Winners advanced, and losers were eliminated.

It did not take long for Han Wu to face his second opponent. This one wore a War Family badge as well.

When the man saw Han Wu, his expression turned grim. “Didn’t expect to run into you this round.”

Han Wu had no interest in talking, instead glancing up at the second round’s rules in the sky.

[Elite War]

[Requirements: Only units between Heroic rank and High Lord rank allowed. Contestants themselves are prohibited from fighting.]

Han Wu wasted no time summoning his Microcosms and calling out every eligible unit. His opponent did the same.

The War Family member’s face fell as he took in Han Wu’s army. He had summoned 3 million Liger Beasts, each clad in specialized battle armor and wearing fierce expressions. They were clearly a well-trained elite force.

Han Wu’s side, however, was on a completely different scale. Eligible locusts alone numbered over 5 billion. Counting the various other legions and the Random Evolution beasts, the total reached roughly 10 billion. Each unit could spit once and drown all 3 million Liger Beasts.

The opponent’s expression turned bitter. He was no newcomer. Having spent years in the War Faction, he understood his limits clearly. He was not among the top, but he was not a bottom-tier fighter either. Yet, as he stared at the young man across from him, at least ten years his junior but somehow cultivating units on a scale that defied comprehension, he couldn’t help but question himself.

He raised his hand, ready to forfeit. “I—”

Han Wu immediately ordered his units to roar at full volume to drown out the man’s voice. Swarms of locusts surged forward to block his body from view while the remaining units attacked.

It only took one round of assault for all 3 million Liger Beasts to be wiped out, and Han Wu advanced to the top sixteen.

This wave of killing excited Han Wu. The orders he gave were within the Slaughter Jurisdiction’s framework and triggered Sacrifice’s effect, meaning every Liger Beast slain counted as an individual Sacrifice.

His Origin Microcosm was now piled with treasures generated through the effect. These treasures weren’t high-grade enough to boost Han Wu personally, but he could use them to strengthen his units.

Han Wu also made sure to check the Slaughter Jurisdiction’s development progress. Unfortunately, 3 million Liger Beasts only contributed 3 hundred-millionths of a percent. At this rate, it would require many more intense battles to fully unlock the Slaughter Jurisdiction.

In the third round, the top sixteen matches, Han Wu faced yet another War Family member. Given that two-thirds of the sixty-four had come from War Families, minus the seven who forfeited at the start, it would’ve actually been more surprising if he had not matched with one.

This opponent was more seasoned than the previous two, and upon seeing Han Wu, he introduced himself. “I’m Ding Jia, a Major God of the War Faction. My brothers in the faction nicknamed me Withered Bones.”

Han Wu’s brow twitched. A God with a title usually meant an impressive track record. For instance, Shi Shan, Sun Qingnian’s girlfriend, was nicknamed the Flame Wargod. This man was clearly in a different league from the previous two.

“I’m Han Wu,” Han Wu said, returning the greeting. “I don’t have a nickname.”

“Your name alone is already legendary. You forced Butcher into choosing self-destruction. That’s genuinely admirable.”

Han Wu wasn’t here to be complimented.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries and fight,” he said, glancing skyward at the third round’s rules.

[Elite War]

[Requirement: Only units between King rank and Heavensunder rank allowed. World rank units cannot participate. Contestants themselves are prohibited from fighting.]

Han Wu summoned his eligible units. This time, his numbers dropped sharply. The locust army totaled just over 2 million. Other units couldn’t even form complete squads. The total was under 3 million.

Ding Jia’s heart skipped as his eyes swept over Han Wu’s forces. Just under 3 million was not a large number, but they were between the King rank and the Heavensunder rank. He even spotted Great Dragons among them.

“Han Wu, you’re truly formidable. I’m outmatched.”

Han Wu thought Ding Jia was about to forfeit and felt frustrated at his own impatience. Ding Jia hadn’t even summoned his units yet, meaning he couldn’t harvest treasures through Sacrifice.

Contrary to Han Wu’s expectations, Ding Jia opened his divine realm. Vine Giants, each at the King rank or above, slowly marched out. There were 200,000 of them. Most were at the King rank, with only twelve reaching the Heavenrender rank.

These numbers alone already proved Ding Jia’s strength, but 200 thousand against 3 million was still a huge disadvantage. Han Wu could already see his units winning easily.

As Han Wu was about to order the attack, Ding Jia called out, “Combine!”

The 200 thousand Vine Giants pressed together, bodies intertwining into a single Vine Giant standing ten thousand meters tall. Countless vines formed a Divine Ring behind it, confirming that the combined Vine Giant’s power had reached the World rank.

The Grand War Games did not penalize this. Ding Jia’s move was entirely legal. Ding Jia stared at Han Wu. “You’re strong, but you’re no match for me while under the limitations of these rules. Forfeiting is your best option. I can’t guarantee what happens next otherwise.”

Han Wu frowned at the towering Vine Giant. A World rank Vine Giant was a tough opponent, but he could destroy it in a single blow if he were to fight personally.

Unfortunately, the rules prohibited his participation. Even the strongest of his units, the Great Ice Dragon Leng Ning, was only at the Heavenrender rank. Challenging a World rank opponent was a tall order. Only a fool would sacrifice so many strong units in a battle with such an obvious strength gap.

As Han Wu raised his hand in preparation to forfeit, the Great Ice Dragon Leng Ning suddenly descended beside him.

“Han Wu, trust me,” she urged. “I can win! Even if I die, the Revival Stone will bring me back!”

Han Wu gazed at his old comrade, a spark of trust igniting within him. “Very well. I’ll take the gamble. If you die, I’ll forfeit immediately.”

“I won’t let you down.” Leng Ning’s cold voice echoed in his ears.