"What happened?!"
"How did he die all of a sudden?!"
"Did Quickstep just one-shot the mage?"
The audience was in an uproar. Not many had paid attention to the situation on Hero of Realms's side. But there were still a few people who noticed something, smugly explaining to their friends:
"Hehe, you didn't watch properly! Do you want me to tell you?"
"Of course, spit it out!"
"Only if you acknowledge that I am the better player!"
"What does this have to do with anything? No way I would lie just to satisfy my curiosity!"
"Well then…"
"Dude, tell us or we'll make you!", threatened another curious young man. The original player looked around and noticed many unfriendly gazes. He smiled awkwardly and revealed what he knew:
"You really should have seen it. The moment Occulus's ultimate skill turned from white to black, Hero of Realms kept losing HP constantly. After the skill ran out, he probably had about twenty percent left. Quickstep arrived right on time. Even before Occulus could heal him or the tanks could shield Hero of Realms, Quickstep's swords struck him even faster. It was really awesome! As if Quickstep knew the timing even better than Occulus himself. If you ask me, she even expected it. Just so impressive!"
The player kept singing praises on Quickstep, infecting those around him. Everyone had awe in their eyes when they turned their gazes back towards the arena.
While the audience was full of admiration, the members of GalanTen froze in shock. How could this happen? How was Quickstep so fast to kill Hero of Realms? The mage had just managed to suppress Hotpot for a moment by using his ultimate skill, only to lose his life right after. It was a terrible blow to GalanTen.
And yet the bad news wasn't over.
"Thunder's Might!"
Cyclone got too exited, copying Hero of Realms in shouting the name of her skill. All attention fell on her. While Fortune and Hero of Realms revealed their big moves, stirring up the mana, Cyclone had been laying low at the side. If GalanTen was in a better situation, they might not have ignored Cyclone. But as they kept losing members and were under a lot of pressure, Cyclone knew how to grab the chance. She finished casting her ultimate skill without anyone stopping her.
Thunderclouds filled the sky above Occulus. A heavenly pressure assaulted his soul. He looked up and saw the dancing lightning in the sky.
"You need to get out!"
"Help him!"
Anxiousness slowly reached GalanTen. The group of Watchful Eye, Silent Acacia, and the two tanks instantly targeted the enemy healer. Their goal was to keep him within the area affected by Cyclone's lighting. Quickstep followed right after, together with the rest of GalanTen. Now only the two duos of Bleary Mirage and CUwUty as well as Bloody Edge and Gege continued fighting their own battles.
Radiant Shield's [Griffon's Halo] had already subsided. Dark magic was available again. Liam took the upper hand in the fight against CUwUty. With Occulus occupied it was only a matter of time until he would defeat the tall wood elf.
Meanwhile Bloody Edge and Gege were both without skills. As thieves they didn't continue exchanging attacks, but instead they hid in Stealth, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
An obvious trend slowly emerged. The main battle raged within the area of Cyclone's ultimate skill, a terribly unfavourable situation for GalanTen. Struck by lightning they suffered paralysis multiple times, falling into a disadvantage. And after a while Hotpot achieved their goal.
Watchful Eye's golden staff twirled in the air, enhanced by the metal element. Occulus was frozen in place, with sparks playing on his skin. He could only helplessly watch as the staff struck his head. None of the tanks were able to save him. Occulus finally died.
"Their healer is gone!"
"GalanTen is in trouble!"
"That's it!"
The excitement quickly spread. The match was coming to a conclusion. With their healer dead, GalanTen was completely unable to content with Hotpot. Now it really became a matter of picking them one by one.
It didn't take much longer for BlackHorizon and Greenhorn to be sent out of the arena. SpireX huddled together with the two tanks Vavel and Henragon who were able to temporarily protect their team captain. Yet Hotpot continuously increased the pressure. They could have gone and taken care of CUwUty and Gege, but they didn't do so.
"Why?! Damnit!"
SpireX couldn't help but curse again. The battle was incredibly frustrating for him. GalanTen was prepared to face Hotpot. Their coaches gave them a lot of information. But why did it now look like Hotpot knew more about GalanTen than the other way around?
