Chapter 121-2: The Birth of Zealots (Part 2)

Half a month into the Hero Selection Tournament, the winter-weary residents found themselves immersed in a lively and exciting environment. Everyone talked about who had been praised on the bulletin board today or who had been eliminated for slacking off. Understanding human curiosity, Li De had set up a bulletin board, announcing daily commendations for standout performances. He also had someone compile a list of those most likely to break into the top 200. Although 3,000 people participated in the selection, half of the residents were unable to join. Such a large base meant almost everyone had friends participating in this selection. Everyone was highly invested, and the Hero Selection Tournament’s popularity continued to grow. The events of the Hero Selection Tournament were simple yet grueling—Li De directly copied a military training regimen. Standing at attention, various physical exercises, 100-meter sprints, long-distance running, push-ups, frog jumps, weighted cross-country runs, and more. The terrifying training load caused the number of participants to quickly dwindle. Each day saw a large number of people eliminated. The harsh training also gave Li De a direct understanding of just how physically strong humans in this world were. It could be said that the intensity of his unlimited training regimen would have overwhelmed even the strongest soldiers in Earth’s special forces training programs. In just half a month, the initial 3,000 participants were rapidly reduced to 700. However, the tenacity displayed by these remaining 700 individuals left Li De deeply impressed. He found it hard to imagine that ordinary civilians could endure such intense training. Each of them, in terms of physical fitness alone, surpassed even the elite warriors on Earth. Their discipline and mental fortitude were enough to form an invincible army of steel. Unfortunately, this was a world of magic. No matter how strong their willpower, ordinary humans were still vulnerable—one spell could wipe them all out. After half a month, it was time to reel in the net. In Dawn City, several main streets were completely sealed off, prohibiting passage. Everyone agreed with this measure because today would decide the final winners of the Hero Selection Tournament. The competition began at 10 a.m. By the time the snowstorm subsided, the crowd had already gathered eagerly along both sides of the streets. The cold weather could not dampen their fiery enthusiasm. What could be more exciting than achieving noble status through one’s own efforts? Becoming a Saintlight Vampire was even more prestigious than being a noble. Such an opportunity would never occur in the outside world. Would those noble lords ever allow lowly commoners to attain such an honor? Absolutely not. For this reason, many understood the rarity of this chance and approached the competition with boundless passion and excitement. This might be their closest shot at ascending to the noble class. If they lost, they would remain lowly commoners for the rest of their lives. Today’s final event would be an endurance race. 400 participants would start simultaneously, each carrying a 20-pound load, running 200 laps around Dawn City. Yes, 200 laps. The first 200 to reach the finish line would become the ultimate victors of the Hero Selection Tournament. Each lap set by Li De was approximately two kilometers long. 200 laps equaled 400 kilometers—a truly outrageous distance. It was nearly impossible to complete. In fact, Li De didn’t even expect them to finish. He simply wanted to see who could endure until the very end. He deliberately set an unattainable distance to convey just how difficult it was to become a Saintlight Vampire. But even facing such an unreasonable challenge, no one backed down. Everyone knew how rare this opportunity was, and they were determined to push themselves into the top 200 at any cost. As for professionals, the higher their rank, the heavier their load. Level 4 professionals carried an 80-pound load—no one could easily exploit loopholes. Li De’s competition design was pure sportsmanship. Though simple, it made everyone feel as if they were part of the process. It allowed each person to understand the difficulty involved. Success achieved through immense effort and dedication would make them cherish it even more. The 700 participants stood neatly in formation on the wide street. After the military training, their upright postures resembled tall, sturdy trees. Each individual brimmed with energy. “My subjects, today is the final day of the Hero Selection Tournament and your closest moment to becoming a Saintlight Vampire. Strive! Everything is fair. Only the best will receive the reward. Only the first 200 to reach the finish line will be bestowed with the noble bloodline of the Saintlight Vampires. I hope you earn respect and honor under the watchful eyes of all of Dawn City. I await you at the finish line to claim your reward.” Li De’s impassioned tone instantly ignited the atmosphere. “Long live Lord Kachar!!” “Go, Oke! You must break into the top 200!” “Wina, I believe in you!” “I can’t wait anymore!” The crowd below cheered, discussed who might enter the top 200, and expressed their anticipation. Their fervor and hopeful gazes filled the competitors with motivation. Especially those with friends or family cheering them on—they resolved to push themselves into the top 200 and earn Lord Kachar’s reward, becoming noble Saintlight Vampires. “The race starts... now~” With Li De’s personal shout, the competition officially started. The eager crowd surged forward, causing the cobblestone streets to tremble slightly. The 700 participants, carrying their loads, charged forward with unwavering determination. This was destined to be a long endurance race, especially given the absurd physical strength of humans in the world of Glory. Five sun-hours later: The first participant was eliminated—not due to exhaustion but a sprained ankle. Seven sun-hours later: The first participant truly exhausted was eliminated. Nine sun-hours later: The number of eliminations reached 52. Eleven sun-hours later: Only 435 participants remained, still running through the streets of Dawn City. The crowd, initially there to spectate, fell into an unusual silence. Watching the runners, everyone felt an indescribable emotion. Seeing the sweat-soaked efforts of the participants, they felt pride because their friends, their loved ones, were among them. Oli now felt as if a magical fireball was burning in his lungs. Breathing the air felt like sharp daggers piercing his bones. The cold air of the Month of Deep Winter seemed like a red-hot blade slicing through his throat. The 20-pound load on his back weighed him down like mercury, each step landing heavily on the cobblestones. His vision blurred, and the cheers from the sidelines no longer stirred excitement within him. Stop, stop. You’ve worked hard enough. Quit, and you can rest. A devilish voice whispered in his mind, slowly eroding his resolve. Over the past half-month, in what could only be described as brutal competition, he had poured in every ounce of effort. Though his physical abilities lagged behind others, his indomitable willpower had carried him this far. Oli clenched his fists tightly and bit down hard on his tongue. The sharp pain brought a brief clarity to his foggy mind. He refused to give up. He wouldn’t abandon his dream of becoming a Saintlight Vampire. Only by gaining great power could he help others like the Saintlight Vampires did. He didn’t want his friends or family to face danger again due to lack of food or strength. At this moment, countless faces flashed through Oli’s mind. Rekel smiling as he patted his shoulder encouragingly. Patril’s kind smile. His deceased parents’ words of advice echoing in his ears. The desperate look in the eyes of his companion who had fallen into an icy crevasse for food. Finally, everything shattered. One unforgettable image dominated his mind. Li De’s towering figure during his first speech in Dawn City’s square now loomed as majestic as a mountain. “My subjects, I am your city lord, Kachar.” That enchanting voice still echoed in his ears. It was this figure that had pulled the entire Eric Town out of despair and given him a new life. At this moment, Oli raised his head once more, his confusion replaced with determination. He would earn Lord Kachar’s reward and become a Saintlight Vampire! No matter what! Crack~ Something seemed to shatter in Oli’s mind. Strength surged back into his nearly drained body. The power of belief fueled him with endless drive. Meanwhile, Li De, watching from the high platform, suddenly stood up, his face filled with astonishment as he gazed at the participants trudging heavily along the streets. “Ding~ Oli has become your zealot, providing 1 point of faith energy daily.” ??? Zealot?? What the hell was going on??