In the dressing room of the arena, Ye Xiu, He Ming, Liu Hao, and Su Mucheng sat together, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation. The muffled sounds of fans chanting and the booming music outside vibrated through the walls, reminding them just how big this moment was. Their first match in the tournament was against Blue Rain, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Ye Xiu looked around at his teammates. "It's just another match. We've trained for this."
Liu Hao cracked his knuckles, his nerves showing despite his attempt to stay calm. "Yeah, but the crowd's making it feel like a championship final out there."
He Ming nodded. "We can't afford to slip up. We saw what happened to Blue Rain against Tiny Herb."
Su Mucheng, usually light-hearted, remained silent and focused on the task ahead. She had seen Blue Rain fight before, and while their teamwork had cracks, their speed and coordination were still formidable.
Suddenly, the door to the dressing room opened, and a crew member signalled it was time. The team stood, gathering themselves as they walked towards the stage. The roar of the crowd grew louder with each step until it felt like the entire stadium was shaking with energy. The stage was set, lights flashing, the massive screen overhead displaying their team names in bright colours.
The host's voice boomed across the arena, "Welcome, everyone, to the next battle of the tournament—Excellent Era versus Blue Rain!" The crowd erupted into deafening cheers.
As the players took their positions, the host continued, "The game will have three rounds, and the same rules from the previous matches apply. For the final round, players must switch characters!" There was a slight murmur from the crowd, but neither team flinched. It was clear that both teams had anticipated this.
Ye Xiu and Huang Shaotian, the leader of Blue Rain, stepped forward, shaking hands. There was mutual respect between the two, but also a shared understanding—they had both come prepared, and neither planned to lose.
The first round kicked off, and from the very start, it was chaotic. Both teams attacked aggressively, using their characters, the ones they were most familiar with. Ye Xiu's Lord Grim darted through the streets of the virtual battleground, fluid and precise, while Liu Hao and Su Mucheng provided cover and coordinated attacks. He Ming, playing with a reckless flair, constantly applied pressure to Blue Rain's defence.
Blue Rain, led by Huang Shaotian's Troubling Rain, responded with lightning speed. The two teams were like opposing forces of nature, clashing with the kind of precision that only the top teams could deliver. The key skills of each character came into play—Ye Xiu expertly used Lord Grim's Shadow Clone Technique to dodge attacks, while Liu Hao's Knight Charge shielded the team from a barrage of attacks from Blue Rain's ranged players.
The intensity of the match had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Every attack, every dodge, and every skill felt like it could tip the balance of the game. Both teams fought like it was the last match of the tournament.
But then, as Excellent Era pushed closer to Blue Rain's defensive barrier, a sudden surprise attack from Mo Fan—Blue Rain's stealth player—caught them off guard. His Stealth Strike cut through the chaos, appearing right next to Ye Xiu and Liu Hao just as they were about to break through.
"Watch out!" Su Mucheng shouted as she quickly redirected her firepower toward Mo Fan, using her Artillery Barrage to suppress his movement. Meanwhile, He Ming unleashed Whirlwind Slash, clearing the area and forcing Blue Rain to retreat temporarily.
The teamwork from Excellent Era was seamless, a fluid combination of attack and defence that kept them alive in what seemed like an impossible situation. Despite Mo Fan's ambush, Excellent Era maintained their offensive momentum. Ye Xiu, sensing an opening, ordered a coordinated push.
With precise timing, Ye Xiu led the charge, slipping past Blue Rain's defences. In a flash, Lord Grim's Dragon Raises Its Head struck the barrier, shattering it before Blue Rain could react. The crowd exploded in cheers as Excellent Era secured the win, despite no players being killed.
The teams regrouped for the second round. Blue Rain knew they couldn't afford another loss. Huang Shaotian gathered his team for a quick strategy meeting. "We need to break their teamwork. If we let them keep playing like that, we're done."
Determined not to repeat the mistakes of the first round, Blue Rain returned to the stage with renewed focus. The crowd cheered once more as the second round began, and the tension was palpable. Both teams had learned from the previous match, and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.
This time, Blue Rain's strategy was more calculated. They weren't just rushing in—they were waiting, looking for weaknesses in Excellent Era's formation. Huang Shaotian's Sword Draw connected with Liu Hao's character, causing the first major hit of the game, but Ye Xiu quickly retaliated, keeping their formation intact.
As the match progressed, Blue Rain's improved focus was evident. They used skills like Shadow Steps to evade and counter-attack, with Guo Shao's Wind Howl slicing through the air, forcing Excellent Era to defend more than they attacked. Blue Rain was testing Excellent Era's limits, but Ye Xiu's team adapted quickly, countering with abilities like Knight's Shield and Heavy Firepower Suppression.
