Chapter 83

Epilogue: World Championship

This year, the slots for the World Championship were determined by a points system. Domestic team VIT faced off against CH and secured their spot in the World Championship. They would then compete against fifteen other teams from around the world.

On the CH side, after their recent defeat in the national finals, they had to immediately start preparing for the World Championship without any time for regret or sadness. The entire team went into seclusion to discuss their strategies for the World Championship.

Meanwhile, VIT continued their usual training routine. Their training had never been just about winning a domestic championship.

All the data on strong foreign teams, including QILIN, had been analyzed by AI, and the VIT members had repeatedly discussed it.

CH lacked experience in preparing for the World Championship. Even Lu Feng was still struggling with how to counter VIT’s tactics. It wasn’t until someone reminded him that their biggest enemy at this moment wasn’t VIT. Instead, they were one of the only two teams from their country to make it through.

Their opponents were the same.

Teams from other regions had already been studied. For VIT, none of them posed a significant threat at this point.

The previous day, they had faced teams from Japan and Korea in the intra-Asian group stage and performed smoothly.

Out of the seventeen teams entering this year’s World Championship, fifteen teams had either a Jungle core or ADC core lineup. Only VIT and Korea’s GET team were using a Mid core strategy.

When these two teams faced off, the results were decisive.

GET relied on a more traditional Mid core system with roaming and coordination. Their Mid Lane typically picked traditional Mages who needed a lot of gold. In comparison, VIT’s coordinated synergy was almost like a well-oiled machine, dominating the encounter.

In the regional group stage, the seventeen teams were whittled down to eight, who then proceeded to the single-elimination bracket.

Due to the single-elimination format, it was quite unusual that QILIN and VIT hadn’t faced each other by the time the semifinals arrived.

Their draw had kept them apart, leading to a situation where, in the eyes of the global audience, it was like two kings avoiding each other.

Before the final showdown, each team cleared all other obstacles, which only added to the excitement.

In the rounds advancing from the quarterfinals to the semifinals, VIT was the first to complete their schedule. This gave them an additional ten days or so to prepare for the upcoming finals.

During this period, VIT prepared and strategized at their Club. Everyone was relatively calm, having experienced the excitement of the Domestic Competition.

In the living room, everyone was discussing their plans with their strategy boards in hand. As the evening training session ended, the others went to rest, leaving only Rong Yi and Xiao Yin still discussing and exchanging opinions.

The two of them were sitting very close, almost leaning against each other. It wasn’t very formal, but that’s how all their meetings went today, and no one dared to comment.

In the past few days, the more observant members of the Club had noticed that Rong Yi was wearing a men’s ring on his left ring finger. Xiao Yin also had a ring of the same style on his left hand.

If they had more time, the others would have loved to ask if the two of them had gotten married during their busy preparations for the World Championship.

“Yin-Ge, care to share a little insider info?” Rong Yi tugged at Xiao Yin’s sleeve, jokingly teasing him. “QILIN is your team. They can’t escape your grasp, right?”

Xiao Yin shrugged. “I’m just the Boss. How the team plays now is a secret even to me.”

Indeed, Xiao Yin had left the team a year ago, and this year, QILIN’s tactics and strategies had completely changed.

Most importantly, before Xiao Yin left, QILIN used a Jungle core lineup. The new Jungler, LOCK, was a solid player, and QILIN’s overall playstyle this year had become more stable.

Rong Yi pulled up a match from a few years ago to watch QILIN’s gameplay.

They had analyzed this match countless times before. Rong Yi remembered every detail, including who missed minions at which wave.

His focus was on Xiao Yin.

Back then, Xiao Yin’s Jungler plays were truly godlike. He made predictions with no vision and always secured a kill upon landing, his blind effects were uncannily accurate, as if he had a third eye.

With a Jungle core, the entire team played around Xiao Yin. The Mid laner was steady, the ADC was agile, the Top laner was resilient, and the Support was cooperative. On every level, the team was seamless.

Five years of a Jungle core, five years of world-class dominance.

