At the G2 players’ booth.
Bang—!
The kid was startled by the sudden noise and shuddered, instinctively lowering his head, not daring to meet NiKo’s eyes at all. The guilt and pressure in his heart instantly reached their peak!
In the 6657 livestream room, Wanjiqi was also startled by the loud crash, then couldn’t help sighing.
“Ah… Old Ni! Old Ni just wants to win too badly! That punch of his wasn’t because he was mad the kid got jiggled into whiffing. More than that, he’s mad at himself for failing to deliver at the crucial moment and throwing away such a golden opportunity…”
“Old Ni… are you also missing that version of yourself who could do anything out in Outside?”
Wanjiqi’s tone carried deep regret as he continued analyzing. “Actually, after watching the first two maps today, Vitality and G2 are really extremely close in overall strength this year. Victory and defeat often come down to who can withstand the pressure in key rounds, and who doesn’t go weak at the knees in the crucial moments!”
“Nothing more to say, brothers. I need to go drink some water and take a break. Casting today’s match has my throat almost smoking. We’ll watch the life-or-death game on map three, Dust2, in a bit!”
“Oh right, there is one piece of good news: map three is Dust2! This map is Dark’s specialty! ‘His destined Sand Emperor’ title isn’t just for show!”
“But… Dark really hasn’t faced a strong team like Vitality on Dust2 at a Major-level match before. Let’s see how he performs under high pressure later.”
The bullet comments in the livestream instantly went crazy:
“Smashing the desk again! Dark smashes too—this thing is contagious, huh?”
“I’m dying. Don’t tell me after today, Old Ni will show up tomorrow wrapped in bandages too.”
“Desk: You guys are awesome! What did I do to deserve this? Your own hands aren’t hard enough and you blame me?”
“Does the damn kid really not kill anyone? His AWP has whiffed everything today, I swear.”
“For real! Hurry up and step it up on map three! Old Ni’s punch landed on the desk, but the next punch might not be on the desk!”
“Dark: My fists may not be dull either!”
“.”
There were also some Vitality fans complaining in the bullet comments:
“Huh? What are Wanjiqi’s fans bragging about? Sand Emperor again?”
“Seriously, enough with the Sand Emperor stuff. Before Dark joined EG, wasn’t he only playing against tier-two and tier-three teams? And he dares call himself Sand Emperor?”
“Then if I farm kills on Perfect World ladder Dust2, am I Sand Emperor too? Everyone’s a Sand Emperor now, huh?”
“Honestly, ZywOo’s performances on Dust2 are what actually deserve the title of Sand Emperor, right?”
“Relax. This map is one of Vitality’s iron-strong maps. He’ll behave after getting beaten up later.”
“Fun fact: when a fake Sand Emperor meets the real Sand Emperor, his true colors are exposed!”
“.”
At the same time, at the G2 players’ booth.
After ultimately losing map two, the atmosphere around the entire team seemed a little oppressive.
Although NiKo’s punch had landed on the desk, it felt more like it had slammed heavily into every player’s heart.
Especially the kid’s.
Compared with the mockery and boos online, unseen and untouchable, what the kid found even harder to accept was the disappointment revealed in the eyes of this companion beside him, both a mentor and a friend.
In that instant,
he couldn’t help thinking of many things…
He remembered when he had been in NAVI Junior, people had called him the “prince.” In NAVI, “prince” was a nickname with a lineage; the currently incandescent GOAT s1mple had once been the “prince” of the legendary sniper GuardiaN.
This year, he and the in-game leader Aleksib had joined the powerhouse G2 together, forming a new lineup that looked luxurious on paper.
At the Blast group stage in January at the start of the year, when they first faced Vitality, he had lost to his opponent and, for the first time, truly felt the terror of that man named ZywOo.
But immediately afterward, in February at Katowice, G2 had cut through all obstacles and battled their way into the finals, where they faced the galactic battleship, FAZE.
