Or perhaps everyone present here, excluding the one who later filled the spot from Zone 02, are all ability users.
This is... Qiuqiu's trump card?
We need to accelerate and help everyone quickly become ability users... Under the condition that any items are prohibited from use, ability users have an inherent advantage, though special cases like blessings are an exception.
After all the meeting content concluded, Qiuqiu didn't want to waste a single word. It instantly teleported everyone present back, having no strength left for further communication.
Everyone was waiting outside Qi Xu's vehicle. Seeing Qi Xu return, they instantly crowded around.
Qi Xu noticed the four unfamiliar faces first; their hands and feet were already completely bound.
"Time is short, so I'll be brief."
"This cross-zone arena challenge is completely different from before. Even though we've prepared extensively, some unforeseen changes still occurred, forcing us to alter our plans right before the match.
In this arena match, losing means death. Only one person can walk away alive from each fight. But the rules are simple: there are 10 groups in total. Achieving victory in 6 matches means the zone wins. There's no minor point system for an overall ranking anymore.
I... thought it over and decided that I, Sister Xueni, Xiao Song, 009, 004, and 008 will participate. This maximizes our team's safety while securing victory at the smallest cost.
As for the other four slots, we'll let those four go up. If they win, it's a huge gain; if they lose, it's expected. However, those of us who are actually competing... truly bear the risk of death. There's no way to use Death Protection Cards or any items."
As soon as Qi Xu finished speaking, Dongfang Yuan gently bumped his shoulder with hers. "What's wrong? Are you having second thoughts? Don't."
War Wolf 008 also spoke with a smile, "Don't worry, this is our own choice. Risk and opportunity go hand in hand. Thank you, Boss Whirlwind, for giving me this chance."
Song Peifeng nodded vigorously, "Same here."
War Wolf 009 started with the pointed remarks again, "Exactly, it's an honor. Look, even Dandan Seven is so envious he's about to shed tears!"
When Dandan Seven initially heard his name wasn't on the participant list, he flushed with embarrassment. After all, he had been with Boss Whirlwind longer than Old Four and Old Eight.
But he hadn't seized the opportunity for development properly, and now his overall strength didn't even rank in the top six. He couldn't help but feel a bit lost and guilty.
If only he were more well-rounded, they wouldn't have to send four complete losers who stood no chance to fill the slots as cannon fodder. Who wants to lose if they can win all matches? This is just the only option when there are no better ones.
However... with unreliable Old Nine's interruption, his earlier feeling of disappointment instantly dissipated.
If his strength isn't up to par this time, he'll just keep working hard. There will be a time when he can contribute to the team.
So, Dandan Seven clenched his fists and pressed them firmly against his lips, "Just wait until I train more with the boss and Sister Xueni. Sooner or later, your spot will be mine!"
Zhu Fu immediately chimed in, "That's right! Who knows who might be the strongest next time! Stinky Dandan, let's work hard together!"
"No problem, stinky Caicai!"
Qi Xu's mood wasn't great either. Although a solution was found, in the end, they were still being manipulated. Everything, everything, was because their overall strength wasn't strong enough!
The further the game progresses, the more you realize that just one person being strong is completely insufficient. Team matches will become more frequent. We must find ways to help everyone improve their strength together.
The last-minute training from last month needs to become routine. We also need to urge all teammates to collect more color fragments, striving to achieve a breakthrough for all members into ability users in the shortest time possible.
Just before eight o'clock, Qi Xu walked up to the four bound individuals, trussed up like zongzi.
"Did you hear our conversation just now?"
The four nodded and shook their heads in a panic, utterly confused about whether they should nod or shake their heads.
Qi Xu smiled. "We're about to take you four to participate in the cross-zone arena challenge. It's 1v1. Losing means death. Understand now? Though it's cruel, you were supposed to die anyway. Now you actually have a chance at life.
I promise you, if you win your fight, I'll remove the Zone Lock Card and let you go."
War Wolf 008 nodded in agreement. "That's right. Past conflicts, wiped clean."
After saying this, Qi Xu directly cut the ropes binding the hands and feet of all four. Get up, move around, take out your weapons. Whether you live or die depends on yourselves now.
The four originally thought they were doomed. Now, suddenly having a sliver of hope, they naturally wouldn't let this chance go. No matter what they were thinking inside, on the surface, they indeed looked as if their fighting spirit had been ignited!
Qi Xu didn't need their sincere allegiance. He only needed them to look "convincing," enough to fool that evil Qiuqiu.
Before the group teleportation at eight, Qi Xu winked at everyone. They understood instantly, quickly spreading out and positioning themselves to surround these four cannon fodder in the middle, standing closer to them to make it seem like they had a good relationship.
The moment they were teleported into position, Qi Xu tightly furrowed his brows. That S1 bad ball really had no shame left!
Among the 10 players from Zone 03 of Major Zone 01 opposite them, four were actually ability users! Believing Qiuqiu didn't meddle in this is like believing I, Qi Xu, cook better than Little Master Chef. It's utterly disgusting to the extreme.
The overall design of the arena was the same as the previous times: an enormous arena in the middle, with players from the two zones separated on either side.
S1 Qiuqiu couldn't wait to witness the look of agony or pain on Invincible Black Whirlwind's face. Seeing everyone present, it announced directly:
[The Cross-Zone Arena Challenge officially begins! Victor lives, loser dies. The first group of contestants: 'Anti-Vice Got Slashed 18 Times' from Zone 03, Major Zone 01, versus 'Purple Swallow A Hundred Flavors Quack' from Zone 666, Major Zone 88.]
Anti-Vice Got Slashed 18 Times leaped into the air and onto the stage, staring down his opponent with his aura fully unleashed.
Purple Swallow A Hundred Flavors Quack, nervous and at a loss (flustered, not knowing what to do with one's hands and feet), made the other side even more excited.
When someone senses your unfathomable strength, they unconsciously sheathe their sharpness. Even their words take on a tentative, insubstantial quality, coming across as both amiable and easy to get along with.
But once they detect your timidity and fear, all that restrained aggressiveness rebounds with double force, instantly overflowing all boundaries of restraint...
This was a principle Qi Xu had figured out in the previous round of the game, and now it was being validated even more.
As soon as Purple Swallow A Hundred Flavors Quack stepped onto the arena stage, Qiuqiu couldn't contain their impatience and shouted for the match to begin.
Anti-Vice Got Slashed 18 Times didn't even use a weapon. He directly charged forward, throwing a punch. Purple Swallow A Hundred Flavors Quack, afraid of being knocked off the stage with one move, didn't dare to meet it head-on. Instead, he tried to sidestep, wanting to dodge this first attack.
But unexpectedly, Anti-Vice Got Slashed 18 Times's fist suddenly became enveloped in flames. With a casual swing, the flames seemed to gain sentience, shooting straight towards Purple Swallow A Hundred Flavors Quack's chest...
.........
