After washing up, Meng Lang lay on the bed, unable to wait as he checked over his gains.
He called out in his mind:
“System bro, lemme have a look!”
【Host: Meng Lang】
【Age: 18】
【Title: None】
【Basic Gunplay (aiming, recoil control, spray transfer, flick sniping): 79.2 (+0.2↑) Damaged State】
【Reaction (positioning, instant reaction, multi-target handling): 91】
【Game Sense (positioning, information processing, attack-defense transitions): 72 (+1↑)】
【Map: Dust2 (90) Collapsed.】
【Firearms: AWP (79.2+10→89.2); AK (79.2+15→94.2)】
【Assignable Attribute Points: 0】
【Skill: Small-Hole Remnant Body Fusion】
【Goat Value: 2678 (Collecting)】
The data panel surfaced before his eyes. Meng Lang discovered that his improvement in gunplay wasn’t much—only 0.2.
But his game sense had risen by a full point in just a few days, five times the increase in gunplay.
He pondered it for a moment.
He figured that, on one hand, it was because his original game sense value had been relatively low, so progress in the early stages was obvious, just like losing weight—the scale always dropped fast at the beginning;
On the other hand, game sense wasn’t like gunplay, which slowly fed back into muscle memory. It could be improved directly through simulated training in the meditation space—he had played so many practice matches against a galactic-battleship-level team like FaZe. If his game sense still didn’t improve, that really wouldn’t make sense.
Wait!
Simulated training shouldn’t only improve game sense, right?
Thinking of this, Meng Lang’s mind suddenly stirred, and the map understanding section appeared before his eyes.
Open 【Collapsed】
Sure enough, the map pool that had originally only contained “Dust2 (90)” now had another entry: “Mirage (87)”—a level of map understanding that already belonged to the current T1 tier of the professional scene.
“Looks like it won’t be long before I become the true lord of Mirage.”
Meng Lang was both excited and expectant. Then he glanced at his remaining Goat Value: 2678 points.
Recently, he had been obsessed with training every night and was already starting to spend more than he earned. Fortunately, after G2’s official announcement, he had harvested another wave of Goat Value converted from emotions.
So he did not hesitate at all!
【Consume 1000 GOAT Value to initiate a practice match simulation against the “Galactic Battleship” FAZE Clan?】
【Confirm】
His vision abruptly went black, and Meng Lang’s consciousness rapidly sank into Mirage within the meditation space!
“Big Cousin! Director!”
“Rain God! Car Owner!”
“I’m coming!”
Meng Lang quickly threw himself into the high-intensity simulated matches.
During this period, he had also discovered a little trick:
If he took the initiative to communicate tactics with his virtual teammates during the simulation, his improvement in game sense seemed to become a little faster.
So this time, Meng Lang began trying to participate more actively in tactical discussions. Often, as soon as a round ended, he would grab his “teammates” and start brainstorming, working out tactics for the next round.
Although the results sometimes weren’t ideal, and it was even easy for him to “overload his pig brain” and affect his mechanics, there were also times when, relying on a sudden flash of inspiration and an “I’ve got an idea,” he stole a round or completed an ECO comeback.
Even if it was only inside the system space, Meng Lang was still delighted, his heart brimming with a sense of accomplishment.
It counted as a different kind of experience.
……
The next day.
Jackz left the club.
Meng Lang also began his journey.
G2’s newly formed roster took a plane from Berlin, Germany, to Antwerp, Belgium.
About four hours after they began waiting at the airport, they landed smoothly. At the airport, the staff traveling with the team were filming a vlog.
The camera swept over Niko, m0NESY, and the others in turn, asking them some questions and lingering for a long time on the star players.
Finally, it turned to Meng Lang:
“It’s your first time coming to Antwerp to play a Major. What are you thinking right now?”
Meng Lang narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“This is going to be a massacre.”
Hearing this,
Everyone laughed.
Cousin looked at Meng Lang and shook his head with a sigh.
Youth! How wonderful!
When they left the airport, Niko and m0NESY were surrounded by quite a few fans asking for photos and autographs.
Meng Lang stood off to the side, a little envious, but the seventeen-year-old merely stuck both hands in his pockets and coolly pretended not to care at all.
Niko saw through Meng Lang’s act. After signing autographs, he walked over with a smile and patted him on the shoulder:
“Bro, don’t worry. After this Major, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of fans too.”
Those words were meant as comfort, but unexpectedly, Meng Lang nodded as if it were only natural.
“Of course.”
The kid beside them wanted to laugh, but held it in.
Bro really was confident!
After leaving the airport, they boarded the bus arranged by the tournament organizer, passing by Antwerp’s distinctive architecture along the way.
Because of the upcoming Major, the city had become exceptionally lively.
Some time ago, even the mayor had publicly stated that this event would bring considerable revenue and exposure to the port city, so they attached particular importance to it. Before the matches had even begun, the thick atmosphere of the Major was already rushing toward them from the city streets.
