With the matter settled, the other mentors had already led their groups through the city gates, leaving only them behind, making it unwise to delay further.
Once they entered the city, a bus arranged by the school was waiting in the parking lot. Due to the scarcity of resources like oil, fuel-powered cars were rare in the city; instead, buses and subways served the public.
At the city gate, a large military base stood, along with several squares. The military base housed a garrison of soldiers defending the city, while the squares contained parking lots, a helipad, and mercenary assembly areas.
Though Microglow City had only been established for a few decades, it had already faced several large-scale monster invasions. Monsters, under the command of higher-ranked beasts, would swarm in from the horizon like locusts.
Had it not been for the massive, towering city walls, which were over a hundred feet tall, the people of Microglow City would likely have suffered tremendous losses. As such, mercenary Beastmasters actively cleared the beasts outside the city, gathering materials from the monsters and preventing them from multiplying too rapidly, as the rapid rise of monster swarms could have devastating consequences.
Each wave of beasts caused severe damage to the city. Not only did it lead to casualties, but the destruction of weapons and the repair costs for the city walls were significant. No one wanted to see a beast swarm. If one happened, everyone inside the city would live under immense anxiety.
Back to the present.
Mentor He, along with his first group of students, boarded the bus and headed toward the school.
Two hours later, they arrived at the outskirts of the school and stopped. Everyone got off the bus. The children from wealthy families were picked up by their personal vehicles, while the children of ordinary families stayed temporarily at the school's hotel.
Kent, considering the safety on the road, chose not to return to his apartment.
The next day, the entire school began the volunteer registration process. Four hundred students on the list were eligible to fill out their preferences.
Although Kent was no longer focused on entering a university, he hoped to add a layer of prestige by applying, leaving the decision to attend later.
"Of course, Earthstar University is my first choice. Next would be Microglow City University since I'm familiar with it. Hengduan City University is also a good option."
Kent quickly filled out his application.
Hengduan City University was located near the Hengduan Mountains, an area known for its harsh environment and monster-infested wilderness. It was close to the Tsaqian Plateau and the Maya Mountain Range, which were monster havens. Kent had the system's assistance, so he would thrive there.
Having completed his application, Kent returned to the Yitian Club to practice his Dragon Breath Saber Technique and Spiral Archery.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the Beastmaster Tournament's re-match began. Only those who filled out their volunteer applications were eligible to participate.
There were fifty-six high schools in the city, each with several hundred students. If everyone participated, it would be quite a spectacle.
However, most students in the rankings were realistic enough to know their limits.
This re-match was designed to select the best candidates. Those who performed well in the re-match would be noticed by top universities like Earthstar University and have the chance to be recruited.
The results would be stored on the database and made accessible to universities for further review.
The venue for the re-match was at the heart of Microglow City, at the Microglow Nest—an imposing stadium shaped like a bird's nest, which could hold up to 100,000 spectators.
Kent, under the guidance of Mentor He, along with more than two hundred other students who had signed up for the re-match, arrived at the Microglow Nest.
The scene was overwhelming. The vast hall was crowded with people, and beyond the students and numerous spectators, there were several representatives from major universities sent to observe.
Inside the hall, there were ten platforms for the competitions.
The rules for the re-match were simple: elimination format. Each contestant had three opportunities to compete. If they won all three or at least two, they would proceed to the next stage. If they lost, they would be eliminated.
Kent sat quietly in the contestant seats, occasionally chatting with Zhao Mengxi.
Each contestant was given a number, and opponents were randomly assigned by the system. There were no issues with the setup.
Soon, a tall and imposing middle-aged man walked onto the stage, exuding an unmatched aura of authority.
"Wow, it's Zhao Mengxi's dad," several people exclaimed, murmuring excitedly.
Kent turned his gaze toward the man, sensing a familiar aura. It was likely the masked swordsman from the black market.
"General Zhao, I didn't expect you to be the host for this re-match," Kent said with a light chuckle.
Zhao Mengxi nodded lightly. "The contestants here mostly believe in their own strength. Even if they can't become the top students, or get into one of the thirty-six universities, as long as they perform well, they'll still be noticed and possibly recruited by various factions. My father works in the military department, and they're always in need of soldiers. Every year, he comes here to scout talent."
Kent nodded, understanding.
Indeed, with so many factions in Microglow City, most of them would be raising their own private mercenary teams. For example, the four-star inspector of the Niujiao Mountain Secret Realm likely had the Snow Bull Mercenary Group as his private army. Otherwise, there's no way he would entrust such a precious secret realm to them.
These mercenary groups, along with the city lord's guards, the military, and the police, were all actively recruiting. As long as you had the ability, you wouldn't go hungry.
General Zhao's full name was Zhao Heilong. As soon as he stepped onto the stage, his sharp gaze swept across the entire arena. Anyone who met his eyes felt a piercing pressure, as if they were sitting on needles. The tens of thousands of people in the vast Microglow Nest fell into silence.
Kent marveled inwardly at the scene. It was incredible how a mere glance could silence the entire audience. It was either his presence or the unique ability shared by his beast that caused this effect.
Kent believed it was the latter.
"Today, the re-match of the National Beastmaster Tournament officially begins. I am Zhao Heilong, commander of the Black Dragon Army in Microglow City. I will be hosting this re-match. I hope everyone gives it their all."
"As an observer for the military department, I will personally extend invitations to those who perform exceptionally well. Also, several representatives from various factions are here to observe. So, give it your best shot and fight for a better future."
"Alright, enough with the speeches. I hereby declare that the re-match of the Beastmaster Tournament officially begins."