Believe me, I really am a professional League of Legends player.

Chapter 163 A Shocking Upset!
Li Fan stood in the center of the stage, enjoying the thunderous cheers under the spotlight.

He simply waved and smiled.

In a corner of the audience, the factory manager, Meiko, and Mouse, all wearing masks, witnessed the entire scene.

"Wow, this popularity..." Mouse clicked his tongue, a hint of envy in his voice, "It feels even more exaggerated than when we played in the LPL finals."

The factory manager looked at Li Fan's figure and said in a low voice, "His current popularity is phenomenal. He has a huge following regardless of whether he plays League of Legends or not. And... don't you guys think his skill level is a bit exaggerated?"

Meiko adjusted her glasses and nodded in agreement: "It's really exaggerated. That set of control just now, playing Chun-Li with a controller and achieving that level of smoothness, I don't believe it would take tens of thousands of hours of practice... It feels like even daily extra practice wouldn't be enough. It's really talent that allows you to play any game well."

As they were talking, Xiao Zhao squeezed back with several bottles of cola in her arms, grinning as she hugged the conspicuous 1.25-liter bottle to her chest, and then handed the three 500-ml bottles to the factory manager, Meiko, and Mouse respectively.

"Brother Kai, reimburse me!"

The factory manager took the Coke, glanced at the huge bottle in Xiao Zhao's arms, and couldn't help but complain, "Holy crap, you bought such a big bottle?!"

Xiao Zhao unscrewed the bottle cap, took a satisfying sip, and said with a smile, "I personally prefer Coke, so getting a big bottle is a good deal!" No matter how many times she drank it, the first sip was always the most refreshing. After burping, she replied, "I personally prefer Coke, so getting a big bottle is more cost-effective!"

Seeing his smug look, Meiko couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Some dogs really do look like people!"

Xiao Zhao chuckled and turned her gaze to the stage: "Don't worry about the details... Brother Fan won again, didn't he?"

"Hmm," the factory manager nodded, his joking expression fading, "Completely crushed. Ding Chunqiu was utterly powerless against him."

Mouse remarked, "One more win and we'll be in the quarterfinals... Do you think he could actually make it to the quarterfinals?"

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent for a moment.

The factory manager unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip of cola, and slowly said, "If the draw continues like this, the chances are indeed very high, but can we say we're just coasting after making it to the quarterfinals? It's the quarterfinals, after all."

The factory manager meant that if Li Fan could make it into the top eight in this fighting cup that brings together the world's top fighters, then the prestige of the competition would be beyond doubt.

You can't say they're just messing around... and they're teammates too.

The sister-obsessed man realized he had said the wrong thing.

Meanwhile, the chat room remained lively, with a small group of people offering congratulations while simultaneously launching into mockery.

[Heh, another win against one of your own people, feeling good now? Douyu's matchmaking is pretty good.]

[They advanced effortlessly through all-Chinese matches, without touching a single foreign player. Douyu's planners are truly amazing! Why didn't they even bother with the Japanese players? They just cruised through like this!]

[Waiting for the next round of the winners' bracket to see if he can get a favorable draw.]

If the next round is another civil war, I'll die laughing.

Don't worry, the draw is about to take place. Let's see if his luck will be this good.

Once the matches in the other groups had finished, the big screen lit up again to begin the next round of the winners' bracket.

The rules of the Douyu Cup are quite interesting.

That means the winners advance to the next round until only four players remain. These are the players who advance to the quarterfinals. It means that as long as you win three games, you can advance to the quarterfinals, while the losers will be eliminated if they lose one more game.

So the rules are still very simple: lose two matches and you're eliminated.

Li Fan has already won two matches!

They're just one step away from the quarterfinals...

All eyes were focused on the battle IDs flashing on the screen.

Li Fan also returned to the contestant area and calmly looked up.

One by one, the player IDs were determined, and the match-up list gradually filled up.

When the name of Li Fan's next opponent was finally announced, the entire venue fell silent for a moment, and then erupted into an even more enthusiastic clamor than before!
Exclamations, whispers, and incredulous gasps mingled together.

