The King's Avatar Chapter 1734 - Side Story: The Expectations of the Mediocre (5)

A week later.

During Round 7 of Season 4 in the Glory Pro League, Team Samsara broke their string of losses with a satisfying triumph. Captain Zhang Yiwei felt fantastic. Though today's rivals weren't powerful, he was certain the team meeting he'd called that morning during the prior break had made a difference. Indeed, he'd closely watched the players' mindsets throughout the last week, and since that point, the entire team had trained with intense dedication.

“Keep it up!” He urged his teammates.

Yet in Rounds 8 and 9, facing the season's top squads Excellent Era and Tyranny, Samsara swiftly reverted to their prior struggles.

Next, Round 10 pitted Samsara against Team Hundred Blossoms, the side that had battled Excellent Era in the prior finals for the title.

“Pull, pull, pull…” In the tense climax of the team battle, Zhang Yiwei muttered repeatedly, yet Cloud Piercer's HP buckled under the enemy's fierce barrage and dropped dead on the spot.

“What happened? Didn't I instruct you to watch your health?!” Witnessing Cloud Piercer's demise, Zhang Yiwei smashed his mouse down and hammered out his angry message.

Fang Minghua had no time to respond right then. The match lingered, but its end loomed near.

“What's gotten into you today? No, you've been off for a while now.” Post-match, Zhang Yiwei rushed back to the prep area. While traversing the player corridor, he immediately unleashed his critique on Fang Minghua.

“I…” Fang Minghua tried to explain, but a foggy daze left him speechless momentarily.

Zhang Yiwei, however, rattled off Fang Minghua's errors from the match like rapid gunfire.

“That's not completely accurate.” A voice cut in from nearby. It came from Team Hundred Blossoms, the winners trailing slightly as they exited the stage. They crossed paths with Samsara in the corridor. Samsara's players turned toward the sound. The interrupter was Hundred Blossoms' captain, Sun Zheping.

“Don't single out just one guy. The issue runs deeper than him,” Sun Zheping stated.

“What are you saying?” Zhang Yiwei eyed Sun Zheping. They'd debuted in the Alliance together, yet now Sun Zheping rivaled elite Gods like Ye Qiu and Han Wenqing.

“Bottom line, your team's overall power falls short,” Sun Zheping declared.

“You…” Zhang Yiwei hadn't anticipated such blunt, cutting words from Sun Zheping.

“Right?” Sun Zheping glanced at his teammate Zhang Jiale, far more popular than himself.

“No idea.” Zhang Jiale appeared downcast, but gazing at Samsara's roster, he spoke earnestly. “These remarks reflect only Sun Zheping's view. If you're itching for a personal clash, aim it solely at Sun Zheping.”

Hundred Blossoms' other members nodded vigorously in support, then hurried off alongside Zhang Jiale.

“Tch.” Sun Zheping shrugged it off.

“See ya.” He waved casually at Samsara's group before jogging to catch his squad.

Samsara's players lingered awkwardly in the corridor. Being labeled weak by the victors stung everyone, yet none could muster a counter. They observed Hundred Blossoms departing, saw Sun Zheping playfully swat his teammates' backs, and ultimately stride ahead with Zhang Jiale at his side.

Envy filled every gaze.

Samsara boasted plenty of grit, effort, and cohesion. What they truly missed was an unrivaled powerhouse capable of carrying solo.

This individual… The team exchanged glances. All recognized this figure wasn't present among them.

“Let's head out,” Zhang Yiwei muttered abruptly, his voice now heavy with gloom.

As Samsara's leader, he wielded the squad's premier character. He ought to be the most daunting foe for enemies. Still, Sun Zheping's jab at their collective weakness encompassed him too—and worst of all, he stood as the frailest link. For he captained Samsara, formed its nucleus, and drew inevitable contrasts to Ye Qiu, Han Wenqing, and Sun Zheping.

Zhang Yiwei gave a wry smile and shook his head. How could he measure up? He'd never match them in this life.

He pivoted to face Fang Minghua.

Fang Minghua halted instantly.

“What about that Sharpshooter who can boost us? When's he arriving?” Zhang Yiwei inquired.

The team froze in shock.

Fang Minghua's mouth fell open.

“Captain's talking to you.” Tong Lin nudged him.

“I'll reach out and check his availability,” Fang Minghua replied swiftly.

