Chapter 15

The base of God’s Fury was a four-story luxury villa by the river. The first floor was the living room, the second had bedrooms for the members and coaches, the third was a remodeled training room, and the fourth was a flat, level gym.

When Alvin brought Aubree here, the team’s support player, Hector, stumbled down from the second floor with messy hair and sleepy eyes. “Alvin, you here for training? Is this pretty lady your girl?”

Alvin’s eye twitched. Thinking of Dowen’s inexplicable concern for Aubree, he retorted inwardly, ‘My girl? My Aunt in-law might be more accurate.’

“No, she’s the new mage player I brought in, nicknamed ‘Phoenix,’” he replied.

Hector’s drowsy eyes immediately perked up at his words, widening from a slit to a perfect circle. “Alvin, you mean this lady is going to replace Killian?”

The villa was a birthday gift from Alvin’s family when he was a kid. It wasn’t extensively renovated, so the soundproofing wasn’t great. At the sound of a shout from Hector, the other members, half-asleep on the second floor, all poked their heads out.

The looks they gave Aubree were all the same—full of disbelief, and some even hid disdain. They didn’t believe a woman could play the game well, nor did they think a woman was qualified to join their championship-level team and stand on the finals stage with them.

“Hmph, so the captain was gone for so many days just to bring back someone like this?” someone teased.

“Even if you’re desperate, you can’t just be fooled by looks, right?” A highly sarcastic and insulting voice came from the front door.

A rebellious young man with red hair, who looked fairly handsome, leaned against the doorframe. His gaze swept over Aubree before returning to Alvin. “Captain, no matter what, we’ve played together for so long, from the League of Legends Pro League to the Autumn Split Finals.”

“Can’t we just part ways amicably? Let me go, and I’ll help out as a friend in the finals. If you don’t let me go, then keep your sparrow as your treasure.”

Killian grinned confidently, certain that Alvin had no choice but to choose him.

Aubree was also looking at him. The news that the mid laner of God’s Fury was injured and couldn’t play was only public knowledge, but insiders with some connections knew that Killian had been approached by Apex Squad’s manager. If he didn’t play in the Autumn Split, Apex Squad’s mid laner would retire after this match.

In the previous life, Killian successfully joined Apex Squad. His skills were indeed strong, but he was too impulsive and played selfishly, causing discord within Apex Squad. After bringing in Killian, Apex Squad suffered sixteen consecutive losses, plummeting to the eighth group and almost losing their spot.

It was Aubree who stepped in and benched Killian, saving Apex Squad’s ass in the end.

Killian never thought he did anything wrong. Apex Squad wouldn’t pay his penalty fee, and he didn’t have the money himself. The only way he could think of was to threaten Alvin. He would play, but whether God’s Fury could win wasn’t his concern. Compared to God’s Fury, whose future was uncertain, Apex Squad’s offer was an olive branch anyone would jump at.

Born into the powerful Turner family, Alvin had been pampered since childhood. He poured money, effort, and resources into creating the team, only to end up being humiliated and disrespected. Of course, he wouldn’t put up with it.

“Then get lost sooner,” Alvin shot back without mercy. “Do you really think you’re something valuable? Has my good temper made you forget that I’m a Turner?” He didn’t even have his lawyer sue Killian into bankruptcy, which was already considered kind of him.

Killian’s expression changed instantly; there was fear, but even more anger. ‘Did Alvin really think this woman could take my place?’ he thought.

“Humph!” Killian pursed his lips, making no reply.

At that moment, Hector hesitated and tried to mediate, “Alvin, maybe we should all take a step back, it’s only natural for Killian to seek better development…”

Clearly, he didn’t believe Aubree had any real talent for gaming, either.

The coach remained silent for a moment before speaking up. “If Killian can’t play, it’s like handing the championship to another team.”

The next second, the crisp sound of applause stood out sharply in the tense atmosphere. Aubree sincerely praised, “Is this the touching brotherly love!”

“Looking for better opportunities means stabbing your former teammates in the back right before the finals? So that’s what you…”

“What’s the difference between that and a home-wrecker shouting that they’re true love?”

Hearing this, Hector blushed to the tips of his ears.

Aubree’s gaze swept across everyone present, finally landing on Killian. “In esports, being weak is the original sin. You mocked my APC position as something I got by sleeping around, so how about a duel?”

“I lose, you don’t have to pay the penalty, and you can leave. If you lose, kneel, admit you’re trash, and apologize to the women you insulted.”

Confident in his skills to dominate Aubree, Killian agreed readily, “Sure.” He was gonna strip this phoenix of its feathers today.

At first listen, it didn’t seem out of place, but Alvin furrowed his brows, giving Aubree a puzzled glance and thinking to himself, “Isn’t the penalty supposed to be paid to me?”

No one cared about that, though. The other team members were also eager to see the duel.

“Just suppose, this woman could actually beat Killian, who would say no to the championship and a stronger teammate?” they thought.

Soon, in the esports room on the third floor, everyone sat behind the two, watching their match.

Killian chose his signature champion, LeBlanc, and with the experience from her previous life, Aubree could guess with her toes that Killian would pick LeBlanc.

After thinking for a moment, she locked in Lux. This champion’s revamped first skill could freeze herself to avoid damage. In a one-on-one map, Killian was practically naked to her. As long as Aubree’s second skill dodged the opponent’s ultimate, LeBlanc might as well ride a wheelchair.

They were going for a first blood decider. It wasn’t hard to guess Killian’s motive for choosing LeBlanc—he wanted to end the game with a burst of damage at level four.

No matter how much Killian underestimated Aubree, he played very seriously and cautiously. Both mages in the early game lacked the ability to instantly kill, so they cautiously cleared the minion waves without giving each other any opportunities.

Killian’s playstyle was gambler-like; it seemed stable, but he would rush forward at the slightest flaw or opportunity, seizing huge benefits if successful. However, if it was a trap by the opponent, his loss could be fatal to the team.

Aubree exploited this psychology, deliberately selling a flaw to him at level four. Estimating the skill range, she already had her first skill ready.

Meanwhile, Killian didn’t disappoint, using his ultimate decisively.

With a look of certainty in his eyes, he believed it was all over.

The other members also thought Aubree was done for. Killian’s LeBlanc, once given a chance, would definitely get the kill.

But in the next second, Aubree, unhurried and composed, calmly activated her first skill, timing it perfectly with the opponent’s ultimate in mid-air; her champion also nullified all damage.

As LeBlanc landed, a golden puddle exploded under her feet.

“Lighting the way.” As Lux’s voice faded, the screen turned black and white. A flawless lockdown ensued.

Killian couldn’t even struggle.

“No way!” His eyes were bloodshot—he couldn’t accept it.

He slammed his headphones on the table, murmuring in disbelief, “How could I lose?”

Aubree met his gaze with the same mocking look. “Practice more if you’re bad. Don’t play if you can’t handle losing.”

That hit Killian hard, turning his neck and face red.

The coach was still savoring Aubree’s previous move, a fire burning intensely in his eyes behind the silver-rimmed square glasses. ‘That move was definitely no fluke,’ he said inwardly.

“You!” Killian pointed at Aubree, his finger trembling.

But Aubree simply swatted it away. “Apologize.”

Killian, manly enough, kept his word and knelt before Aubree in front of his former teammates. “I’m not skilled. My abilities fall short. I apologize. I’m not as good…as girls at gaming.”

Those last words came out through gritted teeth.

Finishing, he turned to leave without looking back.

But Aubree’s voice came from behind. “I’m Phoenix, reborn from flames, not a sparrow.”

“And sparrows are now a protected species, so don’t look down on them.”