Chapter 152 – Summit Showdown (Part 5)

After Passing Master finished passing by as a master, he tailed Thousand Mountains back to the gathering point outside the Arena, becoming the last teammate to return. At that moment, the entrance to the Arena was like Beijing Metro Line 1 during rush hour, with people packed so closely together that no one dared to adjust their camera angle casually, afraid that a simple turn might result in an accidental KISS with someone.

[Local] New Moon Like a Hook: They’re here, the dark horse is here!

[Local] Ice Porcelain: Where’s First Legion? Are they chickening out too?

[Local] The Wind Rises: Impossible. Their win rate is over 70%. Unless they suddenly decided they didn’t want to play anymore and collectively entered the Lover’s Constellation.

[Local] Durian Noodles: But the system shows they’re still in Sky Arena.

[Local] One-Cent Dog: Then their entire team’s computers must’ve frozen at the same time.

[Local] Silent Seventh Lord: Considering their opponents are that team… that explanation sounds entirely plausible!

[Local] Duke Rum: What do you mean “that team” or “dark horse”? Don’t they even have a team name?

[Local] Mad Lad: Sky Legends.

[Local] Duke Rum: Huh, suddenly “dark horse” sounds pretty good to me!

[Local] Passing Master: Uh, Captain, I think you could’ve at least consulted us before naming the team…

[Local] 2B Fighter Jet: Mad, this doesn’t sound like your style. Did the Commander bestow this name while spreading positive energy?

[Local] Mad Lad: *Tight hug* My bro! TAT

[Local] War-Bodhi Patriarch: Mad, I bet on you guys to win. Don’t let me down, got it?

[Local] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: You actually dared? Haven’t you seen Souvenir and his team’s strength?

[Local] Only One Truth: Must be server camaraderie. Three of Sky Legends are from Huaxia Summit. Huh, now that I think about it, the name’s kinda cute.

[Local] War-Sorrel: We’ve experienced First Legion’s strength firsthand and have zero camaraderie with Sky Legends. This premonition is purely a vibe.

[Local] War-Bodhi Patriarch: An indescribable vibe…

[Local] Festive Lantern Superfan: Aaaahhh, the Lantern God is here!!!!

[Local] Festive Lantern is My Male God: Festive Lantern, gentle as the wind! Festive Lantern, so handsome he breaks the sky!!!

Among the screams and cheers of Festive Lantern’s fans, the onlookers automatically cleared a path for the five members of First Legion to reach the Arena entrance. At this point, only four teams—two groups—were PK-ing inside the Arena. The other teams, as if by prior agreement, hadn’t entered to snag spots, ensuring they wouldn’t interfere with the matchmaking between Sky Legends and First Legion. After all, matchmaking was random, and if other teams were available, even if their scores were similar, the match might fail.

Strangely enough, the two teams had almost no direct interactions—except for Thousand Mountains and Souvenir—yet they moved with the mutual understanding of people who’d known each other in a past life. Without any small talk or pleasantries, their captains stepped forward and clicked their respective team’s entry applications.

The onlookers followed closely, practically pressing into the battle room.

Unfazed by the tension, the system slowly proceeded with matchmaking. But since only two teams were in the queue, there was no suspense—the match was successful, and the system leisurely displayed the combatants’ information:

[Silent Fortress] Alps – 1110 points

[Flame of the Gods] Sigh of the Gods – 1082.5 points

[Silent Fortress] Brother Eastwind – 1050 points

[Frostbite Canyon] Festive Lantern – 1020 points

[Holy Light Sanctuary] Dutch Souvenir – 1020 points

VS

[Huaxia Summit] Mad Lad – 770 points

[Huaxia Summit] 2B Fighter Jet – 770 points

[Huaxia Summit] Everything Breaks – 770 points

[Fairy Dreamland] Passing Master – 770 points

[Holy Light Sanctuary] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains – 770 points

Once the information finished scrolling, the battle map unfurled like a scroll, revealing a world of endless yellow sand—the Desolate Sahara.

The map loaded, and the entire crowd gasped. From the spectator view, it was nothing but a vast expanse of yellow earth—no mountains, no forests, no cities, no farmland. Just a small winding river cutting through the middle. Beyond that, sand to the left, sand to the right, sand above, sand below—no landmarks, just a flat desert. If not for the combat view limiting visibility to a hundred meters, all the players could’ve just smiled and exchanged pleasantries face-to-face.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: What kind of trash map is this? Zero tactical depth. How are they supposed to strategize?

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: Trash map? Look closer.

[Spectator] Savage Traveler: I looked closely. It’s still just a flat wasteland…

[Spectator] Sister Quench My Thirst: Holy shit, there are no coords!

Sister Quench My Thirst had hit the nail on the head. Normally, spectators could switch to a close-up view of specific locations by selecting coord points on the map. But now, although the interface still displayed segmented map selections, there were no coord markers. Previously, spectators could gather at a specific spot just by calling out coords. Now, they had to resort to cumbersome descriptions like “third row, fifth from the left.”

Still, there was an upside—without terrain variations or foliage obstructions, the map was easier to read at a glance. Spectators didn’t even need to zoom in to grasp the overall situation, clearly seeing where each player was. But for detailed combat actions or finer maneuvers, they’d still have to select a spot and zoom in.

Yet, at this moment, what the spectators really wanted to know was: if they couldn’t see coords, could the players?

