Lord of Prayer - Chapter 320 - 217: On the Same Wavelength
The term “Restricted Area” was nothing new to Ascenders. In fact, quite a few of the contestants present had either participated in expeditions to clear out Restricted Areas or were members of exploration teams themselves.
And it was precisely because they understood Restricted Areas that everyone was all the more shocked.
’Holding the competition directly inside a Restricted Area… Have the organizers actually secured the development rights to it?’
’They must be unbelievably rich!’
“I’m sure you were all as shocked as I was to hear the news. That’s right—this Sword Forging Competition will be held in a mysterious and unpredictable Restricted Area!
“Our contestants will embark on a journey into the unknown. They will gather resources, craft equipment, survive in the wilderness, and compete against one another. They must also be on guard against the dangers that can appear at any moment in the Restricted Area—all while gradually uncovering certain hidden truths.
“I’m sure our viewers watching the livestream are dying to see the competition begin! So, without further ado, the S35 Global Sword Forging Competition… officially begins!”
The moment Colonel Guan finished speaking, the powerful, rhythmic clang of hammered iron rang out from all directions, like the very pulse of life. It was immediately followed by the deafening beat of war drums, which joined the hammering to form a grand symphony. A pristine soprano voice began to sing, and the melody grew increasingly intense, building to a climax.
In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed dramatically. The several hundred contestants, who had been standing at the foot of the volcano, were instantly teleported to its summit.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE…
The magma in the caldera churned like a sea of incandescent crimson, its searing red hue striking directly at the soul.
At the climax of the epic and magnificent BGM, the volcano erupted with a deafening roar. Like flames flaring up from a furnace, scalding hot magma was blasted into the sky, resembling the spray of an ocean wave.
A platform slowly rose from the sea of fiery magma. Upon it rested a gorgeous, exquisitely crafted silver trophy, its front engraved with the emblem of the Forging Association: a Forging Hammer striking an Anvil, sending sparks flying.
Such a grand and magnificent opening ceremony had countless viewers’ blood pumping with excitement. The live comment feed exploded, with everyone impatiently urging the competition to begin.
However, back at the venue, quite a few contestants had already started cursing up a storm.
“Fuck! Which son of a bitch cranked up the temperature? You owe me new clothes!”
“You damn greedy organizers! Pay for my supplies!”
“My hair is singed!!!”
By now, it was obvious to everyone that this place wasn’t a real Volcanic Area. The surroundings were all just hyper-realistic holograms, specially created by the organizers to match the “Forging” theme of the Sword Forging Competition.
And some son of a bitch had cranked the simulated temperature up to actual volcanic levels, causing many people’s clothes and supplies to spontaneously combust.
Backstage, a technician who had just gotten back from slacking off in the bathroom wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly adjusted the temperature system back to normal.
’No big deal. Just a technical adjustment.’
“All contestants, please look to the sky. A detailed explanation of the competition Rules will now be broadcast. Please watch carefully,” came the voice of Commentator Meow Meow.
Zhou Chen looked up at the sky, where a screen of light had appeared, and an image materialized upon it.
“It’s Wild Thursday! A feast of delicacies awaits you.”
“Helandy Alchemy Workshop. Attentive service, superior quality… Scan the QR code now to place your order and receive an immediate 10% discount.”
“Buy a rose for your special someone. Scan the code to follow Li’s Flowers, and start your annual membership with a 15% discount. You’ll receive a premium floral gift package on every romantic holiday throughout the year.”
“True safety requires the right gear. Choose Ultra-Thin 0.001.”
What played first wasn’t the rule explanation, but ten full minutes of sponsor advertisements. The contestants clenched their fists in frustration, and the live comment feed absolutely exploded with spam.
“Great product, my kids love it, works on sensitive skin, chicken-flavored and extra crispy, NOW CAN WE PLEASE MOVE ON.”
Finally, the lengthy commercial break ended, and the main program began.
The screen showed a blizzard raging over towering, snow-capped mountains that stretched to the horizon. The camera swept rapidly over forests, plains, basins, and frozen lakes…
A deep, powerful male voice began to narrate:
“Zone 069: a frozen World perpetually shrouded in blizzards.
“Our organizers have confirmed that the Restricted Area contains vast quantities of Extraordinary Materials, more than enough for every contestant to use.
“You are to gather all the resources you can find and forge them into weapons and items that will benefit you. You must do whatever it takes to eliminate the other contestants and claim ultimate victory.
“For this competition, contestants may only bring the one Weapon they forged during the qualifiers, along with their personal forging tools. No other damage-dealing Extraordinary Weapons are permitted, but you are allowed to use support-type Artifacts.
“This means that good strategy and cunning will play a crucial role in the competition.
“Most importantly, as the competition goes on, a massive blizzard will begin to form in Zone 069. The blizzard’s reach will gradually expand, shrinking the safe zone and increasing the probability of encounters between contestants. In other words—the ring is closing in.
“If a contestant is caught in the blizzard and their life-saving Artifact is triggered, they will be considered eliminated.
“After this rule-explanation video concludes, the organizers will issue a life-saving Artifact to every contestant. If you encounter a life-threatening situation, this Artifact will automatically teleport you out of the competition grounds to receive immediate and thorough medical care from the Life Church.
“Therefore, all contestants can go all out and display their skills without having to worry about any fatalities.
“Finally, please remember the long-standing motto of the Sword Forging Competition:
“—Showmanship first, competition second, friendship third.”
