167: Chapter 167 Untitled Draft

Don't let the clumsy gait of the [Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow] fool you; its speed is anything but slow!

The moment the head-to-head duel began, it charged straight at that nameless wonder from France.

Caught off guard.

Despite both being boosted by [Gold Grade] materials, the opponent never expected that the seemingly foolish-looking [Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow] could be so fast!

The two wonders collided head-on.

The massive impact pushed the French wonder toward the edge of the arena.

"Pushing it off the arena counts as a win. Catching them off guard, we only have this one chance!"

The influence of "Tower Materials" on wonder statues can be thought of as the wonder's energy source.

Like a battery.

The combat power and combat duration of a wonder are both affected by the infused materials.

With dozens fewer "Gold Grade batteries" than the opponent, conventional combat was basically hopeless, so Chen Aoyun had no choice but to use this desperate, all-or-nothing tactic.

Almost instantly igniting all the infused materials, the swallow beneath the [Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow] transformed into wings, pushing the French wonder statue toward the arena edge like a Pegasus.

Naturally, the French wonder wouldn't let itself be pushed off the arena. Its wonder power erupted instantly without reservation. It stomped its feet heavily, embedding them into the ground, while the giant hammer in its hand flashed with heavy light and smashed toward the [Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow].

One pushing, the other resisting.

In a very short time, the golden wonder powers collided and surged violently against each other!

Two deep trenches were plowed into the arena floor.

Just as the French wonder was about to be pushed off the arena, suddenly, with less than a hundred meters left to the edge, the wonder power on the [Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow] suddenly dimmed.

"As expected, it still won't work, huh?"

Chen Aoyun turned his head away, not wanting to watch the scene of his own wonder being defeated.

"Is it over already?" Adar, standing nearby, stared blankly as the Dragon Country wonder was shattered by a hammer blow from the French wonder because its wonder power was exhausted.

It was an expected outcome, yet Adar felt something was off.

Chen Aoyun was good at desperate comebacks; why did he lose so cleanly this time? Looking at his expression, he even seemed somewhat calm.

"Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice.

This act is all about Tower Materials.

Since we fell so far behind during the tower climb, losing is only natural.

Otherwise, why would I have chosen to delineate the [Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow] when there are so many other statues in China that could be delineated?

Isn't it because the abilities of every wonder that hasn't appeared yet are unknown, and they will all be my Dragon Country's trump cards in the future?

The [Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow] isn't the strongest, but it isn't the weakest either. Not losing face for the Dragon Country in this act and not letting the viewers watching the live stream gossip about how my Dragon Country has no wonders to use is enough."

"Oh, knowing when to let go. You've grasped a bit more of the essence of a Strategist," Adar said.

"Actually, even if you had won against the French wonder just now, it would have been useless.

You didn't see the other battles just now.

The gap in infusion is too big.

In one move, the Russia wonder [the motherland calls], boosted by [Star Grade] materials, KO'd the [Dawn Grade] Roman wonder statue in just one strike.

The USA was the same; it also turned the British wonder into ashes with a single blow.

And then there's Sakura Country.

The Sakura Country wonder is fucking weird. Even though both were [Dawn Grade], and although my Ottoman infusion amount was slightly less than Sakura's, I was still insta-killed. I can't understand it."

Recalling the process of his own wonder being insta-killed by the Sakura Country people, Adar was full of doubts.

According to the rules, the Sakura Country wonder had more materials infused and was stronger than his Ottoman wonder; that was certain.

But it shouldn't be that much stronger!

Insta-killed?

Adar had lost all face for the Ottoman empire.

"Russia defeated Rome;

The USA defeated Britain;

Sakura Country defeated my Ottoman empire;

And there's France, which defeated your Dragon Country;

The French wonder is only [Gold Grade]; they were lucky to run into your Dragon Country and squeeze into the top four.

Excluding France, the remaining three countries should be the top three of this second act.

This time, my Ottoman empire is just a bystander again... My heart aches."

Adar was crying and complaining with snot and tears, but Chen Aoyun had no interest in watching him act out.

The first round of head-to-head duels ended, and the second round began immediately after.

This time, the light screen above displayed the matchups as:

Russia vs. Sakura Country;

USA vs. France.

The battle between the USA and France was really not worth watching; the USA's wonder was boosted by [Star Grade] materials, while France's was only [Gold Grade].

As expected, the battle was a one-sided slaughter.

On the contrary, the battle between Russia and Sakura Country was quite interesting.

