93: On the ring, still waters run deep, revealing extraordinary effects (Part 2)

No earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling brilliance.

Just a vague, obscure Concept of 'Stillness,' like mercury spilling onto the ground, silently enveloping the entire arena with Lin Zhou's Divine Domain as the core!

【Pure and Inactive Realm (Enhanced Single-Target Version)】 — Expand!

Domain Effect Focus: Since the range is concentrated on the arena space, the effects of 【Emotional Stripping】 and 【Energy Inertia】 are increased by 50%.

Core Target Lock: Prioritize enemy units, especially those in states of emotional agitation or energy turbulence.

Domain Continuous Consumption: The consumption rate of Divine Power and civilization points is increased (1.5 times that of team battles).

The moment the Domain descended, the effect was immediate, even more significant than in team battles!

The Naga legion, which was like a boiling oil pan about to explode, seemed to be submerged by an invisible, cold flow of still water!

"Hiss...?"

The Naga Thugs charging at the front suddenly stalled, the fanatical Battle Intent in their eyes extinguished as if doused by a basin of ice water, replaced by a vague 'calm.' The electric arcs jumping on the Lightning Spears they threw seemed much milder, and their power visibly dropped by a notch.

In the rear, those Naga Berserkers whose eyes were already bloodshot, muscles bulging, and were about to enter the 【Berserk】 state, encountered an even stronger impact!

"Roar...?" A Naga Berserker charging at the front, having already raised its battle-axe flickering with dangerous red light, preparing to launch a destructive 【Thunder Blast】, suddenly felt the burning rage in its heart inexplicably extinguish. It looked at the battle-axe in its hand, then at the Dwarf defensive line waiting in full battle array, and its mind went 'blank,' with a strange thought of 'Why be so angry and fight' emerging. The crimson violent lightning around its body, as if having lost fuel, quickly faded back to its original blue, and the light dimmed significantly.

【Berserk】 Skill — Activation Failed!

It wasn't just an individual, but the entire Berserker team! All the Naga Berserkers who had reached the critical point encountered the same situation! That extreme emotion supporting them in unleashing their potential and falling into destructive revelry was forcibly 'calmed' by the 【Pure and Inactive Realm】!

Data Feedback (Arena Rules Auxiliary Display):

Naga Berserkers (All): 【Berserk】 state activation failed! Entered 【Forced Calm】 state. Strength attribute restored to base value (40), losing Berserk bonus (Strength +20, Attack Speed +50%, Physique +15). Skill 【Thunder Blast】 failed release rate +30% due to energy inertia.

Naga Thugs (All): Entered 【Low Spirits】 state, attack desire -25%, attack power -10%.

Naga Thunder Callers (All): Entered 【Distracted】 state, chanting speed -20%, 【Chain Lightning】 jump count -1, 【Thunderstorm】 coverage -15%.

Naga Queen (LV38): Received focused attention from the Domain, 【Queen's Command】 effect weakened (effect of increasing attack speed and damage halved), 【Ultimate Berserk】 channeling forcibly interrupted, suffered slight backlash (Spirit attribute temporarily decreased by 5 points).

Quiet!

A deathly silence enveloped the Thunder Naga Divine Domain!

The originally noisy thunder, violent roars, and boiling Battle Intent had all disappeared. The Naga warriors still existed, still powerful, but they were like a group of exquisite Puppets that had lost their Souls and fighting spirit, their movements stiff, their attacks weak.

"No! Impossible! My Berserk!!" Lei Huang roared in disbelief from the command platform. He felt the connection between himself and his dependents twisted by a strange power; he could no longer ignite the fire of battle in the hearts of the Nagas! "What kind of Demonic Technique is this?!"

Inside and outside the battlefield, there was an uproar!

"Berserk... forcibly interrupted?"

"Not interrupted, it didn't even activate! It's like the flame was smothered before it could even start!"

"This Domain is too perverted! It completely crippled the Thunder Naga's core burst ability!"

"Lin Zhou... how on earth did he do it?!"

On the side of Yuncheng No. 1 High School, Zhao Hao and the others watched in amazement.

"Damn... the Berserk Nagas have become good babies?" Zhao Hao muttered.

Lei Huang's eyes were full of shock: "Directly dismantling the opponent's combat system from the foundation... Lin Zhou's ability has immeasurable strategic value!"

Su Yueyao quietly watched the figure on the arena, a flash of appreciation and understanding appearing deep in her cold eyes. Moonlight Power also tends toward 'Stillness' and 'Purification,' but she mostly dispels negative states, whereas Lin Zhou's Domain seems to 'deny' the generation of intense emotions from the source itself.

On the arena, Lin Zhou's heart was like still water. The effect of the Domain was even better than he had expected. The Naga legion, having lost their Berserk state, was still high-level, but their threat level had dropped significantly.

"Counterattack."

He spat out two words lightly.

"Righteous Execution!" Elwin took the lead in attacking! The Literary Heart Elves chanted in unison, and 【Vast Righteous Qi】 turned into countless golden words of power, rushing towards the Naga legion that had fallen into "Forced Calm" like a torrent! These words have miraculous effects on units with chaotic minds and intense negative emotions. Although the Nagas' emotions were calmed at this moment, the residual violent thoughts accumulated before still existed, allowing the Righteous Qi damage to be fully unleashed!

