Chapter 160

REAL and ADT’s fourth match was rated as the most thrilling of this season’s playoffs so far.

During the pick and ban phase (BP), REAL pulled out a surprise move with a support jungler strategy, setting an ambush in ADT’s blue area right from the start. ADT, known as the most operationally savvy team in the league, showed their top-tier tactical reserves and preparation by anticipating REAL’s counter-jungle strategy, catching all five REAL players in their own jungle.

Both teams were evenly matched in tactical maneuvering, with a 5v5 team fight erupting in the jungle within the first minute of the game.

The commentators and audience were ecstatic.

The entire game was full of continuous team fights, entering a chaotic mode from the first minute. REAL’s lineup was considered disadvantaged from the start, where the support jungler strategy wasn’t a novelty but a necessary tactic due to their inherent disabilities. After a brief initial panic, ADT quickly adapted to the game’s rhythm.

Indeed, the fact that they lost 0-3 to DSG didn’t mean ADT was weak. As the commentators stated, ADT’s strength placed them firmly in the league’s top tier.

Throughout the game, there were continuous team fights, with players from both sides contributing spectacular plays. The commentators were overwhelmed with excitement. In the end, REAL’s disadvantaged lineup couldn’t withstand ADT’s assault and their base was breached at the 36th minute mark.

As the base exploded, the REAL team sighed in relief. Ye Chi took off his headset, teammates looked at each other, silently embraced.

“Though defeated, still honorable.”

The commentators praised REAL’s performance.

“To hold on for 30 minutes against ADT’s assault in such a disadvantageous position is truly remarkable.”

“Yes, Quit’s performance was commendable. This rookie in the league has already shown some qualities of a veteran.”

As REAL’s players packed up their keyboards and mice, their fans in the audience stood up applauding.

“Keep it up—”

“Come back stronger next year—”

“Moka, you got this—”

“Quit, keep it up—”

Ye Chi waved to the fans below and left the stage with his teammates.

They lost, 1-3.

Yet, their spirits weren’t entirely crushed.

On the bus, the players chatted with Sun Yuanyang, who was hospitalized after today’s match. Sun Yuanyang cried bitterly in the ward.

Losing those two games in the middle was heartbreaking, but in the final game, giving it their all for an impossible win left Sun Yuanyang in tears of relief, nearly alarming the nurses.

Perhaps the most touching thing about esports is always the desire to win.

Though REAL only managed to win one game in the end, Qin Kunlun had to admit their effort.

“If their jungler hadn’t been ill today, ADT would have had a tough time.”

This team had a formidable spirit, a unity that was evident. As esports players, Qin Kunlun knew well that reaching the top four in the spring season was definitely not REAL’s limit.

So… could that be why Mo Yin paid attention to REAL’s mid laner?

Qin Kunlun turned around, but Mo Yin had already left the game and gone jogging.

He hadn’t watched the game just now; the system had offered to broadcast it, but Mo Yin had declined.

System: Sometimes I feel pretty useless.

When the final game ended, the system reported lightly, “Coordinator, the protagonist won a game.”

Mo Yin ignored it. The system couldn’t help but say, “Seems like because of your encouragement, the protagonist has evolved again. From this perspective, you’re actually quite dedicated.”

Mo Yin: “Don’t say dirty words.”

System: “…”

Mo Yin walked through the cool breeze and green leaves, stopping by the lake.

The lake shimmered with light, and he sat on a bench drinking water, gazing at the lights on the lake’s surface.

The “impact” from the previous world had been quite significant for him.

During the game just now, he had been distracted several times, thinking about Ye Chi.

He cared about Ye Chi, wondering how Ye Chi’s match had gone.

This was just a small world after all, where everything was false. To him and “Him,” this place was like a dream, like a play. Maybe in the past, he would have thought everything that happened here was worthless except for the moment when the small world exploded, which gave him pleasure.

But that mindset had unknowingly changed.

He was no longer indifferent and could perceive that these things would bring him joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

No matter whether what happened in the small world was real or false, the feelings generated in the moment were real.

So, all emotions are real.

Mo Yin picked up a stone from the ground and threw it into the lake.

With a “thud,” the stone sank into the water, and the lake quickly returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. Only the lake knew that its bottom might already be filled with stones.

Those were the persistent efforts of someone.

But why did that person do this?

What is His purpose?

Mo Yin threw another stone.

When this world collapses, he will properly handle Him.

