The atmosphere inside Excellent Era's training base was electric. With only a few days left before the national championship, the team was laser-focused on one goal: securing their spot on the international leaderboard for the upcoming Glory World Championships. The stakes had never been higher. National pride, international recognition, and years of hard work had led them to this moment.
Ye Xiu, their leader, was at the centre of it all, directing strategy with his characteristic calm. His second-in-command, Liu Hao, stood by his side, his usual energetic banter subdued as they worked through new formations. Other teammates like Su Mucheng, Zhang Jiale, and Qiao Yifan studied the plans with unwavering determination.
"Let's focus on surprise tactics," Ye Xiu said, gesturing to the digital map on the screen in front of them. "We can't rely on brute force alone. We need to throw them off their game."
Liu Hao grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "You mean to hit them when they least expect it? I'm in."
The rest of the team nodded in agreement, their confidence in Ye Xiu's leadership clear. They knew they were up against the best teams in the nation, but they also knew that with Ye Xiu at the helm, Excellent Era had every chance to claim victory.
The night before the final match, tensions ran high. As the team headed back to their dorms, everyone seemed on edge—not because they doubted their skills, but because the pressure of winning their spot at the international championships weighed heavily on them.
Ye Xiu stayed behind, planning late into the night. He wanted everything to be perfect. After hours of work, he finally closed his laptop and left the base, intending to head home and rest. As he stepped out into the quiet night, a car's headlights suddenly blinded him. Before he could react, a speeding vehicle came hurtling toward him.
He barely had time to jump out of the way, but the car grazed him, sending him tumbling to the pavement. His body hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his leg. The car didn't stop. It sped off into the darkness, leaving Ye Xiu lying there, stunned and bleeding.
As he struggled to get up, his mind raced. The timing was too suspicious. This was no accident. Someone didn't want him competing in tomorrow's match.
He pulled out his phone, wincing as pain flared through his leg. He sent a quick message to Liu Hao, telling him about the incident but instructing him not to alert the rest of the team. The last thing they needed was panic.
"I'll be fine," he texted. "Make sure the team's ready tomorrow. I'll be there."
Ye Xiu staggered to his feet and limped to a nearby alley where he could catch his breath. His body ached, but his mind was already focused on the upcoming match. There was no way he was going to let whoever had targeted him win. He had a team to lead, and nothing—not even a suspicious accident—was going to stop him.
The next morning, the team gathered at the competition venue, the tension palpable. The national championship was just hours away, and everyone was preparing for the toughest match of their careers. But one thing was off—Ye Xiu hadn't shown up.
"Where is he?" Su Mucheng asked, pacing.
Liu Hao, who knew the truth but had promised to keep it quiet, tried to reassure her. "He'll be here. Don't worry. You know him—he's probably just perfecting some last-minute strategy."
But as the minutes ticked by, worry crept in. Without Ye Xiu, the Excellent Era was incomplete. The team could hold their own, but they needed their leader, especially in a match of this magnitude.
The announcer's voice boomed over the arena's speakers, signalling the start of the match. The opposing team, Blue Rain, took their places, ready and confident. Liu Hao clenched his fists, his mind racing with frustration. If Ye Xiu didn't show up soon, their chances of winning were slim.
Then, just as the team was about to take the stage, a familiar figure limped into the arena.
It was Ye Xiu.
His clothes were dishevelled, and there was a visible bruise on his face, but his eyes were sharp, and his determination was unshaken.
Su Mucheng rushed over to him, concern etched on her face. "What happened? You look—"
"I'm fine," Ye Xiu interrupted, waving her off. "We have a game to win."
Liu Hao raised an eyebrow, his voice low. "You should've told me sooner. You look like hell."
Ye Xiu smirked. "I'll live. Let's focus on the match."
The team gathered around him, their spirits lifted by his arrival. They knew something had happened, but Ye Xiu wasn't one to share details when there was a game at stake. His presence alone was enough to galvanize them.
As the match began, Ye Xiu led the charge, his fingers moving effortlessly across the keyboard despite the pain in his body. Excellent Era played with newfound energy, with every player giving their all. The strategies Ye Xiu had laid out the night before came into play, and Blue Rain was thrown off balance, unable to keep up with the unpredictable attacks.
But it wasn't just strategy that won them the game. It was the team's unshakable bond—the trust they had in one another and their leader. Even when the battle seemed to tilt in Blue Rain's favour, Excellent Era fought back with a tenacity that stunned the audience.
Ye Xiu's leadership was impeccable. He coordinated every move, anticipating Blue Rain's strategies and countering them with precision. Liu Hao's fast reflexes and unpredictable playstyle kept the pressure on, while Su Mucheng's sharpshooting dismantled their opponents' defences.
The match was neck-and-neck, both teams exchanging blows in a fight for dominance. But in the final moments, Ye Xiu made a call that sealed their victory.
"Now!" he shouted into the comms.
With flawless synchronization, the team executed a manoeuvre that left Blue Rain scrambling. In one final, devastating attack, Excellent Era wiped out their remaining players, securing the win.
The arena erupted in cheers, but the loudest noise came from the members of Excellent Era. They had done it—they had secured their place in the international championships.
Ye Xiu, despite the pain coursing through his body, smiled. He glanced at Huang Shaotian, who gave him a nod of approval.
"You really shouldn't have come," Hao said, his usual sarcasm softened by genuine concern.
"Like I said," Ye Xiu replied, "we had a game to win."
As the team celebrated their victory, Ye Xiu's thoughts drifted back to the accident. Someone had tried to take him out of the game. But he wasn't going to let them win that easily. Whoever was behind it, they were going to learn that Ye Xiu wasn't someone who could be stopped. Not by sabotage, and certainly not by fear.
This was just the beginning.