For every aggressive push, there was a quick retreat, and neither team could secure the upper hand. The second round was a brutal back-and-forth, with neither side able to land the killing blow. Time ran out, and the round ended in a draw.
Both teams returned to their seats, the arena buzzing with excitement. The anticipation for the final round was electric. Everyone knew the stakes were about to get even higher.
As the players prepared for the character switch, Ye Xiu glanced at his teammates. They had won one round, and drawn another, but he knew the hardest battle was yet to come.
The third round began, and both Excellent Era and Blue Rain felt the weight of the challenge ahead. Switching to new characters was always a gamble, and it showed in the early stages of the match. The pace of the game slowed as both teams struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar playstyles, moving cautiously to avoid critical mistakes.
Ye Xiu, now controlling a mage character he hadn't used much before, tried to grasp the flow of the game. His usual precision was hindered by the unfamiliar controls, and he could see his teammates, Liu Hao, He Ming, and Su Mucheng, grappling with the same challenge. Across the arena, Huang Shaotian and his team from Blue Rain were facing similar difficulties, their speed hampered by the unfamiliarity with their new characters.
Time was slipping away, and the slow approach couldn't last forever. The clock ticked down, and both teams knew they had to push harder. Blue Rain, always known for their speed, began to find their rhythm first. Huang Shaotian, leading the charge, managed to use the Dragon Wave Slash, a powerful sweeping attack from his new character, catching Excellent Era off guard and forcing them to defend.
Not wanting to fall behind, Ye Xiu rallied his team, calling out instructions. "We need to adjust! Stick to the plan, but let's pick up the pace!"
Excellent Era switched tactics, focusing more on their teamwork than the individual skills of their characters. Su Mucheng, now playing a sniper, took up a support role, laying down cover fire while He Ming used his new brawler character to create space and keep Blue Rain at bay. Liu Hao positioned himself defensively, ready to block any sudden advances.
As they began to sync, Ye Xiu took advantage of an opening. He cast Arcane Blast, a high-damage area-of-effect spell, forcing Blue Rain to scatter. With a clear path, Liu Hao charged forward, using Guardian's Shield to protect the team as they pushed toward Blue Rain's barrier.
Blue Rain, however, was adapting quickly. Yu Wenzhou, always known for his strategic mind, found his footing with the new character and began countering Excellent Era's attacks. He unleashed a Shadowstep Counter, an evasive skill that allowed Blue Rain to slip past Excellent Era's defences and mount a counteroffensive.
The teams were now in full swing, going back and forth, exchanging blows. Blue Rain's Huang Shaotian unleashed a flurry of attacks, his Swift Strike and Blade Dance making it difficult for Excellent Era to gain ground. But Ye Xiu, ever the tactician, saw an opportunity. He noticed that Huang Shaotian was overextending, and he called for Su Mucheng to focus fire. With a well-placed Sniper Shot, Su Mucheng broke Blue Rain's formation, forcing them to retreat.
The game clock showed just 10 seconds remaining, and the pressure was unbearable. Both teams were near their breaking point, struggling to maintain their formations. Excellent Era was inches away from Blue Rain's barrier, and Ye Xiu, desperate to make a final move, remembered a spell he had seen an old player use back in his training days. It was risky—he hadn't mastered the intricacies of the skill, but with time running out, it was now or never.
Without hesitation, Ye Xiu cast Meteor Storm, an advanced spell that rained down fiery meteors in a wide area. The attack was powerful but incredibly difficult to aim. As the meteors began to fall, the entire arena held its breath. Blue Rain scrambled to dodge the attack, but one of the meteors struck their barrier, causing it to crack.
In a split second, the screen flashed.
Victory for an Excellent Era!
For a moment, the entire stadium was silent. Both teams stared at the screen, trying to process what had just happened. Then, the replay flashed on the massive screen overhead, showing Ye Xiu's Meteor Storm connecting with pinpoint accuracy, shattering Blue Rain's defence. The attack was so precise, so well-timed, that it looked as though Ye Xiu had been using the character for years.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Excellent Era's fans celebrated their unexpected victory. But while the rest of the team basked in the win, Ye Xiu, Liu Hao, He Ming, and Su Mucheng exchanged glances. The victory was theirs, but the looming threat of their next opponent, Tiny Herb, weighed heavily on their minds.
As they exited the stage, Ye Xiu's gaze caught the calm, calculating look of Tiny Herb's coach, Bao Rongxing, standing off to the side. His presence was unsettling, and Ye Xiu knew their toughest challenge was yet to come.