Bai Ye's eyes lit up. "Death Football? I like the word 'death.' How many people on the field will be directly disqualified? Believe me, if I don't beat their brains out, it's considered a peaceful and friendly match."
Jin Sha was speechless. "It's not death like you think. You can't kill people, okay?"
Bai Ye asked, "Then what kind of death is it?"
"Stop fixating on those two words," Jin Sha said helplessly. "Can you just listen to the rules first?"
Bai Ye replied, "You speak."
Jin Sha asked, "Do you know the general rules of football?"
Bai Ye answered, "I know the basics."
Jin Sha explained, "It's generally the same as regular football rules, but you can use various abilities or weapons to kick the ball, and the ball will change because of it."
Bai Ye inquired curiously, "What changes?"
Jin Sha elaborated, "For example, if you use a flying sword to strike the football for a shot, you can strengthen the speed or power of the shot. Also, I remember you have fire abilities, right? So, if you wrap the football with your fire ability, it will turn into a fireball."
Bai Ye pressed, "Then what about death?"
Jin Sha was speechless, you're really hung up on those two words, aren't you?
Jin Sha continued, "The football can be kicked at people, meaning you can use the football for attacks. However, remember one thing: the basic rules are still football rules. You absolutely cannot use your hands. Even holding a sword to kick the ball is fine, but your arm cannot directly touch it. You can also use the football for attacks, but you can't directly engage in a brawl. If you throw a punch, it's a guaranteed yellow card, or even a direct red card."
"Don't worry, it's just fighting with a football," Bai Ye gave an 'okay' gesture. "I understand."
Jin Sha became frantic. "It's not fighting with the football, it's just using the football for attacks. Ultimately, the goal is still to score. You only get points when the ball enters the goal."
"I naturally know basic knowledge like that," Bai Ye said. "So, if the opponent is kicked down to only a few players left, are they automatically disqualified for insufficient numbers?"
Jin Sha: "..."
Jin Sha now regretted it a little. Bai Ye wasn't here to play football at all.
Bai Ye continued, "What about teammates?"
Jin Sha replied, "It's you and me, two people."
Bai Ye was stunned. "Football requires eleven players."
Jin Sha nodded. "Yes, normally it requires eleven players, but we have beast companions. Using beast companions in the match can substitute for a player slot."
Bai Ye asked, "Then why are you looking for me? You can handle it yourself. It shouldn't be difficult for you to gather ten beast companions, right?"
Jin Sha thought to herself that she could indeed gather them, but she was worried about encountering strong opponents that she couldn't defeat. But at this moment...
Jin Sha wasn't worried about Bai Ye taking down the opponents; she was worried that Bai Ye would get himself disqualified for a foul within the first minute.
Good heavens, she invited a mercenary, only for him to get a red card right at the start?
She'd essentially start with a buff: "Player down!"
Bai Ye asked, "What about the rewards?"
Jin Sha said, "They are distributed per person. You can see the reward details by submitting your ticket."
Bai Ye's eyes lit up. "Then we can collect eleven portions of the reward!"
Jin Sha rolled her eyes. "Dream on. Although beast companions can substitute for players, the rewards are calculated per selected participant. We only get two portions."
Bai Ye remarked, "Then it's better to find eleven people."
Jin Sha explained, "It's not easy to find eleven selected participants. Secondly, even if you could find them, their teamwork and chemistry would be an issue. Furthermore, with a hastily assembled team, there could be traitors."
Bai Ye inquired curiously, "Traitors?"
Jin Sha elaborated, "Actually, many people in the beast companion area know about the Death Football ticket quest. The quest content is related to a forbidden zone called the Football World Festival within the area. Therefore, although the number of people who obtained tickets isn't huge, some people have acquired them. Initially, everyone formed temporary teams honestly. Then, the goalkeeper of one team was bribed by the opposing team, and... "
Bai Ye was also speechless. How to play a fixed match? Bribe the goalkeeper!
You might be a forward, and it's impressive if you don't score, but if you bribe the goalkeeper, he'll dive in the opposite direction of the ball...
Jin Sha continued, "Then, because this ticket quest is in the beast companion area, someone boldly speculated if beast companions could participate, and after trying it, it actually worked."
Bai Ye frowned. "If that's the case, then those who got the Steel Slime might have an advantage? If that's true, this item might not have as much potential as you think."
Jin Sha replied, "Not necessarily. I got my ticket quite early. There was a fool who had no idea what the ticket was for. After completing the forbidden zone quest, he casually put it up for sale, thinking the ticket was just a minor item accompanying other rewards. I traded a Green quality Pidgey beast companion for it. Then, I've been following Death Football matches. So far, I've watched 12 matches. The 12 winning teams had a total of 51 selected participants. They didn't all necessarily choose the Steel Slime. Since there are five selectable rewards, assuming a one-fifth probability, only about ten people chose the Steel Slime..."
Jin Sha paused and added, "Moreover, compared to the other rewards, the Steel Slime is quite unremarkable."
"Interesting," Bai Ye said. "Let me see the rewards."
As Bai Ye spoke, he handed the ticket to a staff member behind the counter.
"Congratulations on obtaining the qualification to participate in Death Football."
"Within the specified time, you may choose your competition time."
"After winning Death Football, you may receive a reward (choose one of five): Steel Slime, Power of Stars, Gemstone Body, Floating Beast, Demon-Breaking Red Rose (Fragment)."
Bai Ye instantly gasped.
Jin Sha, seeing Bai Ye's expression change rapidly, couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Bai Ye stated, "That Steel Slime is definitely not bad."
Jin Sha asked, "How so?"
Bai Ye explained, "I don't know what Gemstone Body and Floating Beast are, but Power of Stars is a growth-type ability. It starts at White quality but can grow to Golden quality. Demon-Breaking Red Rose is a dual-gun weapon. The 'fragment' state likely means you get only one, so it can't be used. However, if you collect two, this item is a Red quality weapon!"
Jin Sha was also surprised. "That's intense?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Considering these two rewards, the other three can't possibly be bad. How did you know the effect of the Steel Slime?"
...