Of course, some people who don't understand might be curious at this moment why everyone is shouting here.

The factory manager and Meiko and the others stared wide-eyed.

Xiao Zhao almost spat out her cola, quickly covering her mouth and coughing twice as she choked: "Holy crap... no way?!"

The live stream chat, which was initially filled with comments like "guaranteed admission" and "civil war," was instantly flooded with a massive amount of "???" and "Holy crap!"
Because on the big screen, the third round of the winners' bracket was: Unreal vs. Tokido.
Tokido!

Nicknamed the Great Demon King of the East, he is a legendary figure in Japanese fighting games and one of the most dominant Akuma users in the world. He is one of the biggest favorites to win this competition!

Just last month, they defeated Punk to win the EVO tournament, the most important event in Street Fighter.

Their strength is certainly not to be underestimated...

As a result, he was scheduled for the crucial match that allowed Li Fan to advance to the quarterfinals!
All the doubts and taunts about being a "domestic war god" and "guaranteed entry into the top eight" were completely silenced by the draw in the matchups at this moment, disappearing entirely from the live stream.

Those who claim there's something fishy going on, how could Douyu possibly send him a Street Fighter Demon King directly?
This is going to be difficult!

Li Fan's luck... seemed to have run out at this moment.

His next opponent will no longer be an easy target in any sense, but one of the giants standing at the pinnacle of fighting games!

Inside the contestant area, Li Fan looked at the result, but instead of showing any fear, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

EVO himself was unable to attend due to time constraints, which is a bit of a shame.

Tokido?

Perfect, it can be used to test just how far I've come from my arduous practice during this period.

On the other side of the stage, Tokido, who had just finished his match and was resting, also saw this matchup and a hint of interest appeared on his face.

The ID "Unreal" is still unfamiliar to me, and I'm quite curious about Li Fan's skill level.

The main reason is that every time Li Fan wins a match, there are a large number of fans cheering and shouting at the scene, which is really giving him face, just like a top star.

He found contestants like these very interesting, and the more he wanted to crush them in the competition, the more the cheers from the audience would turn into encouragement for him.

His favorite movie is "The Incompetent Husband"...

The tide in the live stream turned the moment Li Fan's opponent was confirmed to be Tokido.

The previously trending terms "guaranteed admission" and "civil war god" have vanished without a trace, like fallen leaves swept away by a gust of wind.

Instead, it was simply two words:

【Resist Japan! 】

【Resist Japan! ! 】

【Resist Japan! ! ! 】

The screen was densely packed with people, covering the entire live stream room.

No one cares if you're the "Demon King of Tokyo" or the current number one Street Fighter. In these home-and-away matches, especially on the stage of competitive sports, national sentiment is always the most direct catalyst.

All the former haters have now spontaneously stood on the same side.

Support Unreal, crush Tokido!

At this moment, he represents the Chinese region, the kind of player countless domestic fighting game players long to see: the number one Japanese player get crushed.

"My God, this draw... the entertainment value is off the charts!" The commentator was incredibly excited at this moment. "Unreal's players have encountered what may be the strongest boss in this competition, Tokido, who was just crowned EVO champion, in the final hurdle to reach the top eight! This is destined to be a highlight battle that will go down in the history of this Douyu Cup!"

After their initial surprise, the audience reacted, and a huge wave of cheers began to gather. Many people now understand Tokido's strength, but at this moment, the cheers for their own player were undoubtedly the loudest.

However, amidst this wave of righteous indignation, a small group of people felt an unprecedented excitement and a twisted sense of satisfaction.

It was those who had previously worked tirelessly to secure admissions through connections and behind-the-scenes manipulation, as well as a group of people who simply couldn't stand seeing others succeed and were waiting to see geniuses fall from grace and have some fun.

[Hahaha! Here it comes! Your good luck has finally run out!]

[Hilarious! I thought I'd keep getting good draws, but I've run into a brick wall!]

[Just waiting to be beaten like a robot by the Tokyo University Demon King, let's see how he can still pretend!]

[Resisting the Japanese? Just don't get turned into a library, that's considered a success!]

[With this level of hype, let's see how you fans defend yourselves if we lose! You'll be slapped in the face!]

