Chapter 1, the longest day of Xiao Menglou begins
They brought the cheerleaders, but we have no idea what for. We are locked in the egg pod and can't see anything at all, " Xiao Menglou said with frustration
There is no way around it. Ever since the system was modified the year before last, both competitors in each match must play a full seven games to determine the winner. The schedule for major competitions was already tight, and now it has naturally become even more intense. Lin Peng sighed, but immediately became excited again, saying, "However, the viewership is increasing year by year, Mr. Xiao. This year's finals will have over one billion viewers. The six hundred million local players are all your support team, and approximately five hundred thousand people have specifically purchased tickets to travel from Earth to Ceres to watch your decisive match."
What do you think?" Xiao Menglou sighed and said with frustration, "I practiced all night yesterday. What is the current situation of the competition, and how is the schedule arranged?
"Fatty," Xiao Menglou straightened his neck, deeply inserting his hands into his yellowing hair, and exhaled deeply, "Do you really think these words are of any help to me now?"
He originally had great potential, but was defeated by the so-called demon king Arthur, who claimed to be Zeus, with a score of 4 to 0, leaving no chance for a comeback said Lin Peng with regret
"As per usual, the semifinals will be held in the morning, the match for third and fourth place in the afternoon, and the finals in the evening," said the round-faced man quickly. His name is Lin Peng, a veteran player of the esports club where Xiao Menglou is, and he is also the team leader for the club's participation in this esports competition.
Mother, I..." Xiao Menglou trembled as she opened her mouth and spoke in a hoarse voice
I can no longer tolerate your waste of your precious life. Continuing to play those chaotic electronic sports will not bring any benefits to your future. Look at those who play online games now; which of them is a respectable person? They are all foolish individuals who do not know what tomorrow holds. You must not follow their example; quickly withdraw from that so-called competitive club and return to your original profession.
A melodious and elegant ringtone emanated from the portable wireless phone on his wrist. Xiao Menglou glanced down at the caller ID, immediately letting out a frustrated and muffled sigh, and helplessly pressed the intercom switch, murmuring: "Mom, this is not the right time."
Xiao Menglou felt a wave of moisture in his eyes. He knew that his mother had worried for him throughout these seemingly endless three years. He had never anticipated that the plan, which initially seemed feasible, would lead him to squander three invaluable years of his life in a computer that appeared capable of devouring everything. However, since he had come this far, it might be unlikely to turn back now
This is the spirit, and with General Manager Xiao from *Tush* , I will definitely support you wholeheartedly. Ah, do you know? This time, to liven up the atmosphere of the competition, the venue for the esports tournament has gathered all the cheerleaders from various esports clubs across the entire solar system, totaling over a thousand people, and they will all be present to cheer for the players. They are all tall and beautiful women who have undergone professional training, and the scale and momentum are unprecedented. Are you excited?
"Mom, today is the final. Can we talk about it later?" Xiao Menglou walked out of the bathroom and sat back down on the bed with a thud, speaking in a low voice.
No, no, do not think this way. It cannot be thought this way. Xiao Menglou grasped her hair tightly with both hands and slammed her head against the mirror in front of the pool. The last two times were precisely because of this thought that she was defeated. This time, she must win
Xiao Menglou let out a long sigh, gritted her teeth, suddenly raised her head, and said loudly: "Mom, I promise you that after this competition, I will never play computer games again"
Xiao Menglou must rise early, as a finalist in the interstellar warfare esports tournament of the solar system, today will be his most important day. Ever since he seemingly became enchanted and entered the professional league of interstellar warfare three years ago, Xiao Menglou has transformed from an unknown rookie into a renowned competitive expert across the entire solar system through excruciating training and practical exercises that felt like hell. Although his attempts to win the championship in the past two years were thwarted by renowned competitors from other provinces, this time he is just one step away from the championship. Xiao Menglou has finally evolved from a clumsy novice into a celebrated expert known throughout the solar system. Although his previous attempts to claim the championship in the interstellar warfare esports tournament were interrupted by competitors from other provinces, this time he is merely one step away from victory.
"You may speak," said Xiao Menglou, who had finally managed to stop coughing and rubbed her cheeks with her hands
Upon seeing the caller ID, Xiao Menglou quickly connected the call to the monitor embedded in the wall of her room
Oh heavens, Mr. Xiao, you can't possibly have not seen any battle reports at all. Arthur has resurrected, and he has developed new tactics. Since his revival, he has become increasingly formidable, and no one has ever won a single game under his command. He is now a strong contender for the championship. Lin Peng spoke rapidly, "And then there is your opponent in the semifinals, the Octopus Valentine. His tactics seem specifically designed to counter you, and he has been on a good streak lately, having not lost a single match since the start of the competitive tournament. I heard that a local player who tried to match his mid-game maneuvers ended up foaming at the mouth and fainted right in the egg pod. You need to be careful."
