Two days after the start of the recruit tournament, the results came as a surprise to the military fans.
The traditionally strong teams, like the European Military Region team and the American Military Region team, were no longer as powerful as they used to be.
In contrast, the East Asia Military Region that had been declining day by day had risen at a tremendous speed. In just a short span of two days, they alone seized ten points out of the total twelve points.
Just as the semi-automatic rifle competition came to an end, the European recruits were immediately called back to the conference room for a new meeting.
“For the past two days, our European Military Region has become so famous!” Major General Okosa looked about at everyone with a despondent look. “With such a monster in the East Asia Military Region, I really can’t blame you lot. I am mainly responsible for the early withdrawal of the mobile armor squad. I know you will try your very best in the competition, but let me repeat it once again: you are bearing the glory of our entire Europe Military Region. Tomorrow is the first drawing lots ceremony for the martial arts tournament, I wish you all the best of luck for it.”
In the dismal and silent conference room, volcanic battle intent was about to erupt one after another.
“General, we will knock East Asia down in the martial arts tournament, and drag America down from the throne of hegemony.”
Opposite to the long table, Caesar, who had been silent from the beginning to the end, straightened his body. Even his long golden hair was unable to conceal the sharp gleam in those sapphire-like eyes of his.
Upon hearing this, Okosa’s gloomy face finally relaxed. Slowly, he glanced about at the other European recruits sitting here. God knows when these dismal recruits, who had been under attack by Qin Fen for two consecutive days, had fully recovered their spirits. In their eyes, that cruel and brutal battle intent could be easily seen.
“General! I may not be as good as Qin Fen when it comes to military skills, but I will fight! I will never back down!”
“General! I will not bring down the glory of the European Military Region!”
War cries echoed in the conference room, one after another. One by one, the soldiers smacked the table before standing up. The disgrace the Europe Military Region had suffered for the past two days no longer weighed down on the minds of everyone. It had now become the motivation for the European Military Region; they had become brave after having known the feeling of being ashamed!
Okosa slowly looked around at everyone, his gaze finally resting on Solomon, who had not uttered a single word since the beginning.
“I only have one target.” Solomon pushed the chestnut-colored long hair blocking his face away, his emerald-like eyes flickering with tranquility and confidence. “That is to become the legendary Recruit King of Martial Combat in the recruit martial arts tournament. Whoever stands in from of me, whether it’s East Asia or America, will be kicked off.”
For the first time, the American recruits were also called to the conference room to hold the first pre-war meeting.
American Major General Will was wearing a trimmed major general’s uniform. His sparse hair sat neatly on his head.
Compared to Major General Okosa, Will wasn’t feeling worried in the slightest. He skillfully operated the computer near his hand, projecting data analysis charts over the conference table, one after another.
“Everyone has watched the tournament these the last two days. I believe you must have also understood that our opponent is no longer the inefficient European Military Region.” Having selected a data analysis chart from the projection, Will zoomed it in and said, “I believe everyone has an impression of this man, right? Qin Fen, the East Asian recruit who had once participated…”
Qin Fen’s information that was stored in the military database was revealed before everyone, bit by bit.
“Oh?” Zeus, with his elbow resting on the table, rubbed his chin with one hand. “Sniped the terrorists? So to say, he is a sniper.”
“A very strong one at that.” Will, with his both elbow resting on the table, lightly flipped his palm upwards and said, “Judging from the information we have, I’m afraid our American sniper recruits can only compete for the second place.”
The American snipers who came to participate in the tournament silently nodded together.
As a soldier, they often didn’t like to admit defeat. If there was even a tiny chance, they would definitely give it a try.
Qin Fen’s data was too terrifying. After the American sniper saw it, he didn’t have any desire to compete anymore. They were simply not at the same level at all.
“So, before the sniper tournament even started, we have already lost three points.” Will picked up the cup of coffee near his hand and took a sip. “It seems that it’s better to forfeit from the sniper tournament…”
“Absolutely not!” The silent sniper smacked the table and stood up looking at Will and shouting, “General, it’s true that you are the leader of the American team, but you don’t have any rights to deprive me of the qualifications to participate.”
“Is that right?” Will very casually leaned his back against the chair. “America has always been the hegemon of the recruit tournament. In any tournament, our goal has always been to be first. Before the tournament has even started, you…”
“Then, I will take first place!”
A wave of irrational anger rose up in the eyes of the calm sniper. Having become timid just after taking a glance at the data, as a soldier, this made him look down upon himself. Hearing this, Will was slightly irritated, he finally lashed out in anger.
“First?” A faint disdainful smile was hanging on Will’s lips. “What if you can’t?”
“Then, I will request a transfer to Saturn or to the frontlines of counter-terrorism after the tournament.” The ice-cold calmness returned to sniper’s eyes. “If I lose, I will go to the battlefront where there is only life and death.”
