Five maximum-level beacon beams shot into the sky, surrounding the Sky Island and eclipsing the sun with their brilliance. Ryen had ordered the beacons to be constructed for every nation at max level: the buffs were identical to ensure fairness, but they boosted the soldiers' combat power and made the spectacle far more dazzling.
Ryen's predictions held true: the moment the beacons flared, this spot became the focal point of the entire MC World. In the distance, countless fireworks ascended from the stadium; Yoimiya's smile was so wide she could no longer hide her delight. The roars from the stadium reached the Sky Island with crystal clarity.
As Ryen's voice fell, the soldiers of every nation went wild. Liyue's soldiers hoisted drums, clanged gongs, and blew suonas until their faces were flushed red, pouring every ounce of strength into sending their cheers up to the island. Not to be outdone, the other four nations picked up their own instruments to play. Unfortunately, the suona is a "rogue" instrument; combined with Liyue's superior numbers, their momentum was the most overwhelming.
Makoto pursed her lips and whispered: "For the finals, regardless of whether the new army has finished training, have them bring their gear to cheer for our Inazuman soldiers."
Kamisato Ayato felt his blood pumping with excitement. He nodded decisively. "Shall I call them now, Lady Makoto?"
Makoto shook her head. "Forget it, it's too late now. Let them focus on training."
Ayato privately noted the command. Then, casting aside the typical decorum of the Yashiro Commission's head, he waved his arms frantically toward Ayaka.
"Ayaka! Good luck! You're the best! Win honor for Inazuma! Your brother is proud of you!"
In the arena, a nervous Ayaka froze. Her anxiety was swept away in an instant, replaced by a firm fist-pump. "Big Brother! I won't bring shame to the Kamisato Clan!"
Nearby, Aether watched the interaction between the Kamisato siblings and curled his lip. How could their sibling bond be so good, while his own "rotten" sister seemed to want nothing more than to see him suffer?
Ayato's shout seemed to snap the others out of their restraint, and everyone abandoned their dignity. Even Kazuha, who still didn't quite understand what was happening, was swept up in the atmosphere and waved his hands, shouting:
"Big Sister Beidou! Good luck!"
"Lord of Geo! Show them Liyue's true strength!"
"Dehya! Everyone from Sumeru! You're the best!"
"Venti! If you take first place, I'll buy you a week's worth of wine!"
"Your Majesty! We will always believe in you!"
The spectator stands on the Sky Island were boiling over. This energy infected the participants in the arena, sending a surge of adrenaline through their hearts. In this moment, the exhibition match transformed into a battle of honor. They exchanged glances, each seeing the surging fighting spirit in the others' eyes.
Venti huffed, tilting his head up with an air of looking down on the world. "You should all just give up early! I've played more Bed Wars than you've eaten meals!"
"Ha? Starting the big talk already? Aren't you afraid of biting your tongue when you lose miserably later?" Cloud Retainer sneered, standing tall. "Liyue is the strongest! Even in a game like this!"
Under the influence of this atmosphere, even the usually steady Alhaitham couldn't help but drop some trash talk. "Bed Wars relies on wisdom, not brute force. Fortunately, intellectual combat is what we do best."
"Who can't talk big? We in Snezhnaya have played plenty of Bed Wars too! I'm a veteran player." Childe looked at everyone with a grin. He swore on his record of "assassinating" Venti twelve times that Snezhnaya would be victorious!
"Hmph." Ei scanned the room calmly and said flatly: "I'm not targeting any of you specifically. I just want to say that none of you are worth a single hand in a fight."
Once the trash talk was unleashed, the atmosphere in the arena became as sharp as a needle against a whetstone. Ryen watched with a smile, nodding repeatedly. This was exactly the effect he wanted. To the death! Until the end!
They were all carrying Totems of Undying, with Resurrection Totems as a backup. If they didn't dare to risk their lives now, what would be the point of watching? A match required that overbearing mindset where you charge forward and every opponent must die. Friendship first? Nonsense! In any competition, victory is the sole and supreme pursuit. Bed Wars has only one creed: it's either you or me!
Once everyone had finished glaring at their opponents, Ryen picked up the microphone and spoke softly. "All participants, please return to your main islands. I repeat: return to your main islands."
The crowd retracted their gazes. Venti looked at Zhongli with a meaningful smile. "Old man, I won't be going easy on you this time... watch out, and try not to cry when I beat you."
"Heh... keep the big talk to a minimum, lest someone sneaks into your base the moment the match begins." Zhongli clasped his hands behind his back and walked leisurely toward his island.
Venti huffed, putting his hands on his hips. "I'm not bragging, but when it comes to Bed Wars, everyone here is a noob! Let's go!"
That single sentence successfully ignited everyone's fury. Jean rubbed her forehead in distress. Great. Now Mondstadt was going to be the primary target of a five-nation free-for-all because of Venti's big mouth.
