Chapter 39
Chapter 39
The card master who created the [Lonely Island Card] had clearly studied battle royale game maps, but did not copy them directly. Instead, they used them only as reference to redesign a scenario suitable for card masters.
For example, the quarry. From a game perspective, it looked quite simple—players could easily control characters to go up and down. But once you actually entered the scene, it was not like that at all.
The quarry was a large pit, five to six meters deep. It was not easy for an ordinary person to jump up or down. There were stairs leading upward inside the quarry, but even someone with good stamina would be gasping for breath after running up in one go.
The designers of the [Lonely Island Card] clearly took students’ physical condition into account, adjusting certain heights and difficulty levels, and also adding utility cards like the [Slide Card].
Ning Zhu originally wanted to keep her eyes fixed on the quarry, preferably focusing entirely on Li Leyang the whole time. Unfortunately, this was a match with over a hundred participants. The screen provided a god’s-eye view, first showing everyone the map and the general landing positions of each student.
Bi Keman suddenly said, “Wow! Someone’s already engaged!”
Ning Zhu’s heart tightened, worried it might be an issue at the quarry side. But when the camera switched, it appeared over an abandoned campsite instead.
Two Aries Division students stood facing each other, both looking a bit confused.
Gu Lingyue had already found their names and said, “The one on the left is Liu An’an, and the one on the right is Zhang Minhui.”
On the side of the screen, their admission six-pillar charts and last monthly exam results were displayed.
The monthly exam also tested the three core attributes.
These three cores were not fixed; they evolved with learning.
And the two students in front of them were extremely average in both their admission charts and their last monthly exam results—stable at around 15%. They could be described as the most ordinary of ordinary students.
Yet at this moment, they were under everyone’s watch, even having a chance to claim the first elimination of the entire match!
Zhang Minhui reacted extremely quickly. She was most likely experienced with battle royale-style games. She probably didn’t have many usable cards on hand, so she immediately hid inside a house to avoid direct confrontation with Liu An’an.
Only then did Liu An’an react. His face was full of regret.
Gu Lingyue quickly switched the screen information and displayed their card inventory:
“Liu An’an holds one [Fire Card], but unfortunately he didn’t use it immediately earlier. Zhang Minhui only has one [Slide Card]. She was able to instantly slip into the house just now, likely because she activated the [Slide Card].”
Bi Keman said, “Liu An’an is rushing into the house! Is he going for the first kill?!”
Everyone’s emotions were fully stirred, watching nervously.
The situation was very clear. Liu An’an had a [Fire Card], and Aries Division students were quite familiar with this card. Once activated, Zhang Minhui would definitely not be able to withstand it.
They were all currently in [Character Card] form, with about 100 HP.
The [Fire Card] dealt 50 instant damage, but it could be used multiple times. Liu An’an’s spiritual energy was full—two precise consecutive casts would be enough to eliminate Zhang Minhui.
The room was a small enclosed space, making it extremely difficult to dodge the [Fire Card].
Gu Lingyue said, “What a mistake! Zhang Minhui should have run into open space!”
Lu Xianle, being a social butterfly, actually knew Zhang Minhui and said regretfully, “Is Minhui going to be eliminated?”
Ning Zhu said, “Not necessarily.”
Just as she finished speaking, Gu Lingyue’s voice rang out:
“Zhang Minhui has picked up two cards inside the room!”
Bi Keman quickly added, “It’s an [Armor Card] and a [Arson Card]!”
The [Arson Card] was more difficult to use than the [Fire Card].
The effects of the two were not the same. The [Arson Card] could set the entire house on fire, while the [Fire Card] had much smaller range and power.
Gu Lingyue’s voice turned slightly tense. “Can Zhang Minhui successfully activate the [Arson Card]?”
Even many second- and third-year students might not be able to use the [Arson Card] smoothly. Zhang Minhui was just a first-year ordinary student—there was a high probability she would obtain it but be unable to activate it.
Liu An’an knew none of this. Eager for the first kill, he rushed into the house.
It was a single-room structure, with an open window that could be climbed out of.
Liu An’an feared Zhang Minhui would escape through the window, so he immediately activated his perception ring and released the [Fire Card]. Flames shot out from his wrist like a fire serpent, rushing toward Zhang Minhui.
In Liu An’an’s eyes, he could only see a single [Character Card].
Above that [Character Card] was a displayed HP value.
Just a mere hundred points—he only needed to cast the [Fire Card] twice.
Zhang Minhui, although she was riding a skateboard, still couldn’t move properly inside such a small room. In her panic, she fumbled while activating her cards.
The [Armor Card] was different from the [Fire Card]. For most freshmen, their proficiency with it was not necessarily sufficient.
The Aries Division’s combat training focused heavily on the [Fire Card]. Their casting speed and accuracy with it were much better than with other cards.
Fortunately, the [Armor Card] did not require aiming—once activated, it would take effect immediately.
Armor appeared in front of Zhang Minhui’s chest, blocking thirty points of fire damage.
Liu An’an froze for a moment, realizing the other party had picked up cards inside the room.
He had already charged in, with no way to retreat, so he simply continued casting the [Fire Card], sending another fire serpent forward.
Zhang Minhui had already rushed toward the window one step ahead.
Liu An’an activated the [Fire Card] for the third time. If these two hits landed on Zhang Minhui—even just on her legs—it would be enough to eliminate her.
Gu Lingyue and Bi Keman spoke one after another, their voices intense. The audience’s hearts were already in their throats as they stared unblinking at the scene, waiting for the “first kill” to be born.
