New Game Plus: I crave challenges-Chapter 687: One:Zero
“Cyclone!”
“Watch out!”
“Boss!”
Shocked exclamations came from all directions. After finishing her [Lightning Cage] Cyclone still tried to evade but it was too late. SpireX and BlackHorizon both knew that this was their chance. They ganged up on Cyclone, leaving her no way out. Three axes carried all kinds of skills, creating a ferocious assault. Cyclone tried everything. Balm offered potent healing. For a second it even looked as if Cyclone might survive.
But at this rare moment the goddess of luck wasn’t on Cyclone’s side. The mage, already in a desperate situation was targeted by the blinding sun in the sky. She didn’t notice the terrifying beam striking her. Startled, her movements were delayed. SpireX and BlackHorizon struck. There was no miracle. Cyclone was the first to fall in the battle.
Mixed reactions came from the audience. Dream Avenue’s members had red eyes, watching their guild leader die just like that. Hotpot had lost their first member. Suddenly the battle tilted in GalanTen’s favour.
Liam noticed what was going on. However, seeing the lightning cage in front of him he knew that Cyclone had made her decision. She died in order to threaten Greenhorn, creating a chance for Hotpot to find out more about the warrior. Liam knew he had to make use of it.
“Die!”
Suddenly Liam’s expression turned violent. He deliberately acted mad. He took a step forward, swinging his sword wildly, not caring for injuries. Yet his attacks weren’t disorderly. They aimed to maximise the pressure on Greenhorn, forcing the warrior backwards into the lightning cage.
Greenhorn’s mouth twitched. He had never felt something like this from another player. Each step from Bleary Mirage seemed to increase the pressure, each swing of his sword cutting off Greenhorn’s movements. He had no chance to retaliate. At this moment Greenhorn couldn’t help but develop a newfound respect for Bleary Mirage. His first place in the federation tournament was not undeserved.
Liam continued pushing forward. Greenhorn was just about to touch the lightning cage. Suddenly the warrior’s body turned elusive, almost ghost-like. He moved to the side, phasing through the lightning cage, his speed rivalling Quickstep in [Hurricane Mode].
Swords freezing in midair, Liam watched his opponent escape. He instantly calmed down, pushing his senses to their limit. Suddenly his mouth formed a grin. He turned around and slashed his swords at the empty air behind him.
“How?!”
Greenhorn’s shocked voice could be heard as he received a direct hit from Liam’s sword. The stable-as-a-rock warrior couldn’t hide his emotions at this moment. How did Liam find him? His skill created an illusion showing him dashing into a completely different direction. How did Liam see through it? Did he already know about the skill?
The answer was naturally yes. Liam became increasingly certain about Greenhorn’s class. Such a skill was too rare among the order faction. Cyclone’s sacrifice paid off by forcing the enemy to reveal himself.
However, while Liam was doing well. the overall situation for Hotpot wasn’t rosy. Quickstep had run out of stance, her life on the line, her death somehow delayed by Silver Blade and Balm. She was just short of stepping into [Hurricane Mode], which would allow her to cause some serious damage before her demise.
Meanwhile the sun hanging in the sky posed the biggest danger for Hotpot, its random attacks devastating for their stance. Balm was sweating from having to heal so much. Fortune and Silent Acacia were chased by SpireX and BlackHorizon, barely able to retaliate. Watchful Eye was tied down by Henragon’s phoenix egg. Bloody Edge didn’t manage to kill Menace before Vavel interrupted him.
The friends might still be able to turn the situation around if they were to use their ultimate skills, but they refused to do so. GalanTen also noticed this. They understood Hotpot’s plan. Now, both teams tried to save resources for the next matches, which caused the battle to drag on.
What finally brought some change was Henragon’s phoenix egg erupting. Terrifying flames devasted the battlefield, causing a lot of damage amongst Hotpot. Henragon was like a phoenix rising from the ashes, in his peak state, with all his skills ready.
Finally, GalanTen managed to take control of the battle. Henragon secured Liam’s aggro, saving Greenhorn. Quickstep managed to enter [Hurricane Mode] and deal some damage before the combined attacks of CUwUty and Gege finally took her down. SpireX and BlackHorizon eventually managed to kill Fortune.