The Sakura Country people climbed 499 floors, with [Dawn Grade] boosted to 99 floors.

Russia had the highest tower climbing floor count, 560, with 60 floors of [Star Grade].

After the battle, which could be considered a meeting of bitter enemies, started, contrary to everyone's expectations, the Sakura wonder, only boosted by [Dawn Grade], was not completely without the power to fight back.

On the contrary, the Sakura wonder [benkei colossus] could enter the void, killing in and out from nothingness, causing considerable trouble for the Russia wonder, and even leaving obvious scars on [the motherland calls]!

"[benkei colossus] is not appearing on the battlefield of the Game of National Destiny for the first time.

I've never seen this wonder have the ability to enter the void before!

It was this strange ability that caused my Ottoman wonder to be sneak-attacked and insta-killed during our battle!"

Adar's casual complaint made Chen Aoyun's heart stir slightly.

"Entering the void? Is the Sakura Country wonder already starting to be influenced by an otherworldly realm?

But aren't I the liaison between the Sakura Country people and the otherworldly realm?

If the Sakura Country wonder is being influenced by an otherworldly realm, why do I not feel anything at all?"

Chen Aoyun was puzzled in his heart, while the battle on the arena continued.

[the motherland calls], boosted by higher-tier materials, always held an absolute advantage, but it could never kill the Sakura wonder in one strike.

Let alone killing it in one strike, the Russia wonder hadn't even managed to touch the opponent.

The opponent's [benkei colossus] was like a mouse that could pop out from anywhere, constantly flashing in and out of the void. After one strike, regardless of whether it succeeded or caused damage to the Russia wonder, it would immediately retreat into the void again.

Such a shameless fighting style left Russia helpless.

The wounds on the wonder statue [the motherland calls] were getting worse. Although they were far from fatal, the [Star Grade] power infused within it was continuously draining away because of this!

This wasn't the final decisive battle yet; Russia would inevitably have to compete with the USA later.

If it kept being worn down like this, Russia could wave goodbye to first place in this act!

"For a long time, the Sakura Country people have been willing to be the lackeys of the USA.

Now that the Sakura Country people are sparing no cost to wear down Russia, they are probably showing loyalty to their master again.

It doesn't matter to me, the Ottoman empire.

But the more solid the battle friendship between the Sakura Country Strategist and the USA Strategist becomes, the more likely it is that the USA will return the favor in later acts by helping the Sakura Country people deal with your Dragon Country.

Tsk tsk, the Game of National Destiny is just like this—all about human relationships and worldly wisdom. You should learn a thing or two; you could consider wooing other countries, for example... wooing me, the Ottoman empire.

But then again, your Dragon Country's foundation is too shallow; you can't bring out anything that I, the Ottoman empire, would find appealing.

How about this, you become my underling.

Not asking the Dragon Country to be an underling to the Ottoman empire, just between you and me..."

On the arena, the Sakura Country wonder was still continuously wearing down Russia. Fortunately, the cost of entering the void was not small, and the infused power in the Sakura Country [benkei colossus] was already bottoming out.

Winning the head-to-head duel against Russia was definitely unrealistic.

This is considered the semi-finals, and the Sakura Country people still need to conserve some strength to fight for third place.

Based on this intention, the Sakura Country people did not fight Russia to the bitter end.

Calculating the consumption of Russia and their own losses, the Sakura Country people finally stopped using the void-entering maneuver.

Without this life-saving maneuver, getting killed was just a matter of a few breaths.

When [the motherland calls], which had no major injuries but countless minor ones, killed the [benkei colossus] with one sword strike.

Next was the final arena to determine the rankings!

Russia's [the motherland calls] would compete against the USA's [statue of liberty]; the winner takes first, the loser takes second.

At the same time, the Sakura Country people would compete with the French people for third place. The Sakura Country people had reserved some combat power, which was more than enough to deal with a [Gold Grade] French wonder.

The suspense was still on who would be first between Russia and the USA.

Would it be Russia, which had the highest tower climbing floor count and the highest [Star Grade] material boost, but whose strength was affected after being intercepted by the Sakura Country people, that would take first?

Or would it be the USA, which, although its tower climbing floor count was second, was only behind by five [Star Grade] materials and had won all previous battles with one-hit kills, whose strength remained undamaged, that would defeat Russia and take first?

The audience, commentators, and even the Strategists from various countries present were all more optimistic about the USA.

"The USA was first in the first act; if they take first again this time.

