Hong studied Rong Jun's battle footage with a focused expression.
"Look at his fighting style. It's pure brute force, charging and smashing head-on. But don't underestimate something that looks this simple. Every strike carries terrifying power."
The footage truly left a strong impression. Rong Jun had bronze skin, a body packed with dense, knotted muscle, and long hair flowing wildly behind him. His eyes burned with a feral intensity. He never used weapons in combat, relying entirely on his fists and body, yet each blow was powerful enough to split stone and shatter mountains.
"The most frightening part is his recovery ability," Luo Feng said, pointing to a segment of the recording. "Watch this. He takes a direct hit to the chest, clearly a severe injury, but he recovers completely in less than ten seconds."
"That's the innate physique of his race," Hong explained. "Not only are they physically powerful, but they also possess extraordinary regenerative abilities. In a prolonged fight, that gives them a massive advantage."
"What about Princess Silvermoon?" Thunder God asked. "Between her and Rong Jun, who do you think has the better chance?"
Luo Wen switched the display, and the image of Princess Elia Silvermoon appeared on the screen.
"We've all seen her strength," he said. "Her mastery of the Wind Laws is exceptional. Her swordsmanship is exquisite, and she has even grasped the ultimate meaning of the Silvermoon Sword Codex."
"The problem is the gap in physical strength," Hong analyzed. "If Rong Jun gets close, her body simply won't be able to withstand that level of impact."
Luo Feng offered a different perspective. "But her advantage lies in speed and technique. The Wind Laws give her incredible mobility, and her swordplay is unpredictable. If she can maintain distance and fight using hit-and-run tactics, she still has a chance."
The four of them continued breaking down the possible battle scenarios in detail.
"I think the battlefield environment will be crucial," Thunder God said. "In an open arena, Princess Silvermoon can fully utilize her speed. But in a confined space, Rong Jun's advantage becomes overwhelming."
"There's another point," Hong added thoughtfully. "Rong Jun may look reckless, but anyone who has made it this far cannot rely on brute force alone. His combat intelligence is likely far higher than we assume."
Luo Wen nodded. "Exactly. At this level, raw strength alone isn't enough. He must have his own tactical awareness."
"Then let's consider two scenarios," Luo Feng suggested. "If Princess Silvermoon wins, Hong will be facing a combination of Wind Laws and refined swordsmanship. If Rong Jun wins, it will be the Law of Strength and overwhelming physical assault. We should prepare strategies for both."
Over the next few hours, the four of them carefully worked through various tactical possibilities.
For Princess Silvermoon, their approach centered on using the stability of Earth Laws to restrict her movement, combined with gravity manipulation to disrupt her sword techniques.
"Her swordsmanship relies on perfect coordination," Hong explained. "If I alter the local gravity, her rhythm will be thrown off."
"And while the Wind Laws grant speed, they're heavily affected within a gravity field," Luo Wen added. "The key is controlling the intensity carefully so it disrupts her without hindering yourself."
Devising a strategy for Rong Jun proved far more difficult. His physical strength made direct confrontation extremely risky.
"My idea is to avoid head-on clashes and instead reshape the battlefield using Earth Laws," Hong said. "Create traps, use terrain to our advantage, or even deploy magma to restrict his movement."
"That's a solid plan," Thunder God agreed. "His attacks are straightforward. If you can limit his mobility, you can control the pace of the fight."
"But there's a problem," Luo Feng pointed out. "His Law of Strength doesn't just enhance his body. It can influence the surrounding environment. If he goes all out, your traps might not hold."
Hong fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "That's true. It seems I'll need to adapt on the fly rather than rely entirely on pre-planned tactics."
Just as their discussion grew more intense, the doorbell suddenly rang.
The four exchanged glances. At this hour, who could it be?
Hong stood and opened the door. To everyone's surprise, Princess Elia Silvermoon was standing outside. She wore a light blue casual outfit, softer and more approachable than her battle attire, though her noble aura remained unmistakable.
"Princess Silvermoon?" Hong said, clearly surprised. "What brings you here so late?"
Elia smiled gently. "Sorry to disturb you. I came to speak with Luo Wen about something. If it's inconvenient…"
"Not at all, please come in," Hong said quickly, stepping aside. "We were just discussing tomorrow's matches."
She entered the room and glanced at the group gathered around the table, battle data still projected above it. A hint of approval flickered in her eyes.
"You're all very dedicated," she remarked.
Luo Wen stood to greet her. "Your Highness visiting at this hour must mean something important."
Elia nodded, her expression turning serious. "There is something I'd like to discuss. About tomorrow's match between Rong Jun and myself. I want to hear your thoughts."
Her words caught them off guard. The princess was asking for their opinions?
"Well…" Thunder God scratched his head awkwardly. "We're just ordinary competitors. How could we possibly advise you?"
Elia shook her head. "Strength and status are not the same. After my match with Luo Wen yesterday, I realized that you Earth warriors possess a unique kind of combat insight. And just now, you were analyzing my fight with Rong Jun, weren't you?"
Exposed so directly, the group felt a bit embarrassed.
Hong spoke honestly. "That's true. We were discussing your match. Whoever wins, I may face them in the next round."
"I know," Elia said. "That's precisely why I came. I'd like to exchange views openly about Rong Jun."
