ADAPTED FROM BUTTERFLY BLUE'S NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME, THE KING'S AVATAR
Okay. Everybody.
Here.
Let me show you.
These guys are from Team Happy.
Look at their ugly faces.
What are you doing? Don't touch me!
Come on, talk to the camera.
TEAM HAPPY, GET OUT OF CHALLENGERS LEAGUE!
-Excuse me, stop shooting. -What are you doing? Don't touch.
I know you're the vice-captain. Don't start and bully us here.
GET LOST, TEAM HAPPY
Come on, repeat what you just said to the camera.
-Dude-- -Come on, cut the crap.
Don't try to ingratiate yourself with me.
You just said
that Excellent Era's fans seem crazy.
The captain we used to support the most
has built a new team now
to fight against his former team.
Do you understand how Excellent Era's fans are feeling?
No one does.
You don't care about Excellent Era's fans, do you?
I don't play the game for my fans.
If it's not for the fans, who else?
Frankly speaking,
what we are fighting for
are our personal ideals.
Nobody would do it to please others.
So, don't get it wrong.
We are really grateful and touched by your support and encouragement.
But
I have to tell you truthfully.
It sounds so fake that we're playing for the fans.
At least for me,
that's not true.
But without our support,
there would be no pro league or even professional players.
You're right.
That's why I am really grateful.
I'm also touched by your support.
I sincerely feel so.
But I don't play my game
for the fans.
It's two totally different things.
Brutal truth!
Master Ye Qiu is so direct.
In only ten seconds, antis have turned into fans.
-Exciting! -Ye Qiu is not an idol star at all.
He's a real professional player.
-Telling the truth is the best gift. -That's true sportsmanship.
You...
You will be put in your place when you meet Excellent Era.
Boss.
You were awesome just now.
Finger heart.
Hi.
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
Captain.
I don't think you should've said that.
Even though it was true.
Right. He's just a fan.
It's not worth it.
You're too naive.
I said it to all of you too.
When you become professional players, you'll have many fans.
With their support and encouragement,
knowing what they like and dislike,
will you then be affected by all that?
It's not something trivial.
It matters.
Why do you compete?
You should think thoroughly.
It may decide how long you would travel on this path
and how well you would play.
It's okay to compete to make the fans happy.
But it's difficult to win based on only that.
What fans like may not be the right things.
How you should play depends on each of you.
Because you are professional players.
HAPPY INTERNET CAFE
ONE AUTUMN LEAF, GLORY
Master! You finally came back.
Please, look at this.
News about our team is all over the internet.
Look. All kinds of different stories.
Look, here.
What news? Just tell me.
Well...
It's difficult to say.
Do they want Happy to withdraw or ask him to apologize?
Neither.
They say...
They want to see the true self of Master Ye Qiu.
I would say that the word "silly" can summarize Ye Qiu's entire life.
He could be living his life in Excellent Era.
But he's chosen the hard life in Happy.
What are you doing?
Editing a video.
He's not only a silly person, but also has a one-track mind.
If someone like him wants to return to the league...
Master, let me explain.
We planned everything in advance.
As you know, self-deprecation is the best way to clear one's name.
So, if we start with your weaknesses,
the audience would relate with you.
Right?
If someone like him wants to return to the league,
he'd better go to a well-developed team to be the core member.
Yes.
It's much better than to babysit all the rookies here.
He's not a qualified captain.
He's much worse at doing things and conducting himself than I do.
This isn't self-deprecating.
They were just complaining about me.
Truthfully.
Questioning or flattering, recognition or aversion,
none of those will become our burden.
To be specialized, dedicated, and professional.
That's the attitude of an eSports player.
HAPPY INTERNET CAFE
We're continuing our journey.
In this stadium today, we'll have two highly-anticipated matches.
They both won six times successively in Challengers League.
Excellent Era and Happy will be playing in order.
Excellent Era starts first.
Right now, players of Happy are entering the arena.
-Don't make the same mistake. -Ms. Chen.
I'm the captain of Everlasting.
Wu Chen.
What's up?
I'm here to offer you a chance of cooperation.
Cooperation?
What cooperation?
As you can see, Happy and Everlasting are in the same situation.
We're facing strong teams like Excellent Era.
We've got powerful enemies.
And we've got the same goal.
It is to win Challengers League.
How about we team up and fight together?
What do you say?
"Team up"?
What do you mean?
I've been watching you.
Some of your players' performances are good.
But a team like Happy is no match to Everlasting
because we've got better equipment and environment.
If both teams can merge into one,
it will be a win-win opportunity and will strengthen the team.
It is an honor for Happy to merge with us.
After merging, we'll play under the Everlasting banner.
And you won't have to compete in Challengers League today.
No need.
