The anticipated days always seem to make time pass exceptionally fast.
The quarterfinals feel vividly present, yet in the blink of an eye, we’ve reached the day of Nianhua Cup’s final showdown.
Though it may not rival the Century Cup in prestige, Nianhua Cup is, after all, a legitimate professional tournament. Based on previous years’ experiences, Nianhua Cup’s final showdown is still highly anticipated, especially this year with a team that has been making a lot of noise throughout the entire competition.
As soon as the entry time arrives, waves of people flood into the venue.
In this era of holographic technology, the event has adopted an online mode. Consequently, with the gradual entry of spectators, the scene at the venue appears particularly spectacular due to the increasing number of viewers.
Simultaneously, at the same moment, another group of people quietly enters the separate spectator platform.
This exclusive viewing platform is usually not open to the public. However, it’s being provided at this time due to the special status of these individuals—the players from various professional guilds.
Before the start of the match, these individuals find seats one after another, displaying considerable patience while waiting.
As soon as you take a quick glance, you can see that the gods of the Blood Rose Guild, [Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands] and [Mad Stomp], the gods of the Rattlesnake Guild, [Snake Scorpion Curse], [No One], [Twilight], the gods of the FirePower Guild, [Medical Decoration], [Automation] and etc. have all arrived at the scene. Even the gods of the Crusaders, [Akdas] and [Champs] , have also logged into the platform at the right time. The entire scene looks like a professional gathering. In the history of Nianhuan Cup Finals, this is unprecedented.
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands was genuinely surprised to find so many people sharing his sentiments. Initially, he was just casually chatting with Mad Stomp. However, when he raised his head and noticed the Crusader group, he couldn’t help but smile.
Then, almost as if he hadn’t seen Akdas, he greeted Champs with a smile, saying, “Hey, Champs, over here! I’ve got a spot next to me. Come sit here.”
Champs is usually quite amiable in her interactions with others. Her relationship with the players in the professional circle has always been good. Upon hearing this, she smiled and walked over directly, taking a seat next to Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands, engaging in conversation soon after.
Throughout this process, these two individuals never paid any extra attention to the other Crusaders, which made Akdas, standing nearby, look slightly displeased.
Of course, he was aware of the long-standing friendship between Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands and Yu Weize. Glancing at the only spot left that was taken by Champs, he suppressed any further comment and led the other Crusaders to another vacant area.
Occasionally, different emotions were directed their way from players of other guilds, but nobody approached them for conversation.
Before this year, at least Yu Weize could engage in some conversation with members from other guilds. But now that Yu Weize had retired, those left in the Crusaders, while individually competent in recent years, lacked the same level of experience. Hence, in this current situation, they found it difficult to engage in conversation.
Especially on Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands’s side.
Both of them were ancient players who had fought through the first season. Regarding Yu Weize’s retirement from the guild, perhaps nobody felt deeper emotions than Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands.
While it might be gloating over the misfortune of Yu Weize’s departure, it didn’t mean that Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands supported the Crusaders’ dismissive behavior of kicking people out once their use was over. Moreover, the moves orchestrated by the new forces behind Akdas were apparent to anyone sensible, making them even more contemptible.
“God Spring, are you here specifically to witness the Seven Silver Coins win today?” Champs’s smiling eyes made her quite endearing.
Within the current Crusaders, she was probably the only one who was somewhat likable. Hearing this, Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands blinked and smiled openly, not holding back, “We’re about to storm into the Century Cup. It’s only right to gather some relevant intel in advance.”
Champs nodded. “Seems like God Spring also believes in the Seven Silver Coins’ victory.”
Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands replied, “The strength of those teams in Nianhuan Cup… tsk, if they can’t win this, I won’t hold them in high regard.”
Mad Stomp, sitting nearby, dozed off, but upon hearing this, he couldn’t help but glance at his partner and quietly jest, “Keep it down. If the media reporters hear that, it’ll dominate the front page for three days.”
Meanwhile, the conversation on the other side with members of the Rattlesnake guild also revolved around the Seven Silver Coins, but they discussed a different topic.
No One’s Passage, waiting eagerly for the match to start, leaned on the back of the chair and asked, “Old Poison, it’s the finals. Do you think the Healer’s PoisonedMilk still needs those Rune Stones for its effects?”
The so-called Rune Stones naturally referred to the high-priced runes that enhanced the healing and spatial attributes.
Thinking about how happy he had been when acquiring these stones and then feeling the disappointment upon discovering that the Healer’s PoisonedMilk was participating in Nianhua Cup, Old Poison couldn’t help but express his feelings.
No wonder the Healer’s PoisonedMilk once called the [Materials Main Account] sold off so swiftly. It turns out they were waiting here!
If these special-effect rune stones were not exclusive to them, their effects would inevitably be greatly diminished on the battlefield. If the Seven Silver Coins openly used these stones during Nianhua Cup, causing other guilds to prepare for these attribute enhancements in advance, their impact during the Century Cup would be even smaller.
This was precisely the current worry of the Rattlesnake guild.
However, what other options do we have?
After all, at that time, the other party clearly stated, “I still have the qualifications to use these Rune Stones,” and never mentioned not participating in professional league matches!
Upon hearing this, Snake Scorpion Curse felt a sense of unease and helplessly pinched their brow, “Theoretically, we shouldn’t need them.”
Although not explicitly stated, the implication within those words basically amounted to an acknowledgment of the Seven Silver Coins winning the championship.
While the gods freely discussed in the spectator area, those at the official commentary booth, including Taozi and Mimi, didn’t dare to say so confidently. Even if they had speculations, they refrained from making hasty comments in public, given the large audience’s attention.
Firstly, official commentators avoid taking sides, and secondly, if their predictions turned out wrong, it would be a humiliating spectacle.
As the match time approached, Taozi actively engaged the crowd. As the countdown ended, he announced enthusiastically, “Welcome everyone to Nianhua Cup’s final showdown! All the players are now backstage and ready. Let’s welcome them to the stage!”
As his words echoed, the mist in the center gradually dissipated.
The four teams participating in today’s final emerged from their respective starting points. Simultaneously, the map for the final match became vividly clear to everyone.
The sound of flowing water served as a tranquil background, accompanied by the intermittent gasps of amazement from the audience at the venue.
“This is… an underwater map!” Even Taozi, facing such an awe-inspiring scene, couldn’t help but exclaim, “As per tradition, Nianhua Cup’s final match is held in a brand-new map, and this year is no exception. But today’s map unavoidably reminds people of the official activity launched not long ago. The Undersea City of Moni Ankichi. The planners for this season seem to have a keen interest in the deep-sea theme. Moreover, the previous main event was a Battle Royale, quite fitting for Nianhua Cup’s final showdown.”
Mimi chuckled beside him. “Speaking of the previous event, if I remember correctly, the top-ranked player happened to be Yu Weize from the Seven Silver Coins, right?”
Taozi couldn’t resist stirring up some trouble, “With this perspective, isn’t even the official hinting at something… cough, in any case, let’s just wait and see!”
At this point, the players who had appeared at the starting point also observed their surroundings.
Han Yuze naturally also recalled the Undersea City event. While setting off from the starting point, he smiled and approached Jiang Shi, “For such a commemorative map, why not create some excitement?”
Jiang Shi stroked his chin, “Seems like… it’s not a bad idea?”
Meanwhile, just as the players from various guilds began their movement…
Players from the guilds collectively sneezed—!
Huh?
What’s going on? Can you catch a cold in the holographic world too?