After reading his friend's message, Axel found himself in a dilemma.

On one hand, he wanted to win the round and continue with the tournament, but on the other hand, he didn't want to fight his friend.

Both options had their problems. If he chose to team up with Adam to take care of the other two participants, his snake would have to fight against a creature from a rank two world, something that seemed pretty much impossible at the moment. But if he decided to fight against him, he would still need to survive the round while defeating Adam and the other two participants.

"You seem indecisive," William said when he saw Axel's face.

"I don't know what to do. What would you do in my place?"

"I would backstab Adam in the last minute and take the first place for myself," he replied without doubting.

"Thank God I have to fight Adam and not you," Axel replied while laughing.

"I mean, what else can you do? Only one of you can win, so you will have to antagonize each other at some point, and taking into account that you are a rank lower than him, you will need every single advantage you can get." William said

"Well, maybe you are right."

As Axel said that, both saw Adam approaching in the distance.

"Prepare your ass, Axel, because my champion is going to kick it over and over again," Adam said while laughing.

"Don't think it's going to be that easy. My cultivators and beasts are going to destroy your... What was your world about?" Axel asked.

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"It's a fantasy world with an RPG system," Adam replied.

"That's it. My beasts and cultivators are going to destroy your gamer boys."

"I think you are not getting what his world is about," William replied.

"Maybe I am not, but I will beat him anyway," Axel said decisively. "By the way, when is the next round starting?"

"In half an hour, so we still have some time before it starts." Adam replied."Do you want to look around if we get anything interesting from any stand?"

"Sure."

After that, the three began to tour the convention to kill some time. Even though most things were not very interesting, they still managed to spend the remaining time until the beginning of the next round.

When the time arrived, the three friends walked to the tournament area. There they found their table and sat at it. By the time they had arrived, the other two participants were already there.

"Well, as the four of you are already here, let's start with the round." Said the referee. "This is going to work the same as the last time. You are going to connect your worlds to mine one by one and wait until I give you the green light to send them inside."

After hearing the referee's instructions, the four participants began to connect their worlds to his.

"Come, guys. At least one of you has to get to the next round!" William shouted from a few meters away.

Hearing that, the other two participants looked suspiciously at Axel and Adam before crossing their gazes and nodding, a gesture that went unnoticed by the two friends.

While they connected their worlds, Axel began to talk with Heaven in the meantime.

"The snake had performed well in the last battle, but I fear that it may need to be even stronger for this round. Could we boost its strength in any way?" Axel asked.

"We could pump large amounts of energy into its body to get it to the peak of the ninth stage. The difference wouldn't be too big as it is already very close to it, but it would help it may decide the outcome of a battle if it is too close to its enemies." Heaven suggested.

"Sounds good. Let's do that then. Also, if you can give it instructions to team up with Adam's warrior if things become too complicated. I would like it to get at least the second position." Axel said.

"As you say," Heaven replied.

After that, Axel saw how the process of feeding the snake began.

The beast had become frozen again until it had to fight again, but now large amounts of energy descended from the sky and flowed into its body, which absorbed and used it to make its tissues stronger.

A few seconds later, the referee gave them the signal, and the portal appeared once again in the stone archway.