Bai Ye's eyes lit up. "Death Football? I like the word 'Death.' Will a few people on the field be directly disqualified? Believe me, if I don't smash their brains out, it's considered a peaceful and friendly game."
Jin Sha was speechless. "It's not the kind of death you're thinking of. You can't kill people."
Bai Ye asked, "Then what kind of death is it?"
"Don't keep dwelling on those two words," Jin Sha said helplessly. "Can you just listen to me explain the rules first?"
Bai Ye replied, "Go ahead."
Jin Sha asked, "Do you know the general rules of football?"
Bai Ye answered, "I have a rough idea."
Jin Sha explained, "It's generally the same as regular football rules, but you can use various abilities or weapons to play. The football will also change because of this."
Bai Ye curiously inquired, "What kind of changes?"
Jin Sha elaborated, "For example, if you use your flying sword to strike the football for a shot, you can strengthen the speed or power of the shot. And I remember you have an ability to release fire, right? So, if you wrap the football with your fire ability, the football will turn into a fireball."
Bai Ye then asked, "What about death?"
Jin Sha was speechless. You're really fixated on those two words, aren't you?
Jin Sha continued, "You can kick the football at people. That means you can use the football for attacks. However, remember one thing: the basic rules are still football rules. You absolutely cannot use your hands. Even if you hold a sword and kick the football, it's fine, but your arm must not directly touch it. Also, you can use the football for attacks, but you can't just start fighting. If you initiate a physical confrontation, it's a yellow card, or possibly even a direct red card."
"Don't worry, isn't it just fighting with the football?" Bai Ye made an "ok" gesture and said, "I understand."
Jin Sha was exasperated. "It's not fighting with the football, it's just attacking with the football. Ultimately, the goal is to score. Only when the ball enters the goal does it count as a point."
"I know these basic things, of course," Bai Ye said. "So, if the opposing team is reduced to a few players, does that count as insufficient numbers and automatic elimination?"
Jin Sha: "..."
Jin Sha was starting to regret it. This guy wasn't here to play football at all.
Bai Ye continued, "What about teammates?"
Jin Sha replied, "It's you and me, two people."
Bai Ye was taken aback. "Football needs eleven players."
Jin Sha nodded. "Yes, normally it needs eleven players, but we have summoned beasts. Using summoned beasts to fight can also fill a slot."
Bai Ye asked, "Then why did you find me? You can handle it yourself. It shouldn't be difficult for you to gather ten summoned beasts, right?"
Jin Sha thought to herself that of course she could gather them, but wasn't she worried about encountering strong opponents she couldn't handle?
But right now...
Jin Sha wasn't afraid of Bai Ye taking down the opponents. She was afraid that Bai Ye would get himself disqualified for a foul within the first minute.
Good heavens, she invited an external player, only for him to get a red card right at the start?
She'd start the game with a built-in buff: playing with one less player!
Bai Ye then asked, "What about the rewards?"
Jin Sha replied, "They are distributed based on the number of people. You can see the reward details after submitting your ticket."
Bai Ye's eyes lit up. "Then we can collect eleven sets of rewards?"
Jin Sha rolled her eyes. "Dream on. Although summoned beasts can substitute for players, the rewards are calculated based on the number of chosen participants. We only have two sets of rewards."
Bai Ye remarked, "Then it would be better to find eleven people."
Jin Sha explained, "It's not that easy to find eleven chosen participants. Secondly, even if we could find them, the coordination and tacit understanding between them would be an issue. Furthermore, if we assemble a team temporarily, there might be traitors."
Bai Ye inquired curiously, "Traitors?"
Jin Sha elaborated, "Actually, many people in the summoned beast area know about the Death Football ticket mission. The mission content is related to a forbidden zone in the area called the Football World Sacrifice. So, although not many people have obtained tickets, some have. Initially, everyone formed temporary teams honestly. Then, the goalkeeper of one team was bribed by the opposing team, and then..."
Bai Ye was also speechless. How to throw a game? Bribe the goalkeeper!
You're a forward, so what if you don't score? But if you bribe the goalkeeper, they'll dive in the opposite direction of the ball...
Jin Sha continued, "Then, because this ticket mission is in the summoned beast area, someone suddenly boldly speculated whether summoned beasts could be used to play, and after trying it, it actually worked."
Bai Ye frowned. "If that's the case, wouldn't those who got the Steel Slime be more numerous? If that's true, then this thing might not have as much potential as you think."
Jin Sha replied, "Not necessarily. I got the ticket quite early. There was an idiot who completely didn't understand what the ticket was for. After completing the forbidden zone mission, he casually took it out and sold it, thinking the ticket was just a small item attached to other rewards. I traded it for a green-quality summoned beast, Pidgey. Then I've been following the Death Football matches. So far, I've watched 12 matches, and the 12 winning teams had a total of 51 chosen participants. Not all of them necessarily chose the Steel Slime, because there are five selectable rewards. If we assume a one-fifth probability, then only about ten people chose the Steel Slime..."
Jin Sha paused and added, "Moreover, compared to the other rewards, the Steel Slime is quite unremarkable."
"Interesting," Bai Ye said. "Let me see the rewards."
As Bai Ye spoke, he handed the ticket to a staff member behind the counter.
"Congratulations on obtaining the qualification to participate in Death Football."
"Within the specified time, you may choose the competition time yourself."
"After winning Death Football, you can receive rewards (choose one of five): Steel Slime, Power of Stars, Gemstone Body, Floating Beast, Demon-Breaking Red Rose (Fragmented)."
Bai Ye instantly gasped.
Seeing the rapid change in Bai Ye's expression, Jin Sha couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Bai Ye exclaimed, "That Steel Slime is definitely not bad."
Jin Sha asked, "Why?"
Bai Ye explained, "I don't know what Gemstone Body and Floating Beast are, but Power of Stars is a growth-type ability. It starts at white quality but can grow to gold quality. Demon-Breaking Red Rose is a dual-wielding weapon. The fragmented state likely means you get one, so it can't be used. However, if you collect two, this thing is a red-quality weapon!"
Jin Sha was also surprised. "That's intense?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Considering these two rewards, the other three can't possibly be bad. How did you know about the Steel Slime's effect?"
...