“It’s good that you have this kind of morale.” Will gestured the sniper to sit down. “It’s true that Qin Fen is very strong, but if you are afraid of him then he will win as easily as he cuts melons and vegetables. If you get fearful just at the sight of him, you won’t even be able to play out your normal strength, which would only make it easier for East Asia to get points. Do you know why East Asian soldiers, who were very weak in previous tournaments, could still take the third place in total score ranking?”
Most of the American recruits were somewhat perplexed. This question had been plaguing them for a long time. The overall strength of the African recruits had far exceeded East Asia in the last two tournaments and yet, they lost.
“Because of the spirit of drawing sword*.” Will slightly furrowed his brow. “In America, only true martial artists have an indomitable spirit. Even if they encounter an opponent whom they can’t defeat, they will still dare challenge him. The East Asians are very strange people, their ethnic blood seems to have a strange gene. Seventy out of a hundred people would still fight even if they know that they will lose. Therefore, in the recruit tournament, the East Asian team has the highest mortality rate. While many of us come only to play, they would fight with their lives on the line.”
Will heaved a long, deep breath. “One side is treating the tournament like a game, while the other side is thinking of putting their lives on the line. Life can create miracles, so, even though East Asia wasn’t strong enough, it could still take third place. And this time, East Asia is far stronger than before. Now, it’s our turn to put our lives on the line. Tomorrow’s main event is the drawing of lots for the grouping of martial arts tournament. I wish the contestants a good draw in advance.”
“General, we are the hegemon king, the strongest American recruits in the history of the tournament.” Yang Lie slowly raised his hand and pointed at Qin Fen’s projection. “He is just a whetstone that will help me take the divine beast title.”
“Divine beast?”
Will, who had always been composed, also had his eyes flicker with faint astonishment. From the beginning, Little Dragon King’s goal wasn’t simply to watch this recruit tournament at all.
Suddenly, a sneer came from underneath a military cap that covered the face of its wearer.
“Sky Splitter” Brooks’s shoulders slightly spread open. “Little Dragon King, don’t think that you can be supercilious just because you have been invited by the Sacred Martial Hall. In this room, you are not the only one to have received the invitation from the Sacred Martial Hall. I, Sky Splitter-Brooks, have also gotten an invitation. Divine beast? This title should be taken by me.”
“Sacred Martial Hall invitation!?”
The American recruits in the conference room broke into an uproar, More than ninety percent of them were looking at the two with admiration and envy.
Sacred Martial Hall! It was the holy land for almost all martial artists. It was the cradle for martial artists to reach their peaks.
Sacred Martial Hall, it was known as the land of genius killers.
Every year, young people with outstanding endowments from all over the world would go there to take the test, hoping to get the chance to leap over the dragon gate.
However, almost all of these young men, who were generally treated as sect masters by every sect that they wished to enter, hit the wall in front of the Sacred Martial Hall.
The Sacred Martial Hall might not be a school, but it was praised as the first school in the Federation by everyone.
Zeus, who had always been chewing gum, felt like he was struck by lightning. He looked at the two comrades in dismay. “Sacred… Sacred Martial Hall…?”
Will’s astonished eyes were filled with joy. Sacred Martial Hall! Little Dragon King-Yang Lie and Sky Splitter-Brooks have actually received Sacred Martial Hall invitations!
Qin Fen’s information did not show that he has received an invite from the Sacred Martial Hall.
The Sacred Martial Hall’s judgment would never be wrong! In this martial arts tournament, as long as the grouping does not group Yang Lie and Brooks into the same group, our America Military District will probably get the best result in history.
“Alright! Everybody, continue to make a great effort!”
In the conference hall of the East Asia Military Region, a completely satisfied Zhao Huzi made a concluding speech before everyone rose up and left, one after another.
When Qin Fen walked out of the conference hall, he did not go to Song Jia again.
Tomorrow was the main event of the recruit tournament, the grouping of martial arts tournament. At the same time, there would be an opening fight which would also be happening tomorrow.
Drawing lots was just a matter of luck.
No one could guarantee that they would not draw the opening fight. No one could guarantee whether their opponent would be strong or weak.
As someone who could take part in the martial arts tournament, those who were weak were limited.
Just now, Qin Fen had seen the pre-tournament information provided by Zhao Huzi. America’s Little Dragon King-Yang Lie, Zeus-Mark, and Sky Splitter-Brooks were far stronger than the American recruits who had fought with the Australian Military Region.
Europe’s Emperor-Caesar, Devil-Solomon, West Asia’s Mourad Tschick, as well as Africa’s Golden Lion-Pat, Megacroc-Kunlaiti, could also not be underestimated.
Judging from what information they had on them, none of them were below the strength of six-star martial artists.
But were they really just six-star martial artists? Mourad Tschick’s figure flashed in Qin Fen’s mind. Like me, he too had crossed Qinghai alone. He must have benefited a lot from it, maybe he even made a breakthrough.
Sitting on the bed in the room, Qin Fen immersed himself in his own world, adjusting all the functions of his body, preparing for the opening match in case he drew it.