The Pure White Battle Robe

On the last day of July 2032, the Moon God Cup began as scheduled.

At the entrance of Qigan Lane in Daji Town, Forty-One District, the Blue Eagle Stadium gathered 14,000 participants.

From the youngest, a twelve-year-old hybrid of calamity and beast, to a sixty-one-year-old veteran whose prowess remains undiminished, they all looked toward the multimedia screen on the outer edge of the stadium. Beyond the screen, in the hollow dome, beyond the mountains, was the blood-red setting sun from District 42.

The golden cup, personally forged by Ming De, stands atop the Emerald Stadium in Adulis, in the main venue of the TV broadcasting tower. Twelve cat's-eye stones of different colors seem to be silently watching the brave people, waiting for the valiant warriors to hold it in their hands, kiss it, and caress it.

This golden cup holds profound significance for people; after the turbulent era of rampant Madness Butterfly ended, it was the highest tribute offered to the warriors.

Local news media from Daji Town arrived at the Blue Eagle Stadium early, setting up long lenses and microphones on both sides of the welcoming avenue, ready to use pens and paper as swords and shields to document the warriors' performance in the preliminary rounds.

The Guangling Zhixi fighters, who were maintaining order at the registration sub-venue, were on high alert, holding their weapons and ready for action. Every year at this time, it is also a chaotic period when violent incidents rise sharply.

The clock tower in the square on Flagpole High was counting down for the event. Jiang Xueming's team had already lined up at the front, successfully completed the registration, and received their numbers.

When Little Shasha rode on Fuyanni's neck and reached the required height, they arrived at the riot control window of the registration desk—the registration staff were clearly taken aback for a moment.

The sales clerk clearly hadn't expected that this adorable hybrid of a monster and a calamity beast would actually be the coach of the preliminary round team.

"Please help me register, thank you!"

Shasha took out the team members' personal information one by one from the file package, including the basic parameters of the elemental composition and the sextant inspection form.

Teller: "Okay, please wait a moment."

After a while, the younger sister turned her head away from the computer screen, her expression becoming somewhat troubled.

"Little Pepper Shark, now you have two questions."

Shasha: "Please speak."

The clerk said, "Your team doesn't have a local sponsor, only a Ma's Lamb Restaurant, according to the regulations of the Best Moon God Cup tournament committee."

At this point, the younger sister looked regretful.

"--The team members must wear pure white team uniforms. Ma's Lamb Restaurant only has a health permit and a business license. If Mr. Ma wants to sponsor you, he needs to establish a business entity with the qualifications to operate a club, which he doesn't have."

"No problem." Shasha, experienced as she was, had anticipated this. "I don't want to be associated with a lamb restaurant's name either, so wearing white is fine."

"The other problem is a bit more complicated," the teller patiently explained. "Little Chili, you're all from out of town. Four of the team members have ID cards from District 1, but they're coming all the way to District 42 to compete. They don't have local company certification, and if they haven't established a club, they'll have to pay a registration fee."

The younger sister moved the computer screen and opened Qi Ji's personal information separately.

"And this young man, his temporary ID card has expired and he needs to get a replacement."

Shasha took out her wallet and then asked, "How much will all of this cost in total?"

Teller: "That's a total of 377,613 Hui Stone Currency."

"So expensive!?" Shasha was stunned.

The sales clerk smiled and said, "It is indeed very expensive. The schedule in Zone 1 is very difficult, and it's not uncommon for teams to compete in other places. But I've never seen a small team like yours, Little Chili, that can't find any sponsors."

The little shark asked in a low voice, "Can you make it cheaper?"

"You can pay in installments!" the teller continued. "This money will be deposited into the Daji Town Sports Welfare Foundation to be used for the construction of schools and nursing homes."

Little Shark: "How about 360 episodes?"

"Uh," the teller said a little embarrassedly, "If you're calculating the repayment period based on your pet's age, I'm afraid that won't work."

Just then, the other groups at the back of the line started to get impatient and began to shout.

"Even the noble lords of District One have come to our Daji Town to beg for food?!"

Stop dawdling! Hurry up!

"Hey you in white! Finish your paperwork and get out of here!"

The little shark wasn't angry; it ignored the rumors and pulled out its coaching credentials to discuss the matter with the sales clerk.

"Check my file, dear sister. I once achieved the status of district representative in District 30. If nothing unexpected happens, and I can make it to the second half of the competition this time, I definitely won't lack sponsors—such a small matter, the organizers of Daji Town shouldn't make things difficult for me, right?"

