When did it start?
Jiang Botao had the same question in his mind. He was using defense to attack, guiding Tang Rou's attacks and controlling the tempo. He had always felt that he was very successful, that the situation was completely under his control. He could predict every change that followed. Not once had Tang Rou's actions exceeded his expectations.
He had a card up his sleeve. He had patiently waited for an opportunity. He had hoped that his counterattack would deal enough damage to clinch victory. That way, he would be able to raise his team's morale, killing two birds with one stone.
But the opportunity never appeared. Jiang Botao couldn't help but admire Tang Rou. On such a big stage like the finals, and also in the deciding match, he actually didn't get anxious in the face of such a situation. He actually managed to persevere. Let alone a rookie, even many mature players wouldn't have such a firm mental fortitude.
She persisted. Jiang Botao wouldn't back down. He didn't think that a prolonged battle would be beneficial to Tang Rou. The situation and tempo were all under his control. He only needed one reliable opportunity. Whether it was Tang Rou's mental lapse, or if she made a mistake in her control, it would be fine. He only needed one chance.
But it never happened. It never happened …
Dragon's Teeth, Circle Swing, and then Sky Strike. Jiang Botao had predicted all the attacks from the Beginner Level skills. After Dragon's Teeth, many people felt that they could counterattack, but Jiang Botao didn't.
It wasn't that he felt that this opportunity wasn't good enough, but that in his eyes, there was no opportunity at all.
At that time, only a trace of astonishment had flashed through his mind.
Dragon's Teeth followed Circle Swing. The attack speed was too fast. If Dragon's Teeth counterattacked, he would definitely be caught by this Circle Swing. At that time, there was no way to counterattack. He could only dodge.
Dragon's Teeth and Circle Swing had been dodged by Jiang Botao. Then Sky Strike …
As expected!
Jiang Botao didn't have Empty Waves stop. After rolling to dodge Circle Swing, he leapt into the air to dodge Sky Strike.
If he didn't have to parry, Jiang Botao obviously wouldn't let Empty Waves do so. He wouldn't overlook a trick that even normal players knew about against Battle Mages.
However, at that moment, Dancing Fire Flowing Flame, who had cast Sky Strike, suddenly moved forward.
Were his eyes playing tricks on him?
In that instant, Jiang Botao couldn't take the risk even if he was seeing things. Compared to being knocked into the air by Sky Strike, it was obviously easier to accept the former.
As a result, the short sword, Heavenly Chains, was brought out.
This confirmed that he was not seeing things.
Sky Strike's Dancing Fire Flowing Flame struck Divine Chain, and the Light Element Chaser shot out. Even if Jiang Botao was prepared, he couldn't dodge it. The Magic Chaser had a tracking effect!
The Chaser hit, and Han Yanrou's attack sped up.
A single Chaser didn't give Tang Rou a chance to continuously kill his opponent. The normal audience members didn't take this too seriously. After all, Tang Rou had always been the one attacking. In this situation, Jiang Botao's Empty Waves wasn't completely unscathed. Before this, he had been hit before, but he had still lost 7% of his health.
However, the pro players knew that this time, it was different. Different at all.
Because this time, Jiang Botao had lost his calm. He didn't have the confidence he always had. His parry of Sky Strike had been rushed. This meant that this change had been unexpected.
The rhythm of the battle was no longer under his control, and the situation was no longer completely under his control.
Pu!
Not long after being hit by the Light Element Chaser, Jiang Botao's Empty Waves was stabbed by a spear. Even though it was just a normal attack, and the damage was very low, the pro players didn't just see the numbers. They saw that Jiang Botao's control of the situation had dropped.
How could Jiang Botao not have thought of this normal attack?
No, that was impossible.
This attack had come so smoothly, so easily. Even a normal player would have known that they could follow it up with a stab.
They knew, but they couldn't dodge it.
Jiang Botao's heart was no longer just a "sliver of astonishment." Instead, he felt a deep sense of danger.
This wasn't some random change, nor was it some new playstyle. This was a change that relied on one's own reaction speed and mechanics. This was the so-called talent. And now, Tang Rou was turning this talent into a powerful battle strength. She was no longer just wildly exploding with hand speed. She was now meticulously controlling every small change.
"So strong …"
Who knew who said this.
No one followed up, but everyone knew that this "so strong" wasn't directed at Jiang Botao, but at Tang Rou.
At this moment, everyone realized that Happy's rookie could no longer be considered a rookie. This rookie was probably already at the peak of Glory.
