"Charge!"
SpireX didn't give the audience or Hotpot much time to analyse their mounts. He and his team had to reach Hotpot as fast as possible, drawing all their attention to prepare for plan H. Henragon's eyes focused on Bleary Mirage. He wanted to apply the same strategy as during the last match. Use his skill to draw the opponent's aggro, binding him for a while.
However, this time he was too slow. While everyone had to waste a second to jump onto their mounts, Liam already made his move. He didn't ride on Reen. His body disappeared in an instant, leaving the poor basilisk abandoned.
"What?"
Henragon couldn't help but let out a shout, his shock evident. He looked around, trying to find Liam, immediately spotting the golden light which conquered the sky. Liam dropped from the light like a shooting star, crashing into the ground right behind Hero of Realms. A faint, golden layer was surrounding his body as [Chaotic Tempest] had already been activated.
GalanTen's members froze for a moment. Why would Bleary Mirage target Hero of Realms? Had their strategy been leaked? GalanTen's plan for this match was to play around Hero of Realms, but how did Hotpot find out?
The answer was that they didn't. Hotpot's logic was simple. Hero of Realms was the only player they didn't fully understand yet. He was a variable. And this match was too important to allow such a variable. Thus, it had to be eliminated right at the start.
Liam, empowered by [Chaotic Tempest] didn't hesitate at all. His swords danced and his skills were activated, stacking Holy Marks on the mage. Hero of Realms had alarm bells ringing in his head, waking him up. He instinctively used flash step to escape from the terrifying assault.
However, Liam clung to him like a maggot. His senses were stretched to their limits. He perceived the small gathering of mana, indicating where Hero of Realms would land after his flash step. He instantly used the same ability, chasing after his opponent.
Both Liam and Hero of Realms emerged at the same position. Despite sitting on his trusty lizard-like mount, Hero of Realms was the one being pushed back, completely caught off guard. He felt an immense danger. If his teammates didn't come to help, he would die here!
"Yes! Mirage! Mirage! Mirage!"
"It's that move again!"
The audience was going crazy. The battle had only started a few seconds ago but it instantly became tense. Mirage was pulling all cards, putting the enemy mage into grave danger. He even interrupted Hero of Realms' flash step with his own flash step. In the eyes of many, this was somewhat of a signature move solely belonging to Bleary Mirage.
Ever since the latter showed this move during the last federation tournament, many tried to learn it, but so far no one had succeeded. It was just too difficult. The level of reaction time needed was incredible. Thus, Liam's fans were erupting with fervour as their hero finally showed his skills again.
However, it was not only Liam who threatened Hero of Realms. His friends were doing so as well. While the melee players used [Dash] in an attempt to reach the mage, the ranged players unleashed their skills.
GalanTen was forced to react. Especially their tanks Henragon and Valve. They had to block their enemies but also get Liam under control. Multiple skills were evoked within moments. Vavel turned into a golden statue and clapped his hands together. A sound like a massive bell spread, accompanied by golden light, drawing the aggro of everyone it hit. Almost simultaneously he summoned an illusionary body to overlap with him, which split up, granting Hero of Realms its protection.
Meanwhile Henragon turned around, looking at Liam. He wanted to use his [Flaming Crown] to secure Liam's aggro.
But would the expert allow Henragon to do as he wished?
During the first match Liam didn't have much of a choice. But now the situation was different. Liam knew about [Flaming Crown]. The skill was extremely tricky, basically impossible to dodge.
But it also had its flaw. [Flaming Crown] could only target opponents within the caster's vision. Noticing Henragon turning towards him, Liam grinned lightly and shifted his body, hiding behind Hero of Realms.
The mage was seated on a tall mount and even had the image of Vavel covering his body. He perfectly blocked Henragon's vision.
"Damn! Hero, move aside!"
"Get your sh*t together!", screamed the mage. His back was drenched in sweat. Not only was he besieged by Bleary Mirage but at this moment the attacks of Hotpot's tanged players also arrived. He was hanging by a threat. And instead of helping him, Henragon was making demands?!