From the spectator view, the players on the field had barely moved since spawning. Alps and Brother Eastwind were in the northern part of the desert, with Passing Master closest to them in the northeast. Below Passing Master—east of the desert—Mad Lad and Festive Lantern had spawned, though neither had noticed the other yet. Far to the southwest, near the southern edge, 2B Fighter Jet had spawned, with Sigh of the Gods slightly northwest of him. Upstream from them, along the map’s only river, Everything Breaks had spawned and immediately gone into hiding—by diving headfirst into the river, humanity’s cradle.

The river divided the desert into two unequal halves. Nearly everyone was on the larger side, with only Dutch Souvenir standing silently in the northwest corner.

Wait… someone seemed to be missing…

[Spectator] War-Bodhi Patriarch: Where’s No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains?

[Local] Guardian of the Gods: It’s a two-layer map. There’s a tunnel beneath the desert.

[Local] Duke Rum: The Gods are here too?

[Local] Guardian of the Gods: Here to observe and learn.

[Local] Durian Noodles: More like unwilling to admit defeat and here to watch Sky Legends get crushed.

[Local] Weapon of the Gods: Sister Noodles, sometimes it’s kinder not to expose the harsh truth.

[Local] Durian Noodles: How could you tell I’m female just from my ID?!

[Local] Suzhou River: Everyone, can we just watch the match in peace?

[Local] Little Tailor: The problem is, they actually have to fight…

At that moment, the ten—no, nine—little dots on the battlefield were as motionless as sesame seeds on a pancake, stable and serene.

Meanwhile, in YY—

[MadB’s Private Shack]

Thousand Mountains: “What the fuck? Where did I even spawn? It’s pitch-black, I can’t see shit!”

2B Fighter Jet: “I can see just fine—nothing but yellow sand. What kind of map is this, Legend of the Desert?”

Mad Lad: “Stop joking. Regroup.”

Everything Breaks: “Coords.”

Mad Lad: “…”

Passing Master: “What do I do?! My computer’s broken, I can’t see coords!”

Everything Breaks: “This map has no coords.”

Mad Lad: “Damn it, what the hell? How do we regroup?”

Thousand Mountains: “I don’t even have the luxury of worrying about coords right now. Can someone just give me some damn light?!”

[Ragtag Temporary YY]

Festive Lantern: “This map’s kinda interesting.”

Alps: “Same as usual—regroup first, then team assault, or adapt and pick them off one by one?”

Sigh of the Gods: “I’m not against picking them off, but this team doesn’t play by the rules. For safety, let’s regroup first.”

Dutch Souvenir: “Get ready. Signal in one minute. If they reach you first, you know the outcome.”

Brother Eastwind: “Come on, even if they reach you first, you’d still wipe them out. Stop pretending to be humble. Hurry up, countdown.”

The spectators couldn’t hear the players’ YY chatter, but the battlefield felt oppressively silent, like a stagnant pond. Time crawled forward in this lifeless stillness, seemingly without end.

Until a brilliant beam of light pierced the Sahara’s dusky sky!

Aurora Fireworks!

Huaxia Online had a wide variety of firework props. Some spelled out “XXX, I love you” after exploding—perfect for wooing girls. Others burst into colorful clouds—ideal for burning money in self-indulgence. Then there were the crackling, rhythm-focused ones—great for hyping up square dancing. Aurora Fireworks were unique—they came in only one color (bright white) and one pattern (a straight beam). In simpler terms, their effect was identical to shining an ultra-bright flashlight straight into the sky.

But they were eye-catching.

Most fireworks had a limited visibility range, but Aurora Fireworks didn’t. Once lit, every player on the server could see the beam shooting into the sky!

Now, this light tore through the stagnant atmosphere like a white dragon, instantly drawing every spectator’s gaze. They quickly selected the map point where the beam originated, zooming in until they could see who had lit it—Dutch Souvenir.

The MadB Squad was just as baffled as the spectators. Worse, while spectators could zoom in, the players couldn’t. Fortunately, Everything Breaks was still in the river. Peering toward the distant firework, he could vaguely make out the silhouette of the person who’d set it off—but identifying them was impossible.

Before anyone could process what was happening, a second firework shot into the sky!

This time, the quicker players—including the MadB Squad—understood. This wasn’t just a firework. It was First Legion’s signal flare!

Jiang Yang’s team had bought every useful item they could think of from the General Store, but who could’ve anticipated a map without coords? And who’d have thought to use Aurora Fireworks as signal flares? Yet First Legion had—or maybe they hadn’t expected this map but had still prepared for every contingency.

PK skills were hard power. Tactical awareness was soft power. If the MadB Squad had only lacked confidence in the former before, this signal flare burned away most of their confidence in the latter.

“They’ll regroup soon. What do we do?” 2B asked, his voice dropping from its usual lazy exhaustion after an all-night grind.

Everything Breaks’ tone remained flat, but his word count increased: “Dutch Souvenir fired the signal near a river. I’m in the river now. If I step ashore, I’ll be spotted immediately.”

Thousand Mountains, still clueless, was frantic: “What are you guys talking about? They can regroup but you can’t? Damn it, I’m stuck in a tunnel! Can someone tell me where the exit is?!”

“Two options,” Jiang Yang said coolly, ignoring the underground cries. “Either we head toward the signal—regroup where they are and fight head-on—or we go the opposite way, avoid them first, and strategize later.”