She was like the top rookies of each season: Season 2's Blossoms and Blood, Season 3's Wang Jiexi, Season 4's Golden Generation, Zhou Zekai, Season 5's Zhou Zekai … Their performance in their rookie year was enough to make them Gods. However, as the Alliance developed and the competition became more and more intense, it became harder and harder for rookies to stand out. From Season 6 until now, only Season 7's Sun Xiang could be considered a God. And after that?
Season 8's Best Rookie, Zhao Yuzhe? He still hadn't made it to the All-Stars yet!
Season 9's Best Rookie, Lu Hanwen? Because he was young, he attracted attention. Because of his young age, his mental fortitude was praised. Everyone believed that he would have a bright future, but no one believed that he was God yet.
Then, what about Tang Rou?
When these rookies were compared side by side, everyone suddenly realized that Tang Rou's situation was similar to Lu Hanwen's, but also the opposite.
Because of Lu Hanwen's young age, he was given a lot of tolerance, and people's expectations of him involuntarily lowered a lot.
And Tang Rou? Because of the 1v3 incident, a bunch of people chased after her and cursed her for an entire season. From then on, people's expectations of her were very harsh. As long as she didn't achieve a 1v3, there would be all sorts of ridicule and ridicule.
But 1v3 … what kind of standard was that? If that was the standard, then it wasn't just harsh, it was simply purposely making things difficult for her.
And if you put aside this purposely making things difficult for her and looked at Tang Rou's performance this season, the Alliance's award of Best Rookie was indisputable.
An eternally high fighting spirit, a strong mental fortitude, astonishing talent, and constantly evolving skills and Glory IQ … …
After looking at Tang Rou's various attributes, everyone realized that perhaps the only thing that could be seen as a flaw was her age.
Tang Rou wasn't young anymore. She was now 23 years old. In the early days of the pro scene, some players at this age might have chosen to retire. Now, at this age, it was more or less the peak of their skills and experience. Depending on how long they lasted, on average, they would start to gradually decline in one or two years.
As for Tang Rou, this was only her first season. Her skill level was still rising, but with her age, there might not be any way for her to reach the peak …
What a pity.
That was what everyone was thinking.
But other than the pity, it seemed like … there was also a trace of joy.
After all, this was an opponent. Even though this kind of thinking wasn't very manly, who would rush to play the tragedy of being born at the wrong time? Those top Gods, who had been born in the same era as Ye Qiu and hadn't made any achievements, would more or less have a trace of "if only there was no Ye Qiu" in their hearts.
But at this moment, Tang Rou actually made these experts feel a sense of dread and want to avoid her.
Everyone wanted to run. Jiang Botao, can you still hold on?
You can't hold on!
Everyone's attention returned to the battlefield. They saw Jiang Botao's Empty Waves continue to retreat. Before, he had retreated because he had chosen to, in order to draw Tang Rou's offense. Now, he was retreating because he had no other choice. Besides retreating, he had no other choice.
I can't retreat anymore!
Jiang Botao was incomparably clear on this point. If this situation continued, Empty Waves would be worn down more and more. A single wave of counterattacks wouldn't be enough to secure victory. Right now, he needed to be forceful. He needed to break through Tang Rou's offense.
There'll be a chance, right?
Jiang Botao observed and pondered.
His gentle playstyle all this time should have caused his opponent to become accustomed to it. If he suddenly charged forward now, even if he couldn't take advantage of the situation to counterattack, disrupting her rhythm shouldn't be a problem.
Tyrant's Destruction!
Han Yanrou's Dancing Fire Flowing Flame swept out again. Jiang Botao made a decision in his mind.
Now was the time.
If he said he would do it, then he would do it. Too much preparation would make his opponent wary. Right now, he needed to be abrupt, he needed to catch her off guard, he needed to create an opportunity when there wasn't one.
Empty Waves jumped up, leaping forward, as if he were about to crash into the wind created by Tyrant's Destruction. But Empty Waves, who was in midair, immediately raised his legs, allowing Dancing Fire Flowing Flame to land below him.
But this wasn't enough!
Jiang Botao was clear. He had already felt Tang Rou's reaction and mechanics at such a close distance. This Tyrant's Destruction that seemed to have already been dodged, Tang Rou would definitely be able to adjust and respond to it.
But he wasn't afraid, because Empty Waves had already attacked. Jiang Botao wasn't trying to break through with this attack. He was just trying to disrupt the situation. A trade where both sides suffered heavy losses was considered a success for him.
Forceful!