*

The next day, DSG and KU held the winner’s bracket finals. The winner would advance directly to the grand finals, while the loser would compete against ADT, who defeated REAL, for the last spot in the grand finals.

For this match, all predictions from commentators and organizations favored DSG, with predictions of a 3-0 scoreline that didn’t leave much room for KU.

During pre-match interviews, KU’s players smiled wryly.

“I learned a lot from watching REAL’s game yesterday. Let’s not give up; anything is possible.”

KU’s captain looked determined, shouting encouragement with fervor when they took the stage. The atmosphere was intense and full of spirit.

On stage, apart from Mo Yin, DSG’s players hadn’t put on their headsets yet. They all turned to the side with expressions that were subtly cold, prompting netizens to comment: “[Dad, come see, there’s a fool here].”

The audience unanimously believed that KU faced a tougher challenge today in trying to win a game against DSG than REAL did yesterday, and it seemed much harder, not even on the same level.

— “[How should I put it, yesterday REAL seemed like a protagonist from a hot-blooded anime. It was difficult to win against ADT, but not impossible. KU trying to win a game against DSG today sounds like science fiction.]”

— “[Do you believe me, am I Qin Shi Huang or do you believe KU can win a game against DSG today?]

— “[Go check the odds, only gamble on reality.]”

Replies attached the odds from a certain betting website, where the odds of DSG winning were 1 to 0.0000001.

Betting 1 million on DSG would earn you one cent.

The comment section was filled with “…” in response to these sky-high odds.

What is dominance? This is true dominance, making even gamblers acknowledge it.

DSG’s game had nothing to do with hot-bloodedness; cold-bloodedness could describe it better. It was impeccable execution, suffocating operations, and superb discipline. After the first game, KU’s five players looked pale, their eyes glazed over, completely devoid of their initial spirit.

— “[So pitiful…]”

— “[The most feared episode in childhood.]”

— “[So boring, DSG just steamrolls through. It’s really not fun.]”

— “[Looks like DSG is going to win the spring championship again this year. If REAL’s jungler hadn’t been sick, maybe they could have challenged DSG. KU is being psychologically scarred every year by getting beaten.]”

— “[Ah? Third in the regular season, entering the playoffs for the championship? Really impressive, the crazy filial son will always find a way.]”

— “[Let’s have a rational discussion, don’t stereotype.]”

— “[A rational discussion is that REAL got beaten 2-0 by DSG in the regular season, pretending to be the middle way, I advise you crazy filial son to hold back your taste, don’t ruin the good feelings of the pedestrians you just sucked up.]”

Even though it was a match between DSG and KU, the audience was arguing fiercely about DSG and REAL.

DSG had been beating KU for years, and the audience had lost hope in KU or these veteran teams in the league. REAL was a team that had risen this season, showing promising momentum and giving viewers some “hope.”

For a team as strong as DSG, dominating the game for two consecutive years, it had many fans who liked it and also a group of people who disliked it, thinking that DSG’s games were “boring” and “predictable,” just watching the excitement and wanting to see strong players overturn.

As expected, the match between DSG and KU ended with a 3-0 victory for DSG.

There were no ups and downs in the match process.

Purely steamrolling.

KU held out a bit longer than ADT, with the match ending at 5 pm, at least holding on until 7:30 pm. The netizens in the replies suggested that if the betting site opened odds for DSG’s matches in the future, they should only open bets on how long DSG would take to win 3-0, and they wouldn’t bother with that one cent.

After the match ended, when Mo Yin was asked in a group interview about “who he thought would make it to the finals between KU and ADT,” Mo Yin raised his eyes. He didn’t take the microphone, and his lips moved.

Next to him, Tang Qi pushed the microphone over to him, and the reporters below said, “No need, no need,” he understood and guessed, the classic “whatever,” it didn’t matter who came up.

The match between KU and ADT was jokingly referred to as the runner-up final.

Whoever wins becomes the runner-up.

There’s also talk about the DSG filial piety competition; the winner gets the chance to pay respects to DSG in the finals.

In the end, ADT narrowly defeated KU 3:2, earning themselves this “filial piety ticket.”

The finals were ultimately set between DSG and ADT. Initially perceived by the audience as likely uneventful, excitement surged when the league announced the commentators.

Special guest commentator: Quit.

When the commentator list was announced, Ye Chi was gaming. His chat window instantly exploded with messages from numerous friends, both old and current contacts, all sending warm greetings. He chose to respond to ADT’s jungle player first.

——[Junming: Lao Tie, are you crazy hot?]

