?Chapter 473:
Marisa and Mnie continued to dominate the arena, leaving others secretly hoping fate would spare them from squaring off against either powerhouse.
On the flip side, Ethan’s performance remained underwhelming — though technically still in the running, his progress was riddled with baffling errors and narrow survivals, barely scraping through each bout on endurance alone.
“Victory’s within reach!” echoed the frustrated cry of those who fell to him.
This birthed a shared belief: anyone bested by Ethan had simply been unlucky. The rest were convinced they’d breeze past him if given the chance.
So while contestants prayed not to be paired with Marisa or Mnie, they secretly crossed their fingers for a matchup against the so-called weakest link.
The event had be a runaway hit, far exceeding the expectations of both organizers and backers. Viewer numbers eclipsed allpeting broadcasts.
L, representing Ark Tech, was swamped — juggling endless updates as he tried to inform udius of the unfolding triumph.
“Sir, it’s madness! My inbox is flooded with ad requests, brand deals, and partnership pitches! You really saw thising — the stock price hit its upper cap today!”
udius’ lips curled into a knowing grin. “No need to rush. This is only the warm-up. Once the final whistle blows, I’ll personally hand the trophy to the victor.”
L’s eyes widened. “You’ll present the award yourself? That’ll skyrocket the buzz even further!”
udius arched an eyebrow — exactly the oue he had orchestrated.
When hemitted to something, he pursued nothing short of excellence.
This was his unwavering ethos.
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In romance, too, he held high standards — settling for mediocrity wasn’t in his nature.
A vision of Maia, lean and regal, flickered in his thoughts.
After ending the call, he immediately rang his aide with amand.“Bring the car around. We’re visiting the technology museum. Now.”
Back at the tournament venue, thepetition had thinned dramatically—only ten hopefuls remained. Marisa, Mnie, and Ethan were among them.
Those who advanced had clearly unlocked the deeper mechanics of the experience. A few had even discovered how to harness the foundational algorithms—crafted by Maia herself—to reverse hopeless scenarios and im unexpected wins.
Maia had deliberately left space for innovation, ensuring the system allowed for fluid, tactical creativity. Mastering the rules, bending them to their advantage, and even inventing new strategies allowed yers to fully showcase their abilities. That freedom was part of her original concept, sketched out during her incarceration—and now, it had finally materialized, four years in the making.
Industry execs in the crowd were visibly agitated, desperate to unmask the game’s mysterious architect. All they managed to learn mirrored what udius had found: the elusive designer went by“Griffin,”or simply“Mr. G.”
The host returned, standing tall beside the finalists, and dered,“Apuse to our top ten contenders! The next segment will determine their final cements as they face off against each other. The top scorer earns the grand prize—one million dors!”The audience erupted, their shouts shaking the arena.
The host raised a hand, signaling for quiet, and continued once the noise subsided,“Additionally, the top three participants will be offered contracts by Ark Tech,unching them into professional gaming stardom in the esports world!”
Pandemonium followed—eyes widened, mouths dropped. Until now, everyone had assumed that Marisa and Mnie would dominate without resistance, draining much of thepetitive fire. But the prospect of joining Ark Tech reignited the participants’ ambition like a jolt of caffeine. Suddenly, every one of the contestants, wanting a piece of the spotlight, was brimming with energy.
After all, bing a professional yer under Ark Technology promised an annual sry in the seven-figure range.
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