"Lynn May?" Mimi tilted its head as it stared at the words flashing across the live broadcast, sounding out the name with a voice that was still awkward, as if it had only recently learned to speak. That was the name of the person chosen to enter the Destiny Battlefield.
At first, it froze. Then, realization hit and with it came a surge of pure joy.
"Mimi! Mimi! Mimi-mimi! (Partner! Partner! Look, that's your name! You got picked, didn't you?!)"
Mimi squealed in excitement, tugging at Lynn May's arm while its tiny face blossomed into an exuberant smile.
Shaken by Mimi's enthusiasm, Lynn returned from her moment of stunned silence. She truly hadn't expected the Destiny Battlefield to select her out of nearly two billion people, but the solemn voice still echoing in her mind left no room for doubt.
"Looks like your wish came true, Mimi," Lynn said softly, resting her hand atop Mimi's small head. Her lips curved into a gentle, elegant smile.
"Mimi! (Hehe! I knew it! My luck is the best! And now I even helped you, Partner! You better praise me!)"
Lynn chuckled. "Praise you? Hmm… let me think… Ah, how about I call you my lucky star?"
"Mimi! Mimi! I love it! Mimi! (Partner praised me! I'm so happy! You're the best!)"
Meanwhile, in the Destiny Battlefield's official livestream.
"The results are in! Let's take a look at the selected contestant. Their name is… Lynn May?" The host, Xander, read the name aloud with a hint of surprise.
The moment the name appeared, the live chat exploded.
"Lynn May? That sounds like a woman's name. Don't tell me our contestant this time is a girl?"
"A woman? That's going to be tough. I hope this Battlefield doesn't involve heavy physical tasks."
"Who's Lynn May?! Somebody contact her now! She needs the survival kit!"
"Yeah, quick! Call the official hotline get the supplies delivered to her ASAP!"
The comment feed was chaos. Amid the flood of numbers and frantic advice, an undercurrent of worry spread. Everyone knew there were inherent physical differences between men and women, and the Destiny Battlefield was rumored to be brutal demanding strength, endurance, and combat ability. Women were at a disadvantage by default.
And after three consecutive losses, the pressure on people's hearts had already reached its breaking point. This round wasn't just a battle it was a fight for morale. Everyone hoped the chosen one would be as strong as the heroes in those web novels the retired war god, the returning king. If so, maybe they could finally breathe easier… at least a little. No one knew what the Battlefield would throw at them next.
Inside a high-security strategy command room, the air grew heavier.
Around an oval wooden table sat a dozen figures, some in sharp suits, others in crisp military uniforms.
This was the Strategy Division, a special department formed to support contestants once the Destiny Battlefield appeared. Its members were top experts in various fields, military officers, and veterans who had survived the first five Battlefields.
When the contestant's name appeared, their already serious expressions hardened. They all knew the truth: a female participant would face an uphill battle.
Fortunately, the Battlefield never picked someone completely incapable of independent action there was no risk of drawing a toddler or a bedridden elder.
"Enough," said the elderly man at the head of the table, his voice calm but firm. "What's done is done. Stop wasting time on speculation. Focus all efforts on external support. We've lost three times already. We cannot afford a fourth."
He let his gaze sweep across the room.
"You're all the best in your fields. Keep your confidence and remember, everyone out there is counting on you. Think of your families. Your friends."
"Has the contestant contacted us yet?" He took a sip of water and looked toward a staff member.
"No, sir. None of the channels we provided have received any response."
The old man's brow furrowed deeply.
In a world where firearms were strictly prohibited, an unarmed contestant without supplies was practically walking to their death. How could she possibly survive the Destiny Battlefield without weapons or resources?
"Boost the outreach immediately. We have seven minutes left. Do whatever it takes to establish contact!"
"Yes, sir!"
On the official livestream, Host Xander echoed the directive, urging everyone to help locate Lynn May.
The official announcement carried weight. People leapt into action, making calls or even running outside to shout her name at the top of their lungs.
Across the nation, Lynn May's name echoed everywhere.
On screen, the countdown ticked away in blood-red digits.
The final seconds approached. As the numbers reached zero, the screen flared with a searing white light.
Veteran viewers knew what that meant: the teleportation had begun. When the brightness faded, the Battlefield would open.
A hush fell across the entire nation. Millions held their breath, waiting for fate to descend.
Inside the command center, the silence was crushing. Every posture grew even more rigid, because until the very end, they had failed to reach the contestant.
Which meant this time, the fighter entering on their behalf would go in alone without state assistance from the start.
The difficulty had just skyrocketed. Everyone felt the weight in their chests.
Maybe… this would be another loss.
Back in Lakeshore Province, in the city of Haidu.
As the countdown neared its end, Lynn stood in the snow-covered pavilion, summoning her creations to her side.
"I'll be gone for a while," she said softly. "The house will be in your care."
"Leave it to us, Lady Lynn! We'll keep everything safe!"
Lynn nodded. "Good."
The next moment, a pillar of white light visible only to her descended from the heavens, enveloping her completely.