"Oh! Wow!" The young woman took the credentials and checked Coach Shasha's past performance in the event's backend system. She was astonished. "Of course! For the warriors who can go to Adulis and Cairo and see the Moon God Cup in person, we can waive the registration fee."

"Hehe!~" The little shark tugged at Fuyanni's hair and shook it back and forth, very happy.

"This is your team number. This isn't your first time participating in a competition. Do you need me to explain the specific competition schedule again?" The clerk handed Shasha a stack of registration numbers and a file bag.

Little Shark: "No problem! I can handle it!"

"There's something else!" The young female teller tossed her hair, her face freckled, her eyes blinking, and poked half her head out of the security window. "Little Chili! Can I give you a kiss?"

The little shark immediately leaned over the counter. "Of course!"

"I wish you a successful trial." The teller pressed herself against the window and left a hot lipstick mark on Shasha's face. Fuyanni, carrying the little shark on her back, was almost driven mad with jealousy.

After Coach Shasha left with the competition materials, he called the team members to go backstage to prepare for the competition.

The public lounge, converted from the Qigandi public bathhouse, was where the preliminary teams entered the preparation area in batches. Before that, they had to collect their equipment. Shasha and his teammates explained the rules of the preliminary round.

"Our number is 315—we're in the fifth round, brothers. We'll be on the fighting field in twenty minutes. How does it feel?"

The group followed behind Sharks Chili without saying a word.

It was clear that the children were a little nervous; there were just too many people inside and outside the Blue Eagle Stadium.

The main event of the Moon God Cup is a jousting tournament, but traditional sports competitions and the Paralympic Games will also be held at the same time. Spectators, staff and athletes from the branch venues will all gather in this stadium on this day.

It's no exaggeration to say that you can step on someone's toes just by taking a couple of steps around here; it's so crowded you can hardly breathe.

The one who felt the most uncomfortable was Qi Ji. He had never seen so many people before. The most crowded place he had ever been in his life was Shanghai Bund holidays.

His secluded life over the years made him somewhat unaccustomed to such a lively environment. The various conversations, cheers, the ear-piercing noise of screams during the lottery, the various hybrid monsters, and the psychic energy tides emanating from the powerful psychics all made him dizzy.

He was also the leader of the team. During the preliminary rounds of the auditions, with thousands of audience members present, he felt immense pressure before even stepping onto the stage and couldn't utter a single word.

There were just too many people, way too many.

The little shark could clearly sense that these older brothers and sisters weren't in a good state, but there was nothing it could do. Encouraging them with words would only amplify the pressure in their hearts. That's how the preliminary rounds were; if they couldn't overcome the wave of spiritual pressure, they would be swallowed up by the sea.

Veterans who participated in the Moon God Cup refer to this environment as the "South Wall," a Chinese proverb that goes, "You won't turn back until you hit the south wall"—if you don't break through this wall, you'll lose to your inner weakness.

All newcomers participating in the competition must face this environment, which is fair and equal. For psionicists, it is a wonderful and Inspiration experience, just like Xue Ming and Liuxing's experience when facing the Holy Beast. It will allow psionicists to undergo a rapid transformation.

"Collect your equipment, as written in the manual." Arriving at the tin shed distributing competition equipment, Shasha explained to everyone, "During the preliminary rounds, we'll be using the officially issued weapons, and there will be three rounds of competition."

"The participating teams vary in skill level. To avoid unnecessary casualties, the 12.7 version of the ammunition rules will be used in the gunfight segment."

"The primary weapon is the P99 pistol, and each person has only one magazine. The ammunition is made from White Lady's freeze-dried powder, so even if you hit the eye socket, it won't be fatal."

"The secondary weapon is a standard plastic-steel combat dagger sponsored by Cold Steel, with a blade length of sixteen centimeters."

"Without any protective gear, each person lost one point for a gunshot wound to the torso and three points for vital organs, totaling thirty points for the five men."

"The 12.7 version of the ammunition rules is very lenient for newcomers. Everyone's maximum health is six points, it's simple, right?"

"If two vital points are hit simultaneously, it's considered the process of entering the Gate of Death and becoming completely fatal."

"If you accumulate more than six instances of damage, you will be forced to exit the game."

"If a fight breaks out and both sides die, the high-speed camera will capture the fight, and the side that defeats the enemy first will win."

Shasha pointed to the lounge for further explanation.

