Chapter 158: Unt.i.tled

Translator:

Atlas Studios

Editor:

Atlas Studios

Nuo suddenly came up with a thought. “Do you guys have such an experience, when you were disobedient when you were young, your mother will grab you and say if you continue to make noise she’ll feed you to the Big Bad Wolf…”

Mo Huaifeng lifted his eyes and squinted at Nuo.

The others sn.i.g.g.e.red out loud, Ji Zhiyao said while chuckling, “Nuo you mutt, you and Captain are both in the bottom lane. If you two become arch-enemies, Captain might just stand aside and watch as you get sent to your doom…”

Nuo wailed, “d.a.m.n me, Captain, I made a mistake earlier, it’s if you continue to make noise she’ll send you to the police officer. You are a great public servant of the people, please have mercy on me.”

Mo Huaifeng responded, “Heh.”

The stats a.n.a.lyzer put an end to their play. “Alright, stop the loquacity. 20 minutes is almost up. Captain, Heng, Noh.o.m.o, three of you get ready and go on.”

There was this single moment when Ji Zhiyao heard the sound of his own heartbeat.

Overwhelmingly nervous.

And a mix of several thoughts “will I be able to play well”, “are there fans out there who will call my name”, “will I lose” spun around in his mind.

Walking into the players’ pa.s.sageway, he was so nervous beside Mo Huaifeng that he was almost swinging his arm while putting the same foot forward. Mo Huaifeng caught it, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Is a battleteam that we thrashed during the performance tournament tour worthy of you being so afraid?”

“Who said I’m afraid? This is obviously me being nervous.”

This was his first time standing on the official compet.i.tion stage.

Mo Huaifeng laughed, Heng said, “Noh.o.m.o, even if the sky falls Captain would be there to hold it up. Just take it that you’re going into the arena for a walk, you don’t have to bother about everything else.”

Ji Zhiyao nodded, yet as the nervousness at heart decreased, another odd feeling rose gradually.

That was antic.i.p.ation.

Finally, they reached the end of the pa.s.sageway. Ji Zhiyao lifted his leg and strode over the border between light and darkness and heard the fervent screams from the audience outside.

When he sat down in his seat, the merged feelings of nervousness, anxiety, antic.i.p.ation instantly vanished without a trace, leaving him with stability and an intriguing sense of belonging.

He nodded to Mo Huaifeng and Heng, and all three put on their headphones.

Nian Nian: “After 3 years, seeing Fi-G.o.d appear on the scene of the national qualifiers once again, I believe everyone is definitely feeling the same way that I am, extremely extremely excited. Fi-G.o.d was the first name I knew when I stepped into the eSports scene, that I am able to do the commentary for Fi-G.o.d’s compet.i.tion, I’m virtually feeling so nervous right now that I’m out of words.”

Qing Tian: “Partic.i.p.ating in this round, other than Fi-G.o.d and Heng who played the solo earlier, we have a new face, jungler reserve Yao. To be honest, because I’ve seen some revelations from within the scene, I am very curious about the capability of this player, truly lucky to have the fortune of witnessing his playing today.”

Nian Nian: “We shall say no more, both Mix and Stickers are ready to go, the compet.i.tion begins.”

Ji Zhiyao entered his username and pa.s.sword to log on to his account and confirm that his game was in the ready mode. While doing these few actions, his hands were a little numb.

After selecting a high burst damage and less tanky a.s.sa.s.sin, Ji Zhiyao clicked on “Begin match”.

At the end of the countdown, Heroes Valley appeared on the screen.

Upon seeing the familiar setting, Ji Zhiyao, who had almost memorized the full view of Heroes Valley, relaxed a little. After moving his fingers for a while, he properly got into his mode.

For this 3v3, Stickers battleteam had sent their mid-laner, ADC and top-laner.

Ji Zhiyao had chosen the lane where Sticker’s top-laner would be at.