Jin Baoluo is a prominent figure in the AllForOne club, which is a sister club to the I for Everyone club where Xiao Menglou is located. He is also regarded as the most anticipated contender among local players for the championship. He and Xiao Menglou often practice together in the gaming pods, which have become essential facilities for playing electronic sports. These pods are equipped with highly realistic three-dimensional simulators and hardware operating systems connected to computers, allowing players to experience an immersive gaming environment. As a result, gaming computers have gradually separated from ordinary civilian computers, evolving into an independent system. Internet cafes that gather such pod systems to provide gaming services have also gradually been renamed as gaming pods. Xiao Menglou initially believed that with Jin Baoluo's strength, he could at least defeat Octopus Valentine, thus eliminating a true rival who could counter him. He even hoped that Jin Baoluo could defeat Arthur, known as Zeus, so that he would not have to face his most feared opponent. In the end, he thought he would only need to defeat Jin Baoluo to claim the championship. He had privately reserved several tactics centered on strong defense and counterattacks to contend with Jin Baoluo, hoping to face him in the finals. Now, all his hopes have been dashed.
After Lin Peng's image suddenly disappeared from the screen, Xiao Menglou sat quietly on the bed for a long time. Finally, he abruptly stood up, forcefully pulled open the bathroom door, rushed to the toilet, and bent down to vomit violently.
Seeing his expression, Lin Peng quickly changed the subject: "My goodness, I used to think you were just pretending, but it seems you really dislike these topics. My mistake!" After a slight pause, he continued, "I might as well tell you about the battle situation, but I assure you, you will want to hear even less about this."
"Xiao Lou, my child, hasn't becoming a writer been your long-cherished dream? After much effort, your book has gained recognition, and readers are beginning to know you. At this critical moment, you choose to abandon writing and seem to be enchanted by playing electronic sports. Isn't this self-sabotage? You have been away for three years; do you know how many new bestselling authors have emerged in this time, vying for the market? Your readers are on the verge of forgetting you. If you do not turn back now, no one will read your books anymore. My child, is electronic sports really that important? Is it worth sacrificing the dream you have pursued since childhood?" The mother's earnest words echoed quietly in the room.
Whether it is due to his own tendency to become easily anxious, or because his constitution is truly ill-suited to the environment of outer space, Xiao Menglou endures this unbearable torment before every major competition. It feels as if the heavens are punishing him for abandoning a promising career to participate in this meaningless competitive event. At such times, he cannot help but wish for everything to conclude swiftly.
After the monitor displayed a somewhat chaotic pattern resembling sparks from m.hetushu.com, a round, plump head resembling that of a koala immediately filled the entire screen.
"We can see it, haha." Lin Peng laughed, "Alright, I won't disturb you any longer. Get ready, the interstellar bus will pick us up in half an hour. Today belongs to us, OneForAll."
"It is never the right time." It is hard to imagine that such a tiny wristwatch-sized wireless phone can produce such a loud sound
"Hasn't Arthur already been eliminated? I remember he didn't perform well at the beginning," Xiao Menglou quickly asked
"Xiao Lou, you have always been a well-behaved child, so when you decided to participate in professional esports competitions, I thought you just wanted to experience life or were simply caught up in the moment. But now, three years have passed, and you have gone too far. Child, there is no future in being a professional esports player; a game may only be popular for four or five years, and after that, new games will emerge. The older generation of players has no other way out but to find alternative paths. The golden period for esports players lasts less than six years, and very few players over thirty can survive in professional leagues. Moreover, these computer games can lead one to daydream and lose ambition; they are the easiest form of spiritual opium that can cause one to fall into depravity. You cannot indulge in this any longer." The words of the mother echoed once again from the wireless phone.
Mother, please do not concern yourself with me. I assure you that once I have resolved my matters, I will return to my original profession with utmost sincerity.
"Have I put too much pressure on you?" Lin Peng raised an eyebrow, "I just want to boost morale. You seem very tense; did you manage to sleep yesterday?"
Upon hearing Lin Peng's description, Xiao Menglou could almost vividly envision the two renowned esports masters of the entire solar system manipulating the control sticks and keyboards in the dark egg pod: focused, excited, and frenzied. They seemed to be born as geniuses destined to play computer games, radiating brilliant colors since entering the industry at the age of sixteen, and even now, they linger at the pinnacle of the esports world, becoming the most beloved idols among the populace in the outer provinces, which boast colonies on Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, and the Ceres asteroid belt. They are also cherished players among computer gamers in the native regions, which include colonies on Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Meanwhile, they are the most formidable adversaries feared by their peers. In the last two solar system tournaments, Xiao Menglou had suffered significant losses at their hands. The first was in the quarter-finals against Valentine, where he narrowly lost in a mid-game melee and was eliminated. The second was in the semi-finals against Arthur, where he was thoroughly defeated by the imaginative tactics of the peculiar interstellar mixed fleet that Arthur had organized in the game, resulting in a complete loss and elimination. This defeat left him with a full month of not being able to muster the courage to enter the egg pod.