——[Playgay: ?]

——[Junming: Are you really commentating the finals?]

——[Playgay: Of course, it’s real. Haven’t they posted the commentator list?]

——[Junming: What’s your motive here?]

——[Junming: Are you dying with your bros, can’t bear to see him die alone?]

——[Playgay: = =]

——[Playgay: The league invited me, I agreed.]

——[Playgay: That’s it.]

——[Junming: I get it, you’re asking for an internet beating.]

——[Playgay: ?]

——[Junming: I advise you to speak less on the commentator’s desk. Big handsome fans have been giving you the side-eye for ages.]

——[Playgay: = =]

Honestly, Ye Chi found himself helpless too. Ultimately, it was his remark during the regular season about possibly winning that led to rather brutal loss at the end, and the mockery was quite normal.

But with the tags “Green Cha” and “Love Cling,” he genuinely felt wronged.

When the league extended the invitation, Ye Chi thought it over, feeling justified in his conscience. Plus, the chance to commentate on idol matches, why not go for it?

REAL’s teammates were quite supportive of Ye Chi. After the match with ADT, their already good relationship became even stronger. Chen Dong’s mouth twitched, wanting to say something, but in the end, he didn’t utter a word.

For the commentary, Ye Chi even went out to buy a suit. With the assistance of Sun Yuanyang, the recuperated second-generation rich, they went to a famous brand store and bought ready-to-wear clothes. Sun Yuanyang even had a tailor make some adjustments to ensure the suit fit perfectly.

On the day of the match, Ye Chi arrived early backstage. The league’s makeup artist helped him with his hair and styling. Ye Chi put on the suit, and backstage hosts and staff gathered around, teasing him.

“So handsome.”

“Quit, why so handsome today? Trying to steal jobs?”

“So stylish, take a photo, take a photo.”

Ye Chi was coerced into posing for photos by the group, not being an introverted person, and after being surrounded twice, he started to feel a little overwhelmed.

“I’m going for a walk.” Ye Chi stood up.

“Don’t go too far, the audience is about to come in.”

Ye Chi nodded and walked out of the dressing room, sighing lightly.

The finals were held in a new venue. It was Ye Chi’s first time there, so he wasn’t very familiar. Following the signs and the help of staff, he made his way to the entrance of the inner field.

The entrance to the inner field was luxuriously decorated.

Red carpet all around, two huge signing walls stood facing each other with the logos of DSG and ADT teams, each two meters high. Numerous hero figurine dolls from the game filled both sides of the passage. The booths were also longer than usual matches, looking several meters long.

DSG and ADT staff and fans were nervously preparing, not even noticing anyone coming close.

“Where’s that bracelet?”

“In the blue box over there.”

“I’ve looked, it’s not there.”

“Oh, it’s right in the…”

Fans looked up and saw an additional person in front of the booth.

First glance — Who’s the handsome guy?

Second glance — I rely on Brother Tea!

REAL players entered the field from backstage and sat down at the seats the league had prepared for professional players.

“Where’s the captain?”

“Not here yet, the audience has just arrived.”

“Go backstage to see?”

“Forget it, it’s too messy.”

The rest of the team’s players came to watch the game one after another, saying hello to each other, some holding their support items.

Chen Dong peeked upstairs at the commentator’s box. After a while, he brightened up and said, “The captain is here, the captain is here!”

“Where, where?”

The players stretched their necks to look at the commentator’s box.

“Too far to see clearly,” Chen Dong picked up his phone and zoomed in with the camera. “Oh my, really handsome… Don’t say a word, but Crazy Brother dressed up, he actually has some charm.”

“Crazy was always good-looking, okay? He just usually looks too rough. Among the four esports heartthrobs, he ranks second.”

“What about me?”

“Sorry, you’re not on the list.”

“Damn, what kind of rigged ranking is this?”

Chen Dong chuckled while zooming in again.

In the camera frame, Ye Chi wore a well-tailored deep blue suit, highlighting his somewhat contrasting figure with professional players. Perhaps due to the venue’s slight stuffiness, Ye Chi held a fan in his hand, his expressionless face looking cool and aloof. The light yellow fan in his hand added a touch of humor to his expression.

Chen Dong chuckled, “Why’s the captain holding such a cute fan…” He zoomed in closer, and on the waving fan, there seemed to be a chibi character. Squinting, Chen Dong finally made out the words on the character – “DSG-MY.”

Chen Dong: “…”

Oh no! The thing he feared most just happened!!!