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Chapter 42: All the World's Heroes
🕑 Added 2025-06-30 13:46:14 +0000 UTCThe day's matches had ended. The senior executive from Golden Talent Credit, who had spent the day smiling and applauding in the VIP box, now stood in a dimly lit office, bowing respectfully before a large desk.
"Director Valerius, that is the summary of today's events." After delivering his report, the executive stood in silence, awaiting a response.
The man he addressed as Director Valerius sat in a large leather throne-like chair, his back to the room, looking out at the glittering skyline of New Metro.
"Are you certain he is at the bronze level?" A faint, calm voice emanated from the shadows shrouding the chair.
A single drop of cold sweat trickled down the executive's forehead, but he kept his voice steady. "Yes, Director. I saw it with my own eyes. There is no mistaking it." "And according to Jonathan Whitemore, this Russell is an orphan."
At the word "orphan," the chair swiveled around instantly. Director Valerius's face was still cloaked in shadow, but the curiosity in his voice was palpable. "Are you sure? Have you had his background checked?"
"Of course, Director," the executive replied. "We would not make such a low-level mistake. I had it checked immediately. His background is clean." "There is… one thing."
The executive's hesitation drew a sharp response. "If you have something to say, say it," Director Valerius snapped.
Startled, the executive spoke quickly. "It's just that when my people were investigating near his previous residence, they heard he had a minor conflict with some of our people before. It appears to have been the private actions of some new recruits."
Director Valerius chuckled, a dry, unconcerned sound. "Is that all? It doesn't matter. In fact, a background that is too clean can be a problem in itself." "For now, all that matters is that he continues to participate in the Prodigy Cup." "Go. Make the arrangements for the next round. And remember, keep these top talents from colliding with each other for as long as possible."
"Yes, Director," the executive responded, bowing his head before quietly exiting the room.
Silence fell upon the office once more. After a long while, a low, mocking laugh echoed in the darkness.
"Geniuses... Ha!"
The next day, the round of 32 began. After a full day of competition, the audience and guests now had a basic understanding of the main contestants' strengths.
"Hey, did you notice?" someone in the crowd remarked as the match list for the day was projected on the big screen. "None of the top players from yesterday are facing each other today."
"Well, duh," another retorted. "If you were the organizer, you'd want to keep the hype going for as long as possible. Why would you let your most popular contestants knock each other out early?"
"I protest! This is obviously rigged!"
"It's Golden Talent Credit's money. Protest all you want, it won't change a thing."
Amidst the noisy chatter, the first match began. Our old friend, Jansen Crowe, was the first to appear. As his [Sea Warden Yaksha] materialized, a discussion began in the VIP box.
"It's a shame for a kid like Jansen. In any other year, he'd be a guaranteed top-three finalist." "Yeah, it's a pity there are so many monsters this year." "I think Russell is going to win this whole thing." "Should? It's a definite! It's only been a month since these kids became iron-level cardmakers. Who would have thought one of them would already be creating bronze-level cards?" "They're all just unlucky to be in the same tournament as a monster like Russell." "But you have to admit, New Metro has made incredible progress this year. It's rare to see so many promising talents at once."
Soon, Jansen inevitably defeated his opponent. At that moment, a chorus of screams erupted from a corner of the audience. "Ahhh! Jansen, Mommy loves you!" "JANSEN! JANSEN!"
The tournament director, ever the showman, gave the group of fangirls a close-up on the big screen. Seeing themselves on camera, they excitedly held up their homemade banners: "JANSEN CROWE IS NUMBER ONE!"
Backstage, Russell watched the scene, his eye twitching. He had no idea cardmaker showdowns had developed their own fan culture. Then again, it was probably due to Jansen's flamboyant personality. Russell was fairly certain he didn't have a fan club.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was his turn. Today's opponent was obviously a cut above Hannah from the previous day, but the difference was negligible. Under Luffy's relentless assault, the match ended just as quickly.
The next contestant to watch was Cole Kong, a student who, before the main competition began, had been considered a favorite to win the whole thing. Now, at least among the guests in the VIP box, no one believed he stood a chance. The general audience, however, only knew that Russell's Luffy card was powerful; they had no idea it was an entire tier higher than the competition.
Russell watched Cole's match with interest. After several days of competition, the cards of nearly every major contestant had been identified and analyzed. Everyone except for Russell, whose cards remained an enigma.
Cole Kong's card was a Black Iron, red-quality creature: [Armored Beast · Bo].
The creature came from the ancient "Classic of Mountains and Seas". The lore described a beast named Bo, a creature like a white horse with saw-like teeth that could devour tigers and leopards and whose hide was impervious to swords and weapons. The Classic of Mountains andas Seas was a popular source for cardmakers, but its stories were often brief and fragmented, meaning the power gap between cards from this category was immense. The upper limit could produce god-like beings like the "Torch Dragon," whose closing eyes brought night and whose opening eyes brought day, or the "Queen Mother of the West," matriarch of all female immortals. The lower limit produced comical oddities like the "One-Armed Citizens" and the "Hairy Citizens."
It was obvious that Cole Kong's card was no joke. What appeared on the field was a ferocious beast, its white equine form covered in armored plates, a sharp horn on its head and a mouth full of savage teeth. A phantom aura of swirling swords and blades surrounded it. Under its fierce assault, Cole's opponent was quickly and brutally defeated, unable to put up any decent resistance. No one knew its specific skills yet, but its raw power was undeniable.
Russell frowned slightly as he watched. Blade attacks were not friendly to Luffy's rubber body. Fortunately, Cole's beast was still only a Black Iron card. If it were bronze, the outcome would be much harder to predict.
It was now the third day of the Prodigy Cup, the round of 16. Finally, Russell felt a hint of intensity. After his opponent's first card was defeated, a second one was immediately summoned.
So you can't underestimate anyone, Russell thought, a flicker of respect for his opponent. But as his bronze-level mental power spread out, sensing the aura of the new card, he relaxed. It's just Black Iron gold-quality. Luffy can handle it easily.
His opponent, meanwhile, was gritting his teeth in despair. Damn it, what's with all these monsters!? he thought, his confidence shattering. I thought making a gold card meant I was a shoo-in for the championship. But first there was Cole Kong, and now this Russell guy. He, who had been so proud of his creation, was now beginning to doubt his entire life. Has New Metro always produced so many geniuses?
Unfortunately for his morale, he had no idea that Luffy was a bronze-level card. If he knew, he would have been even more devastated.
But his annoyance didn't matter. Luffy was already moving in to attack.
(End of this chapter)
