Chapter 9.5 Midnight

At midnight on September 5th, the number of online players in *Terror Paradise* easily broke the seven-figure mark, setting a new record since the game's launch.

Millions of players had gone to bed early before midnight, logging into the game in sleep mode (matches cannot be played on non-sleep mode servers).

Although most of these people were not participants in S2, and the preliminary round footage was not broadcast live (at least before the end of the preliminary round cycle, all match recordings were kept confidential), they were still willing to join in the fun.

As for those players who were qualified to participate in S2, the number was definitely not small… because Dream Inc. announced the competition news at the beginning of August, and the registration deadline was at the end of August; this half month was enough for many players who did not yet meet the participation requirements to level up.

Undoubtedly… during this time, the game company made another big profit.

The sales of game coins steadily increased; the sales of double experience cards soared; the official website's monthly visits doubled several times, and advertising revenue rose accordingly; and in the game… due to the significant increase in the usage and transaction volume of the auction house, the system's handling fees recovered from players also reached a record high.

In short, both popularity and money… were pouring in like crazy, unstoppable.

It can be said that Dream Inc. taught many industry peers a lesson with their actual actions – the quality of the game itself and the rigorous attitude of the operators determine everything.

Compared with those second and third-rate online game companies that engage in vulgar hype all day long to attract attention, Dream Inc.'s publicity costs are lower because they don't need to actively "shout" anything. Even if they wanted to hide it, the media would come to their door on their own.

…………

September 5th, 0:05 AM.

In a certain login space.

【Zuiwo Changran, Level 50】

【Sheng Yu Pian, Level 50】

【Meng Jingchan, Level 50】

【Wu Si Can Xuan, Level 50】

【Tun Tian Guixiao, Level 50】

【Please select the game mode that the team wants to join.】

【You have selected Pinnacle Showdown S2 - Gathering of Heroes, please confirm.】

【Confirmed, please select the observers for this battle.】

【Confirmed, please set your team's "privacy protection options".】

【You have selected "appearance normalization" and "notify the enemy team of this team's name", please confirm.】

【Confirmed, your team has entered the queue and is searching for other ready teams.】

【Match found, coordinating neural connections, script is being generated…】

【Loading begins, please wait.】

"Gathering of heroes, who dares to claim dominance? Heroes compete, let's see who wins."

Similar to the preliminary round of S1, the official preliminary round of S2 also has a unique script opening.

【Loading complete, welcome to Pinnacle Showdown S2 - Gathering of Heroes.】

【This mode provides a script introduction, and there is a chance of side hidden missions and special worldviews.】

【Script victory reward: 3 preliminary round points.】

【The script introduction will be played soon, and the match will begin immediately after the playback is complete.】

After a series of loading information, "Order Team One" was teleported into the script and began to view the opening CG and plot introduction.

Obviously, since there is a so-called "Team One," there will naturally be "Team Two," and even teams three, four, five, six, and seven…

For top-tier large gaming studios like Order, as long as they have the will, putting together twenty or thirty teams is not a problem.

Of course, they wouldn't do that. If they really formed as many teams as they had people… then, sorted by strength, the combat power of "Order Team Ten" might not even be as good as a first-line team from a second-tier studio. Even if this kind of team participated, there would be no chance of advancing, and if they lost miserably, it would damage the studio's image.

Therefore, "Order" only formed four teams this time…

The details of their teams two, three, and four will not be discussed here. Let's talk about the lineup of Team One… that is, the five mentioned above.

The four great experts of "Zuisheng Mengsi," plus Tun Tian Guixiao, all five of them had reached level 50 and were all ranked in the top 20 of the individual comprehensive strength list.

One could tell at a glance… this team was aiming for the championship. Any one of these five people would be an absolute main force in other teams, but in "Order Team One," they still had to choose one of them to sit on the bench every match, which was truly frightening to think about…

Currently, in this crucial first match, the captain, Wu Si Can Xuan, chose to watch the match himself and handed over the command of the team to the vice-captain, Sheng Yu Pian.

In terms of strength, these two might not be the strongest in the team, but… the other three in their team: one was not good at strategy and liked to talk trash, one drank hot wine all day long and was extremely unreliable, and the other would transform into a chuuni (delusional/over-the-top) berserker state as soon as he entered the script… Under such circumstances, they had no choice but to "let those who are capable do more" and take on the responsibilities of the captain and vice-captain.

However… let's be fair, being the captain of Order Team One is actually a very simple matter. Many times, they just need to lead the team to "mindlessly A through" and they'll win. With absolute strength advantage, even if the opponent has a hundred strategies, it won't change the outcome.

…………

Having finished talking about Order's side, let's take a look at their first opponent.