The tank cursed, flames erupting from his feet. With a leap he repositioned himself, trying to catch Bleary Mirage from another angle. Yet Liam naturally wouldn't stand still. He circled Hero of Realms, who was even suffering from paralysation after being hit with Cyclone's [Lightning Barrage], and once again slipped out of Henragon's view.
Liam's swords never stopped moving. With a muffled explosion the skill protecting Hero of Realms shattered apart. Without a moment's delay, Liam's [Holy Sword Trinity] fell. Terrible damage ravaged the mage as swords of golden light crashed into his body. With this skill five Holy Marks were successfully triggered. An explosion of holy magic erupted, engulfing Hero of Realms for a moment, almost sealing his fate.
Fortunately for the mage, a shower of healing light reached him just in time, recovering his HP. But this only delayed the inevitable. Hotpot continued their attacks. Watchful Eye even managed to slip past the tanks, reaching the backline as well. GalanTen seemed to fall into chaos.
SpireX frowned heavily. Could it be that his team was the kind to falter if something didn't go according to plan? Thinking back to the dungeon clear, signs of this already appeared. As their prepared strategy against the boss didn't work, or after Hotpot took the first clear, GalanTen found it difficult to adapt. Perhaps this was the consequence of relying too much on their support system.
Of course, this was only in comparison to teams like Hotpot. GalanTen was still above 99% of all players. Only the likes of Hotpot could force them to make such mistakes.
GalanTen tried to salvage the situation, but Hotpot was relentless. Liam didn't allow Hero of Realms to get away. With [Darkened Sky] and [Grip of Darkness] he could even pursuit the mage after the latter escaped with a [Dash].
"I should've stayed in bed…"
Hero of Realms let out a sigh. Liam's sword struck again for 8292 points of damage and the mage finally lost all his HP. He disappeared, sent out of the arena.
"Mirage!"
Henragon growled, his head steaming. He felt like he had been played for a fool. Liam managed to stay out of his vision until the very end. It was a blow to Henragon's pride as a tank.
After the demise of Hero of Realms, the battle entered an orderly phase. Liam finally mounted his basilisk and Henragon managed to secure his aggro. For a while Liam had no choice but to focus on the tank. His [Chaotic Tempest] remained active, and his stance never dropped low until the aggro ran out again. At that point Liam was able to get away from the tank and focused his attacks on GalanTen's remaining backline, mainly their healer Occulus.
"Wow, GalanTen looks so much weaker than during the first match."
"They are barely fighting back."
"I think they are now choosing a conservative strategy. They are saving their skills for the last match."
"Perhaps they have not much of a choice. With one mage dying early it would be too risky to use everything for the slim chance of winning this match now."
The audience increasingly understood the thoughts of the two teams. They had fun analysing the battle. The rule that ultimate skills wouldn't be reset between battles added another strategic element, which was well received by the audience.
"It seems like that's it."
"Look, Gege has been found by Bloody Edge!"
"Damn, Hotpot is so fast to react. Gege has been revealed, and everyone attacks her in an instant. No hesitation."
"I wish my teammates would listen to my calls like that…"
"Haha, I would already be happy if my teammates would stop trolling me all the time!"
Laughter spread among the audience. The battle was slowly coming to an end. GalanTen struggled perfunctorily but after the death of Hero of Realms they were already resigned. There was no big turnaround. Hotpot gradually wore their enemies down, eliminating them one by one. The tanks survived quite a while but what could they do by themselves? Everything happened as expected and Hotpot emerged victorious.
"Hotpot!"
"Mirage you were awesome!"
Outside the arena, the crowd, led by Dream Avenue members, happily welcomed their heroes. Liam received most of the attention. Paying the price of his ultimate skill being on cooldown he made the big difference in this battle.
"Hurry up! Next match! Go!"
Cyclone tried to urge SpireX. If they could start the next match while Liam's [Chaotic Tempest] still had a few seconds of duration left, he would be able to prolong the skill's duration and use it during the next match.
But SpireX didn't fall for it. He only smiled faintly, his feet not moving by a single step.