Chapter 98: The Result Without Suspense (Third Update!)

Replay during the live stream not only drew the attention of others but also caught the notice of Lin Zinyin, who was watching the broadcast herself. Her expression grew even more astonished compared to the shock visible on everyone else's faces. Only someone like her, with years of professional experience, could truly appreciate just how difficult the seamless cooperation between Yang Hao and Zhu Ziyuan had been in that moment. This went far beyond mere technical execution. It demanded genuine synergy. Though the word "synergy" sounds simple enough, achieving it at such a profound level of harmony is far from easy. Over the past period, Lin Zinyin and her teammates Lu Ziqiong and the others had been training intensely. Although their skill levels did not technically require such grueling sessions, their goal was to cultivate an exceptional sense of unity and coordination. Their mutual understanding and what was commonly referred to as synergy remained a work in progress. Their team had formed only recently, lasting at most a month. While their overall strength compared favorably to many established professional squads, their synergy still fell short. Having maintained a five-year professional career, Lin Zinyin understood that building this level of cohesion was no overnight process but rather one demanding prolonged adaptation. Without sufficient harmony, any clash with a formidable rival could quickly turn their superiority into vulnerability, even if victory proved possible in the end. Yet from what had unfolded on the battlefield with Yang Hao and the others, Lin Zinyin sensed she had finally glimpsed the elusive point she had long pursued. The match was far from over. The once-serene G Port Mountain now stirred with unrest as these four figures arrived. Within a thousand meters of the mountain, tension rippled through the air like an unseen dread. The events of the afternoon's qualifier replayed in vivid detail. Yang Hao and Zhu Ziyuan's in-game IDs began flashing across countless other contestants' screens. Once. Twice. Thrice. Each appearance sent ripples of unease through the players. It seemed this squad had never let up from the opening moments. Their kill tally had already claimed the field lead. If this pace continued, claiming first place would become an impossible dream. Zhou Chen, newly entering the safe zone, watched the kill notifications surge and instinctively twitched at the corners of his mouth. This match's top spot felt out of reach. Even if someone else snatched the victory, Yang Hao and the others' ranking score combined with their kill bonuses would likely secure the win. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Shen Muyan, captain of the lone Tianhai University team, had just eliminated an opposing squad and spotted Yang Hao's surging kills. A heavy wave of crisis washed over him. Prior to the match, he had gathered fragments of their information, including Yang Hao's in-game name. Though their kill count was substantial, Shen Muyan sensed a clear gap remained compared to Yang Hao and Zhu Ziyuan. With the field thinning, securing further eliminations grew harder by the minute. When both sides reached the final positions, the victor might well be their rival. Familiar with the tournament rules, Shen Muyan felt an urgent pressure mounting. Recalling their prior confrontations ignited a deep sense of resentment. He had never met such a vexing opponent before. Yet the opponent's formidable strength only stoked his burning desire to fight. As the twenty-seventh ranked player on the sub-server, pride burned within him. Revenge was his calling. Yang Hao... no, Yang Hao, you will wait for me. With that vow locked in his heart, Shen Muyan turned to his two teammates and commanded, "Let's move." He led them away without delay. As the safe zone contracted and players dwindled, combat never ceased. Yang Hao and his three companions, once terrorizing G Port Mountain, had already departed that area once the safe zone shifted elsewhere. The second-to-last circle! Only ten players remained alive. Yang Hao's full roster stood alone among the survivors; all others had dwindled to one or two members each. This was a wheat field circle. For them, the position offered overwhelming advantage. Kill counts and player numbers led the entire field by a vast margin. Advancing a few more ranks would seal the victory, no matter what befell them later. No force could match their lethality. Yet at this precise instant, Yang Hao, headphones in place, seemed to enter a deeper state. The relentless eliminations had subtly altered his mindset. His gaze suddenly sharpened. In the distance, behind a wheat stack amid the field, a figure darted past. Without hesitation, he raised an 98K. Zoom in. Bang. Zoom out. As smoke cleared, the fleeing player had no chance to react before Yang Hao's shot struck true. Simultaneously, another shot rang out. Zhu Ziyuan, wielding an AWM taken from their earlier victories, dropped another opponent. The kill count continued to drop. When the final circle materialized, gunfire erupted from the opposite direction. Two kill notifications flashed across the screen. Only six players remained. The outcome now seemed certain. Yet the final two survivors refused to yield. They were precisely Shen Muyan and Zhou Chen, the players Yang Hao and the others recognized. The match was not finished. Yang Hao's group lay outside the final circle's reach and must enter it. Seal the smoke. Splitting into two, they plunged into the thickening haze before the toxic zone could sweep them away. At that instant, gunfire erupted within the final circle. Two players engaged in combat. Though surprised, Yang Hao and the others remained unfazed. Xia Zhi Chen used an M416 to eliminate Shen Muyan. The message appeared on screen just as the final circle battle concluded and Yang Hao's team secured entry. Moments later, they emerged behind a wheat stack to find Zhou Chen bandaging his wounds with a medkit. The match ended. The world fell silent. The scene froze. With no room for doubt, the result had been decided. First place belonged to them. Victory belonged to those few men who inspired awe.