[LV175, King-level Secret Realm, Hell Gladiator Arena]
Before the match officially began, suddenly, all contestants had their levels reset by the system. Regardless of their original levels, all 99,528 contestants were forcibly reset to level 175.
Zhang Yue was no exception. His level had originally been 170, and he was forcibly pulled up to 175, an increase of five levels.
Even his pets' levels all jumped from level 168 to level 175.
'Perfect.' [T/N: Homelander]
previously, in the Nightmare difficulty arena, he had obtained a level 170, 28-star set. At the time, Armageddon Black Dragon and the others hadn't met the level requirement and couldn't equip it.
Now, they could equip it directly.
So, Zhang Yue immediately brought out the Bloodbath Set, Slaughter Set, Death God Set, Destruction Set, and Devil Set that he had long prepared for Armageddon Black Dragon, Apex Predator, Armageddon Skeleton King, and the others, and equipped them.
These pieces of equipment had already been fully enhanced by Zhang Yue.
One-click purification, all Flowgold level.
After putting on the new gear, the five pets' attributes skyrocketed, and their strength greatly increased.
This setting of the Hell Gladiator Arena was a nerf for most contestants.
The higher the original level, the harsher the nerf.
But for Zhang Yue, it was an enormous enhancement.
Because, using the World 32 as a boundary, below this threshold, professionals from the World 31 and under had no qualification to participate.
Among nearly one hundred thousand contestants, all were from higher-level worlds. Most were Tier 3 and Tier 4 professionals. All of them were nerfed.
What Zhang Yue had always feared was that the Hell Gladiator Arena had no level-entry requirement. Forget encountering someone like Elfa, Kwon Ji-Hyun, or Inoue Amano, even randomly running into a level 300-ish Tier 8 or 9 professional could mean he'd be crushed by level suppression alone.
The level reset for all contestants, to Zhang Yue, this was a god-tier setting.
On the other side, Inoue Amano, Kwon Ji-Hyun, and the others were so angry they started swearing.
["Level reset? Is this some kind of joke? Then where's the advantage for us Tier 9 professionals?"]
["F*ck! Our advantage has been totally nullified by this secret realm setting!"]
["All contestants' levels reset to the same baseline, and even skill tiers forcibly reduced to SSS-level. In this domain, isn't Zero basically invincible? Who can beat him?"]
["Fck! Fck fck fck! What the hell kind of setting is this? My level 500 set got forcibly unequipped. Even my 5S-level skills all dropped to 3S-level. What? Am I supposed to fight barehanded now?"]
["The system has given ten minutes for equipment prep time, everyone get ready quickly."]
All contestants' panels entered a 9-minute 59-second countdown.
The system had clearly stated: until the countdown ends, contestants cannot leave the preparation space. However, they may receive gear and supplies from external sources.
So, contestants from all walks began frantically calling for external support.
Because most of them had their levels compressed, dropped from high-level to low-level, their original gear could no longer be used. They now had to use gear of level 175 or lower.
Otherwise, they'd be fighting naked, literally.
"Hurry! Hurry! Get me the best level 175 gear! I want the very best, spare no cost, just get me a full set!"
"Quickly collect all domestic equipment resources between levels 170 and 175, and upgrade them for our contestants!"
Suddenly, level 175 gear across the world became highly sought-after.
In just ten minutes, active blacksmiths mobilized domestic resources to urgently craft high-quality equipment for contestants, refining and enhancing them with concentrated energy.
In such situations, every Nation naturally wanted their contestants to secure better rankings and win top-tier rewards, to raise their nation's international standing and prestige.
———
On the Dragon Nation side, viewers in the livestream chat were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
["Who has good level 175 gear? Hurry up and send it to our Zero God!"]
Liu Yao: ["I'm investing 10 million, get my big bro a good gear set! Whoever has it, send it immediately!"]
["But… looks like Zero God turned off external transmission channels. Doesn't he need external support?"]
["Zero's original level was already 170. The level reset actually boosted him by 5 levels. His own gear should be enough, no need for us to worry."]
At that moment, Zhang Yue sent a message to Ouyang Ling'er, ["Within three minutes, send me the full list of all Dragon Nation contestants."]
After a pause, Zhang Yue added, ["Also send me the list of Bear Nation contestants, and those from our other allied countries too."]
Ouyang Ling'er didn't ask why, ["No problem, give me a second!"]
Her administrative efficiency was top-notch.
Sure enough, within one minute, she sent several contestant lists to Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue immediately pulled up the Demon Contract's energy-gifting panel and, using the IDs on the list, for all 4,000+ Dragon Nation contestants, he gifted 10 million energy points each.
For Bear Nation contestants, 8 million energy points each.
For contestants from the other six allied countries, 5 million energy points each.
Final tally, approximately 1,000 trillion energy points given away.
And within the Demon Contract, over 3,000 trillion energy points still remained.
It was simply endless.
After receiving Zhang Yue's gift, contestants from various countries were overjoyed.
["Thank you, Dragon Nation! Thank you, God Zero!"]
Before the countdown ended, professionals from all nations began using the gifted energy to refine and enhance their gear.
Because many pieces were unfinished products.
Hell Gladiator Arena's restrictions didn't just reset contestants' levels and gear and skills, they even blocked contestants from using any energy they'd obtained before the match.
Only Zhang Yue found that the energy stockpiled within his Demon Contract could still be used.
So, in the shortest time possible, professionals from Dragon Nation, Bear Nation, Sevia, Thracian, and others used Zhang Yue's gifted energy to upgrade their gear to the maximum extent.
Very soon, the ten-minute countdown ended.
["Ding~ Hell Gladiator Arena has opened. The DUEL BEGINS!"]
With the system notification—
BOOM!
Zhang Yue transformed into a streak of divine light, descending upon a vast and boundless battlefield of war ruins.
Overhead, black clouds loomed.
The earth was ashen, with a deathly aura spreading everywhere.
In his vision, massive beasts rampaged across the land.
["Ding~ Welcome to Hell Gladiator Arena: Arena Level-1. Your current battlefield is Arena #52. Begin the slaughter!"]
Zhang Yue raised his Transcendent Staff, a trace of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
Awakened, Time for the HUNT!
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