The audience below was astonished as they listened to the speech from the podium. For a moment, the venue fell into a profound silence, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere at the beginning of the presentation.
The final few words undoubtedly ignited a fire in everyone's hearts. However, at that moment, only the members of the Ice Dust Team quickly applauded, followed by the audience, and then other team members joined in one after another.
The applause surged like a tidal wave but faded just as quickly. For a moment, they struggled to process what had just been said. Freyr slowly descended from the podium and returned to his team. Freya reached out and playfully slapped Freyr on the head, saying, "Was that what you really meant? That’s how a commander should carry themselves. From now on, speak like that; there’s nothing to fear. When we face threats on the battlefield, we can only confront them alone—that's just how it is."
"Okay, I understand," Freyr replied, rubbing his head, feeling a wave of sweetness wash over him.
"Well done." Even the usually taciturn Long Xingchen turned to him with an honest compliment.
His teammates patted him on the shoulder one by one. This was clearly a first for him; despite some differing opinions before, everyone’s views had evidently changed after this speech.
However, gaining their complete trust would still take time. Accepting their congratulations one by one, he watched as the remaining two teams completed their presentations.
Soon enough, a series of challenging competitions would commence.
"In the Score Round matches, teams from both regions will go through three rounds of competition. The top two teams from each region will advance to the semifinals. Winning a match earns three points; losing earns one point; and a draw gives two points. Only two outstanding teams from each region can progress to the next round. I hope everyone can deliver their best performances and bring an exciting contest to all students and faculty."
The Gatfrens Principal gestured with his hand as an electronic Virtual Screen behind him displayed a list of rules. After finishing his speech, he handed the microphone to an official and stepped down from the podium. At that moment, several seats were revealed on stage where seasoned experts with extensive knowledge of sports took their places.
"Ah, I think I recognize that person—Master Miyamoto." As Freyr and his teammates settled back into their designated area, he stood outside for a moment and caught sight of someone familiar on stage—a man with two distinct mustaches who radiated an imposing presence even without wearing black armor. The other experts around him seemed to pale in comparison.
Freya yanked Freyr's ear and twisted it playfully. "Stop looking around! Come back here and don’t make a fuss about people you know."
"That hurts! I get it; let go!" Freyr exclaimed, clutching his reddening ear as he was pulled back into his seat.
Contestants always had the best seats for watching matches up close. The two competition zones were quite different from each other, leading to two sets of matches occurring simultaneously. The duration of these matches could vary greatly; some evenly matched contests could enter prolonged deadlocks that made it difficult to determine a winner in a short time—typically lasting at least an hour and a half, while some could extend up to three hours.
The Season Cup Tournament would unfold over three consecutive rounds with all eight teams mobilized. Environmental factors, psychological aspects, and external influences could all affect the outcome of matches. However, such considerations often yielded no results; what mattered was the real combat on the field. Meanwhile, students were still diligently studying off the field. Many teams included former classmates who often resorted to physical tactics in pursuit of victory during matches—this behavior was quite normal in competitive settings.
The match between the Thunder Team and the Storm Team had been entangled for two hours. From this process, it was clear that the Thunder Team was a single-core team, relying on their defensive unit to tear through the opponent's defense. Their strategy involved quickly moving with the ball to score a touchdown and seize seven points for victory.
However, this advantage of seven points did not last long. Soon, the Storm Team's defense suddenly sprang into action, pushing forward ten yards in an instant. The Special Operations Team buried the ball and executed a flying kick from the forty-five-yard line, easily scoring three points.
Both Command Towers directed their teams with confidence. In contrast, the Storm Team maintained their stamina well even towards the end of the game. Every player on the bench was ready to take the field, allowing for rotations and substitutions. Many players could perform multiple positions, and even the Command Tower had dual-threat quarterbacks who could attack or defend.
On the other hand, the players who had been tightly marking the Storm Team adopted a physically demanding zone defense. However, the Thunder Team's wide receivers were severely fatigued. With a long-range cannon-like throw from an opposing receiver, one player made a powerful catch and scored. The goalposts were repeatedly struck, and as the previously tight score began to shift in the last two minutes, the final score was 8-9.
After their significant victory in the first match, Freyr and others in the player area seemed to have grasped some insights. The so-called Mad Bluefoot sports event was a brand new competitive format that combined rules from basketball, soccer, American football, and rugby into one cohesive game. The remaining rules were filled with scoring strategies and core competitive tactics.
