Chapter 33 – All for Love

The third match between Ghost Server and The Gods delivered a devastating blow to both the audience and commentators. As a result, most of them remained in a Petrified state for the subsequent matches. The few who recovered still couldn’t focus on the game, instead flooding the Huaxia Forum to contribute to a legendary thread.

The thread was born an hour and a half ago, originally titled Live Updates on the First Round of the PvP Tournament. By now, it had reached nearly two hundred pages, and the OP had changed the title to Live Updates on the First Round of the PvP Tournament (Dammit! Ghost Server Legion, Where the Hell Is Your Bottom Line?!?!?!?!?!?).

The thread was growing rapidly with countless replies. A small portion of players who hadn’t watched the matches live kept asking what had happened and what the Ghost Server Legion was. Some kind souls explained that it was a guild from the Mirage Server, only to be immediately corrected—no, it was a bug from the Mirage Server.

Meanwhile, in the Arena, the fourth and fifth matches quietly concluded.

In the commentator channel, Brother Feifan had only six remarks about these two matches:

[System] Commentator: Ghost Server’s Refined Into a Demon 438 vs. Sihai.

[System] Commentator: Another Demon Refiner mirror match.

[System] Commentator: Sihai’s pet was bitten to death by Refined Into a Demon’s pet.

[System] Commentator: Sihai was also bitten to death by Refined Into a Demon’s pet.

[System] Commentator: Ghost Server’s Blood Bulls Don’t Graze vs. Tai Chi Grandmaster.

[System] Commentator: Tai Chi Grandmaster was hacked to death.

Finally, the audience in the stands snapped out of their daze—

[Spectator] One-Armed Blade: Can someone explain how we went from 0 to 5-0 in the blink of an eye?!?!

[Spectator] Pay Me Now: Ghost Server abandoned their sneaky tactics and went for a blitzkrieg instead.

[Spectator] One-Armed Blade: That’s not scientific!

[Spectator] Sword God of Shu Mountain: That 438’s pet is even less scientific =_=

[Contestant] Suave Not Sleazy: Did anyone see how that Berserker won just now?

[Contestant] Summit of Mount Tai: Nope. That guy’s a real pro—his movements were too fast.

[Contestant] Hu Yifei 12138: And also super brutal~\(≧▽≦)/~

[Contestant] Bastard Zeng: Commander, control yourself! Don’t get too excited!

[Contestant] Hu Yifei 12138: But my hands are itching right now! Why the hell did we get a bye in the first round?!?!?!?!

If Your Uncle had instantly drained the entire audience’s mental HP with his performance, then 438 and Blood Bull’s lightning-fast victories gave everyone an HP and MP boost. And so, 2B Fighter Jet made his grand entrance, carrying the cautious trepidation of the entire audience.

[Contestant] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Holy shit, another familiar face!

[Contestant] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Xuanyuan, why have all your core members defected to Mirage Server?

[Contestant] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: So the Ghost Server Legion is your branch guild?

[Contestant] Vivian: Honey, that’s enough.

[Contestant] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: No way! Xuanyuan won’t even show his face, I’m not getting any satisfaction here~~

[Contestant] Drink Till You Drop: Whitey.

[Contestant] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: OK, I’ll shut up.

[Contestant] Vivian: Are you two secretly an item or something? =_=

Xuanyuan really had impressive composure, Fang Zheng thought. Even after being teased like that, he still refused to make a peep—truly the demeanor of a major guild leader.

But right now, Fang Zheng didn’t have time to dwell on Xuanyuan. The Arena map changed again, this time to… Su Causeway?

Back when he’d first met Polly, the Little Zombie used to love sitting by the causeway. When the breeze blew, his tiny suit would flutter slightly—ridiculously cute. Fang Zheng didn’t know why he suddenly recalled that scene. It hadn’t been that long ago, yet it already felt like a distant memory, one he had to strain to retrieve.

But now, in the same scenery, the figure sitting by the water was a Blood Warrior in full armor and a Blesscaller in a floral dress. Both were seated on Su Causeway—one on this side, the other on the opposite bank, almost face-to-face across the water. It should have been a beautiful Monet-esque painting—the setting sun, the tranquil river, lovers sitting across from each other, the young man gazing lovingly at the maiden, the maiden shyly lowering her head, the breeze tousling her hair and the little flower pinned within.

Yes, it should have been beautiful.

