The outcome of the match was never in doubt; the "Seven Towers Mercenary Alliance" had clearly lost the capacity to resist. Fearing a fatality, the arbiters finally had no choice but to halt the abuse inflicted by Solomon and his group!
"Stop, the winner has been decided!" The referee's voice sounded strangely hollow, lacking conviction.
Solomon and the others were cooperative enough, ceasing their actions, though some cast lingering, unsatisfied glances at the referee. The referee shivered involuntarily, shouting from a safe distance, "The team match is won by the 'Ten Cloud Drifters Mercenary Alliance'!"
That contest had concluded, but the battles elsewhere were only just beginning.
On the field for the singles match, Zhong Shenxiu was having the time of his life. The man named Fedru was chasing Zhong Shenxiu like a madman, but every time he managed to close the distance, he was met with a barrage of fireballs, water orbs, and minor lightning strikes, preventing him from ever truly laying a hand on Zhong Shenxiu!
Fedru, at this point, was the picture of utter misery. It wasn't just his head that was scorched; there was scarcely an intact patch of skin anywhere on his body, and the clothes he wore were either blackened husks or tattered rags—he looked worse off than a beggar!
Compared to Fedru, the two grizzled veterans in the doubles arena were faring even worse. It was no exaggeration to say that ever since Tiya had entered the fray, neither of them had touched the ground; they were being perpetually kicked away, only to be kicked right back into range.
Robin, standing nearby, was not idle either. He continuously cast healing magic upon the two uncles, ensuring Tiya could have more fun while simultaneously guaranteeing the uncles' survival.
The two uncles now understood what it meant to "wish for death but be unable to attain it." The agony was relentless, and they desperately longed to pass out, just to escape the torment. Yet, thanks to Robin's magic, not only were their injuries mitigated, but their minds were kept unnervingly sharp!
This was a case of "Heaven's wrath is sometimes avoidable, but self-inflicted ruin invites a beating!" If they hadn't been so arrogant earlier, they certainly wouldn't be receiving this treatment; it was clearly a form of deserved punishment!
Half an hour later, both the singles and doubles matches finally drew to a close. The man named Fedru stood rigidly, appearing more like a charred log than a human being.
The two uncles were even more spectacular: when Tiya finally stopped, they both collapsed to their knees with a loud thud, bowing their heads repeatedly, completely unable to utter a word!
At this moment, the members of the "Seven Towers Mercenary Alliance" who hadn't competed could no longer muster any trace of their previous arrogance. It had been replaced entirely by doubt, shock, and sheer dread!
A terror that pierced straight to their souls had extinguished every scrap of their courage. Now, looking at the members of the "Ten Cloud Drifters Mercenary Alliance," they saw them as if they were monsters!
It wasn't just the lower-ranking members; even the well-trained arbiters were stunned into silence for a long moment, wondering what kind of contest this was, one that gave them all goosebumps?
Standing at a distance, having observed all three battles, Gabriel and his companions had turned into statues. Although Zhong Shenxiu and his team hadn't displayed earth-shattering destructive power, the sheer visual impact of toying with their opponents to the brink of collapse had deeply affected Gabriel and the others!
If their earlier caution toward the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" stemmed from prudence, then their current respect was now entirely heartfelt!
Terrifying. Truly terrifying. Was this the legendary "Ethereal Mercenary Group"? They were even more bizarre than the rumors suggested!
"Daughter, didn't Mother tell you to take it easy?" Paji chided Tiya as she walked back.
"Mother, I was already holding back significantly. If my sister had fought, those two wouldn't even be standing now!" Tiya stated with utter seriousness.
Her words caused Xia Luo and the others nearby to break out in a cold sweat. They knew Tiya spoke the truth; if Robin had actually engaged, those two uncles would have suffered complete mental breakdowns!
The members of the "Cross Sword Mercenary Group," the "Cloud Tear Mercenary Group," and the "Sunset Glow Mercenary Group" watched with wide eyes as the victorious group returned. They had finally witnessed the might of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" firsthand—it was a strength beyond the comprehension of ordinary humans!
The entire "Elimination Round" concluded with three straight victories for the "Ten Cloud Drifters Mercenary Alliance," but for the Tournament as a whole, this was merely the opening act.
In subsequent matches, although the members of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" didn't sweep every single contest, they accounted for the majority. By the end of the session, countless opponents had been eliminated, including several established Mercenary Alliances known for their strength!
