crimson axe onto his shoulder, Huo Wanyang strode toward Zone 2.
“Our First Institute’s power is unmatched. I’ll dominate the first two days—”
“Rack up so many Points no one can catch up, and I’ll clock out early. Money isn’t the goal.”
“Victory in the Individual Tournament is what I crave. Let them all witness my strength!”
---
“Hiss!”
Ao Feng, clad in silver-white combat gear, moved like a phantom. As a pitch-black shadow lunged from the jungle, his blade flashed.
“Splut!”
The Shadow Cat never saw the strike. Its head rolled before its body, spinning in midair.
“Meow! Meow!”
“Splut! Splut!”
Faced with a pack of Shadow Cats, Ao Feng danced between their claws, his sword weaving a crimson storm.
“Too weak. Zone 2—Level 3 Beasts. Efficiency matters.”
His mind raced:
“First place is my target. Push hard these first two days—if the gap’s small, fight for it. If it’s too wide, settle for second. Secure the position.”
With that, he vanished into the jungle, Points climbing rapidly.
---
Amid rusting steel beams and vines-covered ruins, a sleek, calf-sized Mawfang Hound lunged at Duan Chuchu.
“Splut!”
Her crimson-and-white combat suit flashed as her sword became a golden serpent, severing the beast’s head.
“Victory,” she noted, watching her Points tally.
“The First Institute’s beasts are fierce, but even with my Shu Province peers, our Second Institute’s strength falls short.”
“Our goal? Secure third place—survive the tournament.”
---
Meanwhile, Li Lei of the Fourth Institute cleaved through Ironthorn Boars, aiming to propel his college into the top three.
The Third Institute’s twin sisters, Ruan Yu and Ruan Qian, eyed top-five finishes.
“Sis, even without a top-ten S-Rank Genius, we’re strong!” Ruan Qian chirped.
“Top three? Let’s aim for top five,” Ruan Yu frowned.
Azure Firmament Academy—the nation’s pinnacle—teemed with prodigies. In their home province, they’d dominated. Here, they were minnows. Even their professors had given up, scouting next year’s talent.
---
In Crimson Vault Building’s war room, nine college leaders eyed a scoreboard:
Points Leaderboard
1. Azure Firmament First Institute – 1528
2. Azure Firmament Nine Courtyards – 1498
3. Azure Firmament Second Institute – 1480
4. Azure Firmament Fourth Institute – 1430
5. Azure Firmament Sixth Institute – 400
A violet-robed woman smirked, puffing a cigarette.
“Five hours in—the top three’s set. Nine Courtyards will hold second.”
“History shows the first five hours predict the final standings. 98% of teams in the top three stay there.”
“The tournament’s over. First Institute’s victory is sealed.”
Deputy Principal Xu Wenji interjected, calm but firm:
“Patience. The hunt’s just begun. Wait two days, and we’ll see.”
Dean Liu said nothing, studying the Sixth Institute’s screen.
Lin Qi led his college, but the rest lagged. Watching his black-clad figure skewer beasts with a Black Long Spear, Liu mused:
“Is he holding back like in Tianhai’s camp? Waiting for the final hour?”
He frowned. This tournament lasted 41 hours—rushing at the end wouldn’t suffice. Chen Li was one thing; facing Huo Wanyang and Ao Feng was another.
Yet, Liu shrugged. Lin Qi’s talent was raw—a freshman. Falling behind was natural.
“Still waters run deep. Given time, he’ll catch up.”
---
“Pant! Pant!”
Lin Qi faced a snarling Obsidian Horn Boar, its obsidian hide and spiked horn gleaming.
The beast charged.
“Thwack!”
Without turning, Lin Qi’s spear flashed.
“Splut!”
A crimson arc painted the air. The boar’s body smashed into a crumbling wall, its blood painting the rubble.
Lin Qi checked his Smartwatch.
“Leaderboard confirmed: First Institute leads, Nine Courtyards second, Second Institute third. Sixth Institute—fifth. As planned.”
He glanced at his college’s standings—top of the pile—then dashed toward Zone 2.
“Huo and Ao will tire. When they withdraw, I’ll strike.”
---
Hours blurred. Across the park, 9,000 students carved through beasts, their Points climbing.
The leaderboard stabilized—First, Nine Courtyards, and Second Institutes locked in their positions.
“First Institute’s victory is certain,” a student gloated.
In the depths, Li Zehao grinned, slicing a Shadow Cat.
“Azure Firmament First Institute was the right choice. Lin Qi’s Sixth Institute? No reward can close this gap.”
(End of Chapter)
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