332 Preliminary Exam (1/2)

When the news of others taking the initiative to challenge Fang Zhao and then Fang Zhao accepting that challenge spread, the previously quiet SilverLight internal chat burst to life.

”Ahahahaha! We can't only be the ones getting oppressed! Well done, Captain!”

”Captain, can we go spectate?!”

”Now that we are severely doubting our own standards, only spectating this match can remove our doubts.”

”Let's make it clear first. I'm not delighting in others' misfortune. There's an old saying: 'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.' I just want to observe how others fight when faced with Zhao god... and how they respond.”

”If it was me, I would rather die than actively challenge Zhao god.”

Seeing this bunch start to get excited, Jinro also felt that they should take some notes. There was no need to compare themselves with Fang Zhao's individual god-like combat ability, but they could compare with their normal old rivals, see where the disparity was, and observe how long the opponents could survive in Fang Zhao's hands. Perhaps they could even learn a few moves.

But seeing the delighted attitudes the members within the chat had, Jinro felt that as the captain, he still needed to say some things. ”Your attitudes aren't right. As professional e-sports athletes, we ought to have a more positive outlook. We should be thinking about how to improve ourselves. Going up against experts is necessary, and we cannot cower just because the opponent is too powerful...” Jinro droned on an on, but he never mentioned that he himself had used an excuse to avoid taking part in this match.

There wasn't a choice. Originally, Jinro had really wanted to form a team with the other eight to challenge Fang Zhao, but when he'd learned that Fang Zhao had gotten all stimulated from doing questions, Jinro had become terrified.

However, observing would probably be out of the question. The other eight weren't fools either. For the first challenge, the outcome wasn't certain and neither side knew how big disparity between them was. They wouldn't let others spectate.

The eight people who were preparing for the match were also discussing.

”Why do I feel that Jinro has dug a pit for us?”

”Whether it is a pit or not, it is too late to back out now.”

The matter had been brought up by themselves, and the declaration of war had already been written. So many people inside the elite group knew about this. Most people who were at a certain level in the gaming circles had also heard about this. If the eight wanted to back out now, how would they have the face to show themselves in the gaming circles in the future?

”I never thought of backing out; I just feel a little restless. Why is Jinro letting the eight of us face off against Fang Zhao alone? Is Fang Zhao really that strong?”

”From watching past videos, Fang Zhao's individual point-sweeping ability was indeed impressive, but I don't know about the rest. A video is, after all, just a video. We have never fought against him in the game before, so we won't know anything till we experience it.”

”An eight-man team against one person. It feels like we are bullies. Even if we win, I won't feel good letting others know.”

”Let's not think about this first. Since Jinro has arranged it this way and Fang Zhao has also agreed, let's fight first. Don't get careless either. If we eight lose to one, we won't have any face left.”

”Right. Fight first, talk later.”

The eight of them privately discussed battle strategies and their equipment. Although they were from different continents and different teams, they were professionals, after all. They had taken part in many similar competitions and knew how to coordinate.

”Any other questions?”

”No more.”

”Okay, move out!”

And they were oppressed so tyrannically.

...

Inside the global elite e-sports chat group, there were also people paying attention to this.

”Has it started?”

”Will they be challenging in succession or will it be a team battle? If it is a team battle, how will they be split? If it's the eight plus Fang Zhao, doesn't that add up to nine? A 5v5 can't even be held unless somebody new participates, and we don't know about it?”

”Hey, Jinro, you don't have to say anything else, but you can at least divulge the coordinates and practice venue, right?”

Jinro replied, ”No can do. I can't even spectate myself. The match just started. As for the rest, you will know in a bit.”

These words made many people perk up. The two phrases ”just started” and ”know in a bit” combined together made the others feel restless. How fast was a bit? 10 minutes?

Jinro looked at the time. If Fang Zhao went with his old method, he would let the other side have a minute and a half of preparation time. He had no idea how long these eight would last after that minute and a half were up; the only thing he was certain of was that it wouldn't take too long.

Not being able to spectate the game, Jinro could only watch the match's duration timer, which was displayed up top.

According to the time, it wasn't even two and a half minutes from the start of the match when the display indicated that the match had ended.

Jinro's eyebrows trembled. He decided that he wouldn't stick out in the global elite chat for the time being.

Inside the chat group, the eight people from the finished match bombarded the chat with messages.

”Come out, Jinro!”

”You cheap person! How treacherous! You chose to run away first!”

”Pisses me off!”

”Our friendship is over! All f*cking over!”

”It was just like returning to our noob days.”

”Why did it feel like my signature technique became so weak?”

Those in the group who did not know the truth were all very curious. Why were these eight scolding Jinro when it was Fang Zhao that they had challenged?

Reading further, they felt that these messages contained quite a lot.