Chapter 469: Chapter 469: Terrible Luck

Below the stage, congratulatory applause rang out.

“Now, let’s welcome our five judges to announce the rules for today’s competition!” Grace Green continued.

Amidst the audience’s applause, the five judges took the stage.

Michael Greene cast a brief glance at the audience and suddenly felt a twitch at the corner of his eye.

What’s going on?

This time, not only Old Madam and Victoria Wheeler had come but also the Old Master and Maverick Zhekova!

Did the entire Zhekova family come to support Cindy Clarke?

Isn’t this too grand for just a competition?!

“What’s the matter?” Wesley Gordon sensed Michael Greene’s stiffness and asked in a low voice.

With a twitching mouth, Michael Greene replied, “Look at the audience – the entire Zhekova family has gathered.”

Apart from Wesley Gordon, the other three judges also heard this and looked at the audience together.

Old Madam was waving at Cindy Clarke on stage.

Morgan Zhekova was sitting on Old Master’s lap, and his laughter made him resemble a fool, as Wesley Gordon observed.

The five judges quickly regained their composure.

Wesley Gordon stepped forward and said, “Congratulations to the 30 contestants who have successfully advanced to the present stage.”

“Today’s competition will be even more intense, and the elimination rate will be higher,” Wesley Gordon added.

Upon hearing this, the contestants’ hearts tightened.

Wesley Gordon glanced at Michael Greene, and he continued, “Today’s competition will eliminate 15 contestants, meaning 2-to-1 selection, with a 50% elimination rate.”

Everyone was shocked.

Even the audience was buzzing with excitement.

A 50% elimination rate, isn’t that a bit too much?!

By the end of this match, only 15 contestants will remain!

Does it have to be this brutal?

“Next, I’ll explain the rules of today’s match,” Hunter Clarke followed up.

He explained, “Today’s match will be one-on-one. That’s why Michael has said that it will consist of a 2-to-1 selection.”

“As for who your opponents will be, that is up to you to decide by drawing lots,” Rosaline Parker said.

All the contestants became even more nervous at this point.

Though everyone here is part of the top 30,

and there are no weak contestants on the field,

there are still some who are relatively weak and strong.

For example, compared to those under Pingla Academy, Iris Doone is the weakest of the weak.

As a result, everyone considered their ranking among the contestants and the possible position they could reach.

Some could clearly recognize their position,

yet others were overly confident, believing they could enter the top 20 no matter what.

At that moment, a staff member brought a box on stage.

“There are 30 balls in this box, each marked with a number from 1 to 15,” Charles Dean said. “Two contestants with the same number will face off against each other. The loser will be eliminated.”

This means that relatively weaker contestants, if lucky enough to face even weaker opponents, have a chance to advance as well.

But if two strong contestants face each other, their luck is simply horrible.

And it feels quite unfair to be eliminated,

Weak contestants prayed in their hearts that they would draw someone weaker than themselves as opponents.

Meanwhile, strong contestants felt this was unfair.

Wouldn’t it be too unlucky and unfair if they encountered equally strong opponents and got eliminated?

Joseph Tanner immediately asked, “Isn’t this competition format unfair? Strong contestants can easily be eliminated.”