The audience fell silent. They watched bitterly as Hotpot were picked off one by one, showing way too little resistance. Of course, some unrelated players or devoted haters still cheered happily. Some people hoped that GalanTen could emerge as a real rival of Hotpot, considering a single team dominating a server too boring.
However, no one expected the first match to go like this. Soon, only Liam, Balm and the two tanks were left. Liam didn’t want to lose too unsightly. Attacking ferociously, he managed to take down CUwUty. But without using his ultimate skill even he was reaching his limits at some point. In a four versus nine Hotpot couldn’t stage a comeback. The match ended soon. Hotpot… lost.
“How is this possible?”
“What were they doing? Where was Cyclone’s lightning running from the sky, or Silver Blade’s shield protecting her friends?!”
Many players were shocked, unable to comprehend what was going on. However, there were also those who figured out Hotpot’s strategy. Their eyes were alit with anticipation, waiting for the next match.
“GalanTen!”
“Hotpot!”
“Well played…”
Outside of the arena GalanTen and Hotpot faced each other. Naturally, GalanTen’s members felt satisfaction after winning the battle, but no one was stupid. They all understood what Hotpot was doing. Now GalanTen was three ultimate skills short. The next battle would be incredibly difficult. GalanTen had to decide whether to fight or whether to save their resources for the third match.
[Black Horizon: I say we fight! Use everything! We can end this prematurely!]
[Occulus: Don’t be too hasty. Hotpot hasn’t used anything yet. Radiant Shield’s ultimate alone should be able to block us for quite a while, creating room for the rest to attack.]
[Menace: We have to stop Fortune from using her ultimate no matter what. That avatar is immune to magic. It’s a strong counter against us.]
[SpireX: Don’t forget the strategies prepared by our coaches. We know what to do in this situation.]
[Hero of Realms: Plan H?]
[SpireX: Plan H!]
GalanTen was soon done discussing. They looked towards Hotpot and noticed that their players still seemed absentminded, paying attention to the chat. Studying the expressions of Hotpot’s players, SpireX couldn’t help but feel solemn. Hotpot looked too confident. They even had the leisure to grin. Their backs were against the wall. They had to win the next battle. Why would they appear confident like that?
Liam and his friends didn’t care that GalanTen were already done with their discussion. Right now, Liam was giving the others a full rundown of all the skills he expected GalanTen’s players to have. The friends were amazed. It was as if they were taking the information direct from their opponents’ status panels. Everything was laid bare.
[Bleary Mirage: That’s basically it. The only one I can’t see through yet is Hero of Realms. He used too few skills, completely random. As if he read every skillbook he came across.]
Liam’s words left his friends contemplating. This Hero of Realms was indeed quite strange. At first, he refused to even use his skills. Later, he used only skills without cast time, throwing lightning bolts, flame spheres, wind blades, and more. None of the skills were overly spectacular but their culminative damage was not weak. Yet in front of Silver Blade the threat was manageable.
“Are you done?”
A slightly impatient voice came from Henragon. Liam frowned but he nodded his head.
“We can continue.”
“Good. Let’s go! I’m eager to win this!”
Henragon laughed provocatively. Whether he was doing so on purpose or not was unknown, but it indeed worked.
[Silver Blade: Don’t get agitated. Focus on the fight! He can talk all he wants. They will lose anyways!]
[Bloody Edge: We will let our blades do the talking…]
SpireX shook his head and organized the next match. A moment later both teams faced off in the arena. Their surroundings changed. A barren plain with knee-high grass stretched endlessly. The mild temperature was a pleasant change.
A countdown rang in everyone’s ears. The players raised their concentration. Three, two, one… go! Instantly various animalistic cries rang out. Both teams had summoned their mounts. While Hotpot rode their famous basilisks into battle, GalanTen presented a variety of mounts from a violent tiger over a burly bull to a mechanical construct.
“What is SpireX riding on? Reminds me of a chariot!”
“It has to be some strange dwarven invention.”
“Is Henragon riding a big chicken?”
“It looks really comical.”
“Ohh, look at that pink tiger carrying Menace! So cute!”
“Who wants a cute mount? A mount has to be intimidating! Like Black Horizon’s black rhino, or Vavel’s golden bull!”
Chapter 687: One:Zero
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