Chapter 150 – Summit Showdown (Part 3)

As one of the few remaining famous zombies in the vast lands of Huaxia, Zongzi of the Gods had every reason to be proud. With high APM, quick reflexes, a thorough understanding of his class, and perfect skill combinations, he was undoubtedly among the top 10 PK players in The Gods gang. Most importantly, opponents were often unfamiliar with zombie mechanics, or rarely encountered them in actual combat—especially newer players in recent years. Thus, while he couldn’t claim invincibility, he was certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Yet, on this suspension bridge in Frostbite Canyon, he met his destined rival.

In PK, knowing your enemy is a joy; being the one who’s known is pure suffering. TAT

When he unleashed Netherworld Ghostly Claws, his opponent backflipped away before the attack landed. When he cast Miasma, the other popped a scroll and sprinted 800 meters away, waiting for his HP to drop naturally to half before the debuff wore off, then gulped a Major Health Potion and returned. Thinking his moves had been read, Zongzi decided to use No Rest for the Dead to heal himself—only to have his cast interrupted by a dagger stab.

Mad Lad… Zongzi of the Gods silently repeated the name in his mind, convinced that this guy had either played a zombie before or been thoroughly wrecked by one…

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: Who’s watching the suspension bridge at (500, 600)? This is a true clash of titans! An Assassin versus a Zombie—so damn intense!

[Spectator] One-Cent Dog: Zombies are rare, and ones with such skills are even rarer. But that Assassin seems to predict every move the Zombie makes. Bizarre.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: That’s what makes it so thrilling. The Assassin isn’t superior in mechanics, but his awareness absolutely crushes the Zombie.

[Spectator] One-Cent Dog: You think he specifically studied how to counter niche classes like Zombie?

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: That level of sharp awareness isn’t something you develop overnight. A lot of those moves are pure muscle memory.

[Spectator] Sister Quench My Thirst: What are you guys talking about? There’s only one Assassin on the bridge. Where’s the Zombie?

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: Brother, you switched your view too late.

[Spectator] One-Cent Dog: Ten seconds ago, the Zombie was forced to jump off the cliff…

Back on the suspension bridge, the Assassin sheathed his gilded dagger and turned north, facing the biting wind. He gazed at the sky, then down at the abyss, before sighing deeply—

[Local] Mad Lad: Why play anything else when you could’ve been a Zombie? So annoying. ╮(╯_╰)╭

[Flame of the Gods YY—Sky Arena Room]

Weapon: “Zongzi, weren’t you supposed to regroup at Beast Forest? How did you end up bottomed out after just two steps?”

Milk Bottle: “Did you run into multiple enemies?”

Zongzi: “Just one…”

Milk Bottle: “Thousand Mountains?”

Zongzi: “Mad Lad.”

Weapon: “He knows how to fight Zombies?”

Zongzi: “He’s as professional as a Taoist exorcist.”

Weapon: “What about Fahai? Why isn’t he here yet?”

Fahai: “Because Thousand Mountains is with me…”

Weapon: “Hahaha, how many of your pets did you lose? Don’t tell me they’re all dead?”

Fahai: “I refuse to answer that question. =_=”

Milk Bottle: “Damn, this team’s actually kinda interesting. Seems like they’re not just relying on luck and No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains.”

Guardian: “Instead of chatting, why not keep an eye on your surroundings? Fahai, Zongzi, take the side paths and don’t get careless.”

Zongzi: “Something up in Beast Forest?”

Weapon: “Nothing on the surface, but I’ve got a gut feeling the remaining three are hiding behind that crooked tree, itching to strike.”

Fahai: “Tch.”

Weapon: “Who was that?”

Fahai: “Laozi.”

Weapon: “What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t believe my instincts?”

Fahai: “Not just ‘don’t believe’—I outright dismiss them and scoff at them.”

Weapon: “Fuck, wanna bet?”

Fahai: “Sure. Twenty Purple-tier Enhancement Stones. Deal?”

Weapon: “Deal.”

Fahai: “There’s at most two people behind that tree because I killed Passing Master before running into No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains. Hand over the stones.”

Weapon: “Damn it…”

2B and Everything Breaks had been hiding behind the crooked tree for a while. 2B wanted to move, but Everything Breaks was convinced someone was nearby. Plus, Thousand Mountains and Passing Master were also heading this way, so there was no need to take unnecessary risks before regrouping.

