Chapter 787: The Creator Wants a Student Deathmatch

However, just as the final mission was about to begin, the golden system panel suddenly trembled.

DING!

[Final Mission Activation Temporarily Suspended]

[The Creator of All Systems Is Assuming Direct Control]

The familiar system interface disappeared, replaced by an enormous golden screen radiating an overwhelming, majestic authority.

A moment later, an elegant feminine voice echoed directly inside the minds of every remaining candidate.

[Ahem. My dear little candidates, congratulations on surviving until this wonderful day.]

[This seat trusts that you have made good use of the generous year of preparation I bestowed upon you.]

[Now then, before we begin, this seat has a small announcement to make.]

[Originally, I intended to gather all of you inside a single battlefield and allow you to slaughter one another until only one remained.]

[However, after giving the matter some thought, this seat realized something rather unfortunate.]

[Wouldn’t such a straightforward competition be terribly boring?]

[Just imagine! Countless little candidates charging at one another like mindless beasts. How utterly unimaginative!]

[No, no. This seat deserves something far more entertaining than that.]

[Therefore, I have decided to replace the original battlefield with a series of trials.]

[Each trial shall examine a different aspect of your abilities, achievements, and worthiness.]

[And naturally, those who fail shall be eliminated from the competition.]

The golden panel shimmered before revealing another announcement.

---

[First Trial: Trial of the Teacher]

---

[Now, my dear candidates, surely you understand that the systems I created were never intended to benefit only their hosts.]

[Many of my systems possess the ability to nurture subordinates, strengthen companions, develop organizations, and guide others toward greatness.]

[So tell me, little candidates. What have you accomplished with those wonderful opportunities?]

[Have you raised powerful warriors? Cultivated exceptional disciples? Or have you selfishly hoarded every advantage for yourselves?]

[Hehehe. This seat is rather curious.]

[Therefore, the first trial shall examine the strength of the individuals you have personally nurtured through your systems.]

[And the rules are exceedingly simple.]

---

[Trial Rules]

[1. Each group shall consist of four competing candidates, and each candidate must register ten representatives.]

[2. The candidates themselves were forbidden to be the representatives.]

[3. At the beginning of the trial, each candidate shall send one representative into the arena.]

[4. The four representatives shall compete simultaneously in a four-way battle royale.]

[5. Whenever a representative dies or surrenders, that individual shall be eliminated and immediately replaced by the next representative from their faction.]

[6. Combat shall continue until only one faction has representatives remaining.]

[7. The last surviving faction shall win the group. The other three factions shall be eliminated from the competition.]

---

[Naturally, this is an elimination round, my dear little candidates. Losing means your journey ends here.]

[And please remember, this trial concerns your ability to nurture others.]

[Your representatives must demonstrate the fruits of your guidance rather than relying upon you to fight their battles.]

[You have exactly thirty minutes to select your ten representatives.]

[Once the preparation period ends, all participating factions shall be transported to their assigned trial grounds.]

[Choose carefully. After all, the strength of your followers reflects the quality of their teacher.]

[And this seat would be terribly disappointed to discover that my precious candidates have spent all these years raising nothing but useless little weaklings.]

[Hehehe. Now then, entertain me!]

[The Creator of All Systems]

[Preparation Countdown: 00:30:00]

[Good luck, my dear little candidates.]

[Bye-bye!]

---

The moment the Creator’s announcement ended, the entire central hall of [God Gym] fell silent.

Garion stared at the golden panel for several seconds before scratching his head.

"Wait a fucking minute... So that arrogant woman changed the entire competition because she thought a massive deathmatch would be boring?"

Atlas crossed his tiny arms, looking equally speechless.

[Apparently! And now she’s making the candidates compete through their subordinates instead!]

Garion suddenly grinned. "Hehehe! Well, that’s actually pretty damn interesting!"

Atlas raised an eyebrow.

[Interesting? Garion, this is an elimination round! If your representatives lose, you’re out before you even get to fight!]

Garion shrugged. "Yeah, but isn’t that the whole point of God Gym? Making other people ridiculously strong?"

He laughed proudly. "HAHAHA! If there’s one thing I’m confident about, it’s the monsters we’ve trained!"

Rachel smiled beside him, although her expression quickly became thoughtful. "Still, darling, we can only select ten representatives. How should we choose them?"

Garion immediately turned toward her with a shameless grin. "Hehehe! Well, you’re obviously one of them, Rachel!"

Rachel blinked. "Me?"

Garion nodded without hesitation. "Of course! You’re my wife! There’s no way I’m leaving you out of the first trial!"

Rachel chuckled softly. "Hehehe... I’m happy you have so much confidence in me, darling."

She then tilted her head curiously. "But what about the other nine? We have quite a few powerful members now."

Garion rubbed his chin for a moment before suddenly snapping his fingers. "Oh! I know! Let’s choose them randomly!"

Rachel froze. "...Randomly?"

Garion nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! A lottery! Everyone gets a fair chance!"

Rachel stared at him in disbelief. "Darling, this is an elimination round that could determine whether we survive the competition."

She smiled awkwardly. "Shouldn’t we choose our strongest members instead of leaving everything to chance?"

Garion burst into laughter. "HAHAHA! Rachel, you’re worrying too much!"

He proudly pointed toward the assembled disciples. "Every single person here has survived God Gym’s insane training and become a god! I believe in all of them!"

Then he turned toward Rachel with a mischievous grin. "And besides, even if all nine of them lose, you’re still there!"

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Garion laughed proudly. "HAHAHA! You’re my wife! There’s no way my beautiful goddess is going to lose to some random bastards!"

Rachel couldn’t help giggling, her earlier worries gradually disappearing. "Hehehe... Fine, darling. If you believe in me that much, then I’ll make sure not to disappoint you."

Atlas sighed helplessly.

[Alright, alright! I’ll organize the lottery. But don’t come crying to me if we end up with the weakest possible lineup!]

Garion waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah! Just make it fair, Atlas!"

Atlas immediately activated the system interface.

[Attention, all eligible God Gym members! Registration for the first trial’s lottery is now open!]

And so, the next thirty minutes passed amid excited shouting, nervous laughter, and several rather ridiculous arguments over who deserved to participate.

Eventually, the lottery finished.

Garion stood before his ten selected representatives, including Rachel.

Surprisingly, apart from his wife, none of his strongest core disciples had been selected at all!

Instead, the remaining nine were a mixture of new faces that Garion rarely saw in the gym, but still all of them had reached God Realm.

Atlas stared at the results before slowly turning toward Garion.

[Well... I warned you.]

Garion merely laughed. "HAHAHA! Who cares? Don’t think too much about it!"

He looked toward his selected representatives, his expression filled with confidence. "Just treat this as another training session! Show those bastards what God Gym can do!"

Rachel smiled gently beside him.

And at that moment, the golden countdown finally reached zero.

[Preparation Time Complete]

[Trial of the Teacher - Transportation Beginning]