Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations! Adventurer [Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie] has won the championship of [Pinnacle Showdown] and received the additional reward: Prize Wheel Spins x3!]
The moment the victor was decided, the system chime rang out.
At the same time, countless magnificent golden streamers rained from the sky, and the rankings on the screen were locked in place.
1. Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie
2. Shadow Lord · Rule by Inaction
3. Barrier Breaker · Submit and Perish
4. Windcatcher · Tingfeng Xiyu
5. God-Favored Summoner · Moxiang
6. Star Sentinel · Gaibang Laoda
7. Gale Archer · Stop Bothering Me
8. Fearless Spear · Bawang
9. Demon’s Shadow · Eighteen This Year
10. Poison Master · Final Arrangements
…
Some rejoiced at the rankings, while others despaired.
Not everyone was satisfied with their placement, but the results spoke for themselves. They could not be changed, only accepted.
Instead of returning to the contestants’ area, Rule by Inaction revived on the spot and offered his congratulations. “Congratulations!”
“You’re very strong. That was no easy victory,” Zhou Ming said frankly. “If Shadow World and Severance hadn’t been sealed, you might truly have turned the battle around.”
“There are no ifs in this world. Besides… even if I hold nothing back, I can only maintain my maximum combat power for one minute.” Rule by Inaction shook his head. He knew his own limits.
In truth, Zhouyou Shijie had allowed him to lose with dignity.
Otherwise, with the 300% Movement Speed bonus from Shadowless Step, Rule by Inaction could never have threatened Zhouyou Shijie’s life in such a short time. Once that minute passed and United as One expired, his strength would plummet.
Moreover, he had already watched videos of Zhou Ming’s previous battles. His opponent seemed capable of riding his sword and remaining in midair for short periods, leaving melee classes completely helpless.
“Congratulations on winning Pinnacle Showdown, Brother Zhou!”
At that moment, Tingfeng Xiyu and the others were teleported into the arena as well, all of them flushed with excitement.
Of every contestant present, he had wanted Zhouyou Shijie to become Destiny’s number one player in the Eastern Region more than anyone.
“Congratulations to you too!” Zhou Ming said with a smile. “Work a little harder next time, and maybe you’ll make the top three!”
“That’s a tall order!” Tingfeng Xiyu glanced at Rule by Inaction and Submit and Perish, then smiled bitterly. “There are way too many monsters here!”
“You were impressive this time!” Submit and Perish said solemnly from nearby. “There will definitely be a global Pinnacle Showdown someday. When that happens, I’ll settle the score!”
I was impressive?
Zhou Ming roughly understood. This man was simply stubborn to the extreme. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“…”
Submit and Perish rubbed his nose awkwardly and said nothing.
“You’ve truly secured your seat as the Eastern Region’s number one player this time!” Gaibang Laoda said with a ruddy face, offering his own simple congratulations.
The benefits of Harmony had allowed him to come from behind and surge all the way to sixth place. He had finally made himself proud.
Whoosh!
A few seconds later, an awards podium appeared at the center of the arena.
The system teleported everyone to their respective positions, with Zhou Ming standing on the highest platform in the middle.
“Just as I expected. Zhouyou Shijie took first place!”
“Without Heavenrend being so ridiculous, how could he possibly have beaten Submit and Perish?”
“That’s pure contrarian nonsense. He created that skill himself! By your logic, Submit and Perish wouldn’t have made the top three without an absurd class like Dragon Soul Mage!”
“Zhouyou Shijie is incredible!”
“What will the champion’s reward be? Why is the system still keeping it secret?”
…
The spectators’ cheers crashed over the ten players in the arena like a tidal wave.
From this moment onward, the glory of Pinnacle Showdown belonged to Zhouyou Shijie. No one would ever dare question his strength again.
“Where are the rewards? Where are the rewards?” Tingfeng Xiyu rubbed his hands together, bursting with excitement. “Why haven’t they announced them yet? The wait is killing me!”
Even Zhou Ming could not remain as calm as usual. His delighted mood refused to settle. “There should still be a prize wheel event that hasn’t opened yet…”
Pinnacle Showdown had explicitly stated that the champion was guaranteed to receive a National Artifact!
On top of that, every player in the top ten was guaranteed a piece of War Soul-grade equipment!
These would both be enormous upgrades for him. After all, every piece of equipment and every item in his hands could be advanced by one or two grades.
The scale of the benefits spoke for itself.
About three minutes later, with everyone waiting in breathless anticipation, the event rewards finally appeared.
