Team finals

Merida, Serena, and Liam were happily devouring the huge dinner. Talking to the doctor the siblings learned that all the local news had already produced lists showing which of the local players reached the tournament's finals.

Dream Avenue, Galaxy, Force of Nature, and Graveyard of Heroes achieved success, becoming the heroes of the moment.

Others were either not good enough or plagued by misfortune. Infinito, the guild led by Mountain Lord, for example was extremely tragic. First, they suffered a close loss against an unexpected dark horse only to then get all their dreams crushed by drawing Kings and Queens as opponent.

Liam and Serena could only silently send them their condolence.

The participants of the other contests had similar results. After dinner the siblings were just about to browse through the news when Cyclone invited all her friends to 'discuss tactics' at her home.

Cyclone's friends could only sigh. Liam guessed that it wasn't only that Cyclone feared being alone. Maybe the young woman was also glad that she could finally invite her friends freely after getting out of the oppressive environment created by her parents.

Meanwhile Serena didn't think about it that deeply. She quickly pulled Liam up, looking forward to meeting everyone.

Soon the friends gathered in Cyclone's new home and discussed the left-over contestants, focusing on the tournament favourites.

However, they made sure to return early this time, getting a long sleep before tomorrow's finals.

The next day the entire world of Crunaboul was on fire. Players gathered everywhere, talking about nothing else but the finals. Many entered the arena at the first second, vying for the best seats.

Under Cyclone's urgings Liam and his friends were part of that group.

[You are currently in arena #8456]

[The tournament finals will begin in 00:27:34]

[For any requests - like changing arenas – you can communicate with me.]

"So many arenas already!", exclaimed Cyclone, shocked. It has not even been three minutes since the game went online, and thousands of arenas had already been filled. The excitement had reached an absolute peak.

The friends began talking about today's matches when lights flashed around them and Conter and Measured Might appeared.

Over the last few days, the two groups had met occasionally. Thanks to Measured Might's outgoing temperament they easily got along, forming a positive relationship.

Obviously Corner and Measured Might thought so as well, deciding to sit close to Liam and his friends.

With their appearance many of their guild members naturally followed. Additionally, the effect of Measured Might's vast connections also became apparent as many famous players soon arrived after him.

It was well known by now that wherever Measured Might was, there would be top players gathering. Thus, the boisterous dwarf had become a gathering point for those top players who wanted to watch the tournament in a group of their peers.

The audience in arena number 8456 soon became shocked, staring at all the bigshots gathering in a part of the arena.

"Wow, am I dreaming?"

"Is there something special about this arena? Why are all the stars here?"

"Damn! Conter, Bleary Mirage, Quickstep, Evor4, Flavil... are all the stars coming here?"

"Quick, make some pictures! We can say we were also part of the group!"

"As if someone would believe that."

"I can try!"

Before the tournament even began, the audience was already going crazy. The gathering of top players quickly spread around, and countless fans switched to the arena.

But as the arena was filled with ten million players, C suddenly locked it down and allowed no new spectators, causing countless tears.

Liam and his friends were not overly surprised by the development. They conversed with some of the friendly faces, gradually becoming part of the illustrious circle.

Naturally there were also many elitist stars who looked down on nearly everyone, keeping their distance from Hotpot.

But the friends could live with that. Only Cyclone and Balm were disappointed when they were disparaged by some of their idols.

Fortune saw her chance, carefully teaching the women not to be blended by the outward image of their stars.

The rest of the friends were surprised watching Fortune take such a big-sister-like attitude, but they thought she made sense and didn't interfere.

Like this the time passed quickly. Soon it was time for the finale to officially begin.

In all the tens of thousands of arenas the light suddenly dimmed. A platform descended from the sky carrying Maycos.

The young woman opened her arms wide, welcoming the cheers from billions of people. The platform stopped and Maycos began to speak, her voice reaching everyone's ears:

"Welcome to the seventh day of the federation-wide tournament here in Crunaboul!

After six days full of tears, laughter, sadness, and cheers, we have finally selected our finalists! All of you! Please give a resounding applause! Let us honour the amazing people who managed to overcome the competition and through violent, blood-curling battles managed to secure a place in the finals!"

The water screens in all arenas suddenly played some selected scenes, showing the most tense, funniest, or exciting moments of the tournament.

Liam's legendary battle using a fishing rod was shown for multiple seconds, drawing loud laughter from his friends.

After a while the recordings ended and Maycos continued talking:

"Now I know every one of you wants to see our finalists fight it out in thrilling battles, so I won't yap much longer. But let me briefly explain the schedule for today.

Until today there are 7.521.832 teams remaining. Those will compete in a simple knockout format. Sometimes you might get lucky and draw a bye, so you will advance a round without a fight.

For the first twenty rounds multiple matches will be held simultaneously, so you, dear audience, unfortunately won't be able to watch them all. But after twenty rounds, as only 32 teams remain, this will change. From then on, only one match will happen at aa time, giving the top 32 the attention they deserve.

The entire federation will pay attention at that time, so I hope you, our finalists, can deal with the pressure!"

Maycos winked cheekily, drawing laughter from the audience. Everyone felt great listening to the cute girl.

"The top 32 teams will fight it out round for round. After a while the top two will be decided. The much-anticipated final battle shall commence! Who will be worthy of the title of the number one team in all of Crunaboul and the United Human Federation?!"

Maycos's loud voice echoed through the world, causing everyone's blood to boil. Glorious music telling of heroic battles sounded out of nowhere, setting the mood.

On all the screens scenes of various battles played. Finally, the music entered a heart-stirring peak. Maycos was carried out of the arena and the finale officially began.

"Damn! Why did I have to get eliminated early?!"

"Right? Now I want to enter the arena and fight a hundred battles."

"Why did I choose to be a chef? Is it too late to switch?"

"Brother, just use your cooking knife to fight!"

"Is that possible?"

"Of course, didn't you see the legendary battle of Bleary Mirage?"

"Oh no, another fanboy. What's so good about Mirage? Haven't you seen Golden Boy win a match without using skills?"

"I still prefer the fight where Curvy Baddie made her opponent willingly surrender."

"Tsk. Of course you would! Men!"

"Pervert!"

"Boo!"

The spectators everywhere laughed, cheered, gossiped. They discussed their stars and were pumped for the finals to begin.

Liam and his friends tried not to get too excited. They retained a calm mindset and prepared for the upcoming matches. Even as the first battle was held in the arena, kept an analytical mind while watching.

About twenty minutes later it was finally time for Hotpot's finale debut.

As soon as Hotpot switched arenas and appeared on the arena floor, spectators streamed in like a school of hungry fish.

Soon the arena reached the limit of ten million people, but it was still not enough. More arenas had to be opened, all showing Hotpot's battle.

The excitement in the air was palpable. Hotpot's fans caused the arena to tremble with noise, hoping for their team to go all the way and take the championship.

And Hotpot was determined not to let them down. In the first match they delivered beautifully.

Hotpot's opponent went for a peculiar strategy. They fielded one star player who was surrounded by nine supportive players like stars surrounding the moon.

This strange strategy got them surprisingly far as the nine supports managed to keep everyone alive until their star player, assisted by buffs and shields, dealt with the enemy.

However, their luck unfortunately ran out as they faced off against Hotpot. Liam didn't go for any sophisticated strategy. He simply told everyone to focus the star player.

At first Hotpot's opponents were still confident. But when Hotpot showed off their enormous damage potential, the opponent's star player fell quickly despite all shields and heals. Immediately the enemy team became a tiger without teeth and got cleaned up by Hotpot.