NOVEL NEXT Chapter 243: The World Cup is back
"The World Cup is the greatest eSports competition in Warstar, and from the 3rd World Cup onwards, every nation will get to field a national team composed of its best 10 players, not just specific club players anymore".
"It's called a World Cup between nations for a reason".
"1 club can provide a maximum of 3 starting players".
"Substitutes can rotate, but national balance must be preserved".
"And before the World Cup, starting from next season, national qualifiers will be integrated into regular league seasons to determine the nations that will qualify to the 3rd Warstar World Cup".
"So nations should begin organizing their national teams after this time's tournament".
"And starting from this current World Cup, the prize is upgraded now".
"The prize? A global championship title that'll come with its perks, respect, rare SSS-tier loot for all team members, national honor… and a permanent Legendary Emblem in Warstar's Hall of Immortals".
"We already have the first inductees in the Hall of Immortals".
"They're all part of China's World Cup winning squad 2 years ago".
With that, the announcement broadcast came to an end. England, and all Warstar-playing countries around the world were set ablaze.
The new World Cup format was clearly more complicated but it was extremely appetizing, but for now, fans focused back on the present.
After all, the 2nd World Cup would follow the old format.
…
Inside Club Echelon's building…
Noah sat in his chair in the Strategy Room, eyes half-lidded but thoughtful.
Aria threw her boots on the table. Benjamin already designed a new meme banner.
[Saving England… One Fireball at a Time.]
Genevieve grinned after listening to the broadcast, her eyes gleaming with excitement and unsaid thoughts.
Caleb snorted. "If England loses, they'll blame us like they blamed Phoenix Rising 2 years ago".
Noah simply replied.
"Then we don't lose".
Training modules lit up on the wall. Simulations loaded. Nightingale walked in with coffee and a devilish smile.
"Global spotlight's on you now, guys. You ready to pain the world in silver and black?"
The crew responded in unison.
"Always".
…
7 days to decide the world's best.
3 matches to make history.
1 trophy to rule them all.
So much was on the line, and the 8 competing nations in the Warstar World Cup finally started making their way to China, who was the host of the 2nd Warstar RPG World Championship.
Taking it up from USA, the reigning World Cup champion nation hosted the 2nd Warstar World Cup.
Shanghai International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, had never looked so electrified. Security was tight. Fans screamed. Flags waved. Media flooded the terminals.
When the England national team disembarked from the private jet, the cameras surged forward.
Noah led the way, dark shades on, effortlessly regal. Aria, hair windswept, shot a cocky smirk at a nearby camera.
Benjamin, in an "I Carry England" hoodie, raised a peace sign. Caleb and Genevieve, uncharacteristic of them brought a certain intensity with them to China.
The others followed in sleek black blazers stitched with the Union Jack.
"England arrives in China with all the swagger of newly crowned kings," said one Chinese reporter.
"But can they match it with glory on this soil?"
…
That night, there was a grand reception. The gathering of titans.
That night, the International Player Reception was hosted in the Huanglong Sky Garden, a stunning venue perched atop a high-rise in Hangzhou, overlooking West Lake.
Each nation's delegation wore custom formal wear representing their country's colors.
Team China, the hosts, arrived in immaculate crimson suits, their superstar, Meng Wu Ya leading the delegation. But there were 2 stars this time. Wei Long, a new and young blood rose in Meng Wu Ya's team, a devastating Berserker.
Team Japan, stoic and composed, bowed as one. Their ace, Takeshi Mizuno, the blade-dancing Paladin led the team in true leader fashion, ready and fired to orchestrate their first World Cup victory in enemy territory.
Team Germany was cold and calculating, led by their captain Erik Schafer, known as the Tactician General.
Team France, aristocratic and stylish, their Warlock captain Lucien Noir kissed his ring as a greeting to the others.
Team Portugal featured a rising star as the core of their team this time, Ricardo Viera, a Combat Mage prodigy.
Team USA, after hosting the World Cup 2 years ago already improved by leaps and bounds in the Warstar front. Led by Dallas Rayne, a gunslinging Launcher with unmatched confidence, they were loud, bold, and brash.
Team Argentina, the wildcard, always underestimated. Their captain Nico Rojas gave off unsettling calmness.
