Chereads / The Pinnacle of Glory / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Into the Arena

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Into the Arena

The day of the Glory World Invitational had finally arrived.

From the moment Tang Rou woke up, there was a different kind of energy in the air. It wasn't the usual pre-match excitement; it was heavier, charged with an intensity that pressed down on her chest. As she sat at the edge of her bed, staring out at the towering skyline of Zurich, she could feel the weight of the day ahead settling over her like a thick fog.

This was it—the global stage. Everything they had been training for led to this.

She stood up, stretching her arms and trying to shake off the tension in her muscles. Her mind replayed the countless hours of practice, the simulated matches, the strategies they had drilled over and over again. She knew they were ready, but that didn't stop her heart from hammering in her chest. It wasn't fear, not exactly. It was something more primal—the thrill of the upcoming battle.

A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts. It was Su Mucheng, as always, a calming presence.

"Morning, Tang Rou," she said with her usual smile, though there was an unspoken understanding between them. Today was no ordinary day.

"Morning," Tang Rou replied, forcing a small smile. "I guess it's time, huh?"

Su Mucheng nodded. "Time to show the world what we've got."

They walked down the corridor together, joining the rest of the team in the lobby. There was a palpable tension in the air, but it was the kind of tension that could snap into something powerful, something unstoppable. Ye Xiu was already there, leaning casually against the wall, but his eyes were sharp, focused. He had the same look he always had before a big match—calm, yet ready to strike like a predator waiting for the right moment.

"Everyone ready?" Ye Xiu asked, his gaze sweeping over the team.

There were nods all around, though some were more confident than others. Zhang Jiale had a glint in his eye, his usual cocky smirk playing on his lips. "I was born ready," he muttered.

Tang Rou, however, was more reserved. She took a deep breath, clenching her fists at her sides. This was it. No turning back now.

"Good," Ye Xiu said, pushing himself off the wall. "Let's go."

They made their way to the venue in silence, the weight of the occasion pressing down on each of them. The streets of Zurich were bustling, but none of it seemed to penetrate the bubble of focus that had formed around the team. Tang Rou barely noticed the stunning architecture or the snow-capped mountains in the distance. All she could think about was the match ahead.

When they arrived at the stadium, the sight took her breath away. It was massive, a towering structure of steel and glass, its size dwarfing anything she had ever seen before. Fans crowded the entrance, holding signs and banners for their favorite teams. The buzz of excitement was deafening, and for the first time, it hit her just how big this tournament was.

As they entered through the player's entrance, the noise from the crowd faded, replaced by the quiet hum of the arena's inner workings. Tang Rou's heart pounded harder as they moved deeper into the building, passing other teams on their way to their designated practice rooms.

They passed the European team in the hallway, the same team they'd be facing in just a few hours. The Europeans walked with confidence, their heads held high, and as they passed, one of their players shot Tang Rou a look—one that was filled with a mixture of recognition and challenge.

"That's them," Su Mucheng whispered beside her. "The European champions. They're tough, but we've got this."

Tang Rou nodded, but the sight of them only made her more determined. She wanted to face them, to prove herself on this stage. This wasn't just another match. This was a chance to show the world what she was made of.

When they finally reached their practice room, Ye Xiu wasted no time.

"Alright, everyone, gather around," he said, his voice calm but commanding. He pulled up the match details on the screen, and the familiar map of Glory's battlefield appeared before them.

"This is the map for our first match," Ye Xiu said, his eyes scanning the team. "We've run this one a hundred times, but the Europeans will be expecting us to play defensively. They'll come out aggressive, just like we practiced."

Tang Rou's heart raced as she studied the map. She could feel the adrenaline beginning to surge through her veins. The European team had a reputation for being relentless, always pushing forward with brutal efficiency. But they had a weakness—overconfidence.

"Our strategy remains the same," Ye Xiu continued, pointing to key positions on the map. "We'll hold them off in the early game, let them tire themselves out, then hit them hard when they overextend."