Bi Keman said, “Zhang Minhui jumped out of the window!”
Gu Lingyue said, “Liu An’an’s [Fire Card] hit Zhang Minhui!”
Zhang Minhui’s HP dropped sharply, leaving only 20 points.
Liu An’an’s face lit up with joy. He still had one more [Fire Card] use left—this would be enough to finish her off!
Just as he leapt out of the window, preparing to land the final blow…
BOOM!
The house was ignited!
The scene was extremely shocking. Zhang Minhui stumbled and fell to the ground, and even though it was only a stone-like avatar, deep and shallow cracks appeared all over her body.
She did not hesitate. At the critical moment, she activated the [Arson Card].
The flames from the [Arson Card] were far more intense, instantly engulfing the entire house. Liu An’an, who was still perched on the window, was also caught in the fire.
His [Character Card] HP began dropping rapidly.
-20, -20, -20…
In the blink of an eye, Liu An’an’s HP also dropped to just 20 points.
Zhang Minhui struggled to stand back up.
She had successfully activated the [Arson Card]!
She had eliminated a [Character Card]!
Even though she didn’t know that all the viewers outside were focused on this moment, she was still extremely happy—because she had done it… huh?!
Gu Lingyue was about to congratulate Zhang Minhui for securing the first kill.
But then Bi Keman suddenly shouted, “Liu An’an hasn’t given up! Well done!”
The burning Liu An’an truly hadn’t given up. He was already on the window frame, and at that moment he simply lunged straight at Zhang Minhui.
Zhang Minhui had no way to dodge.
Liu An’an, engulfed in flames, grabbed Zhang Minhui’s leg. The fire from his [Character Card] instantly spread to Zhang Minhui’s [Character Card].
Both of their HP dropped simultaneously.
Everyone was stunned.
Huh…?
Gu Lingyue announced loudly: “They both achieved the first kill at the same time!”
Liu An’an’s HP hit zero.
Zhang Minhui’s HP also dropped to zero.
Both of their [Character Cards] simultaneously turned into a pile of gray-white dust.
The entire venue first fell silent—then erupted into thunderous cheers.
“Awesome!”
“That move was insane!!!”
“Ahhh I want to go on stage and play too right now!”
“Are you first-years still recruiting? Can I take someone’s place?!”
Lu Xianle excitedly grabbed Ning Zhu’s hand. “So amazing! Minhui and Liu An’an are both incredible!”
In the entire gymnasium, not just the hot-blooded Aries students—even the secretly watching Libra students were also fired up, unable to help clenching their fists.
Interesting!
Exciting!
Even the teachers inside the arena couldn’t suppress the smiles at the corners of their mouths.
This format really works!
Liu An’an and Zhang Minhui were considered fairly average among students. They both made quite a few mistakes in this battle, but without a doubt, they both delivered performances far beyond their usual level.
The decisiveness and bravery of Aries were fully displayed.
Zhang Minhui even successfully activated the [Arson Card], which exceeded her own capability.
Liu An’an’s final desperate pounce was also excellent—he did not give up in a hopeless situation and forced out a double first kill!
Although Liu An’an and Zhang Minhui were both eliminated, when they exited the [Perception Card] and reappeared in the gymnasium, they were met with warm applause.
They originally looked full of regret, but now they were first stunned, then broke into bright smiles.
Being eliminated didn’t matter—they were here just to participate in the first place.
And this “just participating” result was amazing!
After the first kill, more and more eliminations followed one after another.
These eliminations were also intense—some involved players who both obtained [Fire Cards] and fought head-on.
Others were two people using [Armor Cards] to clash against each other.
Before the circle even shrank, the number of people in the [Lonely Island Card] had already dropped from 102 to 70.
At this point, the camera finally shifted to the quarry area.
Ning Zhu immediately spotted Li Leyang and couldn’t help but feel nervous for him.
However, his side was surprisingly calm—there was no conflict at all.
Gu Lingyue then said in a rather complicated tone, “This is Li Leyang. His three-pillar chart is full. He is one of the top freshmen in the first year, and his monthly exam performance has improved significantly…”
Why was she specifically introducing Li Leyang?
There wasn’t even any fighting happening here?
Then the audience fell silent.
On the side of the screen, lines of small text popped up.
Gu Lingyue said in a hard-to-describe tone, “Li Leyang’s luck is extremely good. He picked up six [Armor Cards], five [Spirit Energy Cards], three [Fire Cards], three [Arson Cards], one [Expansion Card], one [Slide Card], one [Smoke Card], one [Speed Boost Card], one [Healing Card], one [Explosion Card]…”
It was obvious—Goddess Lingyue was getting tired from reading.
The audience fell into silence.
Even the eliminated students were completely stunned.
They were lucky if they could pick up even one card—how did this guy pick up so many?!
Bi Keman continued, “Even with the [Expansion Card], Li Leyang can only carry ten cards. Then the extra cards…”
He didn’t even need to say anything further.
Li Leyang had already casually grabbed a shovel and started digging in the quarry, huffing and puffing.
He was digging a pit.
What was he digging it for?
To bury cards!
Li Leyang buried all the extra cards into the pit. While doing so, he muttered:
“If I can’t use them, right? Then I’m definitely not letting anyone else benefit from them!”
Ning Zhu: “……”
Wang Huan and the other two all covered their faces, desperately wanting to draw a clear line between themselves and Brother Yang at this moment.
They didn’t know him. They really didn’t know him!