The Miracle Team has received similar treatment before, but after repeatedly disappointing their fans, they were lucky if they weren't pelted with vegetables. That's how this industry is: win and you're praised, lose and you're criticized. Whoever is strong is right, and being weak is the original sin, so no one can be blamed.
The group entered the backstage lounge, where many teams were already waiting. They exchanged distant nods and greetings. Xi Rong led them to the Miracle team's seats, while Yi Jinbai had already been led to the audience area by his assistant.
"Stay calm, it'll be fine, okay?"
Xi Rong clenched his fist to boost morale. Everyone knew what was going on without him saying it. "Don't worry, Brother Xi."
Because there were many matches on the first day, the competition between teams was conducted simultaneously in several live streams, without much detailed commentary. The real highlight will be the finals tomorrow.
Slaughter Team and the other two heavyweight teams each have their own dedicated rest rooms, allowing Miracle Team to have some peace and quiet before the match.
With everyone present, the invitational tournament officially began. After the pre-tournament procedures were completed, the atmosphere heated up. The host stood on the stage and introduced the participating teams one by one, who then came up to the stage to make their appearances.
Other teams received varying degrees of cheers when they went on stage, until the host announced the name of the Miracle team.
"Next up, please welcome the Miracle Team, led by Captain Jiang Bai!"
There was no applause, no cheers, and even a lot of discussion.
Standing under the spotlight, Jiang Shuiyun's gaze precisely found Yi Jinbai's position, in a corner very close to the front, with a good view and without attracting attention. Only she and Xi Rong next to her were earnestly applauding them.
The other members of the Miracle Team were also drawn to the faint applause. Their unavoidable disappointment was quickly soothed, and they raised their heads again. Yao Yao Ling and Jiao Yang even made a heart shape with their hands in their direction.
The whispers from the audience grew louder and louder, and the people standing on the stage could even hear them.
"They have such a good mentality; they're beaten to a pulp and still have the nerve to show their faces?"
"Yeah, that's right. But their new captain is actually pretty good-looking. With looks like that, what's wrong with him? Why would he choose to play esports?"
"Their team members are all good-looking. I initially became a fan because of their looks, but later I got so angry that I had a heart attack."
...
The initial snub and cold words had no effect on them; their strength and results were the best way to prove themselves again.
After all the teams were introduced, the stage was divided into nine areas, and each team took their seats, waiting for the competition to begin.
The competition uses a best-of-three format. The loser still has the opportunity to challenge other teams. A second loss will result in direct elimination. However, if the audience votes for a revival match reach the required standard, the eliminated team can participate in a revival match and challenge again.
While the rules were being explained, all the players began checking their computers to make sure there were no problems.
After the inspection was completed, the game began at the host's signal.
The opponent's level was average, and Jiang Shuiyun didn't intend to take any risks. He also chose the most common lineup and tactics, without trying to be different or make a big splash in the first game.
Jiang Shuiyun still chose to control the game, and the others also chose their positions. As the countdown ended, the ten people entered the game.
Jiang Shuiyun had no intention of giving the opponent a chance. As soon as the game started, she took the initiative to occupy advantageous terrain, set up her formation, and began to compete for resources.
In the early stages, the two sides even seemed to be keeping to themselves. Just when the opposing team thought that the Miracle Team was being cowardly and was eager to launch an attack, Jiang Shuiyun launched a precise barrage that caught them off guard, causing them to lose a lot of health. Then, the Killing Apostle provided cover while the Viper and Sword Aura began to wreak havoc. Yao Yaoling stayed close to the two, providing them with life support.
From attacking to being counter-killed, this dramatic turn of events threw the opposing team into disarray, making them even more vulnerable. Under the relentless pursuit of the Miracle Team, not only did they fail to defend the Venom Fang base, but they were also completely wiped out. The first battle ended in less than ten minutes.
The viewers were engrossed in watching the various teams battle it out when a notification appeared in the public chat.
Miracle Team: Venomous Fang Team = 1:0
So fast?!
Viewers, somewhat incredulous, switched to the Miracle Team's live stream. The words "Game Over" appeared on the big screen. The members of the Poison Fang Team looked dejected, while the members of the Miracle Team were already leisurely drinking tea.
After a short break, before the other teams had even finished their first match, Miracle Team had already started their second match. The number of viewers watching the live stream this time increased dramatically and continued to rise.
The first match had already broken their mentality, and Jiang Shuiyun also planned to finish the second match quickly. He directly chose two forwards and relied on the advantage of the forwards in the early game to leave the opponent no room to develop. The opponent originally thought that without the abnormally accurate range coverage at the beginning, they would have a glimmer of hope, but they did not expect to be in even deeper despair.
