Although all of them were super-peak species, there were notable differences among them. Even the Ice Moon Spirit, Frost Spirit, and Frost Beast created by Iris each had their own strengths, but only the Ice Moon Spirit's value could be considered comparable to that of the Dragon Race. These three needed to work together; only then could they stand a chance against the dragons.
Few rivals could truly match the Dragon Race. When looking across the entire universe, the dragon race was one of the most formidable existences. However, building such a race was extremely difficult; only the Imperial Star Region possessed this ancient heritage, passed down through countless generations. There were virtually no species that could serve as effective counters.
After Augustus deployed a hundred Golden Dragons, the outcome was hardly surprising. The frenzied Wine Panda gradually couldn't hold on, while the Fire Panda could only watch helplessly. Their powerful long-range attacks against the dragons' formidable defense and vitality caused little to no damage. The Golden Dragons, in particular, paid no mind to fire pandas. Sergey had other cards up his sleeve, but they proved ineffective as well.
The fierce battle raged on, with both dragons and pandas continuing to fall. Despite paying the price of hundreds of Pandas, the Dragon side remained superior. The number of Wine Pandas was small compared to the vast dragon race, and the Fire Panda was powerless to turn the tide. Gradually, the situation tilted in Augustus's favor.
After another half-hour of relentless fighting, Sergey sighed helplessly and reluctantly conceded defeat. That marked the end of the battle. Iris and Sergey were eliminated, while Sebastian and Augustus advanced to the finals. This outcome was… completely unexpected.
Augustus was unharmed, but the real shock was Sebastian. It was astonishing, this rookie not only broke all previous records for newcomers but also defeated many prodigies. The victory over Iris, which few had believed possible before the match, was particularly remarkable.
Now, two contenders would compete for this year's All-Star Competition championship. This was not merely an enormous honor; more importantly, the rewards for first and second place from the Group Star Council differed. The champion would receive superior resources.
Although surprising, this matchup carried even greater significance. Across the Endless Star Territory and the regions under the Star Council's jurisdiction, countless individuals were discussing this match, pushing viewership numbers to new heights.
"Hahaha, Augustus is magnificent!" Inside the Imperial Star Area, a group of high-ranking officials celebrated joyfully with drinks.
"If all goes well, the champion of this year's Competition will be ours," one said with a confident smile.
"Problem?" a senior beside him murmured with a faint smile. "What surprises could there be? Even if this rookie, Sebastian, hides some trump card, would Augustus really lose?"
The others chuckled in response.
One of them remarked, "Everyone overestimated the strength of the five big favorites, Iris, Sergey, and the others. But now it seems… Augustus hasn't even gone all out, and the opposing side is almost collapsing."
"Leaving a rookie to compete with Augustus for the title? This championship is practically in the bag."
"You can't blame the outsiders for thinking that," another added. "Because Augustus keeps a low profile, few truly know his capabilities. That led to misunderstandings; people believed the others were on equal footing with him. But this final will prove otherwise."
A lamentation followed: "The gap in strength is so vast. Why not give Sebastian some advice?"
"What good could that do?" another senior said with a smile. "The dragon race isn't weak. They have no obvious flaws to exploit. I think… the match will end in less than thirty minutes, and Augustus will show mercy."
The officials from the Imperial Star Area relaxed; some were already preparing celebrations for Augustus's victory. Meanwhile, other star regions, like the Elf Empire, Ice Moon Sacred Land, and others with rivalries against the Imperial Star Area, were less optimistic. They would rather see a newcomer win than watch Augustus ascend to the top.
"Does Sebastian have a chance?" a female disciple from the Ice Moon Sacred Land asked the Holy Maiden.
"There's definitely some hope, but…" Iris shook her head. "The dragon race is too powerful, and Augustus has created the ultimate dragon. Nothing is truly weak. The key issue is…"
She paused, then added, "The dragons possess terrifying long-range capabilities and can fly freely. This will pose a significant threat to the planes Sebastian has built!"
During the two hours of rest, discussions about the upcoming final filled the air. Most people agreed on one thing: there was little suspense. After witnessing Augustus's duel with Sergey, it was clear that Sergey was no match for him. Dragons excel at both attack and defense, fighting on the ground, engaging in close combat, and soaring into the sky for long-range assaults. Their resilience was unmatched. The combined strength of the Wine Panda and Fire Panda was simply no match for that.