There were nods all around. The plan was solid, and they had practiced it to perfection. Now, it was just a matter of execution.

As the time for the match drew closer, the team ran through their final preparations in silence, each player lost in their own thoughts. Tang Rou felt the familiar weight of her keyboard under her fingers, the smooth glide of her mouse. It was comforting in a way, a reminder of the countless hours she had spent honing her skills. She was ready.

When they were finally called to the stage, Tang Rou's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for.

The arena was massive, and the roar of the crowd was deafening. Lights blazed overhead, and the huge screens displayed the faces of the players, their team logos, and the match details. As Tang Rou took her seat at the center of the stage, she couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. The crowd, the lights, the atmosphere—it was electrifying.

She glanced to her left, where Ye Xiu sat, calm and composed as always. His presence was steadying, a reminder that no matter how big the stage, they were here to win.

The European team sat across from them, their eyes locked in fierce determination. The tension between the two teams was palpable, like the calm before a storm.

Tang Rou took a deep breath and focused on the screen in front of her. Her character appeared on the screen, ready for battle, and the countdown to the start of the match began.

Five seconds.

Her hands hovered over the keyboard, every muscle in her body tense with anticipation.

Four seconds.

She could hear the roar of the crowd, the commentators hyping up the match, but she blocked it all out. Nothing mattered except what was about to happen on the battlefield.

Three seconds.

She glanced at her teammates, seeing the same determination reflected in their eyes. They were ready.

Two seconds.

Her heart pounded in her chest. The world seemed to slow down, each tick of the clock echoing in her ears.

One second.

And then, with a sharp buzz, the match began.

The European team wasted no time. As expected, they charged forward, their frontline players moving with terrifying speed and precision. Tang Rou's fingers flew across the keyboard as she maneuvered her character into position, blocking the initial assault.

"Hold the line!" Ye Xiu's voice crackled through the comms, calm but commanding.

Tang Rou gritted her teeth as the enemy attacks rained down on them. The Europeans were relentless, their coordination impeccable. But Tang Rou and her teammates were ready. They had practiced this countless times, and now it was all about execution.

She moved her character swiftly, dodging attacks, blocking when necessary, and countering with sharp, calculated strikes. The pressure was intense, but she was in her element. The adrenaline surged through her veins, sharpening her focus.

"We're holding, but they're pushing hard," Su Mucheng's voice came through the comms, her character firing off a series of precise shots to keep the enemy at bay.

"Keep steady," Ye Xiu replied. "They'll break soon."

Tang Rou's eyes narrowed as she saw an opening in the enemy's formation. The Europeans had pushed too far, just as Ye Xiu had predicted.

"Now!" Ye Xiu barked through the comms, and Tang Rou didn't hesitate.

She surged forward, her character moving with lightning speed as she unleashed a barrage of attacks. The Europeans were caught off guard, their overextension leaving them vulnerable. Tang Rou's strikes hit hard, cutting through their defenses like a knife through butter.

The rest of the team followed suit, capitalizing on the momentary lapse in the enemy's formation. The battle shifted in an instant, the momentum swinging in their favor.

"They're breaking!" Zhang Jiale shouted, his voice filled with excitement.

Tang Rou's heart raced as she pressed the attack, her fingers moving with lightning speed. The Europeans scrambled to recover, but it was too late. They had overextended, and now they were paying the price.

With a final coordinated strike, the screen flashed Victory.

The arena erupted in cheers, the deafening roar of the crowd washing over them. Tang Rou leaned back in her chair, her heart still pounding in her chest, her breath coming in short gasps. They had done it.

They had won the first match.

Ye Xiu's voice came through the comms, calm and steady as always. "Good job, everyone. But this is just the beginning. Stay sharp. There's still more to come."

Tang Rou nodded, her hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline. The first match was over, but the tournament had only just begun. There were still many battles ahead, and each one would be more difficult than