All Novel JR
Chapter 238
Chapter 238
Karl glanced over at Cordelia, only to see her already acclimated to her new keyboard, fingers dancing over the pink keys matched with its coordinating mouse. This sight only added to his irritation.
They were here for a competition. Why the need for such girly gear?
As he pondered, the door suddenly burst open. The EW Club's coach stormed in, his brow furrowed as he announced, "CM challenged us to a scrimmage."Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
CM, the perennial underdogs led by Wade, chose now of all times to throw down the gauntlet, clearly aiming to mess with their heads, knowing full well that today marked the debut of their new marksman.
Floyd was the first to respond, "Just decline it."
The coach shook his head, "Wade tweeted it. If we decline, it'll look like we're scared. But going now..."
His gaze drifted to Cordelia, skepticism written all over his face.
Putting aside the question of skill, every player has their own style. It takes time to gel as a team before facing off in official competitions.
The newbie couldn't possibly mesh with the team on short notice.
Floyd frowned, checking his phone to indeed find Wade's tweet:
"Wanna scrimmage? @EW Club"
Followed by a slew of taunts:
-Do they dare? LOL.
-If I were EW Club, I'd jump at the chance. New marksman and all, it's the perfect way to mesh, especially against a team like CM.
-Right. No reason to decline. Bring it on.
-If EW Club backs out, I'm unfollowing. Can't respect that.
Using the threat of losing followers to coerce them. Clever.
With a heavy heart, Floyd finally said, "Let's play."
He was about to strategize when Karl cut in, "But Waller's shoulder needs a rest today. He can't play."
Waller, their mid-laner, carried injuries heavier than all but the marksman. Despite playing through pain, his arm would be so sore after a match, it was nearly immovable.
The coach, frustrated, knew their position at the pinnacle of the gaming world was at stake. CM was pushing them too far!
He sighed, "Explaining Waller's arm will just sound like excuses."
After all, it was only 6 PM, and professional gamers were no strangers to odd hours.
Waller, a young man in his twenties with a bit of extra weight, winced as a sharp pain shot through his arm.
"Let's do it! I can hold up!" Waller insisted.
Even in the face of defeat, they had to show their spirit.
EW Club would never back down from CM!
Fired up by Waller's resolve, the team rallied, "Right, we can't back down!"
Seeing the team's determination, Floyd nodded, "Alright, let's get ready."
Karl then turned to Cordelia, "You should practice solo for now. I'll step in today."
Facing CM, they couldn't afford to lose face.
Karl's words echoed the team's sentiment. Even Floyd nodded in agreement. Putting Cordelia in the game now could easily throw off their game.
With the decision made, the coach set up the game room for the scrimmage.
Before heading to his station, Floyd caught sight of Yates.
He glanced at his watch, "Give me two minutes."
He stepped out, and upon returning, he handed Yates a bowl of oatmeal, "Your stomach's been acting up. Eat on time. I made this oatmeal myself. It's got a nice layer of cream on top, good for the stomach."
Yates was taken aback.
Floyd had a way of caring that made you feel comfortable in the smallest details.
Like how he effortlessly offered him a chair upon entering, something no one else noticed.
And now...
Yates accepted the bowl, feeling a mix of annoyance and warmth. The oatmeal was perfect, its warmth and flavor soothing his aching stomach.
"This isn't much," Yates thought, barely satiated, only to see Floyd taking the bowl to the coach, promising more in a couple of hours.
Yates protested, "I'm not a kid, stop treating me like one!"
Yet, he didn't move away.
Floyd smiled, then returned to his station, leaving the team in a silent camaraderie.
Cordelia, seeing the team
preoccupted with the scrimmage
decided to familiarize herself with
the computer by playing a 1v1 mode, randomly matching with strangers.
As the scrimmage began, Cordelia adjusted to the desktop environment. Suddenly, Karl's curse cut through the air.
She hesitated before following Yates to Waller's side.
Arriving, she saw Waller, their mid-laner, narrowly escaping a 3-on-1 ambush. Despite his escape, his discomfort was evident.
Wade, their opponent, taunted in the game's chat, "Target mid two more times, and Waller's out for good!"
Their competitive spirit ignited, the EW Club faced the challenge head-on, determined to prove their resilience and teamwork against CM's provocations.
Waller's blood boiled with anger upon reading those words. He felt like he was on his last leg.
Karl, known for his short fuse, didn't
hold back. "That Wade is such a
lowlife! He knows Waller's been hurt
and goes straight for him like he's some kind of easy target. That's just vile!"
Despite Waller's best efforts to dodge the onslaught, he eventually couldn't escape and was taken down.
The moment the screen faded to black, Waller's hands trembled with frustration.
Unfazed, Wade kept taunting: "Come on, guys, let's crush their mid lane!"
His repeated provocations in the chat were clearly deliberate.
It wasn't just Waller's gameplay he wanted to destroy, but also his spirit, ensuring that every time Waller respawned, he'd be filled with dread.
That was beyond unfair.