[I love watching this – the higher they're praised, the harder they fall! Tokido, give us a serious boost!]

Their logic is actually very simple yet also very dark.

Why do you, a teenager addicted to the internet, have so many fans and make so much money? It's purely because you can't stand seeing others do well.

So they couldn't wait to see Li Fan's true colors revealed in front of Tokido, to see his fans disappointed and silent, and to enjoy the thrill of being the only one sober while everyone else is drunk, trampling on the dreams of others.

These lemon-flavored lemons are everywhere in the world, but there's nothing that can be done about them.

Inside the contestants' area, Li Fan naturally sensed the changed atmosphere, but the turmoil in his heart quickly subsided...

Tokido... Japan's number one, the number one Street Fighter?

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and his mind flashed back to the scenes of Tokido's matches that he had previously observed; they were indeed terrifying.

Pressure?
Of course there are.

But more than anything, it ignited a fighting spirit, which is not a bad thing but a good thing for me.

He opened his eyes with a firm gaze, and his previous smile had vanished.

On the other side, Tokido adjusted his glasses, a slightly shy yet confident smile on his face.

You could definitely feel the support the audience had for Li Fan, as well as the invisible pressure they were putting on him.

But this is precisely his favorite part.

“Turning a bustling scene into a library…” he muttered to himself in Japanese, “That’s the best feeling.”

The stage lights seemed to be focused on the two people who were about to fight.

Meanwhile, other professional players who weren't competing started to focus on the upcoming matches.

After all, this is a match featuring Tokido, currently the top Street Fighter player.

Whenever it's his match, a large number of professional players are bound to come and watch.

After all, everyone considered him their final, imagined enemy...

The brief preparation time passed in a breathtaking anticipation. As both players took their seats, the stage lights focused on the battle area.

Amid the host's enthusiastic introduction, Li Fan once again chose Chun-Li, while Tokido locked in his signature character, Akuma, the nightmare of countless professional players. After all, this was his absolute signature hero, the one he used to win the EVO championship.

The moment of natural selection was still very oppressive.

This is quite normal. It's like when Li Fan picks Syndra in a match, all the mid laners in the LPL will feel pressured.

The game has finished loading, and the first match has officially begun!
"The match has begun! Unreal's Chun-Li versus Tokido's Akuma... This is definitely Unreal's most stressful match today, and I believe it's also the most watched one!" The commentator's voice was tinged with tension.

Although he wasn't a fan of Li Fan, he still hoped that Li Fan could win against this "Demon King of Tokyo".

In the opening stages, both sides acted extremely cautiously.

Unlike Ding Chunqiu, Tokido's Akuma didn't recklessly press forward. Instead, he used exquisite footwork and occasional Zanku Hadouken to create three-dimensional control, constantly testing Li Fan's defensive habits and reaction limits.

This shows that there is a significant difference in the two people's understanding of the character.

As a professional player, you have to practice and search slowly to find your main character, and then one day you will suddenly realize that destiny has come your way.

Li Fan's Chun-Li is playing it safe. This current top Street Fighter is definitely not easy to beat, so you have to be extra careful.

Using the stance and qigong fist to control the mid-range, every movement and move is just right, but this also makes everyone very nervous to watch, just like dancing with sharp knives, for fear of being countered.

"Is this what a top-level match is like? Both sides are looking for each other's weaknesses, and every ordinary exchange of punches and kicks is crucial!"

Tokido was the first to launch an attack!

His Akuma used Ashura Flash to dodge Chun-Li's attack, instantly closing in and unleashing a seemingly simple yet perfectly executed combo of Light Kick → Standing Punch → EX Rising Dragon, catching Li Fan completely off guard!
Chun-Li's health dropped a little bit instantly!

"A brilliant first move! Tokido's pressure has begun!"

However, Li Fan did not panic. The moment Akuma landed and tried to continue the pressure, Chun-Li forcefully regained the advantage with a precise EX Hundred-Crack Kick, and then immediately launched a counterattack.

V Skill 1: Ki Blade Kick grazes Akuma, followed by a middle punch → Light Hundred-Rip Kick, returning the favor in kind!
"Counterattack! Unreal is playing very calmly!"

