Bai Ye's eyes lit up and he said, "Death Football? I like the word 'death.' How many people on the field will be directly disqualified? Believe me, if I don't blast their brains out, it'll be considered a peaceful and friendly game."
Jin Sha was speechless. "It's not the kind of death you're thinking of. You can't kill anyone, alright?"
Bai Ye asked, "Then what kind of death is it?"
"Don't keep fixating on those two words," Jin Sha said helplessly. "Can you just listen to the rules first?"
Bai Ye replied, "Go ahead."
Jin Sha asked, "Do you know the general rules of football?"
Bai Ye answered, "I have a general idea."
Jin Sha continued, "It's mostly the same as regular football, but you can use various abilities or weapons to kick the ball, and the ball itself will change as a result."
Bai Ye inquired curiously, "What kind of changes?"
Jin Sha explained, "For example, if you use a flying sword to hit the ball for a shot, you can increase the speed or power of the shot. And I remember you have fire abilities, right? So, if you wrap the ball with your fire ability, it will turn into a fireball."
Bai Ye asked, "What about death?"
Jin Sha was speechless. You're really fixated on those two words, aren't you?
Jin Sha elaborated, "The ball can be kicked at people. This means you can use the ball to attack. However, remember one thing: the basic rules are still football rules. You absolutely cannot use your hands. Even holding a sword to kick the ball is fine, but your arm cannot directly touch it. Also, you can use the ball for attacks, but you can't directly engage in a brawl. If you throw a punch, it's a guaranteed yellow card, and possibly a direct red card."
"Don't worry, it's just fighting with a football," Bai Ye said, giving a thumbs-up. "I understand."
Jin Sha was exasperated. "It's not fighting with a football, you can only attack *with* the football. Ultimately, the goal is to score by shooting. Points are only awarded when the ball enters the goal."
"I know basic knowledge like that, of course," Bai Ye said. "So, if the opponent is kicked down to a few players, is that considered insufficient numbers and automatic elimination?"
Jin Sha: "..."
Jin Sha was starting to regret it. Bai Ye wasn't here to play football at all.
Bai Ye continued, "What about teammates?"
Jin Sha replied, "It's just you and me, two people."
Bai Ye was stunned. "Football requires eleven players."
Jin Sha nodded. "Yes, normally it requires eleven players, but we have beast companions. Using beast companions in the game can substitute for a player slot."
Bai Ye asked, "Then why are you looking for me? You can handle it yourself. It shouldn't be difficult for you to gather ten beast companions, right?"
Jin Sha thought to herself that of course she could gather them, but she was worried about encountering strong opponents she couldn't defeat.
But right now...
Jin Sha wasn't worried about Bai Ye taking down the opponents. She was afraid that Bai Ye would get himself disqualified within the first minute due to a foul.
Good heavens, she's bringing in an external player, only for them to get a red card right at the start?
She'd be starting with a self-imposed buff: "Minus One Player!"
Bai Ye asked, "What about the rewards?"
Jin Sha answered, "They're allocated per person. You can see the reward details by submitting the ticket."
Bai Ye's eyes lit up. "Then we can collect eleven rewards, right?"
Jin Sha rolled her eyes. "Dream on. Although beast companions can substitute for players, the rewards are calculated based on the number of chosen participants. We only get two rewards."
Bai Ye remarked, "Then it would be better to find eleven people."
Jin Sha explained, "It's not easy to find eleven chosen participants. Secondly, even if you find them, the level of coordination and tacit understanding would be an issue. Furthermore, a hastily assembled team might have a mole."
Bai Ye inquired, "A mole?"
Jin Sha elaborated, "Actually, many people in the beast companion area know about the Death Football ticket mission. The mission content is related to a forbidden zone called the Football World Festival within the area. Therefore, although not many people have obtained tickets, some have acquired them. Initially, everyone obediently formed temporary teams. However, one team's goalkeeper was bribed by the opposing team, and then..."
Bai Ye was also speechless. How to throw a match? Bribe the goalkeeper!
You, the striker, might be amazing and not score, but if you bribe the goalkeeper, they'll dive the opposite way of the ball...
Jin Sha continued, "Then, because this ticket mission is in the beast companion area, someone suddenly boldly speculated whether beast companions could be used in the game. They tried it, and it actually worked."
Bai Ye frowned. "If that's the case, then those who obtained the Steel Slime probably have more. If that's true, then this item might not have as much potential as you suspect."
Jin Sha replied, "Not necessarily. I got the ticket quite early. Some idiot completely didn't understand its use. After completing the forbidden zone mission, they casually sold it, thinking the ticket was just a small trinket attached to other rewards. I traded a green-quality Pidgey beast companion for it. Then I've been following Death Football matches. So far, in the 12 matches completed, the winning 12 teams had a total of 51 chosen participants. Not all of them necessarily chose the Steel Slime. If we assume a one-in-five chance since there are five selectable rewards, it's only about ten people who chose the Steel Slime..."
Jin Sha paused and added, "Moreover, compared to the other rewards, the Steel Slime is quite unremarkable."
"Interesting," Bai Ye said. "Let me see the rewards."
As Bai Ye spoke, he handed the ticket to a staff member behind the counter.
"Congratulations on obtaining the qualification to participate in Death Football."
"You may choose your participation time within the designated period."
"Upon winning Death Football, you may receive a reward (choose one of five): Steel Slime, Power of the Stars, Gemstone Body, Floating Beast, Demonic Rose (Fragmented)."
Bai Ye instantly gasped.
Jin Sha, seeing Bai Ye's rapidly changing expression, asked, "What's wrong?"
Bai Ye stated, "That Steel Slime is definitely not bad."
Jin Sha inquired, "Why?"
Bai Ye explained, "I don't know what Gemstone Body and Floating Beast are, but Power of the Stars is a growth-type ability. It starts at white quality but can grow to gold quality. Demonic Rose is a dual-wielding weapon. The 'fragmented' state probably means you get one, so you can't use it. However, if you collect two, this thing is a red-quality weapon!"
Jin Sha was also surprised. "That's intense?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Considering these two rewards, the other three can't be that bad. How did you know about the Steel Slime's effects?"