To make the final more interesting, many suggested strategies for Sebastian. Yet, the crowd frowned, and no viable plans emerged. The opponents Sebastian faced earlier had clear weaknesses, but the dragon race was different; they had no exploitable flaws. In a real battle, throwing gold coins or diamonds at the Dragon Clan would only make them laugh. The dragons weren't greedy for such tricks.
"If Sebastian joins forces with Iris, he might have a fighting chance," Jeffery, Aya, and others discussed, analyzing the situation.
"Right," Jeffery nodded, "Iris's Frost Ice Spirit is highly effective against dragons, and the ice crystal storm can bypass defenses. Many believed Iris would be the key to defeating Augustus. But even if they teamed up, it's only a slim hope, probably impossible."
During the two-hour break before the final, both Svananóg and Bru personally advised Sebastian on how to face Augustus. As Level 6 Planetary Lords with rich experience, they frowned at the current situation.
"Sebastian," a voice called.
He turned to see a man in black approaching, Sergey.
"You're the hope," Sergey said with a smile.
"Sergey," Sebastian responded. "You fought Augustus, so you know him better than we do. Any advice?"
Sergey pondered, then replied, "Augustus is incredibly powerful. Even I feel he might not have shown his full strength in our duel."
"What!?" Huo Kong, Shia, and others were stunned.
"It's just my intuition," Sergey said bitterly. "But I usually don't get it wrong. The duel I had with him felt effortless, like he still kept a trump card hidden."
"I fear so," Svananóg said, frowning. From Sergey's words, he sensed the truth was being downplayed.
"In short," Sergey glanced at Sebastian with a smile, "Augustus is hiding his true power. But you, compared to him, you're even more elusive. Who would have thought, before the tournament, that you'd defeat Iris and reach the finals? Maybe… a miracle will happen."
Sergey nodded at Sebastian and turned away. Sebastian didn't overthink it; he had already sent the video of Augustus's battle with Sergey to the Astra Militarum.
In the Imperial Star Area, everyone looked relaxed; many knew Augustus's true strength.
"How long do you plan to take to finish Sebastian later?" Mok asked.
"What's wrong, Mok?" Augustus chuckled. "Are you still bitter about being eliminated by Sebastian earlier?"
Mok looked a bit embarrassed. That match had become a joke; he had boasted he'd end Sebastian in ten minutes, only to be defeated himself in ten.
"What kind of revenge is that? I'm just looking out for you," Mok explained. "This rookie is too spectacular. He's broken the all-time freshman record, eliminated Iris, and reached the finals. Sure, he'll probably be taken out by you, but he's just a freshman. In the future, his standing in the Star Council might rival yours as champion!"
Hearing Mok's words, Augustus and others fell silent in thought.
"Mok makes a good point," the leader of the Imperial Star Area, a Level 6 Planetary Lord, said. "For this final, you must suppress Sebastian's momentum, finish him swiftly. Don't give him a chance to breathe, and don't take too long. Let the spotlight fade from him quickly."
"Make him a joke," Mok added with a grin.
"I understand," Augustus replied calmly. "Just watch and wait."
After a long wait, the final of the Group Star Competition finally commenced, Sebastian versus Augustus.
Though the surface strength gap was obvious, the stakes were enormous, drawing unprecedented viewership. Many strategists and high-ranking officials had plans for Sebastian, but no one had a truly workable solution.
"Just do your best," Svananóg advised calmly. "There's no need to be nervous."
Sebastian, a rookie who had fought his way into the finals, had already surpassed all expectations. His victory would make the name Svananóg Star Area known across countless worlds.
"Haha, Sebastian, no one believes in you, but I do! You can always create miracles!" Huo Kong cheered.
Sebastian offered a faint smile. With that, he entered the Star Space.
Before the battle officially began, ten minutes of preparation time allowed the Astra Militarum to finalize their plans. Facing a formidable supernatural creature like the dragon race, everyone understood that there were no tricks left to rely on. This would be a head-to-head confrontation; only strength would decide the outcome.
"This is our final fight. We must win!" Lando declared, issuing the final order.
All previous conquests, whether the Glory or the Supreme Conquest, had been victories. Losing now would be catastrophic. Lando felt he might as well find a tree to hang himself if that happened.
"Though we have no tricks left," Lando warned fiercely, "beware of hidden tactics. The Dragon Clan is capable of anything!"
With that, the Astra Militarum set out again, their expressions determined. They silently vowed to win this final glorious campaign, no regrets left behind. The atmosphere was heavy and solemn.
Ten minutes later, the planetary channel opened, and the battle finally began.