CS: The Last Dance, a Dance That Leads to Professional Success

Chapter 144 Advancing to the Main Tournament! Oil Warship? (Two chapters combined, 10,000 words)

In the Cologne qualifying round livestream, when that earth-shattering shot that pierced four opponents appeared, the whole world seemed to be put on pause.

On the English-language commentary stage,

Commentator Anders Blume gaped, his eyes wide like saucers, and remained stunned for a full five seconds before roaring in an almost trembling voice:
"Oh my God! Did you see that?! Did you really see that?! It's Dark! He's holding an AWP, facing the entire enemy team charging, he peeked out again! Holding that AWP! Facing four people! And then... and then... one shot! Just one damn shot! He killed them all! That's an ACE! A once-in-a-lifetime ACE shot! One bullet through four players! This isn't CS:GO! This is a movie! This is a legend born right before our eyes!"

His partner, Moses, jumped up from his chair, covered his head with his hands, and paced frantically in front of the commentary booth, muttering to himself:

"I saw it! I saw it! But I can't believe it! Oh my god... this is impossible... Anders, tell me I'm not dreaming! This is the craziest AWP sniper shot I've ever witnessed in my entire commentary career!"

"That courage! That confidence! And that pure, unadulterated skill! We were still yelling, 'Could he really kill us all with an AWP?!'... Yes! Yes, he could! He didn't just achieve the ACE, he utterly destroyed them!"

"That's right! With just one click, they were completely wiped off the server! This... this is beyond everyone's imagination!"

Domestically, the chat in live stream room 6657 went completely crazy:
Holy crap! This actually works???

"Line up and get bulleted! EG's positioning is really too kind!"

"This is outrageous! One shot killed four people! I'm dumbfounded!"

"This shot reminds me of Big Potato from last October! But Big Potato's sniper shot only killed three people! This Dark shot wiped out the whole squad!"

"Hahaha! Everyone on EG's side is probably dumbfounded! Completely stunned!"

"To be honest, I don't know whether to criticize Dark for his accurate sniping or the enemy team for their accurate counter-attack."

"What do you mean by 'precision feeding'?!"

"."

He gasped.
The man who had almost choked on his own saliva finally came to his senses. Looking at the last comment, he couldn't help but laugh and say:

"I can only say that both factors played a part in this play! Dark's sniping was incredibly accurate! EG's counter-attack was also extremely precise! Four people, almost in a single line, you really can't pull off that kind of positioning without a bit of luck... Of course, in the end, it's because Dark dared to RE, guys!"

"I'm not exaggerating, if you put most top-tier snipers in this situation, they would have taken one shot and then used smoke to escape alive, but Dark didn't! He was all about 'I'll go all in!' That confidence, that guts, is truly..."

At this point, he suddenly smiled with some emotion and said, "Speaking of this, I have to talk about it, really! I feel that top players like Dark, such as Senpo, Zaiwu, and the former Cold God and Olaf, seem to have some kind of luck that allows them to make some outrageous and unreasonable plays, to stand up in desperate situations, and to create the impossible! It's a kind of metaphysics, but you just have to believe it!"

"On the other hand,"

Playing with the machine, he suddenly changed the subject, chuckling, "Who doesn't have luck? Sometimes you have to admit, like Old Ni! He's a superstar, his skills are undeniable, his marksmanship is world-class, but sometimes he just really falls short... the luck of a strong person! At crucial moments, he's always just a hair's breadth away, or... uh, you know what I mean."

The live stream chat was immediately flooded with comments again, filled with a joyful atmosphere:
"The true intentions are revealed when the map is unrolled!"

"After saying all that, it's all for the sake of skewering my shrimp brother!"

"Pass it on! The machine says the shrimp shells aren't hard enough! (crying voice)"

"I'm a female college student who just got off work and I've cried my makeup off! You're not human when it comes to playing games!"

"."

"Seriously, how come you guys still have time to chat? Doesn't anyone care about EG's survival?"

"Nobody cares!"

"Hilarious! Zero points in the first half, how can we possibly care?"

"Is zero points enough? (A sincere question)"

The player couldn't help but laugh as he watched the live stream comments. "Someone asked, 'Is zero points enough?' Dude, I think EG shouldn't be thinking about whether zero points is enough right now. Instead, they absolutely need to get a point in the pistol round in the second half."

At this point, Wanji paused, his tone becoming slightly more serious, and continued, "You guys need to understand one thing: even if you only get one point, really, even if EG wins the pistol round in the second half and then gets turned around, it's still better than zero points!"

