Chapter 94 - The Winner

Everyone gaped at the dramatic turn of events.

No one had expected Frost to be the one to do the 'hero rush'.

Silence fell, as everyone waited with bated breath to hear the World Announcement that would decide the winner.

Those who gambled for the expert to win, hoped SelaXiu would break her stride.

Those who gambled for the underdog to win, prayed for SelaXiu to once again show the world her miracle.

In the Viridian Forest, the ground slowly gained its natural colour. The setting sun cast a deep shadow on the feminine forms that sat there on the knees, head bent.

Experts and rookies alike remained unsure of the result of this fight.

Frost made a slight movement, and got burnt by the Ghost Flame that ate away her innards.

Frost frowned. "Well played."

Cheng Xiu pulled out her sword, and sat there motionless.

Frost spit out even more blood. In retaliation, she pulled her ice sword away, leaving behind a huge gash on the white-robed woman, turning it crimson.

Blue and dark eyes clashed.

Frost's eyes dulled first, and she pixelated away.

Cheng Xiu took a deep breath and cringed as she felt her wounds become agitated.

[Ding!]

[World Announcement: Grandmaster's Arena Battlefield.

Battle 5: SelaXiu Veritas Vs Immortal Frost

Victory: SelaXiu Veritas.]

All over the Other World, people laughed and cheered as they witnessed history. A Rookie no name player defeated Immortal Frost, the great thinker!

There were histeria in many places of the gameland as they all realised that selaXiu would become the next God in the game if they let her grow.

There were screams, shouts, and crying.

Gu Shu sat in silence, unable to control her heart that still did not recover from seeing Cheng Xiu impaled and nearly dead. She was not able to do anything about it either. She finally had an incling as to what Cheng Xiu must have felt whenever she believed Gu Shu was in trouble.

Beside her, Chu Ying looked at the kneeling figure of Cheng Xiu with sparkling eyes. She had known that Cheng Xiu was talented, but she had not realised the true extent of her talent that she was able to achieve something of this level.

She looked through the forums of the Other World, and read the special articles that were being published there about SelaXiu's identity. Though there were many controversies, one thing that everyone agreed on was that SelaXiu would be the next person to reach the God-level fame and power in the game.

Chu Ying sighed in wonder.

"Why is she not going to get her rewards yet?" Rin asked.

Chu Ying and Gu Shu looked at her in confusion.

Rin frowned. "Isn't that girl supposed to go get her reward and then play the next match? Who is her next opponent anyway?"

Chu Ying frowned. "Her next opponent is Star Phoenix."

Rin hmmed. "Star Phoenix. The greedy expert, huh? That is a tough one. He is one of the few people who have been strong from Level 1. It will be difficult for this SelaXiu to defeat him. So why do you think she is not being taken to her rewards yet?"

"Maybe there is no reward," Lion said.

"That doesn't make sense," Bear countered.

Lion shrugged. "I have no idea. Just guessing."

As the people around the world had conversations similar to those, Cheng Xiu stared at the special notification that only she got in a conflicting mood.

[Ding!]

[Player Selafia Veritas has defeated 5 Grandmasters in the Grandmaster's Arena. Your total Arena count is 15000 Merit Points. Player can use Merit Points in any Arena of the world and buy the corresponding rewards.]

[Player Selafia Veritas has defeated 5 Grandmasters in the Grandmaster's Arena, fulfilling the prior criteria to quit the Arena.]

Cheng Xiu frowned. "That doesn't make sense. Wasn't it Log out of the Arena before?"

[Correct but there was a mini-update during your Arena Match that lead the Devs to believe that forcing you to fight 10 Immortal Level Players was unfair of the game, and destroyed your player experience. Player can quit the Arena without loging out. But there will be punishments awaiting the Immortals if you quit the Arena.]

"Why?"

[Log Outs could be for any number of reasons but to quit an Arena means to declare that you are declaring the match as unfair.]

Cheng Xiu frowned. Even though a part of her wanted to keep playing the Arena until either she died or all of the experts did, Cheng Xiu knew that she couldn't.

