Chapter 75
“These two teams are old rivals,” the caster said, “They just faced off in the Autumn Split finals for the championship trophy. Tonight, will it be Apex Squad’s revenge or God’s Fury successfully defending their title? God’s Fury is a young squad, but they’ve already shown incredible potential. Let the match begin!”
With Aubree in the lineup during the Autumn Finals, God’s Fury looked unstoppable, dominating Apex Squad completely. However, with a new midsolo, they had lost that overwhelming edge in the match.
The back-and-forth continued, and God’s Fury was slowly losing ground in the exchanges.
Aubree sat in the audience, her fingers tightly interlaced, anxiety etched across her face. If God’s Fury lost this match, it would be quite a blow to both the players‘ morale and the fans‘ spirits.
“The match remains neck and neck as we approach the crucial 10-minute dragon fight. This classic teamfight moment could swing momentum either way.”
“Apex Squad makes the first move! Their support secures vision and spots the enemy. Wait, hold on! Was that a misplay?”
Kill notifications for Apex Squad kept flashing across the screen in rapid succession.
But as the caster just pointed out, Apex Squad had the advantage in that situation. How could a veteran team possibly throw away such a golden opportunity?
Missing the opportunity was bad enough, but then they seemed to have completely lost their minds, feeding one after another like brainless lemmings off a cliff.
God’s Fury capitalized on this dragon fight, wiped out the enemy team, and snowballed into taking the Nexus in the first match.
Even with the win, Aubree’s brows furrowed even tighter. ‘Was I just imagining things?‘ she wondered.
Bowen didn’t understand the game, but he could tell something was off with Aubree. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you guys win?” he asked.
“But that misplay… It shouldn’t have happened,” Aubree said, shaking her head.
‘No way. Emery is also a pro gamer. How could he do something like this? But what Emery said before the match…‘ Aubree thought, suspicion gnawing at her.
Bowen nodded with partial understanding, his gaze drifting toward Emery’s seat.
The second match started soon after, and God’s Fury got the win.
God’s Fury took game three as well.
God’s Fury swept the series 4-0 in the BO5 match point game.
Aubree, however, couldn’t muster even the slightest bit of joy. Even if God’s Fury had lost fair and square, she would have felt regret and disappointment. But this kind of victory? It only made her furious.
‘Emery wasn’t just insulting me,‘ she thought. ‘He was insulting every single member of God’s Fury who had fought so hard for this! God’s Fury doesn’t need his charity to win the championship! Throwing the game this blatantly in a championship match? Does Emery take everyone for a fool?‘
Aubree abruptly stood up from her seat. “Uncle Bowen, go congratulate the team for me first, take them out to celebrate, and send me the address. I have something to handle and I’ll catch up with you later.”
Bowen had some inkling of what was going on. He glanced at the team members on stage, who were thanking the audience, and, without pressing for details, readily agreed, “Alright.”
Aubree was wearing her school uniform, which made her stand out when she got up and moved around.
Meanwhile, on the second floor, a stylishly dressed man in his early twenties stood at the front, surrounded by members of a team that had competed the day before, all still in their team uniforms.
“Jacob, you keep staring at that girl in the school uniform. What, do you have a crush on her?” someone asked.
Jacob Timberlake was the team’s investor, the kind of rich kid who casually funded things, just for fun.
Jacob didn’t even notice who was sitting beside Aubree. His attention was all on her. “Such a young woman sitting in that position… Is she someone’s girlfriend?” he asked.
“Actually, no. That woman looks familiar. Isn’t she Phoenix, the player who crushed Apex Squad at the Autumn Finals? Later, she used the prize money to get Alvin to invest and started the team,” one of them replied.
“Yeah,” another person cut in. “That’s her. She’s the owner of God’s Fury now, supposedly with no family.”
Jacob smirked with a wicked glint in his eyes. “An orphan, huh? So into gaming? Well, I guess I have to go introduce myself.”
The people around Jacob exchanged knowing glances. It was clear to everyone that he had taken a fancy to Aubree.
But no one dared to judge him.
It wasn’t just because Jacob was their investor, but even people with connections couldn’t stop someone like Jacob.