Due to the consideration that Stickers’ top-laner might pick a tank champion that wouldn’t be easy to battle against, he gave up on health and chose high burst damage.

Though the jungle of the 3v3 arena was pitifully small, Ji Zhiyao still entered the jungle and killed several creeps before the minions sp.a.w.ned and earned a few hundred gold.

Then he bought a pair of accelerated boots, swiftly s.h.i.+fting to the s.p.a.ce between the two team’s turrets and met Stickers’ top-laner who was killing minions.

Following that was a direct attack.

Outside of their earphones, Nian Nian said in surprise: “Logically speaking, I thought he wanted to just give two hits as a test, never thought that he really meant business once he went forward. Yao’s hand-speed is considered rather fast amongst junglers, he combined the second and first ability with his auto-attack, not giving his opponent any time to react.”

Qing Tian: “Yesterday’s Bamboo is like today’s Stickers’ Seer, the champions that they chose are too slow, right now the attack speed of Seer and Yao is totally disproportionate. Seer can’t even touch the ends of his s.h.i.+rt.”

Just like Qing Tian had said, Ji Zhiyao was now making use of his hand-speed and the disadvantageous position of Stickers’ mid-laner Seer, to play so aggressively against Seer that he lost all his bearings. Although Ji Zhiyao’s current attack damage wasn’t high, but his attack speed was, the rate at which Seer’s health was falling was an unbearable sight.

At this moment, Ji Zhiyao happened to level up to level three, because Seer did not jungle, his level was slightly suppressed, and could only retreat into the defense turret. Ji Zhiyao unlocked his third ability, and a thought formed astutely in his mind.

If he cannot give chase and kill Seer now, then after he recalls and regains his health, it might become very difficult to do so.

Hence Ji Zhiyao glanced at his health that was missing a bar and decisively rushed into the turret.

Turret dive, ability attack, forced kill!

When the system flashed out the “first blood” notice, Ji Zhiyao swiftly withdrew out from within the turret, seeing himself left with the last trace of health, a thin sheen of perspiration formed on his forehead.

Almost, but still fine.

Ji Zhiyao did not return to fountain, but killed the remaining few minions in the middle lane and recovered some health. Before Seer resp.a.w.ned, half of the turret had already been destroyed.

The second wave of minions sp.a.w.ned, Ji Zhiyao took time and glanced at Mo Huaifeng and Heng’s situation, finding that both of them were having a relatively easier time. Especially Heng, in the previous round he had single-handledly killed the opponent’s mid-laner several times, leaving the opponent very unmotivated to play against him.

Ji Zhiyao noticed and said into the ear-mic, “Heng, come to the bottom lane in a while, we’ll mess with Seer.”

Heng: “Sure, wait for me to get an armor penetration equipment. Later I’ll grope my way through the bushes and send him to the West.”

Ji Zhiyao: “Get a defense type while you’re at it too, later you’ll stand at the front and tank the damage for me.”

Heng: “d.a.m.n, you’re really inhumane.”

Ji Zhiyao: “Captain can come tank for me too, but he’s too far away from me. Why don’t you swap with Captain?”

Heng: “Forget it, the opposite ADC’s far range burst damage is leaving me in s.h.i.+vers. I’m better off messing with Seer.”

Meanwhile Ji Zhiyao happened to begin engaging with Seer, he said, “Come right now.”

Hence when Seer was sent into retreat due to enticement, Heng silently appeared from the bushes at the border of the middle and bottom lane and struck Seer from the back.

A perfect cooperation by the two lanes.

At the same time that Seer was killed, the screen and game sound effects indicated that Mo Huaifeng had also gotten a kill at the bottom lane.

Time rewound to a minute before.

Mo Huaifeng’s hand-speed and level was so oppressive that his opponent was about to puke blood. The champion that he had chosen was the “burst damage if aiming is good, useless if aiming is terrible” type. However, as the 3rd best ADC on the international ranks, the words “inaccurate aiming” were never in his dictionary. He unlocked his ultimate, several arrows flew out and knocked out the opposite ADC who was hiding under his defense turret.

