Chapter 39 Elimination Rounds: Speedrun with Brute Force!
The knockout stage officially began the followings morning.
The rules are simple: sixty-four teams, single-elimination format, and the loser goes straight back to school. One match each morning and afternoon. The top three will be determined over three days.
The competition, which pits 64 teams against 32, will be held simultaneously in all 32 matches.
The partitions on the test track have been readjusted, and each track is now one size wider than during the lap race.
The referees have also been changed from senior students to full-time instructors, which clearly shows that the college attaches great importance to the knockout stage.
Dai Weis and Zhu Zhuqing's first opponent was a three-person team from Class 5.
The captain is a level 22 weapon Spirit Master, while the other two are in their early twenties.
As soon as the whistle blew, Zhu Zhuqing disappeared from the spot.
To be precise, she started too fast, so much so that the three people opposite her couldn't keep up with her gaze at all.
By the time the fifth squad leader reacted, Zhu Zhuqing had already appeared behind him.
First Spirit Skill: Netherworld Thrust.
A precise claw strike landed directly on the captain's lower back, the Spirit power penetrating the school uniform and creating a numbing sensation on his body.
The man froze, and before the martial Spirit in his hand could fully possess him, he stumbled and fell to the ground.
At the same time, Dai Weis also made a move.
He spread his arms wide, and a burst of white tiger light shot out, the force of which was very low, just enough to push the remaining two people from the center of the field to the edge of the boundary line.
The two slipped and landed on their bottoms, sliding out of the white line.
"In the seventeenth examination room, Dai Weis's team from Class 9 won."
The referee's voice sounded numb, probably because he had gotten used to this situation since yesterday's lap race.
The entire process takes no more than ten seconds.
Zhu Zhuqing retracted her claws, nimbly jumped back to Dai Weis's side, and patted off non-existent dust from her hands.
"Hua Bin, did I hit too hard just now? That captain doesn't seem to have gotten up yet."
Dai Weis glanced back and saw that the fifth squad leader was being supported by his teammates, his face was pale, and his lower back was still twitching.
"It's alright, he was just scared by your armor-piercing effect. The Nether Cat's penetrating power is very unique; the first time someone gets hit by it, they'll think they've suffered internal injuries."
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly and thought for a moment, then muttered softly, "I'll be gentler next time."
"No need, there's no need to be polite on the assessment field."
When the two walked out of the venue, the competition in the next examination room had just reached its climax.
An offensive-type male character was locked in a fierce battle with a defensive-type Spirit Master, both of them sweating profusely. They had been exchanging blows for several rounds, neither able to gain the upper hand.
Dai Weis ignored her and led Zhu Zhuqing straight to the rest area.
In the afternoon's round of 32 to 16, the opponent changed to a team from Class 3.
The captain is a level 24 Spirit Master who achieved a record of seven wins and three losses in the round-robin tournament, which is considered above average.
The result was the same.
Zhu Zhuqing charged forward head-on, unleashing three consecutive claw shadows from the Netherworld Hundred Claws, completely stunning the opponent's agility-based attacker.
Dai Weis followed up with a kick, sending the Spirit Master who was trying to ambush Zhu Zhuqing flying out of bounds.
The captain managed to hold out for a few seconds, releasing a defensive Spirit skill in an attempt to buy time.
Zhu Zhuqing circled around to the side and unleashed a Nether Thrust that pierced through the gap in the defense. The armor-piercing effect of the claws shattered the thin layer of Spirit power shield.
It was defeated instantly again.
"Dai Weis's team from Class 9 wins."
After the referee finished announcing the result, he couldn't help but glance at Zhu Zhuqing a couple more times.
This little girl with black hair didn't make a single unnecessary movement; every move she made was incredibly precise.
On the other side, Cui Yajie's team was also doing well.
In the morning's match, Cui Yajie's opening "Charm" move stunned the opposing captain for half a second.
Wang Dong'er's Goddess of Light Butterfly spread its wings and rushed in, its wing-shaped blades striking with deadly precision, cleanly and decisively ending the battle.
The afternoon match took a little longer because the opposing team had a level 23 defensive shield-type Spirit Master who stubbornly refused to fall.
Xiao Xiao activated the "Combined Cauldron Form" of the Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, and a giant cauldron crashed down, knocking her and her shield out of the arena.