Both sides' health points decreased alternately in a series of ingenious battles and perilous exchanges.

Tokido's Akuma displayed terrifying confirmation ability. After a normal standing heavy kick landed, he instantly confirmed and connected with VT2. With the help of the enhanced effect of the special move cancel, he continuously suppressed Chun-Li's health, reducing it to an extremely dangerous level!

But Li Fan was equally impressive. In an extremely unfavorable situation, he dodged Akuma's crucial heavy punch with a god-like backstep and then used a combo to bring Akuma's health to almost zero!
The situation became extremely tense, with both sides barely clinging to life!
The entire venue was completely silent. All the audience members held their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests. At this moment, anyone who blinked might miss the most exciting scene.

The factory manager, Meiko, and others clenched their fists, not daring to utter a sound.

The number of comments in the live stream seemed to have decreased significantly. No one dared to type with their attention, as everyone was extremely tense due to the intense competition.

"The last sliver of blood! Both sides only have one chance to attack; victory or defeat hangs in the balance!" The commentator lowered his voice...

Tokido's Akuma attempted to harass the enemy with a low kick, looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

Li Fan's Chun-Li, after blocking the harassment, caught Akuma's movements.

It's now!

Chun-Li suddenly lunges forward!

This is not an attack, but an order to be delivered!
"Charge! Is it a throw?!" the commentator exclaimed.

Tokido clearly anticipated that Li Fan might attack, so he chose to block.

Just then, Akuma's body was firmly grabbed by Chun-Li, and a clean and neat back throw was executed!

K.O!

The health bar on the screen was instantly emptied!

"He made it! My God! Unreal! He did it... He won the first game with just one command! He beat Tokido in one game!" The commentator burst into laughter, his voice hoarse with excitement.

"This decision is incredibly bold. Who would dare to do this with a sliver of blood on their hands? But Unreal chose to do it!"

"boom!!!"

All the suppressed emotions in the entire competition venue erupted at this moment!
The cheers, screams, and incredulous shouts were so loud they almost lifted the roof off!
"Unreal! Unreal! Unreal!"

"Awesome! They actually won like that."

"Ah!!! We won!"

The factory manager suddenly stood up from his seat and forcefully swung his fist.

Xiao Zhao even jumped up while holding his large bottle of cola, almost dropping it and hitting the person in front of him.

The live stream chat was completely flooded with comments.

The screen was completely flooded with comments like "Ahhhhhh!", "Holy crap!", "They really won?!", and "The first step to a successful resistance against Japan!"

The barrage of comments scrolled so fast that the text was completely illegible!
Douyu's official team was laughing their heads off; they finally got to experience that feeling too.

This Douyu Cup was definitely worth it!
Inside the player area, the other professional players watching also showed expressions of shock.

They anticipated that Li Fan might have some highlights, but no one expected that he would actually be able to win a game against Tokido!

And in such a thrilling and exciting way!
Li Fan slowly exhaled the breath he had been holding in.

Tokido looked at the screen, his usual smile fading slightly, and his eyes becoming more serious.

He moved slightly, as if his fighting spirit had been completely ignited.

The victory in the first game was like throwing a huge rock into a deep pool, creating ripples all around.

Everyone realized that this match wasn't going to be a one-sided, crushing defeat, as they had imagined.

Unreal has a real chance of defeating this guy known as the Demon King of Tokyo University!
Meanwhile, people were also typing in the live stream chat at this time.

The last person to be called the Demon King was Faker... but he lost to Li Fan in the Mid-Season Invitational. It seems like Tokido is going to be the second one!
Before the excitement at the scene had completely subsided, the second round had already officially begun.

"Alright viewers, after a short break, the second game has begun! After Tokido's narrow defeat in the first game, he will definitely make adjustments in this game, and Unreal needs to be more careful..." The commentator's tone became serious again.

The second game began as soon as the words were spoken.

Tokido's Akuma seems to have become a completely different person!

