Ann clenched her teeth tightly, her mind aware that the momentum of the match had already shifted. Yet, she was reluctant to admit defeat. Before the battle, she had underestimated Sebastian, convinced that Mok's loss to him was primarily due to Mok's unit lacking long-range output, a weakness the High Elves excelled at.
If all the High Elves had joined forces, along with the hidden Elf King Bow, defeating Sebastian's electromagnetic cannon would have been a straightforward task. But the reality was different. The cannon's range was astonishingly far, exceeding everyone's expectations. Drill ammunition forcibly knocked down a Battle Treant, whose vitality was formidable. Yet, like any Treant, it was slow, a disadvantage in this fierce confrontation.
While Ann hesitated, the electromagnetic cannon fired again. A drill projectile sliced through the air, hitting the left side of a Battle Treant with precision. The other Treants, sensing the threat, showed unprecedented vigilance. Upon activation of the cannon, they instinctively tried to dodge. But even the Great Ghouls couldn't evade such a strike, let alone the lumbering Treants.
A deafening explosion tore through the Treant, creating a massive hole. The drill pierced through, shattering a stone behind it into fragments. The display was horrifying in its power.
The other four Battle Treants, though unshot, looked on with a flicker of fear etched into their ancient faces; they recognized they might be next.
"A rookie… Why did he awaken a Legendary Musketeer!?" Ann clenched her fists, her mind in chaos.
Since childhood, she had been a proud prodigy. In the Elves Empire, where geniuses thrived, she shone brightly. Yet here, she faced an opponent far more wicked. The truth was laid bare before her.
Finally, overwhelmed and helpless, Ann reluctantly admitted defeat. The match, less than ten minutes old, was over. Sebastian had triumphed and advanced to the next round.
Silence fell over the vast square outside. Everyone was stunned; no one had imagined it would end so swiftly. Less than ten minutes, and the outcome was decided.
Even the five Planetary Lords from the Level 6 Planetary Lord were bewildered. The electromagnetic cannon's range was so extensive that units at a seemingly safe distance were vulnerable.
"This Legendary Musketeer's weapon has a range of over ten kilometers, right?" one Planetary Lord asked.
"It should be more, probably at least fifteen kilometers or more," another replied.
"Fifteen kilometers or beyond? That's the longest attack range among all the participants so far," a third added.
"Based on this battle, Sebastian's strength probably rivals the five top favorites," another commented.
Volkmar, the competition's overseer, nodded in agreement. "He's capable of threatening them all."
Bru, observing keenly, said with a smile, "Losing to such a demonic rookie isn't unfair for Ann. But I didn't expect her to fall so badly."
He glanced at Svananóg and chuckled. "Don't look so stern, I know you're overjoyed inside. Your star area has produced such a formidable talent; this could be the year's champion for your group."
"Champion?" Svananóg shook his head rapidly. "You're joking. The Legendary Musketeer is powerful, but he's still a step away from winning the title. Just look at those five favorites, they're even more formidable."
"At least now, Sebastian can be considered on par with them," Bru said with a grin.
Following Ann's defeat, many recognized Sebastian's strength as the strongest among the five favorites to win the title.
When Sebastian left the star space, all eyes turned to him in the square. A new development had unfolded; he approached his team, received congratulations, and quietly waited for other matches to conclude.
The battles weren't as straightforward as Sebastian and Ann's. Those who reached this stage were the best of their regions. Even the five favorites struggled against their opponents, resorting to powerful tricks, but ultimately, the favorites maintained dominance and advanced.
The top eight placements were now set: Sebastian, Sergey, Jeffery, Augustus, Iris, Eira, Aya, and Baroque, eight of the strongest Level 2 Planetary Lords in the Endless Star Territory. Aside from Sebastian, the others were all well-known.
The five favorites needed no introduction. Aya was the powerhouse of the Elf Empire, widely regarded as the best of his generation, more talented and stronger than his twin sister, Ann.
Baroque was also among the top seeds, hailing from an immensely powerful star area. Unlike others, Baroque was a seasoned combatant, traveling across planets to fight and gather resources. His age was the oldest among the eight, and his experience was unmatched.
The competition was intensely captivating. Even the veteran Level 6 Planetary Lords, seasoned by countless battles, watched with interest and smiles. Such fierce confrontations were exactly what they enjoyed.
"It's no surprise. This year's class is packed with geniuses, especially with a powerful rookie like Sebastian emerging. No one wants to face him early," one Planetary Lord commented.
