Chapter 507 - 412: Champion

Li Wei’s defeat left the audience somewhat disappointed. Fortunately, a stronger contestant, Zhang Ye, was still in the running, which gave them some consolation.

"Dwayne, who do you think will be tonight’s champion?" Wu Yun asked. Standing in front of Johnson, he looked as small as a teenager.

The two weren’t facing the cameras, so they weren’t worried about anyone overhearing their private conversation.

"Wu! You already know the answer in your heart, don’t you? The firefighters from your country are truly incredible!" Johnson said, his expression full of admiration. "He’s practically an all-around warrior! I’ve only ever seen that kind of physique on football players in the United States!"

"And his ability to react under pressure is extremely strong. That must have been honed by a firefighter’s long-term emergency response training."

Wu Yun was delighted to hear Johnson’s high praise for Zhang Ye. After all, it would have been quite embarrassing if not a single one of the home contestants qualified for the world finals in a competition he had organized.

Wu Yun smiled. "Zhang Ye’s physical condition is certainly excellent. Plus, a firefighter’s daily training includes many exercises that focus on agility and cardiorespiratory endurance."

"So in this event, I don’t think Zhang Ye has a significant advantage. Removing the barbell plates mostly comes down to endurance and strength. As long as no one makes a mistake, the time differences between competitors probably won’t be that large."

Johnson nodded in agreement. "If Zhang Ye makes it to the final showdown, I think tonight’s championship is his for the taking."

And just as they predicted, Zhang Ye won, though not by a large margin. Had he not employed the strategy they’d just discussed—leaving a few of the topmost plates untouched—the outcome of the match would have been anyone’s guess.

Still, a win is a win.

The crowd in the stands and the audience online were a sea of jubilant celebration.

To allow the four contestants in the penultimate round to recover their strength, a series of scheduled performances began to warm up the crowd again.

The three songs ended quickly.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Titan Game Asia Finals! I’m sure you’re all eager to see our second-to-last showdown!"

"And now! Let’s welcome Huaxia’s Zhang Ye and Mongolia’s Bateer to the stage for the first match of this round!"

For this round, Zhang Ye’s luck was a mixed bag.

On the one hand, his luck was bad because he was matched against the Mongolian contestant, who had enjoyed a longer rest period.

On the other hand, it was good luck because if he won this match, he would have more time to rest and prepare for the final showdown.

Zhang Ye glanced at the Mongolian contestant’s powerful build and made a silent resolution. ’I have to use my speed. I have to pull out that top golden pipe before he does!’

At the sound of the referee’s starting pistol.

Zhang Ye burst forward, sprinting with all his might. He covered the ten-meter distance in the blink of an eye.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he planted one foot on the wooden crate holding the pipes. Leaning back and using the full force of his torso, he began pulling relentlessly.

The event structure blocked his view, so Zhang Ye couldn’t see what his opponent was doing.

After swiftly pulling out two pipes, each eight or nine meters long, he immediately scrambled onto the inclined surface.

As he climbed, he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye—his opponent still had one pipe left to pull!

’This is my chance!’

Zhang Ye fought to keep his balance, repeating the mechanical motion of wrapping his arms around the pipe and pulling. At that moment, only a single thought filled his mind: ’Faster!’

"BANG!"

The steel pipe on Zhang Ye’s side slammed into the mechanism, tripping a steel plate. Instantly, celebratory fireworks erupted, signaling his victory.

Still clutching the steel pipe, Zhang Ye listened to the roar of the crowd and finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Absolutely stunning!" the host’s astonished voice boomed through the arena. "Relying on sheer speed, Huaxia’s Zhang Ye has utterly dominated the Mongolian powerhouse!"

"Let’s give another round of applause for the victor!"

Standing beside Johnson, Wu Yun couldn’t help but applaud. He had expected a titanic struggle in the steel pipe tug-of-war, but he never imagined the Mongolian contestant’s agility would be so far inferior to Zhang Ye’s.

"So damn strong! Are all the firefighters in Huaxia this badass?"

"I don’t know if they’re all that badass, but the firefighters at the station near my building train like crazy every single day! Obstacle courses and stuff like that are just part of their basic curriculum! That’s why I think the final event is where Zhang Ye will really shine! It’s his chance to pull way ahead of the pack!"

"Now we just have to see whether the Iranian or the Kazakh comes out on top!"

"I think Zhang Ye’s got this locked down! The Kazakh and the Iranian are about the same build. As long as their speed is comparable, the final tug-of-war is bound to drain a ton of their energy! All Zhang Ye has to do is wait for the final round and reap the rewards!"

You have to admit, there are a lot of sharp people online. If there were betting on this game, Zhang Ye’s odds would probably be extremely low right now.

Just as the online commenters predicted, the Kazakh and the Iranian were locked in a stalemate for a long time during the final steel pipe tug-of-war. The camera zoomed in, and the audience could tell from their flushed, straining faces just how evenly matched the two were.

Sweat poured down their bodies, and the Iranian felt the steel pipe growing increasingly slippery. Just then, he had a flash of insight and abruptly let go.

Anyone who’s played tug-of-war knows that if one side suddenly lets go of the rope, the other side will most likely be sent tumbling.

Just as the Iranian had predicted, the Kazakh, who was still clutching the pipe, suddenly felt the resistance vanish. That, combined with the sweat on his own body, made his hands slip, and a second later, he tumbled onto the soft padding below.