Chapter 292 - 168: The End of the Second Stage

Chapter 292: Chapter 168: The End of the Second Stage

Xiong Da: "Lava Burst.avi"

...

A series of videos showcasing large-scale compound Magic effects caused a huge stir in the world chat channel.

Zhao Zhaonan: "Holy crap, the effects of that Magic are amazing!"

Zhao Zhaonan: "Judging by the video, that all happened in a single battle, right? Does Boss Lin Yu’s Mage Corps not need to rest?"

Mi Qisheng: "That power... Each one of those Magic spells is probably on par with the latest Heaven IV-type bombs."

Ding Dong: "I’d say it’s even more than that. The area of effect for this Magic is wider, too."

Zhang Jing: "Impressive. I bet most people won’t reach that level until the end of the third stage."

Ding Dong: "It’s different, totally different! If you go the tech route, you can mass-produce bombs with that kind of power. It’s not like with Boss Lin Yu, where you have to wait a while before you can cast a second time."

Ding Dong: "Still, having that kind of power at the end of the second stage is pretty damn good."

Ding Dong: "When the third stage begins, we can count on Boss Lin Yu’s performance. He’ll be on the front lines killing enemies and raking in points, while we can hang back, handle logistics, and develop our own territories a bit on the side."

Zhao Yunxiang: "Fortress Siege.avi"

Zhao Yunfei: "Close Quarters Combat.avi"

...

While everyone was discussing Lin Yu’s Mage Corps, others began uploading new combat videos, all showing the Northern Expedition Legion and Sniper Corps from different perspectives.

The lords in the chat channel rushed to open and watch the videos. The brutal fighting stunned most of them; they had never imagined that such carnage, a scene of mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, could be happening so close to them.

The lords who had made the cut knew the next stage would be filled with intense combat. They all watched the videos intently, studying command tactics and discussing what they would do in the same situation.

Witnessing a war like this unfold so close to home had a much greater impact than any school simulation. Combined with the ongoing discussions in the chat channel, their theoretical understanding of warfare—their ability to be armchair generals—was rapidly improving.

...

Time flew, and soon it was midnight. As the clock struck twelve, the system notification arrived right on schedule.

[The 40,410,086th Inter-Cosmos Lord Hegemony Tournament for Intelligent Civilizations, Second Stage, has successfully concluded!]

[Congratulations to all lords who have successfully advanced to the third stage.]

[Lords who failed to advance will be disconnected from their Territory Cores in one hour.]

[Lords who failed to advance may choose to spend 10,000 points to protect their minds from the mental shock of disconnection and to replenish any resulting mental drain.]

[Lords who failed to advance, please manage your remaining points carefully. After leaving the tournament, all purchases made with points will incur a 100% transaction fee.]

[Lords who have successfully advanced, please proceed to your Territory Core to claim your rewards.]

[Lords who have successfully advanced will be granted a 24-hour period to manage their territorial affairs.]

[Lords who have successfully advanced: Lord Level +1.]

[Lords who have successfully advanced: Territory Core Level +1.]

[After a Territory Core is disconnected, the territory will become a wild, ownerless area.]

[Please be aware: in one hour, the continent will undergo a land redistribution. All Unclaimed Land will be allocated to the advanced lords in proportion to their point totals.]

As the system notifications sounded, all lords, heroes, and soldiers who were not in their home territories were instantly teleported back. The bustling crowds cleaning up the battlefields of the Western Plains vanished without a trace.

The world chat channel fell silent for a moment. A few minutes later, an eliminated lord broke the silence.

[World Chat Channel (787578)]

"Sigh... It was all just a dream in the end. After spending 10,000 points, I don’t have much left. I wasn’t lucky enough to change my class, so I can’t become an Extraordinary Being. No becoming an Extraordinary Adventurer to explore the Cosmos for me. I guess when I get back, I’ll just have to settle for being an ordinary rich man."

"Finally, it was an honor to participate in this tournament with all of you. To all the brothers who advanced, may your futures be bright and your battles victorious! Goodbye! I hope to see you all making a name for yourselves in the Cosmos one day!"

"To all the brothers who advanced, may your futures be bright and your battles victorious! Goodbye!"

"To all the brothers who advanced, may your futures be bright and your battles victorious! Goodbye!"

...

As time passed, more and more eliminated lords posted their final farewells in the world channel. There was no wailing, no complaining. It was as if the final, bloody battle had shocked all the bitterness out of them, making it vanish without a trace.

Watching all of this, Lin Yu was filled with emotion. ’The second stage had the highest elimination rate. Of the nearly 800,000 participants, 790,000 were cut, leaving only 10,000 to advance.’

(There were 1,000,000 participants at the start of the first stage.)

’Most of those who advanced were the children of privilege, with a few lucky or exceptionally talented commoners mixed in.’

’That’s how "fair" this world is!’

’Thankfully, my own luck and talent are pretty good.’