Vol.2 Chapter 68
Clarissa’s PoV
"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! It's time to crown the Champion of the tournament!!! Who will emerge as the victor of the Champion's Brawl? Who will take home the cash prize of a whopping $200,000 and, most importantly, the title of the strongest Under 20 team in the entire World?! We will find out today!” the announcer hyped.
The words of Mr. Announcer echo through the stadium, signifying the start of the event and igniting a hunger for cheers and applause from the fans, who are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the matches to come. I’m no exception; I could feel the sweat from nervousness. I clasped my hands, sincerely hoping that Big Brother and Novo would win.
Looking around, I can clearly see the difference in the crowd’s enthusiasm and numbers compared to yesterday. The stadium was a maelstrom of energy—a sea of faces, each one a canvas of anticipation and excitement. I am glad to be part of it all as the rhythmic thump of the music pulsed through my body, matching the pounding of my heart.
I can’t even find a single empty seat this time, as if all of the ticket buyers and spectators came out just for the final day. So, what Dad said about the crowd being the largest on the last day was true. I thought yesterday’s crowd would be the largest, but I was wrong.
Hearing the prize for the champion of the tournament, Dad let out a whistle of amazement.
"I guess I won't need to give your brother his monthly allowance if he wins, huh?" Dad joked.
“I don’t think he would agree to that…” I said weakly, my words likely drowned out by the enthusiastic clamor of the crowd.
"Also, there will be a huge all-star with esteemed special guests later, so stay tuned for it!" Mr. Announcer continued.
“Star event? What’s that? Are there planets, too?” Colin innocently asked.
“All-star, Colin. It means that they would be having guests who are considered the best of this… whatever game it is,” Mom gently corrected him.
Although I’m quite curious about who those all-star guests are, I’m too new to the CoA community to even identify whether someone is renowned to be considered an ‘all-star’ or not. However, there is one thing Mom said: I cannot let slide.
"It's Champions of Andartha, Mom,” I enthusiastically corrected. “It's been days, and you still don't know the name of the game.”
“Hahaha, our Angel sure is passionate when it comes to this game, huh?” Dad came with his customary Santa-like laugh.
“Of course! My brother and I love the game!” I explained eagerly.
It’s also the game where I met Novo. I thought to myself, but I didn’t say it out loud.
"Now, let us present the remaining participants of this event! First in line. The team whose performance in this tournament exceeded all expectations and blazed through it all! The dark horses of the tournament! The first team to reach the finals! Team Paradigm!" the announcer shouted at the top of his lungs for the introduction.
I imitated the announcer by cheering at the top of my lungs. It was quite embarrassing at first, but I got used to it, shouting whenever Novo or her teammates did something amazing or even when they were just being called. It’s the least I can do to support their team.
“Big Brother! Novo! YOU CAN DO IT! GOOOD LUUUCK!!!” I shouted to the best of my ability as their team walked towards the center stage.
As they begin to walk towards the center, a montage of highlights from their matches throughout the tournament is played. Most of the highlights were my brother’s 1v1 tournament and Novo’s amazing moves. Most importantly, the clip from yesterday where she won against the scary girl made me cheer even louder, so much so that I feared my lungs would give out. However, that did not stop me from showing my support to them.
The spectators nearby me also enthusiastically cheered for them, a huge contrast to the first day of the tournaments, when almost all doubted and ridiculed Novo’s team.
“It's them, right? The team who came out of nowhere and won all their matches?”
“Uh-huh! I became a fan of their ace after her match yesterday! She was so cool!”
“Go Paradigm! I’m rooting for you guys!”
“I’ve learned my lesson! I won’t bet against you guys anymore! Just win so I can earn back my money! Please don’t lose, or I’ll be in debt!”
Even though I knew that my voice was lost in the sea of the crowd’s noise and overwhelming cheer, I still didn’t let up. In fact, I saw it as a challenge, amplifying my cheer even louder.
As their team marched on, my gaze instinctively settled on the girl who had been mentoring me through the nuances of the game and had become dear to me during our time spent together, Novo. She maintained her typical composed and collected expression, devoid of any sign of nervousness, even in this extremely lively atmosphere.
This only elevated my admiration for her, something I thought was impossible with how highly I already viewed her. If I were in her shoes, I am certain I would be too nervous to even walk and might end up freezing in place due to the deafening cheers of the crowd. I cannot hope to be as calm as she is now.
“She really is something else,” I murmured in admiration.
In contrast, Big Brother strides as if he owns the place, waving exuberantly and basking in the crowd's cheers. His behavior somewhat evokes a sense of second-hand embarrassment, making me slightly wince at his actions.
Miss Liz somewhat resembles Big Brother’s attitude, waving appreciatively at the cheers from the crowd but being a lot more reserved than him. While their last teammate, Mr. Chu, if I remember his name correctly, seems indifferent to the atmosphere.
The announcer also introduced the remaining teams on the last day of the tournament after their introduction. I cheered for each team, although not as fervently as I did for Novo's team, since my lungs might give out if I did. It’s a bit of a mixed feeling. Although I earnestly want Team Paradigm to win, I also don’t want the other teams to lose. It’s a bit of wishful thinking, but that's genuinely how I felt after witnessing their matches throughout the tournament.
----------------------------------
“Phew, I’m glad that was over,” I murmured to myself.
I gave off a relieved sigh, glad to be in the participant’s room for our team. This room was a stark contrast to the din of the bustling arena. Soft, ambient lighting washed over the space, casting long, dancing shadows on the walls, which made me even more relaxed compared to the crowded atmosphere of the main stage. In this room, Liz is currently sitting next to me, while Clarence and Chu are sitting idly on the comfortable sofa near ours.