However, 2B Fighter Jet was a passionate man, a battle-hungry man, a man with lofty ideals and ambitions who refused mediocrity—

2B: “Stay hidden. I’m going out. Let’s see where these bastards are!”

A true expert acts as soon as the thought arises. Before the words even finished leaving his mouth, he leapt out!

Having deduced that the enemy had at most two people, the trio from The Gods decided to strike first. They launched a thunderous assault on the crooked tree—only to be met with the enthusiastic embrace of the enemy, who had impatiently jumped out to greet them.

Deeply moved by such fervent passion and affection, the trio didn’t torment the Blood Warrior and granted him a quick death.

By the time his screen turned black and white, 2B still hadn’t figured out how he’d died. He knew one versus three was hopeless, but being instantly deleted the moment they locked eyes? That was harsh. If it were three DPS classes, fine, but a Tank and two Healers could one-shot him? How was that fair? And the worst part? One of the Tank’s combo skills had MISSED!

A glance at the combat log left 2B speechless. Guardian of the Gods had indeed only landed one hit, taking out a third of his HP. But Weapon of the Gods had also used a Willow Leaf Blade + Five Animals Play insta-cast combo, erasing the remaining two-thirds in an instant.

Damn it! What kind of healer names themselves “Weapon” instead of something like Nightingale or White Angel? If you love killing so much, why not play an Assassin?! Now, he, the mighty Blood Warrior 2B Fighter Jet, had been one-shot by a Wandering Physician. What would the Commander think? The Legion? The Five Peaks Pavilion, War Banner, and Huaxia Summit legions? How was he supposed to show his face in the server anymore? TAT

Mad Lad: “2B’s dead?”

Everything Breaks: “Beast Forest. Got one-shot by a healer.”

Mad Lad: “A healer?”

Everything Breaks: “Weapon. Same playstyle as Thousand Mountains.”

Thousand Mountains: “Oh? Then I’ve got to meet him.”

2B: “It was a Tank and two healers!”

Everything Breaks: “The killing blow was Willow Leaf Blade.”

2B: “How could you just watch and not save me? 55555…”

“Sorry,” came the firm reply from a distant teammate. “Already a thousand miles away.”

The moment 2B started losing HP, Everything Breaks had calmly assessed the disparity in combat power. Seizing the opportunity while 2B drew all the attention and aggro, he dyed himself a dull, withered-wood color and crouch-ran in the opposite direction.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Guardian of the Gods is still too cautious. With a three versus two advantage, hesitating cost them a chance to catch Everything Breaks.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: But the courage and decisiveness to turn tail and flee without hesitation while your teammate’s getting ganked… impressive.

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: 2B’s jump was clearly premeditated—to draw aggro and help Everything Breaks escape. He must’ve known three versus two was unwinnable.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: +1. Did you see how Everything Breaks didn’t even glance back while running? They must’ve planned it.

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: Why does the forum say the Ghost Server Legion has no bottom line and feeds their integrity to dogs? This is such touching bromance.

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: Hey, anyone from Summit Server watching? Give us the lowdown—what’s the Ghost Server Legion really like?

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: Asking here—no Summit Server folks around?

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: That ‘War, something’ guy is from Summit, right? Stop pretending to be dead.

[Spectator] War-Bodhi Patriarch: About Ghost Server… I don’t know much. The members are… unique. The legion as a whole is… decent, I guess…

In a channel visible to the entire game, the Ghost Server Legion wasn’t just representing themselves but the entire Huaxia Summit server. For the server’s honor, he could only… he could only…!

Silently tabbing out to his desktop, the kind-hearted War-Bodhi Patriarch changed his QQ signature to: Every night, the questioning of my conscience accompanies me…

Having no clue what “bromance” even meant, Everything Breaks continued sprinting in the opposite direction of Beast Forest, unsure if the three brutal enemies would give chase. To avoid new threats, he kept his sprint low-key, avoiding main paths and sticking to a hidden trail he’d discovered in the bushes, hunched over like a feline.

As for where he was running to, he had no idea. This was an entirely unfamiliar map. Even with coordinates, the intricate paths and the canyon’s flora and fauna were major distractions. Right now, his lowered gaze only saw the patch of ground beneath his feet—receding weeds, kicked-up dirt, and… a pair of zombie cloth shoes?

