Chapter 1272
“What is wrong with those Prescotts?” one of the Elyndorian students spat. “They’ve been gunning for us since the minute we landed p>
Another chimed in, “If they rigged the matchmaking, shouldn’t we report it p>
Caleb glanced at Serena. Seeing her stay silent, he replied, “If the Prescotts pulled this off, they’ve covered their tracks. If we file a dispute without hard evidence, we’ll just look like paranoid sore losers p>
“So… what do we do p>
The tension in the Elyndor ranks was palpable.
Even though these were the individual rounds of the challenge.
Every single one of them was carrying the pride of their nation.
If they got completely obliterated in the opening phase, it would only validate the degrading insults the Severian commentators had thrown at them.
It would prove that Elyndor was only here to be a stepping stone for the real elites. Their country’s dignity would be dragged through the mud.
The manipulation wasn’t targeting Serena directly.
They knew better than to mess with a monster like her, so they were systematically hunting down her team instead.
By crushing the rest of the Elyndor delegation and shattering their morale, Serena’s individual brilliance wouldn’t be enough to salvage the team’s overall standing.
The students understood the strategy perfectly.
Watching the brutally stacked brackets lock in, a suffocating dread settled over the group.
Not only were they facing top-tier scholars from powerhouse nations, but several were matched against reigning gold medalists from the United Realmon States and Caldoria.
It was an impossibly steep hill to climb.
Yet amid the rising panic, Serena merely glanced up at the display, her expression completely untroubled.
Turning to her team, a faint, careless smirk played on her lips. “What are you so nervous about p>
Her voice was calm, yet it carried an anchoring weight that instantly grounded them.
It radiated absolute, unwavering confidence.
Serena met the eyes of every
student. “Top-tier competitors aren’t
something to hide
to hide fro
benchmarks to be broken swnovers
“We didn’t come all this way to cower before anyone p>
“You survived Elyndor’s most brutal selection process to get here. You have nothing to fear p>
“They might rig the rules, but you dictate the outcome p>
She looked at the teammates had fought beside her through
team trials believe in you not
“Perform the way I know you can, and victory is yours p>
There was no lengthy motivational speech, no overly passionate battle cries.
Just a few stark truths that completely shattered their anxiety.
She was right. They had forged miracles on the island under the guidance of the Code Goddess!
They were Elyndor’s elite, handpicked from the best of the best.
Why let an algorithm intimidate them before the match even began? What was there to be afraid of?
They were ready to tear through anyone in their path.
Lydia took a deep breath, clenching her fists. “Understood, Captain p>
A fierce, unyielding resolve ignited in the eyes of every Elyndorian competitor.
Shoulders back and heads held high,
they marched confidently toward
battleston
theictive!
Observing their sudden resurgence from afar, Phelps Prescott let out a sneer of pure derision.