Advancement secured!

The days drifted steadily by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Throughout that time, the entire village was steeped in the tense atmosphere leading up to the tournament.

After all, the winner would become the new Village Chief, with control over the village's resources and the final say in its affairs. For Senku's group, that was an irresistible temptation.

While everyone else busied themselves with intensive training to boost their combat strength, Senku wasted none of his spare time. He buried himself in his own world and managed to cobble together something new.

A hand-cranked generator.

A wooden frame, simple gears, and a coil assembly-it was crudely made, but it was the first device capable of generating electricity on this primitive land. Its significance was on an entirely different level.

Li Xiang came over and crouched beside it to take a look. Watching Senku labor over the crank just to produce a faint glimmer of electricity, she could not resist a dry remark.

"This thing... you'd have to crank yourself half to death just to barely light a bulb, wouldn't you?"

It really was absurdly crude. With no engine, it relied entirely on human muscle to turn the crank, costing both time and effort.

At that, Senku planted both hands on his hips.

"This is just the most basic starting model."

"Technology advances through iteration. Once we have a prototype, improving it, increasing its output, and switching to water or wind power is only a matter of time. There's plenty of room to grow."

Li Xiang raised an eyebrow and nodded. He had a point.

The first step was always the hardest. Building a working generator prototype from scratch was already a godlike feat that put this era to shame.

While the two chatted, a sinister gaze clung to them from beneath a tree not far away.

It was Maguma.

He had never eased up on his surveillance over the past half month, constantly tracking every move Senku's team made.

The viciousness in Maguma's eyes grew sharper, his hostility almost spilling over.

To him, these outsiders were the biggest obstacle standing between him and the position of Village Chief, Ruri, and everything else.

Anyone who stood in his way would be crushed.

Li Xiang caught that unfriendly stare out of the corner of her eye. Something stirred in her mind, and she immediately grew wary.

Lowering her voice, she quietly instructed Ginro and Kinro, who had stayed behind beside her.

"Keep a close watch on our hostage, Homura, and on anything happening around the perimeter. Don't give anyone an opening. The tournament's almost here-we can't afford any mishaps."

Both answered solemnly.

The half-month training period flew by, and the eagerly awaited Ishigami Village tournament began right on schedule.

The entire village gathered at the arena, packing the clearing with a roaring crowd. It was livelier than ever before.

The referee took his position, and the draw officially began.

Everyone stepped forward in turn to draw their matchups. The final list was then announced, revealing four pairings.

First match: Kinro vs. Maguma.

Two favorites for the championship would clash in the opening round. The tournament was starting with a blockbuster.

Second match: Kohaku vs. Ginro.

Third match: Gen Asagiri vs. Senku.

Fourth match: Chrome vs. Li Xiang.

The moment the draw was announced, everyone's heart skipped a beat.

Soon, the first bout of the opening round officially began-Kinro against Maguma.

After half a month of grueling training, Kinro's strength was nothing like it had been before.

He had never been able to beat Maguma, but after sparring with Kohaku and training alongside the whole team, his staff work had become steadier.

His strikes hit harder, his transitions between attack and defense were faster, and his explosive power had improved by more than a single notch.

As soon as they entered the arena, the two plunged into close combat.

Their staffs whistled through the air, fists and feet collided, and heavy impacts rang out again and again in the center of the arena.

Every move was solid and forceful, drawing repeated gasps from the villagers.

Kinro maintained a steady defense and counterattacked without losing his rhythm. Early on, he even traded blows evenly with Maguma, holding his own.

But a weakness was still a weakness.

Under the pressure of their intense exchanges, his poor eyesight became an overwhelming disadvantage. He could not keep up with the speed, his predictions came a fraction too late, and his blurred vision gradually made Maguma's attacks impossible to follow.

Little by little, his rhythm fell apart, and more gaps opened in both his offense and defense.

Maguma was a veteran fighter, ruthless and precise. He seized an opening instantly.

The situation reversed in a flash. Kinro was forced back again and again, so thoroughly suppressed that he could not recover.

Finally, Maguma found his chance and drove a heavy blow into a blind spot in Kinro's defense, breaking through his guard and crushing him.

The referee raised a hand and announced the result. Maguma had won the first match.

An uproar swept through the crowd around the arena. Some lamented the result, while others cheered.

Li Xiang stood quietly at the back of the crowd, her expression calm, without the slightest trace of surprise.

This had been part of the plan all along. An elimination in the first round would not affect the bigger picture.

Next, the third pairing was brought forward-Gen against Senku.

Gen Asagiri strolled into the arena. Seeing his opponent's perfectly calm face, he instantly slipped into theatrical mode, lifting the corners of his mouth in a show of arrogance.

"Well, well, Little Senku~ This match is just for the two of us~"

"Little Senku~ I couldn't possibly bring myself to hit you~"

Senku could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids. "Cut the crap," he said flatly.

The next instant, before the referee could blow his whistle or Senku could raise a hand to attack-

Gen Asagiri thrust both hands high into the air, his clear voice ringing across the entire arena.

"I surrender!!!!"

Every villager in the crowd froze.

Standing below the arena, Li Xiang helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead. Sure enough, this was typical Gen.

The referee stared blankly for quite a while before awkwardly announcing the result.

Senku advanced automatically.

With two matches finished, it was soon time for the third bout: Kohaku against Ginro.

But just before she entered the arena, Kohaku suddenly panicked, her eyes darting anxiously around.

"Where's Watermelon? Little Watermelon's gone!"

Unable to find that familiar little figure before the match, Kohaku's thoughts instantly descended into chaos. Her mind was no longer on the fight, and anxiety filled her face.

Seeing how tense and flustered she was, Li Xiang hurried over, gently placed a hand on her shoulder, and soothed her.

"It's all right. Don't worry."

"Nothing's going to happen. Just focus on your match."

Reassured by Li Xiang, Kohaku suppressed her panic, took a deep breath, and turned to enter the arena.

Her opponent was Ginro, whose moves and rhythm she knew well.

The two faced each other courteously, raised their hands, and exchanged two or three probing rounds.

Ginro was no weakling, and he fought steadily, but Kohaku was simply too strong.

As the village's strongest fighter, her speed, explosive power, and reflexes completely outclassed those of ordinary skilled opponents.

Within just a few exchanges, Kohaku easily broke through his moves and won cleanly.

Ginro voluntarily stopped attacking and conceded, leaving the arena with dignity.

Kohaku won the third match.

The final pair to enter the arena was Chrome and Li Xiang.

They were teammates to begin with, and both understood perfectly well that this last match was nothing more than a formality.

They made a token show of engaging, casually trading a few loose moves without any killing intent. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell they were putting on an act.

After a brief, halfhearted exchange, Chrome simply raised his hand.

"I surrender."

The final match ended without incident, and Li Xiang advanced smoothly.

All four matches were over.

Li Xiang looked at the list of those advancing, a faint gleam flickering in her eyes.

"Heh heh. Now I just need to make sure I draw Maguma next round."

"Keh heh heh heh heh."

"Li Xiang~ You're laughing too loudly~" Gen inwardly broke into a cold sweat on Maguma's behalf. If he really did end up facing Li Xiang...