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations to all players who participated in [Pinnacle Showdown] and placed within the top 100,000! You have received the following rewards: Current Level EXP +66.6%, Free Attribute Points +10, and the item [Pinnacle Showdown Commemorative Handbook]! (Note: Excludes recipients of higher-tier rewards.)]
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Golden light surged from countless spectators as their levels rose.
Pinnacle Showdown was a major event with an enormous number of participants from the Eastern Region, so the system was naturally generous with its rewards.
“Even the rewards for the top hundred thousand are this good…”
Rule by Inaction was normally a man of few words, but even he could not hide the excitement surging within him.
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations to all players who participated in [Pinnacle Showdown] and placed within the top 1,000! You have received the following rewards: Current Level EXP +166.6%, Free Attribute Points +30, [Golden-Grade Equipment Selection Chest] x1, and the item [Pinnacle Showdown Commemorative Handbook]! (Note: Excludes recipients of higher-tier rewards.)]
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations to all players who participated in [Pinnacle Showdown] and placed within the top 100! You have received the following rewards: Current Level EXP +288.8%, Free Attribute Points +50, [Radiant-Grade Equipment Selection Chest] x1, one random A-Rank Skill Book, and the item [Pinnacle Showdown Commemorative Handbook]! (Note: Excludes recipients of higher-tier rewards.)]
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations to all players who participated in [Pinnacle Showdown] and placed within the top 32! You have received the following rewards: Current Level EXP +288.8%, Free Attribute Points +80, [Radiant-Grade Equipment Selection Chest] x1, one random S-Rank Skill Book, 100 Gold Coins, and the item [Pinnacle Showdown Commemorative Handbook]! (Note: Excludes recipients of higher-tier rewards.)]
…
More rewards followed one after another.
“Here comes the main event!” Many players stared at their information logs, breathing rapidly, especially the highly ranked contestants who had yet to receive their rewards.
“For fuck’s sake!” Bawang cursed with a grin. “Why are they dragging this out? Are they trying to kill me with suspense?”
After giving the players nearly thirty seconds to catch their breath, the system chime rang again.
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations to all players who participated in [Pinnacle Showdown] and placed within the top 10! You have received the following rewards: Current Level EXP +388.8%, Free Attribute Points +120, [War Soul-Grade Equipment Selection Chest] x1, one random S-Rank Skill Book, Prize Wheel Spins x1, one Rare A-Rank Cosmetic, 1,000 Gold Coins, and the item [Top Ten Trophy]! (Note: Excludes recipients of higher-tier rewards.)]
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The players ranked fourth through tenth gained three levels in succession.
All kinds of equipment and items appeared before them, waiting to be collected.
At the sight, Zhou Ming’s heart pounded.
The Sin of Sloth prohibited him from gaining experience, but system rewards were not included. He therefore did not need to worry that the levels he gained now would cause any negative effects.
“This is amazing!!”
Stop Bothering Me’s blood surged, and his face split into a huge grin. “I got an invincible divine skill! If I had to fight Zhouyou Shijie again right now, I wouldn’t be afraid at all!”
“Hahaha…”
Everyone laughed along with him.
Stop Bothering Me scratched his head and added, “Don’t look at me like that. The skill I got is powerful. At the very least, it’d let me survive twenty seconds longer!”
Afterward, the reward for third place arrived.
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations! Adventurer [Barrier Breaker · Submit and Perish] has won third place in Pinnacle Showdown and received the following rewards: Level +5, Free Attribute Points +150, [War Soul-Grade Equipment Selection Chest] x1, one random SS-Rank Skill Book, Prize Wheel Spins x2, one Rare S-Rank Cosmetic, 2,000 Gold Coins, and the exclusive item [Third Place Trophy]!]
“Sigh!”
Submit and Perish sighed regretfully. “If the rewards for third place are already this good, how ridiculous will the champion’s rewards be?”
He was not dissatisfied with what he had received. He simply knew this was not the upper limit of Pinnacle Showdown’s rewards.
Rule by Inaction ignored him and waited anxiously.
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations! Adventurer [Shadow Lord · Rule by Inaction] has won second place in Pinnacle Showdown and received the following rewards: Level +6, Free Attribute Points +200, [War Soul-Grade Equipment Selection Chest] x2, one random SS-Rank Skill Book, Prize Wheel Spins x3, one Rare S-Rank Cosmetic, 5,000 Gold Coins, and the exclusive item [Second Place Trophy]!]
Rule by Inaction reached out and swept the items that appeared before him into his inventory, completely satisfied with everything he had gained from the event.
Then…
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless gazes converged on Zhou Ming, eager to see the champion’s rewards for themselves.
…