Everything Breaks instinctively released his keyboard, freezing his Berserker mid-step. Almost simultaneously, he zoomed out his camera angle to confirm the unexpected guest.

This encounter was both familiar and strange. Familiar because the other’s appearance and posture mirrored his own—hunched and head lowered. If not for the different gear colors, Everything Breaks might’ve thought he’d met his parallel universe self. Strange because this person wasn’t part of the earlier trio but a new opponent from The Gods he hadn’t encountered yet.

Switching to combat mode was almost reflexive, but before he could act, a lengthy message popped up in Local Chat—

[Local] Zongzi of the Gods: Judging by your low-key posture, you’re clearly fleeing and don’t want complications. Coincidentally, I share the same sentiment. Since we’re both fugitives in this vast world, why not share a knowing smile and pass each other by? Drawing blades now would only leave us with regret and sorrow in hindsight.

Admittedly, the creative opener bought Zongzi some breathing room, allowing him to let go of his mouse and slap himself twice—This is what you get for not watching where you’re running!

Misfortune never comes alone. First, he’d been forced off a cliff by Mad Lad, barely surviving. Then, after meditating to recover half his health en route to Beast Forest, he ran into Everything Breaks.

A half-HP Zombie versus a full-HP Berserker wasn’t unwinnable, but if he could outsmart his opponent, why not? And clearly, the Berserker, who’d entered combat mode but hadn’t attacked yet, had been swayed by his sincere words, extraordinary charisma, and noble character. Any moment now, he’d either start commiserating about their shared plight or ask which of his teammates had forced Zongzi into this situation. Regardless, since Zongzi had shown weakness and made no hostile moves, anyone with even a shred of honor or chivalry would surely…

[Local] Everything Breaks: Your APM is really fast.

Huh? That’s… an oddly specific observation.

[Local] Zongzi of the Gods: Not bad, heh.

[Local] Everything Breaks: Do you always play Zombie?

[Local] Zongzi of the Gods: Yeah.

[Local] Everything Breaks: Is it fun?

[Local] Zongzi of the Gods: …It’s alright.

Why did such simple questions feel so hard to answer? =_=

[Local] Everything Breaks: Good. So, do you want to suicide, or should I do it?

What “good”?! What “do it”?! Weren’t we supposed to be each other’s angels?!

[Local] Zongzi of the Gods: You’re attacking me?

[Local] Everything Breaks: Yes.

[Local] Zongzi of the Gods: Then why ask all those pointless questions?!

[Local] Everything Breaks: Don’t often meet other Zombies. Curious.

This guy’s doing it on purpose. Absolutely on purpose. Before crushing his enemy’s body, he toys with their soul. TAT

Negotiating was to conserve strength, but Zongzi wasn’t afraid of a direct fight either. Seeing diplomacy fail, he instantly switched to combat mode and unleashed Netherworld Ghostly Claws!

Everything Breaks dodged with practiced ease. Unfazed, Zongzi had expected this—the claw was just a feint. The moment Everything Breaks relaxed after creating distance, Zongzi hit him with Miasma.

Miasma’s range was shorter than ranged skills but longer than melee attacks. Everything Breaks’ current position was just within range, so the careless Berserker was duly debuffed.

Now, Zongzi wasn’t in a hurry. As Everything Breaks attacked again, he simply ran, determined to stall until the Berserker’s HP dropped to 50% naturally. With some luck, he might even shake him off entirely. His goal now was to regroup with his team—prolonged engagements were to be avoided.

Everything Breaks noticed his opponent’s urgency to disengage. After a brief moment of confusion, he understood—Zongzi was clearly heading toward Beast Forest. That was bad. If the defenders of 2B’s corpse grew from three to four, their numerical advantage would make 2B’s resurrection even harder.

With that in mind, Everything Breaks used a premium Speed Scroll, cutting off Zongzi’s path.

The player behind Zongzi narrowed his eyes, shedding his earlier nonchalance. Since you refuse the easy way, I’ll have to take you on a one-way trip to hell.

His fingers moved almost too fast to see. On screen, the Zombie gulped a premium HP potion, instantly maxing his health. A fraction of a second later, Specters and Ghouls + Hellfire were already raining down on the still-Miasma’d Everything Breaks.

