Chapter 480: EmpireDuel Tournament
“Kai Xiusu, just wait for the good news,” the Silver Dragon said, spreading its streamlined body across the sky. Its silver wings gleamed under the sunlight, shimmering like liquid moonlight.
“Finally managed to fool her into limping away,” Kai Xiusu murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Now all that’s left is to wait for reinforcements from the Good Alignment. I suppose Oszedro still has some conscience left.”
He watched the dragon vanish into the horizon, then turned his gaze back to the Character Sheet, which had just refreshed with new information.
[Your created Non-Player Character Power Battalion 【Empire of Ashen】 has reached a total strength level: 3]
[New section unlocked: Battalion Activities]
This wasn’t surprising. A Level 3 Power was already among the top-tier forces on the Feiansuo Continent. Even the once-dominant Sacred Fedran, in the System’s assessment, had only ranked at Level 5.
After a year of development, the Empire’s political, economic, and cultural foundations had flourished. The Matra Great Farm was now fully operational, supplying food for the entire nation. The military-industrial complex had taken root and was growing rapidly. The parliamentary system had become standard practice, and governance was steadily improving.
Productivity surged. People lived in unprecedented prosperity. And—thanks to the influence of Players—culture had undergone a rapid transformation. A wave of new ideological currents swept across the land.
Confidence and martial pride had become national traits. In just a few short years, the people of the once-remote and barren Anzeta Great Wasteland had reached both material and spiritual peaks.
Of course, this golden era was built on the sweat of countless workers and the blood of southern populations. But those truths were buried beneath the Empire’s dazzling, polished surface.
“Now, the Battalion Activity has arrived,” Kai Xiusu said, smiling.
This event would secure his place on the Player Panel, seamlessly integrating the Empire’s activities into the daily lives of Players. With the 2.0 update on the horizon, the Battalion Activity would attract even more Players—turning the Empire of Ashen into the ultimate “main Battalion” in the hearts of many.
And now? The next version would open up numerous Ancient Teleportation Arrays—what Players called “rebirth points.” Right now, the Empire could leverage its home-field advantage to draw nearly every Player into its fold.
But the next version? That would be different. The Elven Kingdom in the High Forest, the Free Trade Federation of Silvermoon Bay, the three warring kingdoms of Fadalan, and the beast clans of the Rosa Desert—all would become highly attractive spawn points.
Kai Xiusu reviewed the timeline in his mind.
“Today is the 2nd of May, Third Era 1789. Two months remain until the server shutdown after the Public Test of the Northern Winds and Storms update.”
“So let the Empire of Ashen host the first full-server official PvP event.”
In his past life, the first large-scale PvP event was supposed to happen later, during the 【The Age of Kings】 update, organized by dozens of elite guilds.
But now? This grand event would come early.
This was Kai Xiusu’s plan: to stage a massive PvP tournament before the server shutdown, squeezing every last Experience Point and gold coin from Players in the final days of Northern Winds and Storms.
At the same time, it would cement the Empire of Ashen’s status as an official Battalion, drawing in even more Players for the future.
Two years ago, Kai Xiusu had personally proposed the “Empire Great Arena” project—its towering construction now standing proudly in Isdalia—just for this moment.
And roughly three months ago, he’d handed the planning over to Lanpu. Now, everything was nearly ready. Only the official announcement remained.
“All set. Just waiting for the final spark.”
Kai Xiusu summoned his Character Sheet once more. He exhaled a thin wisp of white smoke. In his golden vertical pupils, a faint glow flickered.
[Do you wish to announce a large-scale Battalion activity to Players?]
[Yes.]
[Please name the Battalion event.]
He paused, thinking hard. Nothing elegant came to mind. So he settled on the most straightforward option—just as he had with the “Empire Great Arena.”
[Name: 【First Gladiatorial Tournament of the Empire of Ashen】]
[Battalion event has been published!]
On the 3rd of May, Third Era 1789, nearly 400,000 Ailezegai Players simultaneously received the announcement.
The news ignited a firestorm.
Players erupted in excitement.
Threads about the “Empire Gladiatorial Tournament” exploded across the forums. Within minutes, nearly everyone was discussing the upcoming spectacle.
“Whoa?”
