The arena buzzed with energy as the semifinal teams prepared to take the stage. The audience, packed with fans from all over the world, eagerly awaited the clash between two of the tournament's most strategic teams: China National Team and Germany's Dragon Knights.
For Tang Rou, the stadium felt strangely still, despite the noise. Her heartbeat was steady, her focus laser-sharp. Everything that had been running through her mind—the thoughts of Shade, the pressure of the tournament—was now pushed aside. The only thing that mattered was the match ahead.
Ye Xiu, standing at the front of the team, reviewed their strategy one last time. His voice was calm but firm, each word designed to focus the team's attention. "The Dragon Knights thrive on control. They'll try to wear us down with their slow pace, but we can't let them dictate the match. We stay fast, we stay aggressive, and we take them out of their comfort zone. Understood?"
A chorus of nods answered him. Zhang Jiale, sitting beside Tang Rou, grinned, his fingers tapping impatiently on the table. "Let's tear down their fortress."
Tang Rou smiled faintly, feeling the same spark of excitement. The Dragon Knights were known for their defensive play, but this was their chance to break through.
As they took their seats on stage, the countdown began. The arena's bright lights illuminated the teams, and Tang Rou could see the faces of their German opponents across from them—calm, collected, and confident. They had the appearance of soldiers going into battle, which wasn't far from the truth. Andreas, the captain of the Dragon Knights, was already focused on the screen, his demeanor unreadable.
Three seconds.
Tang Rou's hands hovered over the keyboard, her breathing steady. The tension in the arena thickened with anticipation.
Two seconds.
Her eyes locked onto the screen, the map loading up in front of her. This was it.
One second.
The match began.
Immediately, the Dragon Knights moved into their signature formation, setting up a defensive perimeter across the battlefield. Tang Rou could see it on her screen—their characters were spreading out methodically, creating layers of defense that would be difficult to penetrate. They weren't making any aggressive moves, simply waiting for the right moment to strike.
Ye Xiu's voice crackled through the comms, calm but direct. "They're setting up their walls. Time to knock them down. Tang Rou, Bao Rongxing—get ready to disrupt their positioning. We need to break their rhythm early."
Tang Rou's fingers flew across the keyboard as she moved her character into position, her heart rate quickening with the familiar rush of battle. The Dragon Knights were waiting for them to attack first, their defense ironclad, but Tang Rou knew better than to play into their hands.
"They're baiting us," she muttered into the comms. "They want us to hit them head-on so they can counter."
Ye Xiu nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Don't take the bait. Keep moving. We'll hit them from different angles until they make a mistake."
Zhang Jiale chuckled softly through the comms. "Sounds good. Let's give them something they didn't expect."
And so the game unfolded. The Dragon Knights, true to their reputation, held their ground, never overextending or rushing their attacks. They were patient, waiting for the right moment to punish any mistake their opponents made. But the Chinese team wasn't making mistakes. Every move was calculated, every advance met with strategic retreats and feints, designed to keep the Dragon Knights guessing.
Tang Rou darted across the battlefield, her character weaving through enemy fire with pinpoint precision. Her role was clear—she needed to break their formation, force the Dragon Knights into a position where they couldn't rely on their defensive strategy. But each time she thought she had found an opening, the Germans closed ranks again, sealing off any chance of a breakthrough.
"They're playing safe," Su Mucheng's voice came through the comms. "They're waiting for us to overcommit."
"We can't let that happen," Ye Xiu replied. "Stay mobile. We're not here to batter their walls down—we're here to slip through the cracks."
Tang Rou gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowing as she studied the battlefield. It was a stalemate, but it couldn't last forever. Sooner or later, one side would have to make a move. And when they did, the momentum would shift. The key was making sure it shifted in their favor.
Minutes passed, the tension rising as both teams held their positions, neither willing to take a risk. But then, it happened.
"They're moving," Zhang Jiale called out, his voice sharp with focus. "They're adjusting their defense. Looks like they're preparing for a counterattack."
Sure enough, the Dragon Knights were shifting their formation. Andreas, their captain, was leading the charge, moving his team into a more aggressive stance. They had been waiting for the right moment, and now they saw it. But Tang Rou wasn't going to give them what they wanted.