Caught off guard by the unconventional attack, Everything Breaks froze. Normally, Zombies waited for the poisoned target’s HP to drop to 50% before striking, as attacking earlier would prematurely remove the debuff.

That split-second hesitation cost him. After the two-skill combo, a third attack followed!

Everything Breaks’ HP plummeted to 30% in moments.

The skill gap was clear—this opponent was stronger. Yet Everything Breaks stuck to his usual tactics. He might not win, but he could buy time and relay this location to his teammates. Even if he fell, the others could still…

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Damn, this fight’s heating up.

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Poisoned and combo’d—bullying us like we’ve got no backup, huh~~~

Well, guess reporting isn’t needed anymore. ╮(╯_╰)╭

Thousand Mountains made his entrance with words to boost morale, while Passing Master was more practical—with a wave of his sleeve, he fully healed Everything Breaks’ missing 70%.

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: He had victory in his grasp. Sigh.

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: Such god-tier luck.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: And he’s running again…

[Spectator] Savage Traveler: Can you blame him? He might not even beat Thousand Mountains alone.

[Spectator] Sister Quench My Thirst: But ever since spawning in this battlefield, he’s been on the run…

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: That’s why you shouldn’t play niche classes. Even the RNG God forsakes you. [Candle][Candle]

[Spectator] Suzhou River: But this time, he won’t escape. Look how closely they’re chasing him, and his HP—ten more seconds at most.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: Why waste potions at this point?

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: No! He’s calculating his HP! He’s going for Solid as a Rock!!

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: What’s that?

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: A Zombie-exclusive skill. Petrifies the user, making them invulnerable for a long duration. They can’t move but can call for reinforcements.

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: Except… he’s already dead…

Huaxia Ancestor wondered—had he misjudged? Maybe Zongzi wasn’t skilled enough to plan for Solid as a Rock?

Meanwhile, the deceased Zongzi wiped his tears. These bastards must’ve seen his Petrify plan and opted for a high-cooldown nuke instead, leaving him no chance to preserve even a drop of HP… Did this team specialize in countering Zombies or something?!

[Flame of the Gods YY—Sky Arena Room]

Guardian: “Zongzi, you died?

Zongzi: “With grievances…”

Milk Bottle: “Was it lack of skill or just bad luck? Drop your coordinates.”

Zongzi: “Don’t bother reviving me. There are three of them, and they’re heading toward Beast Forest. If you come, you’ll run into them. Better to wait for them to come to you.”

Weapon: “Three versus three, with home-field advantage. No contest.”

Fahai: “It’s four versus three.”

[Ghost Server YY—MadB’s Private Shack]

2B: “Mad Lad, you died too?”

Mad Lad: “Ran into a Demon Refiner. Damn it.”

Passing Master: “Fahai, right? We just met him! His pets are strong!”

Thousand Mountains: “But I one-shot two of them. What do you say to that, Assassin?”

Mad Lad: “…I decline to comment.”

After eliminating Zongzi, Mad Lad had moved down toward lower ground to regroup, soon disappearing into the forest. Meanwhile, Fahai, having narrowly escaped Thousand Mountains, fled blindly uphill without realizing it. Fate, it seemed, had orchestrated their encounter.

Mad Lad had merely glanced at a porcupine in the woods—not even its owner—before being skewered by countless quills and sent to the underworld.

Finally tasting victory, Fahai regrouped with his team and set off for Beast Forest.

For a while, the battlefield fell eerily quiet. Yet, like shallow waters near shore, beneath the calm surface lurked rocks and undercurrents.

One map, two factions, three squads, three corpses.

Fahai, standing over Mad Lad’s corpse, moved south. Thousand Mountains, Everything Breaks, and Passing Master, having crushed Zongzi, advanced north. Between them lay Weapon, Milk Bottle, and Guardian, guarding 2B’s corpse like hunters awaiting prey.

If a guild war were a movie, its climax would undoubtedly occur at this very moment—

When armies clash, one emerges victorious, the other falls.

Every spectator adjusted their view to Beast Forest, zooming in and out, not for precision but to ease their tension with idle finger movements.

