The atmosphere inside Excellent Era's practice room was intense. The entire team was seated in front of their computers, fully immersed in a practice match. The ever so calm, Ye Xiu, along with his teammates Su Xiang, Liu Hao, Su Mucheng, and Qiu Fei, were engaged in a heated team battle. The upcoming national championship against Blue Rain was on everyone's mind, and they knew that each practice session counted.
Wu Hao, their coach, stood behind them, his sharp eyes darting between each screen. His calm voice cut through the sounds of clicking keys and flashing game effects, guiding them as the game progressed.
"Qiu Fei, your positioning is good, but don't overcommit. You're leaving yourself vulnerable to counterattacks," Wu Hao said, pointing to a moment on Qiu Fei's screen. Qiu nodded, adjusting his character's position just as a barrage of attacks from the opposing team flew past him.
"Liu Hao, you're too focused on defence. Open up your offensive play," Wu Hao added, noticing Liu Hao's cautious style. "Excellent defence, but you need to balance it with aggression, or they'll take advantage of your hesitation."
Liu Hao responded by launching a quick series of attacks, catching the enemy off guard. Wu Hao gave a nod of approval. "Better, but don't forget to communicate with Su Xiang. You two need to synchronize your timing better."
Su Xiang, playing his usual role as a strategic flanker, was doing his best to create opportunities for his team. Wu Hao noticed that while Su Xiang's moves were sharp, his coordination with the rest of the team needed refining.
"Su Xiang, slow down just a little. You're moving too fast, and the others are struggling to keep up with your pace. Timing is key. Wait for the right moment," Wu Hao advised.
Su Xiang quickly adjusted his pace, waiting for Ye Xiu's signal before executing his next move, a perfectly timed ambush that caught their opponents off guard.
Ye Xiu, the team's leader, was in his element, coordinating the team with precision and controlling the battlefield with his character, One Autumn Leaf. His fingers moved fluidly across the keyboard, sending his character into a series of calculated attacks. But as always, Ye Xiu pushed the limits.
"Ye Xiu," Wu Hao called out, his voice steady but firm, "you're going too fast again. Your team needs time to adapt to your tactics. Slow down so they can follow your lead."
Ye Xiu paused for a moment, then nodded. He dialled back his pace slightly, allowing the rest of his team to synchronize with his movements. Wu Hao watched closely, satisfied with the adjustments. "Good. Much better. Keep it up, but remember to take breaks. I don't want you all burning out before the final match."
The team nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of conserving their energy. They continued their practice, focusing on refining their tactics, while Wu Hao provided corrections and insights after every move.
Meanwhile, over at the Blue Rain camp, the team gathered in their meeting room, intently watching previous matches of Excellent Era. The video footage played on a large screen in front of them, showing different angles and key moments of Excellent Era's gameplay. Their coach, Zhou Ming, stood at the front, occasionally pausing the video to highlight specific moves.
Huang Shaotian, Blue Rain's team leader, leaned forward, watching the screen with sharp focus. "Look at Ye Xiu's positioning here," he said, pointing at a moment where Ye Xiu's character, One Autumn Leaf, dodged an attack and countered with precision. "He's fast, but he has a pattern. If we can predict his movements, we can outmanoeuvre him."
Mo Fan, the quiet strategist of the team, sat beside Huang Shaotian, jotting down notes. "He's relying on Su Xiang to create openings. If we disrupt their coordination, we can force them into individual plays."
Yu Wenzhou, the team's tactician, added his thoughts. "Their biggest strength is teamwork, but if we can isolate their players, especially Su Mucheng, we can neutralize their artillery advantage."
Lu Yifan, Blue Rain's offensive player, raised his hand. "What about Qiu Fei? He's aggressive but leaves gaps in his defence. If we exploit that, we can take him out early."
Zhou Ming nodded, impressed by his team's analysis. "You're all right. Excellent Era is a strong team, but they have weaknesses. We'll focus on exploiting those gaps and using our speed to overwhelm them. Now, let's practice based on what we've observed."
Blue Rain's team, fully prepared with their strategies, moved to the practice area to implement what they had learned. They were determined to overpower Excellent Era in the national championship and secure their spot in the World Invitational.
Back at Excellent Era's practice room, the session had ended. The room was empty except for Ye Xiu, who remained seated in front of his screen, lost in thought. The intensity of the upcoming match weighed heavily on him, and though he didn't show it, the pressure was starting to build.
As he leaned back in his chair, the door creaked open, and Su Mucheng walked in. She had a cup of coffee in her hand and a soft smile on her face. Without a word, she placed the cup in front of him.
"Not too sweet, not too bitter. Just how you like it," she said, her voice gentle.
Ye Xiu looked up, surprised but grateful. He took a sip of the coffee and realized just how exhausted he was. He had been pushing himself too hard, focusing on every detail of the match, every move, every tactic. But at this moment, with the warm coffee in his hands, he allowed himself to relax.
"Thanks," he said quietly, his usual calm tone returning.
Su Mucheng watched him for a moment, her expression softening. She admired his dedication, and his ability to lead the team through thick and thin. She had always cared for him, but lately, she found herself feeling something more. Still, she held back, not wanting to complicate things before such an important match.
"You've been working really hard," she said, her voice full of admiration. "The team appreciates everything you're doing. We wouldn't be here without you."
Ye Xiu smiled faintly, but his focus remained on the match ahead. "It's all for the team. We have to win this."
Su Mucheng nodded, understanding his determination. "Get some rest, okay? We have an early meeting tomorrow."
Ye Xiu watched as she waved him off and left the room. As the door closed behind her, he took another sip of his coffee, feeling a mix of exhaustion and resolve. He knew the path ahead was tough, but with his team by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.