2B: “Opposite way.”

Everything Breaks: “Opposite way.”

Their answers were nearly simultaneous, with Passing Master weakly adding, “I’m fine with either…”

Over the next few minutes, spectators watched as First Legion’s five members rapidly converged toward the signal, while Sky Legends’ four moved in the opposite direction. But since First Legion had a constantly visible rally point and Sky Legends had to rely on intuition to locate the opposite spot, their regrouping was noticeably slower.

That wasn’t the worst part, though. The worst part was that this east-west movement pattern drastically increased the chances of the two teams bumping into each other!

No sooner had Brother Eastwind and Alps accidentally crossed paths than they turned and spotted Passing Master!

[Spectator] One-Cent Dog: Switch to the last map point in the second row! Hurry!

[Spectator] New Moon Like a Hook: Spirit Master + Assassin vs. Pure Support Healer. Tsk, this is gonna be a slaughter.

[Spectator] Drizzling Rain: Charging toward the enemy to regroup was suicidal to begin with.

Before the spectators could chat further, Brother Eastwind and Alps had surrounded Passing Master. They didn’t underestimate him just because he had low DPS, treating him with full seriousness. In the blink of an eye, Assassin Brother Eastwind landed a Backstab on the healer, followed by a Bloodseal Strike combo!

Passing Master wasn’t great at killing, but he was quick with heals, instantly casting Silent Nourishment to mitigate 80% of the damage. But as soon as he healed, Spirit Master Alps finished chanting Blizzard Gale, unleashing a devastating snowstorm that left Passing Master with only a third of his HP!

And this was after Passing Master had consumed a defense-boosting dish!

Passing Master knew his limits and didn’t plan to fight head-on. But breaking out of this encirclement required nearly the same strength as fighting.

His teammates, unaware of his predicament, were cautiously advancing on their own. But the spectators knew—they saw everything, their hearts in their throats. It wasn’t that they’d all become wild fans of Sky Legends. It was just human nature to root for the underdog in a lopsided one-versus-two, especially when Passing Master’s healing speed made an upset seem faintly possible.

See? His one-third HP bar was already back up to three-quarters.

But it wasn’t enough. While Alps needed to chant, Brother Eastwind could spam instant-cast damage skills!

[Spectator] Milk Bottle of the Gods: Objectively speaking, Passing Master’s heals are legit.

[Spectator] War-Bodhi Patriarch: And the subjective take?

[Spectator] Milk Bottle of the Gods: Do you think I’d have anything nice to say if I were being subjective? =_=

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: But healing won’t save him. They’ve got him trapped, and at this rate, all his healing skills will go on cooldown.

No sooner had The Wind Rises spoken than Passing Master stopped casting, entering full cooldown mode even faster than expected.

What followed was inevitable. Alps stopped chanting, and Brother Eastwind’s Heartstab shot toward the nearly dead healer…

MISS!

Just as the spectators held their breaths, waiting for the healer to fall, Brother Eastwind’s Heartstab missed!!

Before the crowd could react, Alps instantly followed up with Ice Shatter!!

Yet again—MISS!

Passing Master had dodged two fatal blows in a row!!!

Was the heavens favoring the healer?

Were Brother Eastwind and Alps underperforming???

Did Passing Master have supernatural evasion stats????

No! None of that!

As Sherlock Holmes said: Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth—

Passing Master had turned into a rabbit.

Yes, Passing Master had become a rabbit!!!

[Cunning Rabbit Candy]

Level: 0

Price: 200 Huaxia Coins

Effect: Maintain rabbit form for 15 minutes. Movement speed +37%. All skills and items disabled.

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: I considered every possibility, yet Sky Legends still delivered a fatal blow.

[Spectator] Only One Truth: I thought I’d seen it all, but Sky Legends just opened a new world for me.

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: They opened one for us last match. Who knew there’d be a second one…

[Spectator] Weapon of the Gods: Why the hell would he waste an inventory slot on this nonsense candy?!

The important part was that the candy had saved Passing Master’s life.

A 37% speed boost was no joke. Not only did it let him dodge skills effortlessly, but it also helped him break through the encirclement in a surprise move, leaving his two terrifying opponents in the dust within seconds!

The spectators mocked him, but deep down, they wondered: If Dutch Souvenir’s foresight in bringing Aurora Fireworks showed high combat IQ, who could say Passing Master’s candy purchase was just dumb luck? Maybe he was playing dumb while preparing for the worst!

[MadB’s Private Shack]

Passing Master: “I just ran into Alps and Brother Eastwind. That was close!”

2B: “No wonder your HP was dropping like crazy. But you actually escaped a one-versus-two? Their reputation might be overrated.”

Everything Breaks: “Passing, follow the signal. Don’t go the wrong way.”

Passing Master: “But I’ve completely lost my sense of direction now 55555~~~~”

Thousand Mountains: “When did you ever have one? =_=”

Mad Lad: “Is now really the time for chitchat?! Damn it, I just ran into Sigh!”

Passing Master: “Mad Lad, I think I see you! Hold on, I’m coming!!”

Mad Lad: “Dear Healer Passing, you’re my savior!!”

Passing Master: “…”

Mad Lad: “Passing?”