Every participant, too, tensed unconsciously. Fahai sprinted south at unprecedented speed. The northern trio—Everything Breaks, Passing Master, even Thousand Mountains—proceeded with utmost caution. The trio in Beast Forest spun their cameras endlessly, nearly wearing out their mouse pads, watching for allies and foes alike. And the fallen duo—Zongzi and Mad Lad—could only fume helplessly, their death screens denying them any view…

[Megaphone] 2B Fighter Jet: Hey, you! Stop jumping on my back like a monkey! Thai massage much?!

[Megaphone] 2B Fighter Jet: Are you guys crawling to bomb a bunker or what? Hurry up already!

[Megaphone] 2B Fighter Jet: Can’t take it, really can’t take it~~ I wait and wait and wait till the sky goes dark~~~

……

No undercurrent, no matter how turbulent, could suppress a truly unrestrained soul.

As the lone escapee, 2B Fighter Jet leaped from the water, leaving behind a playful splash.

The drenched audience unanimously declared—

[Spectator] Bodhi Patriarch: Kneeling.

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: If I were his teammate, I’d leave him to rot.

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: Damn, all the tension’s gone. Imma order some spicy duck necks.

Fahai knew his three opponents were still far away, so he arrived first without hindrance. By the time Thousand Mountains’ squad reached Beast Forest, they were met by four enemies and one corpse.

Everything Breaks: “All-in?”

Passing Master: “Only option. Zongzi must’ve told them there are three of us. No way to split them up.”

If even Passing Master could see the flaw in a strategy, no divine intervention could salvage it. Thus, Thousand Mountains abandoned the idea and went straight to planning the all-in: “I’ll handle Guardian and Fahai. Everything Breaks, you take Weapon. Ignore Milk Bottle. Passing Master, got any defense buff food? Use it. No matter what, just rush to revive 2B with an insta-heal.”

Everything Breaks stayed silent, tacitly agreeing. But Passing Master hesitated: “What if they all focus on me… Should I still not heal?”

Thousand Mountains raised an eyebrow: “Whoever hits you…”

Everything Breaks: “We kill them.”

“Finally, some teamwork,” Thousand Mountains said with relief, adding an extra reminder for his comrade, “Weapon of the Gods’ attack power is on par with mine, Everything Breaks, you better hold out a little longer.”

Perhaps Thousand Mountains’ tone was too blatantly disdainful, as Everything Breaks finally broke his silence: “A healer named ‘Weapon’? That’s just wrong.”

…Though his focus was slightly off the mark =_=

“Everyone, pop your Speed Scrolls now. I’ll count to three—”

There was no three, because as soon as he reached two, Lord Thousand Mountains charged forward. From a distance, he unleashed Willow Leaf Blades at both Guardian of the Gods and Fahai of the Gods, then followed up with a loving Five Animals Play on Fahai’s porcupine pet.

Everything Breaks frowned and dashed after him, seeing Weapon of the Gods charging straight toward Passing Master. Without hesitation, he positioned himself as a human shield to block the path while Passing Master took the opportunity to circle around, nearly reaching the distance needed to resurrect 2B Fighter Jet. Unfortunately, before he could even begin chanting, he was struck by Crimson Lotus Holy Fire.

The four-man squad from The Gods weren’t pushovers. They had anticipated that the enemy would resort to a full-frontal assault—and only a full-frontal assault—so they were prepared, with one clear goal: to eliminate the enemy healer first, specifically the one trying to save 2B. Though the enemy had two healers, Thousand Mountains’ attack power was as eye-catching as black sesame seeds on a flatbread, and according to intel from Fahai, Passing Master’s healing power was proportional to Thousand Mountains’ attack power. So, it was obvious who would go for the resurrection. Of course, if the enemy had anticipated their reasoning, they might have deliberately done the opposite—sending Thousand Mountains to resurrect as a surprise tactic—but that would only work if Passing Master could draw the fire of at least one DPS class.

In the end, no matter how skilled an individual player is, when placed in a team, they must adapt to the average level of their teammates—this was the “barrel effect.” So when Thousand Mountains hurled Willow Leaf Blades at Guardian and Fahai, the four-man squad from The Gods instantly grasped the enemy’s strategy—and played right into it. You want to pin us down? Fine, we’ll let you. Guardian and Fahai focused on Thousand Mountains, while Weapon of the Gods only used 70% of his strength against Everything Breaks. As for the neglected Milk Bottle of the Gods, in his sorrow of being ignored, he gifted Passing Master a Crimson Lotus Holy Fire.