Assuming you covered the words “2B Fighter Jet” floating above the young man’s head with your hand.

[System] Commentator: Brother Feifan is back!

[System] Commentator: I suggest everyone grab a Red Bull—instant full recovery!

[System] Commentator: This time, the spawn points for both contestants are quite delicate—they spotted each other at a glance!

[System] Commentator: Unfortunately, the river between them is beyond attack range.

[System] Commentator: It seems neither is making the first move. They’re sitting quietly, sizing each other up.

[System] Commentator: Maybe they’re both strategizing—Blood Warrior vs. Blesscaller, this’ll be a drawn-out battle.

[System] Commentator: Judging by the ID, The Gods’ Blesscaller this time might actually be a girl.

As the commentator gradually regained his enthusiasm, the crowd followed suit. After all, online gamers were a resilient bunch, enduring the system’s endless torment while still treating it like their first love. A little emotional damage wasn’t going to kill anyone.

[Spectator] Farewell My Concubine: I wonder how Ghost Server plans to be sneaky this time.

[Spectator] Strategist: Don’t bother thinking about it. Know your limits—we’re all just mortals here.

[Spectator] World in Chaos: But them just staring at each other without moving is actually kind of suspenseful. You know, like when the mind wanders without the body moving—can’t you feel the tension building?

[Spectator] Lonely Little Hand: Now that you mention it… Damn, I’m getting nervous again!

The air in the Arena stretched taut like a rubber band under the silent stare-off between the two contestants, tightening further and further with the audience’s nerves.

Finally, the Blood Warrior typed out the first words of the match—

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: Miss, do you have a husband in-game?

The stands collapsed.

What the hell, is this If You Are the One now?!?!

But the players quickly realized—no, the Blood Warrior wasn’t just flirting with the Blesscaller. There had to be a deeper scheme behind this. There had to be!

[Arena] Princess Duoduo: No.

No one could see the player’s expression through the character, but the spectators unanimously sensed the cautiousness in that one simple word.

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: I see.

Fang Zheng stared at 2B’s reply and suddenly had a bad feeling…

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: Come kill me. I won’t fight back.

He knew it!!!

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: Even in a game, I can’t hit a woman.

What the hell, weren’t you the one who went full psycho on Deadleaf?!

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: It’s my principle.

What script is this?! This isn’t your line! Fang Zheng was tempted to reach into the screen, grab the guy by the neck, and scream, what kind of monster are you?! Give me back my Little Fighter Jet!!!!

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: I’m still single, so every single girl in the world could be my future wife. Of course I can’t hit my potential wife~\(≧▽≦)/~

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: Any ladies in the audience who like me, feel free to add me on QQ: XXXXXXXXX

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: My current accounts are only on Mirage Server and Huaxia Summit, but girls from other servers can still message me—I’ll just make a new account and level up. As they say, you’re the wind, I’m the sand, for true love, I’ll roam the land~~~~~~

Fang Zheng was in despair. This was still his Little Fighter Jet, after all TAT

But the audience thought otherwise—

[Spectator] One-Armed Blade: This has to be a scheme.

[Spectator] Lost Interest: Please, it’s not even a scheme anymore—it’s blatant.

[Spectator] I Love Pineapple: But what’s the point of all this? It’s not like it drains the opponent’s HP.

[Spectator] Bring Your Own Rations: There has to be a point—we just haven’t figured it out yet.

No matter how romantic the stare across the river was, it couldn’t last forever. Since the maiden wasn’t moving, Fighter Jet had to get up and approach her. Seeing him stand, Princess Duoduo quickly rose as well, assuming a defensive stance.

[System] Commentator: Ghost Server’s Blood Warrior is finally making his move! After a barrage of spammy ads, he’s finally moving!

[System] Commentator: He’s circling the riverbank to reach the Blesscaller’s side!

[System] Commentator: The Blesscaller isn’t running—she’s standing her ground!

[System] Commentator: The Blood Warrior is still advancing! What’s he planning? Doesn’t he know he’s about to enter the Blesscaller’s attack range?

[System] Commentator: Blade of Blessings! Princess Duoduo attacks!

[System] Commentator: The Blade deals some damage to the Blood Warrior, but at this distance, he still can’t counter—he needs to get closer!

[System] Commentator: Princess Duoduo retreats, clearly trying to maintain distance. How will the Blood Warrior respond?

[System] Commentator: He sits down!

[System] Commentator: Is sitting down at any given moment Ghost Server Legion’s battle strategy?!?!

