TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 60

Despite the harsh comments, the viewership numbers didn’t drop at all. In fact, the number of viewers increased exponentially.

After logging into the event server, the map was limited to a wide, open area with no players, reserved for warming up. Players could make final adjustments to their skills and equipment here.

This was Xia Tong’s first time on the same team as everyone in P Team. While he was nervous, he also felt a wave of excitement, his hands gripping the staff, sometimes tight, sometimes loose.

“Brother…” He couldn’t help but move closer to Lin Mingfei, tugging at the Alpha’s sleeve. “Should I change my skills or something… It seems like everyone else is making changes…”

This action of his was broadcasted live.

The viewers watching the livestream couldn’t hear what the players were saying, but they saw this delicate and beautiful young boy clingily approaching and tugging at their aloof teammate’s clothes.

[I can’t… I can’t watch this. Is Zero babysitting now?]

[Look at this kid’s height, is he serious? You can’t even see him in the crowd! He might get accidentally trampled in a stampede.]

[Please, we came here to watch exciting battles, not to see a sweet little brother cling to his big brother, okay?]

[Can someone get him out of here? I don’t want to watch him cling to my husband!]

[Blink, get out of P Team! Get out of holographic esports! Get out of professional gaming!]

Meanwhile, Lin Mingfei lowered his head and gave Xia Tong a reassuring look.

“You don’t need to change anything. Like I said, today is just for testing the results of our training. Whether the outcome is good or bad, it’s all part of understanding where we stand.”

Xia Tong’s eyes shifted slightly. He wanted to say something, but it was already too late. They had been teleported from the preparation map into the competition arena.

This practice match followed the same format as official competitions, with a random map and a best-of-five format. There was also a live commentator for the event.

“Our legendary three-time champion team, Polaris, has returned, and they bring with them a very special new member. Ah, as we can see, the new member Blink is quite adorable and different from the traditional pro players we’ve seen… I wonder if they’ll surprise us!”

“On the other side, we have the Hulu Team… Ah, not many people remember this name, but they participated in the last league, though they didn’t achieve a very favorable result. This year, Hulu Team has undergone a major overhaul, adding three European players, all of whom have impressive rankings in the European server. Among them, Alex is a very famous Paladin player in the European server, specializing in raid tactics and a nightmare for many fragile classes. With these two teams colliding, we’re sure to see some thrilling moments! Let’s wait and see!”

“Ah, now we can see that both teams have entered the map! Let’s see what kind of mysterious environment they’ll encounter! WOW! WOW! WOW!” The commentator shouted with intense excitement. “Oh my god! It’s the most unpredictable and harsh environment, the Day-Night Plateau!”

The livestream camera switched to the in-game interface. The arena was dim, and the official broadcast adjusted the brightness and color saturation to allow viewers to see the players’ actions more clearly. In reality, the players were in a pitch-black plateau, unable to see anything. After a moment, a faint light appeared in the sky, gradually expanding, and the surrounding areas brightened as it turned to daylight. The players could finally see their surroundings—only sparse poplar trees in the distance, with cold winds occasionally sweeping through, creating a chilling and eerie atmosphere.

However, this bright moment didn’t last long. After about ten seconds, everything plunged back into darkness.

Indeed, this was the most controversial map in the competitive arena—The Day-Night Plateau. The lighting on the map randomly alternates between light and dark, significantly disrupting player operations and ruining the gaming experience. In such an environment, players can’t rely on their visual senses, and many team strategies become ineffective because they can’t see their surroundings. Most matches on this map devolve into chaotic brawls.

“Shit.” Zhou Yanjun couldn’t help but curse, “Is this how it starts? Are they doing this on purpose?”

Shi Ya shrugged, “Look on the bright side, at least whether we plan or not, the outcome will be the same.”

Bo Yu said, “Uh, just so you know, my hearing still isn’t that great.”

Yes, in this map, players with better sensory perception, aside from sight, had an advantage.

“My crosshair can give a limited view, but it’s not much.” Lin Mingfei said, “Let’s stay put for now and be cautious.”

The countdown timer reached zero.

All the viewers watching the livestream and the commentators involuntarily held their breath.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds… one minute passed, and everyone remained still in the dark, not moving. Only the hunter’s red crosshair silently swept the area ahead.