One of Jacob’s guys grinned and said, “Jacob, if you decide to befriend her, that girl’s hit the jackpot! Does she even know who you are? Even Bowen, that high-and-mighty big shot from Rithol City, has to put on a smile in front of you!”
Jacob smirked and waved them off. “Alright then, go have fun.”
With that, he strode toward Aubree.
Unaware that someone was watching her, Aubree stood scowling. Right on cue, Emery approached with cautious steps, his face etched with apprehension.
“Aubree, aren’t you happy you won?” Emery asked, unable to gauge her mood.
“Happy? Emery, would you be happy if someone let you win? You used to be a pro player yourself. When you made your teammates throw games, did you ever think about how they felt?” Aubree said.
She truly never expected Emery would stoop to match-fixing.
‘Is this the same Emery I’d first seen, beaming with that triumphant swagger as he held the championship trophy?‘ Aubree wondered.
“None of that matters.” Emery seemed unfazed. “I just want you to be happy. Aubree, if you’re worried about it affecting God’s Fury, don’t be. Even if something happens, I’ll handle it for you.”
With desperate longing in his eyes, Emery tentatively reached out his hand. “Aubree,” he pleaded, “I just want to make it up to you, no matter what it takes. Can you forgive me? Please, will you come back with me?”
Aubree shot Emery a look of utter disgust and quickly stepped away. “No. Emery, you make me sick! If someone abandons their very principles, are they even themselves anymore? If you had beaten me fair and square, maybe I’d look up to you and genuinely call you impressive. But right now, all I feel is disgust. Can you stop clinging to me like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe? Have you no shame at all?”
Emery was utterly shattered, his eyes brimming with despair.
He thought in disbelief, ‘Aubree called me disgusting… Disgusting? Me?‘
The raw disgust on Aubree’s face hit Emery like a knife to the chest, and pain radiated through every inch of his body, right down to his fingertips.
‘So this is what it feels like to be despised by someone you care about. Is this how Aubree felt when we treated her that way before? Was it this unbearable for her, too?‘ Emery wondered.
Tears streamed down Emery’s face as he slowly sank to his knees, his body wracked with uncontrollable sobs. “Aubree… I’m so sorry…”
“Not every ‘sorry‘ deserves forgiveness,” Aubree said. “Your apology? I’ll never accept it.”
She showed not a shred of pity, and her gaze was chillingly cold. She had sought out Emery alone for one reason only, and that was to make sure he would never throw another match in future competitions.
‘I don’t need it, and neither do the young members of God’s Fury!‘ Aubree thought with disdain. ‘This is a stain on esports itself, and an outright insult to every ounce of effort God’s Fury members have poured into this.‘
Behind her, Emery’s sobs still echoed, but Aubree didn’t so much as pause or glance back. With each step, she walked forward with unshakable determination.
Bowen sent her the restaurant address, and Zachary was waiting for her outside.
Aubree hadn’t gone far when she sensed something was off. ‘Is someone following me?‘ she wondered.
Jacob had never been the sneaky type, nor did he intend to hide. The moment he realized Aubree had spotted him, he strode out into the open, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
With his bright red hair and trendy clothes, the look in his eyes told Aubree he wasn’t some spoiled rich kid, just a street punk.
Jacob, well over six feet tall, slouched casually with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Aubree’s fingers tightened around her phone. ‘Who the hell is this guy?‘ she wondered. ‘What does he want? Judging by his designer clothes, he’s wealthy, probably not after my money!
Jacob was no stranger to preying on lone girls. He always knew his limits, targeting only those without connections or influence. Willing or not, it never mattered. He could always make any trouble disappear afterward, no sweat.
“Hey, gorgeous, heard you’re a gaming legend. Mind if I introduce myself?” said Jacob.
“Sorry, I’m not interested in getting to know you. My friends are waiting, so I’ll be going now,” Aubree said, subtly warning him that she wasn’t alone.
Jacob smirked. “Friends? Didn’t you stay behind all by yourself? The rest of God’s Fury already went off to celebrate their victory, didn’t they?”
‘He knows?‘ Aubree thought, her guard instantly rising.
Aubree’s eyes narrowed sharply. She didn’t have any self-defense tools with her, but since earning her own money, she’d been taking self-defense classes.
She just wasn’t sure if she could take on a grown man over six feet tall.