"That's a qualitative leap from zero points!"

He explained, "Today's Falcon vs. EG match was generating a lot of buzz because of some pre-match drama! The attention was off the charts! If EG gets zero points, everyone will have something to talk about! Every year in Cologne, every time the 'traitors' face off, everyone will bring up this match and say, 'Hey, remember when EG got swept by Falcon?' It's like a public execution every time! Who can stand that?"

……

At this moment, the atmosphere in EG's booth was so somber that it seemed as if the air itself could freeze.

Apart from 2K, whose face was ashen like a "Sima face," the other four either had their heads down and were staring intently at their keyboards and mice, as if flowers could bloom from them.
Or they stare blankly at the gray screen, their gaze unfocused;

Or we just look at each other, speechless.

Clearly, everyone was so badly beaten that they became somewhat withdrawn, and their confidence completely collapsed.

The EG coach, sitting behind them, initially held a tactics board and kept flipping through it, seemingly trying to find a way to break the deadlock.

But when he got to the last page, he gave up and threw the tactical board back onto the chair behind him with a "thud"!

Then he raised his hands and rubbed his face vigorously, as if trying to dispel the intense fatigue and frustration. Finally, he glanced at the glaring, frozen score of the first half on the screen—0:15.

A feeling of utter absurdity welled up inside him, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud, his lips curving into a smile that was even uglier than crying.

You know, EG isn't some weak team, is it?

Their acquisition of the C9 championship trio shows that the club's management still has the will to win the championship and the ambition to revive North American CS.

But at the last Antwerp Major, they were thrashed 0-3 in the Challengers Group and eliminated in a flash. They could have made excuses like it was due to team synergy and poor form.

After a long and difficult run in the Cologne qualifying rounds, they won their first match and made it into the winners' bracket. Everyone thought they were "back to their old selves."

The results of it?
The winner's first photo shows him facing a Falcon team that has only been established for a year and is ridiculed by many as a "plaything of oil tycoons"!

On your own selected image,
They got beaten 15-0 right from the start?!
What is this concept?
This isn't just about being outmatched; it's about being repeatedly rubbed into the ground, with absolutely no ability to resist!
Before the 2K tournament, didn't you confidently declare that "oil tycoons don't understand esports" and "Dark is a pest"?

In this situation, who exactly is the "pest"?
Who doesn't understand esports?

The scene of the EG coach's exasperated yet amused expression, filled with helplessness and despair, was also keenly captured by the director's camera and presented to audiences worldwide.

The live stream chat was immediately flooded with comments again.

"Hahaha! EG played so badly, they even made the coach laugh!"

"Hilarious! They even threw away their tactics manual; they've really broken through their defenses!"

“EG coach: My tactics book only has tactics on how to win, not tactics on how to play when we were down 0-15 in the first half.”

"Today, the Banana Man players were practically inhuman towards the end of the first half; they were like manipulated bots!"

"He's more than just a fake; he's practically a sixth man planted by the other side!"

"."

EG's coach knew that at this point, no amount of talking would help, so he could only lay out the harsh reality and tell everyone that they were now down 15-0.

as predicted!

Sometimes, speaking out about the harsh reality is a way to tighten the reins!
The EG players, who had been listless just moments before, immediately perked up upon hearing this!
Nobody wants to be shut out!

……

At the same time, in the Falcon competition area opposite the stage.

The Falcon crew, on the other hand, were a completely different story. Everyone was laughing and joking, and the air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

"Great play, guys! You played really well!" Snappi grinned from ear to ear, high-fiving his teammates in celebration.

Especially when I think of that pre-match interview with 2K where he challenged him, saying that he "completely outclassed him in terms of command," and the undisguised contempt and disdain on the other party's face after he said that he "wanted to become the best Dark user."

At this moment, comparing his face to the other person's dark, ashen one, Snappi felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction!

That's what you call using facts to refute someone's claims!

What could be more exhilarating than this?
The demon man, who had just finished drinking water and put down his bottle, also laughed. His smile was so wide it almost reached his ears; it was a genuine, heartfelt laugh tinged with schadenfreude.

However, beneath his smile lay a complex mix of emotions within him!

Time flies.

In 2018, the "Magic Man" reached the most important turning point in his career—joining Astralis and becoming the final key piece in completing the puzzle of that Danish dynasty.

