Three hours after the new rule was announced, all Ascendants who had not discarded their challenge invitations received the temporary title "Competitor."
This title had to be worn, and its effect was to display the wearer's nickname and point total above their head.
Five hours after the rule was announced, at the Countermeasure Research Institute in North Star, Zhang Minglu was on his way to report to Gao Liangwei when he unexpectedly ran into Han Qiu in the corridor.
Unlike the nickname and score above Zhang Minglu's head—"Cloud Sail, Vast Sea, 1"—there was nothing displayed above Han Qiu's.
He had to admit that he found Han Qiu's decision to forfeit deeply perplexing. But considering the final outcome of the meeting before the title was issued, he felt that the younger Han Qiu was directly protesting the decision.
"Academician Han."
Zhang Minglu stopped first.
"I know you disagree with North Star Official's final decision, but isn't it too impulsive to protest by damaging your own Mind Power Cap?"
Han Qiu smiled at that and admitted it quite directly. "You see it as impulsive, but in my heart, I'm simply following the rules."
"Following the rules?" Zhang Minglu frowned. "Becoming a Competitor is what it means to follow the rules."
"During the previous rule, I told Dr. Zhang that I would follow the route planned by the Fire Thief in this game. In this rule, the route planned by the Fire Thief is for Competitors to fight each other, not to clear the challenge peacefully under powerful protection."
Han Qiu's words made anger rise in Zhang Minglu's heart.
"So you simply forfeited? In your eyes, is North Star Official wrong for protecting the public?"
"Protection itself isn't wrong. But a flock of chicks sheltered too excessively, when the real storm comes, will