As the starting signal resounded, both sides of the team immediately began their actions.
On the opposite side, there were two individuals with different professions—one was an assassin, and the other was a mage. As the radiance faded, a huge bear appeared beside the mage. This was the mage’s derivative profession, a summoner.
What was originally a 2v2 match now turned into a 3v2.
The giant bear roared and charged forward; its target was Zong Xinjue.
Meanwhile, the assassin utilized stealth skills, disappearing within the arena.
The host stared intently at the arena, providing real-time commentary and simultaneously predicting the unfolding situation.
As his skill was once again evaded, Chu Qianze sighed inwardly. Indeed, those who could make it this far had formidable skills. Even though he was ostensibly a mage, his agility was unexpectedly high.
The sound of metal clashing resonated as Zong Xinjue’s previously deployed guarding skill intercepted the assassin’s attack. Seeing the failed ambush, the assassin immediately utilized a skill to retreat into the shadows, preparing to seize the next opportunity.
Zong Xinjue swung his massive shield, blocking the mage’s attack.
The exchange continued, and the situation reached a stalemate.
Locking eyes with his opponent, understanding the shared goal of eliminating the mage, Chu Qianze decided to focus on dealing with the assassin. After all, being under such close scrutiny, he felt the need to reciprocate.
Glancing around, he couldn’t immediately determine the assassin’s location. Unwilling to bother with complicated thinking, he raised his firearm, flipped the switch, and swept the area. Bullets scattered in all possible directions, covering every potential spot. As soon as any abnormalities appeared, Chu Qianze would be able to pinpoint the assassin’s location.
The blade rang crisply as it was struck, creating a delightful sound accompanied by echoes.
“Oh, found you.”
Chu Qianze pulled a smile, adjusting the firearm’s position and without hesitation, fired a shot in that direction.
However, he soon realized that things weren’t as straightforward as he had thought. A feeling told him that the shot had missed its mark, not hitting the intended target.
It was a trap.
The idea flashed in his mind, and simultaneously, a strong force struck him. The firearm slipped from his grasp, twirling in the air for a few rounds before flying away.
The assassin, originally hit, vanished in mid-air, and before Chu Qianze, another assassin appeared.
Skill: Shadow Shift.
This person also possessed a secondary profession – a ninja.
Without any hesitation upon seeing the disarmed weapon, the assassin immediately launched a further attack.
With the weapon disarmed, how could a firearms expert still be effective? Re-summoning equipment would take time, and this gap was the path to victory.
This was one of the scenarios anticipated in the team’s planned strategy, and things were unfolding more smoothly than imagined.
As the attacks drew closer, Chu Qianze sighed. He subtly curled his fingers, and metal materialized in front of him, blocking the approaching dagger. The metal continuously twisted and changed, extending from the tip of the dagger to envelop it entirely.
What is this?
The host was momentarily stunned, and the previously lively commentary came to a halt for a few seconds. The audience was also bewildered—what kind of manipulation was this, directly materializing metal? Did a firearms expert have such a skill?
The metal continuously decomposed and recombined, forming a new heavy sniper rifle in mid-air. Chu Qianze raised his hand, gripping it, and fired a shot directly.
“Hehe, didn’t see that coming, did you?”
Not only can I shoot, but I can also create guns.
Feeling that it wasn’t exciting enough, he simply raised his arm, palm facing downward. Countless pieces of metal materialized around him, rotating and combining to form numerous firearms, all firing simultaneously.
“…Damn, that’s so freaking cool,” someone in the audience exclaimed.
“This scene seems a bit familiar, like I’ve seen it somewhere,” another person mumbled, trying hard to recall but couldn’t place it. They stared intently at the ongoing battle, brows furrowed.
Where have I seen this before…
At this point, the intensity of the battle inside the arena was escalating, drawing in the spectators who gradually became captivated, their minds drifting away. Forget about overthinking; let’s just enjoy the match.
“So cool! Ahhh, marry me!”
Chu Qianze remained oblivious to the excitement in the audience.
He tapped his fingertips in the air, and another wave of firearms materialized.
The firearms around swiftly spun, creating an intense barrage of gunfire that pushed the assassin into a corner, denying any chance for close-quarters combat.
On the other side, Zong Xinjue took down the giant bear, advancing towards the summoner with his massive shield.
Almost simultaneously, they delivered fatal blows to their opponents.
The system’s notification sounded, signaling the end of the match.
In the gaze of the onlookers, the emblem of the King team floated into the air, gradually expanding and rotating.
The venue fell silent for a split second, akin to turning on a heater in water, and then it erupted.
This time, Zong Xinjue took the initiative to walk up to Chu Qianze, raising his hand and facing the audience. He silently held Chu Qianze’s hand, surveying the crowd with the usual calm expression but with a glint in his eyes.
The host grabbed the microphone, passionately and rapidly recounting the King team’s journey from the preliminaries to their current standing. The enormous screen originally used to broadcast the team’s situation now played highlights of Chu Qianze and Zong Xinjue’s past matches.
Narration, visuals, and the accompanying rhythmic music created an exhilarating atmosphere, pulsing with uplifting energy.
Finally, the host exclaimed, “Congratulations to our Team King for clinching the crown in this competition! Just like the team’s name suggests, tonight, you are truly the worthy Kings!”
As he uttered the final sentence, the host’s pitch was so high that he even cracked, but compared to the live atmosphere, it seemed even more fitting.