In other words, there were many variations; ball handlers could either bounce the ball off the ground or hold it like in American football to score touchdowns. However, they could be surrounded by defenders using various zone defense techniques to guard against shots on goal. The designated shooting positions had to be along the sidelines, allowing players to choose where to shoot from.
Choosing to score a touchdown directly would yield seven points—a high-risk offensive strategy that could be employed by both offensive and defensive units. Of course, this did not include specialized runners; those positioned as runners were typically the fastest players on the field. It was common to see situations where three or four defenders surrounded a single player, making it quite challenging to score high points.
When attempting a shot from the sidelines for three points—regardless of whether it was from a hundred-yard position—if the ball landed within the goalposts, three points would be awarded. Additionally, there were two interference players positioned nearby; these players were known for their jumping ability and overall awareness on the field. They served as crucial support for the Command Tower’s quarterback, helping shoulder offensive responsibilities while primarily focusing on protecting the ball.
As the ball reached its peak height, their jumping ability allowed them to achieve this feat. However, their stamina would also be tested since every team could field several kickers with exceptional kicking skills. The resulting unpredictability of play was something no one wanted to see.
"Overall, our defeat was due to insufficient stamina," Long Xingchen said with a slight shake of his head as he watched such an intense match unfold on the field. It was evident that even the Command Tower's resolve had begun to waver.
After each match, teams typically had ample time to recuperate their energy.
After all, each team had three main matches in Confronting; one would determine which two teams would advance from their region in the Reincarnation Tournament. The physical demands of this competition were quite formidable.
The Tyrant Zone saw competition begin between Viper Team and Giant Lizard Team.
Among those entering the field was a familiar figure—the tall Wreck-It Ralph. On the other side of Giant Lizard Team emerged another recognizable silhouette: a man whose physique matched Ralph's but slightly shorter than Maggie's—a familiar yet somewhat sleazy figure who was Freyr's good friend Xiong Tai.
The Viper Team took the field, using the physical advantage of the Destroyer to overpower the defensive unit. It seemed that even without being Gene-Enhanced Humans, they could exhibit a significant disparity in strength, leaving the Viper Team's defense gasping for breath.
Xiong Tai had possession of the ball and charged forward, facing two offensive players assigned to guard him. The offensive players could also serve as defenders, and it appeared that the veterans on the Viper Team were nearing graduation. Xiong Tai, still an ordinary person not yet classified as a Gene-Enhanced Human, entered the fray. He was tackled by both opponents and sent flying two meters away, losing possession of the ball.
The receiver threw the ball to a young man with flowing hair, who wore a slight smile. Another young man with a pockmarked face crouched down to receive the ball, preparing for a corner kick. With precision, he executed a thirty-four-yard flying kick that found its way into the goal, marking the first three points of the game just three minutes in.
The battle continued with both teams exchanging points. Each side consisted of players who were adept at pushing boundaries, but with Maggie's presence on defense, one side struggled to maintain momentum while the other couldn't capitalize on opportunities. Many players were Gene-Enhanced Humans; even if their enhancements weren't high-level, confronting Maggie allowed them to compete against those with extraordinary physiques.
The Viper Team's multiple attempts from the sidelines were remarkably accurate, while Xiong Tai, despite being a receiver, quickly passed the ball to the center forward. The offensive line shifted positions and occasionally attempted shots to close the gap. However, missed opportunities only provided more chances for Viper Team to counterattack.
As the third quarter neared its end and Xiong Tai's team trailed by fifteen points, he made a risky long-distance throw to a speedy young man who was shorter in stature. Freyr felt that any interference could send him flying. This young man embodied a fragile image but succeeded in his daring move, catching the ball and scoring seven points!
The fourth quarter finally arrived. The Viper Team abandoned their initial scoring strategy and opted for long throws instead, focusing their firepower on offense. Almost all players surged forward to strike at the goal, overwhelming their opponents momentarily. The score dropped into double digits again, with an eighteen-point gap. Following two touchdowns without hesitation, although Xiong Tai took risks to score twice himself, the point difference ultimately sealed the game's fate.
The score stood at 8:54 as Viper Team secured three points.
Long Xingchen displayed a hint of astonishment on his face. "The overall quality of Tyrant Zone is exceptionally high; it's completely different from our district. If we were placed in Elemental Zone, we might even lose a spot."
After watching two matches, everyone on Ice Dust Team instinctively gasped in surprise. The athleticism of these teams was impressive, and their rapid scoring exchanges and tactical shifts showcased their ability to effectively utilize limited strategies to maximize points despite integrating new players into their ranks.
Comment 0 Comment Count