Thunderbolt and the rest of his team had been shocked when their opponent was displayed on the big display. Of all the teams they could be paired with in the eighth-finals, it just had to be the one that didn’t have a single weak link in their line-up, at least not one they could exploit at their level. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals had plummeted to zero at that moment.

Even then, it wasn’t until the match was over that Thunderbolt realized just how outclassed he was. The result on the display was literally the bloodiest it could’ve been—

Purple Marquis 2:0 Thunderbolt

Shadow Chanel 2:0 Abyssal Remains

Wind Fantasy 2:0 Weeping Knife

Clear Perfume 2:0 Floor of Cups

Purple Marquis & Wind Fantasy 2:0 Thunderbolt & Weeping Knife

Snowy Cathaya had chopped up Thunder like vegetables. With the steel in their hands, they told them exactly how strong an invincible team forged in war was like, and how weak a team who made it to the eighth-finals through luck like theirs really was.

……

“Yay! We’re in the top eight now!” Purple Marquis raised his blade and cheered.

Clear Perfume was calculating aloud with yuan signs in her eyes, “What are the rewards of the Top 8 again? Let’s see,...