Zhang Yiwei gave a nod and held back any more words. He pressed on ahead. The Samsara players hung back, huddling close to Fang Minghua.

“Is there truly someone like that?”

“What’s his name?”

“How old is he?”

“What sort of guy is he?”

His fellow teammates bombarded Fang Minghua with curious questions.

“He’s called Zhou Zekai. He goes by his real name in-game. He’s 17 right now. As for his personality, well…” Fang Minghua paused briefly before adding, “He’s undoubtedly powerful. A decent fellow who doesn’t chat a lot.”

“Sounds like a guy who lets his skills do the talking.”

“But that’s just in online games…”

“Minghua, you ever dueled him in the arena?” One teammate piped up suddenly.

Fang Minghua flushed with embarrassment. The rest shot him looks like he was a fool.

“Oh, right, right.” The asker snapped out of it. Fang Minghua was a healer—the classic support in pro matches focused on keeping allies alive. Stepping into 1v1 arena fights? That’d be way off his role! If the captain caught wind, he’d get an earful for sure.

“Quit bunching up here! Spare a thought for the captain’s mood!” Tong Lin piped up then. Heads turned to see Captain Zhang Yiwei standing solo up front. His back looked downright icy. The group hustled to catch up, though Tong Lin pulled Fang Minghua aside to trail last.

“So in those gaming sessions lately, were you hanging out with him a ton?” Tong Lin inquired.

“Just during off-hours, and I didn’t grind too hard,” Fang Minghua replied.

“Not judging you or anything, but you’ve leveled up these past weeks,” Tong Lin noted.

“Me? Stronger?” Fang Minghua’s eyes bugged out. He glanced ahead involuntarily. Captain Zhang Yiwei had just chewed him out for being off-form. In that last match, he’d lagged behind the captain’s tempo in spots.

Tong Lin grinned without elaborating. He just clapped Fang Minghua on the shoulder. “Get your buddy here quick. Can’t wait to meet him.”

“Got it.” Fang Minghua nodded.

Time flew by, and a week vanished in a flash.

In Season 4, Round 11 of the Glory Professional Alliance, Team Samsara faced off against Team Blue Rain.

Zhang Xinjie boasted the top record among the season’s flashy newbies, yet Team Blue Rain stole the spotlight.

This stemmed from Zhang Xinjie landing on Team Tyranny, already a powerhouse. Their captain, Han Wenqing, rivaled Battle God Ye Qiu in many fans’ eyes. So Zhang Xinjie got a prime stage to shine.

Blue Rain, though? Post their old captain Wei Chen’s exit, they’d slumped from last season’s playoffs miss. But now, with dual rookies stepping up, they’d stormed back into title chase after ten rounds.

Rookie Yu Wenzhou inherited the Warlock Swoksaar and took the helm as Blue Rain’s new captain. Folks figured he’d be their fresh centerpiece, but Blue Rain dropped an even wilder twist.

Blade Master wasn’t in Blue Rain’s core roster before, yet this newcomer carved out a slot for it—the brightest one at that.

It went to Huang Shaotian and his Blade Master Troubling Rain. After several bouts, all saw him as Blue Rain’s deadliest blade. He ghosted in and out, biding time for the kill shot. One slash, and foes dropped. Meanwhile, his trash talk flooded the chat.

Word was, Huang Shaotian’s nonstop yapping had the Alliance eyeing rules. Banning one player’s voice seemed unfair, though. Now they mulled barring dead group-fight chars from typing. That showed his word-assault’s sheer terror. Others silenced on death? He kept slaying via text.

Rumors swirled of a fresh Alliance poll for pros: Did this trash-talk level bug you in matches? Just one said no.

Keep in mind, Blue Rain got the survey too. Even Huang Shaotian’s own squad said yes. The lone unbothered soul? The leaker hadn’t a clue.

Discussions on the rule changes were ongoing, yet they held no significance for Samsara in their matchup against Blue Rain this round. Samsara simply lacked the power to reduce Huang Shaotian’s Troubling Rain to a corpse amid the team battle. On the contrary, Huang Shaotian capitalized on the shift between offense and defense, swiftly eliminating two Samsara competitors in an instant.

He took down Cloud Piercer and Laughing Song.

One served as Team Samsara’s main damage dealer, the other an essential healer during group fights.

The match concluded at that instant. Team Samsara crumbled rapidly.

Blue Rain claimed a straightforward victory, while Samsara had grown desensitized from repeated defeats.