NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 125: Second Round
Just as Cael bent his knees to dash forward and strike first, another notification popped up.
[Enemy team has surrendered.]
For a moment, silence took over the arena.
Cael froze mid-step, blinking in confusion.
Leila lowered her staff slowly, looking surprised.
Kristoff let out a small sigh, shaking his head.
"That was… fast."
Xel'Shaar simply stood silently by Adam's side, as though it didn't surprise him at all.
Adam's gaze didn't waver.
His eyes locked onto the Thunderstrike Alliance, who stood there with pale faces.
Their leader raised both hands in surrender, avoiding Adam's eyes.
"Lost the will before even trying..."
Adam muttered under his breath in disappointment.
Such people would not serve much use when the retaliation of Yxthar comes.
A few moments later, the system spoke again.
[Congratulations. You have won the first round.]
[You will be teleported back to the waiting lobby shortly.]
Cael clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"I didn't even get to stretch my legs…"
Leila chuckled softly.
"At least it saves energy."
Cael crossed his arms as he scoffed.
"If teams keep surrendering like this, it'll be an easy climb to the top."
Adam didn't respond.
His eyes were calm as he thought about the upcoming rounds.
'No… as we go higher, surrendering won't be an option for them. Stronger teams will force a fight.'
The black dome around them flickered with light.
[Teleporting to lobby in 3… 2… 1…]
In the next second, the world around them twisted once more.
Adam and his team found themselves back in the waiting lobby.
It took around thirty minutes for the entire first round to finish.
Leila let out a small sigh as she stretched her arms.
"That was fast… I guess some battles didn't last long."
Cael looked around at the crowd.
"Yeah… though a few teams probably dragged it out."
Adam didn't say anything.
His eyes were focused forward as a new notification popped up.
[Round 1 has finished.]
[Announcing winners…]
The system began listing down the teams that would move on to the next round.
Match 1: Winners
Match 2: Steel Hydra
Match 3: Gravestone
Match 4: Phantom Reavers
Match 5: Ironbound
Match 6: Shadow Dancers
Match 7: Flameborne
Match 8: The Unbroken
Match 9: Warforged
Match 10: Bladestorm
Match 11: Soulshatter
Match 12: The Reapers
Match 13: Can't Think Of A Name
Match 14: Black Lotus
Match 15: Dreadnought
Match 16: Superiority
As the names were listed, quiet murmurs filled the lobby.
Cael clicked his tongue lightly.
"Most of the teams with cool names passed."
Kristoff nodded.
"Hopefully we get to actually fight in the second round..."
Leila looked at Adam, her eyes soft but serious.
"Do you think we'll go up against Steel Hydra or Gravestone next?"
Adam didn't respond immediately.
He closed his eyes, thinking deeply.
'If we do, I can test their teamwork and see their limits…'
His mind drifted for a moment as he frowned slightly.
'But what I'm more worried about is whether we'll go up against Celestia's team in the next round.'
Leila watched his expression carefully, sensing his unease.
Adam stayed silent, thoughts continuing to swirl.
'Leila's warning about something dangerous happening soon still bothers me…'
His gaze turned colder as he stared ahead.
'Does the danger refer to Elaric himself, or does it mean something bad will happen to the plan me and Celestia set up against him?'
[Preparing for Round 2 matchups.]
[Please wait while the system calculates.]
The lobby went quiet again. Some teams looked nervous.
Others, like Steel Hydra, Gravestone, and Dreadnought, stood with calm confidence, their eyes scanning their future competitors.
Adam simply stood there, silent and still, like an unshakable pillar.
For him, it didn't matter who came next.
He would defeat them all the same.
The air around the lobby grew tense as the system notification echoed out again.
[Calculating Round 2 matchups.]
Everyone went quiet, waiting for the names to be announced.
Adam kept his arms crossed, his eyes calm and cold.
Finally, the matchups appeared before their eyes.
[Round 2 Matchups:]
Match 1: Winners vs Steel Hydra
Match 2: The Reapers vs Shadow Dancers
Match 3: Gravestone vs Can't Think Of A Name
Match 4: Phantom Reavers vs Flameborne
Match 5: Ironbound vs Black Lotus
Match 6: The Unbroken vs Bladestorm
Match 7: Warforged vs Soulshatter
Match 8: Dreadnought vs Superiority
Adam's eyes narrowed slightly, locking onto the name of their opponent in the second round.
'Steel Hydra… two B-rankers and three strong C-rankers… well known for their coordination and iron defense strategy.'
'This will be useful. I can see how my team handles a real threat.'
The system announcement echoed out.
[Round 2 will now begin.]
[Teleporting respective teams into isolated battling arenas…]
The world around them twisted and blurred.
Colors shifted until everything turned black for a brief moment.
When their vision cleared, Adam found himself standing on solid ground again.
But this time, it wasn't the usual circular arena.
They stood on a long, narrow rectangular platform, made entirely of dark grey stone with glowing blue lines carved into it like veins.
Below them was an endless abyss...
It was so deep that no bottom could be seen, only darkness swallowing everything underneath.
Across from them, at the far end of the platform, stood Steel Hydra.
Five armored figures.
They looked like a small army lined up in perfect formation.
Each of them wore thick dark-blue armor with silver edges that reflected the arena's eerie blue light.
Their helmets hid their faces completely, giving them a uniform, inhuman look.
The one at the front stepped forward slightly.
He carried a massive shield in one hand and a spear in the other.
His voice echoed through the quiet arena.
"So… you're the 'Winners'."
Cael almost laughed at how stupid their team name sounded when said out loud, but he kept quiet, focused on the enemy.
Adam said nothing, only staring calmly at them with a cold, unreadable gaze.
The armored man continued.
"I've heard about you. The Chosen Conduit, huh? Let's see if you're as strong as they say."
He lifted his spear, tapping it lightly against his shield.