Rise

The North China region from which Team Beijing came didn’t have as many top grade teams like East China had. But they did have U-Tech Beijing, current Champions of the Collegiate Cup. Team Beijing had played against U-Tech Beijing in the grand finals for the region and won in a thrilling best of five series that went all the way to the fifth game! And even in that series, Team Beijing used their substitutes in the top and mid lane. No one had ever seen just how good this team was with their main roster.

Zeng Rui sighed and said to his teammates, “That’s the advantage of a strong roster. Even their ‘weaker’ team can win everything.”

Tang Bingyao nodded and agreed, “Mhm, they look really strong.”

“Don’t forget there was nothing at stake in those grand finals,” An Xin interjected. She looked at Zeng Rui, Tang Bingyao and Zhang Hao who all wore dejected expressions. They’re just a strong opponent! Don’t look so down just because we lost our finals! She forced a smile on her lips and continued, “U-Tech Beijing didn’t really try either. Just like how it went in our finals, with Lin Feng and Tang Tang both being sick. Those series weren’t important. Right now. These series. They are important. So let’s not worry about what happened in the finals and focus on this game!”

Lin Feng grinned and said, “Look! I’m wearing a coat! I won’t get sick again!”

His teammates shook their heads and were about to focus back on the game when Chu Fang spoke up. He looked at them and said, “Zeng Rui is right about one thing. Pay careful attention to this match. Team Beijing might be our biggest opponent in the entire tournament.”

✹

The players from Nanjing University sat behind their computers, staring at the screens with tense expressions. Their coach had reminded them before the game that they were competing in the Winter Collegiate Cup, and that everyone was waiting for a university team to finally show just that by beating one of these high school teams. He’d shown them footage from Team Beijing and explained to them with which tactics they could be that team.

The team captain looked across the stage at the other soundproof booth. Why are they still playing with their substitutes? Do they really think so little of us? He chewed on his lips, his stomach in turmoil. We’ve watched them play and we’ve identified weaknesses. But we’ve also been assuming that they’d field their strongest line up! That’s wrong. Those tactics are worthless now. We need to adapt. He sighed and said over the team’s voice chat, “So they don’t think much of us, huh?”