ATPnovel Chapter 11. This is just an appetizer, let's have another one!
Chapter 11. This is just an appetizer, let's have another one!
"First match, Chen Ping vs. Lei Meng!" Liu Bingbing, acting as the temporary referee, announced in a clear voice.
The two players are already in position.
The coin is tossed up and falls—Lei Meng attacks first.
Lei Meng's offensive was swift and fierce.
Chen Ping responded with the defensive counter-attack style that the Rock Clan excels at.
However, Lei Meng's advantage lies in the efficiency of resource conversion.
The outcome was quickly determined.
Chen Ping's health points were rapidly reduced under the relentless onslaught of steel.
Although he tried his best to use the Rock-type's resurrection effect and defensive measures to delay the game, the overall speed of the deck's operation and the strength of its final move were ultimately inferior.
Chen Ping is now out of the game, his health points have dropped to zero.
"...I lost." Chen Ping wiped the sweat from his forehead, nodded to Lei Meng, his eyes showing disappointment but still remaining composed. He had done his best and learned something.
"You flatter me." Lei Meng grinned, waving his fist, looking quite spirited.
Outside the venue, many villagers in Luoshen Village sighed and shook their heads.
They lost at the start and were already at a disadvantage in terms of momentum.
Qin Jian's expression was not good: "Chen Ping played well, but unfortunately, there was a gap in deck strength and speed of development... Old Lei provided them with too many resources."
Poseidon nodded calmly: "Old Lei always comes prepared, as expected."
"Hehe... The second match!" Lei Zhen stroked his beard, turned his gaze behind him, and chuckled, "Qing Yuan, go and experience the high-level skills of the dual-attribute genius from Luoshen Village."
"Yes, Grandpa Village Chief." The girl with the high ponytail, Lei Qingyuan, stepped forward with steady steps and sharp eyes, looking directly at Qin Xue.
"Wait!" Lei Zhen's eyes darted around, and he whispered in Lei Qingyuan's ear, "Testing is fine, you don't have to win."
"If we win, we won't have to watch more than three games."
"We've come here for two reasons: first, to disrupt the event, and second, to test the waters and prepare for the duel between the four villages."
Lei Qingyuan's eyes flickered for a moment, then she said calmly, "I understand."
"Grandpa Village Chief's vision is much longer."
Qin Xue, meanwhile, took a deep breath nervously and looked at the old village chief.
The old village chief nodded slightly.
"The second match is Qin Xue versus Lei Qingyuan!"
This match was far more convoluted and complicated than the previous one.
Qin Xue's tactics were a bit raw, and she made several unforeseen mistakes in key resource exchanges and timing, which made You Feng, watching from the sidelines, secretly facepalm.
He was clearly too nervous, and his performance was far less consistent than during his usual practice.
In contrast, Lei Qingyuan displayed a maturity beyond her years. Her deck was executed with the precision of a clock, every move was purposeful, and her resource allocation was efficient. The situation on the field seemed to be tightened step by step with invisible threads, gradually weaving a deadly net.
Just when everyone thought Qin Xue's defeat was inevitable and Luoshen Village would suffer two consecutive losses, the rhythm of the game took a subtle turn.
Lei Qingyuan's mercury-like offensive suddenly showed a slight, almost imperceptible, hesitation.
Several crucial opportunities to pursue and finish off the opponent arose, but she either opted for relatively conservative tactics or happened to draw cards that were not well-suited to the current situation.
It was these few minor mistakes that gave Qin Xue, who was under immense pressure, a precious chance to catch her breath.
Qin Xue steadied herself, seized the opportunity, and finally succeeded in reversing the offensive, defeating her opponent in one fell swoop.
"We won! Sister Qin Xue won!"
"That's amazing! They managed to turn the game around like that!"
"A 1-1 tie! There's still a chance!"
The boys and girls of Luoshen Village immediately erupted in enthusiastic cheers, and many jumped up in excitement.
Qin Xue breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and subconsciously looked in You Feng's direction, her eyes filled with the joy of victory and a hint of expectation for recognition.
But Youfeng did not laugh.
He sat on a rock by the sidelines, his brows furrowed, his gaze falling on Lei Qingyuan, who was calmly leaving the field, and then sweeping over the unmoving village chief Lei Zhen behind her.
"Something's not right..." Youfeng muttered to himself.
Given Lei Qingyuan's previous display of precise operation and deck fluidity, it's highly unlikely that she would make such basic mistakes as almost getting stuck with bad cards or misjudging the situation repeatedly in the later stages.
The break in rhythm felt too deliberate.
"Little madman?" came the sea god's lazy voice from the side. He had squatted down at some point, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth. "You won and you're still not happy?"
"There's nothing to be happy about." You Feng's gaze remained fixed on Tianji Village. "That Lei Qingyuan lost on purpose."
"Oh?" Poseidon raised an eyebrow, the usual languor in his eyes momentarily fading, replaced by a sharp, playful glint. "How did you figure that out?"
"Rhythm. They were so aggressive at the beginning, but then it was like they suddenly forgot how to play." You Feng turned his gaze to Haihuang. "They want to play a third round. Or rather, they want to see what else we have up our sleeve."
Poseidon stared at You Feng for two seconds, then suddenly grinned, "This kid is something else."
At that moment, Lei Zhen's hearty yet subtly sharp laughter rang out from the arena: "One to one! Brilliant, truly brilliant! The dual-race faction certainly has extraordinary potential. It seems the key lies in this third match. Brother Luo, are you sending this young lady onto the field?"
His gaze fell on the pale-faced mage girl named Li Xiaoyu at the end of the Luoshen Village procession.
When Li Xiaoyu was called out, her body trembled slightly, and she subconsciously took half a step back.
Her deck mainly consists of basic light-attribute mages, which has limited strength. Facing the clearly well-prepared elites from Tianji Village, the pressure she faces is unimaginable.
And the result was almost a foregone conclusion.
Lei You, the last and most enigmatic figure from Tianji Village, makes his appearance.
Li Xiaoyu's magician deck couldn't even mount a decent resistance, quickly collapsing under the opponent's concise yet deadly offensive.
The whole process was so fast that it was impossible to react; it was more like a one-sided crushing defeat.
"Thank you for the concession." Lei You's voice came through the goggles, flat and emotionless, showing no joy of victory, as if he had just completed a predetermined task.
Lei Zhen's smile finally blossomed without any pretense. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the old village chief: "Brother Luo, it seems that this year, our Tianji Village has once again emerged victorious by sheer luck. As usual, I will accept the 100,000 Dragon Coins without hesitation."
His smug tone made many villagers of Luoshen Village look uneasy, yet they were helpless.
Two losses in three games, we were simply outmatched, there's nothing more to say.
"Wait a minute."
Just as the atmosphere became somewhat tense, a lazy yet clear voice broke in.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Sea Emperor slowly stand up and pat off non-existent dust from his rear end.
"Old Lei," Poseidon yawned, as if he had just woken up, "It's not fun to leave now that you've come all this way. That was just an appetizer, how about we have another round?"