“The rewards are insane! There’s even a title and exclusive outfit!”
“Is the Official finally going to act like a human?”
“I’m in!”
“I was gonna stay low-key, just chill as a casual player. But now I can’t hide my legendary status anymore!”
“Come on, this is just a toy for the elites and pro players. We mortals can just enjoy the show.”
“Is this the last big event of this version?”
The reason was simple: the rewards were unprecedented.
The individual tournament champion would receive massive gold, Experience Points, and a unique 【Dragon Flame Champion】 title and outfit.
The 【Dragon Flame Champion】 title changed the Player’s nickname to a blazing gold-red hue and granted a +1 boost to Charisma—valuable and rare.
The outfit itself was even more eye-catching: a gilded, opulent shell, intricately carved claws and fangs, a massive two-headed dragon shoulder pauldron, and—most stunningly—two shimmering, slowly flapping fire wings on the back.
Pure visual overload. Perfect for every rich, fantasy-loving Player.
In truth, this was just one of Kai Xiusu’s casual creations—crafted using his mastery over the Flame Element. It barely reached “Rare” quality. He could produce seven or eight such items in a single day. But to maintain scarcity, only one was released.
The robes and armors prepared for the semifinalists? Even more unimpressive in power—mere byproducts from Kai Xiusu’s experiments with Elemental Energy. They were originally meant to be thrown out as trash.
Their stats weren’t top-tier, but their appearance? Absolutely stellar.
Some players claimed to be mid-level officials within the Empire and admitted they were involved in organizing the event.
Indeed, this wasn’t just an Empire-led affair. Player guilds and clubs had joined forces, even issuing a joint statement:
> “The First Gladiatorial Tournament of the Empire of Ashen is officially open! This is a celebration for Players, by Players! The grandest stage in Ailezegai!”
>
> “Bring your swords, fists, magic, beasts—use every trick in the book. Give us a battle so intense, it’ll leave your eyes and ears breathless!”
>
> “The Faction Leader, Emperor of the Ashen Flame—Kai Xiusu, will personally attend the Elimination Tournament. He’ll witness your rise, and bestow ultimate rewards and eternal glory upon the victors!”
The announcement sent shockwaves through the community.
For nearly two years, Kai Xiusu had been largely absent. Most of his time was spent in the Royal Palace. To many Players, he had become less a character and more a myth—like a background figure in an epic tale, a being of boundless power.
Many Dragon Holy Knight players had even adopted “Kai Xiusu’s Bless” as a catchphrase—because real-world tests proved it boosted the success rate of Holy Vow Spells.
Whenever Kai Xiusu appeared, veterans knew: the cutscenes were about to begin. The Red Dragon, a near-exclusive asset to the Empire’s Battalion, would swoop in and obliterate enemies with terrifying ease.
To receive the Emperor’s personal recognition? That was like a mythical figure stepping into reality.
How could anyone not be excited?
And fans of special guilds like the Dragon Fanatics Association and the King Kai Xiusu Fan Club? They were beyond thrilled. The reason? Well, it was obvious.
They wanted to taste the Emperor’s flesh!
The tournament format was straightforward—due to time constraints and the looming server shutdown, there were no playoffs or point-based leagues.
Three competition types:
- Individual Match: Two Players face off in a designated arena. Surrender or death equals defeat.
- Regiment Team Match: Classic 4-person party battle. Surrender or full party defeat ends the match.
- Guild Match: Up to 50 Players per Guild. Battle on a designated battlefield. Surrender or total defeat ends the match.
With tight scheduling, only two stages: Group Stage and Elimination Tournament.
In the Group Stage, participants were divided into pools and fought against each other. Wins earned 3 points, draws 1 point, losses 0. Top-ranked individuals and teams advanced to the Elimination Tournament.
The Elimination Tournament was pure brutality—100 to 1. Victory meant advancement. Defeat meant elimination. One by one, the weak fell until only the strongest remained.
And this would be the final major event of the Northern Winds and Storms version. Nearly every Player was eyeing the championship crown.
Of course, some pro players and well-known guides had loyal fanbases. So the forums exploded with battle power debates.
The most heated thread? “Who will win the individual tournament?”
Thousands of replies poured in, still growing. The commenters were a mix of every type:
> “S Master is the clear winner!”
