49: Chapter 49 Competition Rules?

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the scene of the 58th National Hundred Schools Hegemony Competition!"

On the commentary stage, the gold-medal host's passionate voice resounded through the sky:

"This year's competition format will usher in an unprecedented reform! It will no longer be the traditional one-on-one arena battles, but—Virtual Reality Battle Royale!"

Boom—!

A highly complex 3D map flashed rapidly across the big screen.

It was an ancient land filled with a desolate and murderous aura.

【Map: Asura Ancient Battlefield (S-Rank Difficulty)】

【Environment: Contains various extreme terrains such as poisonous swamps, frigid snow mountains, desert ruins, and lava caves.】

"The rules are simple!"

The host held up a finger:

"100 top teams from all over the country will be randomly dropped into various corners of this map."

"In this Asura Ancient Battlefield, countless fierce beasts simulated by the super-computer are wandering about, including third-level and fourth-level Beast Kings! Kill them to earn points!"

"Of course, the fastest way to earn points is—to hunt other students!"

The host's voice suddenly became murderous:

"For every opponent defeated, 50% of their points will be plundered! In the end, the teams that survive until the end and rank in the top 16 for points will advance to the knockout stage!"

...

In the preparation area, upon hearing the rule about "plundering 50% of points," the eyes of all the contestants changed.

The previously harmonious atmosphere instantly became tense, and everyone looked at the surrounding teams with vigilance and greed.

"Group A... we're going to have a tough fight."

Wang Ye held the freshly released grouping list, his brows locked in a frown: "We have been placed in the 'Death Group A.' Not only are there several veteran powerhouse schools in the same group, but there is also the most difficult opponent—the Northwest Military Academy."

Looking in the direction of Wang Ye's gaze.

Not far away, a group of young men with buzz cuts wearing dark green camouflage gear were staring coldly at this side.

The leader was a burly man with a scar on his face, codenamed "Northwest Wolf King" Wolf King.

"What are you afraid of?"

Xiang Lie clenched his fists and sneered, "Comparing ruthlessness? I am their ancestor."

"Now, let us interview the captains of several of the favorite teams to win the championship!"

The official reporter walked over with a camera, and countless camera flashes lit up instantly.

The first microphone was handed to Ye Fan of the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University.

As the New Student King with the highest popularity in the entire venue, Ye Fan adjusted his collar:

"The grouping has no meaning to me, because I have only one goal, and that is the championship."

"Good! So domineering!"

The Imperial Capital fans at the scene let out a scream.

The reporter then ran over to the Northwest Military Academy side.

Wolf King snatched the microphone, his voice like a beast roaring:

"We men of the Northwest don't play games! Once on the battlefield, we just fight! Whatever genius, whatever top scholar, in our eyes, they are all meat!"

After speaking, he even spat specifically towards Lin Yuan's side.

The atmosphere became instantly explosive.

Finally, under the gaze of everyone, the reporter arrived at the rest area of the Modu Martial Arts University.

"Captain Lin Yuan, as the biggest dark horse of this competition, do you have anything to say in the face of Captain Ye Fan's provocation and the Northwest Military Academy's declaration of war?"

The whole venue quieted down, waiting for the response from this "Flying Madman."

Lin Yuan was sitting on a chair yawning. Seeing the microphone extended towards him, he lifted his eyelids somewhat lazily, as if he had just woken up:

"Huh? Are you done?"

"Actually, I don't have much interest in the championship or whatever. After all, winning the championship is too simple for me; it has no challenge."

"Boo—!!!"

A chorus of boos erupted instantly from the audience.

Too pretentious! This guy is simply boundless in his arrogance!

Lin Yuan ignored the sky-filling boos, held up a finger to the camera, and said seriously:

"I have only one piece of advice for all the opponents present."

"If you meet me in the map, please hand over your points directly, then lie down and surrender."

Lin Yuan paused and revealed a "peaceful" smile:

"After all, although the competition rules prohibit killing, they don't say anything about prohibiting breaking limbs."

"These rules are not here to restrict me."

"They are to protect you... from being beaten to death by me."

