Chapter 975 Jealousy and Self-Interest

Gavin's cold command silenced the tense atmosphere in an instant.

Peacock Kingdom's Wild Wolf Special Forces commander, Melvin, froze in shock. His gaze instinctively shifted to the four Dragon Soul Special Forces warriors advancing toward him with an imposing and fearsome presence. These four warriors were elite fighters, each exuding a commanding aura that could chill the blood.

Since the start of the competition, Dragon Soul Special Forces had continually surprised Melvin. He hadn't expected them to display such tenacity and boldness, a stark contrast to the rumors of their supposed decline.

Melvin had competed in the previous International Military Skills Competition alongside Surman. Back then, the Dragon Soul team had been courteous and composed, even in the face of disputes. Any conflicts were typically handled by their external liaison officers through negotiation. This head-on confrontation was entirely unprecedented.

He hadn't had the chance to fully assess this year's Dragon Soul team, but their actions made one thing clear-they were not to be underestimated. Even during the last competition, where his team had narrowly defeated Dragon Soul, he had recognized their formidable potential.

As Gavin issued a direct order to prepare for combat, the Wild Wolf Special Forces members behind Melvin immediately got into defensive stances, ready to retaliate.

But Melvin hesitated. More than hesitation-it was fear creeping in.

He hadn't intended for things to escalate this far. His earlier posturing was merely a bluff, an attempt to intimidate Dragon Soul. It had backfired spectacularly. "General Brooks, let me remind you if you dare to engage, the competition committee might disqualify you!"

Gavin snorted dismissively. "Your team trespassed into our area to stir up trouble, and now you dare to accuse us of breaking the rules? What kind of logic is that?"

With a sharp glare, he added, "Melvin, I'm warning you one last time-clear the path now, or my team will not hold back!"noveldrama

Melvin glanced at the Dragon Soul warriors, who were closing in with unyielding determination. Then, his peripheral vision caught the watching eyes of the other nearby teams. He was cornered, unsure of his next move. Backing down would be humiliating, yet Gavin wasn't wrong-this mess was Wild Wolf Special Forces' fault. They had invaded Area Three, attempted to steal supplies, and suffered the consequences when the pythons attacked. The situation was utterly embarrassing for Melvin.

The four elite Dragon Soul warriors continued their steady advance, their disciplined strides carrying an air of inevitable conflict. If Melvin didn't act quickly, a clash was inevitable.

The standoff reached a boiling point, tension thick in the air.

"Everyone, calm down! This is just a competition-there's no need for anyone to escalate matters further!"

A burly, dark-skinned man from Demberoa stepped forward from the crowd. It was Senior Colonel Zach Kaplan, commander of Demberoa's Crocodile Special Forces.

Freya exchanged a quick look with Gavin, signaling for Catherine and the others to hold their positions for the time being.

Zach's face lit up with relief.

Dragon Soul's gesture was a clear show of respect, and he was eager to play the peacemaker.

Adopting a diplomatic tone, Zach approached Freya and Gavin with a conciliatory smile.

"General Brooks, Colonel Wright, we're all old friends here. Could you do me a favor? I have a proposal to resolve this matter. How about you hear me out first?" Zach said with a forced smile. "Go on," Freya replied coldly, her tone making Zach flinch before continuing.

"Think about it. The other teams are still advancing. If you waste time on this trivial matter and miss the competition, wouldn't that be a huge loss?

"General Brooks, my suggestion is this: you take a step back, and Dragon Soul Special Forces can also make some concessions.

"Let's face it-your vanguard has already seized Rattlesnake Special Forces' energy supplies. Dragon Soul now has more resources than anyone else, which seems a bit excessive.

"In the spirit of fair play, which has

always been Dragon Soul's tradition, why not distribute some of the resources to the other teams? That way, everyone makes a small. compromise, and we can call it a day.

"Colonel Wright, what do you think? After all...

"

"Shut up!" Freya's sharp rebuke cut him off mid-sentence.

"What?" Zach's jaw dropped in shock. "Colonel Wright, let's be reasonable here."

"D*mn it!" Freya snapped, pointing a finger directly at Zach. "Your words are complete nonsense! Get out of my way!"

Still attempting to maintain a conciliatory demeanor, Zach grinned awkwardly. "Colonel Wright, I'm just stating the facts. Can't you do me a small favor...

Freya let out a disdainful laugh. "Who do you think you are? Get lost! If you don't move, Dragon Soul's team will deal with you too!

"We're moving forward!" Freya barked.

Zach's face darkened in humiliation. He had never expected Freya to be so unyielding. Exchanging a subtle glance with Melvin, the two commanders silently reached an agreement. Zach's expression turned icy. "General Brooks, Colonel Wright, don't you think you're going too far?"

Before he could finish, Freya shoved him aside with a single hand. "And what do you plan to do about it?

"Someone like you dares to lecture us? Who do you think you are? Our supplies have nothing to do with you. Now get out of the way!"

"And if I refuse?" Zach, visibly irritated, squared his stance, ready to fight.

At that moment, a man with a neatly trimmed mustache stepped forward. He was none other than Theodore Wade, the commander of Sakurania Special Forces.

Hahaha, Theodore chuckled loudly. "Colonel Wright, General Brooks, there's no need to get so worked up."

"General Kaplan was only trying to mediate. He meant well, though his words might have been poorly chosen. How about we all take a step back and maintain peace?" Brendon stepped forward, his fists clenched. "There's nothing more to discuss!" he growled, clearly ready to swing.

"Brendon, stand down! Let him speak," Freya ordered, her voice icy.

Theodore smirked. "Colonel Wright,

if you offend this many teams, do you think you'll be able to handle backlash? You might even face collective complaints, and the committee could very well disqualify you from the competition altogether.

"Don't forget, our nation is one of the founding members of this event. We have the authority to report and intervene in any rule violations."

Gavin and Freya hesitated. Theodore's warning wasn't baseless. If things escalated, the situation could spiral out of control, leaving them with no choice but to escalate it to Robin.

Meanwhile, more commanders joined forces with Melvin, Zach, and Theodore, presenting their arguments. Their words were tinged with jealousy and self-interest.

The truth was simple: Dragon Soul Special Forces had secured Rattlesnake Special Forces' supplies, sparking envy among the other teams.

Though the resources were barely

enough to make a difference when divided among so many teams, they saw it as a critical advantage in

Dragon Soul's hands. If Dragonne

kept the supplies, they would gain a significant edge, enabling them to breeze through Area Three and leave the others far behind.

Now, facing a growing crowd of teams blocking their way, Gavin and Freya found themselves momentarily at an impasse.

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