"Let's see the matchup table," another said, raising their gaze to the projection above. The pairings, drawn by the Star Tower's spirits, would be reshuffled at this stage to prevent early matchups between favorites and to make the competition more entertaining.
Supporters behind the players held their breath, anxious about the possibility of favorites clashing prematurely. Such matchups would be disastrous, bad luck for all.
"Brother, as long as you avoid the five favorites, you'll make it to the top four," Ann told Aya.
Aya shook his head. "I only hope to face Baroque. If I meet Sebastian, I don't stand a chance."
Ann pouted, realizing Sebastian's presence was still a threat. Although Aya was stronger, they all knew the devastating power of the ultra-long-range electromagnetic cannon, capable of annihilating foes from afar.
"It doesn't matter who I face," Baroque muttered, eyes narrowing as he gazed at the projection. "Even the top five favorites won't scare me."
Meanwhile, Augustus's teammates joked among themselves. Mok teased him, "If you run into the other four favorites, you might have to use your trump card early."
Augustus simply smiled. "There's no harm in showing it now."
Mok chuckled. "Better not, or the whole match might lose its suspense."
A young man beside them added, "Without Augustus, those other geniuses don't stand a chance. He's the real favorite."
Inside the crowd, the tension grew. The Tower Spirit, sensing the audience's concern, deliberately delayed the announcement. When it finally revealed the matchups, the square erupted.
"Augustus vs. Iris? The championship favorite against another top contender? This is exciting!"
"Look, Eria faces Jeffery, a battle of ice and fire. Even more thrilling."
"Why are the five favorites meeting so early? Is this by design?"
"No matter, this is arranged by the Tower Spirit. It's good for the spectacle. We'll see them clash sooner or later."
The fans buzzed with anticipation. The bracket revealed Sebastian would face Baroque, Sergey would meet Aya, and Jeffery would face Eria.
Svananóg exhaled in relief, a faint smirk on his face. Bru, surprised, cursed under his breath. "How did Sebastian get so lucky? He avoided the five favorites altogether!"
Everyone was stunned. In theory, Sebastian, Aya, and Baroque would have faced the favorites, but instead, Sebastian drew Baroque.
"Luck favoring him," a few friends congratulated Baroque, knowing his card wasn't overly powerful but perfectly suited for dealing with the Astra Militarum.
"You must aim for the top four," one said with a grin.
"When I make it, I'll buy the best wine," Baroque replied confidently. Facing Sebastian, he was certain of victory.
Huo Kong warned Sebastian, "Watch out. Baroque's smiling, that probably means he's hiding something."
"I know," Sebastian nodded, reviewing videos of Baroque's fights, passing them to his officers for analysis. His trump card was a mystery, but they could only observe; after all, others had their hidden cards too. The Astra Militarum's electromagnetic cannon wasn't the only weapon.
"Go for it and reach the top!" Huo Kong, Shia, and Patton cheered.
"Finish, Sergey," Ann urged Aya, her fist clenched. "Do your best."
Aya simply smiled, knowing his limits. Sergey was one of the five favorites; he knew he couldn't beat him.
"Eria, this time, I'll get you first," Jeffery said with a confident gleam.
"According to my teacher, my real opponent is Augustus," Iris thought silently. "Sergey, Eria, Jeffery, none of them threaten me."
"Careful with Jeffery," a beautiful middle-aged woman from the Ice Moon Holy Land advised. "You can take him down, but don't underestimate him."
"I'll be cautious," Iris replied.
Meanwhile, Eria frowned. "Why did I draw Augustus? His dragon race counters me perfectly."
Among the top eight, she was the second youngest, and only Sebastian was younger.
As the top eight battles commenced simultaneously, Sebastian faced the most experienced fighter, Baroque.
Baroque had studied Sebastian's previous matches meticulously. His strategy was to spread out his units immediately, two melee supernatural species, one a brute force tank, the other quick and agile, rivaling assassins in speed.
Melee units usually struggled against the Astra Militarum, but Baroque's keen observation and tactics gave him an edge. A sly smile played on his lips as he moved.
"Fortunately, I prepared this card," Baroque mused. "No matter how legendary your Musketeer is, it's of little use against me."
He deployed a new species from the planet passage, the numbers staggering. But the battle took an unexpected turn, massacre erupted as the Astra Militarum unleashed a devastating weapon of mass destruction.