"Xiao Xiao, that was too ruthless!" Wang Dong'er exclaimed in astonishment. "That person flew at least three meters."
Xiao Xiao shrank her neck, her face slightly flushed: "I...I controlled my strength, really."
Cui Yajie flicked her pink curly hair, her tone indifferent:
"If it was under control, it would still fly three meters? If it wasn't under control, that person might have flown into the next exam room."
All four knockout matches of the first day have concluded.
All three teams from Class 9 advanced to the top 16.
On his way back to the dormitory that evening, Dai Weis ran into Ning Tian.
"How are things on your end?"
Ning Tian smiled:
"Wu Feng's Dragon Fire stunned the opponent from the start, and there was no suspense throughout the game."
"However, in the afternoon match, the opposing team had an ice-type Spirit Master, which slightly countered Wu Feng. Nanmen Yun'er went in and finished him off with two more attacks."
"Have you checked your opponent's information for the round of 16 tomorrow morning?"
"I checked, it's a three-person team from Class 6, the highest level is 23, and they don't have any special Spirits."
Ning Tian paused for a moment,
"As for you, if you can win tomorrow afternoon, you should be able to face Xie Huanyue in the quarterfinals."
Dai Weis nodded, without saying anything more.
Ning Tian sized him up twice, then suddenly laughed:
"Alright, I can tell from your expression that you know what's going on. I won't worry about it then. I'll go back and have Wu Feng give me a shoulder massage."
"You really know how to order people around."
"That's right, he's the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tiles Sect. Who else would he order around if not Feng Mei?"
Ning Tian waved his hand, humming a little tune as he walked away.
Dai Weis shook his head as he watched his retreating figure.
This guy always has a very stable mindset; he can always find a way to laugh.
Back in the dormitory, Zhu Zhuqing had already finished washing up and was sitting on the edge of the bed drying her hair.
"Hua Bin, do you remember our opponent tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, there is a three-person team from Class 7. The captain is a level 22 plant-type Spirit Master. Their fighting style is more control-oriented. They like to use vines to entangle and restrict the opponent's movements, allowing their teammates to deal damage."
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment: "Vines? My Nether Spikes can cut them off directly."
"Yes, so this one isn't difficult. You just charge in and cut the vines, and I'll follow up and finish off the enemies."
Zhu Zhuqing responded and continued drying her hair. After a while, she suddenly spoke:
"Hua Bin, what are your plans to do with Xie Huanyue's Pipi Elephant?"
Dai Weis leaned against the headboard with his hands behind his head.
He had been thinking about this question ever since he saw the draw form.
Pipi Elephant's defense is among the best of the newcomers.
Even if you activate the White Tiger Vajra Transformation, it won't be easy to break through the defenses of a level 32 Spirit Master in a head-on confrontation.
What's even more troublesome is Xie Huanyue's second Spirit skill, "Elephant Trunk." That arm, which can extend several meters, isn't just for hitting people; it can also entangle and grab. Once entangled, Zhu Zhuqing's speed advantage is halved.
"What is the biggest weakness of the defensive system?" Dai Weis did not answer directly, but instead asked Zhu Zhuqing a question.
Zhu Zhuqing thought about it seriously: "Slow movement speed?"
"Yes, but that's not enough. The biggest weakness of a defensive build is that it has to stand there and take the hits."
Dai Weis extended one finger and drew a circle in the air.
"Xie Huanyue's core tactic is that he stands alone while the Luo brothers flank from both sides. This tactic works very well against ordinary teams because most people will instinctively concentrate their firepower on the largest target."
"But there are only two of us."
"That's right. So my strategy is that I'll defeat Xie Huanyue, and you'll deal with the Luo brothers."
Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment.
"You're going to handle this alone?"
"Don't worry, I won't engage him in a direct defensive battle. The White Tiger Blazing Light Wave is a long-range attack, so I can keep my distance and wear him down. With his size, he can't catch me."
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding: "Okay. I've seen the information on Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba's Mantis Blade; the twins have excellent teamwork. But their Spirit power is only a little over level 20, so I can overwhelm them with speed."
"That's the idea." Dai Weis turned over. "Go to sleep. Let's focus on winning the round of 16 matches tomorrow morning."
Zhu Zhuqing folded the towel and placed it aside, then obediently turned off the light.
In the darkness, her voice was soft: "Hua Bin, goodnight."
"good evening."
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