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: Like I said, I don’t hit women. Feel free to wreck me.

[Contestant] Greatsword: Damn…

[Contestant] Big H: That’s too shameless!

At this point, the audience finally believed in the Blood Warrior’s chivalry.

But Princess Duoduo, still in the match, remained wary. She couldn’t believe her luck, so she’d hit him once and run, take a few steps, and when he really didn’t get up to chase her, she’d return to hit him again. Rinse and repeat, tirelessly.

Meanwhile, the Ghost Server squad in YY couldn’t take it anymore—

Jiang Yang roared, “is that guy brain-dead?!”

438 sighed, “now I understand why his ID is so honest…”

Your Uncle lamented, “I thought we’d get a clean 6-0 sweep…”

Fang Zheng sighed, about to chime in before realizing how futile it would be. Just as he was about to console everyone, the sound of a phone dialing came through YY—clearly on speakerphone, given the loud ringtone.

“Love you, simida=_= Hate you, simida~~ Love you, hate you, love and hate, simida~~”

Soon, the call connected, and the voice of the idiot who’d already lost a third of his HP to the beauty came through—

“Polly?”

“Yeah,” Polly replied succinctly before cutting to the chase. “Stop letting her hit you. Keep at least half your HP.”

“Huh? Why? I already said I don’t hit women.”

“I’m not telling you to hit her. Just dodge for now.”

“Then why?”

“No time to explain. Stay alive first.”

“…”

“Trust me, and you’ll live forever.”

For some reason, Birdy-kun’s last words carried an inexplicable persuasiveness. On-screen, 2B suddenly stood up, startling Princess Duoduo, who immediately bolted far away, as if to say, See? I knew you had an ulterior motive.

[System] Commentator: Ghost Server’s Blood Warrior suddenly stands up! Is he finally making his move?

[System] Commentator: Was his ‘no hitting women’ just a ruse?

[System] Commentator: He starts running!

[System] Commentator: Wait, he’s running away!

[System] Commentator: He’s left Princess Duoduo’s line of sight!

[System] Commentator: He’s climbing a tree!

[System] Commentator: Is he planning an ambush?!

The audience’s anticipation soared with the commentator’s escalating narration, holding their breath for what came next.

And then, they saw the Blood Warrior’s polite notice—

[Arena] 2B Fighter Jet: Miss, sorry, I need to take a call.

Fuck your mom…

According to players who experienced that night, when the Blood Warrior typed those words, thick green smoke suddenly rose above the Arena stands. The smoke, seemingly condensed from countless grievances, first formed a giant fist before slowly extending a middle finger.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

For the Ghost Server squad, Polly hung up after Fighter Jet hid in the tree, then passed the baton to Blood Bull. Without much explanation, Blood Bull left just four words: Leave it to me. And then—silence. She muted her mic, and no one knew what she said to Fighter Jet.

For the audience, Fighter Jet lurked in the tree for five minutes, then suddenly jumped down and charged straight at the Blesscaller. Only when they were face-to-face did the first real PvP of the match begin. Princess Duoduo’s skills weren’t bad, but they were far from top-tier. Despite her healing, she was steadily overwhelmed by the ferocious Blood Warrior and eventually fell.

6-0! The unknown Ghost Server Legion had shut out The Gods!

Princess Duoduo, dying with indignation, refused to rest in peace even after being eliminated—

[Contestant] Princess Duoduo: I thought you didn’t hit women!

[Contestant] 2B Fighter Jet: Sorry, my heart already belongs to another. I can’t give you what you want.

The entire audience, watching the aftermath, collectively spat blood—Dude, when did she ever ask for it?!

[Spectator] Surging Seas: Going back on your word, eating your promises—how shameless.

[Contestant] 2B Fighter Jet: You’re mistaken, my friend. Circumstances change by the minute. Is the river you cross this minute the same as the one from the last?

[Spectator] Surging Seas: Speak human, please. =_=

[Contestant] 2B Fighter Jet: Fine. Five minutes ago, I found my soulmate~\(≧▽≦)/~

[Spectator] Surging Seas: So?

[Contestant] 2B Fighter Jet: How are you this slow? Before, I had no woman, so I didn’t hit women. Now that I’ve found my woman, all other women are no longer human ╮(╯_╰)╭

[Spectator] Surging Seas: …

[Spectator] Born in 1994: Damn! I believe in love again