Chapter 755 - The Opening Raid
Max, a sharp-looking woman with short black hair and glasses, stepped onto the stage with confidence, her mic in hand. The crowd's energy surged as she took center stage, commanding everyone's attention.
"I want to hear your voice!" she shouted.
The stadium erupted with cheers, the audience's excitement reverberating through the massive arena.
"Alright!" Max continued, her voice bright and full of enthusiasm. "I know you've all been waiting for this moment. We have six teams on stage right now, but only two will advance to the next round. Are you ready to see these incredible teams face off in today's Raid Race?"
The crowd roared even louder, their energy almost overwhelming.
Max twirled dramatically, her eyes landing on the massive screen above the stage. "Take a look at the map, everyone!" she said, gesturing to the screen.
The display lit up, revealing a sprawling layout with six separate starting zones branching out into a maze of paths, all converging toward the center.
"This challenge," Max explained, her voice echoing across the stadium, "is all about team performance. Each team must navigate their path, take down monsters, solve puzzles, and finally face the Raid Boss at the end of their route. The winner will be decided by two factors: overall damage dealt and, most importantly, who lands the final hit on the boss!"
The rules were straightforward, but the complexity of the challenge was undeniable. Every team would have to balance speed, strategy, and raw power if they wanted to come out on top.
As Max wrapped up her explanation, the crowd erupted into cheers once more, their anticipation reaching its peak.
Max walked toward a towering man with broad shoulders and short blond hair, her head barely reaching his chest. He stood at the center of one of the teams.
"Alright! This time, we've got Hollow here," Max announced, gesturing toward him. "Also known as one of the Envy Champions! His team is competing under the name ShadowFang!"
The crowd roared as she turned her mic toward Hollow. "So, what do you think, and what are your expectations for this match?"
Hollow's thin smile widened slightly as he glanced toward the camera, his sharp gaze meeting the roaring audience.
"We will come out as the winners," he said confidently.
The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.
Hollow then turned his attention toward another group on the stage. His smile became a smirk as he spoke again. "We are the strongest team in the US!"
Max leaned in. "Who do you think will be your toughest competitor in this match?"
Hollow scoffed. "No one! There's no one worth mentioning! Or are you talking about the team that's only got five members?" He tilted his head mockingly toward Team Destroyer. "Hah! We will win this easily!"
The audience reacted loudly—some cheering for Hollow's bravado, others buzzing in defense of Team Destroyer.
Max clapped her hands, laughing lightly at his confidence. "Well, we'll see how things play out, Hollow! Let's give it up for Team ShadowFang!"
Max shifted her attention to the figure standing beside Hollow—a striking woman with long blonde hair and glamorous sunglasses, her poised and confident demeanor drawing as much attention as her companion.
"And here we have ScarletDusk!" Max announced, raising her mic toward her. "Everyone knows this team is stacked with not one, but two Divine Champions—Hollow, the Envy Champion, and you, the Lust Champion. So, ScarletDusk, what's your take on this opening match?"
ScarletDusk offered a dazzling smile before leaning slightly toward the mic. "Actually, I was hoping this would be an exciting match," she said in a smooth, almost teasing tone. "But it doesn't look like that's going to happen. So, yeah… we'll wrap this round up quickly."
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Her confidence hit the crowd like a spark, igniting a wave of applause and cheers from the audience.
Max grinned, clearly enjoying the energy ScarletDusk brought to the stage. "Well, there you have it, everyone! Let's see if Team ShadowFang can live up to their words!"
The roar of the crowd grew louder, and the anticipation for the match reached new heights as the Divine Champions continued to radiate their unshakable confidence.
While the spotlight was on Team ShadowFang, the members of Team Destroyer exchanged glances, clearly responding to the comments coming from Hollow and ScarletDusk.
"That pair of stupid assholes," Melliandra growled. "I'll shoot holes in both of their heads until they're nothing but Swiss cheese, those two pieces of shit."
Before anyone could react, Max approached Team Destroyer, her mic ready as she turned to Goldrich.
But Melliandra wasn't having it. "Let me talk!" she snapped, cutting in loudly enough to make Max pause.
Max grinned, enjoying the fire. "Oh, we have Melliandra! I know this team has a lot of hardcore fans—let's hear your support!"
The crowd erupted, roaring their approval as Melliandra stepped forward and grabbed the mic from Max's hand without hesitation.
"We're only five people here," she shouted, "but I'm going to shoot every single one of you in the head before we even get to the raid boss! Just watch!"
The stadium exploded in cheers and applause.
Max took the mic back. "That's the kind of fighting spirit we love to see in this competition!"
She then turned to Goldrich, her tone shifting slightly. "Mr. Goldrich, this is such a rare moment, since you almost never appear in public. But I'm sure your fans are dying to hear a few words from you."
Goldrich offered a small smile before stepping forward slightly.
"I have nothing much to say," he began. "But I'll tell you this—don't underestimate us. Five or six, it doesn't matter. We'll show everyone why we're here. Just stay tuned."
As the players began stepping into their designated capsule devices, Max quickly took over the stage again, her voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. Each team had been provided with six capsules, though one would remain unused for Team Destroyer today.
Moments after the players settled into their capsules, the large screen above the stage flickered to life. One by one, the avatars of each player materialized on the map displayed for the audience, their names and team banners prominently visible.
The match was about to begin.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena, Brando sat in the commentary box, ready to guide the audience through the action. Seated next to him was none other than Paul, the Gluttony Champion, casually dressed in casual style.
"Paul, the first match of this grand competition is about to start," Brando began, his voice animated. "I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially with Team Destroyer missing one of their key members—Broken."
Paul crossed one leg over the other, his expression relaxed as he answered. "The match is designed so that the team that defeats the raid boss first wins. But what's interesting is that, while each team has their own designated track, the map itself is completely open. This means that teams could technically abandon their objectives and engage in an all-out brawl if they wanted to."
"That's an excellent observation," Brando said, nodding. "But wouldn't that just give the other teams an opportunity to advance? After all, each team still has to complete the puzzles and defeat the monsters on their own track to even qualify to challenge the raid boss."
Paul's lips curled into a sly smile. "True," he admitted. "But in a competition like this, with six teams fighting for only two spots in the next round, it's inevitable that the stronger teams will prioritize eliminating the biggest threats first. If one team looks too dangerous, you can bet the others will gang up on them to even the playing field."
Brando nodded thoughtfully. "That's a risky but valid strategy. And with a team like ShadowFang, who are already stacked with two Divine Champions, it might actually be in the other teams' best interest to work together against them. What do you think?"
Paul chuckled lightly. "Perhaps," he said. "But let's not forget, Team Destroyer, even without Broken, is still a powerhouse. If anyone underestimates them, they'll pay the price."
"So, what's your conclusion, Paul? Given this situation?" Brando asked, leaning closer as the anticipation in the arena thickened.
"Simple," Paul said. "Every team is going to abandon their tracks and focus on taking down the Destroyer first. It's the only way the other four teams have a chance to compete for at least second place in this match. As long as the Destroyer stays in the game, they'll dominate."
"That's an interesting take," Brando responded as he turned into the camera. "What do you guys think will happen?"