Together with his teammates device, dupreeh, gla1ve, and Xyp9x, he built one of the most dominant dynasties in CS:GO history, winning numerous honors including three Major championships. At that time, he was full of vigor and felt that he was standing at the top of the world.

Later, he joined Vitality with his former teammate Durant and coach Zonic, embarking on a new challenge as an "international team".

However, the demon man had to admit a cruel truth:

Sometimes, people grow old in the blink of an eye.

The dish could turn into a dish in an instant.

From the "magic man" who was invincible in Team A to the "magic grandpa" who struggled in some matches, it all happened in an instant.

Especially at the Antwerp Major, when facing G2, he and Durant were once so thoroughly defeated by the suddenly emerging Eastern Dark King that they were heartbroken and put up some of the worst stats of their careers.

At that time, he was really confused. What was the future of his career? Was his era really coming to an end?

Just as he was feeling lost and hesitant, Falcon approached them.

To be honest, the man was also very hesitant at first.

The Falcons' performance has been terrible. This Saudi club, which was only established last year, is so bad that calling it a second-tier team would be an exaggeration.

Like many veterans, he worried that joining the Falcons would mean receiving a hefty salary, and then his career would simply end in obscurity.

But he felt he still had oil!
He didn't want to end his career, which he had worked so hard for over the years, so abruptly!

However, when the Falcons announced that Dark, the "Dark King" from the East who had burst onto the scene at the Antwerp Major and defeated them, would also be joining,
The Demon Man made the decision almost without hesitation and joined the Falcon team.

"You know, I've actually wanted to join Falcon for ten years."

Actually, his thinking was very simple.
It's also very realistic:

If you can't beat it, join.

That's it.

There's nothing to be ashamed of.

In esports, results speak for themselves.

And so far, it has been proven that his choice was correct!
This match was...too easy!
This feeling of enjoying the game while sitting on a trailer is a rare experience in his professional career.

Thinking of this, the Demon Man, who had finished drinking water, couldn't help but laugh and say, "To be honest, I didn't expect that the other side didn't get a single point from us. Meng, I feel like the other side's commander has been a bit confused by you! Oh right! The other side even killed themselves with a grenade for one point, it's just too ridiculous."

Niko laughed and joked, "There's nothing he can do, he ran into Meng. That guy was practically a devil hiding behind the screen, manipulating people's hearts today."

"Don't make fun of me," Meng Lang said with a smile, waving his hands repeatedly with an innocent look. "I'm just a nice guy. I was just playing the game seriously."

m0NESY immediately chimed in with a sarcastic remark: "Who would be a good person who empties an AK magazine and deliberately throws it on the ground as a trap to ambush someone?"

Meng Lang smiled and shrugged.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Coach Zonic, seeing that halftime was almost over, clapped his hands with a smile to draw everyone's attention: "Alright guys, jokes aside. Now that we've come this far, let's give it our all and send them on a clean, decisive sweep! Let the whole world know that we, the Falcons, are not some new team to be trifled with!"

Upon hearing this, the Falcons, who had completely relaxed after scoring 15 points, suddenly had a renewed fire in their eyes and their morale was boosted!
Yes!

Although we can now basically secure the first map.

But how to win?
There is still an explanation.

If they can completely shut out their opponent on Map 1 and create a record of shutting out their opponent on the opponent's chosen map, then this trip to Cologne by Falcons will be a "legend" worthy of being recorded in history!

This has an immeasurable effect on boosting team morale and building a strong reputation!
Thinking of this, everyone felt their adrenaline surge again, and they were filled with energy!
……

So when the break ended and the camera returned to the players' seats, the scene that appeared left many viewers somewhat bewildered.

The first half was practically decided, with a score of 15-0, which was so lopsided that it should theoretically be a foregone conclusion.

However, the expressions on the faces of the two players in the picture gave off a feeling of intense tension and a sense of impending battle!
The Falcon crew members were eager to get started, their eyes sharp.
On the EG side, everyone was in high spirits, as if facing a formidable enemy!
It's as if this isn't the first game that's about to end, but rather the second half that's getting better and better!

A barrage of question marks floated across the chat in live stream room 6657:
"Dude, what are you guys doing setting this on fire? Is there any suspense left in picture one?"

“EG: We must defend our last vestige of dignity! Falcons: No, you don’t!”

"Understood! The final battle for dignity!"

"."

"Hahaha, see that? It's just like I said." Wanji looked at the camera and laughed so hard he slapped his belly. "Why is EG so motivated now? Because they realized it! They realized, 'Brothers, we can't lose! If we lose, people will talk about us for the rest of our lives!' This last point is about their last bit of pride!"

