Chapter 20-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation
"Next, I will announce the specific rules for the third phase of the Ability User Tournament."
A slender man stood on the stage, exuding a silent authority as he scrutinized the nine teams of youths below.
There were ten teams that qualified, but the Crown Prince's team had always been whimsical, and no one dared to criticize.
"Each team will be assigned to a different area in the lower district. The content of your competition is to eliminate Demonic Domains and earn points."
The man, with a rough voice that didn't match his slender appearance, loudly proclaimed the rules.
"The Association has equipped you with special sensors used by the Knight Corps. They will tell you the location where a Demonic Domain has descended. A participating team can lock onto a newly descended Demonic Domain. After it is locked, the Knight Corps responsible for eliminating Demonic Domains will not go there—"
"This means that once you lock onto a Demonic Domain, you must take responsibility. From this moment on, you are equivalent to the Knight Corps protecting the lower district."
The youths below had grave expressions. Most of them had no experience dealing with a Demonic Domain on their own. Even in the second phase, when they had to find a token within a Demonic Domain, the Knight Corps were inside to watch over them.
The difficulty and danger of the third phase had suddenly increased by several ranks.
"Of course, for the safety of the contestants, you can send a distress signal. Once a signal is sent, it means you forfeit the points for that Demonic Domain."
Some contestants breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this rule, but their hearts sank again when they heard the next one.
"In addition, when a team locks onto a Demonic Domain, other teams can still go there, but only the team that destroys the core of the Demonic Domain will score points."
"F**k!"
A contestant couldn't help but curse, and the other contestants also stirred.
"Destroying the Demonic Domain is already difficult, and we have to face other teams directly? Are you crazy?"
"We have to fight the Demonic Domain and guard against other teams 'stealing our home' (a phrase from MOBA games, meaning to attack the opponent's base unexpectedly)! This is hell difficulty!"
"Why was I born in this generation... Someone please shove me back into my mom's belly..."
Percy turned his head and looked at his equally serious teammates behind him. Everyone looked worried, except for Zhao Mei, who seemed calm, looking attentively at the man on the stage.
The man looked at the group of worried, sad-faced 'little bunnies' below and couldn't help but laugh loudly.
"Be ready to fight at all times. Who knows, maybe a Demonic Domain likes to descend in the middle of the night."
"Honor and the dragon bones will belong to the young warriors. The new City Lord of the lower district, Chen Xue, welcomes you on behalf of the lower district!"
Ten teams were evenly distributed in the east district of the lower district.
The lower district had the largest population and widest area among the three major districts of the Holy Sei Empire. It was divided into four sub-districts: east, west, north, and south. The east district was the most developed sub-district of the lower district.
The average income in the east district this year reached half of the average income in the middle district, which was a testament to the east district's development.
"They should have put the competition area in the west district, so those rich young masters from the upper district could experience the original fragrance of animal husbandry."
Lucy, who lived in the west district, mercilessly complained about her hometown.
Roy showed a meaningful smile. "Even the east district is enough for them. They won't be able to adapt to this population density for a while."
"It's lively with so many people. I've never felt there was anything wrong with it since I was little."
Caleb scratched his head, looking puzzled.
Seventy percent of the Holy Sei Empire's population was crowded into the lower district, but for those who had lived there since childhood, it didn't seem to be a problem to adapt to.
"Zhao Mei, will you have trouble adapting?"
Percy asked, and everyone looked at the black-haired, green-eyed youth.
Although Zhao Mei had never said where he was from, everyone implicitly assumed he was from the middle or upper district.
"No, I also like crowded places, but it's my first time living in the lower district for a long time."
After the handsome youth finished speaking, he casually looked at the blond boy. "Roy, how long did it take you to adapt to the lower district?"
The blond boy's face stiffened, and he looked away as if to avoid the question. "What are you talking about? Percy and I grew up in the lower district."
"Is that so? I just feel like Roy is very familiar with the upper district."
Percy coughed lightly. "Yeah, we all met at the Cloud-Soaring Ability User Academy. Oh, by the way, Zhao Mei doesn't know, but Caleb is the son of our Ability User Academy's principal."
Percy's topic change wasn't very subtle. Ye Zheng went along with it smoothly and looked at the tall and strong Caleb.
Caleb smiled shyly. "My dad's ability user academy was about to close down. Luckily, everyone fought their way through the ability user tournament. Now my family's academy is filled with new students."
The youths walked and chatted, and the atmosphere was lively. Many passers-by recognized the Cloud-Soaring Squad and gave them enthusiastic and encouraging looks. Some even put fruit baskets and flowers in Percy's arms and ran away, their enthusiasm almost overwhelming.
In the harmonious atmosphere, Ye Zheng quietly observed the streets on both sides.
The protest slogans were gone, and the angry people who had marched were nowhere to be seen. The entire lower district was buzzing for the new competition and the dragon bones.
All they needed to do was place their hope in the Cloud-Soaring Squad. As long as they won, the lower district would no longer suffer from the disturbance of the Demonic Domains.
Ye Zheng turned her head, watching the aspiring and motivated youths beside her, and wondered if they had ever thought about...
The consequences of failure.
The consequences of falling after bearing such high expectations.
The official competition organizers had arranged accommodation for all teams in the lower district. The Cloud-Soaring Squad entered the high-end hotel reserved for them by the organizers. After receiving a warm reception from the hotel staff, they entered their respective rooms to rest.
The competition would officially begin tomorrow.
Ye Zheng sat on the bed, not removing her disguise as Zhao Mei. This was not a place she could control, and she couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
She took out her phone and opened the manga app.
"Finally, a new plot."
The danger and importance of the third phase were self-evident. The complex and intertwined forces involved made everything feel like a sticky, rainy day, leaving her feeling a little worried and annoyed.
The only thing worth being happy about was that she also had an unknown trump card. Maybe she could get some clues and inspiration from the future manga spoilers.
Ye Zheng had learned on the forum that this could be called a 'golden finger' (a typical trope in web novels, means a special ability or advantage given to the main character).
Her finger slid down the screen, past the scene where Sykes announced the rules, past the scene where she and Percy met at the cemetery, and finally, she saw an unfamiliar scene on the screen.
The screen's light illuminated the girl's eyes as she carefully read the upcoming original manga plot.
In the manga, Percy and the others walked on an empty street when a short, dark figure suddenly appeared. The black butterflies flying behind it instantly surrounded the main characters.
The main characters used their abilities to resist. After a few pages of fighting, Percy's expression changed within the black butterflies' encirclement, and he shouted, "I know what these dark figures are!"
Sliding down further, there was another blank space.
Ye Zheng frowned. "So what are they? Why is there so little plot?"
[Because this section of the plot provides enough information. There can't be more.]
The system explained.
"You said I can only see plots related to myself, but it seems I have no part in these few pages."
[Look carefully. In the upper left corner of the first page, when the black butterflies appear, you show a look of panic.]
[In the lower right corner of the second page, you hold on to Percy's sleeve, showing an expression of admiration.]
[The third page, the fourth page... you are not there. On the last page, you look at Percy, who knows the secret, with a surprised expression.]
Ye Zheng's face, as delicate as porcelain, showed a slight crack. It sounded like she was no different from a camera recording the competition.
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