Jiang Botao displayed his forcefulness.
If Tang Rou didn't retreat, then she obviously wouldn't retreat. As long as she persisted, there was nothing that could make her choose to retreat.
Sword light flashed, waves of energy jumped out. Empty Waves had already used a Wave Wheel Slasher.
As for Tyrant's Destruction?
Tyrant's Destruction seemed to pause for a moment, but then it didn't change. Han Yanrou raised her other hand, and a wave of mana began to rapidly circulate.
Not good!
Jiang Botao realized what this was. His heart was burning with anxiety. He could only hope that this attack would be able to make it in time. But in the end, when the waves of energy surged forth, what was locked onto was only a remnant of the mana flow … …
Teleport.
Adding a skill to a weapon.
It wasn't surprising for a Battle Mage to choose Teleport. Sun Xiang also frequently used this skill. Jiang Botao didn't overlook this skill. He just didn't think that at this distance, with the attack right in front of her eyes, she would dare to use Teleport.
This confidence, this courage, truly surpassed his imagination. No matter how he looked at it, this Teleport was more likely than not to be able to make it in time. But Tang Rou wasn't afraid of this consequence. What she showed was that even if she was hit by this Wave Wheel Slasher, she would still win!
Only with this kind of resolve could she be so decisive in this kind of situation. And only with this kind of decisiveness could she successfully activate Teleport before the Wave Wheel Slasher locked onto her.
Han Yanrou completely disappeared from Jiang Botao's sight.
Behind her … …
Jiang Botao immediately guessed, but Empty Waves was still in the air. He hurriedly canceled his attack and used Falling Light Blade to change Empty Waves' position in the air. But, it was too late … …
Dancing Fire Flowing Flames had already stabbed into his waist. Circle Swing!
Empty Waves was thrown back, but he didn't smash into the ground. Tang Rou gave up on the main damage of Circle Swing and simply threw Empty Waves in front of her.
The skill had been canceled, and Empty Waves regained his mobility. Jiang Botao reacted quickly and used the Falling Light Blade he hadn't been able to use in time.
But what welcomed him was … … Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike!
His surroundings were instantly filled with afterimages of Dancing Fire Flowing Flames. Tang Rou didn't even consider which direction he would dodge to. She used this skill to block all of Jiang Botao's options.
Falling Light Blade's priority was nothing in front of Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike. Empty Waves was hit several times in an instant.
Empty Waves was thrown back. Han Yanrou rushed forward, attacking as she moved. The Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike landed on Empty Waves' body.
But it wasn't over … …
Dragon's Teeth!
After Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike, she used Dragon's Teeth to stab him.
Hit, stun, follow up with another attack, there was no doubt that it would hit.
Dragon Breaks the Ranks!
Tang Rou used her next high-level skill. Han Yanrou used Dancing Fire Flowing Flames to block Empty Waves. Charge, charge, charge, charge!
An unstoppable force. This charge covered a great distance.
Jiang Botao waited. He waited for the instant the skill ended … …
Boom!
Dragon Breaks the Ranks reached the finish line. The condensed magic and battle qi collided with the air, creating a loud boom.
Empty Waves was sent flying, but he didn't miss the opportunity to raise his Divine Chains.
Aurora Wave Slash!
The fastest wave slash move. The power of the wave instantly gathered and swept towards Han Yanrou.
Jiang Botao's reaction was very fast. His control was also very fast. His timing was also very precise.
But Tang Rou wasn't any worse than him. When Dragon Breaks the Ranks reached the finish line, Han Yanrou jumped back and thrust out her spear.
Furious Dragon Strikes the Heart!
Dancing Fire Flowing Flames passed through the Aurora Wave Slash. One was physical, one was magical. The two skills collided, but they didn't interfere with each other.
Pu! Pu!
Han Yanrou was hit by the Aurora Wave Slash, leaving a sword mark on her leather armor.
Empty Waves wasn't able to escape from the Furious Dragon Strikes the Heart. The magical battle energy pierced through him from behind, impaling him from the front.
Han Yanrou staggered, but she quickly steadied herself.
Furious Dragon Strikes the Heart struck Empty Waves while he was still in the air. He was sent flying again.
He landed, rolled, and immediately steadied himself. But Jiang Botao was a bit unfamiliar with the surroundings.
He quickly saw a wooden sign in front of Empty Waves.
He saw the back of the wooden sign. It was very rough, and there was nothing on it.
He couldn't see the front of the wooden sign. There were four large words written on it.
DEATH TO INTRUDERS!
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