Following Thousand Mountains’ instructions, Passing Master ignored his own flaming predicament and decisively began chanting Resurrection.

But Thousand Mountains, Everything Breaks, and even 2B—who could only spectate via a black-and-white death screen—were stunned. Milk Bottle’s Crimson Lotus Holy Fire had taken out half of Passing Master’s HP! And that was after he had consumed a defense-boosting meal!!

The shock wasn’t limited to the Summit Server team—the spectators were equally stunned.

[Spectator] Savage Traveler: WTF! Who told me Milk Bottle was a pure healer?! That damage is practically melamine levels of toxicity!!

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: This makes no sense. When he attacked 2B earlier, his DPS was garbage.

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: He swapped gear. He was in healing gear before, now he’s in DPS gear.

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: Wait, that’s allowed?!

[Spectator] One-Cent Dog: If you’ve got the cash, sure—just buy extra gear and dump Enhancement Stones into it. But that means his Talent Points have to be split between healing and DPS.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Being decent at both means excelling at neither. Players like Weapon and Thousand Mountains dump everything into attack power. If Weapon had landed that Crimson Lotus Holy Fire, Passing Master would’ve been insta-killed.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: Whether it’s one hit or two, it doesn’t matter. Right now, Milk Bottle’s a free agent—he can play however he wants. Passing Master’s DPS is too weak to take him down, and he’ll be lucky just to keep himself alive, let alone save the Blood Warrior. Pure fantasy at this point. ╮(╯_╰)╭

[Spectator] Thirst-Quenching Sister: Except he doesn’t just want to—he’s actually doing it…

The spectators’ attention was drawn back to Beast Forest by Thirst-Quenching Sister’s commentary. Sure enough, Passing Master—now at half HP—had already chanted Resurrection to 50%, clearly unfazed by the attack and dead-set on reviving 2B.

While the crowd marveled at such “true devotion,” they also worried for Passing Master’s future, because a Zephyr Jinx struck him next, reducing his half HP to a quarter!

Resurrection at 70%!

Another Willow Leaf Blade—HP down to one-sixth!

Resurrection at 90%!

Zephyr Jinx + Five Animals Play—HP almost gone!

Only then did the spectators realize why Milk Bottle had stopped after one Crimson Lotus Holy Fire and was now spamming weak skills. It wasn’t just because Crimson Lotus Holy Fire had a long cooldown, making it risky to try again before Passing Master could finish resurrecting 2B. No, Milk Bottle had already calculated that a single Crimson Lotus Holy Fire had revealed Passing Master’s defense stats, and he knew exactly how many weak skills it would take to finish him off. He had timed it perfectly—his instant-cast skills would kill Passing Master before Resurrection reached 100%!

It was clear to everyone that Milk Bottle’s Willow Leaf Blade would land on Passing Master before Resurrection completed. Passing Master had no chance of saving his teammate—and he was definitely going to die.

Sure enough, at 98%, Passing Master received the final Zephyr Jinx of his life.

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet has been resurrected.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: What the hell just happened?!

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: Passing Master got hit by Zephyr Jinx.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: And then 2B Fighter Jet was resurrected.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: Is that supposed to be a causal relationship?!

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: Thousand Mountains tossed him a heal.

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: Don’t mess with me—they were miles apart! Are you saying he’s some kind of god?

Cola didn’t get an answer, because he quickly realized how dumb his question was.

Thousand Mountains, No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains was no god—he was just a player with near-godlike mechanics. So godlike, in fact, that while fighting two opponents at once, he had subtly maneuvered them northward, then—once confirming his noob teammate was within range—took a split second to toss out a quick, instant-cast single-target heal: Silent Nourishment.

It was the most basic, fastest, and weakest heal in a healer’s arsenal—so fast it landed 0.0001 seconds before the Zephyr Jinx, and so weak that the heal was completely negated by the attack, even leaving Passing Master with less HP than before. Thus, when the spectators saw 2B Fighter Jet resurrected, Passing Master’s HP bar was even thinner than before.

But that was all they had time to see, because in the blink of an eye, Passing Master cast a self-heal, instantly restoring his anemic HP to a healthy glow. Then, without hesitation, he threw himself in front of Milk Bottle—who was about to finish off 2B in his weakened state—and tanked the hit with his own body!