However, it wasn't impossible to deal with. Only one nation could win; even if Venti hadn't spoken, Mondstadt likely would have been targeted anyway. Thanks to the guidance of Freedom, Mondstadt's army and Venti had arguably played Bed Wars the most and had the most experience. The other nations would surely prioritize eliminating Mondstadt first.
But human nature being what it is, if Mondstadt could hold out for a few waves of attacks, the others would naturally grow impatient. Once the first person launched an assault on another nation's bed, a chaotic brawl would become inevitable. That would be the time to fish in troubled waters.
For this match, Jean and the others had carefully brainstormed various schemes and plots. They had even set aside twenty soldiers who excelled in fast-bridging and complex maneuvers: a special vanguard team. As for the mastermind behind these schemes? Kaeya. To ensure a good start for the tournament, Jean had even recalled Kaeya from his post in Mondstadt. Along with him came Barbara, Amber, and the others. Mondstadt's development had been ongoing for a long time, and it was high time these people familiarized themselves with the world.
Once everyone had returned to their islands, Ryen watched for a moment before pressing a button by his hand. The Redstone components began to churn, the main islands began to shift, and the central combat island roared to life.
"Countdown..." Ryen's voice rang out.
In an instant, both the arena and the stadium fell silent. Even Zhongli felt his palms sweat. Right now, they were fighting for the honor of their respective nations.
"10, 9, 8, 7..."
As Ryen's voice dropped, Xiao and the others crouched slightly, like cheetahs ready to pounce.
"3, 2... actually, should we have some tea first?"
"..."
Ryen's sudden "dirty" maneuver caused several people to lose their footing and tumble. Before they could even complain, Ryen slammed a gong beside him.
"Bed Wars... START!!!"
"KILL!!!"
As the match officially began, the entire Sky Island erupted.
"Quick, quick, quick! Follow the plan! Team one! Immediately dismantle the road connecting to our main island!" Jean shouted. Ten Knights of Favonius rushed forward to tear up the wool blocks by hand.
This was Venti's "Turtle" strategy. By breaking the wool, they could secure extra blocks early while preventing others from approaching their island.
"Team two: dig on-site, link to the sub-island, and gather all resources within five minutes! Team three: build a path from the sub-island to harass and steal from others' sub-islands! For the first half-hour, the main force will stay out of the fight and avoid other bases. We cannot become the target of focused fire. Team four: set traps on the main island and reinforce the base! Move!"
Under Jean's command, everyone from Mondstadt swung into action. Their movements were highly professional. Even though Venti's speech had been arrogant, suggesting an aggressive approach like his usual mindless charges, it was actually part of the plan to provoke others into wasting time.
"The match has begun," Ryen's voice narrated over the broadcast. "We can see Mondstadt adopting a defensive 'Turtle' strategy, waiting for their opponents to wear themselves out. This is an excellent counter-attack plan in Bed Wars. Of course, we have reason to believe this plan was not masterminded by Venti. According to his past records: out of 128 matches played, he launched active charges in 114 and lost 76. As you can see, Venti's track record is... somewhat difficult."
The ladies beside Ryen burst into laughter, and the stadium outside exploded in noise. In the arena, Venti's face darkened as he grumbled: "How can you reveal someone's dark history like that! Bastard!"
Ryen ignored him. Mondstadt's strategy was proceeding smoothly; they had already dismantled over ten meters of their bridge, effectively securing a period of stable development.
Suddenly, Ryen's eyes lit up. "Oh? Let's look at Liyue. The Geo Lord, Zhongli, clearly has no intention of playing fair. The moment his feet touched the ground, he deployed his Jade Shield. This move is within the rules, of course. It seems Zhongli has no intention of 'Turtle-ing.' Xiao has already led ten Millelith soldiers out of the main island. They are charging straight for the center! It seems the most steady nation, Liyue, has adopted the most reckless approach. While defense is stable, don't forget the center island holds massive resources. If Xiao successfully gathers them, Liyue will hold a massive advantage!"
Hearing this, the Millelith in the stadium grew even more excited, accidentally smashing several drums in the process.
"The center island has resources?!" Alhaitham and the others, who were about to mimic Mondstadt's strategy, had a change of heart. They hadn't played enough Bed Wars to know such details. If there were precious resources... it was worth the risk! Although Xiao was powerful, his strength in the MC World was limited to that of an ordinary Vision holder. Sumeru wasn't without a chance.
"Cyno! Take fifteen men! Charge out and take a gamble!" Alhaitham gritted his teeth and said firmly: "Don't try to defeat Xiao. Just grab resources and retreat immediately. Tighnari, help cover the retreat! Once Cyno is back, cut the path instantly!"
Cyno nodded, gathered his men without a word, and set out. Seeing this, Ryen grinned with satisfaction.
"The exciting moment has arrived! Right now, besides Liyue, Sumeru, Snezhnaya, and Inazuma have all noticed the resources on the center island. The first small-scale skirmish of the match is finally about to begin! Who will claim the treasures of the center island?"