The victory over the European champions was still fresh in Tang Rou's mind, but there was no time to revel in the triumph. As soon as the team stepped off the stage, Ye Xiu reminded them of one unchanging fact—this was just the beginning.
The second round was already on the horizon, and their next opponents would be just as fierce, if not more so.
In the dimly lit corridors beneath the arena, the team was silent. The earlier cheers from the audience were now a distant echo, and the adrenaline that had been coursing through Tang Rou's veins was beginning to subside. But in its place, a new kind of energy was taking hold—a determination, a resolve to continue pushing forward.
"Good job out there," Su Mucheng said, walking beside her as they headed toward their break room. She offered Tang Rou a bottle of water, her smile warm and genuine. "You really nailed that final strike."
Tang Rou accepted the water with a small nod, her mind still racing through the events of the match. "Thanks. It felt good out there. But the Europeans were better than I expected."
Su Mucheng gave a knowing smile. "They were strong, but you held your ground. That's what matters."
As they entered the break room, Ye Xiu was already there, his eyes on the screen as he watched replays of the match they had just won. His focus was razor-sharp, his attention already shifting to their next opponents.
"Take a breather, everyone," Ye Xiu said without looking up. "We've got some time before the second round. But don't relax too much. We'll be up against the Koreans next."
At the mention of their next opponents, the room grew noticeably more tense. The Korean team was renowned for their speed and precision, particularly their team captain, a player known as Kim Tae-gyun, who was often called the "Fastest Hands in Glory." His reputation alone was enough to make any team cautious.
Tang Rou sat down, letting the cool water slide down her throat as she processed the information. The Koreans. She had watched some of their matches in preparation for the tournament, and they were nothing short of terrifying. Their playstyle was fast and relentless, often overwhelming their opponents before they even had a chance to react.
"How do we counter that kind of speed?" Bao Rongxing asked, breaking the silence. "They're known for closing matches within minutes."
Ye Xiu finally turned away from the screen, his expression calm and unreadable. "We don't fight their speed. We control the pace of the match. If we let them dictate the flow, we're done for. Our advantage lies in our adaptability and teamwork. They may be fast, but they're predictable."
Tang Rou could sense the shift in the room. There was no fear, no hesitation—just a renewed focus. If Ye Xiu wasn't worried, neither were they. And in truth, they had faced countless tough opponents before. This was just another mountain to climb.
"Let's run some practice drills," Ye Xiu said, tapping a few keys on his laptop. "I want everyone warmed up and in sync before we head out for the second round."
They spent the next hour practicing, running through formations and counter-strategies specifically designed to throw the Korean team off their rhythm. Tang Rou could feel her hands becoming more fluid with each match simulation, her reflexes sharpening as her body slipped into that familiar, focused zone.
By the time they were called for the next match, Tang Rou's nervous energy had transformed into something more focused and controlled. She was ready—ready to take on the Koreans and show the world that they weren't just flukes from the first round.
As the team walked down the long hallway toward the main arena, the roar of the crowd grew louder with each step. The Korean team was already seated on the opposite side of the stage, their faces a mask of determination. Kim Tae-gyun sat at the center of their formation, his hands resting lightly on the keyboard, his eyes already locked on the screen.
Tang Rou took her seat, her heart steady as her fingers hovered over the keys. Across the stage, she could feel the intensity radiating from the Korean players, but it didn't faze her. They were just another team to beat.
As the countdown to the match began, Tang Rou's focus narrowed. Her character materialized on the screen, and for a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away—the noise of the crowd, the bright lights, even the pressure of the tournament itself. All that mattered was the battlefield in front of her.
Three seconds.
Her hands were steady, her breathing even. This was just another match, another challenge. She could handle this.
Two seconds.
The Korean team's movements were fast, but Tang Rou had already seen their tendencies in the replays. They were predictable, just as Ye Xiu had said.
One second.
The match began with a flurry of activity. The Koreans wasted no time, rushing forward in their signature aggressive style, their frontline players moving with blinding speed. Tang Rou's hands moved swiftly across the keyboard, her character dodging and weaving as the initial barrage of attacks came her way.
"Hold the line!" Ye Xiu's voice cut through the comms, his tone calm but commanding.
Tang Rou gritted her teeth as she moved her character into position, blocking the incoming attacks while Su Mucheng and Zhang Jiale provided covering fire from the backline. The Koreans were fast—faster than any team they had faced so far—but Tang Rou wasn't intimidated.
"They're trying to force a collapse on the left side!" Zhang Jiale shouted, his voice sharp with focus.
"I see it," Tang Rou responded, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she shifted her character to intercept the Korean offensive. The battle was intense, with each side trading blows in a furious exchange of attacks and counterattacks.
"They're pushing hard, but they're not coordinated enough," Ye Xiu said, his eyes locked on the screen. "Stay tight. They'll make a mistake soon."
Tang Rou's focus sharpened even more, her eyes scanning the battlefield for an opening. The Koreans were fast, but their relentless aggression was leaving gaps in their formation—gaps that Tang Rou knew she could exploit.
"They're starting to overextend," Ye Xiu said, his voice cool and analytical. "Wait for it…"
Tang Rou's pulse quickened as she saw the opportunity. The Korean team had pushed too far forward, their frontline players isolated from the rest of their team. It was a textbook overextension, and now it was time to capitalize.
"Now!" Ye Xiu's voice rang out, and Tang Rou's fingers moved before her mind could fully process the command.
Her character shot forward with blinding speed, her attacks hitting hard and fast as she tore through the enemy's defenses. The Koreans scrambled to recover, but they were too slow. Tang Rou's strikes were precise, calculated, each one landing with devastating impact.
"They're falling back!" Su Mucheng shouted, her voice filled with excitement as the Korean team retreated, their formation crumbling under the onslaught.
Tang Rou pressed the advantage, her hands moving faster than ever as she pushed forward, her character leading the charge. The Koreans were on the back foot now, their speed no longer an advantage as they struggled to regroup.
With one final coordinated attack, the screen flashed Victory once again.
The arena exploded in cheers, the crowd's roar nearly deafening. Tang Rou leaned back in her chair, her heart pounding in her chest as the adrenaline coursed through her veins. They had done it. They had beaten the Koreans.
As the team gathered around Ye Xiu in the aftermath of the match, Tang Rou could feel the weight of the victory settling over them. The Korean team had been one of their toughest opponents yet, but they had pulled through. And now, they were one step closer to the championship.
"Good work," Ye Xiu said, his voice steady but filled with pride. "But don't get too comfortable. We've still got a long way to go."
Tang Rou nodded, her determination burning brighter than ever. The road to the championship was long, and the challenges ahead would only get tougher. But she was ready for whatever came next.
As they left the stage, the noise of the crowd fading behind them, Tang Rou couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. They had taken down two of the strongest teams in the tournament, but this was just the beginning.
The true test was still ahead.
And Tang Rou was ready for it.
The chapter continues to build on the momentum from the previous match, highlighting the team's growing confidence and cohesion. The pacing maintains a sense of urgency, keeping the reader engaged as the stakes rise higher with each battle. Tang Rou's development as a player and her interactions with her teammates remain central to the narrative, driving both the action and emotional depth of the story forward.