Chapter 616

It was no longer an impassioned march, but a deeper, more oppressive rhythm, like precision gears meshing and running under huge pressure.

"The sixth round will be different from the previous zone divisions!"

"We are still divided into four zones: A, B, C, and D!"

"But each zone will only conduct one single round!"

"And, starting from this round, the cross-zone random mechanism is enabled!"

"This means that any opponent you encounter could come from any zone, full of unknowns and variables!"

"At this moment, in A-zone, eight top Shogi players are already in place!"

"Among them, only four can win and get the ticket to the next round—that is, the final top sixteen stage!"

She paused slightly, letting this cruel "eight into four" probability sink into people's hearts, and then said word by word, clearly:

"The winner advances, the loser exits."

"There is no second chance, no room for adjustment."

"Once defeated, all the advantages, all the persistence and sweat you accumulated in the first five rounds will be reduced to nothing at this moment, stopping at the top thirty-two, which is this sixth round!"

"Only the absolute strong who win this battle in front of you!"

"Can seize one of the only sixteen tickets, step into the true top circle, and continue to launch an impact on the final throne!"

The number "32" on the screen behind her began to flicker and split violently.

Then, as if torn by invisible power, it quickly split, collided, and reduced.

Finally, in a piece of sharp silver light, it froze at—

"16"!

"That is to say—after all the sixth-round matches are over, the contestants who can continue to advance are only... sixteen!"

She took a deep breath, her gaze burning as she swept across the eight faces, young or mature, in the contestant area.

Her tone softened slightly, but injected a deeper, heart-striking temptation.

Her gaze was like a hook, as if weighing the weight of every Shogi player's soul.

"Of course, along with the significant increase in the difficulty of advancing..."

"The value of the fruit that the winner can pick will also rise with the tide!"

The screen switched accordingly.

The brilliant golden numbers erupted like a volcanic eruption, carrying suffocating weight, and froze fiercely.

"Sixth round, winning prize—320,000 yen!"

The number "320,000" flickered with a solid and tempting luster.

For the vast majority of spectators in the stands, this was already a quite generous return.

Many people's monthly after-tax income might not reach this number.

This remuneration, which required a full month of hard work to exchange for, could now change hands between the victory and defeat of a match.

"And as long as you keep winning! Win the subsequent rounds! Complete an epic journey that is more difficult and closer to the divine realm than the last!"

"Then, waiting for you at the peak of glory, is still that—which is enough to completely reshape life and make mortals tremble—"

"40,960,000 yen!!!"

The final astronomical figure once again occupied the entire giant screen with the posture of a king ruling the world, the golden light almost overflowing the screen.

The background music climbed to the most violent and glorious climax at this moment!

The majestic symphony and the heavy beat like the wheels of fate rolling forward were crazily intertwined, pushing the atmosphere in the hall, which was already boiling to the extreme, to the peak of madness!

In the contestant area, there was a deathly silence, but deep in countless gazes, there was a desire and determination like wild fire burning.

This money was enough to make any dream within reach!

And at this time.

All the inflammatory expressions on Sawada Rika's face receded like the tide.

Leaving only a piece of solemnity like the deep sea and anticipation like magma.

She announced in a deep voice, every word as clear as an ice cone falling to the ground, knocking on the silent venue:

"The eight contestants who will participate in this A-zone are—"

She paused deliberately, and the giant screen quickly listed eight photos, names, and brief information side by side.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun (Private Moonlight High School, no rank)

Ishida Ishida Kazuo (Professional 6-dan)

Honda Honda Chongsi (Private Private Private Tianhao Academy, professional 4-dan)

Kojima Kenta (Professional 5-dan)

And four other strong Shogi players with ranks between professional 4-dan and 6-dan.

"Eight strong players, four tickets."

Her gaze was as sharp as an eagle, sweeping across the contestant seats.

"The winner advances to the seventh round, moving towards higher honor and prize money."

"The loser, the journey of this tournament, will come to an end at this moment."

The words fell.

The excitement of the spectator area reached a new height, and everyone couldn't wait to witness which four of these eight strong players could win and continue to advance.

Sawada Rika responded to the near-fanatical reaction of the live audience with a smile that controlled everything.

Then, she shouted excitedly towards the microphone with all her strength:

"Then, 'Newcomer Shogi Tournament' Sixth Round, A-zone, matchup draw—"

"Starts now!"

The giant screen switched instantly!

The photos, names, and brief information of the eight contestants began to roll, collide, and intertwine crazily at a dazzling speed!

Xia Xia Xia Mujun's calm face, Ishida Ishida Kazuo's steady portrait, Honda Honda Chongsi's face full of arrogance and unruliness, Kojima Kenta's determined gaze photo...

And the clips of their matches, whether thinking intently or waving pieces like swords, flashed by like a glimpse.

The gears of fate, in this low, violent music like industrial giant hammers beating and the deafening heartbeat roar synchronized by the whole venue, meshed coldly and ruthlessly again and began to turn.

In the contestant seats, someone subconsciously clenched their fists, their knuckles turning white; someone took a deep breath, adjusting their state; Honda Honda Chongsi narrowed his eyes, staring dead at the screen, the arc of his mouth carrying bloodthirsty anticipation.

And Xia Xia Xia Mujun was still sitting there quietly.

His gaze calmly watched the vortex of names crazily rolling on the screen that would decide the next opponent.

As if the cruel slaughter that was about to come, which would decide who stays and who goes, as well as the huge prize money that was enough to make people crazy, were just a piece of floating clouds passing by outside the window.

His indifference, in the boiling hot air around him, appeared out of place, but also unusually stable.

Ishida Ishida Kazuo on the side saw all this in his eyes and nodded secretly in his heart.

This composure, far beyond his age, was indeed an indispensable quality for a top Shogi player.

It was a pity that, surrounded by such strong enemies, relying on composure alone, I'm afraid it was not enough to help him break through.

【Please A-zone contestants, follow the guidance of the staff, and go to the draw area to gather!】

【Repeat, please A-zone contestants, go to the draw area to gather!】

The broadcast sound fell.

The contestants stood up one after another, temporarily stored their personal belongings, and then walked to the draw area in the center of the venue one after another.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun walked up first.

Inside the transparent draw box, eight small balls representing different match table numbers were jumping slightly in the gentle airflow.

He didn't hesitate at all and reached out to press the draw button.

The small balls in the box rotated rapidly, and then one slowly fell.

The staff took out the small ball, took a look, and announced loudly:

"Number 1 ball. Contestant Xia Xia Xia Mujun, please go to match table number 1 to wait."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun nodded slightly, took the small ball, and walked to stand by the Shogi table marked with the number "1".

Ishida Ishida Kazuo, who drew later, looked at the draw box, and a complex thought flashed through his heart.

Being rejected twice in a row, if he could defeat this favorite "disciple candidate" head-on in the tournament, perhaps he could make him realize the gap in strength more clearly, and he might change his mind.

He pressed the button.

The small ball fell.

"Number 2 ball. Contestant Ishida Ishida Kazuo, please go to table number 2."

Ishida Ishida Kazuo took the small ball, looked at the calm Xia Xia Xia Mujun in the direction of table 1, sighed in his heart, and only felt that he had to use other means. ===== CHAPTER 987 =====