The anticipation outside the arena was electric. Both Excellent Era and Tiny Herb had arrived at the venue, their buses surrounded by a sea of fans and flashing cameras. The noise was deafening, with supporters from both sides chanting, waving banners, and holding up posters of their favourite players. The rivalry between the two teams was well-known, and today's match promised to be one for the history books.
As the buses pulled up opposite each other, the players had no choice but to step out due to the crowd congestion. Flash after flash from the cameras captured every detail, immortalizing the players in their respective team jerseys. Ye Xiu, standing at the front for Excellent Era, wore his signature calm expression, his eyes scanning the crowd as he made his way inside the arena. Across from him, Wang Jiexi led Tiny Herb, his usual confident demeanor unwavering.
The two teams entered the arena, walking past walls decorated with banners and posters celebrating both teams' past victories. The atmosphere inside was just as intense, the stadium buzzing with anticipation. Supporters filled the seats, and the arena's big screens showed highlights of previous matches, hyping up the crowd even more.
Both teams went straight to their dressing rooms to finalize their strategies. Inside Excellent Era's room, Ye Xiu gathered his team for one last briefing.
"We've trained for this. Stick to the game plan, and don't let them dictate the pace," Ye Xiu said, his voice steady and commanding.
Su Mucheng, sitting beside him, added, "They'll try to break us early on, but stay calm and play as a team. We've got this."
Meanwhile, in Tiny Herb's dressing room, Wang Jiexi had his team gathered around. His expression was one of quiet confidence.
"We know how they play," he said. "Stay focused, execute our strategy, and don't let them control the pace. This is our game."
Their coach, Bao Rongxing, stood nearby, watching the team with a smirk on his face. He didn't need to say much. His players knew the plan, and they were more than prepared.
Moments later, the announcer's voice boomed through the arena, calling the teams to the stage. The crowd erupted in cheers as the players walked out one by one, their names echoing through the venue. When both teams were finally assembled on the stage, Ye Xiu and Wang Jiexi shook hands, a brief but charged moment of mutual respect and silent competition.
The host then announced the rules. "This match will consist of three rounds. In the event of a draw, the team with the most kills will win that round. In the final round, players must switch characters, and each round will last 30 minutes. Let the games begin!"
Round One: A Close Call
The first round kicked off with both teams diving straight into the action. Ye Xiu, controlling One Autumn Leaf, moved with his signature unpredictability, leading his team with a blend of offense and defense. Tiny Herb, however, was more than prepared. Wang Jiexi, with his character Vaccaria, employed his usual disorienting Illusionary Steps, making it hard for Excellent Era to predict his next move.
Su Mucheng, using Dancing Rain, provided cover fire from a distance, locking down areas with precise artillery strikes. Meanwhile, Liang Fang, one of Tiny Herb's players, tried to counter with his Spitfire, but Su Mucheng was relentless. The battlefield was chaotic, with abilities flying everywhere—Sword Draw, Shadow Steps, and One Inch Punch—as both teams fought neck and neck.
Just when it seemed like the round would end in a stalemate, Ye Xiu found an opening. With a perfectly timed Dragon Tooth followed by Sky Strike, he created a gap in Tiny Herb's defenses, allowing Su Mucheng to unleash a devastating combo. With seconds left on the clock, Excellent Era secured the first win.
Round Two: Tiny Herb Strikes Back
The second round started with a shift in the air. Ye Xiu immediately sensed something different in Tiny Herb's playstyle. Their movements were sharper, their attacks more coordinated. It was almost as if they had anticipated Excellent Era's every move.
Within the first 15 minutes, Tiny Herb had managed to isolate Liu Hao, Excellent Era's Blade Master, and took him down with a well-coordinated assault led by Zou Yuan's Spitfire. Liu Hao's loss was critical, and Excellent Era struggled to regain their footing. Tiny Herb capitalized on the opportunity, pressing their advantage and securing the second round with a decisive win.
As the players regrouped for the final round, Ye Xiu could see the smug look on Wang Jiexi's face. Tiny Herb had clearly come prepared, but something felt off. They were too confident, too relaxed.
Round Three: The Hidden Move
For the third round, the players had to switch characters, an added challenge that would test their adaptability. Despite the tension, Tiny Herb's players seemed unnervingly calm, as if the outcome was already set in their minds.
The game began, and right from the start, Tiny Herb took control. Their strategy was flawless, and Excellent Era found themselves on the back foot. The characters were different, but Tiny Herb's execution was as sharp as ever.
Ye Xiu, now controlling an unfamiliar character, fought to regain control. But something was wrong. Halfway through the match, he felt a strange attack—something he had never seen before. For a split second, he lost track of the game, his character taking massive damage from an attack that didn't seem to fit within the usual mechanics.
As Tiny Herb approached their barrier, Ye Xiu noticed something even stranger: the game seemed to glitch, but only for Excellent Era. His teammates noticed it too, but Tiny Herb continued to play as if everything was normal. The final blow came from Wang Jiexi's character—a move so swift and precise that even a seasoned player like Ye Xiu couldn't react in time. Tiny Herb had won the third round.
The arena erupted in cheers, but Ye Xiu stood still, eyes narrowed. He glanced over at Wang Jiexi, who wore a satisfied smile, though for a brief moment, Ye Xiu noticed his brow furrow, as if even he was unsure how they had won with such ease.
As the celebrations began, Ye Xiu's gaze drifted toward the stands. There, in the shadows, he spotted Bao Rongxing, Tiny Herb's coach, slipping out of the arena. Their eyes met for a split second, and the coach gave a subtle nod to Wang Jiexi before disappearing into the crowd.
Something wasn't right.