Chapter 85 2/2

Seeing that Chen Mo was frightened by his words, Tan Chen softened his tone, “Enough, I know you want to help, but the team has money. It’s not your concern. Just focus on playing; go back.”

Chen Mo didn’t leave. She stared blankly, her gaze falling on Tan Chen’s bandaged hands, and her eyes quickly turned red.

“Coach, you retired because of injuries. Are you still in pain like this every day?”

“If you’re in so much pain, why do you still participate in arena matches to earn money?”

“How about you let us go on loan? We’re young, and high-intensity matches are no problem for us. Luanzhi said they were loaned out, and I saw the offer they got for us; it’s quite high. It’s a big sum of money, even more than what this variety show pays.”

Tan Chen was taken aback, turned around, and refocused his gaze on the screen. “Don’t look at those who went on loan. I’ve told you many times. Once loaned out, you become expendable, and your future is ruined. You’re just starting now, and I’d be crazy to loan you out.”

“Also, don’t listen to those media rumors. I haven’t reached that point. I just play in the arena when I have nothing else to do. Go back quickly.”

Chen Mo still wanted to say something, but Tan Chen raised his voice and said, “I’m counting to three.”

“One, two…”

No matter the situation, “I’m counting to three” always worked.

Chen Mo immediately retreated, taking three steps backward, and left the room.

Flame was sending various messages to Tan Chen: “Why did you turn off your voice?”

“I just heard someone calling you. Is it a member of your team?”

“It sounds like the sound of swinging a sword. I’ve seen her play; she’s strong. Let her come up and play with me, or let Yi Dance come. I’ll offer triple the prize money.”

“Why aren’t you answering? Are you angry? Playing one match won’t hurt. Take a break; young people shouldn’t be afraid of anything. You can’t be supporting all the team expenses, right? You’re not an iron man.”

“Don’t ignore me. My skills are itching to be used.”

Tan Chen squeezed his somewhat stiff hand.

Don’t Follow: “Just had something to attend to. Continue.”

Flame: “Really coming? Don’t you want to take a break? You’ve been playing all day. Isn’t your hand hurting?”

Don’t follow: “Come or not; if not, I’ll find someone else.”

Flame: “Come come come! Hey, how much money do you need?”

In the game, the private arena was set up again.

Flame first placed the prize money and made a gesture by clasping his hands around the audience and saying, “Everyone, everyone, you can raise the stakes for this match.”

“As usual, the player with the highest amount of raised stakes can request the winner to accompany them for one game. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.”

In private arena matches, as long as both sides agree, players can raise the stakes freely. The so-called raising of stakes means that a player designates one of the combatants, invests an amount, and if they win in the end, they can get ninety percent of that money. The remaining ten percent is randomly distributed to the audience watching the match.

If the player being bet on doesn’t win, the money goes into the official prize pool and becomes one of the prizes for the next arena match.

This is a kind of reward, often used in intense battles. Spectators can raise the stakes to stimulate the player they support. It not only motivates the player but also gives a chance for the audience to win some money.

Though most players are freeloaders, there are always a few big-spending players.

Just by looking at Flame’s extravagant outfit, it’s clear that he’s not short on money.

He did all this, obviously, for Tan Chen.

“With our reputation and this level, I think we can raise quite a bit of gold this time.” Flame was optimistic.

Tan Chen wasn’t as optimistic: “Today is a workday; there won’t be much.”

Moreover, the essence of raising the stakes is to support the player you like. Raising the stakes can also earn official rewards after a victory. So, this kind of raising the stakes is quite common in private arena matches.

Tan Chen once had a large number of supporters, but that was before he retired.

He no longer thinks about those things and jumps onto the stage:

“Come on, after winning, I’ll treat myself to a meal.”

Flame: “Hehehe, I thought you were usually modest, but what you just said is as if you’re certain to win. So arrogant.”

Tan Chen was startled. “Slip of the tongue.”

He summoned his weapon, gently dropping it to the ground. “I take back what I said.”

As expected, the stakes raised today were minimal, mostly for the sake of excitement. Most of them fell for Flame; after all, Flame was the leader, and he was enthusiastic and popular.

Flame seemed a bit embarrassed. “It looks like your supporters are working today.”

Tan Chen, the person involved, didn’t care. “I don’t have any supporters.”

Even if he had any, they wouldn’t appear in the short term after he took responsibility for the mistakes in the Breaking Waves competition.

The two faced off, and Tan Chen, who was somewhat exhausted, gradually fell behind.

After a few rounds, he fell to the ground, propping himself up on his weapon as he slowly stood up. Flame, who rarely had the upper hand, was quite happy. “Haha! Looks like I’m winning this time.”

Tan Chen tugged at the corners of his mouth and said, “Maybe.”

As they were about to continue, the parrot above suddenly grabbed a megaphone and said, “Player Wo Jiangshan designates the raised stakes player: Don’t Follow.”