She was sure the fights would even tougher, and she might not get this chance to log out or quit again. She also did not want to play the game the way that the Immortals wanted her to. She wanted to see their reaction the fact that Cheng Xiu could quit the Arena. And more importantly, the experts would be punished if she quit.

And that was the most important point.

"Quit Arena," Cheng Xiu said with a slight smile, cringing as it stretched the wounds on her face.

[Are you sure you want to Quit Grandmaster's Arena?]

"Yes. I am sure."

[Ding!]

[Player Selafia Veritas has quit the Grandmaster's Arena.]

Cheng Xiu smiled as the gloden barrier around them dimmed.

The Immortals looked around in confusion, making Cheng Xiu realise that they had not known about the 5 Battles rule.

Cheng Xiu wanted to laugh at that. Well, it was lucky for her they did not, as otherwise, the Immortals would have fought harder.

A World announcement flashed across the sky, the content of which made the watchers laugh at the words, and what it meant for the Arena game.

[Ding!]

[World Announcement:

SelaXiu Veritas has been declared Winner against 5 opponents, fulfilling the Arena Contract.

Player SelaXiu Veritas has decided to quit the Arena, citing Forced Participation Multiple Times. All

Players who forced Player SelaXiu Veritas in a Line-up battle are barred from entering the game for 24 Real World Hours.

The Grandmaster Players are fined 100 Gold Coins each for their Violation of Cyber Right Act, Article 15.

Grandmaster Players are banned from entering Veritas, and its Affiliates for 24 Real World hours after they have come online.]

Everyone stared at those words in shock, and awe. What the hell…

[Grandmaster Players are forced out of the Game in:

1

2

3!]

The Golden Dome collapsed and the Immortals disappeared in pixels, unable to even react in time.

The only beings left in the clearing was the bleeding Cheng Xiu and the frozen San Zhe who was not able to comprehend what had just happened.

Banned for 24 Real World Hours…Not allowed to enter Veritas or its Affiliates for 24 Real Hours after that…

He had never realised that there was such a condition that could be activated in the Grandmaster's Arena. He felt his head spin as he realised Cheng Xiu forced Immortals to log out of the game. Immortals.

A player of below Level 10, forced players of Level 70 to log out.

Was he still in the real world? Or was this some kind of a fantasy?

San Zhe saw Cheng Xiu collapse to the ground, and rushed to catch her, forgetting that they were in the VR.

Just before he reached Cheng Xiu, a strong figure reached Cheng Xiu first and held her against their broad chest that was intrinsically designed.

It took San Zhe a moment to recognise the figure.

"Ya..Ya…" San Zhe stuttered in absolute shock.

Crimson eyes that glowed with an eerie inner light locked with his gaze.

"Yaksha," San Zhe breathed out in awe. "Lord Yaksha."

There was a snort from their side.

A woman clad in thin, transparent purple robes tilted her head to the side. The green diamond that floated above her head indicated that she was an NPC.

"You could show a bit more respect than that when you meet the master, Human," the beautiful woman said with a sneer.

San Zhe backed up nervously, raising his hand in a calming gesture. "Sorry. I was just…"

"It is fine," Yaksha said, his eyes on the masked face of Cheng Xiu. "The system did not call her to give the rewards there might be a reason for that…"

San Zhe frowned. "What reason could it be?"

"It wanted to see if she would survive for much longer. If she did not, and she died, it would detuct some of the rewards the next time she logs in. We have to wait for her condition to either completely diorite or stabalise before she can be taken to the White Room."

San Zhe's eyes widened. "The White Room? Isn't that only accessible during Qi Breakthroughs?"

Yaksha smirked. "What do you think the Grandmaster's Arena does? It forces people to go through mini breakthroughs after every single victory that they face."

The purple -clothed woman sighed. "Her condition is not that stable though. Should we help her Bro-Master Yaksha?"

Yaksha shook his head. "She has to recover on her own, Diana."

Diana nodded in understanding.

San Zhe sat down beside them and took hold of Cheng Xiu's hand, worry lining his face.

Diana observed San Zhe and sighed. "She will be fine. Don't worry."

San Zhe nodded.