Chapter 519: Pizarro's Chaos and Shiryu's Silence
As Morgans released the latest announcement, contestants across Mythical Beast Island began converging on the Competitive Canyon in the central area. Like a swirling ocean current, the promise of the final prize drew countless contenders.
Time passed swiftly.
Outside a towering, steep valley, contestants arrived one after another, their faces alight with enthusiasm.
"Is this the Competitive Canyon Morgans mentioned? It's massive!" Pizarro exclaimed, his voice carrying a hint of awe as he gazed at the majestic, towering cliffs. "Meow!"
Shiryu, standing beside him with a cigarette in hand, responded calmly, "If it wasn't so grand, it wouldn't be so easy to spot." He then proceeded toward a narrow passage in the valley that seemed to stretch toward the sky.
Pizarro followed, still muttering to himself. "Our haul from this Mythical Beast Conference has been pathetic. We need to make a splash here and see what this final prize is all about."
The others in their group nodded in agreement.
Truthfully, their two crews had only managed to survive on Mythical Beast Island by relying on their collective strength—and that was only when they avoided the more ferocious Mythical beasts.
They had glimpsed treasures and encountered Mythical beasts, but after assessing their opponents' power, they wisely retreated.
On occasion, they came across weaker purebred Mythical beasts and, in their excitement, launched group attacks. After arduous battles, they often discovered the defeated beast held no treasure.
The absence of treasure wasn't a total loss; a purebred Mythical beast's materials were valuable.
However, on an island teeming with Mythical beasts and their subspecies, capturing one and parading it around instantly drew maximum hostility. Most intelligent Mythical beasts and subspecies united against outsiders.
Pizarro and his crew tried to entice a Mythical beast with promises of the outside world's wonders, hoping it would follow willingly. But once freed, it promptly fled, leaving Pizarro disheveled and Shiryu silent.
Their experience wasn't unique. Many contestants at the Mythical Beast Conference shared similar frustrations.
Morgans' repeated broadcasts about contestants securing Mythical Beast Fruits and God Killer Equipment left others envious and desperate not to leave empty-handed. Some targeted subspecies Mythical beasts, planning to capture a few before departing.
Others collected odd-looking soil, stones, trees, fruits, and flowers from the island, hoping to profit by branding them as relics of Mythical Beast Island. For many, picking up a few striking stones was a last resort.
Despite these setbacks, hope and ambition burned bright for the final prize. Even if the odds were slim, attending the event offered a chance, while staying away guaranteed failure.
Time ticked on, and the deadline Morgans announced arrived.
"Kwahahaha! Dear spectators and contestants, welcome to the Competitive Canyon!" Morgans' voice boomed from a white stone platform embedded in the canyon's yellow rock walls.
He held a microphone, surrounded by giant video Den Den Mushi and screens. Newsbirds, with smaller Den Den Mushi tied around their necks, hovered overhead or perched on cliffs, marking the area as a safe zone.
As Morgans took the stage, he saluted the Den Den Mushi filming him. contestants with keen eyesight could spot him from within the canyon.
"I believe all the contestants here are eager to proceed," Morgans said. "As your big news reporter, I'll explain what comes next. Please look…"
The live feeds, broadcast worldwide, shifted to showcase various parts of the Competitive Canyon. "In the triangular area at the canyon's center, a sphere glowing with golden light and bound by golden chains awaits. That is the final prize of our Mythical Beast Conference," Morgans declared.
The contestants gathered around the golden sphere stared with gleaming eyes. The canyon's interior wasn't vast; an inner circle within the triangular area spanned a few kilometers, roughly the size of an ordinary island.
Contestants entering the canyon could easily see the central golden sphere, especially those who could fly, jump high, or climb the cliffs. Its prominence spurred immediate action, with some attacking the sphere before Morgans finished speaking.
Boom!
A heartbeat-like pulse echoed as the sphere flared with intense light. A shockwave swept outward, catching several weaker contestants off guard. They clutched their chests, coughing up blood, their faces pale as paper.
"Kwahahahaha!" Morgans' gloating laughter rang out. "It seems no further explanation is needed. You've seen what happens. This sealed sphere is linked to a formation. Reckless attacks will trigger a corresponding shockwave. This formation can withstand even a god's direct assault, certified by the Yamata God Orochimaru!"
The injured contestants glared at the one who had attacked. They were lucky to have some strength; otherwise, the shockwave could have killed them.
That reckless fool!
They vowed to deal with him later, conveniently forgetting their own eagerness to strike the sphere moments earlier.
The attacker, now the target of their glares, looked like he might cry.
Being closest to the sphere, he had endured the strongest backlash and was slightly injured despite his strength. But the resentment directed at him was far worse than the injury.
Morgans, unfazed by the commotion, continued, "Very good, I believe everyone understands the key now. It's about breaking this formation. It's quite simple, but first, allow me to address another critical point concerning most contestants' safety."
The word "safety" caught everyone's attention. Many who had entered the canyon were driven by greed or obligation, often as subordinates following their bosses.
With only one final prize, their chances of claiming it were slim, especially with numerous demigod-level contenders present. A clash among such powerhouses could obliterate the canyon, and the weaker contestants admired their own courage for even being there.
(End of this chapter)