Both the top and bottom lanes bloomed, basically establis.h.i.+ng Mix’s dominance in the early phase.

Heng returned to the middle, continuing to tease the opposing mid-laner, while much less needed to be said about Mo Huaifeng’s bottom lane. The opponents probably didn’t dare to have any ideas about him either.

When the levels were developed, Ji Zhiyao was a whole level and a half above his opponent, but he had merely given an attempt at striking Seer, then gave up. Seer was too tank-like, if two or three people ganged up on him, it might still be possible to kill him, but it would take a great deal of effort for Ji Zhiyao to kill him alone.

Thus Ji Zhiyao hid behind his turret, peacefully killing minions on top of defending the turret, no matter how Seer tempted him, he did not change spots at all.

Seer also did try going to the other two lanes, but the outcome that he received in addition to letting Ji Zhiyao push down a turret at the top lane, was being attacked by Heng and Mo Huaifeng at the same time. Resigned, Seer returned to the top lane once again.

In the time when Ji Zhiyao was silently defending the turret, Mo Huaifeng did not disappoint, advancing triumphantly, pus.h.i.+ng down all the turrets at the bottom lane.

Nian Nian: “Right now we are only a step away from the end of the match, we can see that the bottom lane has been cleared, Fi-G.o.d has already rushed into Stickers battleteam’s base. Now Seer has given up the top lane, clicking on the recall b.u.t.ton, preparing for a last minute salvage.”

Qing Tian: “Yet Yao did not head towards the top lane, but secretly pushed down the last two turrets at the top lane, while the remaining five players are in a tangled fight, seems like he’s intending to meet his teammates at Stickers’ base.”

As Ji Zhiyao was destroying the last turret, he heard Mo Huaifeng ask through the ear-mic, “How much left?”

Ji Zhiyao: “I’ll be done right away.”

Heng: “Their mid-laner just died, Captain and I will try to bring the remaining two away, you push the crystal directly.”

Ji Zhiyao: “OK, I’ll be there immediately.”

Ji Zhiyao destroyed the last turret, at this time only Mo Huaifeng, Heng and Seer was left at Stickers’ base, and all three were left with trifles of health. Ji Zhiyao did not bother about them, instead rushed towards Stickers’ crystal as his minions arrived, striking wildly at the last wave of super minions sp.a.w.ned from Stickers’ crystal.

As he wiped out the super minions and the system announced Heng and Mo Huaifeng’s deaths in succession, Ji Zhiyao happened to just be starting to attack their opponent’s crystal, but heard Mo Huaifeng say with annoyance then, “Seer bought Guardian Angel [1. An equipment with the ability to revive.], Noh.o.m.o, return to the fountain first, we’ll wait for the next wave.”

Ji Zhiyao glanced abruptly to the side, realizing that Seer was coming closer and closer to him.

During such a moment, Ji Zhiyao was instead even calmer. His hand did not stop moving, the white a.s.sa.s.sin continuously striking at Stickers’ crystal.

The last second before Seer arrived…

Stickers Battleteam’s crystal broke into pieces.

Mix Battleteam, victorious!

Ji Zhiyao inhaled deeply as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Then he lifted his hand and shared a high-five with Heng as they said, “cool bro~”

Mo Huaifeng lifted the corner of his lips, appearing to be in a good mood, but also seeming slightly upset. “I told you to return to the fountain, why didn’t you move?”

Ji Zhiyao replied with an obedient expression, “I calculated the time and the rate at which the crystal was being destroyed and felt that I could probably destroy it in time. Even if I couldn’t, we could try again after. Anyway we have a considerable advantage.”

Mo Huaifeng: “Heh?”

Ji Zhiyao: “I guarantee that I will obey commands next time.”

Heng: “Let’s wait till we return to the waiting room if you want to lecture, the opponent is still waiting to shake hands.”