If the first game was a test and a game of strategy, then in this game, he launched a fierce offensive from the very beginning!
The powerful and deadly control of the Great Wave Fist, and the more cunning landing points of Ashura's Flash, no longer aiming for simple close-range combat, but constantly changing positions to disrupt Li Fan's rhythm.

"Tokido's pressure is too intense! Unreal is having a hard time finding room to make a move... The pressure seems a bit too much."

In what seemed like an ordinary mid-range standoff, Tokido's Akuma suddenly charged forward, and Li Fan's Chun-Li instinctively retreated, but this was precisely a trap set by Tokido!
Akuma's charge was a feint; he canceled it instantly and unleashed an EX Slash Hadouken!
Li Fan reacted extremely quickly, immediately jumping back to dodge. But just as Chun-Li took off, Tokido had already anticipated everything, and the second Ashura Flash appeared precisely at Chun-Li's landing point!

"Oh no! We were predicted!" the commentator exclaimed.

Unable to change direction in mid-air, Chun-Li took a full hit from Akuma's combo of aerial heavy kick → landing heavy punch → EX Gouhachi Fist!
My health dropped drastically in an instant!

But this is just the beginning.

Having gained the upper hand, Tokido displayed Akuma's overwhelming dominance to the fullest.

He constantly harassed the target with light attacks to confirm his position, and once he hit, he would immediately switch to V to trigger a powerful combo, maximizing the damage.

Even though Li Fan tried to find a counter-attack opportunity, Tokido's defense was equally impenetrable.

Several times Chun-Li's classic Hundred-Crack Kick was countered by him with precise backsteps or powerful punches into the air.

"Is this the world's number one Akuma? He's a perfect blend of offense and defense, with almost no weaknesses!" The commentator's voice carried a hint of helplessness. If he had no weaknesses at all, with that much health, there was absolutely no chance.

Li Fan's health continued to decline under Tokido's fluid offensive. Even though he managed to recover some health through his individual skills, the initiative remained in his opponent's hands. In the end, Chun-Li's health reached zero, and Li Fan made a desperate last-ditch effort, unleashing his EX Hundred-Crack Kick. Tokido calmly blocked it with his Akuma, then casually delivered a middle punch followed by a finishing move, instantly taking away Chun-Li's last bit of health.

K.O!

The second game has ended.

Tokido pulled one back, tying the score at 1-1.

Throughout the entire process, Tokido demonstrated a breathtaking control of rhythm and damage calculation.

He demonstrated to everyone through his actions why he is called the "Demon King of Tokyo University"—this year's championship was definitely not won by luck!

The scene, which had been boiling with excitement just moments before, seemed to have been doused with cold water, and the cheers and shouts instantly subsided by more than half.

The audience's faces, still flushed with excitement, had already become extremely tense.

"Still... tough to beat."

This game has made everyone realize just how big the gap really is.

I felt completely outmatched; I think I managed to steal a win in the last game.

After all, both sides gave it their all, and Li Fan managed to steal a point with a shot.

In the live stream, the comments section also underwent some minor changes.

Although the vast majority of viewers are still commenting with messages like "Go for it!", "It's okay, fight back!", and "Beat them in the final round!"

But that small group of people who were waiting to see the joke suddenly became active, like sharks smelling blood.

[That's it? What happened to all that bragging?]

[Now you've shown your true colors, haven't you? You really think you're something special just because you won one game by chance?]

[The Demon King of Tokyo University will teach you a lesson!]

[Disgraceful; it's still no good.]

[You guys were so excited about winning that game, are you quiet now? It's really funny, just thinking about it makes me laugh.]

[I told you before, when you encounter a true master, you have to kneel before them. Don't use your hobby to challenge their profession.]

These jarring comments, mixed in with the cheering bullet screen, seemed particularly offensive.

Li Fan stared at the screen, his face still expressionless. He silently removed his hands from the controller and gently moved his slightly sore fingers.

pressure!

This is really putting pressure on me!

I silently closed my eyes and entered a meditative state.

Tokido's strength exceeded his previous expectations, but it also excited him even more.

That's more interesting!
He took a deep breath and quickly cleared his mind of the image of his previous defeat.

They began to focus all their efforts on devising a strategy for the decisive game.

