Chapter 914: International Top Eight, Luck Explosion

Chapter 914: International Eight Strongest, Luck Strikes

While Han Xiao secretly set his plans in motion, the divisional playoffs proceeded as scheduled.

After a fierce battle, the eight contenders vying for supremacy in the shattered star ring division emerged, their rankings determined. The Imperial Dynasty clinched the divisional crown for three consecutive years, establishing a dynasty of three-peat champions. Among the four great dynasties, the Imperial Dynasty remained at the helm, their armies formidable both in domestic strife and foreign campaigns, comprehensive and without discernible weaknesses.

The divisional runner-up was the Temple. Though their fans expressed relative satisfaction, passersby couldn’t help but slap their chests and stomp their feet, exclaiming in disappointment—“What a pity!” The Temple’s soft-spoken image in overseas battles had seeped deep into public consciousness, making their qualification for the international stage akin to the Han Chinese international team losing a spot.

Third place went to Changkong. Despite a lackluster performance in the divisional rounds, they at least secured a berth in the international tournament, offering them a chance to showcase their prowess. Fourth place was Jiangcheng, with their core trio—Dueling Blade, the Wicked Little Sword, and Maple Moon—proving their mettle rivaled that of elite teams beyond the top tier.

The top four from each division were confirmed, granting these four teams passage to the international league.

Among the four great dynasties, the Fish-Smoked Eggplant club once again missed out on an international spot, a basic misstep.

It was whispered that the club’s owner deemed the name ill-fated for fortune, opting to rebrand the team. On social media, they solicited public opinion, only to be met with absurd suggestions—“Spicy Chili Beef,” “Grilled Squid and Bloodworm Hotpot,” “Barbecued Skewers and Spicy Stewed Fish”—as if plucked straight from a satirical menu.

Not a single word was spoken of the Fish-Smoked Eggplant fans’ toil and hardship. The majority of players rallied to cheer for the four Han Chinese teams advancing to the international stage—their version’s advantages were immense. The mechanical class had surged in prominence, the shattered star ring’s numerous events had supercharged the Black Star Legion’s fortunes, Han Chinese teams, buoyed by last year’s championship, radiated confidence, and the club’s legendary players were in their prime. Heaven, earth, and humanity aligned, and the masses of players showered their Han Chinese teams with hope, yearning to shine on the global stage and achieve greater triumphs.

In the individual rankings, Maple Moon advanced to the top eight. This season’s divisional top eight featured four mechanical-class players, commanding half the field. The mechanical class had overturned their previous slump.

Additionally, the rankings of the eight other divisions were settled, their dominant forces maintaining their usual grip. Most were seasoned international veterans: the US’s Demon Realm, Koi, and Leviathan; France’s Tulip and Grape; the UK’s Rose Knights; Japan’s Eight Banners and Ronin; Korea’s Kimchi and Three-Star Bomb; Sweden’s Battle Axe, Poland’s Feathers; the old Russian’s White Emperor’s Sacred Sword and the Aussie Kangaroo Boxing. Many were familiar faces from last year’s international tournament, forming the global elite’s roster of thirty-six teams, divided into three groups.

This season’s group draw invigorated Han Chinese fans. The strongest foreign teams were almost all funneled into Group A, forming a hellish cluster, while only the Temple was selected for the Han Chinese contingent—due to the points-based regular season, the group’s strength made it difficult to carve gaps, potentially leaving many foreign powerhouses unable to advance.

Changkong and the Imperial Dynasty were placed in Group B, a relatively balanced contest where Japan’s Eight Banners, the UK’s Rose Knights, and Sweden’s Battle Axe stood out. The two Han Chinese powerhouses were favorites for the crown, with high odds of advancing.

Jiangcheng was relegated to Group C, the weakest of the three, its competitive edge far below the others.

This season’s random draw starkly contrasted last year’s, with a severe divide between strength and weakness. Yet this format favored Han Chinese teams more than the previous year, likely allowing three teams to breach the international top eight—a historic feat.

Han Chinese fans erupted in joy, nearly setting off fireworks in celebration of the shattered star ring’s bracket. This grouping had been a windfall!

As for the unlucky Temple team, Han Chinese spectators felt no remorse—even laughed out loud.

[From You in Henan: Sacrificing one Temple yields three top-eight spots. What a trade… fair enough.]

[Liang Ge Yisheng: Removing the weakest improves Han Chinese’s average strength (humorous).]

[Month Under Tuofu: This is a race against time? (Surprised.)]

[Zhan Guibu Veteran: Haha, truly divine grouping, heaven’s blessing on Han Chinese—this year’s a lock.]

In the jubilant atmosphere, the brief intermission between divisional matches concluded, and the international tournament’s opening match erupted under the world’s gaze.

Thousands of players across all divisions tuned in to their respective forums, the platforms buzzing like festivals.

The opening match pitted last year’s world champions against runners-up: Changkong versus Demon Realm. For this contest, Changkong’s fans and onlookers fretted—Changkong’s divisional performance had been subpar, and facing last year’s world runner-up, they risked a crushing opening loss. A single defeat wouldn’t be catastrophic, but it could dent morale.

Both teams entered the arena via the Crystal Chamber. Changkong’s side donned armor emblazoned with the Black Star Legion’s emblem, each piece unique, showcasing their faction’s identity to the world—a free advertisement for the Legion.

