Chapter 24

The twenty-four hours passed quickly. Li Ang took a trip to the sea, obtaining high-quality biomass brought by Behemoth and a dozen other large Zerg units, marine organism genetic data in the shape of water-filled ocean balls, and countless egg-shaped new research soldier insect samples.

During this time, some handsome and beautiful Wan Jia Xiong Meng players, hired by commercial organizations and not participating in this competition, went to the entrance of the Immaculate Furnace in the game plaza to advertise and seek cooperation.

Most people took the initiative to leave after seeing the [No Commercial Cooperation] sign hanging at the entrance of the store and discovering that the boss was not in the store.

A small number of people who insisted on waiting for Li Ang to come online also left after hearing Li Ang's polite refusal.

There was no pestering, or intimidation and threats—they didn't know the other party's true identity in the real world, and they couldn't threaten them at all.

————

"It's open, it's open!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

The sound of clamorous voices rang out in the square. Li Ang mingled in the crowded crowd, heading towards the registration office of the Sky Arena.

The words [Under Maintenance] at the main entrance of the Sky Arena had disappeared. Perhaps in order to adapt to this Doorway Competition, players originally needed to sign up at the designated registration location, but now they could sign up in the [Tournament] column of their personal panel, saving queuing time.

In addition, the tower-climbing format of the Sky Arena has also undergone major changes. There is no limit to the number of arenas on the same floor. As long as two contestants agree to compete, the Sky Arena will automatically expand the internal space and generate new arenas.

During the expansion process, the viewing platform will also expand, so there is no need to worry about not being able to accommodate the audience.

"It's really lively..."

Li Ang looked around. The stands were densely packed with players, all there to watch the first day of the arena matches.

The preliminary round is a full sixteen days long, and the first day's matches may not be less exciting than the later ones—all participants must start from the first floor, including those powerhouses who are at the top of the personal combat power rankings.

If you can see the combat characteristics of future opponents in the stands, it may reduce a lot of trouble in the later stages of the competition.

Many participants had this idea. Li Ang himself thought so, so he didn't sign up right away.

"Looking for a seat?"

A voice came from behind. Li Ang turned around and saw two figures, one tall and one short, wearing horse head masks. They were Mule and her adopted sister, Laura.

The two were wearing horse head masks, holding large buckets of popcorn and ice-cold cola bought from Ken Mai Hua Restaurant, as if they were going to a football match.

"You guys are here too."

Li Ang nodded and casually asked, "Aren't you participating in the competition?"

Mule smiled and patted Laura's shoulder with the hand holding the ice cola, her tone filled with a bit of doting, "She's not high enough level, and me... it's not time to participate yet.

Ah, the competition is about to start, want to sit together?"

"Sure."

Li Ang glanced at the stands. Although the players in the stands were generally wearing colorful and strange clothes, if you looked closely, you could still find some patterns.

The clothing colors of certain areas of the audience were more uniform, and the style and patterns of the clothing were also more similar.

"Those people are members of guild organizations. They come here to watch the competition together and analyze other participants."

Mule said lightly, "There are many good players among these people. Even if they are just sitting in the stands and can't feel the energy fluctuations in the arena, they can roughly deduce the energy level, power system, and combat habits of the participants based on the destructive effects of the venue.

For low-level players, it doesn't matter if they watch it.

But for players who want to achieve high rankings, it's very uncomfortable to be analyzed and deciphered.

In arena matches below the 50th floor, participants must not only win the match as much as possible, but also win quickly and thoroughly to prevent their cards from being exposed in advance.

For this reason, you can even surrender directly when encountering a powerful opponent to hide your tactics for the later matches.

Oh, there are three empty seats over there, let's go."

Mule took Laura forward, her left hand holding the ice cola paper cup stiffened.

From the moment she walked into the arena, she noticed the Special Incident Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation faction in the eleven o'clock direction of the stands.

Among those players wearing black suits and sunglasses, there were several figures that Mule was very familiar with.

They were high-level personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and many years ago, they handled the case of Mule's family...

Huff, endure, endure.

Mule slowly relaxed her tense left hand, and the violently fluctuating heart rate stabilized again.

It's not time yet, these people are just the direct executors of dirty work, the loyal dogs raised by higher-level forces, killing them will only startle the snake.

Besides, fighting is not allowed in the square.

Mule's stomach churned. She knew very well that these high-level officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation were only here to watch the competition today. As high-level personnel, they would participate in the Doorway Competition in exchange for sixteen days of free time without script missions,

But they would never participate in the arena matches and risk their lives.

Only in the real world can revenge be completed...

A steady breathing sound came from Mule's horse head mask.

She pulled Laura down to sit, and put the ice cola straw into the horse head mask with a normal expression, slowly sipping the cola, without any behavioral abnormalities.

At this time, the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation must be scanning the stands,

Any hostile gazes or abnormal behaviors would be noticed by them...

"..."

Laura turned her head and glanced at Mule. Just now, Mule's hand holding hers was a little harder,

She could sense Mule's inner fluctuations in the dark, but now she was in a public place, and she couldn't show it.

What's more, there were outsiders.

"Waiter, over here."

Li Ang, who was sitting next to Mule, snapped his fingers at the waiter pushing a trolley and wearing a red and white Ken Mai Hua Restaurant uniform, took some snacks and drinks from the trolley, and casually threw the green chips into the money bag hanging next to the trolley.

"Want some?"

Li Ang held a bag of snacks, took out a few packets of biscuits, flavored beans, and chocolate from it, and handed them to Laura across Mule.

The latter shyly shook her head and refused at first, but under Mule's gentle and permissive gaze, she still took the snacks Li Ang handed over,

Gently said "thank you", tore open the packaging bag, and stretched the snacks into the horse head mask to eat slowly.

Rumble——

The ground in the middle of the arena vibrated extremely abruptly, and an additional forty-three arenas rose up next to the original six square arenas.

At the same time, the four huge screens above the arena also lit up. Instead of projecting the figures of the Watchers Society commentators, they displayed the scenes of the arenas below.

The entire auditorium retreated a certain distance as the venue expanded.

However, with the players' eyesight, they could still clearly see the scenes on each arena.

What's more, there were huge screens above the arena.

[Please contestants who have received the system prompt, gather at your respective arenas]

A low and rough electronic voice echoed in the building, and two lines of words also appeared on each of the forty-nine arenas—that was the contestants' arena-specific name.

"Oh, the first round of the competition has begun."

Li Ang put down the ice cola and rubbed his palms. He wondered what interesting things he could see in the first round of the competition...