Chapter 38: Team Battle

"That's strange. Where did he go? How can someone take twenty minutes just to use the restroom and still not be back?"

Wang Xiaoqian leaned against the bar in the lounge area, her delicate brows knitted, exhaustion plain on her face. Her left hand was still injured and had been in a sling for some time, making it increasingly uncomfortable. It was already midday, and the soy milk and steamed buns she'd had for breakfast had long since been expended in the morning's activities.

She pulled out her phone and dialed his number, but only the familiar, icy voice greeted her:

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off."

"Ugh, what is he doing? Why did he turn his phone off?" Wang Xiaoqian muttered in annoyance, clearly irritated.

"That damned guy, he wouldn't just disappear on me, would he?"

"But that can't be. His backpack is still here, and so are his car keys."

"Maybe his phone ran out of battery?"

Unable to figure it out, she decided to wait a while longer.

"Ladies and gentlemen, dear guests, sorry to interrupt," the host suddenly announced from the stage, his tone apologetic. The people in the internet café, caught off guard, turned their attention to Fang Yang, who had just finished his demonstration and stood up.

"Everyone, our apologies, but Mr. Fang Yang has received an urgent call. After discussing it with Ms. Youyou, we've decided that Liu Ran will step in to give you all a show."

The crowd nodded in understanding; this arrangement was acceptable.

Seeing that the atmosphere remained lively, the host beamed. "Mr. Liu Ran and his friends will hold a 5V5 competitive match. Just like an official tournament, there will be one round each of Team Deathmatch, Demolition, and Elimination modes. Let's give a warm round of applause for this thrilling face-off!"

The room erupted in excitement. Liu Ran was a former world champion, and his friends were all top-tier players. Even if this was just a friendly match, it promised to be every bit as electrifying as an official tournament. Watching such a match live and for free—where else could one find such excitement? Most people had never attended a live event before and were filled with curiosity and anticipation.

A 5V5 match.

Most people didn't know the inside story. On Yang Yu's side, there were seven people. On Li Xin's side? Only him and Liu Ran. The other three were fans Liu Ran had recruited at the last minute.

Someone as popular as Liu Ran always had die-hard fans wherever he went. Some of those fans were highly skilled, and they'd all gotten to know each other in various chat rooms and groups. When Liu Ran put out a call for players in a group chat five minutes earlier, these fans had been both surprised and delighted.

Fortunately, none of them recognized Li Xin.

Hearing about the match, Wang Xiaoqian settled down, ordered two take-out meals, and planned to eat while she watched and waited for Li Xin to return.

After a brief preparation, both teams entered their soundproof booths. Noticing that one team consisted of the same baseball-capped men who had just won, many in the audience were puzzled and began to speculate.

So heavily disguised—could they be professional players?

There was no more time for discussion; the match had begun.

First round: Team Deathmatch on Desert-1TD.

The team mode was simple: whoever eliminated the set number of opponents first within the time limit would win. In official matches, the map was always Desert-1TD—twenty-minute rounds, 150 kills to win.

For most players, their first experience with the game was in team mode. The concept was simple: go in, kill, die, respawn, and repeat endlessly. But in competition, it was far more complex. Teamwork was everything—strategy, coordination, communication, mobility, defense, blocking, and more.

The Dongjia team needed no introduction—they were all professionals. While they specialized in Demolition, they were also formidable in Team Deathmatch, each member a sharpshooter. On Liu Ran and Li Xin’s side, there were two retired pros and three amateur experts, all playing together for the first time, unfamiliar with each other’s styles.

Even without knowing Yang Yu and his team's true identities, anyone could see the disparity between the teams—a chasm as wide as a gorge.

"Hey, aren't those three with Liu Ran local experts from Gaoyou?"

"You’re right, they are!"

"Wow, and they dare to go up against that team? The other side screams 'professional.'"

"Impressive, even if I don't fully get it."

"Same here."

"Who knows, maybe that chubby guy in the cap on Liu Ran’s team is an ace."

...

As the audience whispered among themselves, the match kicked off.

The Desert-1TD map was huge, divided into four key zones: the main route, the mezzanine hall, the secondary route, and the connector. These were the critical points for scoring; typically, the main route was the first to be seized. Controlling it meant holding a decisive advantage.

Both teams used the accounts provided by the café, with identical equipment and peripherals, putting them on even footing.

From the start, Yang Yu led three teammates, rifles in hand, charging through the central route, while their sniper leaped up to the main corridor. Their coordination was seamless, immediately pulling off an impressive opening with a 4:0 lead.

The café erupted in cheers and applause, marveling at the team's strength.

Inside the booth, though, the Dongjia team remained vigilant, with Yang Yu issuing concise commands:

"Baby, snipe their respawn connector."

"Cool, take the mezzanine, watch for flanks from the secondary route."

"You two, come with me—keep up the pressure on the main route."

The four received their orders, faces serious. The opposing team might be a makeshift lineup, but Li Xin and Liu Ran were undeniably strong. From past experience, Li Xin could perform at near-peak form for an hour before his condition declined.

On their side, though, things looked grim. Aside from Li Xin, the other four had all been eliminated and were waiting to respawn.

"Don't panic. All four of you push out together and hit the main route. I'll cover," Li Xin instructed, sniping Dongjia’s KK from the window.

The three local experts from Gaoyou had been puzzled at first—why was this chubby guy calling the shots? Was he even qualified? But Li Xin’s quick kill shattered their doubts and steadied their nerves.

"Don't just stand there. Beat the pros and you’ll have bragging rights," Liu Ran urged through his headset, charging out with his M4A1 Thunder. The other three snapped to attention, adrenaline surging.

No wonder Liu Ran had seemed so serious before—the opponents were professionals.

"Let's get them!" Wang Shuai growled, following closely.

Their morale soared. Facing off against a pro team—even losing would be an honor worth sharing.

By this time, Li Xin had already secured a double kill. Leaping out the window, he took down their sniper before falling himself.

The café buzzed with shock—Liu Ran’s team had a hidden master.

The booths were made of semi-transparent glass, so it was impossible to see exactly who was playing the sniper. That only added to the excitement.

"Damn it!" Yang Yu spat. Dawn was just as formidable as ever.

"Baby, stay sharp and keep up the pressure. I doubt Li Xin will snipe through mid again—watch for your chance."

"Got it!" Baby replied, her hands flying over the keyboard and mouse.

Sure enough, after respawning, Li Xin switched to a rifle and sprinted for the secondary stairwell.

Dongjia’s aim was too precise; a straight firefight was pointless. If they could take the mezzanine and get kills from the sides, there was still a glimmer of hope!