Published at 7th of July 2026 8:57 am

Chapter 872: Boycott

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

AlyxAtlas sighed before she began to speak. "It’s with great sadness and disappointment that I say your proposal has been rejected on the grounds that the Inter-Empire Competition isn’t a circus," her tone carrying genuine disappointment.

The moment AlyxAtlas uttered those words, the crowd erupted in disappointment.

"BOOOO!!!"

"BOOOO!!!"

"BOOOO!!!"

"THE INTER-EMPIRE COMPETITION HAS GONE SOFT!!!" a woman shouted at the top of her lungs.

"WE ARE HERE FOR ENTERTAINMENT! WHAT IN THE FUCKING WORLD DO YOU MEAN THE INTER-EMPIRE COMPETITION ISN’T A CIRCUS?!" a man roared as though he wanted to drag the organisers responsible for the decision out from behind the scenes.

"THEY REJECTED THE IDEA FOR POLITICAL REASONS!!!" another man shouted at the top of his lungs until his voice cracked.

"WE ARE BOYCOTTING THE INTER-EMPIRE COMPETITION!!!" a wave of people screamed aloud.

"THE ORGANISERS ARE JUST AFRAID THEIR SO-CALLED GENIUSES WOULD LOSE BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN BLINK!!!" another wave of spectators roared.

All sorts of accusations immediately began flying around as people claimed it was because of politics and countless other reasons. Rotten eggs, tomatoes, and various objects were thrown against the protective barrier in protest as they made no attempt whatsoever to hide their disappointment.

Within the Zarethorne Empire, those who knew the Wargraves better than anyone else, and who wholeheartedly believed Asher would emerge victorious even if he faced ten copies of each of those students simultaneously, roared at the tops of their lungs as protests immediately broke out across the streets. Chaos erupted throughout the Empire as rallies were formed within mere seconds, with millions of people screaming at every Noble they could find, demanding they contact Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor and persuade him to overturn the decision.

But those who were most disappointed were the Wargraves themselves. Great Elder Morthen was genuinely tempted to activate his Fictional Reality ability and cast a world-spanning illusion, forcing the hidden organisers to bend to his will. Unfortunately, he knew Azaron would never permit such a thing.

From his seat, Asher wasn’t surprised that his proposal had been rejected. It wasn’t that he had expected approval; rather, he had already prepared himself to accept whatever decision those behind the Inter-Empire Competition reached. After all, there was nothing he could realistically do about it.

"I understand. Thank you," Asher replied flatly, his eyes shifting toward the millions of live spectators who were practically begging him to take back his gratitude, believing the organisers deserved none of it.

He merely shook his head and ignored them.

"Don’t be too quick to thank us just yet," AlyxAtlas spoke once again. "Although your proposal was rejected, the organisers have decided to make an exception this one time," she said with a calm smile.

"For your first match, you’ll be allowed to face two students simultaneously. From that point onward, you’ll face one student at a time until you either decide to stop or are defeated," Thomasinho explained. "The first two students will be selected by the randomisation algorithm. After that, subsequent opponents may step forward of their own accord, unless the two-minute time limit is exceeded."

Asher simply nodded without another word. Rising to his feet once more, he plummeted from the sky toward the battlefield below. Yet, just as it seemed he would crash into the earth like a falling meteor, he landed with effortless grace, not even disturbing a single cloud of dust.

Seeing this, AlyxAtlas and Thomasinho exchanged nods before returning to their commentary.

"People of Crymora, we have an unprecedented moment before us," AlyxAtlas began passionately. "A single boy, no, a man, a being who awakened only two years ago has challenged every top genius that every Empire could produce," her voice gradually becoming feverish.

"Will Asher Wargrave, the Tenth Sun, the Dominator, the Eclipser, truly live up to the standard he has just set for himself? Can he truly dominate? Can he truly eclipse? This moment, this day, this incoming battle shall put every one of those titles to the test!" Thomasinho followed, his voice rising with every sentence as he built the excitement and momentum.

Although Thomasinho spoke those words with apparent ease, he meant every single one of them. Asher had spoken about fighting every remaining student. If he defeated only a few before deciding to retreat and rest, then he would have turned himself into the biggest fraud the planet had ever seen. He would forever be branded as arrogant.

"ASHER!!!"

"ECLIPSER!!!"

"SALTED FISH!!!"

"THE DOMINATOR!!!"

"THE ECLIPSER!!!"

"THE PEAK!!!"

Seeing the crowd respond so passionately to her partner’s words, AlyxAtlas immediately followed up.

"THEN LET US WATCH HIM BURY THESE GENIUSES ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!"

The speakers nearly burst apart as she screamed into her microphone, throwing her head and body backward with intense excitement.

Thomasinho snapped his fingers, and the massive screen displaying the randomisation algorithm immediately began cycling through names. Moments later, it stopped.

LAWRENCE SHADE AND CATHERINE SHATTERDUST

Upon seeing those names, many couldn’t help but suspect the so-called random algorithm wasn’t random at all. After all, the stronger competitors had seemingly been avoided, while the two weakest remaining students had been selected instead.

That meant Asher’s remaining battles afterward would be against Acker, Isaac, Arianna, Teo, and Finch.

What a glorious lineup.

Lawrence Shade and Catherine Shatterdust could only exchange helpless smiles. Their eyes briefly met before both leaped from their floating thrones and descended onto the battlefield, landing with flawless ease.

Although neither of them said a single word, they had already resolved to work together to defeat Asher. Impossible as that objective seemed, they could do nothing but try.

"As there was no direct challenge issued for this battle, a random battlefield will now be selected," Thomasinho announced as he reached out and touched the Worldshaper’s Relic.

Within moments, the entire battlefield transformed into a massive underground train station. Numerous trains continuously sped through the vast tunnels while countless lights illuminated every corner of the underground network.

Asher silently observed his surroundings. The battlefield was certainly spacious enough to contain whatever level of destruction they were about to unleash.

The instant the battlefield finished forming, Lawrence Shade and Catherine Shatterdust immediately entered combat mode. Astra energy surged through their Astra veins as they enhanced every inch of their bodies.

Lawrence Shade wielded a pair of twin short daggers, while Catherine Shatterdust held a spear firmly in her grasp.

Their eyes never once left Asher as they prepared to activate their abilities at a moment’s notice. There was no need for them to discuss each other’s abilities for better coordination. They had already watched every one of the other’s previous battles.

"Begin."

AlyxAtlas’ voice thundered from above, overflowing with wild anticipation that didn’t seem healthy.

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