As the 1st Batch concluded their Reality Emulator sessions, the participants made their way to the seating area, clearing the Colosseum ground for the 2nd Batch to step forward. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and speculation as the crowd reflected on the standout performances from the initial group.
Wibbit, meanwhile, was far from finished. The three-foot-tall, pudgy rabbit wasted no time singling out Yinad, Pompa, and another Alpha Chosen who had shown remarkable tenacity against a Tier-4 High-Phase monster, falling just shy of Pompa's achievement.
Wibbit heaped praises upon them, his voice brimming with enthusiasm as he made his intentions clear. Representing the Myriad Beast Faction, he extended enticing offers to recruit them, his eyes practically sparkling as he focused on Yinad.
Despite the flattery and lucrative promises, Yinad maintained a careful neutrality. He politely stated that he would consider the offer, neither committing to nor outright rejecting Wibbit's proposal. His tactful response ensured he didn't burn bridges or risk the anger of the Tournament Manager, especially Wibbit was stronger than him.
Pompa, on the other hand, handled the situation in his own characteristic way. Boldly, he announced that he had already joined another faction and had no interest in switching allegiances.
With a cheeky grin, he went a step further and said, "Let me tell you something, me and my 'Boss'—we're gonna build a faction way greater than that 'Myriad Animal Sect,' or whatever it's called!"
Wibbit's expression froze, his mouth slightly agape as the words sank in. The comment left him speechless and visibly annoyed. However, as the Tournament Manager, he was bound by strict rules that prohibited him from harming participants.
Were it not for those regulations, he would have gladly given Pompa a thorough beating for disrespecting his faction.
On a brighter note for Wibbit, the third standout participant, who had scored just below Pompa, readily accepted his offer to join the Myriad Beast Faction. The decision improved Wibbit's mood significantly, allowing him to turn his attention back to the ongoing Tournament.
Akor's performance stood out as he pushed through the 12th difficulty level, surpassing Pompa's score. He fought valiantly against a Tier-4 High-Phase monster, showcasing extraordinary strength. Though he ultimately fell short due to a lack of speed, his near-victory left a strong impression on everyone watching, cementing his reputation as one of the top contenders so far.
Akor already held a natural advantage in defense, complemented by moderately strong attack power due to his Volatile Aqua element. However, what truly set him apart was the synergy created by his Water Innate Talent, graded an exceptional 9.9—borderline Grade-10.
This exceptional grade was a result of the synergy created by having other users of similar Innate Talents become ORIGIN SIGIL Holders.
Thanks to this synergy, Akor's comprehension and control of water far surpassed that of a typical Grade-9 user, though it still fell short of a Grade-10 water elemental user. His strength was undeniable, and his performance during the first round made that crystal clear.
When Akor emerged from his Reality Emulator, Wibbit immediately seized the opportunity to invite him into the Myriad Beast Faction. However, much like Pompa, Akor declined.
Wibbit sighed in resignation but didn't push further. Instead, he asked Akor which faction he had joined, knowing the importance of tracking promising recruits and the factions vying for dominance.
To Wibbit's surprise, Akor replied that the faction he joined didn't have a name yet. Initially, Wibbit assumed Akor was being evasive, unwilling to disclose the truth. Yet as the hours passed and more batches completed their Round-1 challenges, Wibbit noticed a peculiar pattern.
Several participants, all of whom performed exceptionally, gave the same curious response about belonging to an unnamed faction. It didn't take long for Wibbit's keen mind to piece together the connection: these individuals all hailed from the same Trial Region. It became increasingly likely that the faction had been formed by one or more Alpha Chosen from that region. ȓ
This development wasn't unheard of. Many strong participants from prior Trial Programs had created factions of their own, and some of these eventually rose to become members of the ten powerhouses that now ruled the Virgo SuperCluster.
Yet, what puzzled Wibbit most was the deliberate absence of a name. Why would someone establish a faction of such potential and leave it nameless?
Meanwhile, the enigmatic founder of this "Unnamed Faction" opened his eyes, his attention narrowing on a select few from the 7th Batch, who were now making their way to the Reality Emulators scattered evenly across the Colosseum ground.
Six hours had passed since the start of Round-1, and Jay had achieved what many would have considered impossible. He had delved into the memories of nearly 8,000 participants—everyone in the Colosseum, save for the Tournament Manager and his fellow Trial Region members.
The task had been nothing short of overwhelming and mentally exhausting, to say the least. Thankfully, Jay had MJ to carefully analyze the memories he had sifted through, lifting much of the burden from his shoulders.
The results were far grimmer than Jay had initially anticipated—nearly half of the Tournament's participants, around four thousand Alpha Chosen, were under Urzo's control.
The sheer scale of this possession was staggering, a feat that hinted at a meticulously orchestrated plan. Whatever Urzo intended, the potential for devastation was undeniable, with thousands at his command, ready to act at his whim.
Yet, despite the overwhelming numbers, Jay's confidence remained unshaken. His strength had reached a point where sheer quantity posed no real threat to him. Instead, his attention stayed fixed on a particular group of Alpha Chosen who walked together toward the Reality Emulators on the Colosseum ground.
These individuals were members of the same Trial Zone team as Urzo. Among them, one figure in particular caught Jay's eye—the leanest of the group.
All ten members shared distinctive features: dark, shadow-like skin, stark white hair, muscular physiques, and a vertically aligned third eye on their foreheads. Their heights ranged from six to ten feet, with the shortest among them being Zeix.
He occasionally shot meek, almost nervous glances at Jay from a distance, though he quickly looked away each time.
What puzzled Jay most, however, was the absence of Urzo himself. The enigmatic manipulator was not among the ten members of the Guastea Team present in the Tournament. Considering that all participants were teleported directly to the Tournament Island immediately after the rest period, the situation raised troubling questions.
Jay considered the possibilities. Perhaps Urzo had concealed himself among other Trial Zone members, or disguised himself as part of another team. But these options seemed highly improbable.
Jay had thoroughly combed through their memories, and the chances of fabricating such intricate deceptions were nearly nonexistent.
That left Jay with a more plausible conclusion: Urzo had escaped as soon as he was teleported to the Tournament Island and was no longer present in the competition. Such a tactic was feasible, as Urzo could control those implanted with possession seeds from great distances.
But this approach came with significant drawbacks. By avoiding participation, Urzo forfeited the opportunity to earn points, jeopardizing his qualification for the Final Tournament unless his team managed to secure a spot among the Top 10.
Whether Urzo intended to rejoin the Tournament midway or bide his time until the very end, Jay could only wait for him to make the next move. Until then, the situation remained unknown.
Jay's attention returned to Zeix, whose hesitant glances hinted at an inner conflict. Zeix was one of the many with a possession seed implanted in him, meaning any overt attempt to seek help could be intercepted by Urzo. This left Zeix trapped, unable to act without endangering himself further.
Understanding the delicate circumstances, Jay refrained from approaching Zeix directly. Intervening too soon could expose both of them to unnecessary risk. For now, he contented himself with silently monitoring the Guastea Team, keeping their movements under close watch.
Moments later, the entire 7th Batch entered their respective Reality Emulators, leaving Jay to contemplate his next steps as the Tournament pressed on.
Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.
I'm thrilled to share that I'm taking a big leap forward! Alongside Earth's Alpha Prime, I've launched the first sub-book for EAP.
ALTER REALITY: Online
The first ten to comment for new chapter releases will get '1 ADVANCED CHAPTER' for free on Earth Alpha Prime's Discord server.
In the discord server, I opened a private channel for those Top 10 candidates, where I posted the respective Advanced Chapter.
Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :