The Systemic Lands

Chapter 490: Day 1,002 – Final Matches, 6v6

Chapter 490: Day 1,002 – Final Matches, 6v6

The matches continued after the incident with no more issues. Each team was distinctly aware and cognizant of the no aiming for the audience rule. The matches were called to a halt eventually once it started to get dark and would now resume the following day with the semi-finals and the finals.

The better was quite intense from what I had been told by Samantha. Fortunes were made, lost, made again, and still people kept betting and spending crystals. It certainly helped that people were told to bring crystals along with the announcement.

There was a lot of betting on the side as well and not through legal channels. As long as it wasn’t too much, then the soldiers ignored it for the most part unless it was truly blatant. Just enough to remind people not to go overboard. There were notices posted that betting outside legal channels was not something that could be enforced.

Already there had been five murders in the city. Three people had been caught and executed, while the other two murders remained unsolved. That was just the murders that were uncovered. I was sure that for everybody that was found, four others disappeared mysteriously.

Some teams lost and people were upset. I knew the governors had increased the security around their city sponsored teams and the couple of independent competitors had grouped up to a few specific buildings to bunker down.

Even with all of this happening, it still added to the excitement of the celebration. The previous evening there were several entertainers around the city and eateries as well as bars were packed. The influx of crystals was massive to the economy of the city.

Clarissa had been smiling quite a bit when we had breakfast together. Since the real success had been people bringing crystals that would have normally been cashed in at their cities to Purgatory to spend them. These businesses needed supplies, which meant going through the store in this city. Which meant taxes.

Even better, several businesses found their feet with the huge influx of income. All of this was jumpstarting the economy into overdrive with Purgatory being seen as a key hub for trade. Clarissa had implemented a large crystal market near the arena. Business had become incredibly brisk. More people were asking about getting licenses.

There were fees and requirements, but Clarissa had streamlined the process ahead of time. People could register in their home cities. If they went to a new city, they had to register there. That is how you knew a government was functioning, they charged you for licenses. Either of the car variety or the monster variety.

It was time. I jumped down into the middle of the arena. “Welcome back people of the Empire of Purgatory!” There was a massive round of cheers as people got excited for the upcoming matches.

“For those that might have partied too hard last night, we will now be starting the semi-finals of the six versus six team matches. Now let’s get things started right away. On the Green side, the city sponsored team from Truth! On the Red side the city sponsored team from New Beijing!”

Neither team put out a field member. Both teams got into position on their platforms, with their monsters at the base of their platforms. “Green side ready?” They waved their green flag on a stick. “Red side ready?” They waved their green flag as well. “Fight!”

“Green team sends unleashes a horde of ants from two summoners. Swarming the field to provide cover. Three black floating crystals are providing long range cover fire. The Red team counters by unleashing four white slimes moving forward, while a large black crow has taken their flag and is flying at the far end of the arena.”

“Both teams keep their surprise monsters in reserve. The Green side’s white slimes continue to advance while taking only light damage. Already the disruption to the mass summoning is having a toll. The slimes use an area of effect mental attack, which is quite potent against summoning tactics due to the massive feedback to the summoner.”

“A sword comes flying in for the Green side’s flag. Ants are flying to intercept it, but it is putting a lot of pressure on the Green side. They are still keeping their last two monsters in reserve, but Green side is struggling to hold back the flying sword and the advancing white mind slimes.”

“The slimes while slow release baby blue slimes, which are still controlled, which is countering the summoned ants even more. The summoner monsters themselves will soon be pressured and the flag will be taken down by Red side.”

“Cease battle! Green team wins! Using a striped meerkat, they teleported directly into the flag as it spun around in the air, hiding the move from sight. A turnaround at the last moment!”

The winning team collected their flag and left the arena. It was a risky strategy, but the Red side had allowed for a blind spot to appear as the cloth flag twisted in the air. That allowed the striped meerkat to teleport into the middle of the flag even with everyone watching.

“Next semi-final match we have the independent team Vine Attack on the Green side. On the Red side is the city sponsored team from the Abyss.” Both teams came out, neither electing to appoint a field member.

“Green side ready?” They waved their green flag on a stick. “Red side ready?” They waved their green flag as well. “Fight!”

“Green side unleashes a horde of vine monsters. Black, green, blue, spotted twisting, thorn twisting, and red twisting vines. A full vine team. The vines already spiraling up around the flag to protect it as they grow across the battlefield. The Red team is using five sword dervishes. Flying across the battlefield rapidly, they are leaving their flag completely exposed.”

“This will be over in an instant!” The sword dervishes and vines collided. The effects from the vines went off as they hit the spinning swords in the air that tried to cut through the vines. The sword dervishes made a lot of progress for the first couple of seconds, almost reaching the flag, but were quickly pulled down and overwhelmed.

“Red side unleashes there surprise attack! A skill summoned ant bursts out of the ground that hadn’t been protected. Cease battle! Red side wins!” The Vine Attack team actually handed their own flag over and shook hands with the opposing team. “Good sportsmanship!” I declared to the roaring crowds.

“Now, there will be a fifteen minute break, before the finals. On the Green side we will have the city sponsored team from New Beijing. On the Red side we will have the city sponsored team from the Abyss.” I leapt back up to my viewing box with Clarissa.

A servant handed me a glass of flavored water. “That vine strategy is interesting. Powerful battlefield control,” she said.

“It isn’t that good,” I replied. She looked at me. “The arena is a closed space and they could protect the flag. In a large open battlefield, you are just asking to be a target. Unless you had such a large number of vine monsters to make a difference.”

“Still, it was a shame they didn’t protect underground,” she replied.

“The hard floor of the arena and not enough time to dig in unlike the ants which have an advantage in that regard. I suspect a skill was used as well to move the ground more quickly,” I replied.

“You couldn’t tell?” she asked me.

“It was underground, so it was blurry. Lots of interesting tactics at least. In that regard this tournament is a success,” I said while finishing off my water.

“Indeed. The Imperial Government will have to consider the best force composition, or perhaps a range and a stockpile of crystals depending on the circumstance. Something to think on,” she said. I nodded at this.

“At the end of the day they are still level 2 monsters. They can only do so much. A single level 4 monster controlled by a Rod of Taming is far superior,” I replied.

“And my request to stockpile monsters?” she asked me.

“Once the prices are set with the auction. The Imperial Government will pay like everyone else. After all, I need to pay for my airship,” I replied with a grin.

“Touché, Michael. That is well played,” Clarissa responded with a nod of her head.

“Well I have a monopoly, and I plan to exploit it. It will be years before anyone else even has a chance at capturing a level 4 monster. They are stupidly annoying, especially when they swarm,” I replied.

“I can’t wait to see the exhibition matches. I have held off from snooping, and I am curious to see how they play out,” she replied.

“Indeed. Well time to start the finals and keep things moving,” I replied. I leapt back into the arena. It was looking a lot more beat up from all the fights. But that was the charm of having one fight after another in rapid succession.

“Alright people let’s get the finals started. On the Green side, the city sponsored New Beijing, using teleport tactics to win against their opponents. On the Red side, the city sponsored team from the Abyss. Using surprising angles of attack to win their matches.” No field members were deployed to the arena.

“Green side ready?” They waved their green flag on a stick. “Red side ready?” They waved their green flag as well. “Fight!”

“Green side deploys a single ant summoner covering the sky and the ground for defense. They have three white mind slimes advancing up the center of the battlefield and two vine monsters quickly spreading out behind the slimes.”

“Red side has unleashed a single ant summoner as well for defense. They have also deployed a single large red slime.” Oh you clever team. “Along with two large blue slimes. At a distance behind the lead slime. It is on a direct collision course.”

The opposing type slimes collided. A sphere of white light quickly formed as the annihilation reaction took out the core of Green’s side advance. Killing all their slimes and damaging their vine monsters. “An impressive annihilation attack! It completely wipes out Green side’s forces. The large blue slimes are cleaning up. And an armor monster still in the back in a defensive position.”

“Green side valiantly tries to group and is deploying their summoned ants. But the large blue slimes can take a lot of damage. They quickly plow through the opposing forces. Cease combat! Green side surrenders!”

After collecting their flag. The city sponsored team from the Abyss came down to the arena floor. I handed them four Rods of Taming, a four million point voucher, and a personal letter from me. The crowd cheered at the conclusion of the second format of Monster Battle Arena.