I must win, this is my last chance. Xiao Menglou lowered her head very low and spoke in a barely audible voice
After hanging up the phone with his mother, Xiao Menglou let out a low roar, bending down to bury his head deeply between his hands: "There is no way back now; this time it is a fight to the death."
Are you nervous, Mr. Xiao? A smile filled with excitement and anticipation spread across this round face like ripples in water
Well... this is a good phenomenon. Look, you have improved a lot compared to before. Listen, Mr. Xiao, Lin Peng leaned his already large head closer to the camera, "It doesn't matter if you lose; the players' expectations of you are not as high as those for Jin Baoluo, nor do they expect you to defeat Arthur and Valentine. As long as you showcase your style and level, and don't lose too embarrassingly, you have completed your task. But if you win..."
"Can't they schedule a few matches on separate days?" Xiao Menglou complained, "The schedule is just too tight for a single day."
Do you still remember the oath we took in our club, that we would defeat the outsiders and bring glory to our local players?" Lin Peng's eyes sparkled with excitement, "Now is our time to shine. In this quarterfinal, apart from you, President Xiao, all other local players have fallen. Now, our One For All club is the last hope for the locals. We must defeat those arrogant outsiders and ensure that a local player wins the championship in the Solar System Alliance competition. President Xiao, all our hopes rest on you.
Xiao Menglou felt a sudden, intense heartbeat, and weakly slumped onto the bed. He took a few rapid breaths, but due to the excessive movement, a few drops of saliva were drawn into his trachea, causing him to cough violently: "Fatty, cough... you know I don't want to hear this."
"We must win." Xiao Menglou silently thought to himself. The thought of "winning" quietly echoed in his mind, giving him a sense of weakness and helplessness. He felt a pervasive soreness and pain throughout his body, the consequences of the intense training from the previous night gradually becoming apparent.
Rushing to the sink in the bathroom, Xiao Menglou desperately splashed cold water on his cheeks, hoping to quickly awaken his muddled senses. He felt his hands trembling nervously, as every time he approached the moment before the finals, a part of his body would slip out of his control, responding to the fluctuations of his emotions with corresponding changes and - illustrations.
Hmm. Xiao Menglou nodded quietly.
When Xiao Menglou woke from his slumber, his alarm clock had already begun to shine a bright light on his face, indicating that it had been ringing in his ears for quite some time. He instinctively held his breath, quickly climbed out of bed, and gently pressed the button on top of the alarm clock to turn off the alarm function. Otherwise, in a few seconds, according to its design, the alarm system would splash cold water on his head to ensure he got up on time
A dazzling Venus floated before Xiao Menglou, causing him to sway slightly: "What? Where is Jin Baoluo? Could it be that he..."
"Mr. Xiao, Mr. Xiao!" Seeing Xiao Menglou's face gradually turning pale and ashen, Lin Peng quickly said, "Do not be discouraged, absolutely do not. Think of our oath, think of the despicable nature of those from other provinces. When the Earth faced global warming, the wealthy and powerful fled to the colonies in outer space, using all their resources to develop interstellar colonization, while remaining indifferent to the dire situation on Earth. If it were not for us, the locals, standing strong and self-reliant, ultimately utilizing hydrogen and antimatter to solve the energy crisis, Earth would have been destroyed by its own inhabitants. Now that the Earth's environment has improved, those from other provinces wish to return, and when we refuse, they resort to commercial extortion against us. As a local, do you not want to give these selfish and greedy outsiders a solid lesson? Electronic sports is one of the few competitive sports where outsiders excel over us locals. If we locals can win the championship in this solar system competition, it would be a resounding slap in the face to those from other provinces. You will become a hero among locals, celebrated by billions of players. This is your golden opportunity to achieve fame and fortune, a chance for our club to step into the solar system. You must seize this opportunity!"
Xiao Menglou exerted all his strength to grip the edge of the pool tightly, forcing himself to breathe in the fragrant air of the five-star hotel room on Vesta at an extremely slow pace. Despite enduring various symptoms of physical soreness, cramps, and weakness, Xiao Menglou felt that his mental state this time seemed much better than during his previous two participations in the Solar System Competition. In the last two competitions, one held on Mars and the other on Neptune, he would involuntarily vomit in the pool every morning before the event, even experiencing fainting spells. Although he was still suffering from stomach cramps and tremors, as if a giant hand were vigorously kneading his insides, he did not feel any nausea this time; instead, there was only a burning sensation continuously rising in his throat.
At that moment, another gentle phone ring sounded