Chapter 673 - TOURNAMENT FINALLY BEGINS

LUO WEI TIAN'S attention was fully captured by this person calling himself the 'Duke of Hearts'.  He stared at this teenager with flamboyant clothing floating in the sky.  "Is he also a player?"

Shen Ji Yun, being the one currently closest to Luo Yan's father, answered, "No, Uncle, he's an NPC."

"Oh, you mean the inhabitants of this world?"

Well, that's not entirely wrong, so Shen Ji Yun could only nod.  Bai Ze, who was also near the two, only thought, 'why does Uncle Tian talks like they are in an Isekai anime?'. 

Luo Wei Tian did not notice the weird reaction of the two to what he said and just stared at the NPC floating in the air.  With how alive the other's expression was, he would have never thought that the teenager was actually not a real person.  He was truly amazed by just how far the technology of today had come. 

No, he should probably express his admiration towards Shen Yi Mu and the whole Moonlight Media for being able to make a game with such vivid characters. 

Looking again at the NPC, a thought flashed in his mind.  What if- what if they could create an NPC based on a real person?  With the same face and personality.

"Ji Yun, your uncle is a genius," he said to the kid beside him.

Shen Ji Yun was a bit confused as to where this compliment came from.  But he still responded, "Yes, he is."

"Maybe I should increase my investment to his company," Luo Wei Tian said to no one in particular.  Before turning to Shen Ji Yun again, planning to ask about the idea he just had.  "Do you think he would agree if I ask him to make an NPC based on someone?"

Before Shen Ji Yun could answer, Luo Ren had already walked to them and put his hand on his father's shoulder.

"Dad, let's just sit down.  The tournament is already starting.  Yan Yan and Xiao Jin will surely appear any minute now.  You don't want to miss that, right?"

Luo Ren didn't wait for his father to answer and just led the other to one of the seats.  He then sat between his father and Yu Jiao.  He was glad that his father didn't actually insist on talking to Shen Ji Yun about the topic he opened to the other just now. 

When he heard him asking about designing an NPC based on a person, he was sure that his father was talking about his late mother.  Of course, Luo Ren had to stop that idea.  Having an NPC that looked exactly like his mother didn't really feel right.  It would also not be healthy for his father.

He knew that his father had never really moved on from his mother.  The only reason he could continue on with his life was because he and his two brothers were still here.  If that was not the case, then his mother's death would have truly broken his father.

If there would really be an NPC based on his mother, instead of being therapeutic, it could turn into something toxic instead.  Like jumping into a rabbit hole and being unable to get out from it forever.

His thoughts were cut off when the Duke of Hearts spoke once again.

"The tournament this year has 16 participants.  The rules are simple.  There would be eight matches of 1v1.  Killing your opponent or forcing them to admit defeat would guarantee one's victory.  In the off chance that the fight would last for 30 minutes, then, it would be automatically stopped and I would be the one to decide who's the winner.  All the eight winners tonight will move to the quarterfinals tomorrow," the duke explained in a very clear-cut manner.  "As a gift to you plebeians, I will let you see the tournament bracket before the fight begins." 

After the duke said that, a huge virtual screen appeared in front of everyone.  It was made in a way that every corner of the coliseum could see and read it. 

The royal box of team Yunyue immediately looked for the name of Luo Yan and Luo Jin. 

"Which one is Xiao Yan and Xiao Jin?" Luo Wei Tian asked. 

Hearing this, Luo Ren remembered that they hadn't told their father about game names.  Which was something the other didn't need to worry because of the special VR helmet he was using.

"Yan Yan is 'Noctis' while Xiao Jin is—" he instinctively stopped.  Because he couldn't, for the life of him, say his brother's rather colorful game name.

The one who finished what he was about to say was a girl's voice, "AmazingYoungMasterJin."

Luo Ren turned to Su Yuqi, the one who just spoke, wondering how the other could say that game name with such an indifferent tone.

Luo Wei Tian also looked at the butterfly girl.  It took a few moments before it finally registered on him what the girl said.  And all he could think was;

"Why did Xiao Jin call himself that?" he asked, accidentally saying what's on his mind. 

"Uncle, I think Xiao Jin just probably ran out of names and just used that in a fit of frustration," Bai Ze said, holding back his laughter.

"I think it's a cute name," Su Yuqi commented.  "It perfectly fits Luo Jin."

Shen Ji Yun didn't care much about what they were talking about.  His eyes were on the tournament bracket, thinking that Luo Yan's fight would be the third match and it's against someone named 'Rosetta'.

The virtual screen disappeared and the Duke of Hearts appeared in front of everyone's sight again.

"Now, let's all welcome the participants for the first match!" After the duke said that, two doors from the opposite side of the rink opened.  "Supreme King versus Lovelee!"

Two figures walked from the opposite sides and made their way to the rink.  One was a muscular lion beastkin while the other was a petite fairy.  The gap between the appearance of the two was pretty eye-catching.

"Let the battle begin!"

As soon as the duke shouted that, the two on the rink quickly began their attack.