Arrogant! Too arrogant!

This is directly declaring war on 99 teams!

"Lin Yuan! I'm going to tear you apart!!"

Northwest Wolf King Wolf King was so angry that he crushed the water bottle in his hand.

Ye Fan also had a livid face; he snorted coldly and turned to leave: "A clown, just wait to die."

"All contestants, please pay attention! The VR connection pods have been activated!"

"Countdown starting! 10, 9, 8..."

As the broadcast sound rang out, Lin Yuan and the other four team members lay into the silver, streamlined pods filled with a sci-fi feel.

"Connection starting... consciousness descending."

"Cough cough! What kind of hellish place is this?"

Su Xiaoxiao covered her nose and looked at her feet with disgust.

She saw that the surroundings were an endless dark green swamp.

Huge bubbles were emerging from the mud, and all around were dead, crooked-necked trees. Visibility was extremely low, and occasionally, shrill roars of beasts could be heard from afar.

【Current Location: Asura Ancient Battlefield · Poisonous Swamp (Danger Zone)】

"It's over..."

The two deadweights in the team turned green.

Healer Han Mu looked at his calves sinking into the mud and said with a crying tone: "This terrain is too disgusting! My movement speed is halved! And this fog is poisonous; I have to keep the Purification spell active, and my mana is not enough at all!"

Ghost Eye pushed up his glasses, also looking desperate: "There are obstacles everywhere here; my long-range reconnaissance is completely useless! We are on the verge of being eliminated right after landing!"

For ground troops, swamps are definitely the most disgusting terrain. It not only restricts movement but also makes one prone to sneak attacks.

"Our luck is really bad..."

Xiang Lie also frowned, trying to pull his leg out, only to find that the mud had extremely strong suction, which made it very uncomfortable for a burst-type warrior like him.

"Bad luck?"

Just at this moment, a calm voice came from above.

The four of them looked up.

They saw that Lin Yuan had somehow already lifted his feet off the ground, and a layer of faint Spiritual Telekinesis shield surrounded his body, isolating the poisonous gas.

"Rise."

Lin Yuan moved his mind, and his whole body, like a weightless feather, slowly rose into the air until he hovered at twenty meters above the ground.

This is the absolute advantage of aerial units!

Ignoring terrain! Ignoring obstacles!

"Careful! Something is coming!"

Suddenly, Lin Yuan's gaze sharpened as he looked at the mud pool on the left.

Splash!

The mud exploded.

Three "Swamp Giant Crocodiles" (virtual second-level fierce beasts), five meters long and covered with hard scales, opened their bloody maws, lunged out of the mud, and pounced directly at the Healer standing on the edge.

"Mommy! Help!"

The Healer was so scared that he sat down in the mud, unable to even hold his staff steadily.

"Hmph."

Lin Yuan, in mid-air, didn't even move a finger.

【Spiritual Telekinesis · Deterrence!】

Hum!

An invisible Spiritual Telekinesis shockwave, like a heavy hammer, precisely smashed into the crocodiles' brains.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The three aggressive crocodiles suddenly stiffened in mid-air, then fell back into the mud like puppets with cut strings and stopped moving.

【Killed 3 Second-Level Fierce Beasts Swamp Crocodile! Points +300!】

Instant kill.

And it was an instant kill with just a glance.

The Healer opened his mouth wide, looking at Lin Yuan hovering in the air as if he were looking at God.

Lin Yuan's voice came from the air, calm and full of majesty:

"Xiang Lie, Su Xiaoxiao, you are responsible for clearing monsters on the ground and protecting those two deadweights."

"I will provide you with full-map vision from up here."

Lin Yuan's figure rose again, shooting straight into the sky, arriving at a hundred meters high.

From this perspective, the dynamics of the entire Poisonous Swamp were in full view.

Where there were monsters, where there were resources, and even where other teams' sneaky players were hiding, were all crystal clear.

"God's eye view activated."

Lin Yuan looked down at this Asura Ancient Battlefield, his eyes flashing with the light of controlling the whole situation:

"The hunt, has begun."