Chapter 485

Accompanied by her passionate announcement, the atmosphere in the venue was completely ignited.

The audience looked forward to it, discussing it in whispers.

Everyone wanted to know how these final four would collide.

Is it the dark horse Natsume Chikage who keeps creating miracles?

Is it the gifted quasi-professional teenager Suzuki Takayuki?

Or is it the experienced professional players Ishida Ishida Kazuo and Ito Koichi?

The suspense was about to be revealed.

Just then.

The clear broadcast sound echoed through the hall again.

[The match is about to begin, please have the four contestants of the second battle of the first match of the fifth round follow the staff’s guidance and immediately gather in the center of the venue!]

[Repeat, please have the four contestants gather immediately!]

The sound echoed.

Natsume Chikage and Suzuki Takayuki, not far away, stood up from their seats almost at the same time.

Under the gaze of Furukawa Masahiro and others, who were encouraging, worried, or expectant.

The two walked one after the other toward the passage leading to the center of the arena.

Their steps were steady, but their eyes were already fixed on the final battlefield.

They soon arrived again at the row of familiar metal lockers.

The cold locker doors had a matte texture under the lights.

Suzuki Takayuki moved quickly, with an impatient eagerness, stuffing his phone, key ring, and other sundries into the locker with a few "clangs," and slamming the door shut.

Natsume Chikage, on the other hand, remained unhurried, taking out his personal belongings in an orderly fashion.

However.

Just as he placed his wallet into the locker and was about to close the door—

His peripheral vision inadvertently glanced at the locker Suzuki Takayuki had just closed.

Through the tiny gap where the locker door hadn't fully closed.

He clearly saw that Suzuki Takayuki’s dark brown leather wallet, which had been tossed casually on top of his other items, was emitting an extremely faint, milky-white halo like moonlight, visible only to him.

At the same time.

A few lines of text with the same faint glow quietly appeared in the void above the wallet.

[Leather Wallet]

[Quality: White]

[Effect: After equipping, money belonging to you can be stored and retrieved at will.]

[Description: He loves her, she loves him, he hopes he loves her.]

Deep in Natsume Chikage’s eyes, a trace of extremely subtle surprise and secret joy flashed by.

He really hadn't expected.

This Suzuki Takayuki...

Actually also possessed a piece of special equipment.

Not long ago, he had just gained a precious free attribute point for collecting three pieces of equipment.

He was exactly three pieces of equipment away from activating the next attribute point reward.

If there was a suitable opportunity...

He naturally wouldn't let it go easily!

Natsume Chikage and Suzuki Takayuki returned to the queuing area of the competition venue.

In the empty queuing passage, only the four of them remained.

The air was filled with a heaviness different from before the first battle.

Except for Natsume Chikage, who still looked calm, his gaze indifferent as he looked toward the arena.

The faces of the other three all showed traces of different pressures to varying degrees.

Suzuki Takayuki pursed his lips tightly, his gaze sweeping quickly over Ishida Ishida Kazuo and Ito Koichi in front, then subconsciously glanced at Natsume Chikage beside him, his brows furrowed.

Professional players...

These two words themselves carry a heavy weight.

He knew well the gap between himself and a true professional.

It’s not just a number on a rank certificate, but experience, accumulation, and the comprehensive strength tempered under professional-level pressure countless times.

No matter which of these two he faced, he felt his chances of winning were slim, and every step would be like walking on thin ice.

But...

His gaze fell again on Natsume Chikage’s profile.

As long as the opponent is Natsume Chikage, he can win...

A mix of anticipation, excitement, and a certain determination overcame his awe of the professional players.

Ito Koichi, a professional Fourth Dan, also subconsciously adjusted his collar at this moment, his breathing slightly more rapid than usual.

His gaze was more focused on Ishida Ishida Kazuo’s steady back with wariness.

Fifth Dan Ishida...

This colleague, who had more seniority than him, a heavier playing style, and was in hot form recently, was the biggest obstacle in his heart.

As for Suzuki Takayuki and Natsume Chikage?

He didn't despise them, but by comparison, the pressure was indeed much smaller.

He silently prayed for the draw result.

And Ishida Ishida Kazuo stood at the very back.

His figure was upright, his expression the calmest of the four.

He knew very well that he was the one with the strongest paper strength among the four.

No matter who he drew, he had the confidence to fight, and a reason he must win.

However...

Ishida Ishida Kazuo’s gaze swept over Natsume Chikage without a trace.

The only one he didn't want to encounter... was this one.

Not because of fear, but out of a complex mood.

Cherishing talent, pity, and a subtle emotion of not wanting to personally stifle the other’s possibility of moving forward...

He hoped more that Natsume Chikage would face Suzuki Takayuki.

That way, perhaps there would still be a glimmer of life, and he could gain valuable combat experience.

If he faced himself... then he could only say sorry.

Ishida Ishida Kazuo’s eyes became firm again.

On the chessboard, there is no mercy.

He also had a peak he must climb, an ambition he must realize.

He longed to face the Dragon King, who was hailed as the "strongest in history."

He longed to win the "New Dragon King" title of this tournament.

That was not just honor and a huge prize, but a ladder to a higher hall and to attract more talent.

He even thought, if he could really wear the "New Dragon King" crown and show indisputable strength...

Would this stubborn and amazingly talented teenager change his mind and willingly become his disciple?

This thought made the fighting spirit in his heart burn more purely and hotly.

At this time.

On the giant screen, the figure of the host, Sawada Rika, appeared again.

Her expression was more serious than before, her eyes sharp, as if she also felt the heaviness of this final round.

"Now—"

Her voice, through the speakers, clearly struck everyone’s heartstrings.

"The fifth round 'Hell Double-Header', the final round’s matchup draw—"