"Some viewers asked in the live chat, 'But why is Falcon so motivated?'" Wanji couldn't help but chuckle again, "That can only mean there are bad guys in the Falcon team! Of course, now it seems that the whole team might be bad! They just want EG to be talked about forever! This is a classic case of killing someone's spirit, they've got it all figured out!"

At this point, both sides had switched sides.

Wanji cleared his throat, suppressing his laughter, and said, "Alright, enough talk, let's see if EG can turn the tide in the second half's pistol round... uh, or rather, can they get this point to save face! It all comes down to this!"

"Let's take a look at the configurations on both sides first."

"Falcon has equipped two sets of gear, giving Dark a P250. EG is on the defensive! Oh! They've equipped two dual pistols? It seems they plan to equip one on the second floor of A and one on Banana, taking advantage of the dual pistols' high rate of fire in close combat. It seems they're really determined to hold onto at least one point no matter what."

"So what about this point for the Falcon? Where should we aim?"

"Oh! A quick smoke grenade at the start! It completely shuts down the CT's vision of the connector. They're going to go for A this round!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the director's camera showed that Connection A was blocked by smoke just seconds after the start of the match.

at the same time,

Meng Lang and m0NESY from the terrorist group moved to check the mid lane and the banana path, respectively, making it seem like they were controlling the map.

Meanwhile, Magisk, Niko, and Snappi, who were running on the side, immediately accelerated and fired their guns towards the VIP area, creating noise as they ran.

"This is a hit-and-run tactic?"

The man playing with the machine immediately realized what was going on and said hesitantly, "Making such a big commotion... this must be a fake fight, right? Just a bluff?"

as predicted!

The match lasted 1 minute and 36 seconds.
Snappi, who had turned from the side road to the middle road, immediately fired a flashbang at the A1 stable. Then, the three of them quickly reversed and retreated back to the terrorist entrance without looking back. The five of them instantly regrouped at the terrorist entrance!
at the same time,

The two members of the bandit group, m0NESY and Meng Lang, also made their move!

They stopped controlling the map and charged straight into the banana lane!

Suddenly, the person playing with the machine became excited, and their voice rose:
"Wow!!! It's a fake A, real B! Classic small-town tactic! This Falcon is going to give 2K a live lesson, showing them what a real banana drive looks like! What a real rush B looks like!"

"If they actually manage to fight like this, it feels like killing someone and then crushing their spirit! It's like giving a pig's heart!"

"And what about 2K? 2K! As the commander, could you have realized that this attack on site A was just a feint, and that the enemy's real intention was site B?"

However, playing against the machine is from a god's-eye view, with full map information, which allows for such a quick interpretation of the Falcon's exquisite tactics in the pistol round.

For EG, who were in the midst of the battle and had limited information, their judgment was not so quick or accurate.

At this point, from EG's perspective and in terms of information acquisition:
The connection is blocked by smoke!
A flash of light came from the direction of the A1 stable!

There were a lot of footsteps and gunshots in the side lanes and the middle lane in the early stages!
This is definitely a standard attack package from A1 and A2 to attack area A!
Autimatic, who was guarding the second floor of A and holding two guns, tensed up instantly and focused intently on the second-floor exit.

After observing the movement at the connector smoke and A1, 2K immediately called Brehze, who was originally defending the double B area, over. The two prepared to flashbang together, clear the connector smoke, and try to get the first kill or buy some time.

A flash of light exploded.

2K and Brehze work together to pull out a connection smoke!
However... there was no one there!
In the middle lane and around the connector, there wasn't a soul in sight except for themselves!
Only at this moment did 2K's increasingly confused mind, which had been bombarded by continuous attacks, suddenly come to its senses, as if struck by lightning!
Bad dish!
I've been fucking scammed again!
It was a fake fight!
Their target is B!

"Hurry! Go to B! Back on defense! Hurry!!"

2K screamed at the top of his lungs in the voice chat, his voice distorted with anxiety.

But by then, it was too late!
The Falcon at point B unleashed its second set of offensive tools like a whirlwind!

Police officers and their families were caught using two cigarettes!
High-flash buns!
CeRq, who had just relaxed his guard after hearing the commotion in area A at point B, hadn't even had time to fully react when he heard the footsteps of the bandits charging forward!
He immediately blocked the partition with smoke and retreated, trying to buy time.

However, this Falcon gank was a five-man speed rush!

