As soon as the system broadcast was announced, all players were stunned. This was the match everyone had been waiting for—the showdown they'd been eager to witness!
"Wow!! Hurry up and get started!!"
"These two guilds aren't holding back—they're diving straight in! Amazing!"
"Looks like both sides have gathered elites. This is going to be intense!"
The crowd's anticipation grew as they looked forward to the confrontation between these two well-known guilds. Everyone knew the significance of this match, and curiosity buzzed in the air. After selecting the match, Xu Yuan was teleported back to the guild's player area.
The guild members erupted in excitement upon his return. They understood the rules of the game and were eager to see their guild in action. Many wanted to participate, eager to prove themselves.
"Boss Steve, pick me! I've got the nickname, and I'm a pro! I want to fight in this!"
"No, no—wait! Let me go! Boss Ken, I'm ready to fight!"
"Hold on, everyone! We haven't heard from Boss Ken yet!"
Xu Yuan looked over the enthusiastic crowd. Their energy was a good sign—showing their passion and desire to make the guild proud. But given that the challenge only requires 1 to 3 players for each side, Xu Yuan needed to choose carefully.
"Ken, Xiaoyu, Awang, Ahao, Wen Wu, Xiao Chuan—you're up," Xu Yuan announced. These were players he knew well—Ken, of course, and Wen Wu and Xiao Chuan, both skilled. Once these six stepped forward, the rest of the guild members looked on with envy. This was a rare opportunity to bring glory to the guild.
"Each side has three chances to defence and —three challenges—and can challenge the opposing team. That makes six matches in total," Xu Yuan explained. "If you can take down the three opponents by yourselves, that's perfect."
He paused, then added, "We'll need some substitutes, too."
"I will act as substitute," Xu Yuan offered. "We need five more players—Ken, you pick them."
The guild players were immediately surprised—many looked at Xu Yuan in disbelief.
"Boss Steve, you're going to be a substitute?!"
"Boss, aren't you the main player?!"
"You're giving us all a chance to shine!"
In truth, Xu Yuan chose to be a substitute deliberately—to train and hone the skills of these guild members. It was a valuable learning opportunity for everyone. Even Ken couldn't understand why Xu Yuan was stepping back, but he trusted that Xu Yuan wouldn't do anything without a reason. He didn't press further.
Following Xu Yuan's instructions, five replacement players were selected. Once everyone was ready, Xu Yuan clicked the "Ready" button.
Immediately, he and his team were teleported to a preparation zone.
The area was divided into two sections: the preparation zone and the teleportation area. Once both sides confirmed readiness, they would walk into the teleportation zone and be transported to different locations on the same map.
The tournament was about to begin. No messages would be sent during the match—this design prevented cheating and ensured fairness. Xu Yuan looked at Ken and said, "Ken, you're up first."
Ken's skills and awareness made him suitable for the opening match, and Xu Yuan believed this would boost everyone's confidence.
Though no one voiced it, Xu Yuan could sense the nervousness among the players. Ken nodded, then stepped into the teleportation area. Soon, the opponent team from Dragon Teng was also ready. The teleportation zones lit up, and both players vanished into the preparation zones.
As they disappeared, two screens appeared on the large display in the preparation area—one showing Ken's perspective, the other showing the silent view of Dragon Teng.
At the same time, broadcast screens of each player's perspective appeared on the same display, emphasizing the intensity of the upcoming battle.
"Begin! Begin! Begin!!!"
"Wow, the first match is Ken! No way!"
"Ken is the vice president of the Cube Man Guild, and Momo is the vice president of Dragon Teng. Looks like both sides are betting big from the start!"
"High-level showdown—this is going to be epic!!!"
From the perspectives of both screens, neither player appeared highly proficient at first. They started by wandering the map, trying to locate advantageous positions—exploring canyons, magma pools, or other terrain features—hoping to find opportunities for attack.
However, they overlooked one crucial point: although the goal was to eliminate the opponent, neglecting supplies and food while wandering could put their lives in danger. This game was tricky, especially for players unfamiliar with its mechanics. Survival in the wild was not guaranteed for everyone.