Chapter 274: Honor Guard
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yu Luocheng watched Zhao Tinghua with a frown. He hadn’t expected him to bring a personal grudge into this event.
He had to admit, though: It was a brilliant move.
The title of world champion was one you had to fight for. Whenever the current champion was challenged, the duel ought to be carried out in public view. If the challenger proved victorious, he could approach the International E-Sports Federation to register himself as the new world champion of gaming.1
Naturally, this registration process was very complicated. You couldn’t lose the title just because of one ga. However, the Federation had made the option available in order to keep the reigning champion under trendous pressure, while at the sa ti providing a goal for everyone else to strive towards.
There were many who coveted Yu Luocheng’s vaunted throne, among them Asmodai himself. Sadly, Asmodai lacked the right to challenge Luocheng.
From Tinghua’s point of view, since Luocheng had withdrawn from the competitive e-sports scene, he was no longer worthy of such a prized title. Soone ought to take it from him!
One way to do this was to defeat him in a solo duel!
It wasn’t just Tinghua—countless elite gars around the world had their sights set on usurping Luocheng’s throne. Any one of them would leap at such a chance.
The MC, comntators, and the people in the audience were unfamiliar with the rules and specifics governing such international e-sports matters. There was still so little awareness across the nation regarding this field—nothing like how other countries fought tooth-and-nail for glory.
Su i and Qi Qiao were unaware of the true stakes behind this duel. They just wanted to see Blood Eagle and the Team Skycrown coach go at it.
But everyone on Team Skycrown—Xiao Bei included—knew what Blood Eagle was really after. He was seeking to dethrone Luocheng, and rise to that most exalted position among gars!
“Zhao Tinghua, it’s been two years since our captain left the professional scene. Even the Federation has quietly acknowledged that in spite of his departure, he remains a legend. Your challenge is dishonorable, the act of an opportunist!” Da Luo snarled vehently.
There was only one world champion, and it was Yu Luocheng.
In that arena, against an assembly of the world’s greatest gars, he’d competed in Starcraft, Warcraft 3, and DOTA. He’d gotten second place in Starcraft, but first place in the other two!
For one person to have taken part in all three events, and then to have trampled over the best in the world, ultimately becoming world champion... it was an unprecedented achievent at the ti.
Neither in China nor anywhere else across the globe had anyone ever duplicated such a feat.
The International E-Sports Federation had bequeathed this highest of honors upon Yu Luocheng precisely because there was no one else who could get two golds and one silver, as he had done!
In those days, the only people who were even aware of the tournant’s existence were industry insiders. There was zero dia coverage of the event, and it was virtually impossible to find recordings of the gas that took place there—certainly, they weren’t available anywhere on the internet.
Abroad, Yu Luocheng’s triumph against established pro gars across the world had brought him untold fa; within China, there was hardly anyone who had ever even heard about it. It may be amusing to know that this exact topic once ca up during a ga show, and neither the contestants nor anyone in the audience had half a clue.
This clearly demonstrated how little prestige the world of gaming commanded in China.
Yet, despite all the neglect and contempt that surrounded it, it was a glorious achievent nevertheless. It wasn’t sothing just anybody could lay claim to!
For Zhao Tinghua to imagine that he could simply challenge Yu Luocheng, win one solo duel against him, and then imdiately snatch the title away for himself—it was the height of incredulity!
For starters, Luocheng had clearly announced his withdrawal from professional gaming. Even foreign players knew better than to seek him out in hopes of a chance to win his title for themselves. It was a matter of respect for a living legend who had stepped down.1
Anyway, even if Tinghua won a single duel against him, would that really grant him the right, the audacity, to claim the sa honor for himself? In that tournant, Luocheng defeated the premier gars of his generation. Across thirty-seven separate rounds, he’d only lost two gas of Starcraft, and one ga of Warcraft—he’d been completely undefeated in DOTA!
During that World Cyber Gas Solo Championship, the other elite contestants from China could only manage a 30% winning rate. A 50% winning rate would already have placed one head and shoulders above the rest. Luocheng’s 90% winning rate was a clear statent, an unshakable claim to his throne.
That title represented an ideal which many aspired to, but few could ever hope to surpass. It was the legacy of a contest of might with no parallel, a reminder of the height of Yu Luocheng’s pro gaming career!
Zhao Tinghua’s challenge was a show of utter disrespect. He was spitting upon what should be sacred!
He’d gone mad.
In the past, anyone who thought to challenge Luocheng for his crown would first have to get past Tinghua’s own considerable might. With such a formidable warrior defending his honor, few were they who dared to step forward.
Now, he himself was planning to clamber over Luocheng’s head? Was he really going to tear up the last tattered shred of friendship between them, and blow it in Luocheng’s face?
***
“Captain, pay no heed to this lunatic.” Da Luo was at the limit of his patience.
No matter what, they were forr comrades. Luocheng’s retirent had caused misery for everyone, but life was a ss like that. Luocheng was only doing what he thought was best—there was no cri in that.
Moreover, he’d recently been giving his all for Team Skycrown.
He’d withdrawn from the battlefield, but his loyalty endured. Zhou Yan, Da Luo, and Lin Dong all knew this!
Now, they’d each gone their separate ways. Tinghua wanted to bring down Team Skycrown, crush them beneath his heel once and for all. The mbers of Team Skycrown themselves wouldn’t breathe a word in protest. If he wanted to take a shot at them, he could co right over and try it.
But if he was trying to take away the most precious mont in Luocheng’s life... that could not be allowed!
The day Luocheng had led them to victory over the rest of the world, Lin Dong, Zhou Yan, and Da Luo had taken it upon themselves to stand as defenders of his throne.
In his retirent, Luocheng’s skills might no longer be comparable to that of an elite professional gar.
No matter. It changed nothing about their duty to him!
It wasn’t for the sake of so petty scrap of glory. It was because Yu Luocheng had always been, and would always be, the person they looked up to the most in the whole world. No one was allowed to trespass upon his pride!
“First, you’ll have to get past the three of us!” Da Luo snapped at Tinghua. Lin Dong and Zhou Yan nodded in unison.
Anyone who sought to challenge Yu Luocheng would first have to make it through this gauntlet. The crown of the world champion was not so re trifle. Lin Dong, Zhao Tinghua, Zhou Yan, and Da Luo were all world-class players, the original honor guard.
In the face of Tinghua’s treachery, the other three refused to back down!
If he wanted to face F-Hawk, the world champion of gaming, it would have to be over their cold, dead bodies!
Reviews
All reviews (0)