Niko, the "dump truck" at the forefront, took advantage of the flashbang thrown by his teammate and completely ignored the smoke, driving straight out through the smoke!

He fired his Glock at the approximate location in the smoke like crazy!
Clap clap clap!

Falcons.NiKo kills EG.CeRq with Glock-18

CeRq didn't even have time to fire a few shots before he collapsed to the ground!
"CeRq is down! Point B has fallen in an instant!"

The player exclaimed in surprise, "One person was taken down, and the five Falcon players rushed into the bomb site, searched the area, and planted the bomb! The action was executed flawlessly! Snappi personally planted the C4 at bomb site B!"

Soon, the sound of C4 being planted rang out, and EG was instantly faced with a 4v5 defensive situation.

The key point is that all five members of Falcon have entered the B bomb site and quickly spread out, occupying key shooting positions such as the coffin, the three boxes, the dead spot, and the area below the CT spawn platform, creating a perfect crossfire network!
Watching EG's defensive movements, Wanji exclaimed in surprise:
"Oh! CeRq went down without even taking a hit with his dual pistols. Now EG is in a 4v5 defense. With this numerical disadvantage and poor gun positioning... can they even win?"

As he played with the machine, he watched as the entire EG team was blocked by the smoke grenade at the CT spawn and the study, unable to move. Not a single one of them even thought of trying to flank Falcon from the mid lane or around the banana. "Seriously! How the hell are we supposed to play like this? Not even one mid laner pushing forward to flank? They're just going to charge straight at the CT spawn smoke grenade? That means their firing line is completely blocked!"

"Holy crap!" Wan Da Shou slapped his thigh. "Looks like we're really going to get shut out! EG's defensive decisions were so rigid this time!" It has to be said that Wan Da Shou's prediction this time was quite accurate.

As the smoke from the police spawn gradually dissipated, EG's pistol round simply didn't have the money to buy pliers. Hearing the increasingly urgent "beep beep" of the C4 countdown, like a death knell, 2K, pale-faced, knew he couldn't wait any longer!

I could only grit my teeth and shout into the voice chat:

"Charge! We have no choice but to charge! We'll take them down one by one!"

clap clap clap!
Tie him up!
The moment the smoke cleared from the police station, a fierce gunfight erupted!
The four EG players rushed out from the direction of the police spawn like moths to a flame, instantly running into the deadly firepower net that Falcon had already woven!
Glock bullets clashed with those of USP and P250 bullets in mid-air!

Kill notifications popped up rapidly, like a screen being flooded with messages!
Falcons.NiKo kills EG.RUSH with Glock-18

[EG.Brehze used a USP-S to headshot and kill Falcons.Magisk]

Falcons.Dark killed EG.Brehze with a P250.

Falcons.m0NESY killed EG.autimatic using Glock-18.

In the blink of an eye, three more members of EG were killed!

The Falcon only lost Magisk!
The situation on the field,
It instantly turned into a 1v4 situation!

Now there's only one lonely 2K left!

How similar this situation is!
"Are you the only one left? 2K!"

"So what do we have to say about this? He didn't rush straight from the police spawn, but went around to the church! Oh! He was very patient, sneaking around from the church to near the coffin! He saw someone with their back turned! It was Old Ni! Old Ni just killed someone in the direction of the church, he checked the vicinity of the church, but he didn't spot 2K hiding in the shadows in the corner!"

"So, is 2K going to get a kill first? This is a perfect opportunity to back down!"

"Oh! But he didn't fire! Because Old Ni's attention was on the banana path and the sandbags, and he hadn't checked behind him yet! 2K wanted to hold back! He wanted to kill one more person! He wanted to pull off a miracle!"

"My God! 2K hasn't given up yet! He still wants to win! He still wants to try this almost impossible endgame!"

The tone of his voice as he played with the machine carried a hint of tension and anticipation.

After all, if 2K can really win this 1v4, it will be an incredible comeback that will go down in history, enough to wash away all his previous shame!

At this moment, the director's camera focused on 2K's first-person perspective.

He was staring intently at the screen, his body leaning slightly forward, as if he were holding his breath, his attention stretched to its limit!
He gripped the mouse tightly, his fingers trembling slightly on the left mouse button, as if he was trying his best to control the urge to fire.

He's looking for it!
He's looking for his next target!
As soon as he sees another T, he can immediately open fire, first taking down the second person who is caught off guard, and then instantly pull his gun to shoot the old man who is behind him!