Thank you for considering us.
But Happy has never admitted defeat without fighting.
Thank you.
Think about it.
What really matters? Saving face or the future of the team?
You're the captain of Everlasting. Don't worry about our future.
To tell you the truth,
I don't want to negotiate with Happy.
I'm not interested in such a new team like Team Happy.
I just don't want to see a player like Ye Qiu stop at Challengers League.
Ye Qiu wants to return to the league.
But Happy is not the best option for him in any aspect.
If you lose today, how much would Ye Qiu lose?
ESports players don't have much time.
He should not waste his time in such a crappy team.
Everlasting is a better option for him.
He's not going to Everlasting.
Can you decide for him?
She can.
If you want to join Happy, we might consider it.
Otherwise, I'll see you in Challengers League.
Let's go.
All the best!
Welcome, everyone to the battle arena of Challengers League.
Our heroes for tonight are ready.
Welcome Happy and Everlasting!
GO FOR IT!
EVERLASTING
HAPPY, TANG ROU, WEI CHEN, MO FAN
Team Happy versus Team Everlasting.
The competition begins now!
We played great in the match just now.
Luring the enemy in and defeating them all!
Amazing!
That means we're on a seven-win streak, right?
Listen to me.
The captain said we still need to improve.
I think more training will come.
Seriously? It could be true.
Oh, no. I'll take some rest now.
EVERLASTING VERSUS HAPPY NINTH GLORY CHALLENGERS LEAGUE
Speaking of winning streaks,
only Happy and us haven't lost any matches.
So?
You want to go watch Happy?
The one who wants to know you best is always your enemy.
-Let's go together. -Who are they?
Congrats to Happy for winning once again.
They ended the first half with 5 to 1.
Team Challenge will start soon.
TEAM HAPPY
TEAM EVERLASTING
The players are ready.
Team Challenge is about to start.
Team Happy versus Team Everlasting. The match starts now!
NINTH GLORY CHALLENGERS LEAGUE
Sun Xiang.
You came to watch Happy alone?
Who is watching them?
I'm watching...
I'm watching Everlasting.
You do research on Everlasting.
We'll do research on Happy.
-We both study our rivals, right? -Facing their first loss,
Ruo Feng, what advice can you give?
-Sure. -If losing this game...
The one who wants to know you best is always your enemy.
Wu Chen still has to step up at the crucial moment to lead the team.
-He must be stressed out. -Exactly.
In the first half, Happy was sailing with the wind.
Team Happy's performance...
-What are you doing? -If you want to watch the match,
-In this situation... -just watch it openly.
Your sight would be blocked by wearing a hood.
Let's expect their good performances in Team Challenge.
Shut up!
Go ahead.
HEAVENLY RAGE, LEOPOLD, DAWN RIFLE
With such a lineup, neither is launching their Cleric first.
It looks like it'll be an output battle.
This is surprising.
Generally speaking, a team would rarely put Clerics on the bench.
But what Happy and Everlasting are doing surprises everyone here.
The map is the Wolf Poison Land.
It's a very different map.
I predict this to be a bloodbath.
Ruo Feng, brief us on why the map is different.
Let me keep you all guessing.
We'll see why it's different when the game starts.
Count down on Team Challenge.
Five, four, three, two, one. Start!
Okay. The match starts.
-Everlasting's Captain, Launcher, -The Launcher is ready.
-Dawn Rifle, has gone to high ground. -Roger that.
Captain, where are you?
In the map of the Wolf Poison Land,
everyone's spawn point is different.
Look at your position.
All players start at various places.
They are scattered in different positions.
On the map, there is poisonous fog everywhere.
Oh, crap! What's this?
Right. The Wolf Poison Land is a game of escape.
Poisonous fog will slowly spread from the periphery of the map to the center.
If you touch the fog, you'd continually lose health point.
Poisonous fog is moving toward the center.
The only safe battlefield is the center of the map.
Everyone, meet in the center as soon as possible.
-Got it. -Got it.
Bao Zi.
-Be careful. -Roger that.
A real man can't fall down at the same place two times.
Spotted Leopold, Everlasting's Warlock.
Spotted Everlasting's Summoner.
I found an exit!
What about Little Tang?
Spotted Everlasting's Knight, Three-lives Knot.
We're surrounded!
Everlasting's Ninja is here.
Soft Mist is fighting against two now.
Spotted the fifth player of Everlasting.
Everlasting wants to kill Little Tang with two players by avoiding me.
Little Tang, hold on! I'll back you up!
Roger that.
Now, Everlasting and Happy have started an encounter battle.
Windward Formation versus Leopold. One Inch Ash versus Ice Wing.
Soft Mist versus Three-lives Knot and Heavenly Rage.
Steamed Bun Invasion hasn't met with Dawn Rifle.