The third game, which would determine the final outcome, began in a suffocatingly tense atmosphere.

The entire venue fell silent, all eyes focused on the large screen in the center of the stage.

"The decisive game! Everything starts anew, and both sides are back on equal footing! Mindset, focus, and attention to detail will determine who advances to the quarterfinals!"

This time, Li Fan took the lead in making changes.

His Chun-Li no longer simply defends, but adds more proactive and deceptive forward pressure.

Using the power-up cancellation of Qigong punches as a deterrent, he occasionally interspersed his attacks with a mix of mid-range and low-range techniques, attempting to disrupt Tokido's defensive rhythm.

Tokido remained as steady as a mountain, but his Akuma was clearly more focused on defending against Li Fan's throws, and his mid-range control was more cautious, no longer easily giving away openings that could be exploited by command throws.

Both sides' health points alternated again as they played with extreme caution and occasionally unleashed short combos, just like in the first game, but the level of the game and the degree of danger were even greater than before.

Every clash of basic attacks, every exchange of skill damage, grips everyone's attention.

"Another very close health bar! Is history about to repeat itself?" The commentator's voice was filled with anticipation.

Finally, the game has once again entered the final, low-health phase!

Both players had only a sliver of health left, like candles flickering in the wind; one of them could knock the other down with a single kick.

The same script is playing out again!

The audience members below the stage were so nervous that they covered their mouths.

Tokido's Akuma was at a safe distance, his mind racing:
"That's how he won the first inning... He must have thought I wouldn't dare to defend against pitches anymore... Or, he might have thought I anticipated his pitch and would instead use a normal move to hit me in the opposite direction?"

"This time, I will never get hit by a throw again!"

And in that split second...

"It's now!"

Without any hesitation!

Instruction cast

"He's charging forward again! Is he going to throw again?!" The commentator's exclamation was filled with utter shock.

Tokido's pupils contracted sharply as he saw Chun-Li charging forward, but the image of himself being voted out in the previous game flashed through his mind.

"He really dares to do that?!"

Chun-Li's hands were firmly gripping Akuma's body!
The familiar throwing animation is back!

K.O!

Akuma's last sliver of health was completely wiped out by this audacious yet perfectly timed command!

"He made it! He made it again! Unreal! He did it! He used the command again and defeated Tokido in the deciding set! He's advanced to the quarterfinals!" The commentator went completely wild, roaring hoarsely!
"boom!!!!!!"

The roar, ten times more intense than when they won the first game, instantly swept through the entire venue!

"Unreal! Awesome!"

"They've really made it to the quarterfinals!"

"Can you really win like that? Is it true?"

The live stream was completely flooded with exclamations of "!!!" and "We are the top eight!", causing it to lag and even go black!
Looking at the victory settlement on the screen, Li Fan's tense body finally relaxed. He leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

A relieved smile appeared on his face.

he made it!

He withstood the pressure and secured this crucial victory against one of the world's best fighting game players!

Meanwhile, Tokido stared blankly at the screen, his expression frozen.

He still seemed unable to believe that he had lost two games in the same way, at the same crucial moment.

He underestimated his opponent's courage and overestimated his own judgment under extreme pressure, which made him seem somewhat reckless.

The library he wanted never arrived, but instead, deafening cheers erupted in his ears in celebration of Li Fan's victory.

The square had been completely transformed into Li Fan Square, with everyone cheering for Li Fan, a stark contrast to the scene he had imagined.

But losing a game is losing a game.

Tokido took a deep breath, forcing himself to pull himself out of the suffocating image of failure.

Looking at the young figure in the center of the stage, surrounded by spotlights and wild cheers, Unreal.

Li Fan was bowing to the audience from all directions.

The deafening sound waves assaulted his eardrums in waves.

This was completely different from the library scene he had envisioned before the match.

"I'm being stubborn. I always make this kind of mistake before, and I never thought I'd make it again. I always think my opponent won't dare to challenge me, but in reality, I'm just taking their psychology into account," Tokido muttered to himself.

He admitted that Li Fanna's decision to make two consecutive throws in a desperate situation required not only extraordinary courage but also an extreme exploitation of the opponent's psychology.

but……

"The game is not over yet."

