"Hello, everyone. Coming back with me, Sheira as your host for the Grand Gaia Competition. I'm sure that you can't wait for this anymore, right?" Sheira announced out loud with Diego standing in the middle of the field since he was the referee.
"Uoh!"
The cheers erupted, shaking the stadium. After the bracket was announced, the tickets were sold out within one hour.
Obviously, more than ninety percent of them were for Italy. This was their home country, so there was no way they wouldn't cheer for them.
The remaining ten percent were actually those who wanted Theo to pull another absurd move and turned the competition upside down.
Just like any other sport, under these overwhelming cheers, the contestants would surely feel the pressure. The odds for Theo's team to win this fight was less than ten percent.
Although Sheira believed in her country, she needed to remain neutral for the entire competition, so she continued, "The battle will be divided into two parts. The first round will be a game of tag between two teams.
"To put it simply, each contestant will be required to put a pressure plate on their back. They are required to push the pressure plate to defeat their opponents. Each team will send a group of three two times and they will gain one point for each win before coming to the second round, the full brawl.
"The team who achieves three points will win." Sheira raised her hand and shouted, "Raise the wall!"
Suddenly, hundreds of ten feet high stone walls emerged from the ground. They all had the same width and were put in a random position, making the entire arena look like a labyrinth.
"Uoh!"
"Let us call the first three participants from Thersland. Phyrill Hilbert, Laust lange, and Alea Eilric!"
The audience clapped while some were booing, trying to lower their morale.
However, some had seen Phyrill and other appearances in the banquet, so some of them were converted and cheered for them just for the sake of having fun.
The three walked into the arena surrounded by walls. They all couldn't see the people around them, so they needed to rely heavily on their Awareness.
At the same time, none of them brought any weapons since this was a game of tag.
Theo placed them in one group because all of them had extraordinary speed that should dominate this battle.
But it would be a different matter if they fought in this place.
"On the opposite side, we have our Italy Team's Marco Villa, Alys Amores, and Agata Mota!"
As soon as Sheira announced their names, the cheers turned into an uproar, mostly coming from men.
As Theo mentioned at the banquet, Agata Mota was one of the most beautiful people in the world. Bearing the blessing of Aphrodite, she was the flower in men's eyes.
"Agata!"
"I see a goddess!"
"Alea Eilric is good, but our Agata is unparalleled."
"Hmph, men." Alea snorted and looked away.
"Ahaha, our princess seems to be angry. Are you jealous?" Phyrill chuckled and teased her.
"Even if she is beautiful, she can't arouse that vegetative man."
"Pfft. I am going to tell Theo about it." Phyrill laughed out loud while ignoring all their cheers.
Alea looked away. Laust simply shook his head helplessly, wondering if this team was okay.
"Since all participants have entered, I will give Sir Diego the time and place," Sheira announced.
Diego then rose to the sky and floated in the air, looking down on the arena. He raised his hand and said, "Begin!"
Another wave of cheers erupted as both teams finally started making their move.
"Laust!" Phyrill shouted.
Laust nodded and ran forward before stopping right next to the wall with his back facing it. His hands joined together and extended it, planning to use his hands as a stepping. "Come."
Phyrill nodded and stepped on his hands.
After that, Laust launched him to the air as Phyrill landed on top of the thin wall that was slightly thicker than his foot.
"Hop!" Phyrill smiled while trying to regain his balance.
"Oh! Phyrill is actually walking on top of the wall? This… Has he figured this game out?"
When Italy Team heard her voice, Agata quickly understood and clicked her tongue. "That man is indeed dangerous. Our God of War has a perfect strategy, but it seems Theodore Griffith's never ceased to amuse me. Instead of using the wall like how it is intended, he goes beyond our imagination."
Marco nodded in agreement and asked, "How do we respond to this?"
"Marco, you're going to stop Phyrill on the wall. You have the best sense of balance among us, so I'm counting on you."
"Understood." Marco nodded and looked at Alys, "Can you help me?"
"Sure." Alys nodded and launched him over the wall like Laust, allowing him to meet Phyrill.
"That one is unexpected." Marco smiled at Phyrill.
"Of course. His thoughts are something that I can't tell at all." Phyrill chuckled and glanced at the side, getting their position.
"Marco, there won't be a big change to our plan. Just adjust it with your current position."
"Understood." Marco agreed without hesitation. "That's how it is, I am going to be your opponent."
Phyrill was already in the middle of the arena, so he could hear what Marco said, especially with his enhanced senses.
"I don't mind. I hope you can follow my movement." Phyrill smiled and came closer, moving on top of the thin wall as if it was normal ground.
Marco had some difficulty, but it didn't hinder his movement that much.
When they were about to begin their clash, they were surprised by Sheira's voice once more.
"What?! Alea is doing something unexpected again!" Sheira shouted in surprise, staring at Alea with a dumbfounded expression.
Agata tried to use Sheira to gather information, but she soon heard a loud "Bam" as if something just crumbled.
On the opposite side, Alea's fist was stretched to the limit with rubbles pouring to the ground. The dust kicked up, but she already got what she wanted.
Sheira finally recovered from her shock. "Alea has just shattered the stone wall!"
"What?!" Agata sucked a cold breath as she couldn't imagine why she destroyed the wall. "Does she want to destroy all the walls here? Is she insane?"