34: Chapter 30: Championship Contest 34: Chapter 30: Championship Contest “The enemies have all been defeated.
What happened?” Luo’er was a bit puzzled by the combat records, his gaze landing on Cheng Ziang.
There was an enigmatic smile on Cheng’s face and remained silent.
“I thought the enemies had destroyed the targets when the explosion happened,” Hu Daoke took a step forward and said.
A violent explosion had occurred not far from them before he attacked the convoy, they had all assumed it had been set off by the rival team.
Confused, Luo’er called up the real-time battle recording, switching the perspective to Cheng Ziang’s.
The system had automatically captured some high-energy shots, and Luo’er opened one.
He saw Cheng discover two of the enemies hiding, drop down from above, catching them off guard and killing them on the spot.
Then he noticed one of the enemies preparing to set off a 155mm shell situated in the middle of the road with the most primitive pull-ringing method, so he just set off a massive explosion.
This resulted in their guard team falling into utter chaos.
“If I’m not mistaken, the enemy used a strategy that very similar to ours.
The simplest diversion strategy.
They distracted the guard team, drove the convoy to a designated location, then detonated the shell to unleash hell on several wagons at the same time,” analyzed Luo’er.
However, the enemy clearly failed to take into account the possibility of Luo’er and his team causing trouble.
Due to restrictions on fire power, they had invested all their resources into that 155mm shell, neglecting the importance of light arms.
As a result, their explosives team was rendered helpless by the death-dealing Cheng Ziang.
“Regardless, well done!” Luo’er nodded in satisfaction and went forward to give Cheng a high-five.
Cheng Ziang looked at his raised hand, hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly raised his hand to return the high-five.
“Wait for me, wait for me!” Hu Daoke ran over in a flurry, extending his giant palm.
Cheng Ziang cocked his head, murmured a quiet remark, and with a reluctant look, slapped his palm against Hu’s.
“Me too!” Seeing others having a good time, Tangmo also ran over to join the fray.
Cheng Ziang looked helplessly at the short fellow in front of him, gave a dry laugh, and held his palm up high.
Not realizing what was up, Tangmo gazed upwards and sprang up in an attempt to high-five Cheng.
“You little brat, stop picking on Sister Moumou!” Hu Daoke yelled angrily on the side.
Luo’er watched as everyone began to squabble with a satisfied smile on his face.
Suddenly remembering something, he turned around to see Baiyue, clutching her weapon and staring fixedly at him.
Even though she hadn’t expressed her thoughts verbally, Luo’er could see in her eyes that she wanted to be part of the team as well.
“Good job!” Luo’er grinned, extending his fist to her.
Baiyue lowered her head, pausing for a moment before tentatively returning his gesture with her tiny fist.
She quickly pulled back her hand and lowered her head further.
Even though Luo’er couldn’t see her face, he could tell that she was secretly rejoicing.
Baiyue was clad in a heavy cloak that covered her head completely, leaving only her small face exposed.
Luo’er had wanted to unveil her face more than once, but he resisted each time.
He remembered what Cheng Ziang had told him the night before.
He thought it would be better to let Baiyue reveal herself.
With that, he pulled back the hand that had been about to lift her hood, leaving her to revel in her quiet joy.
“Yo, who put this roadblock here, I thought there were no beggars in the Virtual Battlefield!” At that peaceful moment, they heard an annoyingly taunting voice.
They turned to see a short, narrow-faced man.
They had all seen him before, the arrogant assassin who had ruthlessly wiped out an entire castle, a member of the Hunter Squad, Zhuanzhu.
“You guys are pretty impressive, I can’t believe you made it to the finals, but you won’t be moving forward any further,” Zhuanzhu said in a queer tone, grinning eerily.
“Why are you such a dirtbag, even for a student like us?
While we eat meals, do you eat shit?” Luo’er retorted nonchalantly before anyone else could react.
“You’re Luo’er, aren’t you!” Zhuanzhu continued, unphased by Luo’er’s insult, his grin never wavering, “As expected for a half-elf.
I heard there are only two half-elves in our academy.
Your mother must be extraordinary!”
Luo’er stared coldly at him, not lured into an impulsive reaction by his provocation.
He slipped his right hand behind him, making a few hand signals to his team, while his left hand casually rested on his gun held between his legs.
Receiving Luo’er’s signals, his team repositioned, spreading out.
Hu Daoke pulled out his pistol and nonchalantly loaded it right in front of Zhuanzhu.
Cheng Ziang similarly, without a change in expression, pulled the knife from his scabbard, holding it over his shoulder, ready to strike.
“Yo, thinking you can take me down?
With a pile of trash like you?” Zhuanzhu still retained his provocative grin, noticing the subtle movements of Luo’er and his team.
His hand now rested casually on the dagger at his waist.
“Enough, shut your mouth!”
Just as tension reached a crisis point, a harsh voice of rebuke emanated from behind Zhuanzhu.
Luo’er looked up, recognizing the leader of the Hunter Squad and half-Baiqi, Murong.
“I apologize if my man has caused you any trouble.
On his behalf, I offer you my sincerest apologies!” Murong walked straight over to Luo’er and his team and solemnly bowed.
