Chapter 538: The Perfect Fit for the Rules
Under Anderson's pleading gaze, Forrest finally said something that made Anderson want to weep with gratitude.
"I heard... that's not allowed. They supposedly have mechanisms to prevent point farming."
"Tch."
Arthur spat in disappointment, looking at Anderson with utter disdain.
His gaze clearly said: What good are you then?
Anderson maintained a stiff, fake smile, crying on the inside.
He had always considered himself a master of real combat, yet he never imagined a day would come when he would be so terrified in a no-rules battle that he wouldn't dare utter a word.
It wasn't that he didn't try hard enough; the enemy was just too broken!
Before the fight, Anderson had been praying for more viewers on his stream to boost his lukewarm career.
Now, he was praying that no one was watching...
It was too humiliating. Sob.
However, some things are destined to go against one's wishes.
Anderson didn't know that his dark history was inescapable.
Because he had no idea just how astonishingly famous and influential the East Continent boy he had stumbled upon was in his home region!
In fact, as soon as Arthur activated his Super Account, it had already caused a sensation within the Kubfu Alliance.
Just activating the account—not even his debut, more like the return of a missing person—had shot him straight to the top of the trending lists!
This was an influence that no other professional player could hope to match.
Then, the moment he entered the desert and was captured by a trailing Sigilyph's camera, his livestream room immediately hit the front page of every major platform!
The word "Superstar" was practically written on his face!
Before this, not many people watched the desert livestreams. Most chose to wait for the daily highlight reels compiled by the officials.
Because the Ashen Desert was huge, participants spent most of their time traveling. Combat was infrequent, making the livestreams mostly boring.
But Arthur's first day of streaming shattered this norm!
Even when he was just riding in a car, with the scenery unchanging and dust flying in the distance, there were consistently hundreds of thousands of viewers watching simultaneously!
No special reason, just because his name was Arthur!
What is a true Kubfu Superstar?
(Tactical lean back.jpg)
And Arthur's first battle against Anderson happened to fall during the prime time evening slot in the Kubfu Alliance.
Over four hundred thousand people witnessed Anderson go from arrogant and untamed to French surrender;
From blowing kisses and posing for the camera to holding his head and kneeling down obediently;
From speaking authentic White Eagle with a rap accent to unlocking his language talent and mastering Kubfu instantly.
It all happened too fast!
So while some people looked alive, they were actually socially dead...
Poor Anderson didn't know that his lifelong wish was about to come true—
He was really going to be famous!
"So, friend, friend from the Kubfu Alliance, can you put my Sirfetch'd down now?"
Anderson stood up, rubbing his hands together and smiling apologetically.
To avoid misunderstanding, he hadn't touched his Poké Balls since surrendering, so he hadn't recalled the Sirfetch'd Arthur was still holding.
"Oh, here."
Arthur remembered he was still holding a duck upside down.
When he handed it back, he wondered: Why has this drama-queen duck been so quiet in my hands?
Sirfetch'd, eyes moist: It's because I'm so moved, I dare not move!
Anderson recalled his ace Pokémon, and also retrieved his Tauros, which had been kneeling on the ground in the distance for quite some time.
When Tauros was recalled, Little Eevee stuck his tongue out at it again.
Having been looked down upon earlier and hit by a Rock Slide, Little Eevee didn't have a good impression of Tauros.
But this time, Tauros didn't dare retort.
Let alone talk back, its eyes had become gentle and humble, even offering an apologetic smile to the spitting Little Eevee.
Not because its personality had suddenly improved or it had achieved enlightenment.
But because it fully realized that this little guy had a master it absolutely could not afford to provoke!
Not only was it knocked out with a single punch, but its boss Sirfetch'd's Meteor Assault was shattered head-on!
It was terrifying!!
Now Tauros just wanted to disguise itself as an honest, sturdy old ox and beg Little Eevee to forget about it.
Although you lack experience, little one, your master is truly insane!
"So, can I go now?"
Anderson tried to maintain his innocent smile.
"Wait." Arthur stopped him again.
Anderson's spine chilled, and everything tightened!
C-could it be...
"Do you know where most people are in the Ashen Desert right now?"
Fortunately, Arthur's question made Anderson sigh in relief.
Phew, a normal question.
"That would be the territories of the Seven Chieftains and the Three Phantoms. Oh, Two Phantoms now."
Arthur was puzzled. "Why are there so many people in those places?"
He remembered that many of the Seven Chieftains were quite hostile to humans.
Anderson explained with a smile, "In the game rules set by Phobos, defeating desert Chieftains and Phantoms also earns points. So many trainers aiming for the leaderboard rewards are heading there."
So that's how it is?
Arthur turned to Forrest, who just shrugged.
Forrest hadn't entered the desert before, so he didn't know everything.
Thinking about it, Arthur realized this might actually be a good thing for him.
"That's perfect. Let's go straight to the Phantom of the West's territory. We can solve two problems at once," he murmured to himself.
After asking, Arthur intended to let Anderson go.
But Anderson hesitated, ran quickly to his car to grab some things, then ran back and handed them to Arthur.
"What is this?"
Arthur looked strangely at the canned supplies and Pokémon food Anderson was offering.
Why does this look like a tribute?
Anderson explained proactively, "Although there's no official rule, over these past few days, trainers in the desert have formed some unspoken rules.
"For example, the losing side of a challenge must leave some compensation. Of course, some just rob directly. After all, there are no law enforcers here, and the bottom line for anything not life-threatening is pretty low.
"So, take these as my compensation. Please... please don't refuse."
Anderson spoke this long string of words in a mix of Kubfu and White Eagle, taking a while to finish.
Fortunately, Arthur understood most of it.
I didn't expect there to be such unspoken rules here.
But it made sense. In an environment without law enforcers, even with the deterrence of rules and camera surveillance, more primitive, survival-of-the-fittest rules were bound to emerge.
Meeting eyes means a duel, and the loser must leave something behind.
An interesting rule.
The corners of Arthur's mouth turned up slightly. Although the smile looked bright and sunny, in Anderson's eyes, it was terrifying.
He had a vague premonition—the boy in front of him might be one of the people most suited to the rules of the Ashen Desert right now!
Perhaps, even the most suited!
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