> “Shut up, fanboys. This is pro-level. He’s just a solo player—no resources, average skill. What’s he gonna do?”
> “I’m backing The Overlord. Royal Authority Guild has too much depth.”
> “What about Mechanical Divinity? Who knows how far they’ve pushed their tech tree? Rumor has it their elites have built powered armor. They might just throw a grenade and scare you to death!”
> “Charlotte isn’t good enough? Her Mage PvP setup is solid.”
> “But she’s too RNG.”
> “My wife, Xia Ye Qiu Yu, is number one!”
> “This is a gladiator tournament, not a beauty contest. Stop being fanservicey.”
> “I have a thought—Langli BaiTiao has the strongest raw power. He’s the most likely to win.”
> “Wandering Beast, post on your main.”
> “Ugh, Wandering Beast’s using a sub again. Disgusting.”
> “???”
> “Forget personality—just look at that home setup. City in the Rain is insane. He might actually win.”
> “What about Stuffed Bun? Nobody’s talking about him?”
> “Noob. Just train more.”
> “Lao Man should stick to updating his videos. He doesn’t belong here.”
> “War Fury Brother is unbeatable! He’ll cut through everything!”
> “I don’t care about the match. I just wanna pet King Kai Xiusu’s tail. Hehehe… qwq King Kai Xiusu.”
> “What kind of creature is that?”
> “Come on. You know the type—those guys who post dragon lewd art.”
> “.”
> “In the original timeline, the first PvP champion was supposed to be the leader of Royal Authority Guild. I wonder what’ll change now?”
Scrolling through the chaotic, blazing forum threads, Kai Xiusu deliberately ignored a few odd comments.
“Hardcore Player. I won’t lose. The Dragon Flame Champion title? It’s mine!”
“Slam!”
In a tavern, Stuffed Bun slammed his fist on the table, declaring his resolve with a thunderous aura.
Everyone around him stared at him like he was insane. He flinched, shrinking back.
“Awooo!”
Outside, the noodle tied to the post howled, sensing his master’s agitation.
“Oh,” Singo didn’t even look up. He flipped through a stack of papers, responding lazily.
No reaction to the declaration. Stuffed Bun felt like he’d punched a pillow—frustratingly soft and unyielding.
All his fiery determination deflated like a punctured balloon.
He stepped closer. “What’re you reading?”
Singo kept flipping. “Studying the competition. Full preparation. Just reviewing the strongest players.”
Curious, Stuffed Bun leaned in. The papers listed familiar names: Charlotte, The Overlord, Steel Tide, Great威 Tianlong, City in the Rain.
Each had detailed breakdowns—class abilities, gear stats, weaknesses. Clearly, someone had put in serious work.
“Whoa… this is detailed. Did you make this just now?”
“Of course not. I’ve been collecting data on top Players for two months. Didn’t you get the insider intel? Oh right—you’re not a mid-level official, so you don’t have permissions.”
“…”
Stuffed Bun fell silent.
After a pause, he asked, “So… what about me?”
“Did you collect my data too? Show me! Oh man, after all this time as teammates, you’re stealing my intel? How… disappointing.”
Singo finally looked up, his expression calm, almost strange.
“I said I only collect valuable data.”
“…” Stuffed Bun winced, forcing a nervous smile. “War Fury Brother, you’re definitely joining, right?”
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang rubbed his bald head, already showing a patina of age, and grinned. “Of course. This kind of event is my specialty. Maybe I’ll be the one who chops Singo in half.”
“Don’t hold back on your subordinates. If I meet you, I’ll split you clean in two.”
Stuffed Bun glanced at the blood-stained great axe in the man’s hand, then at the cheerful grin on his face. He swallowed hard.
Saying the most terrifying things with the most innocent smile—this was War Fury Brother’s unique charisma.
“…Yeyu is still the sweetest,” Stuffed Bun sighed, turning to look at Xia Ye Qiu Yu.
She offered a soft, delicate smile.
Then—riiiip—the air tore open with a violent crack.
Frenzied flames erupted from her golden eyes, wild and uncontrollable.
“…”
Another silence.
Stuffed Bun realized his tournament journey might be far more difficult than he’d imagined.
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(End of Chapter)
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