All their big moves were countered perfectly. Hotpot showed immaculate timing in taking out Hero of Realms. Nothing GalanTen tried seemed to work. It was the most stifling feeling SpireX had ever experienced.
Even now, instead of doing the logical thing and taking out CUwUty and Gege, Hotpot seemed adamant on killing the team captain. It was as if they were only waiting for him to lose his ultimate skill.
"Fine! If that is what you want!"
Eventually SpireX couldn't wait any longer. His two tanks would soon run out of resources. SpireX had to use his ultimate skill.
The dwarf tilted his head and screamed at the sky. A voice like rolling thunder, mournful yet ferocious. At this moment SpireX's fallen comrades seemed to be coming back from the dead. Their bodies hovered behind the team captain, ethereal and ghostly, with angry grimaces on their faces. SpireX felt his strength skyrocket as all his attributes received a boost. This was [Spirit of Companionship], SpireX's ultimate skill.
"Die for me!"
SpireX gritted his teeth. He knew he wouldn't be able to kill all his enemies. His team was teetering on the brink on defeat. He only wished to take a few of his enemies with him. GalanTen couldn't lose too badly!
"Not so fast!"
"Villain! I will not allow you to hurt my friends!"
Two shouts echoed through the battlefield. Just as SpireX was about to make his move, Silver Blade and Radiant Shield both activated their own ultimate skills. A winged shield emitting dazzling light emerged behind Silver Blade. It was charged with a large amount of Bulwark Energy, which embraced her friends, protecting them fiercely.
Simultaneously a brilliant angel phantom overlaid with Radiant Shield. It wielded a hammer and a shield, its haughty eyes looking down on everyone.
"AHH!"
SpireX vented his frustration. He swung his axes. Suddenly the area in front of him was covered in violent axe shadows, striking as one unit, delivering terrifying blows to everyone around.
Boom!
The air was distorted from the impact. SpireX's attack caused the winged shield to tremble heavily, but it still held on bravely.
"Stop!"
Radiant Shield's griffon made a step forward. The angel phantom swung its shields, activating [Shield of Faith]. An illusionary shield was released, slamming into SpireX.
"We are still here!"
Vavel and Henragon bellowed angrily. They threw their bodies in front of SpireX, defending him from the aggro-drawing skill.
The situation entered a stalemate. SpireX with his all-round enhancement was quite powerful. However, he lacked the stats of those allies who were still alive, which preventing his ultimate skill from unfolding its full potential. Thus, he found it difficult to create a real impact.
And meanwhile Hotpot had already switched their targets. They ignored SpireX, simply waiting for his skill to run out on its own. They made use of the opportunity to deal with CUwUty and Gege.
There was not much to say. As soon as CUwUty felt all eyes turning towards her, a chill ran down her spine. Suddenly all of Hotpot pounced at her. No matter how good her skills were, there was no escape. She died a few seconds later.
Gege was suffering a similar fate. With everyone paying attention to her, the female assassin's Stealth was unable to protect her. She was discovered by Bloody Edge and finished off by the rest.
"Is this really it…"
SpireX sighed. He looked around and found himself encircled by Hotpot. His face showed deep disappointment. It was alright to lose, but this was too much. They didn't manage to take down a single player. Their reputation would be in shambles after this fight.
Yet there was nothing SpireX could do. A few seconds later his ultimate skill ended. Hotpot rushed in from all sides. The two tanks. The team captain. Defeated!
"Team Hotpot wins! Congratulations!"
C's announcement rang through the arena. The terrain returned to normal and Hotpot was able to see the audience. Instantly the cheers from all sides washed over them. The friends hovered in the sky, turning their bodies, waving at their fans.
"Honestly. That was f*cking fun!"
Cyclone erupted with bright laughter. Now that the pressure disappeared, only positive emotions burst forth. Everyone got infected by the mood. Especially Quickstep and Silent Acacia. They looked at each other with blazing eyes. Battling with such top-notch opponents! That was what they were living for!
"Number one forever!"
"Hotpot! Hotpot! Hotpot!"