Chapter 1 The Stand-Off

Zhou Nai-Yi, Ma Long, and Zuo Xiaotang were helpless, but they had to bite the bullet and step forward. The atmosphere suddenly became tense, as everyone waited for the big shots to make a move. Did they really think Ophie was good-tempered?

Her nickname was Blood Rose!

Her first target was always the vital point. Taking someone else’s attack might leave a chance for a counterattack, but if Ophie caught a weakness, it would be a fatal blow.

The Mad Lion Robbie was even more arrogant, daring to curse Chao Qinglong to his face.

As for the Roaring Celestial Luo Machenko and the Ghost Shadow Milner, they were even harder to get along with. They would never tolerate a few wastes standing in front of them.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

Time ticked by, but the four top experts in the second row remained motionless.

Five seconds, ten seconds…

Time continued to pass. The people from Tianjing Mech Martial were still standing there, seemingly fine. The experts from the four super teams in the second row hadn't made a single move. Gregg was stunned. He knew that the captain had a good relationship with Li Hao, but wasn't this courting death? If a fight really broke out, no one could protect him. This was provoking everyone.

Just as Gregg was about to say something, Mo Yu stopped the vice-captain. Only then did Gregg realize, after looking around, that Robbie had a smile on his face, even a hint of pride. The Ghost Shadow Milner was expressionless, as if he hadn't seen anything. The Roaring Celestial was just staring at Li Hao's back, and it was impossible to discern his intentions.

At this moment, Ma Long's breathing almost stopped, and his forehead was covered in sweat. He knew exactly what was happening behind him.

More teams continued to enter, and chaos erupted as one group of people started fighting. Two teams ganged up on one, and soon everyone on that team was on the ground.

Lu Donglei’s voice echoed through the hall, "Zuma Team eliminated."

Immediately afterward, soldiers came in and carried the six members of the Zuma Team away.

At that moment, Ma Long and Zuo Xiaotang's faces turned pale. Zhou Nai-Yi and Musashi were already prepared for battle. They understood why so many people were staring at them. This wasn't just a matter of being tactful or not. They might be directly eliminated. Who would dare to turn their backs on their competitors without sufficient strength?

Li Hao heard the commotion behind him but still acted as if nothing was wrong. He smiled at Ophie and the others, his gaze sweeping across Milner and Luo Machenko. In that instant, Milner and Luo Machenko's bodies involuntarily tensed up.

Cang Gongtian and the others were also watching Li Hao. Was this the opponent the North American Alliance wanted to eliminate?

They saw the weakness of these few people. Weren't these weaklings courting death?

Wu Xiya made eye contact with Li Hao. Suddenly, her pupils contracted violently. Old Li gave her a kind smile. This female classmate was quite pretty.

No one in the third row moved. Yan Peng and the others had been waiting for this day. Cang Gongtian and the others were unwilling to be meaningless pawns. They had their own goals for allying with the North American Rose Team. They weren't really here to be underlings.

The safest strategy was to first obtain the greatest benefit through alliances, and then look for opportunities to rise. Those who single-handedly challenged everyone and scorned the masses were usually the first to die.

With no one moving in the first three rows, some in the fourth row began to stir. It seemed the big shots didn't want to bother with "small fry," or rather, since they dared to occupy the first row, they were challenging the North American Rose Team. They would wait for Chao Qinglong to solve the problem.

But what if someone took care of this small fry and stood in this position, and Chao Qinglong didn't care?

It might even earn Chao Qinglong's appreciation. Fortune favors the bold – it was possible!

Sure enough, a team came forward. The Marian Team from Africa hesitated slightly before walking forward, led by their captain, Kyle. A commotion rippled through the crowd. Finally, someone couldn't resist showing off.

But before they could reach the front, Perkins suddenly turned his head and looked at the approaching group. "Get lost!"

The group immediately froze, gritting their teeth and wanting to resist. But looking at Perkins' expression, they suddenly pointed forward. "Why are they allowed to pass, but we're not?"

This wasn't just Kyle's question, but the question of many. Unfortunately, Perkins wasn't an encyclopedia, and he had no reason to answer them.

Depuya from Prometheus smiled. "Try it and you'll find out. How did such a stupid brain get in here?"

Kyle and the others were in a bind. When they left their positions, they were quickly taken. It was hard to go back. It seemed that none of these top teams were willing to take action.

Just as they were about to grit their teeth and rush forward, the door opened. At that moment, the entire hall fell silent, leaving only the sound of footsteps.

Chao Qinglong of the North American Rose Team had arrived.

Clad in the black Azure Dragon uniform of the North American Rose Team, Chao Qinglong exuded authority and led the terrifying kings of the North American Rose Team into the arena. Everyone in their path automatically stepped aside.

The absolute king of USE.

The North American Rose Team.