And then… nothing else happened.

The healer-turned-meatshield didn’t cast a single skill—no instant heals, no chants, nothing. He just stood there, motionless, shielding the Blood Warrior with his own flesh.

“What the hell are you doing?! I told you to heal 2B directly!!” Thousand Mountains barked, his carefully laid plans thrown into disarray.

Passing Master’s eyes were glued to the screen, his nerves stretched taut, making his words stumble: “T-Ten Thousand Blossoms is still on cooldown…”

“Since when did you use that?!!” Thousand Mountains couldn’t recall a single moment.

Passing Master: “Uh… I accidentally clicked it on my way to save Fighter Jet…”

Milk Bottle, do you need me to throw another Crimson Lotus Holy Fire for you?!

Feeling the burning wrath of his team’s de facto leader, Passing Master quickly tried to reassure him: “J-Just wait a bit longer, I know his attack power now, I-I can tank this, I calculated it—just don’t let anyone else hit me…”

“Tch. Look at you, giving me orders now.” Despite his words, Thousand Mountains couldn’t help but smirk, because Passing Master was indeed holding his own against Milk Bottle’s attacks—just as he’d claimed.

A teammate performing beyond expectations was always a pleasant surprise, like a flower blooming in the desert—and not a cactus flower at that. Such a thing deserved extra care.

For example, if the enemy abandoned weak skills and started chanting Crimson Lotus Holy Fire, he’d have to step in and douse those flames.

Wait—it seemed he wasn’t the only one with that thought. His dear Everything Breaks was also rushing toward Milk Bottle, though Weapon of the Gods—now at 100% power—was hot on his heels, threatening to end Everything Breaks mid-sprint.

But Thousand Mountains had no intention of saving him. Though Fahai and his porcupine had already been sent to the afterlife by his hand, Guardian was still stubbornly attacking, and he had his hands full trying to stop Milk Bottle’s Crimson Lotus Holy Fire. He simply didn’t have the energy to spare.

Actually, scratch that—he didn’t even have the desire to spare. ╮(╯_╰)╭

Everything Breaks hadn’t even considered the possibility of Thousand Mountains lending a hand. The only reason he was chugging pay-to-win Major Health Potions to reach Milk Bottle was because he saw Passing Master assume a skill-casting stance—

Ten Thousand Blossoms!

Milk Bottle’s holy flames were stillborn under Thousand Mountains’ hammer, and The Gods could only watch helplessly as their opponents’ entire team’s HP bars refilled to full.

Meanwhile, Weapon of the Gods had resurrected Fahai, making it seem like a fair four-on-four—as if both teams were back on equal footing. But in reality, the battle was already tipping overwhelmingly in one side’s favor.

The freshly resurrected Demon Refiner was weakened, his pet’s attack power drastically reduced—but that wasn’t the main reason for The Gods’ defeat. Hell, it wasn’t even a footnote; it was completely negligible. The real reason for their collapse? No healing.

Weapon of the Gods was a DPS-focused healer to begin with, so Milk Bottle was supposed to be their sustain. But he had switched to DPS gear to kill Passing Master, and by the time the fight became four-on-four, he had no chance to switch back. Thus, one side had four DPS, while the other had three DPS and one overpowered healer. The outcome was inevitable.

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: The moment Milk Bottle swapped to DPS gear, The Gods had already lost.

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: No. The turning point was when Thousand Mountains tossed that heal to Passing Master.

If Thousand Mountains hadn’t healed Passing Master, Passing Master would’ve died to Milk Bottle. If Passing Master had died, 2B wouldn’t have been resurrected. If 2B hadn’t been resurrected, it would’ve been four versus two…

The rest went without saying.

Thousand Mountains, No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains—the MVP of this match, the key player.

Passing Master—the unsung hero, the true workhorse of this battle.

Everything Breaks—low presence, but even Journey to the West couldn’t forget the third disciple.

2B Fighter Jet—well, this one can be ignored.

Mad Lad… uh, who was this guy again?

The Sky Arena dark horses’ win streak extended to thirteen, with the entire team breaking the 740-point barrier!

No longer mere dark horses, they had become a supernova illuminating the Sky Arena—and they were now on a collision course with the brightest star of them all. The only obstacle left? The second-ranked team on the leaderboard: Frostbite Canyon!

