Countermeasures Research Office base.
After Dragon Soul was carried away by the teleportation light pillar, the prompt from the Fire Thief resounded in the minds of Zhang Minglu and the other Ascendants,
【Arena Function has been activated. Spectator Mode?】
Spectator Mode!
Zhang Minglu immediately opened his Terminal Panel and entered the temporary Arena Function.
The "Vote" option inside was already closed, leaving only a single "Spectate" option available.
He selected Spectate, and a staggering image instantly appeared before his eyes.
That enormous concentric spiral structure, like an entire planet, and the billions of strange bubbles filling it, this spectacle most directly displayed the great power of a high-level civilization.
And when his consciousness touched one of the bubbles, his own senses immediately became incredibly vivid, and the scene before him transformed into a square platform surrounded by red arcs of light.
"This round's arena scene is 'Electric Cage Beast Trap'!"
The commentator's voice rang in his ears. Just as Zhang Minglu was startled, he suddenly heard a "knock knock" at the door.
He snapped back from his shock at the sound, silently thought "Exit."
The next moment, the arena scene before his eyes and the commentator's voice in his ears all vanished, and his sensory consciousness returned to his own office.
"So that's how it is. Only participants like Dragon Soul get teleported to the Arena. Although spectators aren't teleported, they can use those bubbles to watch with an immersive experience..."
Moreover, even while spectating, the audience still retained their perception of the real world, which was why he could hear the knocking.
After Zhang Minglu figured out what was going on, he looked up and said, "Come in."
Zhao Ming pushed the door open and entered the office. "Doctor, you were looking for me?"
Zhang Minglu nodded. Before the competition started, he had indeed notified Zhao Ming to come to his office.
"I'm planning to transfer you to the Qingzhou base. Do you agree?" Zhang Minglu asked.
Zhao Ming reacted quickly and immediately understood the intent behind this transfer.
"The Doctor wants me to keep an eye on the Star Scar Merchant Group's liaison station?"
"Correct." Zhang Minglu said seriously, "From the highest decision-making layer to Head Gao and the rest of us, everyone harbors suspicions about the Star Scar Merchant Group and Mr. Ga. This is one of the reasons why we established the liaison station in Qingzhou rather than Pinglu.
Right now there's too much going on at the main base and I can't get away, but the Qingzhou base needs a sharp person to watch the liaison station. I recommended you to Head Gao, and he agreed. Now it depends on your own thoughts."
Zhao Ming didn't hesitate. "I accept the organization's arrangement."
"Won't you think it over?"
"Nothing to think over. Actually, I also believe the Star Scar Merchant Group has major problems. Being able to watch their liaison station up close is good, who knows, maybe I'll discover something."
Zhang Minglu nodded. "Good. Then set out as soon as possible. Your identity over there will be a special investigator, with free investigative authority. Additionally, I'll send an official Ascendant mobile team with you. You can mobilize them for missions at any time."
Zhao Ming thought for a moment before agreeing, then added, "Doctor, do you still want Aaron to go with you?"
"Aaron? That works too. The two of them are fairly familiar, and my training over there is nearly done. Let him serve as your personal guard."
Lovska agreed to come up, thinking of the "Spectator Mode" he had just exited: "Zhao Ming, it's rather late to set out after watching the arena match. That match is very important to everyone in our office."
......
When the light pillar settled on him, Lovska's expression froze for two seconds, but he quickly grinned.
"Damn, I'm actually first! Fine, I'll go grab you a victory first!"
As soon as Lovska's voice fell, his body vanished from where he stood, and the next moment he appeared within that "Electric Cage" arena.
Meanwhile, Guan Tong and the other eight were each teleported into a "Myriad Sense Net Bubble."
Before their own turn to enter the stage, they would also spectate as audience members.
"Jingyi?"
Guan Tong tried using the Mind Network to contact Shi Jingyi, but it didn't succeed.
He raised his eyes and looked forward. The arena ringed by dozens of volts of high-voltage electricity was directly ahead, an absolutely optimal viewing angle.
"I wonder what viewing angle other similar civilizations get?"
Guan Tong mused. This Myriad Sense Net Bubble could convert the battlefield into a perceptual form that individuals instinctively understood. If it were a gaseous intelligent lifeform, would what they "saw" be clusters of gas colliding?
He found this conversion hard to comprehend, and he also didn't know whether this "Meltstar Arena Competition" had only their batch of participants, or many batches?
That enormous concentric ring composed of thirty quadrillion units of chaotic matter he had seen from high altitude earlier, if it only generated a single electric cage arena, seemed like it wouldn't use nearly that much.
But if it simultaneously generated many arenas with different scenes, that would make perfect sense.
Guan Tong had a guess in his heart: perhaps this large "Furnace Arena" contained many small arenas nested within, each small arena independent and non-interfering with the others.
In that case, the audiences were likely fixed as well.
For example, if Ascendants from two civilizations competed and slaughtered each other, the vast majority of the audience would come from those two civilizations themselves.
Would other civilizations pay attention to competitions unrelated to their own? Perhaps some would, but the proportion would definitely be very, very small.
Moreover, from what he could currently see, he didn't know if it was due to the Contestant identity restriction, but Guan Tong found that he simply couldn't leave this Myriad Sense Net Bubble, and even if there were other competitions, he couldn't watch them.