The score gap will widen further. How can I, the Ottoman empire, catch up? And how can you, the Dragon Country, catch up?

I can guess with my butt that you definitely want to take first place in this Game of National Destiny."

As Adar said, anyone can take first in the second act, even the Sakura Country people, but the one who absolutely cannot take first is the USA!

The final arena battle did not start immediately. Chen Aoyun pondered for a moment, as if having made a decision, and strode toward the direction where the Strategists of other countries were located.

Before taking his steps, Chen Aoyun suddenly said to Adar beside him,

"You are right.

The Game of National Destiny is not just about killing; it's also about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

The Dragon Country's foundation is shallow; we can't bring out any tangible things or benefits to exchange with other countries.

But the Dragon Country has me!

I am the bargaining chip for the exchange!"

Chen Aoyun tapped his fingertip on his forehead, meaning that the knowledge of those transmigrators in his mind was his bargaining chip.

But Adar ignored this action.

Hearing Chen Aoyun say that he himself was the bargaining chip, Adar looked shocked,

"You don't mean to...

Even if you've made up your mind, the people on the other side are all male Strategists!

Ah, you don't mean...

You'll end up with a mountain of debt if you do that!"

Sending Adar a "get lost" and telling him not to follow, Chen Aoyun walked toward the Strategists of other countries.

Adar, not knowing what Chen Aoyun was planning, stared at the departing Chen Aoyun. Surprisingly, Chen Aoyun's direction was not toward Russia, but toward the French Strategist in the corner.

"What is this guy trying to do? And what did that last sentence mean?"

The curious Adar was about to follow, but was grabbed by Fan Ling.

"Don't go; you and I should get to know each other too."

"Let go."

"No."

"Let go quickly."

"I won't."

...

Chen Aoyun found the French Strategist in the corner. The French Strategist squinted at Chen Aoyun; the words Chen Aoyun had just said to him were still echoing in his ears. He was a bit skeptical and asked suspiciously,

"You want me to blackmail the USA?

Using the explanation you gave me?

There's an issue with the ownership of the [statue of liberty]?

Can this kind of argument become the basis for a Judgment?"

The wonder [statue of liberty], in the Old Era, was crafted by the French!

The Hundred Years' War between Britain and France, long-term discord—in a sense, these two countries are hereditary enemies.

The USA's War of Independence was about resisting the colonization by the British at the time.

The [statue of liberty] was crafted by the French under this historical background and gifted to the USA to mock the British at that time.

Cultural loss, historical gaps.

As long as Chen Aoyun told the French person the details about the wonder [statue of liberty], the French person could initiate a Judgment on this wonder!

Moreover, if the USA people who possessed this wonder had records of this history, but the records were not detailed enough, and they couldn't find evidence to refute that "the statue of liberty was crafted by the French, so the wonder should belong to France," then, in the current act, this wonder would be invalidated.

The wonder isn't even yours, USA, so why are you delineating and summoning it?

The USA would certainly fear such a Judgment, and the French person's blackmail could be successful.

As for if the USA people didn't believe this argument, that would be even better; then let the threat become reality!

Let the French person scrap this USA wonder!

Whether it's a threat or reality.

The French Strategist would owe Chen Aoyun a favor because of this, and the Dragon Country would have one more potential ally in the future.

This ally is not just an ally for this current Game of National Destiny.

Chen Aoyun taking the initiative to expose his understanding of other countries' civilizations would invite caution, but it would also allow other countries to see Chen Aoyun's value.

He couldn't keep fighting alone; the Dragon Country's foundation was too shallow, and he needed allies!

The French Strategist said, "Initiating a Judgment requires consuming National Destiny. Why should I trust you?"

Chen Aoyun said, "A threat doesn't require consuming National Destiny. If the threat doesn't work, you can really initiate the Judgment.

Think about what would happen if the Judgment were successful?"

If the Judgment were successful, the USA would have no wonder to use in the remaining battles of this act.

But obviously, this wasn't what Chen Aoyun was talking about.

Chen Aoyun was saying that once the Judgment were successful, this [statue of liberty] would no longer belong to the USA, but to him, France!

This was the greatest temptation for the French Strategist!

Even according to Chen Aoyun's statement, even if the USA knew everything about the [statue of liberty], the historical fact that France was the crafter of the wonder would still not change!

Under this circumstance, even if they couldn't seize full ownership of the [statue of liberty], France could still intervene in the control of this wonder!

It's all benefits and no harm!

The only uncertainty was whether Chen Aoyun's words were true or false!