At that time, the kid had also carried dreams in his heart, thinking that perhaps he too could become a chosen one like ZywOo!
Peak upon debut!
Unfortunately, they ultimately lost to FAZE and only took runner-up.
That result might have seemed good, but in the world of esports, no one remembers second place. Some professional players even regard it as a disgrace.
As for the ESL event afterward, they were eliminated in the group stage right away—not worth mentioning.
It was not until this Antwerp Major that the consecutive wins in the first two days restored his confidence, and his whole being became high-spirited again.
But today, facing Vitality once more, facing ZywOo once more, he discovered in frustration that he still seemed unable to cross this towering inner demon named “ZywOo.”
At this moment, the kid lowered his head and held it in both hands, feeling as if his heart were sinking weightlessly. Even his breathing felt weak.
A surging sensation rushed straight at him!
He was clearly only playing a match in the studio, yet he felt as if he could hear countless noisy boos echoing beside his ears.
Too “loud”!
It really was too “loud”!
Did he care too much about things off the stage?
But standing on this stage beneath the spotlight,
who could truly not care?
For a brief instant, the kid, under immense pressure, even had the thought of stopping and resting for a while.
But when he looked at the young and outstanding companions beside him, and at that guy who had once said with a serious face during a late-night chat that his goal was to become TOP 1… if he stopped, would he still be able to keep up with his footsteps?
Just as thoughts churned wildly in the kid’s mind and his heart suffered torment, he suddenly felt a pair of strong, powerful hands land steadily on his shoulders.
He instinctively raised his head. What entered his eyes was Meng Lang’s face, wearing a bright, youthful smile.
However, the moment Meng Lang opened his mouth, the kid nearly lost composure:
“Did Illya get beaten until he cried?”
“I did not!”
The kid instinctively retorted.
“Hahaha!”
Meng Lang laughed loudly without the slightest concern, then slapped his back hard. His tone was relaxed, yet filled with strength.
“It’s fine even if you cry a little!”
“Don’t worry! ZywOo, right? Bullying my brother? Next map is my specialty! Watch me carry you and smash him hard!”
“Do you believe me?”
The kid froze, staring blankly at Meng Lang.
That carefree smile on his face, and that vigorous, even somewhat “arrogant” fighting spirit in his tone,
was like a beam of strong light!
In an instant, it pierced through the gloom that had accumulated in his heart.
All of a sudden, the kid felt as if something in his chest was violently rolling and surging.
After hesitating for only a moment, he nodded heavily. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally firm.
“I believe you!”
“Then let’s go all out on map three!”
Meng Lang smiled and extended a sturdy palm.
The kid looked at that hand and hesitated slightly. Then he also reached out and gripped it heavily!
“Let’s do our best together!”
“When I become TOP 1, I’ll also appoint you executive vice-Goat!”
“No way! I want to be TOP 1 too!”
“Hahaha!”
At the side, NiKo, who had just finished pounding the desk and was working hard to calm himself down, suddenly saw the originally dejected kid being made high-spirited again by Meng Lang in just a few words. After a slight daze crossed his face, he could not help shaking his head and laughing.
At this moment, he felt even more that his loss of control just now had been somewhat unnecessary. They had only lost one map. It wasn’t as if they had no chance left.
They would just win it back on map three, Dust2!
At the side, Cousin and Little Li looked at each other and both couldn’t help smiling.
Little Li sighed inwardly once again: back when NiKo had recommended Meng Lang to G2’s management, it had truly been the right decision!
This guy seemed to be born with a magical power that could disperse gloom and inspire people!
Playing matches,
especially offline matches,
mentality was truly extremely important.
And G2’s morale, under Meng Lang’s seemingly casual yet perfectly timed influence, quietly completed its reformation.
At this moment, everyone’s gaze turned toward the decisive battle of today’s Legends Stage advancement match—map three, Dust II!
The true deciding map had arrived!