As the two lines of blood-red team names settled on the massive screen, the already restless Star Luo Square completely exploded.
Deafening cheers and shouts surged together, forming a visible wave of sound that seemed to soar straight into the sky.
This was the Douluo Continent, after all. For the vast majority of the audience, support naturally went to the local teams.
As a result, most of the cheers and encouragement at this moment were directed toward Crimson Flame Academy.
…
On the other side, inside Shrek Academy's exclusive rest area.
Elder Xuan, the lead instructor, was sprawled lazily against a large sofa chair. A greasy chicken leg was still clutched in his hand, and from time to time he tipped his head back to swallow a mouthful of strong liquor.
The matchup list on the big screen was reflected in his seemingly clouded old eyes, and a cold smile slowly crept across his face.
"So it's finally started."
"Right now, all three of our teams are still undefeated…"
"If the Sun Moon team loses to Crimson Flame, and then we defeat Sun Moon later, they'll fall straight to third place in the group due to head-to-head results."
"Third place in the group means they won't even make the top sixteen—they'll be eliminated on the spot."
At this point, the smile on Elder Xuan's face grew even brighter.
"If that kind of scene really comes to pass, it would be perfect…"
"Little brats of Crimson Flame Academy, don't let this old man down."
…
At the same time, inside the rest area of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Compared to the deafening noise outside, the atmosphere here was unnervingly quiet.
The isolation barrier had been activated, completely cutting off the overwhelming sounds from the arena.
This was the pre-match tactical discussion.
All the team members sat around a round table, their gazes fixed on Liu Yuan.
Ma Rulong looked down at the information in his hands, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Captain, we've already analyzed Crimson Flame Academy's intel."
"They focus almost entirely on fire-attribute burst attacks. Their speed and explosive power are both extremely strong. If we don't use the Fire Resistance Bracelets, we'll run into real trouble."
"Therefore, I suggest we deploy the Fire Resistance Bracelets immediately."
Lin Xi frowned when he heard this.
"But if we do that, we'll expose the trump card we were saving for Shrek."
Xiao Hongchen pondered for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.
"What if we let Meng go first? She can control the battlefield, use her Scarlet Crystal Ice Toad martial soul to lower the arena's temperature. That would make things easier for whoever follows."
Everyone's expressions were solemn.
The situation was indeed tricky.
If they didn't go all out, Crimson Flame Academy would be extremely difficult to deal with.
But if they revealed all their trump cards here, they would be at a disadvantage when facing Shrek later.
Just as everyone was struggling over how to arrange the order of battle to secure victory at the lowest cost—
Liu Yuan finally spoke.
"No need to make it so complicated."
Everyone froze and looked at him in unison.
They saw Liu Yuan slowly stand up, his gaze sweeping across the room as he spoke calmly.
"For this match, I'll go first."
"What?!"
Everyone cried out in shock.
"Captain, you mean… you're leading off?"
Ma Rulong stared at him in disbelief. "This is an individual elimination match! Normally, the weaker members go first to wear down the opponent, and the captain stays at the end as the anchor—"
"That's the conventional tactic," Liu Yuan interrupted.
Then he continued evenly,
"As you said, Crimson Flame Academy isn't weak. If we send anyone else up, we'll inevitably have to expose multiple trump cards just to win."
"But those trump cards are prepared for Shrek. They're not worth revealing here."
"So the best option is for me to take the stage."
"I can end this match directly, without using too many hidden cards."
The words were absurdly arrogant.
One person… sweeping the entire Crimson Flame team?
If anyone else had said this, it would have sounded like pure madness.
But the one saying it was Liu Yuan.
Thinking back to Liu Yuan's strength—and his own fire-resistance capability—everyone suddenly realized that this approach actually seemed… feasible.
Very quickly—
Xiao Hongchen was the first to stand up.
"I agree."
"Me too," Meng Hongchen followed immediately.
Ma Rulong took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"Then it's settled. We leave it to the captain. All of us trust your judgment unconditionally."
There was no doubt. No opposition.
At this moment, the Sun Moon team displayed a level of unity never seen before.
Liu Yuan looked at his teammates, smiled faintly, and turned toward the exit of the rest area.
"Relax. I'll take care of it."
…
"Both teams, please enter the arena!"
With the referee's shout, the lights of the entire stadium instantly focused on both sides of the stage.
From Crimson Flame Academy's side, the first to walk out was a burly young man with blazing red hair.
He was their vanguard—a level forty-five attack-type Soul Ancestor, clearly sent out to seize the initiative and test the waters.
Standing on the arena floor, he basked in the cheers of the crowd, casting a provocative glance toward the Sun Moon team's tunnel, as if waiting for some unlucky opponent to emerge.
However—
The moment a figure from the Sun Moon tunnel stepped out of the shadows and into the light—
The previously thunderous arena fell into a brief, eerie silence.
And then—
An even more explosive wave of shocked exclamations erupted!
"Holy hell—am I seeing things?"
"That's… Liu Yuan?!"
"The captain of the Sun Moon team?!"
Eyes widened everywhere. Even the referee froze for a split second.
In an individual elimination format, the captain usually appeared last, acting as the stabilizing pillar. This was common knowledge across the Soul Master world, designed to prevent targeted exhaustion strategies.
Yet now—
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had sent out their captain, Liu Yuan, as the very first combatant.
What kind of tactic was this?
On the imperial viewing platform, Emperor Xu Jiawei, who had been leisurely watching, suddenly jolted. Several drops of tea splashed from his cup.
"This…"
Xu Jiawei frowned deeply, doubt filling his eyes.
"Is this Liu Yuan insane? Going first? Is he not afraid of being worn down by Crimson Flame Academy's rotation?"
In Shrek Academy's rest area, Elder Xuan froze mid-bite, the chicken leg still clenched in his hand, completely forgetting to chew.
He narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the young man calmly walking onto the stage, equally unable to comprehend the situation.
"What's this supposed to be? Going up first?"
"This kid really has no brains!"
"Hmph. Since he's this foolish, it works out perfectly for this old man. That idiot Jing Hongchen actually let him lead the team—then let the entire team be buried along with him."