Passing Master: “Sorry, sorry, I forgot I can’t use skills right now…”

Mad Lad: “GODDAMN IT—”

With a final roar, Mad Lad fell. Realizing he was useless, Passing Master turned tail and fled for the second time, leaving Sigh of the Gods pacing around Mad Lad’s corpse, thinking, This is definitely an Assassin… but did I just see a Junior Demon Refiner’s pet?

But the pet had moved too fast, leaving only a blurry afterimage on his retinas. =_=

Despite his confusion, the repeated Aurora Fireworks reminded Sigh to hurry. Without further thought, he headed for the rally point.

The vast desert now held only a desiccated corpse and a rabbit counting down the seconds.

Mad Lad: “Why’d you buy rabbit candy?”

Passing Master: “I was distracted and clicked the wrong thing.”

Mad Lad: “How many did you buy?”

Passing Master: “Fifty. I buy everything in stacks of fifty.”

Fifty was the maximum number of a single item that could fit in one inventory slot.

Mad Lad: “Well, it worked out. Give me a few after you resurrect me.”

Passing Master: “Okay!”

Mad Lad: “How long until the candy wears off?”

Passing Master: “Nine minutes, twenty-seven seconds.”

Mad Lad: “Go die…”

At least Mad Lad had Passing Master guarding him. In contrast, 2B Fighter Jet, who’d bumped into Festive Lantern, not only lost in the looks department but was also slaughtered by the riverside. Worse, when teammate Everything Breaks passed by five minutes later, he didn’t even glance at 2B, as if he’d completely forgotten his face.

2B Fighter Jet: “Hey, handsome, even if you can’t resurrect me, at least look at me to mourn!”

Everything Breaks: “Candles.”

2B Fighter Jet: “Huh?”

Everything Breaks: “Too busy to emote.”

2B Fighter Jet: “DAMN IT, SAYING IT OUT LOUD RUINS THE MOOD!!!”

First Legion lived up to their name. On a map without coords, they regrouped in just thirteen minutes using signal flares alone, all while taking down the enemy Assassin and Blood Warrior and sending their healer fleeing in disgrace.

As for Sky Legends? Thousand Mountains was still underground—who knew if he’d ever see daylight again. 2B was dead. The healer was guarding the Assassin. Berserker Everything Breaks was the only one who’d reached the opposite rally point. But with his teammates scattered and the enemy fully regrouped (and having stopped firing signal flares), his arrival was meaningless.

[Spectator] Zongzi of the Gods: They didn’t seem this weak when we fought them.

[Spectator] Fahai of the Gods: Admit it, Sigh and the others are just that strong.

[Spectator] Milk Bottle of the Gods: Great. Now we’re definitely gonna get mocked.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: It’s over. At this rate, Sky Legends might last another half-hour at most.

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: Thousand Mountains must be the most frustrated. Dude’s probably losing it underground, hahaha!

[Spectator] War-Bodhi Patriarch: Thousand Mountains says go die.

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: You’re his friend?”

[Spectator] War-Bodhi Patriarch: No, I just have a grudge against Ghost Server. I screenshotted the spectator chat and sent it to 2B Fighter Jet and Mad Lad to mess with them. Didn’t expect them to forward it to Thousand Mountains. Sorry, Blade Wanderer—friendly fire.”

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: You’re such a dick…

[Spectator] Weapon of the Gods: But a stylish dick.

[Spectator] War-Bodhi Patriarch: ~\(≧▽≦)/~

The fully regrouped First Legion began sweeping the map, hoping to leave no stone unturned as they hunted down their enemies one by one. But without coords or landmarks, ensuring they weren’t just going in circles was a technical challenge even First Legion couldn’t solve.

The scattered members of Sky Legends couldn’t track their enemies’ movements, but common sense told them First Legion was on the offensive. The pressure weighed on them like the unrelenting Saharan sun, scorching their hearts.

[MadB Temporary Shack]

Mad Lad: “We can’t win head-on, especially not three versus five.”

Everything Breaks: “If we never regroup, it’ll be five-versus-one and five-versus-two.”

2B: “Well, I know you’re all too busy to resurrect me. The priority now is to think outside the box—turn the tables despite being outnumbered and outgunned.”

2B: “Sigh. The Commander said we should brag if we win and go down swinging if we lose, but when it comes down to it… I really don’t want to lose.”

Passing Master: “It’s not all bad. The rules say the match only ends when one team wipes. As long as one of us stays alive, we don’t lose, right?”

2B: “But none of them are dead.”

Passing Master: “At worst, it’s a draw.”

Everything Breaks: “There’s no draw in team matches.”

Thousand Mountains: “Then we’ll just stall until the end of time. Life’s like a phone call—either you hang up first, or I do.”

Everything Breaks: “Your time underground has smoothed your edges and toughened your resolve.”

Thousand Mountains: “If anyone mentions ‘underground’ again, I’ll bite them to death—”

Mad Lad: “So you’re saying we stall until they give up?”

Thousand Mountains: “If I’m still stuck here in two hours, that might be the way to go.”

Mad Lad: “And if you get out?”

Thousand Mountains: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Mad Lad: “Actually… it could work. Even though they’re all together, without coords, they can only search randomly. We’ll have plenty of chances to play hide-and-seek.”

Everything Breaks: “They won’t be easy to stall.”

2B: “Then we’ll be the wind that blows out their lantern.”

Beijing Time 09:37

[Spectator] Sister Quench My Thirst: The match has been going on for over an hour, and there hasn’t been a single encounter since the start. Is the map really that big?