This year's Mid-Season Competition only gave the North American Rose Team one spot, so the competition was fierce. And the only substitute was a girl, but she was the well-known, top-ranked supernova of this generation, Ye Tong.

Though they seemed far away, the North American Rose Team quickly approached. Kyle and the others didn't dare to block their path, much less walk ahead of them. They could only step aside. At this moment, everyone's eyes were on Chao Qinglong.

Chao Qinglong's pace didn't change, but it was as if time had slowed down. In an instant, the entire hall seemed to be under immense, invisible pressure.

This was the aura of the strongest king from USE.

Many people were anticipating Chao Qinglong's move. Perhaps he wouldn't even need to act. Any random member of the North American Rose Team could wipe out the opposing team.

One second… three seconds…

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chao Qinglong led his team to the right side of the first row.

At that moment, everyone felt a massive wave surge through their hearts. The shock was beyond words. Everyone knew that the convention of the Mid-Season Competition was that the left side was superior!

Chao Qinglong might be too lazy to bother with small fry, but how could he tolerate small fry above him?

On Tianjing Mech Martial's side, everyone except Li Hao was completely frozen. This was the overwhelming aura of the North American Rose Team, a team of kings. As if they were on the same level, the members of the North American Rose Team were looking at them with strange expressions, and all the pressure was bearing down on them.

The Marian Team was miserable. What should they do?

Should they attack, or not?

Before they could decide, the last of the top ten teams appeared. Curtis, the ambitious leader of the new Five Tigers from the Dome Royal Military Academy in Oceania, looked directly ahead. When he saw that the first row was full, his expression immediately darkened.

When he saw that the occupants were an unknown team, Curtis sneered and walked forward.

His position wasn't in the third row!

For the strong, it wasn't an empty seat they needed, but their rightful place in the ranks.

Pompella immediately recognized Tianjing Mech Martial and laughed out loud. These hicks who had never seen the world were actually acting wildly in the Mid-Season Competition.

The Knights of the Round Table had willingly given way – that was the trend. Tianjing Mech Martial had actually taken their place?

Just then, Lu Donglei's voice echoed through the hall. "I am Lu Donglei, the person in charge of this Mid-Season Competition. In ten seconds, any team without a position will be directly eliminated."

Although it was expected, some teams without positions were still hesitating. Curtis frowned slightly. Clearly, there wasn't enough time. He made a decisive move and stood in the last position in the third row. Of course, after securing his position, Curtis stared intently at Tianjing Mech Martial in front of him, his killing intent undisguised.

The other teams without positions were in trouble. Before they could react, the time was up. Soldiers appeared and directly took the team members without positions away. Kyle and the others were unwilling. They originally had positions. How did things turn out like this?

"It's not fair! This isn't fair!" Although Kyle was being dragged away, he still roared. "We're ranked thirty-five. We have the opportunity and the strength. This doesn't make any sense!"

The other team members also struggled desperately.

Lu Donglei's voice sounded again, but this time he had walked to the front of the hall and signaled the soldiers to put them down. "Since this is the first time I'm meeting everyone, I'll make an exception and explain. First, misjudging the situation. Second, being indecisive. Third, being furiously incompetent. All are unforgivable!"

After speaking, he waved his hand.

The soldiers forcibly dragged the people away. Anyone who dared to resist was knocked down with a rifle butt. Soon, the hall returned to silence.

Lu Donglei's gaze swept across the audience, and a kind, harmless smile appeared on his face. "Alright, it's finally quiet. Everyone can relax a little. I'm a very easy-going person. First, on behalf of the USE military, I welcome all the elites who represent Earth's top combat power to participate in this training camp."

Applause rang out throughout the hall. It could finally begin. No one cared about the losers.

"I am Lu Donglei. You can call me General Lu or Old Lu. There's also another person in charge named Sazelac. The two of us will be responsible for the selection of this Mid-Season Training Camp. As you can all feel, this Mid-Season Training Camp is a little different from the past. There are still many surprises waiting for you. Our only goal is to select the sixteen strongest teams to compete for the highest honor in the S-rank competition, to defend Earth's dignity. So, elimination isn't scary. The possibility of casualties in this training is a bit high. If anyone wants to quit, do it as soon as possible. Once it starts, you might only be returned in a box."

Lu Donglei looked at everyone with a smile, his voice not loud but clearly audible in every corner of the hall.

It was as if he was speaking directly into everyone's ear.

Of course, no one would be scared away.

Lu Donglei knew this, but being in this position, he had to say what needed to be said. Sazelac was being lazy, so it had to be him.

The crowd didn't know much about this General Lu. Lu Donglei's gaze fell on the North American Rose Team. Chao Qinglong's aura was calm and steady. He had really improved a lot compared to last year. Not to mention the other team members. The North American Rose Team was a behemoth in the entire USE.