“Keep your man in check, or you will regret it later!” Luo’er retorted icily, not bothering to deny the presumption that he was their team captain.
“Zhuanzhu, come over here now!” Murong commanded sternly.
“Tch, they are our enemies, why be so courteous!” Zhuanzhu retorted to Murong’s command with a sneer.
“I told you to come here!” Murong raised his voice.
Under his dominance, Zhuanzhu deflated, disgruntledly trailing back to his team.
“We haven’t introduced ourselves yet,” Murong changed the topic and spoke in a friendly tone, “We are the Hunter Team, I’m the captain, Murong, and these are my teammates, Wu Tairan, Xuzhong Qi, and Shangguan Jiu.
The troublemaker over there is Zhuanzhu, a pleasure to meet you all!”
With that, Murong extended a hand saying, “Even though we will be opponents on tomorrow’s battlefield – I hope we can end up being friends, how about it?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Luo’er, expressionless as ever, shook Murong’s hand before introducing himself, “My name is Luo’er and I’m part of the Zero Team.
With me are Cheng Ziang, Hu Daoke, and Baiyue.
I should note, though.
I’m not the team leader – Moumou is.”
With that, Luo’er took a step backward, pushing the flustered Tangmo into the spotlight.
“Pleased to meet you, Captain Moumou!” Murong extended his hand with a friendly smile.
“Tsk!” snorted Zhuanzhu from behind Murong, prompting a threatening glare from the captain.
“H-hello!” Tangmo extended her hand hesitantly while her eyes remained fixed on Shangguan Jiu, who was half Night Elf, standing behind the group.
This was the first time she had ever seen a live half-elf.
Shangguan Jiu, unlike Luo’er, had delicate features, dark purple eyes, and upward-pointing ears; completely opposite to Luo’er’s downward-facing ones.
Her overall aura felt more enchanting.
If Luo’er was the sun, then she was the moon.
Noticing Tangmo’s gaze, Shangguan Jiu stepped forward and warmly greeted her, “Hello, Captain Moumou, I’m Shangguan Jiu, a half Night Elf.
You can call me Jiu’er!”
“Oh, a Night Elf!” Tangmo’s surprise drew another series of mocking laughter from Zhuanzhu.
“Luo’er, Luo’er, she’s a Night Elf!” Tangmo turned excitedly to Luo’er.
“I see that, Sister Moumou,” said Luo’er with a soft smile, completely different from his previous cold demeanor.
Murong’s team consisted of five members; three of whom were Human Race hybrids.
Besides Murong, who was of Blaiqi hybrid descent, both Zhuanzhu and Wu Tairan were Aud hybrids, the highest percentage of any hybrid race amongst the candidates.
Other than human hybrids, Shangguan Jiu was a Night Elf hybrid, albeit possessing only a quarter of Night Elf blood; Xuzhong Qi, who appeared to be stout and affable, was a Dwarf Hybrid, to be precise, a Red Rock Dwarf Hybrid.
Looking at their interactions suggested that they all obeyed Murong’s commands faithfully, including the unruly Zhuanzhu.
It seemed like Murong was the only one who could keep Zhuanzhu in check.
However, Luo’er had a feeling, albeit vague, that Murong might not be able to completely control Zhuanzhu.
If they were telling the truth about their Hunter Team having secured victory in the quarterfinals, they would be competing with them for the championship.
Therefore, it was essential to gather as much information about the potential opponents as possible.
“Still wearing a hoodie after the battle, what a weirdo?
You must be too ugly to show your face!” As Luo’er was pondering over these thoughts, an irrepressible Zhuanzhu began making a scene, he approached Baiyue, taunting as he reached to unveil her hoodie.
“You!” Before anyone could react, Baiyue swiftly retaliated.
With a clean capture combat move, she pinned Zhuanzhu to the ground, held a dagger to his throat, and glared at him coldly.
“Zhuanzhu, you!” With anger and anxiety, Murong turned to Luo’er and spoke, “I’m really sorry about this.
It was my teammate who was truly reckless.
When we get back, I will make sure he faces serious discipline.
I beg for your forgiveness!”
With that, Murong bowed deeply in apology.
“Talking to me won’t do you any good.
I’m not the captain,” Luo’er retorts coldly.
“Captain Moumou, I implore you!” Murong continued to show his remorse towards Tangmo with another deep bow.
“Luo’er, Luo’er …” Overwhelmed by the situation, Tangmo turned towards Luo’er.
After a long silence, Luo’er finally raises his head.
Without looking at Murong, he raises a cold finger, “This is the second time.
No mercy on the third, whether in the Virtual World or the Real one!”
“Of course, I sincerely apologize!” Murong apologizes sincerely.
With a hand signal, Luo’er gestured for Baiyue to let go of Zhuanzhu.
She glared maliciously at Zhuanzhu, removed her dagger, rose to her feet, and took the sniper rifle handed to her by Hu Daoke.
“I don’t think we have anything else to say here.
If there’s nothing else, I guess it’s time for us to leave.
Isn’t that right, Sister Moumou?” said Luo’er.
We’d better get going!” Stunned for a moment, Tangmo hurriedly nodded in agreement.
With nothing left to say, they all logged out on the spot, leaving the few others behind.