[Spectator] Duke Rum: First Legion’s trying, but Sky Legends…

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: They’re trying too—just trying to hide =_=

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: Even Thousand Mountains underground isn’t in a hurry anymore.

[Spectator] Fahai of the Gods: I have a bad feeling…

……

Beijing Time 10:04

[Spectator] One-Cent Dog: Sky Legends is definitely stalling! Ugh!

[Spectator] Rabbit by the Burrow: So boring. They’ll have to fight eventually—why not just go all out? Hiding like moles is pathetic.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: I always thought Sky Legends’ warriors had no shame or bottom line, but this level of cowardice is just ugly.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Is Bodhi Patriarch still here? Screenshot this and show Sky Legends.

……

Beijing Time 10:11

[Spectator] War-Sorrel: He’s not. I sent screenshots to Mad Lad’s QQ. He said the climax might come late tonight and told everyone to be patient.

[Spectator] Only One Truth: Late tonight?! It’s only 10 AM!!!

[Spectator] War-Sorrel: Fine, I’ll copy-paste.

[Spectator] War-Sorrel: Mad Lad 10:09:23 — “The climax might probably most likely appear late tonight. What, can’t last that long? Tsk, men these days are so weak. After the match, I’ll buy everyone some kidney tonic. Or maybe Brain Gold? This holiday season, no gifts! No gifts! No gifts! The only gift is Brain Gold! Brain! Gold!”

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: “…”

[Spectator] Only One Truth: “…”

[Spectator] Drizzling Rain: “…”

[Spectator] Savage Traveler: “…”

[Spectator] Ice Porcelain: “Turns out being shameless isn’t just a personality trait—it’s an aura.”

……

Beijing Time 11:00

After two and a half hours of cat-and-mouse, the second encounter finally arrived.

As if fate had a sense of irony, it was Passing Master again—only this time, he ran into all five enemies.

But for someone who could turn into a rabbit in a second, the number of opponents didn’t matter. One candy was all it took. Though Dutch Souvenir and the others had heard about this trick from Alps and Brother Eastwind, seeing it in person left them in awe of Passing Master’s flawless candy usage. In the blink of an eye—no, half-an-eye—the healer twenty meters away shrank and whooshed into the distance.

PK? Slaughter? Forget that—they couldn’t even get close!

Five-man squad? Even fifty wouldn’t be enough unless they had rocket skates!

First Legion’s patience, already stretched thin, finally snapped at Passing Master—the straw that broke the camel’s back.

[Arena] Festive Lantern: Fuck this shit, if you’re a man, stop fucking hiding! Fight me like a real man!!

[Arena] Festive Lantern: A guild war shouldn’t last more than an hour! You’ve dragged this out for nearly three!! Are you waiting to grow mold at home?! I’ve seen cowards, but never this pathetic!! So what if you lose?! It’s not like we’re stealing your wife or your fortune! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck

[Arena] Brother Eastwind: Hah, I’ve never seen Festive Lantern swear like this. Sky Legends, you’re something else. [Thumbs up]

[Arena] Alps: Thousand Mountains, with so many people watching, you’re really willing to go this far?

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Don’t drag me into this! I’ve been buried alive since the match started! And you guys still haven’t found me—do you have any idea how heartbroken I am?! I just wanted a fair fight. Why is this so hard?!

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Who designed this map anyway? It’s dripping with malice~~~>_<

The spectators screamed internally: Who’s the one dripping with malice here?! We’re exhausted just watching! At this point, we’d rather watch infomercials—at least those have passion and storytelling!

……

Beijing Time 11:30

[Arena] Festive Lantern: Unbelievable. A full thirty minutes, and you’re still holding out.

[Arena] Mad Lad: You managed to swear for thirty minutes straight. Impressive. Here, cool off. [Watermelon]

[Arena] Festive Lantern: Finally, someone other than Thousand Mountains speaks.

[Arena] Mad Lad: Thousand Mountains said your insults are repetitive and uncreative, so he’s not interested in chatting.

[Arena] Festive Lantern: Like I want to chat? My fingers are about to fall off!

[Arena] Mad Lad: Here, let me rub them for you~~

[Arena] Festive Lantern: “…”

[Arena] Mad Lad: Did I ever tell you? Your character model is exactly my type.

[Arena] Festive Lantern: “…”

[Arena] Mad Lad: Seriously, I was too shy to say it earlier. Why don’t you screenshot your character and send it to me? Meeting like this is fate—let me keep a memento.

[Arena] Festive Lantern: “…”

[Arena] Mad Lad: Actually, I’d rather take a screenshot together, but with our star-crossed destiny, meeting means death. I can’t bear to see you sleep forever.

[Arena] Festive Lantern: Who the hell’s sleeping?! I’d wipe the floor with you!!

[Arena] Mad Lad: And you’d hate to see me die, wouldn’t you???

[Arena] Mad Lad: No, don’t say it! Don’t let me hear that word!! Oh no~~~~~

[Spectator] Duke Rum: Why do I feel a vague sense of perversion lingering in the air…

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: Festive Lantern’s gone quiet.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: Honestly, it’s impressive he lasted this long.

[Spectator] War-Bodhi Patriarch: Truly a Ghost Server product—killing without a trace.