Skill Effect: Deals 【Moderate Holy Damage】 to Naga units, and has a chance to apply 【Will Wavering】 effect (Defense further decreased).

"For my Lord! Smash their scales!" Bronzebeard seized the opportunity and led the Tiangong Dwarves to launch a counter-charge! Their target was those Naga Berserkers who had lost their Berserk bonus and whose attributes had returned to normal. The Dwarves formed a tight formation, their warhammers and axe blades flashing with the armor-piercing light of 【Artisan's Fire】, colliding fiercely with the Naga Berserkers!

Unit Confrontation: Tiangong Dwarves (LV26 - LV30) vs Naga Berserkers (LV32 - LV35, no Berserk).

The level gap was partially made up for by 【Artisan's Fury】 (increased damage against non-Order/invaders) and the weakening effect of 【Vast Righteous Qi】.

The Tiangong Dwarves' formation was rigorous, their cooperation tacit; the Naga Berserkers' combat was slightly dull after losing Berserk.

Result: Evenly matched! The Dwarves even had a slight upper hand due to their works and cooperation!

"Net of Law · Judgment!" Snik locked onto the opponent's hero unit, the Naga Queen. The golden Law chains were no longer a binding, but condensed into a huge sword of judgment, carrying cold Order rules, and slashed down from the air! This is an offensive divine spell that Law Fishmen can only cast after reaching a certain level and deepening their understanding of Law!

Skill Effect: 【Judgment】 — Deals rule-based damage to a single target based on its "crimes" (chaos, berserk, invasion, etc.). The Naga Queen had just tried to channel Ultimate Berserk, which was considered a "serious crime" under the rules of Order!

Damage Judgment: Extremely high! The Naga Queen was severely damaged, her aura instantly withered!

The battle situation reversed instantly!

Having lost their core burst method and suffering from attribute suppression and precision strikes, the Naga legion retreated steadily! The Literary Heart Elves' Righteous Qi continued to weaken them, the Tiangong Dwarves' fierce attack pressed on step by step, and the Law Fishmen's judgment pointed directly at the vitals!

Lei Huang roared in vain on the command platform, trying to remobilize the legion and inspire Battle Intent, but under the continuous influence of the 【Pure and Inactive Realm】, everything was in vain. He could only watch helplessly as his elite Nagas were knocked down one by one, the light of his Divine Domain projection becoming dimmer and dimmer.

"No—!" Accompanied by Lei Huang's unwilling roar, his Naga Queen finally turned into light spots and dissipated under the combined attack of Snik's 【Judgment】 and Elwin's 【Subtle Influence】.

【Arena Match 1 Ended! Winner: Yuncheng No. 1 High School, Lin Zhou!】

With a flash of light, Lin Zhou and Lei Huang were teleported back to their respective camps. Lei Huang's face was livid, ashamed and angry; his prideful Berserk Nagas were crushed and eliminated without even having a chance to perform.

On the side of Yuncheng No. 1 High School, there was a burst of enthusiastic cheers!

"Won! Won so beautifully!"

"Lin Zhou is awesome! This Domain is simply a divine skill!"

The first battle was won, and in a way that was almost crushing, by ruining the opponent's core tactics and winning, which was a huge boost to morale!

Lin Zhou returned to the team, his face slightly pale; maintaining a high-intensity Domain continuously was indeed a huge consumption. But his eyes were bright, full of the joy of harvest. Through this battle, his understanding and application of the 【Pure and Inactive Realm】 became more proficient.

"Hard work." Su Yueyao said softly, and a gentle Moonlight Power fell on Lin Zhou, helping him relieve the fatigue of spirit and Divine Power.

"Thank you." Lin Zhou felt the Moonlight, which was cold but carried care, and felt warmth in his heart. He looked at Su Yueyao, their eyes met, and everything was said without words. Having experienced battle and assistance together, an invisible tacit understanding and trust were rapidly building between the two.

Zhao Hao patted Lin Zhou's shoulder hard: "Well done! Let's see if Dome Academy dares to be arrogant now!"

Lei Huang also said solemnly: "Your Domain is the key to our victory."

Just then, the virtual battlefield announcement sounded again:

【The second arena contestant of the Dome Academy team has been confirmed: Glory (Holy Light Priest Divine Domain)! Please Yuncheng No. 1 High School decide the second contestant within 30 seconds!】

Holy Light Priest? A typical healing, purification, and buff auxiliary Divine Domain.

Everyone's eyes focused on Lin Zhou again. He had consumed a lot, did he need to continue?

Lin Zhou took a deep breath, feeling the Divine Power in his body accelerating recovery with the help of Moonlight, and the tenacious vitality of the Fire of Civilization, his Battle Intent ignited again.

"It seems that my Domain is also just right for meeting the Holy Light."

He stepped out, and his figure appeared on the arena again.

"Yuncheng No. 1 High School, Lin Zhou, continuing to defend the arena!"