Ye Xiu lay in his dorm, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. Sleep had been elusive for weeks—every time he closed his eyes, the events of the last few days replayed in his mind like a broken record. The threatening calls, the videos, the ultimatum. He had tried to clear his thoughts, but there was no escaping the growing dread.
Suddenly, a loud commotion outside jarred him from his restless sleep. Voices carried through the halls, their urgency unmistakable. Without hesitation, he jumped out of bed, heart pounding as he rushed toward the source of the noise. His feet barely touched the ground as he sprinted toward the main hall of the dormitory. As he approached, the chaotic voices grew louder, blending with the sharp hum of the television.
Ye Xiu skidded to a stop at the entrance to the hall. The TV screen dominated the room, its flashing images casting an eerie light on the faces of his teammates, all frozen in horror. The screen showed two figures—familiar figures. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized them. Sun Xiang and Zhang Jiale, are motionless, their bodies lifeless, blood pooling around them.
For a moment, Ye Xiu's world shattered. His mind went blank, and the air around him seemed to vanish. He stumbled forward, almost tripping over his own feet, trying to process the sight before him. Sun Xiang and Zhang Jiale were dead. Two of the most talented players he had fought beside, players with bright futures ahead of them—were gone, just like that.
The room spun around him. His vision blurred as his hands shook uncontrollably. For the first time, Ye Xiu felt the weight of everything crash down on him. He couldn't breathe. His calm, composed exterior shattered in an instant.
Liu Hao was at his side in seconds, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Ye Xiu! Snap out of it!" Liu Hao's voice was frantic but steady. He shook Ye Xiu hard, forcing him to focus. "Stay with me!"
Ye Xiu's eyes locked onto the screen again, his breath ragged. His gaze drifted toward the bottom of the screen, where something else caught his attention. A small note was visible in the corner of the footage. In black, bold letters, the message was clear:
"No police should have been involved."
It was a warning. A deadly warning.
The world around him felt like it was closing in. The room grew colder, and the walls seemed to tighten. His head pounded, and his chest felt like it was being crushed. The phone call. The police investigation. He had done exactly what the kidnapper had warned him not to do.
This is my fault.
The thought hit him like a sledgehammer. He had tried to outsmart the mastermind behind it all, but the cost had been too high. Too many lives were lost, and now two more friends were gone because of it.
"I…" Ye Xiu struggled to speak, his voice barely a whisper. "I involved the police."
Liu Hao gripped him tighter, his expression grim. "No, Ye Xiu. You didn't kill them. What are you even saying!! Snap out of it bro."
But no matter what Liu Hao said, the guilt gnawed at Ye Xiu's insides. His mind raced as he tried to grasp the situation. What had he missed? How had it come to this?
The news continued flashing across the screen, the grim footage replaying as reporters speculated on the cause of death. Panic rippled through the gaming community. The loss of Sun Xiang and Zhang Jiale, two of the most promising talents in Glory, was sending shockwaves through the industry. No one could comprehend the sudden and violent end to their lives.
The police quickly held a press conference, their faces pale and drawn. The chief, flanked by officers, delivered a public apology, admitting to their failures in the investigation. "We deeply regret that we were unable to prevent this tragedy," he said, his voice hollow. "We will continue to work tirelessly to find the perpetrator and bring them to justice."
But the damage was done. For weeks, the entire Glory community was in mourning. No one could forget the images of Sun Xiang and Zhang Jiale's lifeless bodies. Tributes poured in from across the country, and for a time, the competitive scene ground to a halt. No one could focus on the upcoming World Invitational, not with the specter of death looming over them.
The players from Excellent Era, Blue Rain, Tiny Herb, and other top teams were haunted by the losses. Even in practice, their concentration wavered. Every match felt empty. The camaraderie that once defined their community was replaced by fear and suspicion. They couldn't shake the thought that any one of them could be next.
*5 months later*
One morning, as Ye Xiu sat in his room, still reeling from the events of the past month, his phone rang again. His heart stopped. Not again.
He picked it up cautiously, staring at the caller ID.
It was from Blue Rain's new captain, Yu Wenzhou. His voice came through the line, serious and calm as always, though tinged with something darker. "Ye Xiu," he said, "we can't just sit around and wait. We need to get back into the game. The World Invitational is still on the horizon, and if we don't prepare, we'll be at a disadvantage."
Ye Xiu closed his eyes, trying to calm his racing mind. Yu Wenzhou was right, but the timing felt off. How could they think about competing when their world had just been shaken to its core?
Yu Wenzhou continued. "We've been given approval to start the National Competition again. It'll be a chance for all the teams to regroup before the World Invitational. You in?"
Ye Xiu was silent for a long time. His hand tightened around his phone as memories of Sun Xiang and Zhang Jiale flashed through his mind. He wasn't sure if he was ready. But he knew one thing: the game wasn't over. Not for him. And the only way to keep fighting was to keep playing.
"I'm in," Ye Xiu finally replied, his voice low but determined.
But deep down, he knew the mystery was far from over. The phone calls. The threats. The deaths. Whoever was behind this wasn't finished yet.
And Ye Xiu would be ready for them.