Chapter 420: "Official, What the Hell Are You Doing?"

After Andy's battle with Ling Zhan.

Many believed his reputation was unearned.

They couldn't help it...

After Ling Zhan instantly killed Ichikawa Ichiro, Andy lost in the second round.

Too quickly...

He didn't even make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals.

Initially, many were hyping him up.

Norton from the Free Federation.

Saint Luni from the Holy Light Empire.

Momoka Gotou from Fusang Country.

Andy from the Dark Night Empire.

And so on.

All were heavily hyped as championship favorites by major websites.

But when Andy stepped onto the stage, he was the first to lose.

This not only led to websites that created those rankings getting bombarded by netizens, but even Andy was suspected by his own country of throwing the match intentionally.

Because Andy was countered and defeated by Ling Zhan through "magic theory."

Those who always shout "I could do better" never have the sharp insight to understand the combat details.

So in their eyes, Andy didn't even use his trump cards and was defeated. To them, it was a clear case of match-fixing.

But now...

Andy, leading his team, is back on stage.

He wants to prove to everyone...

He's strong!

He didn't throw the match against the jobless non-specialist!

I lost to that jobless non-specialist fair and square!

Hmm...

Why does that sound a bit off?

As it turns out.

Those recognized as championship contenders by global websites do have their exceptional qualities.

Facing the divine secret "Frostbound" from the Frost Bear of the Ross Empire, Andy countered it with the S+ skill "Blood God Descent."

And when the captain of the Ross Empire, who is also the Frost Bear's master, unleashed the S+ skill "Lament of Frost."

Andy used the S+ skill "Blood Descent" to effectively counter it.

In the end, he led his team to victory.

"Amazing! Looks like we misunderstood Andy!"

"I won't call him the 'match-fixer' anymore."

"But the stronger Andy performs, the more it proves how monstrous that jobless non-specialist is!"

"Heartbreaking, isn't it? Prove your strength, but also prove your opponent is stronger. Who can handle that?"

"..."

The audience continued their banter.

"Last match of the quarterfinals!"

"Amethyst Empire team vs. Dwarf Empire team!"

"Both teams, get on stage, let's wrap this up quickly!"

Even the referee was a bit impatient, urging the match to proceed.

He couldn't help it. He really wanted to see the Dragon Kingdom team's match.

Or rather...

He wanted to see that jobless non-specialist's match.

That jobless non-specialist opened a whole new door to combat for everyone!

Turns out battles could be fought like this!

Not that everyone should become a jobless non-specialist like Ling Zhan.

But everyone should learn his combat style, his technique.

And his skill distribution, mastery, and understanding of each class!

Many had grown accustomed to simply using their class advantages and skill power to overwhelm opponents.

They overlooked the importance of combat technique.

But now.

Ling Zhan, through his battle with the Holy Light Empire, showed everyone what true strength is!

Even without using active skills or talents, you can still counter opponents with battle technique and equipment mechanisms!

This pointed many job-changers toward some directions for becoming stronger in the future.

The Amethyst Empire team members were all wearing special battle armor made from amethyst.

The Dwarf Empire team members, with their short statures, wore heavy chainmail. It looked plain and simple, but it was actually crafted using the finest Dwarven craftsmanship—it was no ordinary chainmail.

And the captain of the Dwarves was Bonnie Atherton, Charlotte's sister.

Amethyst Empire's amethyst armor vs. Dwarf Empire's forged chainmail.

Half an hour later.

The amethyst armor couldn't withstand the Dwarves' life-bound hammers.

It's also worth noting...

The Dwarves are a very special race.

Naturally averse to magic, they awaken their bloodline talent, "Life-Bound Hammer," at birth.

This hammer is condensed from the Dwarves' own bloodline.

It has no rank, no level.

It has no attribute bonuses, nor any enchantment effects.

But this hammer has unimaginable use when it comes to "forging" and "dismantling" equipment.

It's used to hammer while forging equipment.

It's also used to hammer when dismantling equipment.

And as the user's level increases, the grade of equipment the hammer can forge or dismantle also increases.

It's said that the current Dwarven clan leader's Life-Bound Hammer can even shatter divine artifacts.

It can also forge gear comparable to semi-divine artifacts.

This is the advantage of a race born to forge.

In the end, after their battle armor was shattered by the hammers, the Amethyst Empire team members surrendered one after another.

With that.

The semifinal teams were finalized.

Dragon Kingdom team.

Orc Royal Court team.

Dark Night Empire team.

Dwarf Empire team.

"Hurry up and draw lots! Stop stalling!"

"Yeah! Stop dragging this out!"

"I want to see Ling God in action! Hurry up with the draw, or I'll bash the official's head in!"

"..."

At this moment.

The audience, who had been waiting for this moment, began shouting one after another.

This left the event organizers helplessly smiling.

The official commentators then picked up the microphone and loudly announced:

"The draw for the semifinals has been confirmed!"

"Let's begin the first match of the semifinals!"

"First on stage is the Dwarf Empire team!"

"Their opponent is... uh."

At this point.

The official commentator suddenly paused awkwardly, before sheepishly continuing: "Their opponent is the Dark Night Empire team."

Whoosh!!

At that moment.

The audience erupted in furious, disappointed, and dissatisfied uproar!

"What the hell! Are you messing with us, officials?"

"Exactly! In all the previous matches, you always let Ling God go first! Now you're making him go last, what the hell is this?!"

"Damn! The officials are scared we'll leave after watching Ling God's match, worried it'll affect the viewership!"

"..."

The audience was fuming with rage.

Meanwhile, the audience from the Orc Royal Court was despondent.

Damn it!

Does that mean their Orc Royal Court is up against the Dragon Kingdom team?

What the hell!

"Silence! Semifinal, first match, both teams get on stage!"

The referee sternly called out.

Andy looked seriously at Bonnie across from him, saying: "I'll defeat you, and then challenge that jobless non-specialist again!"

He had also grown stronger during this time.

His understanding of magic operation and patterns had deepened considerably.

"Don't worry, the one who will face that guy in the end is me!"

Bonnie retorted without backing down.

On the surface, they both seemed eager to challenge the legendary jobless non-specialist.

But in the eyes of the audience, it was clear they were just vying for second place.