Was it a feint? Or was it a bluff?

There seemed to be only these two possibilities. Which one was it?

The viewers were merely guessing for the fun of it, but for Samsara, the guessing would affect whether they won or lost this match.

As a result, Samsaras guess was crucial. Everyone was staring intently at Samsaras team chat, observing the rapid discussion taking place there.

Samsara didnt hesitate. They didnt waver because of these possibilities because they didnt even bother discussing whether it was a feint or a bluff. From the beginning, the direction of Samsaras discussion was to look for a solution to both possibilities.

Samsara rushed out.

Whether it was a feint or a bluff, Ye Xiu was targeting their understanding of the terrain. Samsara had given up on utilizing the area that they were familiar with. Instead, they chose to leave and welcome Happy directly.

Did Ye Xius words really have that much of a psychological impact on them?

Not necessarily!

But Samsara didnt lower their guard. It was similar to when Happy had been on top of the pyramid, fully prepared in the unlikely scenario that Samsara would brainlessly charge up the pyramid. In contrast, instead of just being prepared, Samsara wanted to eliminate even the unlikeliest of scenarios.

Because of Ye Xius imposing air, everyone felt like the atmosphere of the match had been ruined. In reality, from these small details and from the way both teams approached this fight, the atmosphere wasnt ruined at all. It was completely in line with how the finals should be: careful and cautious as if this was their last hope, refusing to let even the slightest possibility go.

Finally, the two teams met.

Samsara charged out from the ruins, while Happy charged down from above the pyramid, losing their height advantage.

The two sides gradually approached, intentionally controlling their pace. Their footsteps were neither too fast nor too slow.

Dancing Rain raised her handcannon. Cloud Piercer raised his dual guns. These two long-ranged classes were about to enter each others attack range.

But the first to erupt wasnt the two long-ranged attackers, but Happys team chat.

An, fall back.

Tang, right, go around 3.

Qiao, right, follow 2.

Su, stay back, go high.

Four orders in quick succession. Go around three? Follow two? Most of the viewers were confused. A few of the more attentive ones, who paid attention to how teams communicated with each other, could understand the general meaning behind these two phrases.

Pan Lin and Li Yibo, the two commentators, had to be mentioned. Even though the two often made mistakes in their analysis, the two were quite diligent with their work. If they werent skilled enough to understand the teams intentions, then there wasnt much they could do about it. However, the two had spent time going over things that could be studied like how the team shot callers worded their orders to the team.

Although Happy was a new team, their shotcalling style and wording wasnt too strange. After all, their shot caller was Ye Xiu, who had led Excellent Era for close to eight years. His same shotcalling habits had been brought over to Happy, so Pan Lin and Li Yibo didnt need to put in much effort to grasp it again.

Most people were confused by the phrases like go around three and follow two, but Pan Lin was already yelling in astonishment: Go around three? Follow two? This map

Pan Lins astonishment wasnt towards Ye Xius arrangements but the way he worded his orders. Because from what he understood, the phrases go around three and follow two were frequently used in their home game matches. In other words, they really only used these phrases in maps that they were familiar with.

The numbers two and three werent coordinates, but rather an agreed upon direction. It was suitable for some maps, while unsuitable for others. But for a random map

A random map?

Pan Lin blanked. Li Yibo had realized it faster than Pan Lin. He had been trying to piece together his understanding of these two phrases and the maps terrain, and he soon discovered that the pieces fit together perfectly.

This terrain

Happy had observed this terrain from up on top of the pyramid, Li Yibo said.

But they never communicated anything about it in the team chat! Pan Lin said.

Certain agreed upon things dont need to be communicated Li Yibo said.

Changes had begun happening in Happys formation. Tang Rou and Qiao Yifan started moving towards the right, while Su Mucheng and An Wenyi had started moving back. Ye Xius Lord Grim started moving to the left, leaving the front completely open.

For a moment, Happys healer was in Samsaras direct line of sight. This seemed to be a good opportunity for them to charge right through the middle to him, but Ye Xiu, Tang Rou, and Qiao Yifan were clearly planning on surrounding them.

A pincer?

It looked like one!

But seeing the orders go around three and follow two, Li Yibo explained that Happys intentions were to separate the enemies!

A random map has its advantages!

Li Yibo sighed with emotion. His eyes were practically brimming with tears of excitement. If every match had shot callers clearly listing out their teams every move, then he would never make humiliating mistakes in his analysis. Communication through glances, tacit understanding, Li Yibo hated those deeply.

Lets see how Samsara will respond. Right now is indeed a good opportunity for them to directly go for Happys healer, but that would only be the case if Happys goal is to pincer them. In reality, Happys goal is to separate Samsara, as a counter to Samsaras attempt to charge straight through the middle Li Yibo said.

What will Samsara do they havent said anything in their team chat, but theyre starting to make adjustments too Pan Lin shouted, Cloud Piercer is lined up in the middle, One Autumn Leaf in front, healer at the center, Jiang Botao and Wu Qi behind Samsara is planning on engaging in a frontal assault!!

A frontal assault?

The expressions on the spectating pro players were grave.

That was what their formation looked like, but it was too early to tell if that was their plan. Pan Lin elaborated on the positions of each of Samsaras players, but he didnt go in order of when they moved into position.

This ordering was crucial. Communication through glances was done starting from one character, creating a butterfly effect where everyone else would react and fall into place. Samsaras change in formation had started with Zhou Zekais Cloud Piercer, and Pan Lin had mentioned him first. By the time he had started discussing this point, Samsaras formation had been completed. He had just been going in order from front to back. But if you looked more closely, there was a difference in who moved first and who moved later. Zhou Zekai had been the first to move because he was the teams core. Next was Jiang Botaos Empty Waves, and then Fang Minghua, Wu Qi, and finally Sun Xiang.

Sun Xiang moving last wasnt because he was the new player on the team or because he was the most lacking in synergy with the team.

It was actually the opposite. Sun Xiang moving last was precisely the reason for why the ordering mattered.

If Samsara had truly been planning on a full frontal assault, Sun Xiangs One Autumn Leaf, the teams spearpoint, should have been the fastest to react to Zhou Zekais Cloud Piercer. Because this frontal assault would be led by him. He needed to be the first to act so that the others could respond to his actions accordingly.

But he moved last. The average viewer might not find anything strange about it, but to the pro players, it was suspicious. If Samsaras intentions were for a frontal assault, then this would be considered a mistake on Sun Xiangs part for being absent-minded.

However, this wasnt a mistake!

The steadiness that Samsara displayed in their formation gave the pro players a sense that Sun Xiangs lateness was to cover up something.

But what was it?

There wouldnt be a replay for it. For a moment, no one could see through it. They could only wait and see what would happen next.

Samsara continued forward!

It really did look like they planned on charging straight for Happys healer.

Happys left and right flank had formed and were beginning to converge

Charge!

A character suddenly rushed out from Samsaras formation towards Happys healer.

One Autumn Leaf?

No, Cloud Piercer!

Samsaras offense had begun, but the one at the front was Zhou Zekais Cloud Piercer!