Lord Grim seems entangled with something.
Why are there six Everlasting players?
It's five.
Captain encountered a Summoning Monster.
Little Tang is in danger.
Little Tang can fight against two alone.
On other common maps, maybe yes.
But today, we're in the Wolf Poison Land.
One second of delay will cause fatal damage.
Due to the nature of this map,
players can't group with their teammates in a short time.
They can only get out of their difficulties with their own abilities.
On the other side, One Inch Ash is fighting Summoner, Ice Wing.
The key will be how he gets rid of the creature
to slash the Summoner.
EVERLASTING VERSUS HAPPY, SCORE 0-0
Good job! Ghost Step!
He slashed the Summoner successfully!
One Inch Ash is moving.
He knows he has to find his teammates soon.
Phantom of Dragon Tooth! Incredible bilocation!
How fast does she have to be to escape?
Tang Rou has got an amazing APM.
With great personal strength, she defeated the Ninja successfully.
-Tang Rou! -Tang Rou!
-Hard to imagine the new player -Tang Rou!
-improving so quickly! -Tang Rou!
Tang Rou!
Steamed Bun is moving closer to his teammates.
He got hit by a long-distance attack.
Who did it? Who raided me?
It was Dawn Rifle who ambushed from high ground.
He constantly attacks Steamed Bun Invasion with extreme long-range shooting.
He's hit again!
Steamed Bun Invasion's health is dropping.
But he hasn't located where the enemy is.
It'll be hard to dodge Dawn Rifle's attack.
At the current speed of health loss, he won't last very long.
The visibility of the map is very poor.
But Dawn Rifle could accurately used Blind Snipe on Steamed Bun Invasion.
How surprising!
Seems Dawn Rifle is in a very good condition today.
Wu Chen is using Blind Snipe in the fog.
His hit rate is ridiculously high!
Do you think there's something fishy too?
If it were me, I couldn't do it.
Bao Zi, position 144, 571.
Nice! Another Blind Snipe!
Dawn Rifle killed Steamed Bun Invasion successfully!
Everlasting eliminated a rival first. Happy's substitute is in.
EVERLASTING
Stay alert.
The match isn't over. We can't lose.
-Yes, Captain! -Yes, Captain!
Next target, Soft Mist.
Roger that.
Soft Mist, position 134, 231.
I'm afraid Happy is in danger.
He's about to shoot. Look who he's aiming at.
It's Soft Mist.
Lord Grim found where Dawn Rifle is.
He intervened in time and helped Soft Mist out.
Lord Grim stepped up at the crucial moment.
When did your shooting become so accurate?
How did you find me?
There is only one highland on this map.
Launchers will fight for it.
If you can't figure it out,
I'd say you are detached from the league for too long.
Soft Mist is being attacked by two.
But with strong personal strength, she is not at a disadvantage.
But how long could she hold on in such a bloody battle?
She will soon be in fatal danger if she doesn't get help soon.
The Warlock of Everlasting is here.
A very difficult situation of one-against-three!
Her teammates need to come soon!
Or Soft Mist could be killed!
HAPPY, TANG ROU
One Inch Ash arrives at the front and backs up Soft Mist in time.
-Are you okay? -Yes. I can hold on.
We are at a disadvantage. Meet with Captain now.
Soft Mist and One Inch Ash
seized the moment when their enemies were repositioning.
Everlasting players are right after them.
They are not letting go of such opportunity of a power play.
-Gate of Death! Good job! -Perfect timing.
The four players from Everlasting are under control.
Happy players are tacitly cooperating.
Soft Mist and One Inch Ash lured Everlasting players to the position.
Windward Formation uses the ultimate attack to suppress the enemies.
Windward Formation shows up in time!
Happy players have assembled.
If everything goes well,
Gate of Death will kill the four players of Everlasting in one blow.
Yes. Everlasting is in great danger.
The four at the front are under control.
Its captain, Dawn Rifle, is held down by Lord Grim.
There needs to be a miracle for Everlasting to win.
HAPPY
It's over.
LOST CONNECTION
-What happened? What's going on? -Well...
-What happened? -What's going on?
-What's wrong? -What happened?
Be calm, please. We're checking what caused it.
What happened?
What? What just happened?
-Referee! What happened? -Referee, we almost won!
-What the heck? -What?
Dear audience, please be calm.
After checking, we found a problem with the network.
Our staff will fix it as soon as possible.
When the competition restarts,
we'll rewind back the game ten seconds.
A ten-second rewind means Wei Chen's attack will be a waste.
Why are we rewinding it?
We were absolutely winning!
It's the rule of the league.
If an irresistible force caused the competition to pause,
the game will be rewound ten seconds.
As soon as we restart, everyone retreats immediately.
