Matthew Atkinson & Natalie Russell
Global Layer of the Supernatural Realm
"Mr. Atkinson, do you have such great power because of your Kryptonian Bloodline?" Director Hart asked from behind them.
This director, Mr. Hart, was also an incredibly skilled supernatural. He had already challenged Diamond Jozu and successfully advanced to the next round.
Even such a powerful figure now treated Matthew as his equal, addressing him as "Mr."
His question immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Matthew turned around and noticed that several members of Director Hart's team avoided his gaze.
But the rest of the people looked at him with awe.
"Yes," Matthew replied casually.
Director Hart exclaimed, "What terrifying power. It seems that the Kryptonian Bloodline is not the useless ability that everyone thinks it is, but the strongest ability in the Holy Land."
He paused for a moment, and then Director Hart suddenly asked again, "Mr. Atkinson, is the secret of the Kryptonian Bloodline related to the sunbathing equipment?"
"Huh?" Matthew was surprised and looked intently at Director Hart.
Director Hart quickly said, "Mr. Atkinson, don't misunderstand. In fact, detailed information about you and Miss Russell has spread everywhere. Ever since you started receiving SSS-grade mission ratings, many powerful forces have been eyeing both of you."
"I believe that all the major powers have conducted in-depth research on the two of you, including what you've done, any unusual behavior you've exhibited, and even what you usually like to eat—all of which are recorded..."
"After all, you are record-breaking individuals. Regardless of their motives, everyone is bound to be very curious about you."
"Miss Russell is alright, she doesn't have any particular hobbies, but Mr. Atkinson, whether you live outside or on campus, you always kept a sunbathing machine readily available at your home, which is a very conspicuous thing."
"Now that you've demonstrated your formidable strength, it's natural that people will make those connections..."
Upon hearing this, Matthew nodded and said, "I see." But he did not answer Director Hart's question directly.
However, Director Hart has confirmed that sunlight was the secret of the Kryptonian Bloodline.
"Mr. Atkinson, it was good that you chose to hide your power before. After all, there is still a Kryptonian Bloodline user living in South Korea."
Director Hart sighed as he finished speaking, "But you should have continued to hide your strength. You shouldn't have revealed it here."
"Although the Global Layer of the Supernatural Realm is an Amnesiac Layer, members of the champion team can retain their memories if they wish."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood what Director Hart meant.
Aria Powell immediately said, "Director Hart, are you saying that Ma Dongwu from South Korea might choose to retain his memories this time?"
"Yes." Director Hart nodded and continued, "Although that Kryptonian Bloodline user in South Korea is very old and has recently fallen into a coma, there are some supernatural individuals in this world with amazing healing abilities. Perhaps they can heal that old man…"
Director Hart didn't elaborate on what came next. However, everyone understood what he meant.
After witnessing Matthew's impressive performance, Ma Dongwu might, for the sake of South Korea and even to limit Matthew's influence and growth, choose to retain his memory after winning the championship.
Once he got out, he would immediately call upon a supernatural with healing abilities to save that old man.
Then, he could use a sunbathing device to activate the other person's Kryptonian Bloodline.
The old man had long since "retired" and could no longer enter the Supernatural Realm. So, he could not compete with Matthew for SSS-level grades.
However, the existence of another person with the same ability in the world could affect Matthew's progress and hinder his path to reaching singularity.
Thinking about this, everyone frowned.
Grand Magister Russell and Professor Holland, in particular, looked extremely grim.
As a professor, Professor Holland genuinely cared about his students.
And Grand Magister Russell now regarded Matthew as his son-in-law, as family, and naturally cared about him.
Also, Matthew's continued growth was definitely a good thing for those with connections.
"This is troublesome." Grand Magister Russell said in a low voice.
Aria Powell sighed, "Director Hart is right, Matthew, we shouldn't be competing for the Supernatural Realm's results this time."
The others frowned, pondering a solution.
Meanwhile, those in Director Hart's group who had mocked Matthew wore gloating expressions.
At this moment, Matthew suddenly smiled and said, "You don't need to worry. The solution to this problem is actually quite simple."
Everyone was taken aback and looked at Matthew.
Matthew didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "I'll just win the championship, isn't that enough?"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at him in astonishment.
Winning the championship? This was indeed the best solution.