Luo Feng leaned forward slightly. "Then, Your Highness, what do you know about him beyond the public information?"
Elia took a seat, her expression growing more solemn.
"Rong Jun is far more dangerous than he appears. His fighting style may seem crude, but his combat instincts are extremely sharp." She paused briefly before continuing. "And as far as I know, he hasn't yet shown his true strength. In every match so far, he has won effortlessly. He has never been pushed to his limits."
The revelation stunned all four of them.
"He hasn't shown his true strength?" Luo Wen said in disbelief. "But his recorded battles are already terrifying."
"That is only his baseline," Elia explained. "His people possess a special ability called Berserk. In that state, their physical capabilities multiply, but at the cost of losing rationality."
"Berserk?" Hong's expression grew serious. "How long does it last?"
"Usually ten to fifteen minutes, though it varies by individual," Elia replied. "Afterward, there is a period of weakness. That is the only clear vulnerability."
Hearing this, Thunder God couldn't help asking, "Do you have the confidence to defeat him before he enters that state?"
Elia gave a faint, wry smile. "Very difficult. His base strength is already formidable. To defeat him quickly would require forbidden techniques, and even then, the cost would be severe."
"What's your plan, then?" Hong asked.
"A delaying strategy," Elia said frankly. "I will use my speed and the Wind Laws to avoid direct confrontation and wear him down. If I can outlast his Berserk state and reach his weakened phase, I'll have a chance to win."
"In theory, that works," Luo Feng said. "But in practice, it will be very difficult. Rong Jun isn't foolish. He won't let you stall so easily."
"I know," Elia replied. "That's why I came. I want to hear your suggestions."
The four exchanged glances, then began to think seriously. Discussing tactics with someone of her level was a rare opportunity.
"I think the key lies in environmental control," Hong said first. "If the battlefield favors you, your delaying strategy becomes much more viable."
"What kind of environment?" Elia asked.
"Terrain with obstacles or elevation differences," Luo Wen suggested. "That way, you can fully utilize your mobility while his larger build becomes a disadvantage."
Thunder God added, "You should also rely on ranged attacks. Your sword energy has reach. Keep your distance and chip away at him over time."
Elia nodded thoughtfully. "Those are valuable suggestions. But there's still an issue. His regeneration is so strong that minor injuries won't matter."
"Then inflict major damage," Luo Feng said, proposing a bold idea. "If your goal is to outlast his Berserk phase, why not provoke him while he's in that state and force him to waste even more energy?"
"Provoke him?" Elia's eyes showed a flicker of curiosity.
"When he's Berserk, he loses rationality. That's his weakness," Luo Feng explained. "If you can manipulate his behavior, make him attack the wrong targets or expend energy on ineffective strikes, you can accelerate his exhaustion."
The idea immediately caught everyone's attention.
"That's an excellent approach," Hong said. "Exploiting an opponent's weakness is the most fundamental and effective tactic."
Elia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, that could work. If I can force him into mistakes during Berserk, I can both drain his stamina and buy more time."
"But it requires immense skill and courage," Thunder God cautioned. "Playing mind games against him in that state is extremely dangerous. One mistake, and you're finished."
"I understand," Elia said with a firm nod. "But it's worth trying."
The five of them continued refining their strategies late into the night. Despite being a princess of the Silverblue Empire, Elia showed no arrogance during the discussion. She spoke freely and exchanged ideas as an equal.
"Oh, one more thing," she suddenly said. "If I suffer serious injuries in this battle, will it affect Hong's match in the next round?"
The question caught everyone off guard.
Hong answered seriously, "I want to face my opponent at their peak. Whether it's you or Rong Jun, I want to fight you at your strongest."
"That is the spirit of a true warrior," Elia said with admiration. "But don't worry. Even if I'm injured tomorrow, I'll be fully recovered before facing you. The Virtual Universe's recovery system is highly advanced. As long as the injury isn't fatal, it can be healed quickly."
"That's good to hear," Hong said, nodding. "I look forward to our match, whoever my opponent may be."
By the time Elia left, it was already very late.
After seeing her off, the four of them returned to the table. The night's discussion had given them a much deeper understanding of the upcoming battle.
"How does everyone feel?" Hong asked.
"Very productive," Luo Feng replied. "Through this exchange, we now have a clearer picture of Rong Jun's abilities."
"And the Berserk ability she mentioned is completely new information," Luo Wen added. "That's critical for our planning."
Thunder God yawned. "Well, the most important thing now is rest. I've got a match tomorrow."
"Agreed," Hong said, standing up. "Tomorrow will be a crucial day."
The next morning.
The main arena was even livelier than before. The spectator stands were packed. In addition to ordinary viewers and competitors, many representatives from major factions across the universe had arrived, all seeking to scout and recruit promising warriors.
Inside a private viewing box, three elegantly dressed figures were engaged in discussion.
"Thunder God, a warrior from Earth, specializes in the Lightning Laws," one middle-aged man said as he reviewed a file. "Based on previous data, his mastery of lightning is quite impressive, and his combat style is distinctive."
Across from him sat a tall woman, faint arcs of electricity flickering in her eyes, clearly a lightning practitioner herself.
"Earth is quite an interesting world," she said. "It has produced several promising warriors in succession. This Thunder God's lightning is exceptionally pure. He is likely born with an innate lightning affinity."