At the hotel, Aaron's E-sports team was immersed in last-minute training before the big showdown.
Every face bore the same grim expression as if they were each carrying the weight of a debt of millions.
"We're team fighting! You blind?"
"You're the one to talk! Baron got stolen!"
"Shut up, you two feeders! We're underfarmed. Stop rushing into fights!"
"Can we all just focus, please? The tournament's the day after tomorrow!"
The last to speak was Bennett, the team's good-natured captain. He had not seen Vivienne at the club's meeting the other day.
"Shut up!" The three of them rounded on Bennett in unison.
Although Bennett was the captain, his authority paled in comparison to the team's youngest member, Aaron. His seniority was the only reason he held the title. He sighed. The team's recent losing streak had morale at rock bottom, and Kenneth's taunts had only added insult to injury.
He was relieved Aaron was not there; else, fists might have flown.
Aaron could not find humor in the quarrels inside.
These clashes were common, and their seven-game losing streak, a stark reversal from their previous seven-win streak, was a tough pill for anyone to swallow.
With Aaron around, they managed to keep it together, but in his absence, tempers flared even hotter.
Vivienne frowned. She remembered when this team was a united force set on claiming the championship. Now, it was a stark contrast.
"Vivienne..." Aaron bowed his head, too ashamed to look Vivienne in the eye.
loud bang, Vivienne
for his
Kenneth, not again...
up, crowding around as they
we thought you weren't
with you back, Vivienne, we've got a fighting
Aaron, we'll definitely regain
a mix of
moved, his eyes shining like stars as he gazed at
face was stormy. "You call yourselves pro
fell into an awkward silence, and even
Bennett spoke up. "Vivienne, everyone's just
Now you remember you're supposed to lead
as he looked down, fiddling with his fingers. Despite being the oldest,
too well how he had
if he was disrespected by his teammates, overlooked
verge of retirement after the World Championships. Who would
the example and earn their respect.
felt a wave of inferiority wash over him. "I... My skills are lacking. Naturally,
hesitated, wanting to defend Bennett, but he did not dare with Vivienne
hold the record for the highest kills in Hawk Club. You have the highest solo-win rate. When you
his throat, the glory days still vivid in his
to Quentin. "Got a big temper, I
Quentin being the loudest, even outside the
enough..." Quentin mumbled a response, clearly not ready
not approving? He bet his entire career on you! Before you entered this club,
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!