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The location was teeming with activity, profoundly vibrating with the cheers and boos of countless onlookers from the previous upset match. Despite the sizeable crowd, the place never felt overcrowded or restrictive because of the considerate design and organization of the venue.
Overhead, high ceilings contributed to a sense of openness. The venue was well-illuminated by tasteful lights and well-ventilated, ensuring comfort for the large gathering. It was a harmonious fusion of contemporary architecture and state-of-the-art technology, purpose-built to offer a captivating e-sports experience.
At the heart of the venue, a grand stage was positioned, fully equipped with top-tier VR gaming gear and expansive screens for audience members to follow the matches. The stage was encircled by rows of cozy seats, offering plenty of room for spectators to relax and take pleasure in the games.
Encircling the venue, a variety of stalls and outlets were established, providing an array of gaming merchandise and refreshments. Despite the crowd, navigating the venue was straightforward, with broad walkways and clear signs directing the pedestrian flow.
My team and I are currently in the special room prepared just for the participants of the tournament. I have somewhat mixed feelings about the outcome of the match, but a win is a win… I guess. Liz instantly broke the silence and solemnity from the room with her usual cheerful demeanor.
“He won! Renz actually won against Murasame’s sister!” she exclaimed exuberantly.
“…He did good. I doubt I would have survived that last attack if it were me,” Chu expressed candidly.
I agree, he played that match pretty well. But there is just one teensy bitsy tiny problem.
“He did not have to insult her sister though…” I voiced out my apprehension from his last match.
While I had instructed him to provoke her into using her weapon skill if he found himself in a tight spot, I never anticipated that he would go that far! I fear our team would have death threats from the results of his actions considering the fanbase of Murasame!
"W-well, you know Renz, he can be impulsively like that..." Liz attempted to defend her teammate's actions, albeit with decreasing confidence.
"What a thrilling battle it was! I don’t think anyone would have expected this result! Now, let's head over to the winner's interview, where our very own Jessica will be speaking with our victorious spearman, who emerged triumphant from this intense battle. Take it away, Jessica!" the caster's enthusiastic announcement drew us out of our discussion.
A winner's interview, huh? That seems fair as interviewing the defeated would be uncomfortable and rather tactless. Defaulting to interviewing only the victor seems like a more suitable approach. I also think Hana needs some time alone after that match. I feel bad for her and can’t hope to fathom what she is feeling right now. However, that is the inherent nature of competition. Only one individual or team can ultimately claim victory in a tournament, which means most participants will inevitably face defeat.
With the interview about to begin, Renz made his appearance on the screen, joined by a middle-aged woman who stood beside him holding a microphone. It was evident that she would be conducting the interview and asking questions about the recent match. The crowd reacted with a mix of emotions to Renz's presence on screen. However, the prevailing mood among the audience was one of excitement, fueled by the intense nature of the first match and its unexpected outcome.
“Thank you, Riot! I am here with the victor of the match, Renz from team Paradigm!” a cacophony of sounds resounded at the announcement. Even here in the isolated reserved for a participating team, I could feel the intensity of jeers mixed with boos.
“Congratulations on your well-deserved victory, Mr. Clarence! How are you feeling right now?" the interviewer expertly inquired.
"Thank you, Jessica! I'm feeling emotional after winning a hard fight right now. It was a tough battle, but I'm overjoyed to come out on top. All the hard work and training for the past few days have really paid off!" Renz basked in the limelight, he is clearly in his element right now with how proud he looks.
"You demonstrated exceptional technique and control throughout the fight. What do you credit your success to?" the interviewer asked curiously.
“It was a combination of meticulous training and strategies only possible due to my capable teammate helping me analyze our opponent's plays. So, I probably should be thanking her for helping me in the past few days. Still, it is only possible because of my hard work in preparing for this fight!” he exclaimed, eager to bast in the glory of his win.
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It was a well-deserved gloat though so I’ll give him that. Clarence exceeded my expectations and executed flawlessly, showcasing an exceptional performance.
"It truly paid off, and your victory was well-deserved. Looking forward, how do you and your team plan to carry this momentum into the next stages of the tournament?"
“I, uhm… haven’t really thought about it that far,” Clarence answered truthfully, well he is not one for planning anyways.
“Fair enough. Not wanting to divulge important information is a benchmark of good team cohesion,” the interviewer gave Clarence a meaningful wink, completely misunderstanding Clarence’s reluctance to answer the interviewer’s question.
“O-of course! Can’t let our opponents know what we are thinking after all,” Clarence for his part played along to save face.
“Lastly, is there anyone you want to say to all the people watching, especially to those who did not expect such a huge upset against the favored to win the one-on-one tournament?”
“Of course I do! To all the haters out there, I don't care if you lose all your money betting against us you fuckers! Just know that if you know what's good for you guys, bet on us 'cause we will be the champions of this tournament!” Clarence exclaimed, eliciting an uproar from the audience.
I instinctively facepalmed after hearing his bold declarations Don’t make it worse than it already is! Let's avoid drawing unwanted attention to our team, please! It would be preferable to maintain anonymity. What if the other participants become cautious of us and start preparing specifically to counter our strategies?