Now, with VIT’s core shifted to the Mid Lane, Xiao Yin’s once-dominant solo style had moved behind the scenes. All five players concealed their individual styles and habits, acting as the team’s collective weapon.

The name “Yin” had faded away, replaced by the new name “VIT,” representing all five players.

It wasn’t a matter of regret, just a bit of nostalgia.

Rong Yi watched for a while, then turned off the video and snuggled into Xiao Yin’s arms.

Xiao Yin naturally wrapped his arms around him and stroked his hair. “Don’t worry. Trust in the choices we’ve always made.”

“Did you ever consider this style when you were with QILIN?”

“I did, but it was just my idea. First, the software hadn’t been developed back then, and second, the game’s version was different at that time,” Xiao Yin explained.

Rong Yi knew this.

Early last year, the game underwent a major update and revision. Many fundamental values that had remained unchanged for years were altered, and there were significant changes to resources and the map. This gave VIT the opportunity to rise.

It was also last year that Rong Yi realized that playing with a Mid core would be more effective. However, he was the only one delving into the details.

“VIT continues with my initial idea high risk, high reward. As for QILIN, it’s hard to say. They are veterans who can adapt to any changes. Over five years, they know each other as well as they know their own fingers.”

Xiao Yin added, “LOCK has been with the team for a year now, and by the looks of it, he’s still very strong.”

With one arm around Rong Yi, Xiao Yin propped himself up with the other and brought over a stack of documents. “I had someone pull LOCK’s data for you. You said you wanted to see it, so I printed it out.”

Rong Yi, still nestled against him, didn’t move. “I’ll look at it tomorrow.”

“Need a break?” Xiao Yin asked softly. “How have you been feeling these past few days?”

“…Pretty good,” Rong Yi replied, his face turning slightly red. He whispered, “Carry me upstairs.”

Xiao Yin leaned down and kissed him lightly on the cheek, then lifted him up in a bridal carry and headed upstairs.

Recently, the Schedule has been both tight and not so tight.

Their usual evening activities were scheduled on their rest days, but these past few days were an exception.

That was because they had something quite serious to deal with through a less serious approach.

This year, the global League Organizer introduced a new rule: during the Finals, all participating Pro Players must appear on camera and show their faces.

This change was in line with the growing trend in professional esports this year. Matches attract viewers, and viewers sustain the matches, creating a symbiotic relationship.

The League Organizer ultimately chose this rule, which was a decision driven by the broader environment and no longer something individuals could challenge.

Everyone in VIT knew that this rule was Rong Yi’s weakness.

Of course, an individual might be able to challenge it, but Xiao Yin had always thought it wasn’t that important because Rong Yi shouldn’t have to force himself.

“Do you really feel okay?” Xiao Yin asked as he carried him upstairs, gently nudging the half-open door with his toes. “Any discomfort?”

“If it’s tough, you don’t have to force yourself.”

Xiao Yin whispered, “I could just have them change the rule back.”

“I couldn’t handle it before.”

As Rong Yi was placed on the bed, he started unbuttoning his shirt, his breath uneven, fingers gripping the bedsheets.

Partly because there was a fully automated tracking camera nearby.

And partly because Xiao Yin leaned in closer.

“Back then, without you guys, it just didn’t seem necessary.”

“Now it’s a rule, so I see it as a hurdle I must overcome in my career.”

“What if you can’t overcome it?”

“Either overcome it or prove that this path isn’t right for me.”

It’s like the most brilliant surgeon fainting at the sight of blood. There’s no point in being overly sentimental. The talent is there, the current environment is here; if it doesn’t fit, then don’t pursue it.

“I’ll have them change it back.”

Xiao Yin kissed the corner of his mouth. “I always feel like you’re pushing yourself too hard.”

…

After a moment of silence and the sound of water.

Xiao Yin paused and looked at Rong Yi, puzzled.

“No need to change it.”

Rong Yi whispered, tugging at Xiao Yin’s sleeve, his cheeks slightly flushed, “You can just help me get through it.”