Thousand Mountains: “Bought all the potions.”

Everything Breaks: “Twelve-color dye set, ready to go.”

Passing Master: “Gathered all the meals.”

Mad Lad: “Finished changing my cosmetic gear.”

2B: “Just how much useless crap did you roll? Might as well swap into a bikini while you’re at it.”

[System] Enter Sky Arena?

Jiang Yang took a deep breath and, on behalf of his teammates, selected Yes. The system slowly displayed their opponents:

[Frostbite Canyon] Bloodless Victory – 740 points

[Frostbite Canyon] All is Fair in War – 740 points

[Frostbite Canyon] Deception is Fair in War – 740 points

[Frostbite Canyon] Godspeed Warrior – 740 points

[Frostbite Canyon] Enemy at the Gates – 740 points

Somehow, it felt as if both sides had been waiting for this moment—a destined clash between the elite.

[Spectator] Coldwater Blade Wanderer: Heard a lot about these dark horses. Let’s see how dark they really are.

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: Pitch black.

[Spectator] Suzhou River: Calling them dark horses doesn’t do them justice. They’ve got real skill, real strength. I wasn’t sure before, but after watching their last match… tsk tsk tsk.

[Spectator] One-Cent Dog: +1. Officially a fan now.

[Spectator] Little Tailor: How many people are spectating this? The chat’s lagging like crazy.

[Spectator] Festive Lantern is My Male God: The Flower Lantern squad’s on break right now [shy][shy][shy], so all their fans came over here!

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: What kind of creature is this? A brainless fangirl?

[Spectator] Savage Traveler: Looks like a lovesick fangirl to me.

[Spectator] Huaxia Ancestor: Gotta admit, that Festive Lantern character is well-designed [facepalm].

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: Ancestor, remember—desire is emptiness…

[Spectator] Only One Truth: Can we talk about something useful? Who here watched The Gods match? Was it any good?

[Spectator] Sugar-Free Cola: “Good” doesn’t even begin to describe it. At first glance, Thousand Mountains seems like the only standout, but the others keep pulling off unexpected moves that turn the tide. That healer’s a bit of a scatterbrain, but his heals are like an ocean. That Assassin’s decked out in blinged gear. That Blood Warrior and Berserker seem average, but their actions are unpredictable…

[Spectator] Duke Rum: Their names don’t sound like a premade team, and I don’t see much synergy either. Look, those three spawned at the same spot on the map and still haven’t decided which way to go.

[Spectator] Thirst-Quenching Sister: They’re not a premade. That Blood Warrior and Assassin are from the same guild—Ghost Server Legion. Everything Breaks is from another Summit Server guild. Thousand Mountains and Passing Master are from Holy Light Sanctuary and Fairy Dreamland—completely unrelated. And according to reliable sources, Everything Breaks’ guild has bad blood with Ghost Server, while Thousand Mountains’ Dutch Chamber of Commerce is currently the Summit Server’s biggest rival. Basically, it’s a mess of grudges and drama. And yet… this dysfunctional ragtag group somehow works in a weirdly harmonious way…

[Spectator] Duke Rum: Speak like a normal person, please.

[Spectator] Festive Lantern is My Male God: Fuck!

[Spectator] Duke Rum: =_=

[Spectator] Festive Lantern is My Male God: Oh, sorry, that wasn’t aimed at you. My PC’s acting up—it’s showing all five Frostbite Canyon members as disconnected.

[Spectator] The Wind Rises: …

[Spectator] Durian Noodles: …

[Spectator] Silent Seventh Lord: …

[Spectator] Only One Truth: Uh… I think they actually DC’d.

Much later, forum posts would reveal the truth: that night, the internet café where the Frostbite Canyon squad was gaming had suffered an electrical fire due to illegal wiring. Faced with real-life danger, the Frostbite boys chose to abandon the virtual world and run for their lives. Not that they had a choice—the entire place blacked out the moment the fire started. ╮(╯_╰)╭

The system automatically declared a loss if all five members of a team disconnected or died. Thus, without lifting a finger, MadB Squad secured their chance to challenge the Number One Legion.

The unprepared spectators took a long time to process what had happened. At the time, they had no idea why Frostbite Canyon had DC’d—but no matter how they looked at it, the MadB five seemed mighty suspicious, given they were the only ones who stood to benefit.