"Hahaha, what a statement to make! Best of luck in the rest of the tournament. Now back to the panel!"
The interview concludes as the screen seamlessly transitions back to the panel members who are eager to talk about the match, therefore wrapping up the winner's interview.
-----------------------
“Are you stupid? Why would you taunt the all audience and intentionally put a target on our backs!?" I exclaimed, annoyed at his actions.
“Urk! T-that was… I was just caught up in the moment…” Clarence, on his part, appears to be expressing regret, which causes me to withhold the sermon I had initially intended to deliver.
"Don't be too hard on him, Kat. Ren performed admirably, except perhaps in the interview..." Liz made a very good point.
“…Good job out there. You finally pulled your own weight for once,” Chu followed up, praising his teammate in his usual edge-lord style.
"Huh?! What do you mean 'for once'?" Clarence retorted, defending himself.
I let out a sigh. "There's no point in dwelling on what has already happened. Let's redirect our focus to the upcoming matches instead," I murmured, acknowledging the need to move forward and focus on the future.
“Speaking of, what will we do with our next opponent?” Liz queried while the two boys were busy with their own banter.
I pondered a bit on how to answer Liz’s query. “It will all depend on who would win the next match.”
As if on cue, the panel’s voice came back from the commercial break, prompting us to look at the screen in our room.
"Wow, that first match was absolutely incredible! The energy in the stadium is simply electric. With such a thrilling start, I can't help but eagerly anticipate the remaining matches. And let me tell you, we have an absolutely amazing lineup ahead of us. Are you all ready for the next battle, ladies and gentlemen?"
The audience erupts into cheers and applause at his words.
"That's what I like to hear! We've seen an intense previous match, and there's no doubt that the next match will be just as intense, if not more!"
The anticipation builds as the crowd waits in anticipation. These guys sure know how to excite the crowd.
"Our next match is a clash of two teams that are at odds! A showdown that promises to leave us all on the edge of our seats! The next match will be Round Table vs Unfiltered!”
“And it looks like we already got news of their representatives. It seems that it will be a fight between Draven and Arthur, both of their respective team captains!”
The screens showcase images of the upcoming participants, accompanied by their names and the weapons they have chosen. Judging from the statistics they have accumulated during the qualifier matches, it appears that Draven has achieved more kills and outperformed Arthur in terms of overall DPS.
However, I believe these discrepancies in performance can be attributed to the composition of their respective teams. It is possible that Arthur's team has a more balanced distribution of roles and can rely on multiple members to contribute to the damage output, therefore his stats are lower compared to his opponent. On the other hand, Draven may have intentionally structured his team in a way that positions him as the primary damage dealer, with the intention of securing the title of MVP in the matches just to stroke his own ego. This is merely a possibility based on my analysis of his personality and tactics so far.
As the participants prepare for the upcoming match, the panelists engage in a discussion and provide an analysis of the predictions for the match. While the panel consists of three individuals, it is evident that Vlad takes the spotlight with his extensive knowledge and expertise, as always. I've heard that Vlad retired from the professional scene after only a year but his immense in-game knowledge has made him a sought-after guest on panel discussions for tournaments like this. I’m sure he already noticed Clarence’s modified technique is based on his own but he ought not to point it out anyway since his techniques had many varieties when it became the meta a while back.
“And now folks, please give a warm welcome to Arthur from the Round Table team and Draven from the Unfiltered team!" the lead panelist exclaimed.
The crowd erupts into cheers and applause, an outpouring of excitement for the upcoming match.
“Arthur, a force to be reckoned with, joins us today as the backbone of the Round Table team. Known for his strategic brilliance and lightning-fast reflexes, he has proved time and again why he's considered one of the best in his age bracket. Get ready for a display of skill like no other!"
The audience went wild as Arthur went on his side of the VR pod, evident in how much influence he had with the CoA community. He certainly has the charisma of a leader, that’s for sure.
"On the opposing side, we have Draven, the powerhouse leader of the Unfiltered team. His raw aggression and unmatched mechanical prowess have earned him a spot among the elite. With strong and precise attacks, he's ready to take on any challenge that comes his way!"
As Draven walked with an air of confidence towards his assigned VR pod, the reception from the crowd was a mixture of disapproving boos and jeers, occasionally punctuated by sporadic cheers. It was apparent that Draven's presence did not resonate well with the audience, reflecting their distinctive dislike towards him. No surprise there, given his uncouth personality, which I experienced first-hand.
“Now that both participants have settled in, Let’s now head towards the casters DJ Riot and ParaTrooper for the match commentaries!”
“Thank you Raze, here we are again guys, your favorite caster duo here to give you insights on the match! Who do you think will win, ParaTrooper?”
“I guess I’m leaning on Arthur winning this match because of his advantage in his weapon skill, besides that, I think they are pretty talented players skill-wise,” the caster voiced out his unbiased thoughts.
“That’s is a good point but don’t count out Draven as his talk is backed up by his skills- hold that thought as I just received news that the game is about to begin! Give it up folks for the second round of the 1v1 tournament, Team Round Table vs Unfiltered!”