[Vol. 7] Chapter 208: A Strange Exhibition Match
It was said that not only the environment and setting, but even the participants in the illusion were full-simulation mental projections created by the [Tower of Origin], based on data scans. That meant even if someone was “killed” inside, it wouldn’t affect their real body at all. So they could fight freely without holding back.
To be honest, when she first heard the explanation, even Violet couldn’t help but feel a little surprised. The whole thing, its rules and format, was just way too similar to realistic simulation games from Earth. Not only had they made it work, but even just coming up with such a creative competition format was not something ordinary people could do.
Still, since she’d been invited, the priestess didn’t really mind dropping by to enjoy the show. After all, the [Experimental Class] team she had trained was also taking part, and a few familiar faces from other countries had joined the tournament too.
Back in the Ancient Spirit Realm, she was the one always jumping into the fight herself, but now that she had switched roles to become an outside observer giving pointers from the sidelines, it was honestly a pretty fresh and interesting experience.
This special viewing area, much like a VIP box, was set up for important figures to watch the match with the best view. Naturally, quite a few big names from various countries and from Sainz Academy were seated around her. This included several senior professors led by a certain headmaster, and also notable figures like the Judgment Saintess, Felina, and Hilda, more than ten people altogether.
Just a moment ago, a female representative from the Human United Kingdom had been asking Violet all kinds of casual questions, things you’d normally chat about over tea. She was speaking in a tone completely different from her usual personality, as if a queen’s shadow was floating behind her. When the topic happened to touch on the healing incident from a few days back, Violet had casually given a response.
Violet had never tried to hide the fact that she was the one who healed the heavily injured and unconscious students. Honestly, there was no way to hide it either, there were too many people present at the time, all with different backgrounds and ranks. Even though a certain saintess had stepped in first and tried to help, it was still very clear who had actually solved the problem.
After all, Frederica had arrived before Violet and already made an attempt to help. Everyone had seen whether it worked or not. So instead of trying to cover things up and wasting effort, Violet simply admitted it openly. Besides, she was already an honorary professor at Sainz, doing something special like that wasn’t so out of the ordinary anymore, right?
Still... this feeling of being the center of attention wherever she went, it really was something she couldn’t get used to. Even though Felina kept chatting with her, it seemed like she was doing it on purpose to help Violet escape the nonstop pestering from others.
As expected, just when the conversation reached a sensitive point, the representative lady didn’t try to dig any deeper. Instead, she quickly changed the subject.
“I see... so then, Lady Violet, which team do you think has the best chance of winning today’s match?”
“Hmm, well… let me think…”
Since the topic had finally become a little interesting, the priestess sat up from her lazy slouch and focused on the livestream screen, watching the dozen or so live feeds as she thought things through.
The current match was a bit like a “battle royale” game from Earth. Teams from different countries and academies, dozens of them, were dropped into random starting points across the map. Since it was a simulated world, the participants were only allowed to keep their basic stats and abilities. They couldn’t bring any gear with them and had to use a dynamic map that appeared in their view to figure out their location and come up with strategies.
Honestly, the whole setup gave her a huge feeling of déjà vu.
The battlefield looked like it was modeled after the floating islands of the Azure Sky Kingdom. The total area wasn’t very large, just a few kilometers across. The outer edges of the island would slowly break apart and fall away as time passed. On top of that, a no-fly zone barrier was active, forcing all teams to gradually move toward the center.
Scattered all over the island were random weapons and gear like magic guns, enchanted scrolls, powered armor suits, and healing potions that could quickly restore health.
Since it was a fantasy simulation, even items that didn’t exist in the real world could be created here. The contestants’ bodies and powers had been copied based on full scans of their real selves, but because of these powerful pickups, personal strength alone wasn’t enough to win. What really mattered was teamwork and smart planning.
After all, the map only showed the location of a team’s own members, not other teams. Players had to rely on their own senses to scout. If someone got careless or had bad luck and walked right into an ambush from multiple teams, even the strongest squad could be wiped out instantly.
The match was already more than halfway through. Only about one-third of the floating island remained, and the battles between the thirty-something remaining teams were getting more intense. Still, the final showdown would probably take a bit longer to reach. As for predicting the champion, well, that was nearly impossible.
Because in a match like this, where luck mattered even more than strength, who could say for sure who’d win?
Felina had originally expected the priestess to maybe name a few teams doing well and make some vague guesses. But after just glancing at the screen for a few seconds, the black-haired girl casually spoke like it was no big deal.
“If you ask me, it’s basically a guaranteed win for the team from Frederic Royal Academy.”
“...?”
Even though Violet hadn’t spoken loudly, she hadn’t tried to hide her comment either. As soon as she said that, a few of the important people nearby, who had already been half-listening to her, immediately turned to look her way. Even the headmaster who had kept some distance couldn’t help raising an eyebrow, clearly curious about what Violet had just said.
Felina was caught off guard by how certain and direct Violet’s prediction was. But as a seasoned politician with plenty of experience, she quickly recovered. After glancing a few times at the team that the priestess had pointed out, she began to think out loud.
“Even if you say that, Lady Violet... this team doesn’t seem to be in a very good position right now. They started off in a remote area, didn’t manage to gather enough supplies or gear early on, and because of their chosen route, they’ve run into multiple enemy teams. They barely won each fight, but because the island kept collapsing, they didn’t even have time to collect anything the enemies left behind...”
“With their current losses, injuries, and limited supplies, running into a full-strength team could easily get them eliminated. The only reason they’ve survived this long is because their members are very skilled. And let’s not forget, the princess doesn’t have any combat abilities and is likely a burden to the team...”
“Miss Felina Trollope, watch your words! What do you mean the princess is a burden?”
“Those earlier victories were clearly thanks to Her Highness’s brilliant leadership and strategy! Even without enough strength to fight directly, she’s stayed on the front lines with her team, this is exactly the spirit of the empire! Lady Violet is absolutely right. Even if their luck seems bad now, as long as Princess Carinvega is there, the Austre Empire will surely win in the end!”
This sudden and loud interruption made Felina frown slightly as she looked toward the speaker. Even Violet, who was supposed to be on the same side of the argument, lazily glanced over and rolled her eyes with a sigh.
“Ugh... not this guy again...”
The speaker was wearing a bright red formal outfit. His voice was loud and commanding, but his sharp, unpleasant facial features made him hard to like.
Violet knew who he was, Shutak, a professor from the Frederic Royal Academy, likely serving as Princess Carinvega’s assistant on this trip.
She remembered him from the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard] incident. Back then, he and a student from Sainz Academy named Xiluo had tried to pick a fight with her, but the moment Carinvega appeared, he was so scared he ran off with his tail between his legs.
Who knew what the princess had told him afterward, but by the next time they met, his attitude had completely flipped. Now he acted overly friendly with Violet, constantly trying to start meaningless conversations and play nice.
He was one of the worst offenders among the group of people who kept bothering her, which was why Felina had previously stepped in to help get rid of him.
Since the Human United Kingdom and the Austre Empire were rival factions, Felina wasn’t going to back down from a verbal fight. She replied calmly,
“Lord Shutak, I only believe what I see with my own eyes. And the truth is, your academy’s current situation doesn’t look good at all, mostly due to poor decisions early on. If this is the best that the [Empire’s Two-Colored Lotus] can do, then I’d say that’s quite disappointing.”