novelraw Chapter 50 Thanks to the Gods
Chapter 50 Thanks to the Gods
Wen Shumu caught up with Adolphus and asked, "Don't you see your apprentices? They are the judges for the competition."
Adolphus continued walking: "Never mind them for now."
Normally, the competition venue is very quiet, with everyone focused on the movements of the athletes' hands.
Competitive matches are different.
The closer you get to the venue, the clearer the cheers and applause become, interspersed with passionate commentary, as if the players from each team are entering the arena.
Anita was most familiar with this place. She quickly walked to the front and led everyone in discreetly into the venue, finding the excellent viewing area specially arranged for Adolfo.
The competition is conducted in teams, with most of the participating teams being top professional teams from various star regions, and a very small number being teams composed of outstanding students from mecha universities in various regions.
Many of these professional players are graduates of military academies or retired soldiers.
Only those who achieve good results in the various star system leagues can qualify for the Interstellar Mech League, so the venue is now filled with top players.
Adolphus had just settled into his seat when a series of screams, loud enough to lift the roof off, suddenly erupted from all around him.
Shi Yi gasped, pointed at the large screen in the arena, and shouted, "It's Team ARES!"
Wen Shumu looked over at the sound and saw a team of Alpha players wearing dark purple uniforms walking towards the players' bench. Compared to many players with muscles like small mountains, the players of the ARES team were slightly thin, but their calm and composed expressions gave them an inexplicable powerful aura.
The name reminded Wen Shumu of a myth he had read in a book.
Ares, the ancient Greek god of war, the embodiment of bloodlust, and the master of power.
"What team is this? Why is everyone so excited?" Wen Shumu quietly asked Anita.
He doesn't follow the mech league much, but seeing how crazy the audience is, he guesses it must be a very strong team.
Sure enough, Anita stared intently in that direction, her eyes filled with the same fervor as the audience: "The ARES team has a title, 'The League Overlords Who Turn the Tide.' They were in a slump for a long time, struggling to even make it into the top ten of the Starfield League, let alone the Interstellar League."
Wen Shumu asked curiously, "So, have you become stronger now?"
"It's not just getting stronger, it's a complete power shift! After changing bosses and undergoing a major overhaul, they won the interstellar league championships the year before last and last year." Anita smiled radiantly. "Oh my, Yan Zezheng is still so handsome, the tallest one, he's the captain of ARES!"
Wen Shumu's gaze followed Anita's words and landed on the red-haired Alpha in the center of the crowd.
Before I could even get a good look, the screams from the crowd suddenly became even louder.
It turned out that the big screen switched to the face of a handsome brown-haired Alpha from the ARES team, who was giving the camera a flirtatious and dashing wink.
Shi Yi couldn't hold back any longer and shouted from the crowd, "Ahhhhh, Hemaie, I love you!!!"
Wen Shumu and Anita: "..."
Adolphus: "..."
The usually introverted and shy apprentice suddenly erupted, leaving the master speechless.
"I still think Yan Zezheng is more handsome," Anita whispered to Wen Shumu. "I even thought about working for the ARES team before, but I couldn't even get past the resume screening. There are too many talented people from prestigious universities who want to join their team."
Wen Shumu was somewhat surprised. Anita must have an impressive resume to be able to work for the organizing committee of the top-level mech league, yet she couldn't even get an interview with the ARES team.
Just as he was about to ask another question, the screaming at the scene suddenly stopped.
The stands were quieter than ever before, and the players' stands were even quieter; not a single person spoke.
The ARES team had barely sat down when they all stood up and stared in one direction. The other teams did the same.
Wen Shumu immediately looked in that direction.
The only thing that could elicit this reaction from the contestants is the arrival of the judges.
The preliminary round judges for this competition consisted of five people, including two retired champions, as well as experienced experts and scholars, a tactical mastermind with a keen eye, and...
Wen Shumu's gaze was fixed on the black-haired Alpha who appeared last, and he couldn't look away.
His gaze was far more intense than Anita's when she looked at Yan Zezheng.
The aloof and handsome black-haired marshal seemed to sense something, raised his head, and looked straight at the VIP audience seats.
Their gazes pierced through the crowd and collided in mid-air.
Wen Shumu pursed his lips, then revealed a sweet smile and waved his hand slightly.
On the stadium's big screen, all the audience saw the marshal, who had been expressionless, suddenly curl the corners of his mouth slightly, and his icy blue eyes, as cold as a deep pool, were filled with tenderness.
From the players' seats, Hemeyer clicked his tongue in amazement and exclaimed, "What's going on, big brother? He actually smiled!"
Yan Zezheng said coldly, "Don't call him that in public."
"I know, I know, why is Marshal Ling smiling so gently!" Hermeyer raised an eyebrow.
Yan Zezheng looked in that direction and guessed, "My sister-in-law must have been there too. She must have seen him."
Hermaeer: "..."
He suddenly flashed a flamboyant smile, mimicking Yan Zezheng's tone from earlier: "Don't call me that outside, call me Marshal's wife."
Yan Zezheng: "..."
After a brief silence, Ling Suyu's laughter reignited the previous commotion, even louder than when the ARES team entered the arena.
Just when Wen Shumu thought the screaming was finally about to end, the big screen would cut to a close-up of Ling Suyu, and then the scene would erupt in cheers again.
He was a little worried about the audience's voices.
Anita took the opportunity to slip aside and winked at Shi Yi: "The Marshal and his wife have a really good relationship."
Shi Yi also sighed, "Even from this far away, Marshal Ling could spot Brother Mu at a glance, and his expression was so gentle. It turns out that what Xingwang always said about them not getting along was false."
He was also very outgoing and soon joined Anita in calling him "Mumu," even politely adding "brother" afterward.
After the judges took their seats, the host announced the competition rules, and the two teams about to perform entered their respective preparation areas.
Due to the large number of teams, the preliminary rounds used a simulation pod format, where contestants entered the pods to fight in a virtual wilderness environment, ultimately determining the top 32 teams.
The subsequent matches will be held on-site.
Once the match officially began, Adolphus abandoned his nonchalant attitude of lounging in his chair and stared intently at the live projection in front of him.
That's the advantage of VIP seating—you don't have to crane your neck to see the big screen.
The commentator spoke eloquently, his voice rising and falling with the thrilling visuals, creating a tense atmosphere for everyone present.
He used a lot of technical terms, which Wen Shumu didn't quite understand, but he was quickly drawn to the ferocity of the mecha battle.
Metal clashed, engines roared, and particle beams, carrying a destructive force capable of annihilating the world, hurtled straight at the enemy, showing no mercy.
As he watched, Wen Shumu's eyes flickered slightly, and he turned his gaze back to the Alpha sitting on the judges' panel.
Even while sitting in a comfortable chair, Ling Suyu maintained an upright posture, gazing intently at the intense battle projected in front of him.
No matter how loud the noise, it was impossible for Wen Shumu to look away from Ling Suyu.
He knew that compared to the battles against alien beasts that Ling Suyu had experienced, this kind of simulation pod competition between people was nothing more than a small-scale skirmish.
That was a real battlefield where blood was spilled. Facing ruthless beasts, the slightest mistake could result in a terrible price.
He had been too naive before, thinking that his brother had been free and at ease all these years, and that was all that mattered.
He never delved into Ling Suyu's past, how many brutal struggles he had to go through, how many mountains of corpses and seas of blood from strange beasts, to achieve his current status.
At that moment, Wen Shumu suddenly felt extremely fortunate.
Thank the gods, war did not take my brother away.