"Under the previous preliminary round rules, each person only had three points, and being attacked in a vital area meant immediate elimination. The new rules were revised by the referees on the committee, and many club youth academies use these rules—they are more reasonable, so they have been adopted for this year's main tournament."

"Coach." Qi Ji picked up the P99 and dagger, feeling somewhat at a loss. "I've never fired a gun before. Is this my weapon? If we get through this round, the rest of the matches will be real, and I'll have to use this pistol to heal my teammates?"

"That's right! Miracle Bro!" Little Shark grasped the key point. "You need to get used to firearms, learn how to use them—these are your weapons for rescuing your teammates, and these supplies too."

At this point, Little Shark tossed three cans of White Lady's high-pressure hemostatic gel from the metal box counter.

"These sprays can heal your teammates at close range, but their range is less than 50 centimeters, so you need to get extremely close. Based on a total score of 30 points, with each person receiving 6 points, the spray is an extra 18 points – our chance to revive. If the enemy captures these sprays, the situation will likely become very bad. The attacking side, with its regeneration resources, will recklessly choose to trade blows. I always plan in advance who gets the resources to heal teammates; it's my job."

"I really—" Qi Ji stammered, "I really can."

He looked at the P99's gun lock; this was the first time in his life he had ever touched a real gun.

Sharks Chili: "Why don't you ask the amazing Uncle Ming? You have one of the top killers in the underworld by your side. He's not only ruthless with a gun, but also a master gun maker."

"Cough." Jiang Xueming didn't want to reveal his identity in public, otherwise, accompanied by a burst of powerful music, all sorts of enthusiastic fans would appear and corner him in the toilet.

Qi Ji turned to look at Jiang Xueming.

Little Shasha whispered, "Believe in yourself, believe in my choice, believe in Uncle Ming. We don't have much time left!"

Before the words were even finished, the staff had already started calling out numbers. Teams numbered 300 to 330 were to immediately enter the rest area to wait for the match to begin.

More than a hundred people crowded into the public lounge. The previous round of the competition had not yet ended. From the lounge window, one could see the people in the stadium pouring out their blood and sweat.

The spacious green field is divided into three large areas: the two sides are the activity areas for the two competing sides, and the middle is a complex fighting zone.

The game features a CQB environment with rooms partitioned by oak planks, as well as a long, open alleyway over eighty meters long for pistol duels. There are two- or three-story buildings with varying elevations, and dry sandy areas and wet mudflats.

Every year, these modular competition scenarios are randomly arranged like a complex sandbox, much like a college entrance examination question bank, leaving veterans clueless and forcing them to readjust to the unfamiliar environment of the preliminary rounds, where they are very likely to capsize unexpectedly.

Right now, at this very moment.

A lot of things happened in the crowded lounge.

Qi Ji's eyes were fixed on the foreign players on the field. He couldn't see the complex interior of the building, but he could hear the constant whistling of gunfire. On the green grass of the Blue Eagle Stadium, there were no players left in the activity areas of the red and black teams; they all rushed towards the complex fighting zone.

Daniel was the same; the circulating fan wafted the pungent smell of sweat from the stadium into the lounge, and the sweltering summer heat filled the entire underground cavity with an oppressive atmosphere.

This waiting is agonizing, like going to the execution ground to meet your death.

Xiao Hao, however, was no longer as anxious as before. His eyes were fixed on the commentary booth on the main stage and the audience seats in the stadium.

People from different villages, towns, and cities gathered here, holding colorful ribbons, whistling, and clutching T-shirts from various clubs. The local manufacturers were their workplaces, and the contestants were the manufacturers' top henchmen.

The young talents sweating it out on the field may have been the little nephew who used to run around and play in the community a few years ago. Now he has grown up and become the next generation full of passion and energy.

Eighteen banners were arranged in a large circle around the green field, representing the local businesses supporting the Daji Town competition area. From Yunlong Heavy Industry to Hemei Appliances, from Aurora Snacks to Charles Technology, there were team flags of various colors and team emblems of various shapes.

Two girls were peering out the window, watching the Hainan coconut juice team's male group, dressed in open-front suits, live-streaming sales at a branch venue. They were so engrossed in the scene that they couldn't get out, sticking their bodies out as if trying to shove their heads through the window.

But at this very moment—

--An unexpected visit from Team 316 shattered the pre-match calm.

A dirty hand slid up to Kaycee Gerrard's upturned backside, but before it could even touch Kaycee body, the gunsmith grabbed it tightly.