“Raised stakes amount: one million gold!”

Tan Chen was stunned and instinctively looked up.

—Boom!

The excited audience that was discussing in hushed tones immediately became animated.

“One million gold! My goodness, encountering a pro player in a small match!”

“Wo Jiangshan! Isn’t this the player who recharged two billion in one go today? Ah, ah, ah, she’s actually watching arena matches in the regular area!”

Flame hoisted his big sword, looking up. “What the heck? One million gold? Directly raising the stakes to the limit?”

He didn’t finish his sentence, and the parrot continued to announce like a loop machine:

“Player Wo Jiangshan…”

“One million gold!”

“Player Wo Jiangshan…”

“One million gold!”

Players in other arenas also looked up.

“Oh my, how many one million gold bets are there?”

“Wo Jiangshan, the one who recharged two billion? I’m coming to watch!”

“Big event, honey, let’s go!”

“Is he crazy? There’s so much gold thrown out. If Don’t Follow doesn’t win, the money will all go to the prize pool!”

In the arena of the C zone, the parrot was still enthusiastically shouting:

“Player Wo Jiangshan designates… this player. You have reached the maximum raised stakes in the C zone. Really, you can’t add any more. If you continue, I won’t be able to hold my throat. Let me drink some water first.”

After drinking water, the parrot flapped its wings and flew to the VIP room window, handing over its megaphone:

“You have reached the highest raised stakes amount today, with one minute of speaking time for the whole zone. Also, I’d like to interview you. Why did you raise the stakes when Don’t Follow was obviously in a losing position? Were you trying to cheer him up?”

Throwing away so much money to motivate a player is really a waste.

Everyone’s eyes were on the VIP room, where the amount icons were constantly flying out, including Tan Chen, who was betting on

Controlling the in-game character, she leaned against the window and said, “No.”

Her tone was very confident, even a bit arrogant: “I just feel that he can definitely win.”

Tan Chen listened quietly.

Can he really win?

Flame perked up his ears for a long time and heard this, feeling quite puzzled: “What kind of expression is this for your supporter? Clearly, you can’t win.”

“Continue.”

Tan Chen raised his hand and changed to another weapon, a bow that gathered in his hands.

Flame: “? We’re in close combat, and you’re using a bow?”

Tan Chen adjusted the bowstring, “Because I want to win very much.”

Not for the sake of earning money by continuously participating in arena matches, not forcibly suppressing the pain from spreading.

Just for victory.

He wanted to win.

I desperately wanted to win.

To fight, give it his all, dash without hesitation, obtain victory, accept glory, gain… trust.

Flame: “?”

Even though it was just one or two sentences, for some reason, he felt a change in Tan Chen’s aura.

As if the whole person had come alive.

Flame: Alright, watch me beat you to death!

He also clicked to continue the game, quickly sending out skills, but surprisingly, Tan Chen was still faster. The next second, the bow and brush entwined.

The parrot was shocked. “This is Bow and Brush! Don’t Follow actually used Bow and Brush in close combat! No, he changed his weapon! While stacking the fifth skill with the third skill, he even switched three weapons and attacked in turns!”

“Flame’s reaction is fast. He’s counterattacking! Don’t follow sidesteps to evade! How did he do it?! How did he use a skill while in mid-air? One hit! Only one hit!”

Clothes fluttering, the character named “Don’t Follow” leaped into the air, maintaining the skill while quickly switching weapons.

—Swish!

An arrow, accompanied by icy air, flew towards Flame, completely surrounded by skills.

This strike was as unstoppable as a mighty river, arrogant, and without leaving a way out for himself.

The huge bear warrior swung his big sword to try to block, but he could only watch as the arrow brushed past the blade, precisely hitting his heart.

“Flame!!!!!!! Fall!!!!!!!”

The whole arena fell silent for a second, then cheers erupted.

“Ah ah ah ah ah! Too awesome!”

“He actually turned the tables!”

The parrot was also excitedly circling in the air.

“One! Two! Three!”

“I declare! The winner of this match is! Don’t follow!”

Amidst the tremendous cheers, Tan Chen looked up and glanced at Sheng Quan, who was leaning against the window on the second floor.

He wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. In the end, he only uttered two words: “Thank you.”

Thank you for believing that I could win.

In reality, Tan Chen’s hands were still trembling slightly, a result of the high-intensity consecutive strikes in a short period. It would be painful, but at least in this moment, he felt a kind of unprecedented relief and ease.

His numb and silent body seemed to slowly surge with strength again. What kind of power was this? Tan Chen himself couldn’t quite describe it.

“Power? Indeed, I felt it. Do you want me to describe it for you?”

Flame, lying on the ground, quivered and squirmed to self-heal. The bulky bear warrior rubbed his swollen face.

“The power with which you beat me…”

“It is truly substantial.”