[Spectator] War-Sorrel: More like killing with a single strike…

[MadB Temporary Shack]

Passing Master: “Captain, I almost fell asleep, but you woke me up. You sacrificed so much for the team’s victory!!”

Everything Breaks: “Brutal.”

Thousand Mountains: “Never pegged you for this style, Mad.”

Mad Lad: “Just called the Commander for advice.”

2B: “No wonder it felt so familiar…”

……

Beijing Time 12:14

Passing Master, who’d narrowly escaped First Legion a second time, stumbled across 2B Fighter Jet’s corpse. A gift from the heavens! He immediately cast Resurrection + Revival of the Withered, restoring 2B to full health.

The battlefield had reset to square one—5V5—though one side had been regrouped for ages, and the other’s main DPS was still underground cosplaying a gopher.

Normally, such absurd luck would demoralize the opponents, especially in a grueling stalemate. But First Legion stayed silent while the spectators finally cracked, surrendering.

[Spectator] Festive Lantern Superfan: Festive Lantern, I’ll always love you, but I can’t take it anymore. I stayed up all night cheering for you yesterday, and now I’m really exhausted. [Cry][Cry]

[Spectator] Festive Lantern Superfan: I thought I could last until your victory, but… but… I didn’t lose to haters, or myself, or rivals—I lost to Sky Legends. [Cry][Cry]

[Spectator] Festive Lantern Superfan: Sky Legends, I hate you!!!

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: I can’t take it either. Sleep or die—I choose sleep…

[Spectator] New Moon Like a Hook: Same. Someone just give in already. Spare us all!

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: Not happening. I’ve figured them out—these guys are reincarnated Red Rock martyrs.

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: Don’t they ever get tired?”

The answer, of course, was a resounding no. TAT

[MadB Temporary Shack]

Mad Lad: “I can’t take it. I’m napping.”

Passing Master: “What if they find you?”

Mad Lad: “Then I die. My death just means you four carry on. Relax.”

2B: “We’d love to be the ones dying, thanks!”

Thousand Mountains: “Please show some compassion for the disabled. Thanks.”

Passing Master: “Huh? Thousand Mountains, you’re injured? Did they find you?”

Thousand Mountains: “Not in-game. I’m actually injured—got a cast on my leg.”

Passing Master: “Then you should rest! Don’t worry, I gave 2B some candy. I’ve got about a dozen left. As long as one of us survives, we don’t lose, right?”

Thousand Mountains: “…”

Mad Lad: “Please. You didn’t complain about pain all night. Why fake it now? Passing’s too pure for your lies.”

Thousand Mountains: “…”

Passing Master: “Thousand Mountains?”

Thousand Mountains: “Actually… I can tough it out!”

Damn, my soul’s been purified. TAT

……

Beijing Time 12:30

[Arena] Dutch Souvenir: Thousand Mountains.

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: ?

[Arena] Dutch Souvenir: Tired?

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: A little.

[Arena] Dutch Souvenir: If someone told me you’d last this long in a war of attrition, I’d have laughed.

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: People mature.~

[Arena] Dutch Souvenir: True. A lot can change in three days.

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: You guys are holding up well too. No more swearing—impressive.

[Arena] Dutch Souvenir: Oh, Festive Lantern and Brother Eastwind asked me to pass on a message.

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: I’m all ears.

[Arena] Dutch Souvenir: Fuck. You. And. Your. Mom.

……

Beijing Time 13:00–19:00

Over the next six hours, Sky Legends and First Legion clashed eight more times. Some escaped; some died. By the time the evening news began, the battlefield stood at 5V2—First Legion intact, Sky Legends down to just Passing Master and No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains.

If anyone had predicted at 9 AM that this match would last over ten hours, they’d have been called insane. Now, everyone understood—the real lunatics were the ten players on the field.

By this point, they weren’t even competing in skill or strategy—those were beneath them. They’d elevated the battle to a realm beyond mortal comprehension: willpower.

Unyielding will. Perseverance. The thirst for victory. Sheer insanity… The crowd finally grasped why wuxia novels described epic duels as lasting “three days and nights”—it wasn’t hyperbole. It was documentary. =_=

The rule designers were clearly mad too. What kind of anti-human setting was “no time limit—match only ends when one team wipes or disconnects”? And whoever named the map “Desolate Sahara”—were you a part-time fortune-teller? TAT

The players might’ve been revolutionary warriors in a past life, but the spectators weren’t. They’d come and gone multiple times. Battles required stamina, but watching battles turned out to be just as draining. This extreme war of attrition consumed not just energy and spirit but time—the most precious resource. Players only had three days per server visit, and Sky Legends had already wasted ten hours on hide-and-seek. What a travesty!

[Megaphone] Ice Porcelain: I took a nap, and you’re still at it?! Are you star-crossed lovers or something?!

[Megaphone] Ice Porcelain: Just surrender already. What’s the point of this match?

[Megaphone] Festive Lantern: Let’s get one thing straight—we didn’t turn the match into this. Blame the right people.

[Megaphone] Mad Lad: Let’s clarify—there’s no right or wrong strategy. We’re just adapting to the terrain and avoiding your strengths.

[Megaphone] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: As a loyal spectator for the first six hours, I’ll be fair—you’re not avoiding strengths. You’re avoiding everything with a physical form!

[Megaphone] Everything Breaks: Yep.

