Chapter 3

As the sun set, the lingering rays of the crimson sunset cast a red glow throughout the room.

A young man stood in front of his computer, intently operating the mouse, which clicked rhythmically. The fading sunlight illuminated his face, highlighting his strong yet gentle features, his prominent nose, and his deep, captivating eyes, making him a handsome and sunny youth.

However, his slightly flushed face, combined with his excited expression and lecherous laughter, could easily lead one to misinterpret that he was engaged in the daily ritual of a homebound otaku, studying the anatomy of a certain island nation's sexy female celebrities.

In reality, the room's owner, Wu Yi, was deeply engrossed in a public match of DOTA.

"These public match teammates are really a pain. No brothers, no DOTA. I've been thoroughly beaten in several games without playing with my dorm mates. I'm so frustrated, it's like I've been beaten to the point of defecation. Clearly, playing in a team is the way to go," Wu Yi complained, having been repeatedly crushed by his teammates.

DOTA is a multiplayer battle map from the classic single-player game Warcraft III, renowned for its excellent balance and the diversity of hero skill combinations, making it popular worldwide.

Wu Yi started playing this game after the college entrance exam and quickly became deeply addicted to it. The intense and exciting team battles and the spirit of teamwork it embodies made him unable to resist. After entering college, he introduced DOTA to his dorm mates, and they often played together online, forming a strong bond as teammates.

In this game, Wu Yi was using the Summoner, a handsome elf mage in a white robe who could control the elements with ease. His skill system was unique, allowing him to use up to nine skills by combining different elements, far more than the four skills of other heroes.

With this advantage, as long as his hand speed was fast enough and his awareness was good, the Summoner could become extremely powerful. However, mastering this hero required high skill, making it difficult for beginners but a favorite for experts to showcase their abilities.

The game had already lasted over 50 minutes, entering the late-game phase, with the Radiant heroes leading their minions towards the Dire high ground in a fierce assault.

Wu Yi's four public match teammates gathered nervously, preparing to defend against this wave. They were using the heroes Invisible Assassin, Naga Siren, Templar Assassin, and Phantom Assassin, a lineup of four assassins.

When Wu Yi saw this peculiar lineup at the start of the game, he almost spat blood, feeling as if ten thousand grass mud horses were galloping in his heart. Facing a team of five coordinated players, Wu Yi felt immense pressure.

The Radiant team, playing together, had a well-thought-out lineup: Lone Druid, Crystal Maiden, Queen of Pain, Windranger, and Faceless Void. They had control, support, ganking, and damage, making them a formidable opponent for the public match team.

As Wu Yi had predicted, the situation unfolded similarly. The Phantom Assassin, who was farming in the lane and jungle, was repeatedly caught and killed by the Queen of Pain, becoming a gold farm. The Invisible Assassin, who became permanently invisible at level 6, was often discovered by the Crystal Maiden's sentries and killed by the team. The Naga Siren and Templar Assassin, who tried to gank, were repeatedly ambushed, allowing the Faceless Void to become overpowered.

Throughout the game, Wu Yi never saw his teammates, who seemed to have no concept of support. Fortunately, Wu Yi's Summoner was skilled enough to disrupt the enemy's rhythm, delaying their equipment upgrades and dragging the game into the late-game phase.

By this time, the Summoner was well-equipped with six major items: Aghanim's Scepter, Refresher Orb, Sheepstick, Blink Dagger, Black King Bar, and Power Treads. However, the Faceless Void on the Radiant team was also fully equipped with Satanic, Butterfly, Assault Cuirass, Monkey King Bar, Black King Bar, and Power Treads.

The Radiant minions charged onto the Dire high ground, giving the Radiant team vision of the Dire heroes, who were clustered together in a peculiar formation.

A blue figure suddenly appeared on the Dire high ground. It was the Faceless Void using Time Walk, moving through the terrain to reach the white-robed mage. With the Black King Bar activated, the Faceless Void entered a god-like state, then opened his ultimate, Chronosphere, trapping the Dire heroes in a blue dome. Inside the dome, only the Faceless Void could move freely, while the others were forced to remain still, unable to act.

At the moment the Chronosphere was cast, Wu Yi used Blink Dagger to teleport out, leaving his four teammates trapped inside. Although he escaped, he now had to face the remaining four Radiant heroes alone.

The battlefield was thus divided into two parts. Wu Yi felt his teammates were as good as dead, as their basic equipment was no match for the fully equipped Faceless Void. The outcome of the battle now depended entirely on his performance.

This challenge made Wu Yi's blood boil. His long fingers moved rapidly, creating a rhythmic sound as they struck the keyboard. He was completely in the zone.

Wu Yi's Summoner, with the Black King Bar activated, began switching elements and casting spells. A wall of ice, radiating intense cold, appeared in front of the Summoner, significantly slowing the Lone Druid and Crystal Maiden.

A massive chaotic meteor fell from the sky, rolling towards the four Radiant heroes. Just as they were about to reposition, the Summoner cast Overwhelming Odds, a yellow arc of sound waves that hit all four enemies, including the Queen of Pain who had just used Blink to reach the Summoner. The sound waves pushed the enemies back, aligning them with the path of the meteor.

The high damage from the two spells put the Crystal Maiden in a dangerous position, and the Windranger used Mekansm to heal her. However, under the Summoner's relentless attacks, she was hit by a long-range Cyclone and fell to the ground as a corpse.

