At this moment, it wasn't just Sterl who was muttering to himself.

Countless spectators and a group of Supreme-level powerhouses were also murmuring.

The inexplicable absence of the seed competitors made them feel something was off.

The logic was straightforward: these individuals would never abandon the finals of the Valor Combatants Tournament.

If they weren't present, it meant they couldn't make it.

With seven seed competitors going missing, something must have happened!

Among the seed competitors were several quasi-divine level fighters, and they had mysteriously vanished? Discover hidden stories at m,v l'e-novelhall.net

Wasn't there a hidden current flowing in the Hall of Valor?

Many perceptive players began to realize this.

However, unlike Sterl, if he chose to flee, it wouldn't affect his growth. Ordinary players would undoubtedly see a significant slowdown in their strength if they left the Hall of Valor.

As a result, many quickly left the arena but didn't rush away; instead, they returned to their homes to organize various protective items.

As time passed, the term "catastrophe" had already begun to circulate among demigod players.

The inexplicably missing seed competitors served as a warning bell for many!

Next came another duel.

This time, it was quite standard, featuring two low-tier players forcefully pulled into the finals by David—two perfect-level demigods.

They casually exchanged a flurry of skills.

One demigod harnessed the power of plants and nature, slightly channeling energy to transform the arena from a modern urban landscape into a sprawling sea of trees!

The other perfect-level demigod manipulated numerous special metals, causing them to bond, break, and collide!

Each surge of metal brought with it intense heat, turning large sections of the forest into ruins, creating a rather spectacular sight.

Branches waved amidst the flames.

The alloys gathered power, transforming into countless blades.

Many legendary players watched with delight.

Some demigods who also wielded plant and metal-related rules observed thoughtfully.

However...

The Supreme powerhouses within the Hall of Valor wore expressions of disbelief!

Wasn't it said that this time, the Valor Combatants Tournament had the highest rewards and was the strongest lineup in history?

We didn't even dare to sign up!

Because we wouldn't make it to the finals and wouldn't earn any good rewards; instead, we would just humiliate ourselves and expose our abilities, making us easy targets for enemies.

What a significant loss.

But now, what was going on?

The two on stage were far below our level!

The competitors in this finals were even worse than the last Valor Combatants Tournament!

In the previous finals, at least some Supremes were fighting!

Now, it had devolved into a brawl between perfect-level demigods??

Especially for the Supremes who hadn't participated, each was so furious they felt like they might spit blood.

"If I had known the rewards were this easy to obtain, I would have joined too!"

"Can you believe they let such weaklings get the benefit??"

"I thought my entry as a newly minted Supreme would be embarrassing, but now I realize I was a complete fool!!"

The Supremes grumbled in frustration.

They were genuinely heartbroken. Just entering the finals was already a decent reward, and now these low-tier demigods could still earn some victory points and rankings?

Why should that be allowed?!!

Since at least five matches had to be completed in a day, after several rounds of byes, including Sterl winning a round by default, the demigods he brought along had also won seven or eight rounds without lifting a finger.

Finally, they managed to complete five matches.

In the final match, two perfect-level demigods unleashed intense energy, clashing with each other before both perishing, failing to earn any victory points...

However, almost no one commented on this in the arena.

What had previously been mere speculation was now confirmed.

All the seed competitors, theoretically the strongest forces in the Hall of Valor after the deities left, had indeed been completely wiped out—none were left!

In an instant, even the formidable Supremes fell into panic.

Legendary players who had been unaware of the situation began to gather information through their connections, and they were all shocked!

"Oh no!

The quasi-divine level big shots have been eliminated!

This is bad!

The Hall of Valor is in serious trouble!"

This was not information meant to be kept secret; soon, the news spread like wildfire.

In no time, everyone in the arena understood the situation!

This was not a mere mishap during the tournament; the Hall of Valor was facing a formidable enemy and was in grave danger!

Thus, despite the matches having concluded, no one dared to leave the arena. Even players from the outside who had received the news rushed to the competition grounds.

The arena was equipped with spatial formations, so it could accommodate a large number of players.

The newcomers had only one purpose: to save their lives!

Now, the strongest forces in the Hall of Valor were essentially gathered in the arena. With all 16 seed competitors having been ambushed, the best way to ensure their safety was to hide here!

And Sterl was hiding in a "box."

But he had previously ventured out once, wandered around the arena for a few seconds, and then participated in three matches.

Even those top-tier Supreme powerhouses looked toward the direction where David had vanished into thin air, feeling an inexplicable sense of reassurance rising within them.

In the arena, the strongest figure was still present! We need not panic!

Only Sterl sat there, bemused, as he sensed countless gazes directed toward the spatial rift he occupied with a mix of anticipation and expectation!

At this moment, he had realized the truth of the situation.

Sosia and Sonis had provided him with information about the 16 seed competitors. After comparing the data, Sterl reached a startling conclusion: the 16 powerful individuals he had previously dispatched were indeed the 16 seed competitors of the Hall of Valor.

Sterl: "..."

He had considered this possibility initially but dismissed it, thinking that to obtain the item to ascend to godhood, winning the championship was a necessity, and there was no reason for the 16 seed competitors to collude.

Moreover, while it logically made sense to suspect that the seed competitors had been killed by him, it was a form of evasion—he had deliberately ignored the possibility of strong enemies lurking around!

What if things went sideways?

But now...

The truth was laid bare!

Sterl felt an overwhelming sense of speechlessness...

From that point on, the Valor Combatants Tournament had devolved into a farce.

Originally a seven-day event, it was reduced to just three days due to half of the players being eliminated.

During these three days, Sterl prioritized enhancing the treasure compass, and he didn't have to exert himself much.

Either he faced the already missing seed competitors, standing in the arena for over an hour to win by default, or he faced the demigods he had forcibly brought to the finals.

As the tournament progressed, Sterl continued to accumulate victories, all the while grappling with the absurdity of the situation. The tension surrounding the Hall of Valor was palpable, yet here he was, seemingly untouched by the chaos outside.

The remaining competitors in the arena were a mix of confusion and desperation, yet Sterl, despite the growing sense of dread, found himself in a unique position of safety, albeit under strange circumstances.

With each passing day, the reality of what had transpired weighed heavily on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was at the center of a storm far beyond his control.

As the final matches approached, the atmosphere grew tenser, and Sterl knew that the truth would eventually come to light. Would he be able to navigate the fallout from this tournament? Would he be able to confront the mysterious force that had struck at the heart of the Hall of Valor?

All he could do was prepare for whatever lay ahead, knowing that each victory came with its own set of complications.