This time, they hadn't even reached the mid-game yet, and their equipment hadn't even been fully developed. The elusive double forwards and the sharpshooter hiding in the shadows had already driven them to the brink of collapse. The Killer Apostle and 110, who stayed in the open to draw fire, were even more insane. With the tank's health bar and the constant supply of support, their damage was simply impossible to penetrate.
This round was even more decisive than the last, ending the battle in eight minutes without any suspense.
Leaving aside the members of the Poison Fang team, even the viewers of the live stream were dumbfounded. What was this? Was this really a showdown between top players? It felt more like a max-level pro player dominating a newbie village.
And isn't this "miracle team" practically being renamed the men's soccer team? Are they really that strong? Are you seeing things?
Although the Slaughter team announced a 2-0 victory two minutes later, it no longer attracted any attention. Most people were busy watching the Miracle team's live replay, wanting to see how this match was played so ridiculously.
With their first victory, the Miracle Team finally felt a huge weight lifted off their shoulders. Confident as they were, the repeated setbacks still left a psychological scar, and this victory finally put their minds at ease.
The two teams shook hands in turn. Miracle Team went to the throne belonging to the victors first, while Venom Team went to the waiting area.
After sitting down, Jiang Shuiyun looked at Yi Jinbai below the stage. Although she didn't know if Yi Jinbai could understand it, judging from Xi Rong's excited appearance, Yi Jinbai was probably forced to understand by Xi Rong's rambling.
The first round of matches has gradually come to an end, and the nine winning teams will now face the challenge.
The Poison Fang team avoided the Miracle team first and chose another weaker team whose reaction speed was not as fast, so they could only take turns.
Those who originally wanted to choose the Miracle Team also quietly avoided it after seeing the Miracle Team's performance. In the end, the two little-known teams had no choice but to bite the bullet and choose the last remaining Slaughter Team and Miracle Team.
The second round of the challenge was still a best-of-three format, with almost no suspense. The Miracle team finished two games in twenty minutes and was the first to qualify. The audience was almost numb watching. Was the opponent really that easy to defeat?
The Slaughter Team fell behind again, seething with anger, but there was nothing they could do.
In the second round of the challenge, only the Venomous Fang team succeeded and advanced to the top nine.
Within a morning, the top nine had been determined, and the live stream's popularity soared to its peak. Discussions about the Miracle team were also increasing wildly. Some questioned whether the team that faced off against the Miracle team had engaged in match-fixing or if there were other issues. However, the live stream replay was there, and the Miracle team's performance was undeniable; the difference in skill was immediately apparent.
[Holy crap! How did they achieve such precise firepower coverage?!]
[How did you do that combo? Thanks. I just tried it and my hands are all twisted up. Can someone help me untangle them?]
[Ahhhhh! Beautiful girls and handsome guys, hahaha!]
...
The online reviews of the Miracle Team took a complete 180-degree turn, catching everyone off guard. In the competitive arena, absolute strength can crush everything.
Media outlets that had already prepared to criticize the Miracle Team and even had their articles ready suddenly wished they had eight hands to frantically revise them. Some media outlets that thought they had foresight and published articles criticizing the Miracle Team first were even more tragically caught in the crossfire.
Xi Rong was looking at the comments on his phone when he walked back to the locker room from the competition venue. He was laughing so hard that he almost showed his teeth. He hadn't felt so triumphant in a long time.
After Xi Rong had finished laughing, he stretched his face, which was numb from laughing, and raised his fist. "Don't be arrogant in victory! Never be proud, keep a calm mind! Keep up the good work this afternoon!"
Everyone rolled their eyes at him speechlessly. They had originally wanted to be proud, but looking at Xi Rong's dazed appearance, they were really afraid that if they were proud, they would end up looking like that fool, so they immediately calmed down.
Jiang Shuiyun and Yi Jinbai walked at the back, and were the quietest. Jiang Shuiyun didn't really care much about this victory because they were not on the same level. Yi Jinbai was genuinely happy for them, but he wasn't good at expressing it.
"Jiaoyang, let's continue with the lottery at noon today!"
As they ate, Xi Rong patted Jiao Yang on the shoulder. After lunch, they rested briefly before preparing for the afternoon's nine-to-five elimination round.
The draw determined that one of the nine teams would be left out. The left-out team would not have to participate in the first round. If no one challenged them in the second round, they would advance directly. Xi Rong struggled for a long time before finally drawing a team that would be slaughtered.
What a coincidence! But it's not a big deal, since they've been wanting to meet the Slaughter Team for a while now anyway.
After an hour's break, they returned to the competition venue. Xi Rong sat next to Yi Jinbai and, seeing that Yi Jinbai was still wearing a mask and hat, fanned himself. "Jinbai, you don't need to wear that mask anymore. Just wear a hat. It's too stuffy in here."
Yi Jinbai was also having trouble breathing, so he took off his mask.