If he can kill two of them, he will be left with a 1v2 situation!

So, 2K still has a tiny, slim chance to try!

The man playing with the machine clearly understood 2K's plan, and his speech quickened involuntarily, tinged with tension: "Old Ni still hasn't turned around! He's in the direction of the sandbags! The kid with Snappi is searching the area near the police station; they want to actively look for people and haven't looked this way yet! But 2K is already moving forward! He's very careful, moving silently, without making a sound!"

"Holy crap! 2K's strategy is amazing! So patient! He's ready to fire as soon as he sees one more! Does he have a chance to win this round?"

The sound of playing with the machine also carried a hint of uncertainty.

"Oh!!! 2K saw someone!!" the player exclaimed suddenly.
Under the director's camera on the big screen,
In 2K's field of view, a second person appeared in the direction of the fountain!
It's Dark!

He was facing sideways towards 2K, seemingly helping to observe the police station.

It's now!

2K roared inwardly!

He instantly swung his crosshair from Niko's vest towards Meng Lang's side!
At the same time, his finger slammed into the trigger!
Snapped!
Gunshots rang out from the USP!
Pfft——!
But the shot hit his body!
however!
Almost at the same instant 2K fired!

Meng Lang, who was originally facing him sideways, suddenly turned around with incredible speed and reaction. He didn't even need to aim carefully; he just flicked his wrist and fired a shot based on instinct!
Snapped!
The dull yet powerful gunshot of the P250,

Almost simultaneously with the gunfire from the USP!
The bullet fired by 2K grazed Meng Lang's body and hit nothing!
Meng Lang's seemingly casual turn of the head and the shot he fired were like they were equipped with GPS, precisely piercing 2K's helmet!
Falcons.Dark used a P250 to headshot and kill EG.Stewie2K

One second—!
"oh-!!!"

The amazing bubble sounds from the machine permeated the entire live stream!
"2K! Stewie2K! He let him go! He saw the second person too! He fired! But he was caught out while trying to dodge and got shot dead!"

"He got shot in the front by Dark!"

"My God! What kind of reaction is this?! What kind of positioning is this?! Dark! He's a monster!"

Amidst the gasps of surprise from those playing with the machines and the uproar from the audience,

Under the director's camera,
Niko, who had been keeping an eye on the B-channel, only realized what was happening when he heard the gunshots coming from right behind him and Meng Lang's shot as he turned around. He broke out in a cold sweat!
He said to Meng Lang with lingering fear, "Thank you so much for the gift! It's all thanks to you, buddy! That guy is really cunning! He actually managed to sneak up behind me! ...But he hit you from the side...and you didn't kill him?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Lang smiled easily, shrugged, and said in a tone that sounded as if he were saying, "The weather is nice today":

"He was probably... a little nervous."

The old nun was speechless!

That kid's at Versailles again!
But Versailles' incredible reflexes and precise marksmanship leave no room for argument!
At the same time, on the EG stage.

2K, who was focused and determined to win, was suddenly shot and killed by Meng Lang. He suddenly shuddered violently, as if he had been struck by a high voltage!
He stared wide-eyed at his screen, which had turned gray again, and at the kill notification. He remained stunned for a full two seconds before realizing what had happened!
"Fake!!!"

An indescribable sense of humiliation, anger, and despair instantly overwhelmed his reason!

Enraged, he slammed his fist hard on the table in front of him, making a loud "bang," and the keyboard and mouse on the table even jumped!
Immediately afterwards, the system notification mercilessly displayed:

[T has won]

Falcons 16 : 0 EG

Falcon won the first map!
Zero seal!

A clean sheet!
He suddenly mustered all his strength while playing with the machine and let out his signature, passionate shout:

"Whoa—! Zero points—!"

"16-0! No miracles! No more points! Falcons didn't give us a single point! EG got completely shut out!"

"Brothers! This is a complete 0-0! We were utterly crushed 16-0 on our own map! This is a massacre! A massacre that will go down in Cologne's history!"

The live stream chat was instantly flooded with "0"s and all sorts of jokes:
"000000!"

"Zero points!!"

"If I remember correctly, the town was EG's chosen map, right?"

"You're absolutely right! The small town really is the map EG chose!"

"Hilarious! From now on, 'banana man' 2K will truly be remembered by everyone!!"

"The key point is that he also delivered a memorable 'sneak peek' moment at the end!"

"He put on an act for ages, only to be shot dead by Dark in a single shot! Perfect for the show!"

