435: This is unreasonable!

"Whew!"

Richard reappeared in the main arena, exhaling heavily, a flush returning to his pale face.

Although the Secret Realm Dungeons had protective mechanisms, meaning death within them wouldn't affect one's body in the real world, the intense battle and the "Life Burning" skill used at the last moment had left Richard's mind almost depleted.

Especially the "Life Burning" skill, which exchanged life for combat power, brought a rather cruel experience to Richard.

That feeling of life rapidly draining away, as if his entire being was hollowed out, he would definitely not have used it if he weren't in a Secret Realm Dungeon.

However, it was all worth it!

They had broken the record for the longest duration held by Dragon Country in previous years, and this year's team competition championship was practically a done deal!

Thinking of this, Richard's lips curled slightly, ready to receive envious and jealous gazes from those around him.

However, looking around, the situation was strangely peculiar.

The teams that had already been eliminated were all staring dumbfounded at the gigantic light screen, with hardly anyone paying attention to him; the few glances that did come his way carried not envy or jealousy, but a hint of pity and schadenfreude.

"What's going on?"

Sensing the strange atmosphere, an ominous feeling inexplicably arose in Richard's heart.

He looked up at the gigantic light screen, then his body stiffened, his eyes wide like copper bells.

On the light screen, only the live broadcasts of Dragon Country and West France Empire remained, which meant the final champion would be decided between the two countries.

Seeing this, Richard wasn't surprised. Since the will of the heavens revived, Dragon Country's national power had steadily ranked first, being the first to recover from the Blood Clan invasion.

From the start of the team competition, he knew that even if Dragon Country included the young Prodigy Wang Chen in their participating team this time, Dragon Country would still be the strongest contender for the final championship.

But...

The situation on the light screen at this moment almost made Richard's jaw drop.

Like the West France Empire, Dragon Country had also annihilated the fifty-sixth wave of attacking Evil Blood Clan and was waiting for the next wave to arrive.

But...

"One, two, three... six, seven, eight?"

After counting the figures in Dragon Country's live broadcast, Richard's body trembled.

Their team had lost two members and only lasted past the fifty-sixth hour, but Dragon Country, not only had no casualties, but their numbers had increased?

"What is this situation?"

Richard found it hard to understand.

"Captain, those are all Wang Chen's Beast Pets!"

"That kid is not a normal Rank 4 Awakener at all; he and his Beast Pets all have at least the strength equivalent to a high-Rank Six-Turn!"

The first eliminated player from the West France Empire said with a bitter tone, seeing the expression on Richard's face.

After he was eliminated, just like Richard, he had expected cheers and envious, jealous looks from others.

However, a glance at the live broadcast left him utterly dumbfounded.

In Dragon Country's live broadcast, the situation was not as intense as what he had just experienced. Chu Youxiong, Chai Yue, Du Jijun, and Lu Tingyi were each guarding one of the four passages, with Wang Chen and his three Beast Pets assisting, slaughtering the invading Blood Clan into disarray.

"What?"

Richard's heart trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

As the team competition reached its fifty-sixth hour, the invading Blood Clan all possessed the strength of a Marquis, which, when converted to Rank, meant each was above Rank 160, with the elite Marquises nearly at Rank 190.

Wang Chen, a young Rank 4 Prodigy at Rank 125, could participate in such an intense battle?

Richard had watched the battle recording between Wang Chen and Takizawa Hideaki a month ago; at that time, Wang Chen struggled greatly against Takizawa Hideaki, who was not yet Six-Turn.

In just one month, how did he become so strong?

Even a rocket wouldn't be this fast!

This is unreasonable!

Richard was shocked, and he became somewhat disheartened.

It was clear without thinking that although his West France Empire still had three contestants remaining in the Secret Realm Dungeon, they had no advantage whatsoever compared to the fully intact Dragon Country team.

There would be no surprise; Dragon Country would win this year's team championship!

After all, who would have thought that Wang Chen, initially regarded as a "flower vase" by everyone, could actually participate in battles of their level, and even be stronger than most of the other contestants!

At this moment, everyone could only lament the formidable rise of the younger generation.

Except for Takizawa Toshiaki.

He watched the handsome Wang Chen in the live broadcast, his eyes constantly flickering with killing intent.

The more brilliant Wang Chen performed now, the more Takizawa Toshiaki was reminded of his tragically deceased younger brother.

...

...

In the audience.

"Time's up, the fifty-seventh wave of Evil Blood Clan has appeared!"

"This year's Global Prodigy Competition is truly surprising; the record of fifty-six hours has been broken by both Dragon Country and the West France Empire simultaneously!"

"But what's even more surprising is Dragon Country's Wang Chen!"

"He, a Rank 4, can actually intervene in Six-Turn level battles, and the combat power he displays is not weak at all. Among all the contestants this year, he can probably be considered at a mid-tier level."

"Truly terrifying! I now understand the true value of being the only one in seven hundred years to ascend the Ten Thousand Realms Prodigy Ranking!"

Looking at the gigantic light screen with only two live broadcasts remaining, the audience discussed animatedly, no longer looking down on Wang Chen.

"With Wang Chen and his three Beast Pets assisting, Dragon Country will probably set a new record this year!"

"I didn't expect a Giant-Beast Master to be so strong. After Wang Chen joined the battle, each of Dragon Country's four passages effectively has two people defending. Perhaps this year, Dragon Country's team can last until the sixtieth hour and encounter a Blood Clan Marquis!"

"Lasting until the sixtieth hour, isn't that a bit of a fantasy? Just now, Chu Youxiong and the others were already at a disadvantage against the Evil Blood Clan and only managed to hold on because Wang Chen joined the battle. It will get increasingly difficult later on; I think they can at most withstand two more waves!"

"That's not necessarily true. Wang Chen is currently Rank 4, and according to the characteristics of the Beast Master profession, he has four Beast Pet slots. Only three Beast Pets have appeared so far, so Wang Chen hasn't used his full strength yet. They might really have a chance!"

The audience discussed animatedly. As the team competition was about to conclude, everyone began to speculate on what kind of terrifying new record Wang Chen and his team could create.

At this moment, everyone selectively forgot their previous doubts about Dragon Country's starting lineup.

The time reached fifty-seven hours and fifteen minutes.

"Ah!"

Accompanied by the screams of the last West France Empire contestant, the West France Empire's journey in the team competition was completely ended, leaving only one live broadcast on the main arena's gigantic light screen.

West France Empire, eliminated!