Pay attention to where Windward Formation ambushes.
Happy has lost one player.
As long as we don't falter, we'll win.
Got it?
Captain.
Why did we lose connection at such a time?
Maybe some network problem.
But
the network was disconnected at such coincidental timing.
I don't believe it's just a coincidence.
It must be the Everlasting bastards!
Whether or not they were cheating, we only have one option.
We must win.
Everyone, we've got the connection back.
All players, please go back to your seats.
Our competition will resume.
Ladies and gentlemen, the connection is back.
The game will be rewound ten seconds.
START
Let's continue. As expected, Dawn Rifle retreats immediately.
Gate of Death didn't hit them.
Seems like Everlasting is changing their strategy.
They're retreating.
They want to stall and win the match by outnumbering them.
HAPPY
It's Ice Boundary!
Happy chooses to go after Everlasting.
They want to control and drag the enemies into the fog.
They are locked in combat.
But we've seen Happy's teamwork.
Although they are three against four, they aren't necessarily at a disadvantage.
Watch out!
EVERLASTING VERSUS HAPPY
Both sides are in the poisonous fog.
Will Everlasting win by outnumbering them?
Or will Happy win by their tacit teamwork?
The competition is over.
Everlasting wanted to play dirty.
But they picked a wrong rival.
EVERLASTING
HAPPY
-Happy! -Happy!
It's Happy. All three players break through the fog.
Incredible! Only impeccable cooperation
could wipe out the opponents in the poisonous fog without losing anyone.
Happy made it!
Now Everlasting's substitute is in.
But only Dawn Rifle is left at the front.
STAY HERE, LEOPOLD, THREE-LIVES KNOT, ICE WING
What happened?
Wu Chen.
If you cannot defeat Happy this time,
the investors will withdraw all their capital.
We can look for other investors.
Captain.
Do we have a chance to go back to the league this year?
We lost by one point in the first year.
We'll have to start over for it.
The competition is way too brutal for every one of us.
We were the runner-up for the second year.
Being the runner-up
means we can only watch others stand on the Champion podium.
It was like this for three successive years.
We can't waste any time with our age.
If we lose this match,
we should part our ways.
We will win this time.
Everlasting cannot be disbanded.
The match is about to end, but Dawn Rifle hasn't given up.
Ten seconds left.
Five seconds.
Three seconds.
One second.
Congratulations!
Team Happy wins the competition by 10 to 1.
The reversal in the end showed us Happy's great cooperation.
Everlasting's captain, Dawn Rifle, held on in the last few seconds.
It showed us the charm of eSports.
GLORY
It's Everlasting's first win in the Challengers League.
Yes!
We will win for a second time and a third time.
Until we get the championship trophy and return to the league.
So long as Everlasting survives and we maintain our morale,
we will create a miracle!
For us.
For Everlasting.
For Glory.
-Go for it! -Go for it!
When Challengers League is over,
we'll bring our trophy and go to the highest point of the city.
Let's view the place where we've fought together.
Wait.
We've never seen the city together.
Why bother?
To make an announcement to the whole city
that Everlasting is going to disband?
As the manager of Everlasting,
I'm sorry to announce the team
will disband starting today.
-Do you have any plan for the future? -What?
-They are going to disband. -I'm planning to find
-No wonder they played so dirty. -buyers for the team's assets.
Fight to win or die.
-They are ruthless! -I'll try my best.
Ruthless to their rivals and themselves.
They were just competing, and now they are disbanded.
They fought so hard to stand out from hundreds of teams
and made their way to the Challengers League.
We're halfway through the league.
They're gone just like that.
How much time and energy were lost.
ESports will never look at how much effort you've put in.
It only looks at how much you've accomplished.
Captain Ye.
Sorry.
I cheated.
The network disconnection. The call to tip us off.
All that is my fault.
You don't need to apologize to me.
We'd better have a talk rather than
wasting time on apologizing and forgiving.
The Warlock's Cloth Armor can increase movement speed.
It's suitable for your Containment strategy.
And the Cleric's Defender will buff the health point.
And this Ninjato,
it has no special attribute, but it was self-made by our team.
If it's possible,
I hope it won't be dismantled.
Now, the Silver equipment is yours.
Using Everlasting's equipment to promote Team Happy's strength
makes me happy indeed.
But what about you?
The day before yesterday, I sold the assets of our team.
Yesterday, I liquidated all the money in our bank accounts.
Today, I am selling to you all the weapons we fought with.
What's next?
I'll figure out a way to stay in Glory.
How?
With your current status, transferring to other guilds isn't easy.
You're right.
My physical strength is not as competitive as younger players.
And I'm not as experienced as other veterans.
I know it's impossible for me to get in now,
but I will never give up.