AFM 117

At this moment, everyone’s minds short-circuited.

Not just the international servers, but even the domestic live broadcast channels fell into complete silence during these brief few dozen seconds.

For the first time in Glory’s history, an unprecedented, borderless dead silence descended.

[…?]

[???]

[Wait, am I seeing this right?]

[Can someone tell me…]

[What does “ME.Ash” on that player tag mean?]

It seemed even now, no one could believe that the undying legend in their hearts, the God of War who had quit the game six years ago… could possibly appear at the Global Championships?

Why would that player tag that had never lit up before suddenly activate today without warning?

Not just Chinese viewers – even foreign players felt their scalps go numb. Anyone who had ever played Glory knew Ash.

Their gazes trembled. Screams, cheers, shouts, excitement… all these instinctive reactions buried in human DNA were completely muted now.

They were like puppets trying to break free from their strings, unable to even stand as their blood boiled furiously, while their minds still struggled to process this sudden reality.

[Holy shit]

[Help my hands are shaking]

[Am I dreaming is this real]

[I’m speechless]

[The most important thing is…]

[If this really is the Ash I’m thinking of]

[Why is Ren Congmian sitting in Ash’s seat?]

Not a single viewer watching this live broadcast that night could calmly walk away after logging off.

Half a minute later.

The previously quiet, confused audience and the silent livestream chat underwent a sudden, earth-shaking transformation.

In its place came an unprecedented flood of messages so massive it nearly crashed the system:

While the audience stood up in shock, the venue erupting into completely uncontrollable frenzy!!

IT’S ASH!!!!!!!!!

Jing Mian’s vision trembled, taking a long time to regain his breath. The young man’s voice was hoarse: “Husband…”

When the man turned to meet Jing Mian’s gaze, he said quietly: “It’s Ash.”

Equally stunned were Jing Mian’s teammates beside him, who had completely petrified.

The venue had completely combusted.

The organizers seemed to notice the anomaly. Although Team China’s captain and coach had communicated with them beforehand and predicted Ash might cause some waves, they never expected this level of overwhelming tsunami – an unstoppable tidal wave of excitement that continued raging even as the second match was about to begin, with the audience still roaring uncontrollably.

Left with no choice, they had to extend the intermission by ten minutes beyond schedule while security worked to restore order.

[Holy shit…]

[Ren Congmian is Ash?!!!]

[Celebrities playing games isn’t rare. What’s rare is that before he became famous, he was already the myth and undying faith in every Glory player’s heart]

[Even if they delayed it ten days, it wouldn’t be enough time to process everything I just witnessed]

[My son thought I was having a heart attack]

[+1, my hands won’t stop shaking]

[Even now, my limbs are still cold]

[It took me several minutes just to type this one line]

【Husbands Fighting Side by Side!!】

【Help! I’m going to explode into fireworks!】

【Please win the championship for the country!!】

……

The coach below was also quite surprised. He asked Xuan Cheng in his not-so-fluent Chinese if this was such a shocking thing. Wasn’t Ash always on their main roster? So he was always eligible to be substituted in.

“Hmm, but MianMian might not know.”

Xuan Cheng whispered beside him, his voice trembling slightly, “Actually, Ash has always been on the list.”

“……”

“He has never fought alone.”

As the crowd settled down, it also meant that the second half officially began.

The moment Sheep put on his headset, the world around him gradually quieted down, and he could hear his own strong heartbeat.

In the instant their gazes met, the sound within his chest seemed to pause for a few seconds before gradually slowing down, beating warmly and passionately.

Both of them put on their holographic devices at the same time.

Strangely enough,

Regardless of winning or losing, the boy no longer felt anxious.

…

His partner was fighting alongside him.

In the second round, the map was named Nightless City.

As the name suggests, the perspective of this map would remain in darkness, but the penthouse in which they found themselves was brightly lit, exuding a supernatural and modern feel, yet it was also a map with a very high difficulty level.

Due to the abundance of monsters, difficult bosses, and numerous traps and challenges, Nightless City became the only map in the Glory second half of the tournament that allowed players to carry guns.

This meant that while fighting the bosses, they could also attack enemy players.

Thus, Nightless City was recognized as one of the top three maps in terms of player experience due to its high difficulty, excellent setup, and vast background.

【What a classic map】

【Yes, many veteran players use this map for PK】

【Newbie question, how does the red door appear?】

【Hehe】

【Since we can fight, of course, it’s the simplest and most straightforward way.】

【Ash, I’m an eight-year fan, look at me! Ahhh!】

……

The starting points of the two teams were on opposite sides.

The moment Sheep picked up the gun, he heard footsteps beside him.

Ash was right next to him, not as a virtual Shadow Guard.

His heart raced.

