21: Chapter 21 [Spectacle]

With the reminder from the commentator York, everyone recalled that Chen Aoyun had entered the chess game midway, and had placed four 'pieces' the moment he joined.

The Dragon Country, a nation that had long lacked any native Heroic Spirits, had placed four 'pieces' in a row without authorization from any other nation's Heroic Spirits; that scene was still fresh in the viewers' minds.

"Placing four 'pieces' in a row upon entering the game—if anyone previously suspected the Dragon Country [Strategist] was forcing the condensation of pieces, it is now clear from the subsequent operations that this is not the case. Every piece placed by this Dragon Country [Strategist] is extremely deliberate, and every Heroic Spirit has a usable and practical exclusive skill!"

"The duty of the Heroic Spirit [Zhao Yun] was to seize the 'tree of dark twilight' and the 'tree of morning light', and [Zhao Yun]'s exclusive skill, [Seven In, Seven Out], perfectly assisted him in completing this duty; meanwhile, the duty of the Heroic Spirit [General Zhang Fei] was to cover the retreat, and likewise, a single 'roar to sever the bridge' blocked the demons' pursuit!"

"Two of the four 'pieces' placed have been revealed, and two remain hidden. I suspect that the answer to how to shake off the High-level Demon's pursuit again might be found in these two unrevealed 'pieces'!"

York could be considered one of the most professional commentators in the world. Saying he is the most professional is not just because he has commentated on enough matches of the Game of National Destiny, but most crucially, York was once a [Strategist] himself!

York's commentary has always been known for being 'objective', and his predictions, free of personal stance or bias, are an important reason why the audience loves and recognizes him.

Such an objective commentator is very optimistic about the Dragon Country today, not because he has abandoned his long-held stance, but because the Dragon Country's performance in this Game of National Destiny has stunned him.

In his view, the Dragon Country [Strategist]'s first two moves were [Zhao Yun] and [General Zhang Fei], and every Heroic Spirit condensed from these moves perfectly resolved the predicament the Dragon Country faced. Since the first two moves were like this, the last two cannot be too bad either.

This is the reason why York dares to be so straightforward in publicly favoring the Dragon Country [Strategist].

However, Heller, who is also a professional commentator, does not quite agree with this.

Heller adjusted the live broadcast screen.

The live feed was adjusted to the area directly in front of the direction where Chen Aoyun's clone was fleeing: a canyon.

This canyon was exactly where Chen Aoyun's third 'move' was placed!

In the canyon, between the towering mountains, a Dragon Country [Roleplayer] was directing an 'engineering corps' unit, working intensely on construction.

This was a 'work piece', and the Dragon Country [Roleplayer] here was playing an Architect who also doubled as a 'Minister of Works'.

Heller, holding the opposite opinion to York, felt this was an excellent opportunity to step on his senior to rise, for the newcomer to surpass the veteran. He wanted to make a name for himself; he wanted everyone to know he was more professional than York, so he analyzed seriously:

"When the new [Strategist] entered the game midway, there were five Dragon Country [Roleplayer]s left, and the identities they received were: two 'Generals', one Prime Minister, one Minister, and one Architect."

"One of the two Generals has now died, and the other General has been dispatched to the canyon."

"The person playing the Prime Minister provided two 'military pieces' for the Dragon Country, and both of these 'military pieces' were set as 'Cavalry' by the new Dragon Country Strategist. One Cavalry unit seized the 'tree of dark twilight' and is returning to the Dragon Country Home Base after disengaging from battle, while the other Cavalry unit is the one currently being chased after seizing the 'tree of morning light'."

"There remains one [Roleplayer] as a Scholar and one [Roleplayer] as an Architect who is also the Minister of Works."

"I have already seen through what the Dragon Country [Strategist] is planning!"

"The direction in which the other Cavalry unit is retreating after seizing the 'tree of morning light' is the canyon where the 'Architect' is located. And this person playing the Architect began construction as soon as the new Dragon Country [Strategist] placed the four consecutive pieces, building a strategic pass between the canyons."

"If I haven't guessed wrong, the Dragon Country [Strategist]'s third move was not a Heroic Spirit, but rather—a [wonder]!!!"

The Dragon Country [Strategist]'s third move was not a [Heroic Spirit] but a [wonder]?!

One sentence awakened everyone.

Why did this new Dragon Country [Strategist] need to 'place pieces' consecutively right after entering the game?

Was placing pieces consecutively just to show off?