“No one’s here.” Lin Mingfei whispered.

“What the hell are they doing?” Zhou Yanjun muttered, “Why are they being so timid? What happened to the battle-hardened warriors?”

Shi Ya sighed, “Come on, we haven’t moved either, so don’t blame others.”

Bo Yu said, “If I were a viewer right now, my fists would be clenched.”

As expected, the bullet comments in the livestream were burning with rage.

[This? This? This?]

[Unless you tell me the screen is frozen, I can’t accept this!]

[Am I even watching holographic esports? Why can I only see an angry face on a dark screen?]

[What the hell? If you don’t want to fight, just forfeit! Don’t waste my time!]

[How cowardly! How cowardly! What’s the point of playing pro if you’re this scared?!]

[This is P Team? They won’t even make a move against some low-tier team, as expected of the Declining Team!]

The commentator put on an awkward but polite smile, cursing the organizers internally. Why did they include this map in the selection pool? He had no idea how to salvage the situation now.

Meanwhile, in the map, the sky briefly entered a state of constant daylight. The center of the field was empty, and soon, it returned to darkness. Xia Tong could barely tolerate it. His nerves, once tinged with anxiety, had turned into an overwhelming frustration.

–

The goblin’s mocking laughter echoed in his ears.

[Saber Tiger will always be the biggest winner, whether you cheat or not, the outcome won’t change!]

[You think you’ll even make it to the competition stage? Please, at least beat those Russian fools from the Hulu Team first! Little dwarf!]

[Honestly, Polaris should just admit they’re past their prime and live off their glorious history. Isn’t that enough? I’ve heard that if you guys can’t beat the Hulu Team, you won’t even have the right to register for the league. Wow, how embarrassing!]

[Forget about making it to the official competition, by this time next week, you’ll be lying in the arena crying!]

[Why bring Omega to play holographic esports? Zero really thought of this? Is he desperate? Or has he lost his mind with age? Hey, are you maybe some kind of connected person?]

[Coach Ping is practically dying of laughter over here! Lucky he didn’t go back with you guys.]

–

Lin Mingfei whispered to Shi Ya, “Timer, go out and take a hit, your skill has light, they can see it.”

Shi Ya was about to respond, but Xia Tong spoke up first.

“Let me go!” Xia Tong’s usually clear voice was now low and resolute, sounding like a completely different person. “I’m the most fragile, they’ll definitely want to target me. If I go out to take a hit, they’ll 100% show themselves.”

Shi Ya hesitated slightly. “But…”

“No buts,” Xia Tong said. He tossed this phrase over his shoulder and dashed out, his Ice Crystal Wand glowing brightly in the darkness like a star bursting into flames.

The barrage of comments in the livestream was already piling up.

[Is he crazy? A mage charging ahead like that? Doesn’t he want to die faster?]

[Is this the kind of awareness needed to play professionally? Is this a joke?]

[I said it before, Blink clearly wasn’t properly recruited into the team. I suggest you check the ethics of P Team members, maybe there’s something big to uncover.]

[Looks like someone’s favorite “White Moonlight” team might cause a scandal!]

[I can’t watch this anymore! He’s gonna die!!]

Xia Tong had just completed half of his skill cast when he saw the opponent’s figure charging at him. It was a fierce Russian with silver-white hair and deep eyes, a massive figure moving like a small mountain. Wielding a sharp battle axe, he closed the distance with lightning speed, “scraping” right at him.

The commentator seized the chance to shout excitedly, “As we all know, the ‘Mountain Splitter’ is the most powerful control skill for Axe Warriors. It’s usually used right after a charge, commonly to force the opponent into a disadvantageous start! It cannot be interrupted and cannot be blocked. For the next 1.5 seconds, Blink will be knocked to the ground, unable to use any skills, rendering him frozen in place unless he uses a cleanse or his healer throws down an ultimate. But with Blink’s gear and health, he definitely can’t survive the full barrage of attacks—oh my god!!! He dodged it!!” The commentator’s voice rose sharply, his tone becoming an excited scream. “Oh my god! Blink actually dodged Yevgeniev’s ‘Mountain Splitter’! He’s as agile as a bird!”

There was a brief silence in the livestream before the commentator screamed in disbelief, “He counterattacked!!!”

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