MMORPG: Rise of the Primordial Godsmith

Chapter 1500: Myriad Prodigies: Final Round (11)

With both Valyr and Ataraxiaʼs fights for the top 128 out of the way, it did not take long for the remainder of the fights to be over with, allowing the fights for top 64 to proceed as Schubert gave everyone an additional explanation beforehand.

”Since all of the participants that remain victors of the third round now have the eligibility to proceed to the final tournament whenever they want, a few rules shall be added to the third round from here on out.”

Making sure that he had caught both the crowd and the participantsʼ attention, the man faintly nodded in satisfaction. ”Starting from the fight for the top 64 spots, participants now have two options to choose from before having to fight.”

”The first option is to forfeit and surrender any other opportunity to fight for a higher spot,” said Schubert. ”On the other hand, the second option is to forfeit the current fight and participate in whatʼs called a placement battle.”

”Iʼm sure all of you understand what the first option entails,” he continued, a slight smile tracing the edge of his lips. ”Letʼs say one of the first two participants to fight for one of the top 64 spot decides to go with the first option.”

”Since theyʼre the first person to choose it, their eligibility to move on to the final tournament wouldnʼt be removed. However, the possibility of getting a higher spot in this tournament would practically be cut off from them.”

”Because of that, theyʼll be placed at the lowest spot possible, which is 128th.”

”As for the second option, itʼs a bit more complicated.” Schubert scratched his cheek as he let out a faint chuckle. ”The concept is similar to the first option, though there is still the possibility of obtaining a higher spot than intended.”

”Then again, compared to the opportunity those from the loserʼs bracket have in reaching the top spots in one fell swoop, the limits of what those that chose the second option could achieve are more limited.”

”Say one of the participants decides to go with the second option during the fight for top 64.”

”Once that participant chooses the option, they would now have to proceed onto whatʼs called a placement battle, which dictates what rank they would have from 65th to 128th place.”

”Naturally, this participant would have to fight other participants who chose the same option during this placement battle, transforming it into a mini tournament of sorts.”

”But of course, that doesnʼt mean those that chose either option would be excluded from the opportunity those from the loserʼs bracket obtain.”

At these words, some people among the crowd began to murmur among themselves, immediately concluding that it would be unfair to those whoʼve given up the opportunity to reach a higher spot to still be susceptible of having their positions be taken.

Unsurprisingly, Schubert and the tournamentʼs organizers had already looked at the issue from that perspective.

”Is it really that unfair?” The man glanced at the crowd, his expression solemn as he asked this question. ”Donʼt you think itʼs more unfair to deprive those who basically had to go through the entire third round twice the opportunity to fight for any of the top 128 spots?”

Though a few people among the crowd still continued to voice their dissent towards this rule of the tournament, most of the crowd finally accepted what Schubert had told them with this explanation.

Understanding that he wouldnʼt be able to please everyone with his words, the man wrapped his explanation of the added rules then and there as the fights for the top 64 officially began.

Unexpectedly, a considerable number of participants immediately chose the first option the moment they were able to do so, causing many among the crowd to boo at them for their lack of courage.

Of course, there were also those who went with the second option, confident that theyʼd be able to grab a higher spot than they intended if they were to go through the placement battle.

Fortunately, most of the participants still proceeded with the tournament as usual, fighting each other with their lives on the line as they clawed their way up to a higher spot.

Utilizing a strategy that combined both summoning and magic in his fight, Valyr had successfully confused his opponent on what his combat style truly was, easily allowing him to move on to the top 64.

On the other hand, Ataraxia incorporated his stealth skill into his combat style, transforming his previous combat style that focused on powerful spells into a style that harassed the opponent with powerful spells from all angles.

Naturally, he also moved on to the top 64 as well.

With less and less participants fighting for the topmost spots of the tournament, it did not take long for the fights for the top 32 to arrive, with almost everyone in the crowd anticipating the first fight for said spot.

”…Ironic, isnʼt it?”

Standing on one side of the platform, Valyr looked at his opponent with a slightly bitter smile, inwardly thinking to himself that the heavens were undoubtedly playing a prank on him.

”Very ironic.”

In response, Ataraxia looked back at the young man with a bitter smile of his own, finding it slightly amusing that the heavens still allowed the opposite of their wishes to come true.

Then again, with the reputation theyʼve amassed throughout the tournament, a fight between them made a lot of sense, especially if one were to consider that the two were teacher and student.

”So… are we gonna give the crowd what they want to see? Or are we gonna do this like we intended it to?”

Hearing this question come out of Valyrʼs mouth, Ataraxia let out a faint sigh in response before wryly smiling.

Faintly shaking his head, the latter shifted his gaze towards the arbiter and told him, ”I would like to forfeit from this fight and proceed with the placement battle.”

”…Er… okay, then?” Not expecting Ataraxia to suddenly forfeit in what everyone thought of as the most anticipated fight of the tournament, it took a while for the arbiter to respond after feeling immense shock from his words.

Naturally, the crowd also took a while to gather their bearings after Ataraxiaʼs sudden announcement, immediately lambasting him into oblivion, calling the young man a multitude of insults and profanities that revolved around his lack of courage.

Unfortunately, with the two having discussed the possibility of this situation happening sometime earlier, Ataraxia was unaffected by the insults hurled at him.

Instead, he glanced at where the four arbiters of the tournament sat, only to find Erika looking back at the two of them with a slight gleam in her eyes.