NOVPUB
Chapter 99: John’s Answer, Third Round
"It’s nothing complicated," John said with a smile. "In the core sense, it’s about using an optimal way to defend something for the best outcome. If it were a bunch of projectiles, I had another skill I could use against such an attack to prove my defense."
"But it was a meteor, and the skills I used increased my strength, defense, and healing power. I simply judged that, against an attack like that meteor, that was the best way to display my defense. As you can see, I am perfectly fine right now, and I completely defended against it. If I had people with me, then I would have saved them too. Everyone’s safe because I defended that way."
"And you say I was wrong to defend like that?" John slightly tilted his head and blinked, showing sarcastic confusion.
The audience began shouting "NOO!!" and supporting John with their words, while Executive Jason’s lips and eyes both twitched as he tried to hold back an ugly face from forming.
Azelis chuckled, and other Executives also couldn’t help but wryly smile.
"Well said, John Wicked. Your answer has convinced me of your defense. You are right in your reasoning," Executive Rudh said with a grin. "Keep up your spirit and your way, because you are in the right direction."
John smiled and nodded. "I will."
The spiky-haired executive said, "Executive Jason, I think everyone is convinced and won’t require further discussion in this matter."
"Sounds good," Executive Jason nodded and sat down, his face straight.
Since the camera focused on him, and the audience saw him, many couldn’t help but comment under the noise.
"Damn, that old man has face thicker than than stone walls."
"Time to retire, fossil."
"Executive Jason’s career arc is giving ’antagonist turned background extra’ real quick."
The camera focused on the spiky-haired executive who began announcing the rules of the round.
"Tamers. Among the fifty of you, only twenty will enter the next round. The round is simple and straightforward. Each of you will fight against three Monsters in this area."
A second later, everyone was surprised and amazed as the central battleground transformed. A small flowing river was circulating in a loop on the up and down both surfaces, formed alongside grassy ground, trees, rocks, and such nature within this 200-meter radius floating battleground platform.
"Roar!"
"Screee!"
"Grrr..."
Out of nowhere, three Monsters appeared, all of them at the peak of the Silver-rank.
Lightbloom Frost Salamander [ Light / Ice ] appeared in the pond, half its body outside as it growled with a chilly mist around its glowing ice-scaled blue body and fancy spikes around its neck.
Cloud Blazing Pelicon [ Cloud / Flame ] was a giant flaming orange Pelicon, leaving embers of orange clouds in the sky while flying. It stretched 8 meters long with a wingspan of 11 meters.
Razing Gale Saber Tiger [ Metal / Wind / Saber ] was a towering feline behemoth cloaked in silvery, wind-sheared fur that flickers like blades under sunlight. Its lean yet muscular body is armored with segmented metal plating along the spine and shoulders, resembling forged wind-blades frozen mid-slice. Two massive sabers jut from its jawline like tusks—natural extensions of its skull—but the most terrifying was the forged saber that appeared in its mouth after the roar.
’Woah!’ John was surprised as he saw the tiger. ’Saber attribute? And is it going to wield a saber in its mouth? Looks like I really have a lot of awesome Monsters waiting to be discovered.’
John inspected it and found that the giant and coolass saber in its mouth was the result of its evolution, and this saber was further boosted with its evolution.
However, he also found out that these Monsters were fake.
"Everyone, these three Monsters are life-like Spirit Avatars of the real deal. We have made them using a certain Spirit-Tech. Each of you will fight these three Monsters here one by one. However, you are only allowed to summon two Pet Monsters of yours against these three, so it will be a three-versus-three battle."
The spiky-haired executive grinned and continued. "The judging criteria are two. First is the time you take to defeat these three Monsters. The faster you defeat them, the higher the time core. Afterward, the six Executives there will give a score each based on your performance. In the end, the twenty Tamers with the highest score will proceed to the next round."
"Now, take your positions depending on your rank from the last round."
At the border of the battleground, 50 pillars emerged side by side at the edges in ascending order.
The pillar with [ 1 ] written on it was the tallest.
John used Umbral Drift as he streaked up in a dark stream and stood on the 1st rank pillar.
The others also took their places.
"Sup," John said with a smile as he looked down at Rakin, who was on the second pillar.
Rakin snorted and looked away.
"Tsk, loser," John muttered.
"You..." Rakin’s face was red, but he reined it in as the spikey-haired Executive began speaking.
"Now, we will proceed with the battles from the 50th rank to the 1st. Without further ado, enter the battleground, Ian Creaken."
"This guy is first again?"
"Yeah, it’s the same guy who was first to perform in the last round."
Ian wryly smiled and jumped from his pillar, crossing over twenty meters before landing roughly twenty-five meters away from the Tiger, who stood on the boulder like a king.
The Cloud Blazing Pelicon was above and to the right of the boulder was the pond as the Lightbloom Frost Salander emerged from it.
"Summon two of your Pet Monsters. The battle will start in five seconds."
A big countdown appeared in the air in a glowing red-gold design.
Ian summoned his Infernal Blaze Steed [ Blazing Flame / Wind ], which was a horse-type Monster, and Frostbark Lantern Entroot [ Ice / Wood / Flora ], which was a tree-type Monster.
In the end, Ian took 4 minutes and 38 seconds to defeat the three Monsters.
"Please, give your scores Executives."