Each team eyed the other with that mix of respect, caution, curiosity, and veiled hostility. It was the silent dance of war before war.
After the grand reception, the true battle began.
Located in Hangzhou, England's training grounds were surrounded by traditional architecture and ultra-modern tech.
The training wing had simulated arena chambers for battle tactics, tactical situation rooms with 4D warboards, and a "Temporal Sync Pod" where Noah, Aria, and the others ran accelerated mental simulations.
Inside their glass-walled war room, Nightingale stood before a giant display.
Nightingale was one of those few owners in the game who allocated the time to travel alongside their team to China to represent their country.
"3 matches, 3 wins, or we go home as just champions of England," Nightingale said. "This is about world domination now".
Noah cracked his knuckles. "Look lively boys, this is the moment we always dreamt about and we waited 2 years for".
"Let's find out how global my legend really is".
…
In the athlete village the next day, sparks flew.
Dallas Rayne, USA, loudly declared. "Hope you brought sunscreen, Doom. Cause I'm about to burn your legacy to ash".
Dallas was not the same captain who represented USA 2 years ago. Dallas' team was a rising force in England, and they were the dominant team this season.
Noah didn't respond to the provocation.
But it didn't end there, not just USA, the other competing nations also engaged in their different form of psychological warfare this early, or it was just random shit from them.
Lucien Noir of France whispered to Benjamin as they passed. "Are you ready to be outclassed, mon frere?"
When they crossed paths, Wei Long, the new rising star in China and Meng Wu Ya's team just gave a long, unsettling stare at Dain Ironvalor.
Takeshi Mizuno of Japan approached Aria with a calm bow. "It will be an honor to cross blades with you… again".
'But we never crossed blades,' Aria thought, looking at him, then her smirk widened. "Hope your Paladin's faster now. You couldn't touch me last time".
Takeshi chuckled and simply walked away.
While all this happened in China, the World Cup Draw Ceremony was scheduled for the next night.
Commentators speculated matchups, fans screamed on forums, and everywhere across China and the world…
The question was the same.
Who will play whom? And who will be the last one standing?
The next night came in a blink.
The location was the Jade Phoenix Theatre in Hangzhou, China. Thousands were on site, millions more watching live.
The theme was 'Only the Worthy Shall Rise'.
The theater was a spectacle. A massive crystalline stage, shaped like a half-open lotus, pulsed with golden light. Giant holograms of all 8 national flags rotated behind it.
Commentators' voices echoed worldwide.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the world has waited two long years for this moment once again. This is no ordinary tournament, this is the Warstar World Cup".
"No second chances. No group stages. Just 3 games between immortality and oblivion, full of thrill and tension-packed.
Eight banners descended from the ceiling, one for each nation.
Argentina was the first nation in descending order, followed by Portugal, then Germany, France, USA, Japan, China, and then England.
"Let the draw begin!" The commentator said, then…
A sleek digital roulette began spinning the 8 national chests.
As it spun, the commentators continued.
"The reigning champions, China, are back to defend their crown on home soil this time. With their nation behind them, can anyone stop the Eastern Dynasty?"
"England may have conquered the English Pro Alliance in imperious fashion… but so did China in their league. Most importantly, China have conquered the world, while England have not".
Amid the commentary… the crowd hushed, lights dimming, golden beams swirling, and then the names began appearing.
[Warstar World Cup:]
[Quarterfinal Fixtures:]
[Match 1 – Day 1:]
[Japan vs France]
["Blades of Precision vs Arcane Deception."]
…
[Match 2 – Day 1]
[China vs Germany]
["The Eastern Dynasty vs The Iron Wall."]
…
[Match 3 – Day 2]
[England vs Argentina]
["The Pro Alliance Kings vs The Silent Storm."]
…
[Match 4 – Day 2]
[USA vs Portugal]
["Trigger Discipline vs Spellborn Chaos."]
The commentary continued with added weight.
"All eyes are on China. They're not just defending their trophy, they're doing it in front of the entire nation".
"But watch out for England. They've got fire in their veins after that historic Pro League win".
"And Argentina… the dark horses from the South. No one really knows their hand".