As minutes passed by, the atmosphere throughout the arena changed immediately.
Students poured down the stairs from every direction, their gazes locked on the battlefield.
No matter what any of them thought of Theo’s strength...
Ninety million dollars was enough to make almost anyone take the risk.
Meanwhile, judges quickly stepped into action.
"Only six challengers may enter the arena at a time!" one of them shouted. "The first six contestants to register will fight first. Everyone else, remain behind the barrier."
Students looked at each other hesitantly.
Being the first meant they’d for sure get taken out.
But that doubt only lasted for a moment.
’’Hey,’’ a voice called out. ’’What if we just make one really big group?’’
The surrounding students frowned slightly.
They slowly turned to a small boy with murky gray hair.
’’What do you mean?’’
The boy immediately pointed at Theo.
’’We all know the first, second, and maybe even the third groups will just lose,’’ he started. ’’And no one here wants to lose their cultivation budget like that.’’
Students all around nodded slowly.
’’So, if we just make one alliance with thirty people,’’ the boy exclaimed enthusiastically. ’’There won’t be any losses and we can split the prize money!’’
One by one, a sudden realization appeared on the other students’ faces.
’’If thirty people join, that’s still three million each.’’
’’Three million without actually risking our own resources? I’d take that.’’
A group of thirty people formed within seconds around the gray-haired boy.
But it wasn’t over there.
The idea slowly started spreading through the over two hundred people that had already gathered there.
One purple-haired girl in particular rushed all the way to the back of the line.
’’Leon!’’ she called out.
A tall, blond young man turned to her right away.
’’Jenny? What’s going on?’’ he asked, tilting his head.
Jenny immediately explained what was happening between heavy breaths.
Leon and the small group of people around him listened quietly.
Once she was finished, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
"So they’ve finally figured it out."
Several people standing around him smiled faintly.
"They’re not wrong," one girl said. "It’s probably the smartest thing they can do."
Leon nodded once before his smile widened.
"But it won’t be enough."
The others glanced at him for a moment.
Leon only looked at the arena, his gaze locking onto the cultivating Theo.
’’I mean, honestly,’’ he continued, chuckling. ’’He’s defeated Kara and Darius at once. Do they really think he’ll be exhausted after three groups of Bronze Cores?’’
A broad-shouldered man with a buzzcut nodded seriously beside him.
’’He’ll probably wipe out another fifty people.’’
Leon immediately shook his head and raised two fingers.
’’Double it,’’ he said confidently. ’’If you’ve studied him for even a moment, you know his basic lightning spells are enough to take out Bronze Cores.’’
Jenny’s mouth fell open slightly.
The other three members of their group just stared at him in disbelief.
’’A hundred?’’ one of them asked.
Leon nodded without hesitation.
’’At the very least.’’
He pointed at Theo in the distance.
’’Which is why we’ll wait,’’ he said confidently. ’’We’ll watch as the others happily waste his mana.’’
’’Then, once he’s slowed down... we, the top of the ordinary students, will take him out.’’
The group slowly fell silent.
One by one, smiles spread across their faces.
’’So that’s why you told us to stay back!’’ Jenny said, grinning.
The broad-shouldered man nodded slowly to himself.
’’The other students will just increase the prize for us too,’’ he said, his voice hoarse and low. ’’But how do we make sure we can step in at the perfect time?’’
There was bound to be a queue after all.
Leon’s smile only widened.
’’My uncle is one of the judges,’’ he said. ’’While he doesn’t have much influence, he can squeeze us in with no problem.’’
The broad-shouldered man let out a hoarse chuckle.
’’I almost feel bad for the others then.’’
Meanwhile, Theo remained seated in the center of the arena.
Mana continued flowing steadily through his body, strengthening his core walls.
’Twenty-five percent...’
’Thirty...’
’Thirty-five...’
DING!
A loud bell echoed through the arena.
Theo’s eyes snapped open.
’’Ladies and gentlemen!’’ the announcer’s voice rang out excitedly. ’’The recovery time has officially come to an end for Theo Lane.’’
A small smile appeared on Theo’s face as he pushed himself off the ground.
He stretched his arms and legs, cracking his neck.
’I’m feeling better than expected,’ he thought.
His gaze sharpened on the arena’s special entrance, seeing dozens of people lined up.
He pulled his trident off his back and twirled it around in his hand.
’I really wonder... how much the normal students actually amount to.’
The announcer raised one fist into the air.
’’Look at that, folks!’’ he shouted. ’’It seems like Theo still has absolute confidence!’’
His arm swung toward the gate at the special entrance.
’’Well then... let’s have the first six challengers enter the arena!’’
The large gates slowly rumbled open.
Six students walked forward, though the hesitation was obvious in their steps.
Each held their weapons tightly as they spread out, only coming to a stop once they’d fully encircled him.
’Oho?’ Theo thought, raising an eyebrow. ’They’ve clearly strategized in the past few minutes.’
The announcer’s grin only widened.
’’Is everyone ready?’’ he shouted loudly.
A wave of cheers spread through the stands.
Everyone wanted to see whether this one person could withstand the siege of the many.
’’Good enough!’’ the announcer declared, waving his arm down.
A countdown of ten seconds appeared on screens all throughout the stadium.
As it ticked down, every student in the arena leaned forward.
’’Three...’’
’’Two...’’
All around Theo, spells began floating up into the air.
’’One...’’
The announcer jerked his microphone closer.
’’BEGIN!’’
Theo’s head snapped around, scanning the arena.
The six challengers didn’t move an inch.
Fire, water, wind, and earth spells had already appeared around them, each aimed straight at him.