Demon Realm, though equally formidable in gear, lacked the uniform aesthetic of Changkong, their appearance more akin to a formal military unit.

Today, the Black Star Legion’s fame had transcended the shattered star ring. Players across other divisions knew them as the unrivaled powerhouse, a monopolistic titan, the first to offer cross-dimensional services. In players’ hearts, the shattered star ring was synonymous with the Black Star Legion’s domain.

Labeling a star sector with a faction is typically reserved for cosmic or super-galaxy civilizations. The Black Star Legion’s actual influence paled beside these, yet their renown among players rivaled even them.

In the international opener, Changkong overcame their divisional slump, having honed their ferocity for months, finally revealing their fangs. They clashed with Demon Realm in a brutal contest, a clash of dragons and tigers.

This contrasted sharply with the Temple, whose domestic battles were mediocre, but overseas ventures were fierce—perhaps foreign teams struggled with this raw, unorthodox style, often crushed by the “iron-headed kids.”

Last year, Changkong had edged out Demon Realm by a hair. This time, with the mechanical class’s ascendancy and Demon Realm’s mid-tier players transferring in, the gap had widened. Changkong scraped through with a narrow victory in the opening match.

Han Chinese fans surged with elation, their screens awash with “Brothers Return!”

The long-awaited international regular season commenced, teams clashing fiercely, the leaderboard in flux daily.

By the midpoint, the standings stabilized. Group A’s strength made it hard to dominate, yielding low point gains, so many top teams’ rankings defied their true strength—Demon Realm, Koi, Tulip, and the White Emperor’s Sacred Sword all failed to crack the top four.

Imperial Dynasty and Changkong sailed through Group B, securing first and fourth, while Jiangcheng devoured points in Group C, climbing to second. The top four featured Korea’s Kimchi as third, a member of Group C’s dominance.

For Han Chinese teams, fortune smiled—only the Temple, crushed in Group A, was forgotten.

Han Chinese teams held a massive advantage, not just from grouping. This season’s matches introduced a flag-capturing mini-game and two dungeon modes, stages tailor-made for the mechanical class. Imperial Dynasty, Changkong, and Jiangcheng excelled, devouring points from PvE battles, their prowess far exceeding global averages.

Another reason: international dungeon battles avoided selecting dungeons from the same region as the teams, ensuring no information disparity. Han Chinese teams faced no Black Star Legion’s twisted dungeons, while foreign teams endured the Legion’s brutal trials.

Han Xiao’s dungeons were leagues harder than those in other divisions. Across all regions, the shattered star ring alone boasted an S-tier dungeon!

Under Han Xiao’s onslaught, Han Chinese pro players had grown accustomed to suffering, their spirits unshaken. They tackled other divisions’ elite dungeons with ease, finding them refreshing. Even when blasted by his traps, they chuckled like it was a picnic.

Conversely, foreign teams battling the Black Star Legion’s dungeons were crushed, their morale shattered, their worldview shaken.

“Kill on sight” was standard—even “enter-and-kill” existed. The post-battle animation’s length dictated survival time.

Is this a dungeon meant for play?

How insane is the difficulty?!

Any team assigned a Black Star Legion dungeon faced despair—foreign fans flooded their channels with wails. Death came too swiftly, offering no spectacle.

The latter half of the international regular season saw no repeat of last year’s Han Chinese targeting. With point gaps vast, foreign teams bowed out, avoiding the chaos.

Imperial Dynasty, Changkong, and Jiangcheng held steady, fluctuating within the top eight, their positions secure.

When the final international regular match ended, the rankings solidified.

Jiangcheng surged to first, followed by Kimchi, Imperial Dynasty, Eight Banners, Changkong, Demon Realm, Koi, and Battle Axe.

Three Han Chinese teams breached the international top eight, echoing last year’s glory—and eerily similar history. These three veterans remained.

Imperial Dynasty and Changkong were seasoned powerhouses, while Jiangcheng, a rising club, solidified their status as a new elite force.

The Temple missed the finals—no one mourned. Audiences fixated on winners, their gaze unwavering.

The Han Chinese crowd’s excitement stemmed from this season’s final pairings, vastly superior to last year’s!

Last year’s second league, due to rankings and draws, forced Han Chinese teams into mutual clashes—Imperial Dynasty and Jiangcheng were eliminated by their own.

This time, seeded by points, first-place Jiangcheng faced eighth-place Battle Axe, third-place Imperial Dynasty clashed with Demon Realm, fifth-place Changkong met Eight Banners—avoiding all internal wars.

This bracket sent Han Chinese fans into rapturous delight, a stark contrast to last year’s misfortune. It felt as though the goddess of fortune had smiled upon them—luck struck!

…

After the international regular season, organizers hype the finals on forums, setting the date.

LuoTier, dispatched by Han Xiao to eliminate a target in another sector, received his reply days later. Brief and precise:

“Target eliminated.”

A photo of the victim accompanied the message. The job was clean, efficient. LuoTier operated solo, needing no aid—his skills impressed Han Xiao immensely.

The Crimson Empire also eliminated two Blood Gold Organization leaders.

Their deaths sent shockwaves through the Blood Gold’s hierarchy.

Targeted by the Crimson Empire and Black Star Legion, the Blood Gold’s leader panicked, summoning all top brass online to strategize.