The atmosphere became noticeably more lively in the afternoon, and the entire audience erupted in cheers.
Just as Jiang Shuiyun was wondering why everyone was so enthusiastic before the competition even started, the host came out to go through the program and announced that there would be an intermission performance, which would be performed by the recently popular star Fei Yan, singing the promotional song for "Star Wars".
Upon hearing the name, Jiang Shuiyun and Yi Jinbai were both taken aback.
Jiang Shuiyun checked the name on the screen again; it was correct, it was a character that appeared in the original text.
A note from the author:
Second update, third update at 6 AM, I can do it! Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 23:01:58 on May 10, 2022 and 01:18:27 on May 11, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: yuminous (1 landmine);
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: T.iu 20 bottles; Beichuan 10 bottles; LXY:) 1 bottle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 29
Jiang Shuiyun still had some impression of Fei Yan from the original text because Fei Yan was the only one who had helped Yi Jinbai.
Fei Yan and Yi Jinbai graduated from Slulis Academy in the same year. Fei Yan was Yi Jinbai's senior. He had a crush on Yi Jinbai during their student days, but Yi Jinbai lost contact with him after graduation. It wasn't until much later that the two met again by chance. At that time, Yi Jinbai was in dire straits. Fei Yan wanted to help her, but he died young in an accident on his way back. This is another tragic plot point in the original story.
In the original text, Fei Yan's appearance was like a ray of light in Yi Jinbai's boundless darkness, but this ray of light was fleeting, and the hope in her heart was shattered once again. Jiang Shuiyun can still recall the feeling of a heart attack she had when she watched this part of the story; just thinking about it makes her feel suffocated.
However, shouldn't Yi Jinbai and Fei Yan's reunion in the original text have been earlier than this?
As Jiang Shuiyun was lost in thought, the lights went out, music started, and then people appeared from the darkness.
The celebrities' dressing rooms and the contestants' dressing rooms are clearly not together, otherwise Jiang Shuiyun would have known about this segment.
As the music quickened, the lights suddenly turned on. Jiang Shuiyun looked at the person standing in the middle. He was a male Alpha with a very penetrating voice and a tall stature. Although she couldn't see his face, he should be similar to the description in the text.
Leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, he didn't know why, but this person, who was clearly the only one in the original story who wanted to help Yi Jinbai, now seemed a little unpleasant to him. Perhaps his fate was too fragile? He gave Yi Jinbai hope only to shatter it?
Thinking of this, Jiang Shuiyun looked towards Yi Jinbai in the audience. Coincidentally, at that moment, Fei Yan also saw Yi Jinbai in the audience. He even raised the pitch of the song and continued to sing while looking at Yi Jinbai without any attempt to hide it. He even raised his hand to greet her.
Sitting next to Yi Jinbai, Xi Rong was also bewildered by this whole commotion. Just as the camera was about to turn in their direction following Fei Yan's gaze, Xi Rong quickly pulled down the brim of Yi Jinbai's hat. "Jinbai, put on your mask! This guy's crazy! He can't take his eyes off pretty girls. It's so annoying!"
Yi Jinbai: ...
Silently listening to Xi Rong's words, Yi Jinbai put on a mask. Just as he was about to explain to Xi Rong, the song ended, and the huge cheers and applause from the audience drowned out all other sounds, also putting an end to Yi Jinbai's desire to explain.
After the song ended, the host returned to the stage. "Thank you, Fei Yan, for your performance. Fei Yan is also a contestant in this year's All-Star Game. Everyone should look forward to Fei Yan's performance tomorrow! Now let's focus on the competition!"
Jiang Shuiyun glanced at Fei Yan, who kept looking back at the audience before leaving the stage, half-relaxed her eyelids, and a flash of displeasure disappeared from her eyes.
The warm-up is over, and now it's time for the official match.
The match between Miracle Team and Slaughter Team is sure to be a highlight. One team is the dark horse of the tournament, and the other is a veteran powerhouse. They've ended up facing off in the round of 9. In no time, most viewers tuned into the live stream to witness history.
The stage was divided into four areas. As soon as the Miracle Team and the Slaughter Team took their seats, the tension between the two sides was palpable, even through the screen.
Although Jiang Shuiyun was somewhat unhappy because of Fei Yan's matter earlier, her expressionless face and half-relaxed eyelids exuded a casual sense of oppression. Now, sitting opposite her was the Slaughter Team, so everyone was naturally drawn into the situation, making it even more exciting. The screen was almost full of comments.
[Let's fight! I love watching this!]
[Captain Jiang Bai is so cool!]
[Naifufu's snakes look so cute when they're angry! Hit them!]
How did the massacre provoke such a reaction from the miracle? The entire group is feeling oppressed, but please continue!
...
Amidst a screen full of bullet comments, the game finally began.