The final minute, or just over a minute with added time, and leading by two goals, it was impossible for the opponents to make a comeback.
The three chosen ones had also lost their will to play and had no desire to continue. After restarting the game, they kicked the ball past the halfway line with a long kick and had no intention of continuing.
Then…
Time ran out!
Bai Ye and Jin Sha high-fived with smiles.
It was done!
A white light appeared, enveloping everyone. It lasted for about thirty seconds, and then the white light gradually dispersed. Bai Ye and Jin Sha returned to the lobby of the Glory Arena.
"Steel Slime," Jin Sha said to the attendant at the counter, firmly requesting the Steel Slime as a reward. Then she looked at Bai Ye and asked, "Haven't you decided yet?"
Bai Ye scratched his head. He didn't want the Floating Beast or the Gem Body. The former was a beast tamer, and Bai Ye felt he had enough with Gengar and Goodra; he wasn't a pure beast tamer. The Gem Body was troublesome to collect, and each gem had a different effect. While versatile, it lacked distinctiveness. Versatility was a positive term, but it could also represent mediocrity.
Bai Ye wanted the power of the stars and the Red Rose of Demon Breaking.
Bai Ye had witnessed the power of the stars in his previous life. The Red Rose of Demon Breaking was naturally aimed at easier collection. A red-quality weapon, though its potential was inferior to others, significantly boosted immediate combat effectiveness.
"I want the Steel Slime too!"
After some deliberation, Bai Ye ultimately made the same choice as Jin Sha.
Jin Sha smiled and said, "I thought you would choose something you were familiar with."
"That's what I was thinking," Bai Ye spread his hands. "But the power of the stars needs to grow, and the Steel Slime also needs to devour. Both are bets on the future. Since that's the case, I want to try something I don't know. Sometimes, the unknown is also a kind of fun."
Jin Sha smiled and said, "That makes sense!"
Soon, the attendant handed two transparent glass boxes to the two.
Bai Ye raised the glass box and looked at it. Inside was a lump of black mud, or rather, a paste-like substance that was constantly wriggling.
Steel Slime (Item) (White): A very rare mutated slime that can devour anything and merge with the characteristics of those objects to transform and use them. Effect: Devour (As it continuously devours, the Steel Slime's magic will grow stronger, thus increasing its quality).
Bai Ye looked at the effect of the Steel Slime on the screen and prepared to open the glass box, saying, "Let's try to see how this little guy is used."
But at that moment…
Jin Sha suddenly nudged Bai Ye with her elbow and gestured forward with her chin.
Bai Ye looked up and saw the three chosen ones they had faced in the death football match.
Yes, three of them…
The one Bai Ye had tackled was still receiving medical attention.
The protection mechanism of the Glory Arena only prevented death, not injury.
The three approached Bai Ye. One of them gritted his teeth and said, "Kid, don't you have anything to say?"
Bai Ye smiled and asked, "What should I say?"
One of the chosen ones said coldly, "Using such despicable and shameless means…"
Bai Ye directly interrupted him, saying, "Did I commit a foul? If I had committed a foul, I should have been disqualified. Since I wasn't disqualified, it means everything I did was allowed, right?"
The three were speechless. They couldn't refute that statement.
"Stop with the useless talk," one of the chosen ones pointed at Bai Ye and said, "A one-on-one duel, do you dare?"
Bai Ye thought for a moment, then smiled and shook his head, saying, "No."
"You…"
The three were instantly speechless. Even if he didn't dare, his refusal was too straightforward.
And he said it so righteously?
"Forget it!" another chosen one said mockingly, "He's already chickened out. There's no point in us pestering him further. Besides, why bother with a coward?"
The other two chosen ones sneered in agreement.
The one who wanted to duel Bai Ye pointed at him and said, "Remember not to cross my path again. Let's go!"
After saying that, the three turned and walked towards the exit of the Glory Arena.
Watching the three leave, Jin Sha looked at Bai Ye and said, "This isn't like you."
Bai Ye looked at Jin Sha and asked, "What is like me?"
Jin Sha replied, "I think, with your temper, you definitely wouldn't refuse to duel them."
"It seems you don't understand me at all," Bai Ye smiled. "Am I that kind of person? I'm so gentle, friendly, benevolent, and peace-loving."
Jin Sha sized Bai Ye up. Why couldn't she believe him?
Bai Ye smiled and said, "Anyway, the matter is settled, and I should be going."
"Okay, see you later." Jin Sha high-fived Bai Ye and watched him leave. Suddenly, she remembered something and called out to Bai Ye, "You have an invitation ticket, you can teleport back directly…"
Unfortunately, Jin Sha called out a bit too late.
Bai Ye had already walked out of the Glory Arena's main entrance.
…
Beast Taming Area, Pallet Town.
Pallet Town was the location of the Glory Arena and a neutral area. After leaving Pallet Town, one entered the Beast Taming Area.
The three chosen ones left the Glory Arena and immediately exited Pallet Town.
Their destination was the Beast Taming Forbidden Zone in Cerulean City.
There were still two days left until the death football match officially ended. Obtaining another ticket within two days was clearly not an easy task.
However, given the circumstances, the three decided to try their best, regardless of the outcome.
"It's all that damned guy's fault," one of the chosen ones gritted his teeth and cursed. "If he hadn't used those dirty tricks, we wouldn't have lost."
Another chosen one sighed, "Forget it, stop cursing. It's useless. What we can do now is to hurry to the forbidden zone, complete the mission quickly, and get three more tickets. Although time is a bit tight, that forbidden zone has already been extensively explored. If we put in some effort, there's hope to complete the forbidden zone mission within a day."
"That's the only way!"
The previous chosen one agreed but still seemed unconvinced. He grumbled another curse at Bai Ye to vent his emotions.
Then…
Bang!
A gunshot suddenly rang out, followed by a splash of blood on the chosen one's head. His eyes widened, then gradually lost focus, his body swayed, and finally, he toppled forward.
The blood stained the surrounding grass a bright red.
In the air, a faint smell of blood slowly wafted, slightly pungent.
…