The clink of cups and chatter of café patrons faded into the background as Ye Xiu's world narrowed to the glowing screen before him. His fingers danced across the keyboard with precision, launching his character into action. The rhythm of the game flowed through him—a sensation that had never truly left, even after years away. Here, on the digital battlefield, he felt alive but also haunted by the ghosts of his past.
His character, Silent King, moved effortlessly across the map, weaving through the chaos of battle. His opponents were strong, and well-coordinated, pushing his team back with a relentless assault. But Ye Xiu remained calm, his eyes scanning the screen with surgical precision. He tracked cooldowns, enemy positioning, and the subtle shift in their tactics. He knew they were closing in, their confidence growing with every step.
And then, he saw it: the opening he had been waiting for.
With a swift combination of keystrokes, Silent King unleashed a devastating counterattack. His blade surged forward in a blur of motion, cutting through the enemy's frontline like a knife through silk. It was a risky manoeuvre, one that required split-second timing and flawless execution. For a brief moment, everything slowed down—Ye Xiu's fingers moved instinctively, his mind anticipating every response. The world outside the game ceased to exist.
The attack connected. The enemy's defence shattered in a burst of light and sound, and within moments, the tide of battle turned. His teammates surged forward, capitalizing on the opening he had created.
A faint smile tugged at Ye Xiu's lips. For an instant, he allowed himself to savour the victory. But as quickly as the smile appeared, it faded. That move—the precise strike, the calculated gamble—had triggered a memory, one that struck with the force of a storm he had long kept at bay.
Suddenly, the present dissolved, and the sounds of the café faded into the echoes of a distant past.
*Flashback: Three Years Ago*
The air in the training room was thick with anticipation. The quiet hum of computers was punctuated by the sharp clicks of keyboards as Ye Xiu's team prepared for what would be their most important match—the final round of the Glory championship. They were on the verge of making history, poised to claim the title that would forever cement them as legends of the game.
Ye Xiu sat in his usual spot, his posture relaxed but his mind sharp, calculating. Around him were his teammates—players who had fought by his side for years. At the centre of it all was Liu Hao, his best friend and the team's ace damage dealer, known for his reckless, aggressive style that often bordered on chaos.
Hao was at his station, focused on mastering a new strategy he had developed for the finals. It was a risky, high-damage move that could turn the tide of battle in an instant—but it required perfect timing. For days, Hao had been practising it over and over, but something kept going wrong at the final step.
"Damn it!" Hao cursed, slamming his hand on the desk. His character had faltered again, falling just short of landing the finishing blow. "I swear, I had it that time."
Ye Xiu glanced at him, calm as always, but the look in his eyes said everything. Hao caught the glance and sighed, frustrated. "Don't give me that face. I'll get it. Just need a few more tries."
But Ye Xiu knew better. Hao had been pushing himself to the edge for days—his hands were trembling from exhaustion, his frustration mounting with every failed attempt. He was teetering on the brink, the pressure of the championship weighing heavily on him.
Without a word, Ye Xiu stood up and moved toward Hao's station. Hao blinked, confused.
"Let me try," Ye Xiu said simply, his voice steady, though his mind raced with unspoken thoughts.
Hao hesitated. "You? This is my move."
Ye Xiu didn't respond. He slid into the chair, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. The team went silent, watching. Hao stepped back, his arms crossed, eyes locked on the screen.
Ye Xiu's character took position, and the room seemed to hold its breath. He hadn't practised the move nearly as much as Hao had, but his instincts were sharper than anyone's. He didn't need practice—his body moved on pure instinct, refined by years of competition at the highest level.
The sequence began. Ye Xiu's hands moved swiftly, guiding his character through the setup with ease. The timing was perfect. Every move is calculated, and every keystroke is precise. And then came the final strike—the one Hao had failed at again and again. Without hesitation, Ye Xiu executed the finishing blow, and the screen lit up with the explosive effects of a flawless victory.
The room erupted into stunned silence. Hao let out a low whistle, impressed but irritated. "You make it look too easy, man."
Ye Xiu leaned back, his expression unreadable. Inside, his mind buzzed with exhaustion. The move had taken every ounce of his focus, but he couldn't show that. Not now. Not to them.
"It's all about timing," he said, shrugging off the achievement like it was nothing.
"Yeah, yeah," Hao muttered, a grin tugging at his lips. "Guess I'll leave the tough stuff to you tomorrow."
Ye Xiu chuckled softly, but inside, he felt the weight of the upcoming match pressing down on him. The team laughed, the tension dissolving into camaraderie, but Ye Xiu couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. There was an unease in the air that none of them could name.
That night, they would go on to win the championship. But it would be the last time they stood together as a team. Ye Xiu didn't know it then, but everything would soon fall apart.
*End of Flashback*
The memory snapped back into focus, pulling Ye Xiu from the past like a cold splash of water. The game on his screen was over. His team had won, the enemy defeated, his teammates flooding the chat with praise.
But the victory felt hollow.
It had been three years since that final match. Three years since the championship win that should have been the pinnacle of his career—but instead, it marked the beginning of the end. The team had fractured, one by one. Hao had been the first to go, his friendship with Ye Xiu falling apart under the strain of betrayal and hidden secrets. Others followed, each departure cutting deeper than the last.
Ye Xiu had been the last to leave, slipping away quietly, without fanfare or explanation. He had walked away from the only thing he had ever known, carrying the weight of the team's destruction on his shoulders.
Now, as he sat alone in the internet café, he couldn't help but wonder if things could have been different. Could he have saved the team? Could he have prevented the fallout that had torn apart the friendships that had once meant everything?
But the past was gone, and Ye Xiu knew better than to dwell on regrets. He had returned to Glory for a reason, though he hadn't yet admitted it to himself. The game had changed in his absence. There were new players, new rules, and new dangers lurking in the shadows of the digital world.
With a single click, he closed the game and leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the screen. The past haunted him like a phantom, but he couldn't let it consume him. He had come back for answers, and he wouldn't stop until he found them. But how much more of himself would he have to lose before it was over?