Tang Rou's hands moved with fluid precision, her character executing each command as if it were second nature. The battle with Starlight raged on, and though their opponents came at them with the same cold, calculated aggression they were known for, something had shifted.
She knew who Starlight's captain was now.
It was like a hidden door in her mind had been unlocked. Every movement he made, every play he orchestrated, became clearer, more predictable. As the minutes ticked by in the match, she began to see the patterns in his playstyle—subtle cues, the way he baited attacks only to counter them with unnerving precision. He wasn't just any top player. He was someone she had crossed paths with before in Glory.
But who?
As the match progressed, the audience watched with bated breath. On one side, Starlight's captain executed flawless, seemingly effortless attacks, dictating the flow of the game. On the other, Tang Rou had settled into a rhythm, her responses sharp and calculated, matching Starlight blow for blow. The clash between these two forces was unlike anything the crowd had seen so far in the tournament.
From the corner of her eye, Tang Rou caught a glance of Ye Xiu. His expression was serious, but there was a glint in his eyes, as if he, too, was beginning to piece together the mystery. In the brief moments between attacks, Ye Xiu's voice came through the comms, cool and steady as always.
"Tang Rou, keep the pressure on. He's starting to adjust to your moves, but we can still catch them off guard."
Tang Rou nodded, though her mind was still racing. Starlight's captain was skilled, that much was certain. His timing was perfect, his strategy impeccable, but there was something else—something personal about the way he played. Every time he clashed with her character on the battlefield, it felt like a direct challenge. His attacks weren't just meant to win the game; they were probing her, testing her responses, as if he knew exactly how she would react.
Who are you?
Her focus sharpened as she dodged a rapid-fire barrage of attacks from one of Starlight's damage dealers. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, reacting just in time to counter their next move. The battle was intense, and the stakes couldn't have been higher. Every second counted, every misstep could lead to defeat. But she wasn't afraid. If anything, the mounting pressure fueled her determination.
"We're gaining ground!" Zhang Jiale's voice broke through the comms, excitement bubbling in his tone. "They're starting to slow down!"
"We have to take control of the midlane," Su Mucheng added, her character unleashing a volley of well-timed attacks to push the enemy back.
Tang Rou took a deep breath and made her move. Her character darted forward, faster than her opponent had anticipated. With a few precise strikes, she tore through Starlight's front line, creating an opening in their formation. But just as she was about to press the advantage, Starlight's captain was there, blocking her path with flawless timing.
It was as if he knew exactly what she would do.
Her eyes narrowed. Of course.
In that moment, everything clicked. The familiarity, the way he moved, the way he anticipated her every action—it all made sense now. Tang Rou had faced him before. It had been years ago, during a lower-tier Glory tournament, back when she was still relatively unknown. She remembered it now: an online competition where she had gone head-to-head with a player who had left an indelible mark on her.
His screen name had been "Shade."
Back then, Shade had been nearly unbeatable, a master tactician with a reputation for never revealing his true identity. They had faced off in the finals, and Tang Rou had barely lost to him in a best-of-three match. It was one of the few defeats that had stuck with her, pushing her to train harder, to refine her skills. She hadn't thought much about it since, but now, here he was, in the flesh, leading the dark horse team everyone was talking about.
Starlight's captain—Shade—had returned.
Her pulse quickened. She couldn't let the past rattle her now. If anything, this was an opportunity—a chance for redemption. Her hands tightened on the mouse, her resolve hardening.
Not this time.
Through the chaos of the match, Tang Rou recalibrated. She knew Shade's playstyle now. She could anticipate his moves, just as he had been doing to her. Every feint, every attack, was a challenge—but now, she was ready to meet it head-on.
The next few minutes were a blur of action. Starlight pressed hard, their captain leading the charge with his signature calm aggression, but Tang Rou and the team responded in kind. For every move Shade made, Tang Rou had a counter. For every trap he set, she found a way to break through.
The crowd could sense the shift in momentum. What had started as a dominant performance by Starlight was now turning into a neck-and-neck contest. The battle was no longer one-sided. Tang Rou was fighting back, and Shade, for the first time, seemed to be struggling to keep up.
"They're faltering!" Zhang Jiale's voice crackled through the comms, excitement building in his tone. "Let's push!"
"Hold your ground," Ye Xiu warned, ever the tactician. "Don't rush in. They're still dangerous."
But Tang Rou knew it was time to strike. With a quick series of commands, her character launched forward, weaving between enemy attacks with breathtaking precision. Shade was there, waiting for her, but she had anticipated his move.
In a split second, Tang Rou executed a feint, making it seem as though she was going to attack from one direction, but then pivoted at the last moment, her character striking from an unexpected angle. Shade's response was a split second too slow, and for the first time in the match, she broke through his defenses.
A cheer erupted from the crowd, the energy in the arena electric.
Tang Rou didn't stop. She pressed her advantage, coordinating with her teammates to exploit the opening she had created. Starlight's formation was beginning to crack, and with one final, perfectly-timed attack, they pushed through, securing a decisive win.
Victory.
The screen flashed with the familiar word, but this time, it felt different. Tang Rou let out a long breath, her heart pounding in her chest as the reality of the win settled over her. They had done it. They had beaten Starlight.
Her eyes flicked to Shade, still sitting across from her on the opposite side of the stage. His mask hid his expression, but there was a slight tilt of his head, a recognition that she had bested him. He stood up slowly, his movements calm and controlled, even in defeat.
The crowd roared, but all Tang Rou could focus on was the silent exchange between them. She had won, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.
As Starlight's team left the stage, Ye Xiu approached her, his expression one of quiet pride. "Good work," he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "You figured him out, didn't you?"
Tang Rou nodded, still catching her breath. "His playstyle… I've seen it before. He's Shade. We faced each other years ago, in a small tournament. I didn't realize it at first, but the way he plays… it's unmistakable."
Ye Xiu raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "So, that's who he is. I thought there was something familiar about him."
Tang Rou glanced at the exit, where Shade and his team had disappeared. "Do you think he'll come back for more?"
Ye Xiu's smile widened. "Players like him always do. He's not the type to let a loss slide. We'll see him again."
Tang Rou nodded, her mind already racing ahead to the next match, the next challenge. They had beaten Starlight, but the tournament was far from over. There were more battles to be fought, more opponents to face, and she knew that Shade wouldn't be the only one gunning for them now.
As the team left the stage, the cheers of the crowd still ringing in her ears, Tang Rou felt a surge of determination. The path to the championship was narrowing, and the competition was only going to get fiercer from here.
But she was ready. She had faced one of her toughest rivals and come out on top.
Now, it was time to see who else stood in their way.
This chapter brings the intensity of the match to a new high, with Tang Rou confronting her past and identifying Starlight's captain as a former rival, Shade. The stakes are elevated as she battles through both the match and her memories, culminating in a decisive victory that sets the stage for future confrontations. The tension between her and Shade remains unresolved, leaving room for more to come as the tournament progresses.