It should be noted that the number of teams who signed up to participate in the S2 preliminary round is very large, and the probability of two strong teams meeting in the preliminary round is actually very low.

However… there is no such thing as a coincidence. Order Team One really did encounter a strong team in this first preliminary match.

This team also belonged to a professional team from a large studio, and they did not enable the privacy protection option. Therefore… the name "Corpse Blade First Squad" was clearly displayed in the game menus of the five members of Order.

…………

"Heh… I thought the preliminary round would be as easy as when we were playing practice mode…" Sheng Yu Pian showed a rather complicated smile after seeing the enemy's team name. "As a result, we encountered a tough nut to crack in the first match…"

"Alas… I wanted to be a bystander and lie down to win…" Zuiwo Changran sighed and continued, "It seems… we have to be a little more serious."

"Burp~" Meng Jingchan had already taken out a wine bottle and poured himself a mouthful. "We can't be careless~" Although he said that he couldn't be careless, his expression and behavior were very leisurely.

"Hmph… what tough nut to crack… what serious… what careless…" At this time, Guixiao sneered. "In my opinion… there is no difference."

"Oh oh~ Our ace has entered battle (chuuni) mode again." Zuiwo Changran smoothed his instant noodle hairstyle and continued.

"This has nothing to do with my mental state, I'm stating a fact." Guixiao said in a deep voice, "Whether the opponent is professional or amateur, there is only one thing we need to do, and that is… to defeat them mercilessly and with all our strength." He paused. "Since the goal is the championship, we must have the determination to be 'absolutely undefeated.'"

"Haha, can't compare to you young people." Meng Jingchan smiled when he heard this. "You've made me feel fired up~" As he spoke, he lit a cigarette.

"What's fired up is just the cigarette in your hand…" Sheng Yu Pian squinted and coldly retorted.

【Main Mission Triggered.】

【Kill four members of "Corpse Blade First Squad".】

Just as they were talking, the system prompt rang out. This indicated that… the "safe time" at the beginning of the game was over.

…………

At the same time, in another part of the script.

The four members of the Corpse Blade First Squad upheld the studio's consistent style.

They were wearing uniform uniforms (similar to Star Trek style, but the colors were green and black, and the Corpse Blade emblem was printed on the left chest, the pattern was a finely carved skull scimitar with the words Corpse Blade on it), had the same hairstyle (buzz cut), and even the expressions on their faces were very similar (pale complexion, numb expression).

As mentioned earlier, before version v1.10, Corpse Blade had always been ranked fifth on the community combat power list, and they also occupied the most spots in the top twenty of the player level list. Although both of these lists were cancelled due to the merger, their strength cannot be ignored.

"Oh? We actually encountered the strongest opponent in the first match." A Corpse Blade member named Mouriku Kyoushu (End-Times Strong Assault) said after hearing the mission content.

"There's nothing to be surprised about, it's just a matter of probability." Saishuu Kyoushu (Final Strong Assault) continued, "There will always be a team that encounters them, won't there?"

Viewers with good memories will surely remember… these two were the two Corpse Blade members who encountered Brother Jue and Crazy Trace Sword Shadow in the *Earth Wasteland Arc*. That time, they were unfortunately tricked by Brother Jue and lost that killing game without even seeing the enemy's shadow.

Some people may wonder, why are these two seemingly not very powerful guys now ranked in the "Corpse Blade First Squad"? In fact, this is not surprising… because Corpse Blade used cheating methods such as "drug assistance," so in essence, their players, after leveling up to level 50… are all about the same level.

Unless these players stop taking the drugs for a period of time like the former Corpse Blade King, now known as Juan Menghan (Weary Dream Returning), even if they have any personal talents, they will be covered up by the effects of the drugs and become a group of homogenized, cold warriors.

And under the premise that these players' personal factors can almost be ignored, arranging teams becomes very easy. As long as you match up a team that can cooperate with each other and maximize each other's advantages according to the four factors of the character's specialization, title, equipment, and skills. It can be said that the composition of the "Corpse Blade First Squad" is like solving a math problem, removing the "uncertainty of humans" and leaving simple calculations.

In fact, the selection of their team was indeed completed by a supercomputer… The relevant person in charge of the studio only called up the data of all level 50 game characters under Corpse Blade and let the supercomputer calculate a "most efficient" combination.

"I think this is a good thing." A few seconds later, another member with the ID Hikou Iwai (Not Mouth King) continued the conversation, "Since we are here to win the championship, it is inevitable that we will encounter them." His tone changed slightly. "Perhaps… this encounter is a very good opportunity."

At this time, the captain of the Corpse Blade First Squad, Senya Iwai (Former Also King), took over the former's words and said, "I think so too." He paused for half a second. "As a touchstone for the effect of that 'new drug'… the five members of Order Team One are perfect."