"To be honest! 2K in the first picture today is completely inhuman, like he's been cursed!"

"."

At this moment, Falcon coach Zonic excitedly rushed onto the court and vigorously patted each player on the back!

"Well done, guys!"

Immediately afterwards, he gave Meng Lang a "caring massage," which made Meng Lang grimace.

Meng Lang was also quite happy.

He doesn't hold grudges very much.

He was happy because the Falcons were, after all, a new team, and their team cohesion was far inferior to that of established powerhouses.

Today's overwhelming victory against EG on map 1, especially on the opponent's chosen map, with such a clean sweep, is undoubtedly a strong boost to morale!
This is enough to prove to everyone that the Falcons team has formidable strength and the potential to contend for the championship!
This is extremely important for building the team's confidence!

Snappi was filled with mixed emotions.

I never imagined that after playing professionally for fourteen years, although I was somewhat famous in a small circle, and everyone knew that there was such a veteran Snappi in CS, I had almost never made it to the finals of a major tournament. I had always been an unknown "background" and "runner-up".

Unexpectedly, at the end of his career, when he was about to accept his "fate of never winning a championship," he ended up... sitting on a trailer!

Meng Lang's godlike performance in the small town map today has once again refreshed his understanding of this young superstar!
This is more than just genius; this is a monster born for Counter-Strike!

however,
Happiness is conserved.

The joy of falconry
Inevitably, some people will be unhappy.

Compared to the almost overflowing jubilation in the Falcon competition booth after winning the first map.

At this point, the atmosphere at the EG booth, which had been shut out, was beyond just "unpleasant"; it was downright hellish.

At this moment, with the complete end of the first map, the "Majesty" effect of the [AK Tyrant] title gradually faded, and 2K's dazed, sleepwalking mind finally regained a sliver of clarity.

However, this might be even crueler for him.

Because when you soberly review everything that just happened, the feeling of being completely crushed, mocked, and humiliated comes rushing back like a tide, and the psychological and mental torment for the contestants only truly begins at this moment.

2K, as if all his bones had been removed, slumped completely in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, his mind filled with only one sentence echoing wildly:
I don't know!

I really don't understand!

He didn't understand. Purgatory Town was a map they had chosen after the whole team had discussed it all night and repeatedly studied the video.

Their preparations were certainly thorough; in fact, they crushed their opponents on this map in the first round of BO1 yesterday, and they were on fire!

How did it all happen today... to be exposed like this?

0:16?!
He's never had such a terrible score in ranked matches!
And what about one's own tactical decisions?
At this moment, when 2K was a little more sober, he thought back on it and found it a bit unbelievable!

Why did I, in the latter part of the first half, seem to be possessed, frantically and recklessly calling for RUSH B over and over again?

Go rush down that damn banana road?

Why do you still go even though you always end up with a bloody head?

This is completely out of character for him!

2K glanced subconsciously at the post-match stats panel, at the glaringly prominent ID hanging at number one—Falcons.Dark—and at his own appalling record.

Suddenly, he understood!

It's him!

It's all because of this person!
It's Dark!

That guy has been targeting me ever since the pistol round!

Whether it was those three ridiculously bad shots in the pistol round,

Later, they were "locked in and beaten," which completely destroyed their confidence!

Or perhaps he was making a fool of himself by using an empty AK magazine, making himself a laughingstock!
It's him!

It's him!

It's all him!
2K became increasingly uneasy and angry as he thought about it, finally realizing that he had been falling into the other party's carefully designed trap and psychological warfare from beginning to end!

I felt like a puppet on a string, being manipulated by the other party!

"boom!"

Having figured everything out, 2K was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table again!
That was even harder than the last one!
This time, it was a pure, impotent rage outburst!

At this moment, the teammates next to him looked at 2K, who was making a series of "comebacks" on the other side of the table, and their eyes suddenly became a little strange.

They all recalled how, when they kicked out that young man from the East, 2K had attacked him with rhetoric like "smashing the table is impotent rage," trying to prove their own correctness and the other man's "immaturity."

A subtle atmosphere quickly spread within the EG team.

Watching this scene from behind, the EG coach sighed heavily, filled with helplessness and regret.

At that moment, he felt nothing but deep regret.

He regretted that when the conflict arose between that young boy from the East and the C9 group, perhaps he should have been more assertive and more determined to stand on the side of the truly talented and promising individual.

Who knows, the logo shining above that ID right now might just be the EG team logo, and the team that dominated Cologne under that young man's leadership might just be EG...