They were staying at the Crowne Plaza Antwerp, where many fans had already been waiting outside.
When the G2 group arrived, they were once again surrounded by enthusiastic crowds—after all, the team still had stars like Niko and the kid. In a city about to host a Major, they would draw attention wherever they went.
Finally, they successfully entered the hotel and checked in.
When rooms were assigned, Meng Lang shared one with Niko, m0NESY shared one with Little Li, and Cousin huNter shared one with the coach.
The hotel accommodations were good. With roughly five hours of flying plus the time spent preparing for departure, the group had been busy for most of the day, so after checking in, they all chose to take a bath and rest first.
The matches would begin in two days. They had to meet the competition in their best possible condition.
Fortunately, Berlin and Antwerp were both in the Central European time zone, so there was no need to adjust for jet lag.
It was worth mentioning that after this Antwerp Major’s fourteen-day RMR battles across the various regions, a total of twenty-four teams had advanced.
Apart from the eight Legends teams that advanced directly, the remaining sixteen teams—including G2—had to participate in the Challengers and Contenders stage.
These teams had to pass through the first sixteen-to-eight Swiss round format—three wins to advance, three losses to be eliminated—to decide eight teams, who would then enter the next sixteen-to-eight Swiss round stage together with the eight Legends teams waiting in comfort.
The teams about to take part in the Challengers stage included:
Americas: MIBR, Imperial, COL, Liquid, EG
Asia: Mongolian team IHC, Renegades
Europe Group A: forZe, Vitality, Eternal Fire, Virtus.pro
Europe Group B: ENCE, G2, Astralis, Bad News Eagles
What was rather regrettable was that although this Major’s sticker policy was lenient, with every team that advanced receiving stickers,
In other words, the sticker slots had already been distributed.
This meant that since Meng Lang had not participated in G2’s European Group B RMR event, he could not receive an Antwerp Major signature sticker.
But being able to get this chance to compete was already no easy matter.
Meng Lang was not greedy.
After washing up and resting for a moment, he immediately went to the hotel’s training room to adjust his equipment and the height of his desk and chair.
Meng Lang didn’t have terrifying obsessive-compulsive tendencies. He wasn’t like certain pro players from the neighboring League scene who carried a measuring ruler around with them, but he still needed to adjust things to a height he found comfortable.
After two more days of final preparations, the Antwerp Major Challengers stage finally arrived.
Their first opponent was none other than Meng Lang’s old team: EG.
It was worth mentioning that before the match, Banana Man 2K made another insinuating post on INS.
“You all know that all along, it’s been really hard to endure a player who only rages incompetently. He was the chief culprit behind EG’s struggles. As for G2, I can only wish them good luck.”
There were actually quite a few likes beneath it.
When Meng Lang saw this post, however, he merely smiled and let it pass. Then he silently glanced at the Goat Value on the system panel, which was rising rapidly.
As expected!
Anti-fans were still fans.
Then there was no problem!
The growth of the chosen Goat was destined to make the world focus on him and discuss him heatedly!
Those words were said by “System bro.”
Meng Lang had always thought they made a lot of sense.
The night before the match.
Coach XTQZZZ gathered everyone and held a brief tactical meeting.
After the meeting ended, Niko and Meng Lang went together to the hotel’s underground gym to hit the weights and stay disciplined.
After working out together, Niko tossed over a bottle of water.
He unscrewed his own bottle, tilted his head back, and gulped down a few mouthfuls. Wiping his mouth, he turned with a smile and asked Meng Lang, “Bro, how is it? Playing EG tomorrow—are you under a lot of pressure?”
He had also seen the INS post 2K had made before the match.
To be honest, Old Ni felt it was a bit too much like bullying.
Hearing this, Meng Lang couldn’t help scratching his head.
Actually, more than one person had asked him this question today. Little Li, Cousin, the coach—even the kid had quietly asked him.
Playing his old team tomorrow.
Was he under a lot of pressure?
He could feel the concern of his new teammates.
But Meng Lang didn’t understand.
Why should there be pressure when playing his old team?
No!
Rather, why would there be pressure?
During the day, he had only smiled and shaken his head, saying that he was actually fine.
But now, faced with Old Ni’s concerned gaze, Meng Lang finally couldn’t help asking his own question: “Um… should I be under pressure?”
Old Ni froze on the spot when he heard this!
He lifted his head and met Meng Lang’s eyes—those dark pupils were utterly clear, without the slightest impurity.
In that instant,
A word surfaced in Old Ni’s mind.
【Pure】
He wanted to win!
And that was all—he simply wanted to win!
A pure desire for victory!
It had nothing to do with grudges or love and hate!
Nor did it have anything to do with outside public opinion!
And so,
Old Ni smiled.
He clapped Meng Lang hard on his solid shoulder,
Then said with a grin:
“Let’s go! Come back to the room and sleep with me.”
“What the hell is EG? Bullying my bro! Fuck, tomorrow we’re going to smash them to pieces!”