[Megaphone] Rabbit by the Burrow: He shamelessly admitted it…

……

Beijing Time 20:00

An anonymous post appeared on the Huaxia Forum, polling which side would give up first in this endless “match of the century.” Within ten minutes, nearly a thousand votes were cast, with countless clueless players asking for context. Thus, Sky Arena’s marathon hide-and-seek officially transcended the server, spreading across the entire game.

……

Beijing Time 21:00

More and more spectators flocked to watch, filling the spectator slots to capacity.

A live-update thread titled Sky Arena: The Never-Ending Summit Showdown appeared on the forums, posting real-time screenshots. Discussion flourished, especially among players stuck on other servers who couldn’t witness the spectacle firsthand.

What had begun as a “if I don’t die, I don’t lose—so I’ll never die” strategy now resembled a grand performance art piece, something no one could’ve predicted.

……

Beijing Time 22:00

No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains finally spotted a glimmer of light—the tunnel exit! But before he could celebrate, he noticed a silhouette at the mouth. Backlit and generic, he couldn’t identify it. After confirming in YY that it wasn’t a teammate, he turned and fled deeper into the tunnel.

Turns out, tunnel exits were social creatures. Before long, he stumbled upon another exit. Ecstatic, he leaped out—only to be instantly ganked by the four enemies waiting outside.

Battle status: 5V1. The goddess of victory had finally peeked through the clouds!

[Spectator] Monk Who Shaves Heads: Finally, only one left. First Legion’s perseverance is no joke—grinding them down one by one. Tsk, pros are pros.

[Spectator] Half-Moon Wall: By that logic, what does that make Passing Master, who’s survived this long against all odds?

[Spectator] Monk Who Shaves Heads: Pangu.

[Spectator] Half-Moon Wall: Fair. He did create a whole new world for us…

[First Legion Temporary YY]

Alps: “Fuck my eyes are killing me…”

Festive Lantern: “These guys are definitely terrorists. Anti-social, anti-human!”

Dutch Souvenir: “Hang in there. Just one healer left.”

Sigh of the Gods: “But this healer’s the worst! Who knows if he’ll just resurrect another teammate?! Ugh, it’s like the Foolish Old Man moving mountains—endless descendants!”

Brother Eastwind: “Two options: Either we all camp one corpse, or we split up—one person per corpse.”

Sigh of the Gods: “You mean scatter?”

Brother Eastwind: “Yeah. The only reason they’ve dragged this out is because we kill one and leave, letting them resurrect.”

Festive Lantern: “Agreed. It’s five-versus-one now. No way he pulls a miracle.”

Camping corpses sounded simple, but without coords, remembering where each body lay was a challenge. First Legion used the river as a rough guide, sweeping the map again. Each time they found a corpse, one member stayed behind while the rest continued searching.

During this time, Passing Master ran into them once more—and once more, candy saved him.

First Legion didn’t chase. They’d learned: unless they killed Passing before he ate the candy, catching the rabbit was impossible.

But there was always tomorrow.

……

Beijing Time 23:00

Four of First Legion’s members (excluding Dutch Souvenir) had taken up positions by corpses—a process that took nearly an hour but was worth it. This setup prevented Passing Master from resurrecting anyone, turning him into a lab rat with capture inevitable.

Passing Master knew this too, frantically pleading in YY: “What do I do?! I feel like they’re closing in…”

Thousand Mountains: “How many candies do you have left?”

Passing Master: “Two.”

Thousand Mountains: “That’s only thirty minutes max. Why didn’t you buy more?”

Mad Lad: “He did buy fifty…”

Thousand Mountains: “Anyway, Passing, stall until midnight no matter what.”

Passing Master: “Why?”

Thousand Mountains: “If I remember right, all five of them logged in when the server opened at midnight three days ago. If you survive until then, they’ll be forcibly sent to the Lover’s Constellation—which counts as a disconnect.”

Passing Master: “But I’ll hit my three-day limit too and get sent there.”

Mad Lad: “Then everyone disconnects—technically a draw.”

Thousand Mountains: “…”

……

Beijing Time 23:22

[Spectator] Little Tailor: Dutch Souvenir’s amazing. It’s like he knows where Passing Master is hiding.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Knowing doesn’t help. As long as Passing keeps transforming, Dutch Souvenir can’t do anything.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: Oh, you’re back?

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Took a nap and ate. Feeling refreshed.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: After this match, both teams will probably sleep for days.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: If we even see the end. I’ll hit my time limit at midnight.

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: Wait, did both teams log in at the same time when the server opened?

[Spectator] Suzhou River: You think they’ll be forcibly disconnected at midnight too?

[Spectator] Little Tailor: Then what’s the result?

[Spectator] Must Have a Direction: Draw.

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: I think I get why Sky Legends is stalling now…

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: So sneaky. If this ends in a draw, First Legion will lose their minds.

[Spectator] Monk Who Shaves Heads: You think First Legion hasn’t figured that out?

……

Beijing Time 23:31

Yellow sand. Yellow sky. A yellow world.

Dutch Souvenir wished he could attach a homing device to Aurora Fireworks and blast Passing Master to smithereens.

Play with fire long enough, and you’ll get burned—that summed up this match.

Who’d have thought a seemingly one-sided battle would devolve into a farcical stalemate? Worse, his team might not even win. He kept telling himself to stay calm, but how could anyone stay calm facing a bunch of lunatics?!

Thirty minutes. He had thirty minutes left.