"What are you trying to do?" the gunsmith said coldly.

The owner of this groping hand was a breakthrough player from Team 316. He was a young man with brown hair, green eyes, and wheat-colored skin.

Caught red-handed by the gunsmith, the young man showed no shame whatsoever; on the contrary, he was extremely arrogant, as if he had swallowed gunpowder.

"I want to add some branding to you white-coated newbies—what? You want to refuse my good intentions?"

Sharks Chili immediately turned around, her cute expression vanishing, replaced by that of a tyrannical sea monster with sharp teeth and a ferocious look. "The competition hasn't even started yet!"

It noticed the young man's purple team uniform and the diamond-shaped crystal badge on his chest; he belonged to a well-known team in the Daji Town competition area, the [Purple Crystal] Club, sponsored by a manufacturer of pyroxene jewelry.

"You're quite the expert at breaking through Purple Crystal's defenses, aren't you? You saw a weakness my girl inadvertently revealed and couldn't wait to break through it?"

"Hahahaha!" The young man from Purple Crystal burst into laughter, seemingly amused by Shasha's bizarre analogy. "Coach in white! You're quite interesting!?"

As the gunsmith exerted force, the young man's expression changed drastically. He felt an excruciating pain in his wrist, but he pretended to be calm, not wanting to lose face.

At this point, Kaycee and Xiao Min were still in a daze. They only knew that the male models on the sidelines were good-looking, but they didn't know that before they even entered the arena, the enemy's vanguard had already come to grope them and make threats.

"Let me go." The young man's voice was low and his expression sinister.

Jiang Xueming: "You'd better be more polite."

Young man. "I haven't even touched it yet!"

Jiang Xueming released his grip, and the young man took two steps back, revealing a sullen and dissatisfied look in his eyes.

"Remember, my name is Fiego, Fiego Sebasti." The young man pulled out his player ID from his team uniform. He was twenty-two years old and a contracted player with Purple Crystal. "When we get to the arena, I'll still leave my mark on this beauty's butt—you guys in white, remember that, you can book your return tickets now."

The little shark shouted, "Hooray!"

Hao Bro suddenly stood up, his soul returning from the sea of people in the stands to his body.

"What's wrong?!"

The scene was so noisy that Hao Bro's voice became much louder.

The little shark flicked out its grey-blue index finger, like an arrow released from a bow. "This guy is Purple Crystal's penetrator, the same type of player as you."

"Whoa!" Hao Bro strode forward, blocking Fiego's path.

Fiego stared in surprise at the burly man who had suddenly appeared.

--Ah A Hao's steps were fast and fierce, as if a city wall had suddenly appeared in his face.

"You're my opponent?" A Hao frowned, his eyes blazing with anger. "As long as I beat you, my mission is complete, right? If I'm stronger than you, the audience will definitely like me, right?"

"Is this guy crazy?" Fiego couldn't understand A Hao's thought process and only felt a heat on his forehead.

Xiao Hao is much stronger than Purple Crystal's breakthrough player. They are about the same height, both being men over 180 centimeters tall.

At that moment, Hao Bro's forehead touched Fiego's forehead.

"You keep calling me 'wearing white'! What nonsense are you spouting! I will protect this pristine white battle robe—and JK's butt! I will protect that too!"

Kaycee Gerrard spat out a mouthful of energy drink, nearly bursting out laughing.

Hao Bro clenched his fists, making a cracking sound near Fiego's ear.

--Only after this inexplicable opponent left did Fiego return to 316 Purple Crystal's team, completely bewildered.

The coach of Purple Crystal saw the breakthrough player return with a blank stare in his eyes and asked him a question.

"Fiego, did you succeed? Are they angry? Provoking the opponent isn't exactly a glorious tactic, but it's very effective."

Fiego Sebasti shook his head, as if he had been struck by a powerful psychic energy; his arm was still throbbing with pain.

"I don't know. Coach, I don't understand these people, they're so strange."

Purple Crystal's coach glanced at Fiego: "Are you alright? What happened to your hand?"

Fiego glanced at the rest of the group.

He was somewhat flustered, knowing that the Purple Crystal team members were all elites.

The dull pain in his arm showed no signs of abating. He didn't know the extent of his injury, and he only had a few minutes left to prepare. If he showed weakness at this point, he would not only be ridiculed, but he would also find it difficult to hold his head high in front of the coach in the future.

"I'm fine."