Now it seems that is not the case; it is for layout!

A [wonder] is different from a [Heroic Spirit].

[Heroic Spirit]s can directly 'descend' onto [Roleplayer]s, and without a [Roleplayer], one can even use the [Strategist]'s clone as a substitute.

But a [wonder] is different; a wonder must 'descend' onto a building, and the building type and style must match the [wonder].

Placing the 'piece' early between the canyons and repairing a strategic pass in the canyon early—this pass is the place to carry the [wonder]!

The Dragon Country [Strategist] is truly calculating every step, having planned everything from the start!

The audience was shocked not only by Chen Aoyun's layout but also by his ability.

"[wonder]s are much rarer than [Heroic Spirit]s!

In the history of the old era, there are many people—powerful, romantic, or eccentric—who can be recognized as [Heroic Spirit]s, but there are very few entities that can be recognized as [wonder]s. In the eyes of scholars today, isn't the Huaxia Civilization inherited by the Dragon Country a trash plane? It's already hard enough to understand that a trash civilization has [Heroic Spirit]s, yet it actually has [wonder]s?

Is this really possible? Is the [wonder] 'placed' by the new Dragon Country [Strategist] really effective?"

The audience was buzzing with discussion, and Heller, wanting to climb over his senior, hurriedly showed off his unique insight:

"Whether the [wonder] placed by the Dragon Country [Strategist] is truly effective can be set aside for now.

Even if it is effective, senior, I do not quite agree with your assertion that you are optimistic about the Dragon Country."

Heller turned to look at senior York. You, York, are optimistic about the Dragon Country, aren't you? I insist on refuting your point of view,

"Senior York, I think that even if the Dragon Country's new [Strategist] really has the ability to make a [wonder] descend, it still cannot withstand the pursuit of the High-level Demon!"

He zoomed in on the scene between the canyons. In the image, the Dragon Country [Roleplayer] playing the Architect was still directing the construction of the strategic pass.

This strategic pass, which might have already 'placed' a [wonder] but had not yet been truly activated, only had a rough prototype at the moment.

The young commentator Heller, pointing at the strategic pass with severely insufficient completion in the picture, said with a smile to the senior beside him:

"[wonder] strength depends on itself, on the rules, and even more on the 'degree of completion'.

Although I don't know what kind of wonder the Dragon Country [Strategist] placed, what its strength is, or if it has special abilities.

Nor do I know if the wonder conforms to the rules of this Game of National Destiny.

But there is one thing I can be sure of, and that is the 'degree of completion'!

Entering the Game of National Destiny in the second half, and from entering and placing the piece to being chased by the High-level Demon and preparing to seek refuge in this strategic pass, the time in between is too short—so short that the completion rate of this pass, which is supposed to carry the [wonder], is less than twenty percent... No, I think at most it's ten percent!

With a completion rate of only ten percent, even if the [wonder] can really be activated, the effect the [wonder] can exert is only ten percent of its own strength!

A wonder with only ten percent strength, even if it is really activated, can it block the High-level Demon? Can it buy enough time for that Cavalry unit to disengage from the battle?

Senior, I think not!

Therefore, I do not agree with your optimism about the Dragon Country!"

Indeed!

The Dragon Country's new [Strategist] arrived too late, and the strategic pass to carry the [wonder] was built too slowly. Even if a [wonder] with only ten percent completion could be activated, so what? Could the people of the Dragon Country really be delusional enough to think they could block the High-level Demon with a [wonder] at 1/10th strength?

Commentator Heller's statement was instantly accepted by the audience.

"I also think it's unlikely. Who doesn't know what kind of humble existence the Dragon Country is? Isn't it just that they produced a new [Strategist]? Even if this new Strategist is capable and has plans, can he really turn the sky upside down?

It's just a crappy [wonder]; even if it could be activated, it's impossible to block the High-level Demon!"

Just as people were discussing, suddenly a sharp-eyed viewer exclaimed:

"Look! Sakura Country is making a move too!"

"Doesn't Sakura Country have the 'tree of eternity' in hand, needing no further operations, just guarding the Home Base waiting for the 'circle to shrink'? Why is the Sakura Country [Strategist] condensing another piece, and even using an item?!"

"Look at the direction of his piece placement and item usage... It's towards the Dragon Country Strategist's clone!"

"This is because they are furious about being played; the Sakura Country [Strategist] is going to strike at the Dragon Country again!"