He’d imagined crushing Thousand Mountains in this desert countless times, teaching him the world didn’t revolve around him. He’d ignored him before, not wanting to stoop to his level. But now? Crushing Thousand Mountains was easy. Catching a rabbit? Impossible.

Taking a deep breath, Souvenir consumed a Speed Scroll and dashed along his memorized path!

……

Beijing Time 23:55

Dutch Souvenir, sprinting at full speed, finally spotted Passing Master—who saw him too. The beauty of competitive gaming was that no one could predict the outcome until the very end. And now, the end had arrived!

[Spectator] Monk Who Shaves Heads: Why isn’t he transforming?! Just a few more minutes to a draw!

[Spectator] Must Have a Direction: Maybe he’s out of candy?

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: This is hilarious. So close, yet so far.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Don’t count him out yet. He might still escape.

No one replied—not because they agreed, but because the two on-screen had begun their duel, leaving no room for distractions.

Passing Master, spotting Dutch Souvenir from afar, immediately ate a speed-boosting dish and bolted. But Souvenir’s gear and stats were equal, if not slightly better. Without his 37% speed advantage, Passing could only watch as Souvenir closed the gap.

Worse, while Passing focused on Souvenir, the spectators saw what he didn’t—if he ran another few dozen meters, he’d reach his fallen teammate Thousand Mountains… and the enemy guarding him: Brother Eastwind!

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: Well, that’s that.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: But there are only two minutes left.

[Spectator] Monk Who Shaves Heads: Plenty of time. Look—Eastwind’s stealthed, prepping Backstab + Bloodseal Strike.

No sooner had Monk Who Shaves Heads typed this than Passing Master was struck. Even without stealth, he wouldn’t have dodged—trapped between enemies, he’d been distracted by Thousand Mountains’ corpse, instinctively wanting to resurrect him. This slowed his reaction time, and by the time he thought to heal, Dutch Souvenir’s Lone Wolf Howl slammed into him!

In an instant, Passing Master’s HP bar was nearly empty!

He cast Ten Thousand Blossoms for an Insta Heal, refilling his HP, then began chanting!

[Spectator] Must Have a Direction: Just give up. What’s the point? A healer versus two top-tier DPS—this is just delaying the inevitable.

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: Buying time.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Watch—the next attack will finish him. Dutch and Eastwind timed this perfectly—right before midnight.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: Look closer. He’s not attacking—it’s Resurrection!

Sure enough, as the chant ended, golden light enveloped Thousand Mountains’ corpse like warm hands. Simultaneously, Dutch and Eastwind’s second wave of attacks hit, dropping Passing Master.

The spectators finally understood. Resurrecting was a healer’s reflex, but resurrecting Thousand Mountains at this moment wasn’t just instinct—it was a calculated, last-ditch effort to stall!

To maintain such clarity and strategy in the heat of battle, to pivot instantly upon seeing a teammate’s corpse—and most importantly, to trust that teammate completely.

They’d underestimated Passing Master.

Five seconds to midnight!

Dutch Souvenir lunged with Wind-Splitting Slash!

Thousand Mountains, ready the moment he resurrected, gulped a Major Health Potion, tanking the hit! But resurrection sickness had crippled his defense—one strike left him near dead!

Three seconds left!

Brother Eastwind moved in for the kill!

Thousand Mountains used a scroll to leap into the air. Resurrection sickness limited his height, but with impeccable timing, he executed a flawless double jump, narrowly dodging!

One second left!

Dutch Souvenir waited at Thousand Mountains’ landing spot, blade drawn!

Thousand Mountains narrowed his eyes, flicking his mouse.

No one saw how he moved. He should’ve landed, but somehow twisted midair, shifting his center of gravity until his foot tapped Souvenir’s head—using it to launch a third jump.

The final second before midnight dissolved into smoke, drifting away.

“Thousand Mountains, I LOVE YOU!!” Mad Lad roared, unable to contain his excitement.

“How the hell did you survive resurrection sickness?! Teach me! I beg you!!” 2B’s voice cracked with emotion.

“I’m so happy,” Passing Master sniffled. “Worth skipping work, even if I get docked pay…”

Everything Breaks: “Impressive.”

Perhaps the grueling match had humbled even the usually boastful Thousand Mountains: “Passing’s the real MVP. I just got lucky. Without his quick thinking, I’d still be a corpse.”

Passing Master: “Fifteen undefeated, fifteen undefeated, so happy la-la-la~~~~”

Thousand Mountains: “It’s fifteen wins in a row.”

Mad Lad: “As exhausting as this was, a draw is a draw. No need to exaggerate—stay humble.”

Thousand Mountains: “Who said it’s a draw?”

……

[Desolate Sahara Battle Log]

[Arena] Passing Master has died.

[Arena] Alps has left the game.

[Arena] Sigh of the Gods has left the game.

[Arena] Brother Eastwind has left the game.

[Arena] Festive Lantern has left the game.

[Arena] Dutch Souvenir has left the game.

[Arena] Mad Lad has left the game.

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet has left the game.

[Arena] Everything Breaks has left the game.

[Arena] Passing Master has left the game.

[Arena] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains – 800 points.

[What the hell, you’re still on the first floor after two days?!]

[I broke my leg falling into a sewer while walking my dog yesterday. Got a cast at the hospital and was under observation all day. Just escaped today to finally pick a server. What about you?]