Chapter 616: Chapter 375 The Last Man Standing
...
After finishing his speech, Yan Xiaobao rang a bell he had brought with him. The sound echoed from the ground in front of him. Some experts took on beast forms, others manufactured weapons, while still others fought bare-handed, embodying human combat techniques. No matter what they did, everyone was determined to persevere; everyone desired to be the last one standing—to prove to this mysterious Great Marshall that they were at least worthy of his time and training.
The sounds of battle quickly filled the air. Screams could be heard here and there, and soon a small group of injured experts began to withdraw from the battlefield. Some carried severe wounds, tended to promptly by therapists, while others bore lighter injuries. There were external and internal injuries—fractured lungs and ribs, broken arms and legs.
Yet, despite the many who left the battlefield, Yan Xiaobao’s smile only grew wider. Before him were four hundred thousand experts, the fight raging back and forth. Some groups prioritized survival with well-planned strategies, while others sought to defeat as many as possible—even considering their teammates as rivals to determine who could take down the most opponents.
"It seems they’ve overcome the greatest hurdle," Yan Xiaobao murmured as he watched the ebb and flow of the battle. Everyone had grown accustomed to the close-quarter skirmishes. Some groups worked seamlessly together, watching each other’s backs with precision, while others lacked cohesion entirely. Such disorganized groups didn’t last long.
Observing the therapists, Yan Xiaobao saw a long line of injured experts waiting for treatment. Squinting, he tried to memorize the faces of the first batch who had been eliminated from training. Though it was likely they had failed because multiple experts ganged up on them early, it was more probable that their downfall stemmed from an inability to cooperate effectively within their groups.
Seeing how many faltered at the start, Yan Xiaobao felt mixed emotions. While he knew the number of failures was to be expected from this exercise, the disappointment lingered, especially as many of them were supposed to be kings and emperors, intrinsically equal. Scanning the battlefield again, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but notice about ten groups of five that stood out to him. Each shone for different reasons; however, the white-haired youth was certain the final victor would emerge from one of these groups.
One standout group focused on defense, their backs turned to one another. They avoided attacking others but swiftly countered anyone who dared assault them, working in perfect harmony to eliminate threats before returning to their defensive stance. Watching them impressed Yan Xiaobao deeply. After all, he had instructed everyone that survival was the most crucial factor, and this group clearly understood his words.
Another group adopted a completely opposite strategy. While their demeanor seemed ruthless, their interdependence was undeniable. Observing them was like watching waves in the ocean—each one brimming with force and determination, yet collectively part of a larger whole. These five offensive-minded individuals moved gracefully, trusting one another completely as they tackled experts with astounding efficiency.
A third group took a more traditional approach. Their five-member team frequently targeted groups entangled in other battles or focused on overpowering their opponents with sheer brute force.
Looking over the countless experts below, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but smile. As time passed, fewer experts seemed aimless; more were either waiting for treatment or already being cared for by therapists.
When the sun reached its zenith in the sky, Yan Xiaobao sighed. Many hours had passed since the combat began, and now over half of the forces had been eliminated. The battles grew increasingly desperate.
Another three to four hours passed, and the stream of injured participants dwindled further. By the end of the day, Yan Xiaobao was delighted to see that at least ten thousand individuals had fought relentlessly without giving up.
Clapping his hands, Yan Xiaobao rose to his feet. Seeing the battle still raging, he amplified his voice across the entire expanse. "It’s over for today," he announced, his words heard by everyone. Instantly, the fighting ceased. Gazing at the ten thousand surviving participants, Yan Xiaobao noticed the proud expressions on their faces, the pride that made him smile back at them.
"Tomorrow, we will do the same," Yan Xiaobao continued, his words capturing everyone’s attention. The promise of another round of battle stirred excitement among those eliminated early, as they saw a chance for redemption. Meanwhile, the experts who performed well were motivated to surpass themselves the next day. Remarkably, everyone seemed more cooperative now than they had at the start of the day, exchanging glances as if gauging whether their colleagues shared the same excitement for tomorrow’s training.
Witnessing this shift, Yan Xiaobao left the training field with a look of astonishment on his face. He hadn’t expected these proud experts to adapt so quickly to this form of training, but their eagerness made his task easier.
As the young man exited the arena, several experts rushed back to the stage. To Yan Xiaobao’s surprise, these experts weren’t engaging in one-on-one battles anymore—they had shifted to five-on-five duels. Watching this, Yan Xiaobao decided to stay. For hours on end, group after group practiced their teamwork, merging their attacks and improving their cooperation to gain an advantage for the following day.