After hearing the system notification, Li De didn’t understand what had happened. His expression was one of confusion.
Zealot? He wasn’t a god—when did he have followers? And not just any followers, but zealots?
Oli? Who was this Oli?
Li De recognized Rekel, but he had no memory of his little lackey. The disparity in their statuses was too great for Li De to bother remembering such minor characters.
Now, some unknown person had inexplicably become his zealot, leaving Li De baffled.
What use were followers?
But he was only Level 11—what kind of god could he become? Was he dreaming of godhood? He was still far from becoming a Grand Mage.
Li De furrowed his brows, wanting to summon Emi, the blasphemer, to study this matter, as he was the expert.
But after some thought, he decided against it for now. The competition would soon reach its conclusion.
This was the first Hero Selection Tournament, a crucial moment for granting humans the vampire identity. If he weren’t present, it would lose much of its luster.
Suppressing his doubts, he shifted his attention back to the crowd below.
Watching the participants who refused to give up, he felt deep admiration. It was already nearing twelve sun-hours.
Running non-stop for twelve sun-hours while carrying a 20-pound load, and still having over 400 people remaining—it was unbelievable.
From 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. many spectators had returned after finishing dinner.
The Goddess of Night’s gown enveloped the earth. Cold moonlight poured down like liquid silver, giving Dawn City a unique charm.
Many vampires who had rested during the day also gathered to watch the competition that had lasted for twelve sun-hours.
The arrival of the vampires didn’t cause panic among the crowd. On the contrary, many were familiar with them and openly invited them to watch the prolonged race together.
In the astonished eyes of those who had recently arrived in Dawn City, the humans around them laughed and talked loudly with the vampires, appearing very close.
Even vampires working, displaying their bat wings and fangs, didn’t frighten the older residents. Instead, they greeted them warmly with smiles.
This scene seemed strange to newcomers but also gave them an inexplicable sense of security. It seemed that this vampire-ruled city wasn’t so terrifying after all.
Gradually, even the newcomers felt less fear towards the vampires, and many boldly initiated conversations with them.
Seeing their polite responses, completely different from legends, they felt reassured and slowly integrated.
Thus, an unimaginable sight emerged in this city—humans coexisting harmoniously with fanged vampires. Even the boldest humans couldn’t have imagined such a scene.
At this stage of the competition, even those who couldn’t continue and dropped out still received respectful gazes from the surrounding crowd.
Those who persisted and continued running had already earned the acknowledgment and respect of most residents.
Bang~ Another young man collapsed onto the ground, unable to endure further.
The security personnel nearby immediately rushed forward to help him off the street.
After stepping aside, the young man looked ashamed and said despondently to a young girl pushing through the crowd.
“Kari, I’m sorry. I couldn’t make it to the end.”
Under the gaze of the surrounding crowd, the girl named Kari proudly stepped forward and embraced the boy tightly.
“No, Coli, you’re my hero. I’m proud of how far you’ve come.”
Witnessing this scene, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“What a fine young man—you did great!”
“Keep it up! I’m the tailor shop owner. If you get married, I’ll make you a wedding dress for free!”
“Young lady, you’re wonderful. This young man is reliable.”
Hearing the praise around her, the girl’s pride grew even more, her face radiating happiness.
Amidst the commotion, the boy looked incredulously at the admiring and congratulatory gazes, foolishly smiling.
He never imagined being praised by so many people one day.
This unbelievably long competition finally reached its climax at 3 a.m., lasting a full fifteen sun-hours.
The non-stop weighted run aimed to break into the top 200.
At this moment, only 201 people remained running on the streets.
Just one more elimination, and they would meet Li De’s requirement of 200 people—the true final kings.
However, to outsiders, it didn’t seem so, as they were far from reaching the finish line.
For every lap completed in the 200-lap race, there was a prompt.
After spending fifteen sun-hours, they still had thirty laps left.
It was too difficult.
Even the spectators on both sides of the street felt suffocated. By now, it wasn’t about whether they could complete it but how much longer they could endure.
The ordinary cobblestone streets took on extraordinary significance under countless drops of sweat.
From late night to early morning, from darkness to dawn.
They kept running, kept pushing forward.
Some in the crowd hadn’t slept all night, continuously watching those whose steps had grown slower and slower.
It was too difficult.
Sixteen sun-hours passed, then seventeen, eighteen, twenty-two.
On the field, the number dwindled from 200 to 12.
Watching those heavy-footed figures, everyone’s hearts burned with hope—success, they must succeed!!
As the sun rose again, golden light bathed the earth.
Only twelve figures remained on the streets, swaying unsteadily, with just one lap left.
Normally, no one would think two kilometers were difficult.
But at this moment, everyone was speechless.
They feared their voices would disturb the twelve people, who were pale-faced and unfocused.
“Hold on! Only one lap left!!”
“Hunter, don’t give up—you’re almost there!”
All the residents of Dawn City gathered along both sides of the street, silently encouraging them in their hearts.
But there were no shouts, no cheers—only silence as they watched the twelve nearly walking figures.
Their tattered forms appeared so tall, so majestic.
Everyone felt their immense resilience, their almost indestructible strength.
Their willpower quietly forged a spirit in this emerging city—never give up.
As the sun climbed high into the sky.
The twelve who endured until the end crossed the final finish line one by one under the watchful eyes of nearly 9,000 people.
At this moment, no one cared who came first—it no longer mattered!
When the twelfth person crossed the finish line, the long-suppressed excitement finally erupted.
“Goddess above!! Hahahaha, we won!!! Hahahaha!!”
“It’s incredible—it’s unbelievable! This must be a miracle, it must be!!”
“Praise the goddess, praise these tenacious warriors—they are heroes!!”
“I’m going crazy—running for an entire day, is there anything crazier in this world?!!”
“Lord Kachar, they did it!! They’ll receive the precious reward of becoming Saintlight Vampires!!”
The deafening clamor almost turned the entire city into a storm.
Countless people embraced each other at this moment, even strangers grabbing hands and shouting at the top of their lungs.
Everything was for celebration.
Twelve people, nearly twenty-five sun-hours of non-stop running, out of 700, only twelve remained till the end.
How arduous the process had been.
Every drop of sweat shed was heart-wrenching.
They reaped the fruits of victory.
Honor belonged to them!!