It was noteworthy that Gabriel and his group attended every single match involving the "Ten Cloud Drifters Mercenary Alliance," having effectively become their loyal followers! With each victory, Gabriel's group was shaken anew, driving home just how terrifying the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" truly was!
As the "Elimination Round" progressed into its later stages, more and more people began to notice the "Ten Cloud Drifters Mercenary Alliance." They were unaware of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group's" true identity, only assuming this was another dark horse in the "Mercenary Alliance Tournament," much like the "Mysterious Mercenary Alliance"!
Speaking of the "Mysterious Mercenary Alliance," formed by the "Mysterious Mercenary Group," they mirrored the "Ten Cloud Drifters Mercenary Alliance" in that they had won every match they played, achieving three swift victories each time!
The "Mysterious Mercenary Alliance" truly captured widespread attention following their clash with the "Beast Soul Mercenary Alliance."
The "Beast Soul Mercenary Group," component of the "Beast Soul Mercenary Alliance," was ranked twelfth globally, teeming with top-tier experts and countless talents. Yet, even they were easily ousted by the "Mysterious Mercenary Alliance"!
After days of continuous fighting, the "Elimination Round" was finally entering its crucial final phase. To alleviate the fatigue among the various Mercenary Alliances, a three-day hiatus was declared for rest and to ease the mounting tension.
Outside "Xianyang City," the leader of the "Tiger Leap Mercenary Group," Skorria, was chatting in his tent with Danjasu, the leader of the "Beast Soul Mercenary Alliance"—the two were old friends.
Skorria looked at Danjasu opposite him, his expression serious, and asked, "Danjasu, is that 'Mysterious Mercenary Alliance' that eliminated you truly as formidable as they say? How could you not win a single round? What exactly happened?"
"Indeed," Danjasu first nodded, then paused in silence. "I truly don't wish to recall that match. The opponents were overwhelmingly strong. Our combatants didn't even possess the strength to counterattack; the fight ended in barely two minutes!"
"Just two minutes?" Skorria was deeply shocked.
He had already been astonished to hear that Danjasu's alliance was eliminated by an obscure mercenary group, but even so, he couldn't help but be greatly alarmed! Skorria knew Danjasu's character, and he was certainly familiar with Danjasu's team. For so many elite experts in the "Beast Soul Mercenary Group" to be unable to last two minutes—just how terrifying was this "Mysterious Mercenary Alliance"?
Danjasu forced a self-deprecating smile. "It's hard to believe, isn't it? Truthfully, even now I can barely accept that it was real. Our chosen fighters were the best, and we prepared thoroughly, but—"
Skorria remained silent, pondering Danjasu's account. A strange thought suddenly crossed his mind: Could it be that the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" was operating within this "Mysterious Mercenary Alliance"?
Besides the "Ethereal Mercenary Group," he could think of no other mercenary group possessing such power—one capable of eliminating Danjasu's alliance in two minutes. Even the world's number one, the "Heavenly King Mercenary Group," couldn't achieve such a swift victory!
It seemed necessary to send Zakharov and a few others to investigate. They had seen the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" before and might recognize them. If it was indeed them, they needed to make plans early!
Having made up his mind, Skorria's expression softened slightly.
"Skorria, besides that 'Mysterious Mercenary Alliance' I just mentioned, you need to pay attention to one other alliance!" Danjasu suddenly spoke up.
"Another alliance?" Skorria looked at Danjasu in confusion.
"Yes, though it is also an obscure, newly formed alliance, it, like the 'Mysterious Mercenary Alliance,' has maintained three consecutive victories to date, all achieved with overwhelming dominance!" Skorria stated with a grave expression. He came here partly to catch up with Skorria, but more importantly, to issue a warning!
"What is its name?"
"The 'Ten Cloud Drifters Mercenary Alliance'!"
Just as Danjasu finished speaking, a man rushed into the tent in a panic from outside. His voice reached them before he did: "C-Commander!"
The man who burst in was Skorria's son, Wenar!
"What is the meaning of this panic? Show respect to Uncle Danjasu!" Skorria snapped.
Wenar finally noticed Danjasu sitting nearby and quickly performed a proper salute.
"What happened to make you so flustered?" Skorria asked, maintaining his composure.
Wenar didn't answer immediately but glanced at Danjasu, seemingly hesitant to speak.
"Your Uncle Danjasu is no outsider. Say whatever you need to!" Skorria commanded again.
Wenar swallowed hard, trying to calm himself, then stated with grim seriousness, "Father, I just saw the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' on the street!"
"What did you say???" Skorria and Danjasu exclaimed in unison.