"First to appear is Tianshui Star Civilization's contestant, Pulverizing Hand. This is a level-1 human civilization that recently joined the Star Sea Court. Let us cheer for them!"
The commentator's voice pulled Guan Tong's thoughts back. He looked toward the arena. Lovska was twisting his wrists and rolling his shoulders to warm up, his face full of certainty of victory.
At that moment, a teleportation light pillar lit up across from him. After the light dispersed, his opponent appeared.
It was about one meter tall, its entire body covered in emerald-green carapace. On its round head were insect-like antennae, and a single green eye occupied half of its face. Below the single eye was a long, narrow, flat mouth.
Symmetrical six long limbs extended from both sides of its carapace on its torso, nearly as long as its body, and likewise covered in emerald-green carapace.
The moment this creature appeared, all the human Ascendants watching felt it was extremely bizarre.
There was no species on Tianshui Star that could correspond to this thing. Say it was like a spider, yet it had not a single hair on its entire body. Say it was like a beetle, yet that single green eye was completely unlike one.
"Oh? The Tianshui Star contestant's opponent actually comes from the Bihui Stone Civilization. Both civilizations are level-1 civilizations. This is truly a match of evenly matched forces!"
"My opponent is actually a beetle?"
Lovska looked at the enemy that appeared in the arena. Though his expression was somewhat displeased, a flash of delight passed through the depths of his eyes.
Judging by body size, he undoubtedly held a huge advantage, and his ability was highly advantageous against this kind of enemy with outstanding defense.
After all, his nickname "Pulverizing Hand" wasn't chosen carelessly.
"Listen up, bug across from me. Running into me is your bad luck. I'm taking this victory for sure." Lovska proactively opened his mouth to provoke, not caring whether the other could understand his words.
And that Bihui Stone Civilization individual being provoked made no sound at all, only staring fixedly at Lovska with that single eye.
Inside a certain Myriad Sense Net Bubble, Xisiya Administrator Yelanka slightly furrowed her brows, feeling somewhat nervous.
The first to go up was Lovska, which made her feel a bit of pressure as the Xisiya Administrator.
However, this pressure wasn't very great.
She knew Lovska was very strong. Back then, with a glorious record of total victory, he had forcefully claimed first place in the Xisiya Death Race, and ultimately took global first, obtaining the unique title of 【Gold Medal Hunter】.
This title's effect was extremely monstrous. When worn, when fighting other Ascendants, stamina recovery speed increased by 300%, and Mind Power recovery speed increased by 200%.
This kind of title ability that greatly enhanced endurance and recovery provided a massive boost to combat capability. Lovska had deliberately shown it off publicly, drawing countless envy and jealousy.
Now that he was fighting this first match, Yelanka thought it was fine.
Letting Lovska claim the first victory would both win glory for Xisiya and for Tianshui Star Civilization, and also relieve the pressure on the other eight participants.
"Alright! Tianshui Star Civilization's 'Pulverizing Hand' versus Bihui Stone Civilization's 'Guguka', who will the victor be? The answer will be revealed through combat shortly!"
After the commentator's voice fell, a huge countdown number appeared in midair above the arena.
10, 9, 8.....
Lovska's shoulders sank, his eyes fixed on the opposing "Guguka," combat strategy rapidly formulating in his mind.
Being able to claim first place in the Death Race rule wasn't purely relying on brainless recklessness. Beneath his rugged exterior, he did not lack a careful attention to combat.
7, 6, 5......
My ability 【Split Grip】 lets everything my palm touches spread and crumble like glass cracks. Even energy like Mind Power is no exception.
Once the battle starts, I'll rush over immediately and engage in close contact with it. Its attack method should rely on those six legs, or that big single eye?
4, 3, 2.....
After the countdown ends, attack from the left side! Circle around the observation range of its single eye. If it doesn't retreat it'll be caught by me, and if it retreats it'll touch the high-voltage electricity!
Lovska settled his first-step attack plan.
1, 0!
The instant the countdown ended, Lovska charged out with speed unmatched by his frame, going around Guguka's left flank!
His hands spread their palms and extended forward. As long as he could touch Guguka's body, he firmly believed that no matter how hard that layer of emerald-green carapace on the latter was, it would crack and shatter.
Just like those enemies he had dealt with before, let them die in despair!
"?"
Lovska's vision went empty. Guguka's figure had disappeared.
Before he could react, he felt a sinking sensation beneath him.
Looking down, several long limbs that had drilled up from underground had already coiled around his legs. A terrifying force instantly destroyed his Mind Power and all defensive items.
"Aaahhhhh!!!"
Lovska's legs were forcefully torn apart by Guguka's long limbs, then he was flung flying, and upon hitting the high-voltage arc he was immediately burned to charcoal.
Then another long limb stabbed out, piercing through Lovska's abdomen, and what followed was a feast that left countless human spectators unable to believe their eyes.
Lovska's eyes bulged round, a terror-stricken expression frozen on his face.
He was already dead.
"Oh my, it seems the Tianshui Star Civilization contestant knew nothing about the Bihui Stone Civilization contestant's drilling and penetrating abilities.
Those are limbs capable of penetrating even Hui Crystal, whose hardness ranks among the top in the star sea. How could a human body possibly withstand them?"
The commentator's regretful voice rose alongside the horrifying chewing sounds within the arena.
"Furthermore, Bihui Stone Civilization individuals enjoy devouring soft food. Human internal organs are on their menu.."