Ji Zhiyao sent a look of approval towards Heng.

With Heng’s reminder, Mo Huaifeng finally lifted his n.o.ble b.u.t.t from the chair, lazily following behind Ji Zhiyao and Heng, to go shake hands with the three players opposite.

As his seat was on the outside, Ji Zhiyao walked right at the front, before they bowed, he wiped off the light sheen of perspiration on his palm, before he shook hands with the opponents.

Then it came to the last person, Stickers’ mid-laner, Ji Zhiyao heard him say, “You’ve improved again since the performance tournament tour, I’m very happy that I could become your opponent.”

Ji Zhiyao hurried replied “thank you”, and added, “This is my honor.”

At the end of the ceremony, both teams left the stage separately, walking towards the partic.i.p.ants pa.s.sageway on both sides. Before he entered the pa.s.sageway, Ji Zhiyao caught someone shouting “Mix.Yao” below, regardless of whether they could see, he smiled at the audience, then entered the pa.s.sageway.

Heng rotated his wrist, discussing while walking, “Captain, let Xiaofei go on for the next match, I need a break. If I play for three consecutive matches, I’m afraid my condition won’t hold up.”

Mo Huaifeng nodded. “I’ll tell him in a while.”

Heng turned, then squeezed Ji Zhiyao’s shoulder, “How is it, isn’t the feeling of competing very amazing?”

Ji Zhiyao nodded fervently.

For some reason, after winning this 3v3 that was worth only 3 points, he felt even better than consecutively winning four to five training tournaments.

Arriving at the end of the pa.s.sageway, they walked into their waiting room.

Mo Huaifeng sat down, twisted open a bottle of mineral water, drank a mouthful, then said, “Next match, Xiaofei and Xiao are up, prepare yourselves.”

Xiaofei was evidently a little dazed. Xiao said an “okay”, and began to put on his wrist guard, rotating his joints around.

Heng took Xiaofei aside, and muttered some words to him, Xiaofei nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. At the end Heng patted Xiaofei’s shoulders, saying. “Go on young man, a bunch of muggles are seated there waiting for you to bash them in.”

Yet the effect of this consolation was unapparent, Xiaofei almost bawled out loud.

20 minutes of break time pa.s.sed by very quickly, when commentator Nian Nian announced that partic.i.p.ants could go on stage, Mo Huaifeng stood up and said succinctly, “Let’s go.”

K, Nuo, Xiaofei and Xiao stood up in succession, Ji Zhiyao waved at them, then looked towards Mo Huaifeng saying, “Captain, all the best to you guys!”

Mo Huaifeng’s lips lifted slightly and he nodded.

Ji Zhiyao sat back into the sofa, paying attention to the screen at the front with Heng, Yuan Wei and the stats a.n.a.lyzer.

The five people from Mix Battleteam appeared very quickly, and sat into their seats.

The camera was stirring things, it made a circle around the five of them and stopped the longest at Mo Huaifeng’s face, a handsome face that looked perfectly from 360° all around stayed on the LCD screen for a good six seconds.

“The cameraman has really good taste. I’m not being boastful, but not mentioning the eSports scene, even in other industries it’s very difficult to find visual like our team. If put out there you guys will be China’s most popular boy group in less than a minute.” Yuan Wei clapped, touching his jaw as if in deep thought. “After the national qualifiers end, I’ll get advertis.e.m.e.nt work for you guys to have some fun.”

Heng raised his hand. “I’m calling dibs on one with no lines, the kind that with just a turn of my head I can tease millions of young girls’ hearts.”

Ji Zhiyao’s expression instantly turned curious. “You want to do the Baw.a.n.g hair loss shampoo advertis.e.m.e.nt?”

The stats a.n.a.lyzer was greatly amused by the both of them, he laughed for a while and when he saw the words “match begin” on the screen, he quickly reminded, “Here comes the game.”

The match had indeed officially began, the two commentators were talking away.