Below, the cheers and shouts of the countless audience members echoed, and the colorful neon lights illuminated the surroundings. In this moment, Zong Xinjue felt a bit dazed.
Chu Qianze noticed the distant expression on Zong Xinjue’s face and, putting an arm around his shoulder, said, “What are you thinking? Share it with me.”
Zong Xinjue blinked and turned his head to look at the person beside him. In that moment, the lights reflected in the other’s eyes, a bright and warm smile on their face that almost melted his heart.
“Nothing, really.”
“Ah, you’re always like this.” Chu Qianze sighed in resignation. Keeping everything to himself, he’s worried that Zong Xinjue might bottle up his feelings. “Everyone is cheering. Look over there.”
Subconsciously looking where Chu Qianze indicated, Zong Xinjue saw the massive banner being raised.
The banner was quite large, with each person holding a small section, combining to form a sentence.
“King, crowned for you.”
At that moment, both of them shouted the team slogan.
“Though it’s a bit embarrassing to be a bit chuuni, it’s quite touching.” Chu Qianze waved over there, flashed a smile, revealing his bright teeth.
“Unconsciously, our fans have filled even the spectator seats.”
Zong Xinjue pursed his lips, his eyes a bit teary from the glare of the lights.
“Let’s go, it’s time to go on stage and receive the award.”
He seemed to have relieved himself of some burden, showing a relieved smile. “Now, everything is just beginning.”
On the award stage.
Chu Qianze and Zong Xinjue stood shoulder to shoulder, jointly holding the trophy. In the final moment, Zong Xinjue involuntarily glanced at the person beside him.
This scene was faithfully captured, frozen in a photograph.
After the award ceremony, the two returned to the team’s lounge.
Chu Qianze placed the trophy on the table, gazing down at the small object. “They’ll send the real one later, right? Otherwise, we can only display this thing in the game. Hey, what do you think—”
Sensing Zong Xinjue approaching, Chu Qianze looked up at him. Just as he was about to say something, he was enveloped in an embrace, and a warm sensation emanated from their lips.
The victory in the competition, the support of the fans, and the companionship of this person all merged together, creating a peculiar sensation in his heart—tingling, numbness, and an indescribable feeling.
Finally, Zong Xinjue’s emotions overwhelmed him, surging out completely.
They eagerly entwined with each other, both eager for more.
Chu Qianze quickly caught on, his palm resting at the back of the other’s head, responding fervently.
Zong Xinjue’s hands embraced the other’s neck, their lips and tongues entangled, their voices echoing in the room.
Chu Qianze’s eyes darkened, and sensing the urgency in the other’s demeanor, he took charge, leading them to the nearby sofa. Zong Xinjue sat on his lap, and his hand slipped inside the other’s collar, pinching at a sensitive spot.
The sensation was as good as ever.
Zong Xinjue let out a muffled groan, unconsciously arching his back backward. The snug tank top accentuated his triangular physique, making it even more alluring.
During the competition, the two were busy with various matters. Aside from sleeping, they were either in meetings or occupied with other responsibilities, leaving no time for anything else. Now that things had settled down, there was no need to hold back anymore.
He was going crazy; he was truly on the verge of losing his mind!
The atmosphere in the room gradually heated up, and the lighting dimmed.
[Warning, warning, engaging in intimate activities is strictly prohibited. Offenders will face account penalties—]
A game prompt warning sound echoed, and a panel appeared between the two, flashing red lights desperately to assert its presence.
Zong Xinjue nestled into the sofa, suppressing the broken breaths. He looked at the panel in front of him, and the hand on Chu Qianze’s shoulder suddenly tightened, unable to help but curse under his breath.
Upon seeing the prompt, Chu Qianze released the hand he was supporting himself with, letting it fall from his leg, and straightened up. He ran his hand through his hair.
Oops, forgot about that.
Zong Xinjue sat up, pursing his lips. He looked at Chu Qianze and said, “Let’s meet offline. I’ll come find you.”
Hearing this, Chu Qianze raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “Sure, I’ll be waiting for you after I’ve taken a shower.”
Upon confirming their offline status, Chu Qianze sat up from his in-game avatar in the virtual world. Having just finished a glass of water, a notification in his mind indicated someone was outside the door.
He walked over and opened the door to find Zong Xinjue standing there.
In a denim jacket, a low-necked black tank top, utility pants, and Martin boots, he was dressed in the same outfit he wore the first time they met offline.
“You’re here pretty quickly,” Chu Qianze opened the door, allowing Zong Xinjue to enter.
“Do you want to take a shower?”
“I already did.”
Zong Xinjue took off his denim jacket, hanging it directly on the nearby coat rack. He then approached Chu Qianze, planting a kiss on his throat. “Shall we continue?”
In the in-game lounge of the Sheng Shi World League, the host knocked on the door. “Is anyone there? We’d like to conduct an interview about the competition.”
After waiting for a while and hearing no response from inside, the host became puzzled. Upon checking the status of the duo, he discovered they had already logged out, leaving him somewhat bewildered.
They logged out right after the competition? And they haven’t even conducted the interview yet!
Unable to conceal his expression, he smiled apologetically to the live audience. “It seems the Team King had some matters to attend to and left early. Let’s move on to the next team.”
Inside the lounge, it was empty, devoid of any presence except for the couch next to the table, still lingering with a faint warmth.
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