The double-elimination format gave him a chance to make a mistake.

Although we've fallen into the loser's bracket... there's still a chance.

I slowly stood up and began to organize my peripherals, without feeling any tension or urgency.

Every match in the loser's bracket is a life-or-death battle, and there can be no more mistakes, but he believes he can definitely do it and doesn't feel any pressure.

“A very interesting opponent… I’ll remember your courage and on-the-spot judgment.”

"But there won't be a next time."

Next, I will fight my way back from the loser's bracket, defeat all the opponents who stand in my way, and finally... stand in front of Li Fan again.

"See you in the finals, Unreal." He smirked slightly. "By then, you won't have a second chance. I'll crush you in ways you can't even imagine."

He believed that with his absolute strength and powerful adaptability, he could definitely do it.

This defeat served as a wake-up call, allowing him to completely put away the arrogance that followed his championship win last month, realizing that his current state is his best.

Tokido picked up his equipment, no longer lingering in the area behind him, and turned to walk towards the loser's bracket preparation area.

He will defeat all the next opponents one by one!

However, at this moment, the gears of fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on him.

When he saw the ID of his opponent in the first round of the losers' bracket, even Tokido, who is known for his composure, couldn't hold back for a moment.

Cammy, also known as Zeng Zhuojun, is another Chinese player!

An indescribable sense of oppression instantly enveloped him.

The audience clearly noticed the upcoming showdown, and the cheers that had just subsided for Li Fan started to rise again, but this time, they were all directed at the child.

"Tokido faced Kid in his first match in the loser's bracket, which was definitely going to be a tough battle! Kid had just fought his way back from the loser's bracket and was on fire... It's worth mentioning that the player Kid defeated in the loser's bracket was none other than Ding Chunqiu, who had just lost in the second round of Unreal Tournament. Could it be that fate had its own design?"

At this moment, the child's fighting spirit was burning fiercely. He was determined to defeat this top-notch Japanese player in front of the entire audience!

Game start.

Tokido once again summoned his signature Gouki.

The child has locked onto his favorite character – Cammy!
Jamie, the killer bee known for its high mobility and fierce suppression, displays both agility and ferocity in the hands of a child.

The battle became intense from the very beginning.

Tokido's Akuma attempted to suppress Cammy with overwhelming firepower, unleashing a series of Gouhachi Fists while using Ashura's Flash to create distance and constantly compress the child's space.

But the child's Jamie is like a butterfly flitting among flowers. Every time Akuma starts his attack, he can interrupt the rhythm with a precise middle punch or a low-middle kick, and then follow up with short combos to continue applying pressure.

In the first round, the two sides traded leads in health points, remaining very close throughout.

At the crucial moment, the child seized the opportunity when Tokido jumped and missed, activated his power, and then followed up with a powerful combo of "5MP→2MK→Spiral Arrow (↓→+K)," catching Tokido off guard and taking the first point!
"The kid won a game! His Cammy rhythm was too good, he didn't give Tokido any chance at all."

Tokido's expression began to darken; it seemed like things were going to go wrong in this match.

In the second round, he immediately chose to adjust his strategy, abandoning aggressive pressure and instead focusing on positioning and control. He used Akuma's Slash Wave Punch to limit Cammy's advance, and then used Ashura's Flash to flexibly turn and avoid the child's pressure.

Finally, he seized upon the child's slight mistake in attempting to charge with EX Spiral Arrow, and smoothly followed up with a dazzling combo of "2MP → Rising Dragon Fist → V-Trigger Enhanced Powerful Hadouken," successfully turning the tide.

The score is now 1-1!

Both sides unleashed their best skills, resulting in a rapid decline in health points during the intense offensive and defensive exchanges.

Tokido felt he had reached the threshold of victory. After a successful 2MK confirmation, his Akuma pushed Cammy to the edge of the screen, gaining a slight health advantage.

He was completely focused, his fingers pressed tightly against the joystick and buttons, calculating every possible counterattack point, preparing to deliver the final blow with a powerful Rising Dragon Fist.

