The burly Russian uncle stepped onto the stage and immediately swept through all opponents, winning three rounds in a row.

He was in high spirits, but after those three rounds, no one dared challenge him anymore.

No one was a fool. The man on the stage was clearly a tough opponent — why would anyone jump up there to hand over free points?

After waiting about fifteen minutes with still no one stepping up, Leonid stood there on the stage growing increasingly bored.

“Nobody’s coming up — how are we supposed to play?” he asked Shen Mo below.

Lucas said: “We could always wait it out. After 60 minutes, the system draws names for random matches.”

“That wastes too much time.” Shen Mo frowned, then looked at Tan Xiao and Su Man. “You two take turns going up. Give your points to Leonid.”

Under other circumstances, people might have hesitated, but Tan Xiao and Su Man both trusted Shen Mo deeply and agreed without further questions.

The two took turns going up, losing again and again. Their scores drained away quickly, and Leonid’s score rose from 3 to 14.

By now, both Tan Xiao and Su Man were at 0, but since Shen Mo hadn’t said to stop, they kept climbing up and feeding points.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, they pushed Leonid’s score ever higher this way — to 21, 22, 23…

A passing score of 30 seemed almost within easy reach. Even the Jester Inspector simply watched, smiling, as they played their little game openly on the stage — not the slightest intention of interfering.

And indeed, there was no need to intervene. Because as Leonid’s score climbed, more and more players gathered around the stage below…

Lucas surveyed the crowd closing in around them. His whole body tensed. He said quietly to Shen Mo: “The score’s getting high. Players are being drawn over.”

At this point, the big-bearded man’s score stood at a commanding 26.

Whoever could defeat him would gain 10 points in one shot!

More critically, he was only 4 points away from earning the very first Battle King throne. There were only five chairs — every one claimed meant one fewer available. The other players would never sit back and watch him grab a chair!

Sure enough, without waiting for Tan Xiao’s next turn, a figure leaped onto the stage ahead of everyone else!

Leonid let out a booming laugh on the stage, smashing his fists together. “Another fight? Excellent! I’ve been bored out of my mind!”

Ding!

Leonid’s score jumped up by 2 more—

Reaching 28.

He blinked in surprise. “The fight hasn’t even started — why did my score go up?”

From nearby, the Jester smiled and said: “Happy bonus points! — In the Joyful Brawl Arena, happiness earns points, and brawling earns points~”

Leonid immediately: “Hahahaha!!!”

Just two more points and he could clear the stage directly!

But the score didn’t change.

The big-bearded man asked the Jester: “…Why didn’t the score go up this time?!”

“You have to be genuinely happy for points! Just like me~” The Jester demonstrated a smile. “Hahahahaha!”

Leonid: “……”

“Big Beard! Watch out!” Tan Xiao shouted from below.

The player who’d rushed onto the stage was already attacking!

Leonid took a defensive stance — but his opponent suddenly withdrew his fist and hurled something that struck him square in the chest! He couldn’t dodge in time and took the hit dead-on!

Fortunately, the thing was small and didn’t hurt when it hit. Looking more closely, he saw it was a roly-poly toy — a tumbler — which now lay on the floor tipping and rocking side to side!

Below the stage, Shen Mo narrowed his eyes slightly. “So they’ve finally decided to get serious…”

Leonid discovered to his dismay that his body had begun tipping and swaying along with the tumbler!

However the tumbler tilted, he tilted.

However the tumbler toppled, he toppled.

His limbs were completely beyond his control. Turning around or throwing a punch was completely out of the question!

“Damn it!” Leonid’s complexion darkened as he cursed — and then he took a punch!

Boom!

A solid hit square to the chest!

Then his abdomen! His legs! His face! His neck! His shoulders! — He had turned into a living target dummy on the stage!

—