Eagle Nation Only Came Second? The Trial's Top Contender Revealed!

In the Cherry Blossom Nation, information about Kato Kaito slowly appeared on the virtual screen above the square.

As the rankings were revealed, the crowd raised their hands and cheered.

"Third place! Kaito made the top three!"

"Oh my god, those rewards are incredible! A 15% boost to Initial Identity?"

"Even newcomers will be able to enter the Naruto World and make their way there!"

As the ranking appeared, a beam of golden light descended from the sky and enveloped the people of the Cherry Blossom Nation.

Their national destiny grew stronger, and everyone's comprehension improved as well.

Once the golden light faded, they flocked to the Dragon Nation's National Destiny Livestream to flaunt their success.

"That's Kaito's strength! He's a Peak Jonin. Your so-called Soul Ancestor doesn't even come close!"

"You think the Dragon Nation can compare with the Cherry Blossom Nation?"

"If you know what's good for you, apply for a national destiny contract and become our vassal. Otherwise, once this trial ends, the Cherry Blossom Nation will start a National War and take over the Dragon Nation!"

The Dragon Nation's viewers fired back without hesitation.

But when they remembered that the Dragon Nation had once again failed to reach the top ten in the National Destiny Trial and would receive no reward at all, their spirits sank.

"After this round, we really need to explore a new world! If even a Soul Ancestor can't make the top ten, maybe the Soul Land World truly isn't among the best trial worlds anymore."

"But the Dragon Nation has missed the top ten for ten straight rounds of National Destiny Training. We're not just missing one round of rewards. We're missing ten!"

"With our current national destiny, anyone exploring a new world would probably enter as a commoner or worse, without any special status to help them!"

While the Dragon Nation's viewers hung their heads, a few noticed something odd in the National Destiny Livestream.

"Huh? Wait. The strongest contenders from all the major nations seem to have appeared. So why is the Cherry Blossom Nation only third?"

"Right! Eagle Nation should obviously be first, so who's second?"

"Every nation's recognized strongest contender seems to be on the rankings already. Did some newcomer discover a powerful new world?"

That thought made viewers across the nations restless.

"It must be one of our Kimchi Nation's contestants! Lots of our young contestants like exploring new worlds!"

"What a joke. How much of a boost does your national destiny give them? Enough to survive in a world even more terrifying than the Hero Hunter World?"

"It must be a contestant from India!"

"People from India are more afraid of dying than anyone. You expect them to explore a new world?"

"Stop dreaming. This unknown contestant must be from the Cherry Blossom Nation. Only our powerful national destiny could give someone a better Initial Identity in a new world!"

Every nation in the top ten believed it had produced a second Super Genius. Even nations that had given up on this round's rewards began to hope again.

"The Cherry Blossom Nation and Kimchi Nation only started exploring their new worlds a few years ago. Why would their young people venture into an even less familiar world?"

"Exactly. If you ask me, this unknown contestant must be from the Aussie Dragon Nation..."

As the arguments raged, second place appeared on the rankings.

[2nd Place]

[Contestant: Serafino]

[Nation: Eagle Nation]

[Trial World: Heaven World]

[Realm: High-Rank Six-Winged Angel]

[Trial Rewards: Eagle Nation's national destiny +15%; comprehension of all Eagle Nation citizens +15%; Initial Identity Talent of all Eagle Nation citizens +20%!]

Viewers across the nations stared at the new ranking in stunned silence. Then comments began racing through their livestreams.

"Oh my god, Eagle Nation's Serafino isn't first?"

"Someone this round is even more monstrous than Serafino?"

"Serafino comes from one of Eagle Nation's terrifying angel clans. In that world, he was practically destined for greatness!"

"He's far stronger than the winners of previous rounds!"

Eagle Nation had taken first place for many rounds in a row. Its national destiny far surpassed every other nation's, so its contestants were bound to receive far better Initial Identities when exploring new worlds. Everyone had assumed it would take first again.

Yet Eagle Nation's Super Genius had only come second. Then who was first?!

The National Destiny Livestream descended into a frenzy as viewers argued that the mysterious contestant had to be from their own nation.

The Dragon Nation's National Destiny Livestream remained relatively quiet.

Many viewers were still reeling from the setback and had lost interest in the rankings. Only a handful stayed to speculate.

"Could the mysterious first-place contestant be from the Dragon Nation?"

Instead of raising anyone's hopes, the suggestion prompted a flood of dispirited replies.

"Stop dreaming. With our current national destiny, our contestants' Initial Identities and Talents in a new world would be terrible!"

"Exactly. Even if someone found a trial world more dangerous than the Soul Land World, they'd never rise to the top with ordinary Talent. Just surviving would be impressive!"

"Sigh. I've given up hoping."

"Don't say first place is from the Dragon Nation in here. Viewers from other nations will see it and laugh at us for dreaming again."

"If you ask me, first place is most likely from Eagle Nation. Their national destiny is the strongest. Someone entering a new world might be born a Super Genius!"

"Eagle Nation already has second place. If it takes first too, it'll get two sets of national destiny rewards, and they'll stack..."

"Sigh, I'm jealous! I know it's impossible, but if first place really were from the Dragon Nation, it would be amazing! Second place's rewards are already this good. First place's would surely make up for everything we lost over the last nine rounds!"

Meanwhile, far away in the West, Eagle Nation's viewers were a little surprised that Serafino hadn't taken first. But they still had no doubt that their nation would hold the top spot, and the mood in their livestream remained relaxed.

"Serafino isn't first?"

"Haha, so what? First place must still belong to Eagle Nation! Only our national destiny could produce a Super Genius even stronger than Serafino!"

"Serafino should be the greatest talent in the Heaven World. Whoever came first must be in a different world."

"Does that mean Eagle Nation is about to discover a trial world even more formidable than the Heaven World?"

At the thought, excitement spread across their faces.

Just then, the National Destiny Rankings blazed with golden light, and information about the first-place contestant slowly appeared above.