The team battle arena within the Great Spirit Arena of Soto was a colossal space, far larger than the stages used for one-on-one or two-on-two duels. It spanned a full forty meters in diameter, surrounded by spectator stands that were twice as large and, at this moment, packed to capacity. A roar of excitement filled the air as the audience watched the two competing teams make their entrance.
The Berserker Team had built up quite a reputation over the past few days, and a significant portion of the crowd were their devoted fans. Faint, dark stains marred the arena floor, grim reminders of the brutal spirit battles that had taken place here before. The moment the Berserker Team appeared, the crowd's fervor ignited, and thunderous cheers echoed throughout the massive venue.
"Tear them apart!"
"Crush them!"
Shouts like these were meant to exert pressure, but they also sent a surge of adrenaline through the spectators, making their blood boil with anticipation. However, many in the audience remained calm, their eyes scanning the seven masked figures of the Shrek team.
"The Berserker Team's opponents look new, don't they?"
"Yeah, I've never seen them before."
"This team is seriously unlucky. Facing the Berserkers in their very first match? I bet they're just going to be another notch for their eighth consecutive victory."
"And what's with the masks? They're hiding their faces. It feels so fake."
"They're probably scared of losing face, right? At least with masks on, no one they know will recognize them when they get crushed."
The vast majority of the audience was squarely in the Berserker Team's corner. While the individual members of Shrek had gained some minor recognition from their solo and duo matches, each sub-arena was enclosed and separate. Their fame hadn't spread far, certainly not as much as Tang San's had. By the end of tonight's events, however, they were bound to become truly famous.
Among the thousands of spectators, there were inevitably a few who had seen the Shrek members fight before. But faced with a sea of opposition ten times their number, they wisely kept their mouths shut. Shouting their support now would only earn them ridicule and possibly even a beating from the passionate Berserker fans. They decided to wait until the match was over. The Berserker Team's strength was undeniable. If they won as expected, the Shrek supporters would simply pretend nothing happened. But if the masked team managed to pull off an upset, they would be the first to start the cheering.
While the Shrek members were sizing up their opponents, the Berserker Team was doing the same. Unfortunately for them, besides Ma Hongjun's somewhat stout build, everyone on the Shrek team had a very average physique. With their faces hidden behind the green masks, it was impossible to glean any information from their appearance.
Just then, the host stepped onto the center of the stage. To everyone's surprise, it was none other than Supervisor Ao, the very man who had intervened in the lounge earlier. He raised a microphone to his lips, his voice booming through the arena.
"For our fourth match of the evening, a team battle! Our opposing sides are the Berserker Team and the Shrek Team!" he announced. "I don't think I need to say much about the Berserker Team. They've already achieved an incredible record of seven consecutive victories! If they can keep up this momentum, they are very likely to set a new record in the Soto Spirit Arena for the fastest team to achieve the Bronze-rank!"
As his voice faded, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers and applause. After letting the noise die down slightly, Supervisor Ao continued. "And now, let's look at the mysterious team on the other side of the stage. This team just completed their registration today, and this will be their very first team battle."
Here, Supervisor Ao shook his head with a look of theatrical pity. "Unfortunately for them, their first opponent is the mighty Berserker Team. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the Shrek Team!"
Whether it was because the Berserker Team had so many supporters or because the masks gave off a bad impression, the moment their name was announced, a wave of boos washed over them from the stands.
The Shrek members, however, seemed entirely unfazed by the hostile reception. Huo Feng, in particular, wore an expression of complete indifference. It was a shame the audience couldn't see his face; it would have undoubtedly provoked even more mockery.
"Every member of that Berserker Team has spirit power over level thirty. Our kids seem to be under a lot of pressure."
In a corner of the spectator stands with a perfect view of the stage, two middle-aged men were seated. They were Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy, and Zao Wou-Ki, the vice-dean. It was Zao Wou-Ki who had just spoken, his tone laced with concern. The Berserker Team's strength was nothing to scoff at, and his worry was justified.
"Hahahaha!" Hearing his colleague's words, Flender burst into loud, confident laughter. "Don't you worry. With Huo Feng in there, they can't possibly lose."
Flender's face was a picture of absolute confidence. In his mind, Huo Feng alone could probably take on all seven members of the opposing team, though saying such a thing out loud would be too shocking even for him.
Zao Wou-Ki's mouth twitched. Flender's confidence was bordering on arrogance. He then had a strange thought: ever since Tang San and Yu Xiaogang had left, Flender seemed to have become much more cheerful and relaxed. As he considered this, Zao Wou-Ki felt the corner of his own mouth curve upward slightly. It seemed he wasn't the only one who felt that way. He gently shook his head, pushing the thought aside and turning his full attention back to the arena.
The circular stage, forty meters across, was vast enough that the fourteen fighters didn't make it feel crowded. Following Supervisor Ao's signal, both teams moved into their battle formations.
The Berserker Team arranged themselves in a sharp, cone-like formation. Kuang Xi stood at the very tip, with the two grim-faced men right behind him, forming a triangle of power. The alluring woman stood protected in the center, flanked by the two slender young men. The ordinary-looking older man took his position at the very rear.
The Shrek Team also set up their formation, opting for a different strategy. Unlike their opponent's 3-3-1 setup, the Shrek Seven Devils formed a 1-3-2-1 layered defense. The seven of them were divided into four distinct rows.
Dai Mubai stood alone in the first row, at the very front. As the one with the highest spirit power besides Huo Feng, he was the natural choice to serve as their primary tank.
The second row consisted of Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun—one agility-type attacker flanked by two powerful assault-type Spirit Masters.
The third row was composed of Oscar and Ning Rongrong, their two crucial support-type Spirit Masters, positioned safely behind the front lines.
The final row consisted of only one person: Huo Feng.
His position was an exception. This wasn't their standard formation. Normally, as the one with the highest spirit power and greatest combat ability, Huo Feng would be leading the charge. But Flender had instructed them to have Huo Feng hold back at the start of the match and simply observe. Following orders, he had consciously placed himself at the very back.
This arrangement, however, placed double the pressure on the rest of the team. For Dai Mubai, standing alone at the front and staring down the menacing Berserker Team, the weight was immense. A thin sheen of sweat was already beginning to form on his brow.
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