Although there was no pre-arranged strategy, the long-standing tacit understanding had allowed the other two members to silently assist the new core warrior and his little friend Sheep.

When the first boss appeared, Sheep quietly raised his gun, taking aim to finish it off, while Ash, at the moment the gunfire rang out, with a bang.

Silently headshot the mox member hiding behind the small boss, attempting to ambush Sheep.

His shooting was ruthless and decisive.

There was no hesitation whatsoever.

They moved deeper into the city, gunfire ringing out continuously, and the kill count of the two core members steadily increased, with experience points bringing them closer to the final red door.

【The coordination between these husbands is incredible】

【I thought the synergy between Sheep and Mole was already high enough, but!!】

【Ahhh!】

【It seems they are publicly showing affection】

【Just kill me already, sob sob】

Meanwhile, on the other side of the venue, ZLE was completely losing it.

ZLE shouted at his teammates, mixed with curses, “Give me the meds!”

“Give me the meds!”

A teammate’s terrified and tense voice responded, “I saw Ash.”

“God, support me!…”

With a brief “bang,” the man’s voice abruptly ceased as he lowered his mouse.

The members of mox were no pushovers—each likely on par with Shock and Greek. As for Ash’s level at this moment… it was roughly equivalent to taking down a Greek with every shot.

【Such a crushing disparity in strength】
【Oh my god】
【I feel despair for mox】
【What’s going on? I remember mox cutting through opponents like they were nothing—how could they be so helpless?】
【Ahhhhhhh】
【The War God is still the same War God from back then!!】

As they neared the city center, ZLE completely lost their advantage. Their health bars were barely sustained by scavenging teammates’ meds, and the ammunition shortage shattered morale over fair distribution. In the final moments, ZLE made the decision to throw their last remaining teammate into the zombie horde to buy time.

Meanwhile, Me. still had two members left.

Sheep.

And Ash.

Sweat beaded on ZLE’s forehead, his hand trembling slightly on the mouse.

How could this be?

He was born to be a champion. He had heard of the legendary top player of the entire server and had even obsessively studied their matches and replays. His admiration had been fleeting—he was convinced that even if they ever faced off in a tournament, the worst outcome would be a draw.

But now, on this day, it had turned into such a brutal and hopeless slaughter.

As the match neared its end, players sensed the imminent appearance of the red door.

ZLE was no exception.

He thought that even if he couldn’t eliminate the opponent, securing the first entry into the door might still secure victory, given their lead from the first half!

But before ZLE could act on this plan, while lying in wait at a high-traffic spot, he abruptly looked up.

—Amid the ruins of a modern loft, atop the broken walls, stood a figure that sent chills down his spine, gazing down at him.

His mind screamed.

It was Ash!!

With just a glance, the experienced ZLE noticed that Ash’s hands and back were empty.

Ash had no gun!!

ZLE had no time to wonder why the flawless, invincible War God had lost the team’s momentum and advantage at the final moment—perhaps he had run out of ammo mid-fight, and his teammates hadn’t passed him a spare magazine in time. But in truth, ZLE didn’t need to think about it.

This—

This was his best chance to take down Ash!!

The dream and myth of countless Glory players lay right here! ZLE raised his gun with shaking hands. He had only one bullet left, but it was more than enough.

Yet, the moment his scope locked on, a second figure abruptly entered his field of view.

His screen darkened.

ZLE’s pupils constricted in that instant.

—Sheep had stepped in front of Ash, fully equipped, his gun stained with blood.

And its barrel was aimed directly at him.

Bang.

……

At this moment, the audience of nearly a hundred thousand fell into dead silence.

They held their breaths, eyes glued to the massive screen.

The next second, as the commentator’s excited shout rang out, the system issued its final announcement: ,【Me.WIN!!!】

“Congratulations to ME. for winning the Global Championship!!!”

Silence faded away, followed by a cheer and wave that nearly tore the roof off.

【Ahhhhhhhhhhh】

【Me. is awesome!!!】

【Congratulations to Sheep for winning the championship】

【Help!! The most exciting battle in history】

【Wuwuwuwu, tears】

【Congratulations ahhhhhhh】

……

On this day, Me. turned the tide.

At the moment Jing Mian stood on the podium holding the trophy, his palms were icy, but his blood was boiling hot.

He instinctively searched for Ash’s figure, but was unexpectedly embraced at the waist.

The man was right behind him.

In the next second, he heard Ash’s voice ringing in his ear:

“Sheep, hold tight.”

Jing Mian’s hand was grasped, and in his hand, he held the heavy golden trophy that belonged to the champion.

In the next moment, the trophy was raised high.

The crowd below erupted in cheers.

A continuous rain of gold fell around them, as if it were the most dazzling backdrop of this championship battle.

They finally crossed the sea of flowers, the golden finale falling into place.