"Now's our chance," Ye Xiu said, his voice calm but urgent. "Tang Rou, Bao Rongxing—get in there. We need to disrupt their transition before they can set up."
Tang Rou nodded, her hands tightening on the mouse as she surged forward. Her character darted into the heart of the enemy formation, slipping through gaps in their defense with lightning speed. Bao Rongxing followed close behind, his character unleashing a flurry of attacks designed to scatter the Dragon Knights and force them to break formation.
For a moment, it worked. The German team hesitated, their carefully laid plans disrupted by the sudden onslaught. Tang Rou's attacks hit hard, driving them back as she capitalized on their momentary disarray. But Andreas was quick to react, rallying his team with impressive speed.
"They're regrouping," Tang Rou muttered, her focus razor-sharp as she dodged another attack. "We need to push harder."
"Hold your ground," Ye Xiu replied. "We've broken their rhythm, but don't overextend. They'll be looking for a chance to counter."
Tang Rou took a deep breath, steadying herself as she watched the battlefield unfold. The Dragon Knights were adapting quickly, but they hadn't fully recovered yet. They were on the defensive now, scrambling to regain control of the match. This was the moment they had been waiting for.
"Push now," Ye Xiu ordered, his voice firm. "We're not giving them time to recover."
Tang Rou's fingers flew across the keyboard as she executed a series of precise attacks, her character weaving through enemy fire with deadly efficiency. Her teammates followed suit, launching a coordinated assault that sent the Dragon Knights reeling. The crowd erupted in cheers as the Chinese team pressed their advantage, driving the Germans back toward their base.
"They're crumbling!" Zhang Jiale shouted, excitement clear in his voice. "Keep the pressure on!"
Tang Rou could feel the momentum shifting. They had the Dragon Knights on the ropes, their once-impenetrable defense in tatters. This was it—the breakthrough they had been waiting for.
But just as victory seemed within reach, Andreas made his move.
"Watch out!" Ye Xiu's voice rang out in the comms. "They're going for a counter!"
Tang Rou's heart skipped a beat as she saw it unfold on her screen. The Dragon Knights, seemingly on the verge of collapse, had been playing a dangerous game of deception. Andreas had allowed them to push forward, drawing them deeper into enemy territory, only to spring a trap at the last moment.
"They baited us!" Tang Rou gasped, her hands moving frantically to pull her character back. But it was too late. The Dragon Knights had closed in around them, their counterattack swift and brutal.
"Fall back!" Ye Xiu ordered, his voice sharp. "Don't let them pin you down!"
Tang Rou gritted her teeth as she tried to retreat, but the Germans were relentless. Andreas had timed his counter perfectly, using the Chinese team's aggression against them. Tang Rou's character took heavy damage as she tried to fight her way out, her health bar dropping rapidly.
"We can't hold this position!" Su Mucheng called out, her voice tense. "We need to regroup!"
"Stick together!" Ye Xiu barked. "We're not out yet. We just need to hold our ground until we can turn the tide."
The battle raged on, the arena filled with the sound of clashing metal and the roar of the crowd. Tang Rou's hands moved with desperate speed as she fought to stay alive, dodging attacks and countering when she could. The Dragon Knights were pushing hard, but she refused to give up.
"They're overextending!" Zhang Jiale shouted suddenly. "We've got an opening!"
Tang Rou's heart leapt as she saw it. In their eagerness to finish the match, the Dragon Knights had pushed too far. Andreas had gotten greedy, trying to end the game before the Chinese team could regroup. But now, they had a chance to turn the tables.
"Hit them now!" Ye Xiu commanded, his voice filled with urgency. "This is our moment!"
Tang Rou didn't hesitate. Her character surged forward, launching a series of powerful attacks that caught the Germans off guard. Bao Rongxing and Zhang Jiale followed suit, their characters hammering the enemy with everything they had.
The Dragon Knights faltered, their once-flawless defense crumbling under the relentless assault. Andreas tried to rally his team, but it was too late. The Chinese team had regained control of the match, their momentum unstoppable.
"They're breaking!" Su Mucheng