But…
Was it really that easy?
Ma Dongwu's team's current competition points were at least twice those of their own team.
Moreover, Ma Dongwu's team also has two seventh-rank experts, both of whom successfully advanced to the next round this time.
So, the gap in competition points widened even further.
If Matthew wanted to catch up with Ma Dongwu's team, or even surpass them and win the championship, he needed to keep advancing after all of Ma Dongwu's members were eliminated.
Judging from the rate at which the defending champion had increased in strength, this was almost an impossible task.
…
At the same time, several people were discussing in hushed tones around seat number 3874.
"I think we might have targeted the wrong person."
"What?"
"The false god mentioned in the oracle is not that Russell at all, but this guy named Atkinson."
"That's right. A freshman who can actually challenge a seventh-rank expert, it must be him."
"This is very important news and must be reported as soon as possible."
"Forget it. This is the Amnesiac Layer. Even if we know this now, we'll forget everything once we get out."
"Perhaps we can cooperate with that South Korean team and have them leak the information to us after they leave? I believe they would be happy to do so."
"What makes you think that a South Korean would give up an extraordinary treasure chest reward and choose to keep the memory after winning the championship?"
"Because they also have a Kryptonian Bloodline user."
...
That night, many acquaintances visited Matthew at his team's villa.
In the Global Layer, there were no restrictions on the activity range of supernatural individuals. They could visit each other's villas freely.
And visiting others was very simple.
First, someone needed to find the other person's seat number on the holographic computer. After that, they had to send them a private message to request their consent, and then they could visit them directly through a portal gate.
It was very convenient.
Otherwise, this arena was comparable to a large city, and it might take a whole day to reach the others' seating area on foot.
Matthew's classmates, like Filip Walker, Denis Read, Sam Harris, and Anastasia Bradley, all came to visit.
Matthew's older cousin, Maximus Atkinson, also came over with his battalion commander and comrades.
It wasn't to flatter Matthew. They were simply curious about his abilities.
At the same time, Ma Dongwu's villa was also frequented by many visitors.
However, these people all had their own purposes in coming to find Ma Dongwu. Although their goals were different, their requests were surprisingly consistent.
That was, after Ma Dongwu won the championship, someone from his team should choose to retain their memory and then reveal the news to them.
Ma Dongwu readily agreed on the surface, but once he saw the people off, he broke into a smile.
"Captain, are we really going to choose to retain the memory and share the information?" a subordinate asked.
Ma Dongwu said, "Retaining memories is a given. One of us must take on this responsibility. Damn it. That freshman is too much of a threat. He needs to be closely monitored, and his development must be prevented. But sharing our information? Foolish guys..."
...
After the fifth round of challenge matches, to everyone's surprise, only a few thousand people had successfully advanced.
At this rate, the champion might even be decided in two or three rounds.
In addition, starting from the sixth round, another minor change has been made to the tournament.
The process remained the same, but the time limit was removed, allowing both challengers and champions to fight to their hearts' content.
Until one of them is no longer able to continue or dies.
The stage had also undergone new changes. The previous fifty large rings have been transformed into a super-large ring comparable to a small town.
And from then on, the ring would no longer be empty space. In each round, the Supernatural Realm would redefine the environment of the ring.
Like right now.
At the moment, the ring was a replica of a ruined city, with many dilapidated buildings and mountains of metal debris around it.
Everyone was surprised to see such a change.
And when the defending champion of this round appeared, countless people gasped in surprise.
"That guy is... Magneto?!!"
"I never expected that the defending champion in the sixth round would be this big shot?"
"No wonder the arena looks like this, with so much scrap metal. It's all made to serve Magneto."
"Yes. In such an environment, Magneto has an absolute advantage."
"Those powerhouses who advanced to this round are in trouble now."
"I remember there was a top expert in the USA, who seemed to have Magneto's Bloodline. How powerful must Magneto himself be?"
"You mean Ethan Smith? He is indeed a user of the Magneto Bloodline, but his strength has long surpassed that of Magneto himself. The real Magneto is probably only in the seventh rank. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been chosen as a champion for his round."
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.183: Even Magneto Couldn't Stop Him
Ch.184: The Seventh Champion – Marine Admiral
Ch.185: Fourth Place – There is Hope