It seems I’ve survived one of the most challenging segments of the final day of the tournament, the opening ceremony. I mean, what’s the big deal anyway? They already know who we are, so why introduce us again to the larger and more enthusiastic crowd on the last day of the event? I can understand a bit that they did it to excite the audience further and establish a better ambiance and atmosphere for the event, but still!
It's a good thing my tried-and-true poker face came in handy. It helped me overcome the crowd's overly enthusiastic cheers. I could only hope that I didn’t look too unfriendly towards the spectators. They are rooting for us, after all, so I don’t want to appear rude to them. It’s just that I can’t bring myself to wave back towards them, given my introverted nature.
“Kat, is something wrong?” Liz asked worriedly, oblivious to the thoughts that were plaguing me.
Oops, I didn’t think my heavy sigh would reach her ears.
“N-nothing, just thinking about the matches to come,” I hurriedly made an excuse.
She gazed at me for a brief moment, contemplating the validity of my words. It appears that she is genuinely concerned for some reason. Perhaps it stems from her role as the captain of our team, leading her to feel accountable for the mental well-being of each team member. And, of course, another reason is simply because she is Liz. Knowing her, it's likely a blend of both reasons.
“I-I’m fine, really, no need to worry,” I insisted.
"...If you say so," she ultimately agreed, but not before adding one last remark. "However, remember to prioritize yourself. You've put in a lot of effort for our team in the past few days. Use the available free time now that we're in the finals to unwind. It wouldn't serve us well if our ace isn't in top form," she gently reminded, exemplifying her role as our captain.
Liz’s sudden change in behavior no longer takes me aback. Throughout the tournament, she consistently demonstrates strong leadership qualities, always prioritizing the well-being of her team members. I am genuinely grateful to have a responsible captain like her. Honestly, she possesses innate leadership skills—a natural-born leader.
However, I do have one significant issue with her recent statement.
When did I become our team’s ace?!
I almost corrected her but disregarded the notion. I guess it’s fine if they think of me as their ace, right? Despite my desire to rectify this misunderstanding, if it boosts our morale because they perceive me as their reliable ace, then I won’t correct the misconception.
“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The start of the first match! Team Sakura eSports versus Paragons! And who better to delve into the complexities of the game than your beloved trio of panelists, folks!" the lead panelist's voice interrupted my reverie.
“Oh, it’s starting!” Liz said excitedly; her reliable and composed demeanor could no longer be seen, replaced by her usual bubbly self.
“Who are you cheering for?” I inquired curiously, hoping for a leisurely chat.
"Urgh! It's so tough to decide! I want to root for Aria's team due to the time we've shared, but I also want to wish for Hana's team to win because we've grown close, too, over the past few days! Why do they have to compete against each other!" Liz expressed fervently, exaggeratedly holding her head in a gesture of indecision, which was endearing coming from her.
"Y-you don't have to choose one, though. You can root for them both..." I said softly.
I didn't anticipate that my casual question would cause her so much distress. If I had known, I wouldn't have asked in the first place.
“I guess...” she pondered, then as if remembering something , she asked me suddenly. “How about you though? Who do you root for?”
“Aria’s team,” I instantly responded.
“No hesitation, huh? Hana would be disappointed to hear that,” she teased.
“Then don’t tell her,” I deadpanned.
It’s not that I don’t care for Hana and her team; it’s just that the new generation of team Paragons had been someone close to me after all these years, especially Aria. It's clear that I would favor their team over the other.
“But, do you think they would actually win? I want to know what you think will happen in the match,” Liz asked inquiringly.
“Just listen to the panelist. It’s their job to give insights; after all, I responded unenthusiastically.
"But I want to hear what you think!" she pouted, behaving like a petulant child.
I sighed, taking a moment to consider both teams' strengths and weaknesses and the information I had collected thus far about each of them.
After organizing my thoughts, I explained my prediction to Liz. “Hana’s team strategist would probably match her with Aria in vie for the middle orb. It could result in a showdown between the aces in a 2v2 scenario or it might even escalate to a 3v2 situation if Team Sakura opts to prioritize securing the middle orb with all they have. Although Seer is probably already aware of this, he would still likely confront them head-on."
“Really? If that’s the case, why would Aria’s team face them directly instead of changing rotations to hinder the Sakura team’s plan?” Liz expressed her thoughts.
“It’s not that simple,” I said curtly.
“How so?” she responded, her curiosity showing in her tone.
I paused for a moment, considering how to explain it further to Liz.
"Changing rotations isn't a simple task. Their current strategy is heavily centered around Aria dominating the middle lane, supported by Lucy providing haste buffs. They are unlikely to split them up, so altering rotations would be challenging unless absolutely required," I elucidated.
“Securing the middle orb gives a huge positional advantage. If it is captured early in the game, the players can respond to either the top or bottom, so he likely couldn't just let it go to the other team. Additionally, their team lacks a dedicated tank to hold off an opponent in a 1v2 scenario, so their only choice is to face them head-on," I elaborated further.
Observing Liz, I can see that she grasps the point I am conveying. Being skilled in tactics herself, she understands this aspect well.
“Above all, they also have the reputation of the Paragons to consider. Therefore, they cannot back down from a direct confrontation,” I added.
Their tactician, Murasame, likely considered this when creating her strategy. From my personal observation, she seems like someone who would be open to such tactics.
“I see. You really know a lot about them, huh?” said solemnly.
"...I do my due diligence.”
I can't tell her that I helped create the formation they are currently using, so it’s a given that I am well aware of all its advantages and disadvantages.
After sharing my insights on the match with Liz, I redirect my focus to the panelists.
"And now, let's hand it over to our casters, DJ Riot and Paratrooper, for the in-game match commentary!" Raze, the head panelist, announced the commencement of the game after concluding their analysis, which I couldn't quite hear clearly due to Liz's persistent questioning.