However, the child's Cammy, in an extremely unfavorable position at the edge of the screen, suddenly unleashed EX Spiral Arrow. Taking advantage of the brief invincibility frames of the EX skill, he actually pierced through Akuma's oncoming Gouha Fist and instantly closed in!

Tokido reacted extremely quickly, immediately inputting the command for a powerful upward dragon punch aimed at the air.

But the child's actions were faster. The moment Cammy landed, he used a quick sidestep to cancel the aftercast of EX Spiral Arrow, and a lightning-fast 2MK accurately hit Akuma. After confirming the hit, he immediately activated the remaining time of V-Trigger I and connected "2MK → Cannon Spike → CA"!
A dazzling combo erupted in an instant, and Akuma's health crumbled like an avalanche!

K.O!

The picture freezes.

The child, Zeng Zhuojun, defeated Tokido with a score of 2:1!

"He won! The kid won! He defeated Tokido and successfully advanced to the quarterfinals! And Tokido... Tokido fell! He lost to the second Chinese player and unfortunately stopped in the round of 16!" The commentator's voice was filled with shock and elation.

"A shocking upset! Tokido, the newly crowned EVO champion and known as the 'Demon King of Tokyo,' has been defeated by Unreal and Kid on the Douyu Cup stage, ending his run here!"

After a brief silence, the entire venue was once again engulfed by a tsunami of cheers!

This time, it's for the children and for the miracle that Chinese fighting games created on this day!

Tokido sat blankly in the chair, staring at the screen, his mind completely empty.

Lost...

Lost again...

And they lost to different Chinese players...

They were eliminated in the round of 16...

This result was like a heavy hammer blow, shattering all his previous assumptions and determination.

All that talk about fighting your way back from the loser's bracket, all that talk about getting revenge in the finals... it's all become a joke.

He didn't even make it to the quarterfinals.

The immense sense of loss and unprecedented frustration instantly overwhelmed him.

He slowly lowered his head, his hands resting limply on the joystick. His face, which always wore a confident smile, was now filled with only bewilderment.

He was one of the dominant figures of the Tokido Street Fighter V era, and the newly crowned EVO champion. Yet, at the Douyu Cup, which brought together top players from around the world, his journey ended so dramatically and so early.

The cheers from the crowd were still deafening, but to him at that moment they sounded incredibly harsh and jarring.

Silently packing up his peripherals, he left the stage in disappointment amidst the clamor of the victors.

The University of Tokyo's "Demon King" China trip ended on the first day in a way that no one expected.

"They won! The kid beat Tokido! They've made it to the quarterfinals!"

The entire venue was engulfed in a sea of ​​frenzy!

"Child! Child! Child!"

"Zeng Zhuojun! Awesome!"

"My God! We have two quarterfinalists! Unreal and Kid!"
When will the Chinese MMA scene ever have such a good day?

The gasps, shouts, and applause nearly lifted the roof off the stadium.

This is not just a victory, but a powerful declaration of China's fighting strength!

Two Chinese athletes have defeated this year's EVO champion, Tokido!

"A shocking upset!" The commentator's tone was filled with disbelief. "Who could have imagined before the tournament that Tokido, the newly crowned world champion, would be eliminated in the round of 16? And by two of our Chinese players! This is definitely the biggest news since the start of this Douyu Cup!"

Li Fan looked at the close-up of the child's victory on the big screen and shook his head.

An upset?

In the eyes of most people, this is an absolutely earth-shattering upset that will be recorded in the history of combat sports.

But in Li Fan's mind, there was not much surprise.

"Because he's a child..."

The name Zeng Zhuojun itself represents the top level and limitless potential of Chinese fighting games.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to shine again seven or eight years later, winning more than a hundred championships of all sizes.

He has the ability; he always has.

In contrast, Li Fan found something else more interesting.

His gaze inadvertently swept across another corner of the contestants' area.

Ding Chunqiu was looking down, his face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water. He had been kicked to death by a child in the second round of the loser's bracket...

"I wonder if your God Ding will hold a grudge against the child for this incident?"

P.S.: Watching the game really gave me a work injury; I have a bad cold, headache, and feel weak.

(End of this chapter)