2: Chapter 002: If Shen Mo wins, the nation wins! If Shen Mo loses, the nation loses!

As Shen Mo took the stage, the matching mechanism of the Gods Arena began to operate immediately.

Countless streams of light overflowed.

Shen Mo stood suspended on the high platform, and adjacent to him were seven other such platforms, though they were currently unoccupied.

The matching, which took a few seconds, concluded.

Figures appeared on the high platforms, and the live stream's barrage of comments descended like snowflakes!

"It's here, it's here! Whether the Dragon Country can turn the tide depends on this round! Haha!"

"What else is there to say? Just look at this kid from the Dragon Country, his face is full of nervousness. You can tell the Dragon Country is doomed this time!"

"Haha, what do you think will happen if this kid gets eliminated in eighth place and loses another 12 points? Will the Dragon Country be wiped out?"

"Heh, negative 147 points... even if it's not wiped out, it's pretty close! Why am I feeling a bit of anticipation..."

[Matching successful...]

[Gods Arena, Third District, Match 128 is about to begin. Everyone, you may now choose your pre-match bets!]

A pale blue screen appeared before every contestant.

Shen Mo was no exception.

However, when he saw the content on the screen, his mouth twitched violently!

[Multiplier]: After this match ends, the points gained or deducted are multiplied by 2!

[Super Multiplier]: After this match ends, the points gained or deducted are multiplied by 4!

[No Multiplier]: After this match ends, the points are gained or deducted normally!

Isn't this just the rules of Fighting the Landlord!

Gods Arena... the name sounds intimidating, but couldn't you make the options a little less down-to-earth!

Damn it!

Shen Mo complained wildly in his heart.

However, despite his complaints, his hand didn't slow down at all. He directly chose [No Multiplier].

Nonsense!

The Dragon Country's national fate points he was bound to were already at negative 135. The previous twelve contestants hadn't chosen to multiply, and he still didn't know what the situation was. Choosing to multiply right off the bat would be suicide!

[8 contestants have finished selecting, 7 chose No Multiplier!]

[Sakura Country contestant 'Kamigawa' chose Multiplier! Selection has taken effect!]

Someone chose to multiply?!

Shen Mo was stunned and looked at the other contestants on the high platforms.

The eight platforms were not far apart. His 5.0 vision could barely make out the expression on the face of the contestant furthest away. At this moment, a thin, sinister-looking man was full of arrogance. That must be 'Kamigawa'.

Seeing Shen Mo look over, Kamigawa showed a look of contempt on his face. He reached out, pinched his pinky finger, made an insulting gesture, and spoke in broken Chinese: "Dragon Country person, coward..."

Under the global live broadcast, these words were clearly transmitted to everyone's ears!

The Dragon Country netizens were instantly enraged!

"Too arrogant! Is this the Bushido spirit of Sakura Country? What kind of pre-match mockery is this!"

"Exactly! What right do they have to mock us? It makes me so angry!"

"When has our Dragon Country ever suffered such humiliation? I can't take it anymore. If we lose this time, I'll just go to their border and die with them!"

"Well said! These bastards, count me in!"

"Hehehe, in the face of the powerful Sakura, all enemies are paper tigers. If they aren't cowards, what are they?"

"My Sakura Country only worships the strong. You Dragon Country people aren't worthy!"

"So ga, give up! To use your Dragon Country saying... those who know the times are heroes... Hahaha!"

In Sakura Country, countless citizens were celebrating!

Some were holding large loudspeakers, shouting 'Kamigawa's' name, looking like fanatical fans!

Inside the secret base of the Dragon Country!

The hot-tempered Old Man Li slapped the table with a bang: "Those dog-eat-dog bastards! I didn't kill enough of them on the battlefield back then! We should have wiped them out directly at that time!"

Everyone present held high ranks. The older ones were so angry that their hair stood on end.

They felt it personally!

Their eyes were red!

People who haven't experienced that era simply won't understand how the Dragon Country managed to get to where it is today.

What these people, this generation, actually sacrificed!

The conference room went quiet.

After a long while, someone sighed.

"Old Man Li, calm down. The times have changed. It's no longer a time where we can control the situation... This is the data just approved by the Technical Department. Everyone, take a look. This Kamigawa is not simple..."

On the big screen in the conference room, Kamigawa's data was displayed.

[Name: Kamigawa]

[Age: 38]

[Nationality: Sakura Country]

[National Fate Points: 56! Personal Points: 30!]

"30 points..." Everyone's pupils shrank slightly, and then their hearts tightened!

Kamigawa was the third contestant from Sakura Country!

Every time a contestant took the stage, their personal points were 0. When winning or losing a match, the points won could be chosen to be used on themselves or on national fate points. This Kamigawa had 30 personal points! His strength must not be underestimated!

"If this Kamigawa adds the points won in every round to himself, he has conservatively estimated to have entered the top four for 4 consecutive matches. He is an expert..."

"Are you saying this Kamigawa didn't add points to the national fate, but added them all to himself?"

"Not sure."

The person shook his head and said: "It's all speculation. When a contestant wins first place, the Gods Arena rewards 12 points. You can choose to keep it for yourself, or you can choose to attribute it to national fate. This is like chips on a gambling table."

"Once attributed to national fate, your personal points return to 0. This means if you fall out of the top four in the next match, you will be directly eliminated! There is no room for error."

"This Kamigawa has 30 points. The reward for first place is only 12 points. Conservatively estimated, he has already won many times in a row, and that's without giving any points to the national fate!"

Everyone present was silent.

Personal points and national fate points, country and individual...

Someone coughed twice and said: "If Shen Mo wins points this round, he can help the country pay back some, so the country's pressure can be reduced a lot..."

"No."

Suddenly! The old man sitting at the head interrupted this voice. His eyes were like lightning, sweeping across the people present, and a terrifying pressure instantly swept through the conference room!

His gaze was calm, his words like golden blades: "The points, leave them for Shen Mo. This time, if Shen Mo wins, the country wins. If Shen Mo loses, the country loses. We prosper together, and we suffer together!"

The noise in his ears rang out.

The smile on Shen Mo's face gradually cooled down, but a certain flame was burning in the depths of his eyes.

Sakura Country... the 'Little Japan' of this world, right?

Did I give you face?

Very good, you little bastard, you have successfully aroused the anger of your father!

[All contestants have finished selecting!]

[The match is about to begin! 3, 2, 1...]

Golden light appeared before everyone. Cards that Shen Mo was familiar with appeared on the blue screen. In each card, characters with different images were vivid, as if they would fight for him in the next second!

Shen Mo was slightly stunned: "This is..."