Hmm... but you can't say for sure.

A bitter feeling welled up in the heart of the EG coach.

Given the level of reliance and trust that the EG club management had placed in the C9 championship group back then, if I had clearly stood by Meng Lang's side and strongly opposed kicking him out, the result would probably not have been Meng Lang staying.

Instead, he and that young man... packed up and left, didn't they?

Thinking of this, the EG coach couldn't help but smile bitterly, filled with a sense of powerlessness against capital and the so-called "team veterans".

However, at this point, as the coach, even though EG played the first map on their own pick, their performance was absolutely terrible, like a disastrous thesis defense.

But the duties he should have fulfilled...

It still needs to be fulfilled.

He had to try to pull the team back from the brink of collapse.

He clapped his hands forcefully to attract the attention of all his teammates, then spoke in as calm and firm a tone as possible:

"Listen up, guys! Look at me! Map 1 is over! Yes, we played terribly, terribly! That's a fact, we can't deny it, the whole world saw it."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each dejected face.

"But! This is only the first map of a best-of-three series! The match isn't over yet! We still have map two and map three! If we give up now, we'll truly become the biggest joke in the world! If we can hold our heads high and play our best in the following matches, even if we still lose in the end, we can still earn some respect!"

"Forget the score! Forget everything that just happened! It was a nightmare, and now it's over! What we need is to refocus and play every single point well! Believe in me, and believe in yourselves! We, EG, are not a weak team! We are capable of doing it!"

"Take a deep breath! Adjust your mindset! The next map is Mirage! It's their map pick! But it's also a map we've practiced countless times! Show your fighting spirit! Let them see that EG isn't so easy to bully!"

As the commander, 2K forcibly suppressed the surging waves of anger and shame in his heart. He knew that the coach was right, and now was not the time to wallow in defeat.

He took a few deep breaths, trying to make his voice sound normal, even with a hint of fierceness, as he encouraged the coach:
"The coach is right! Figure 1... is my fault! My command was seriously flawed! I apologize to everyone!"

2K has made a rare admission of error.

"But we have to win this second match! The Falcons are just a bunch of oil tycoons who don't understand esports, cobbled together from scratch! As long as we play our own game, we're sure to win!"

He even gritted his teeth and uttered harsh words:
"It's just a comeback from a 1-0 deficit! I have a feeling we can do it! If we play like we did in the first map in the second, I... I, Stewie2K, will retire on the spot!"

These bold words, risking his entire career, carried a do-or-die determination, which finally eased the gloomy atmosphere within the EG team slightly, and seemed to inject a bit of vitality into their low morale.

……

The short break between matches has ended.

Image 2, Desert City, is a map selected by Falcon. The game will begin soon.

EG opted for a slightly advantageous CT opening.

The progress shown on this map is indeed not like the Infernal Town map in map one, where EG suffered another humiliating defeat.

However, throughout the first half, EG only managed to score 3 points, falling behind 12-3.

At the end of the first half, looking at the score on the screen, although it was slightly better than 0:15, it was still a huge and disastrous result. After a brief moment of encouragement, the morale of the EG players collapsed again.

Including 2K, who had just been so confident and risked their careers to "come back from a 0-1 deficit to win 2-1", everyone seemed to have lost their spirit and energy, completely lacking the morale that the coach and 2K had forcibly lifted up at the end of the first map.

The huge point difference and the obvious gap in strength weighed on everyone's hearts like a mountain.

In the second half, after switching sides, Falcons gave EG no chance.

Even on defense, they played flawlessly, dominating with superior marksmanship, items, and teamwork.

Not a single penny was given.
They took the game by storm.

The Falcons team also had a great performance from everyone. Even Magisk seemed to have rediscovered his form from his three-time Astralis championship days, racking up a crucial triple kill in the long-range rounds in the second half, grinning from ear to ear!
At last,
The score is now 16:3!

Watching the Falcons' overwhelming victory on the screen, Wanji took a deep breath and said, "No more map three! 16:3! Congratulations to the Falcons! They defeated EG 2-0 and officially advanced to the Cologne main event!"

"Yes! It was completely unexpected!"

"This brand-new Falcons! After more than a month away from competitions! After more than a month of preparation and integration! In the Cologne qualifying rounds, the fledgling eagles made such a loud cry! They announced their arrival to the world with two clean and decisive victories!"

"……Maybe,
I mean maybe, guys!

"There's an oil tanker that's really about to set sail!"

"."

(End of this chapter)