The Summoner then cast Static Remnant, disrupting the enemy's formation. The Lone Druid, with God's Strength and Mask of Madness, charged towards the Summoner. The Summoner immediately cast Cold Snap, combined with the armor reduction from the previously summoned Lava Spirit, to repeatedly stun and kill the Lone Druid.

As the Summoner's god-like state ended, the Queen of Pain used Blink to reach him, preparing to unleash her powerful spells.

The Summoner instantly used Sheepstick to sheep the Queen of Pain, then cast Ethereal Jaunt to dodge her attacks and finish her off while she was half-health.

The remaining Windranger was much easier to deal with, and the Summoner quickly dispatched her. Thus, the Summoner single-handedly killed four Radiant heroes.

"China's Worst Player killed NameTooHardToChoose!"

"China's Worst Player killed BeatenAgain!"

"China's Worst Player achieved a double kill!"

"China's Worst Player killed SoulCry!"

"China's Worst Player achieved a triple kill!"

"China's Worst Player is on a killing spree!"

"China's Worst Player killed JustForFun!"

"China's Worst Player achieved a rampage!"

"China's Worst Player has dominated the game!"

The battle log flooded the screen.

On the other side, the Faceless Void had also used half his health to kill the four assassins, leaving only the final showdown between the two main players.

Wu Yi used the Refresher Orb, resetting all his skill cooldowns, including the Sheepstick.

"Hehe, this Refresher Orb is specially prepared for you, little Faceless. Watch me save the world," Wu Yi said, aiming the Sheepstick at the Faceless Void, ready to sheep and abuse him.

"What are you playing? You even forgot to eat," a beautiful figure appeared behind Wu Yi, her delicate hand tapping his shoulder.

Wu Yi, who was intensely focused, was startled. His hand trembled, and he accidentally sheeped a ranged minion next to the Faceless Void. Before he could correct his mistake, the Faceless Void triggered Time Lock, stunning the Summoner, who was then mercilessly killed.

Wu Yi turned around, seeing the person, and without any irritation, smiled, "Sis, is dinner ready?"

Behind Wu Yi stood his sister, He Lian. When Wu Yi was 5, his father, a doctor, suddenly disappeared. A year later, an earthquake in their hometown claimed his mother's life, leaving him an orphan. He lived in a remote orphanage for a while before being found by his father's friend, He Cheng, who adopted him.

He Lian, He Cheng's daughter, was two years older than Wu Yi and was very kind to him, a gentle and good-natured sister.

At home, she wore no makeup and dressed casually, with a pair of ultra-short shorts exposing her long, smooth legs, which dazzled Wu Yi.

Her casual attire could not hide her outstanding beauty and gentle nature. Her clean, fair face wore a faint smile, her skin was rosy and healthy, and her long, black hair flowed gracefully behind her, making her appear charming and captivating. Her bright eyes held a hint of shyness, adding to her fresh and lively aura.

The beautiful young woman, seeing Wu Yi turn around, cupped his face and smiled, "Yes, but some people used to have a nose sharper than a dog's. I made your favorite Mapo Tofu and Braised Pork, and you didn't even notice."

Wu Yi, looking at He Lian's beautiful face up close, was intoxicated by her sweet scent and charming demeanor. Her breath, like a gentle breeze, made his heart flutter, and he was momentarily lost in thought.

Seeing Wu Yi staring at her with a complex expression, He Lian's face turned slightly red, but she quickly concealed it. She gently pinched his cheeks, saying with a hint of reproach, "My foodie brother, what delicious food have you been eating at school? After half a year, my cooking can no longer attract you. Tell me, have you found a gentle and virtuous girlfriend who cooks for you every day?"

"I'm a complete otaku, obsessed with novels, games, anime, movies, and TV shows. I don't have a girlfriend. Sis, don't overthink it," Wu Yi quickly denied, his voice muffled by the pinching. He Lian's lips curled into a smile, and she released his cheeks.

Wu Yi stood up, assuming a military stance, and shouted, "Reporting to Sister, I've been in a dire situation at school, eating leftover food from the cafeteria, sleeping in a six-person dorm, and using a terrible campus network. Thinking of the delicious food you make, I couldn't help but rush back home as soon as the winter break started, showing my high expectations for your cooking. Please, Sister, acknowledge my sincerity."

"Really? Don't lie to me," He Lian said, her eyes filled with amusement, showing no hint of doubt.

"Of course, I would never lie to you, Sister," Wu Yi's stomach growled on cue.

Wu Yi pointed to his stomach, "See, my stomach is protesting. It must know there's a feast waiting for it. Sis, let's eat."

Controlling his stomach to make such sounds was Wu Yi's special skill. He Cheng and his wife were often busy with work and rarely ate at home. The obedient and considerate He Lian had taken on the responsibility of feeding herself and her brother, but she would wait for her parents to return before eating, often reheating the food several times.

To ensure they both ate fresh meals, Wu Yi developed this ability, making his stomach growl to appear hungry and pitiful to He Lian, who would then eat earlier.

"Mom and Dad just called, saying they won't be home for dinner. We can eat now. After dinner, I'll check your sword skills. Don't disappoint me after a whole semester," He Lian said, then left the room.

"Okay, I'll turn off the computer," Wu Yi's face turned grim, knowing he would face some physical punishment. He sighed and turned to shut down his computer.

On the screen, the game had ended. The Radiant team, led by the Faceless Void, had destroyed the Dire's main base, the Ice Throne, and the Radiant heroes and minions were celebrating around the ruins.

Wu Yi shook his head and walked over to turn off the computer.

But at that moment, the computer screen was suddenly filled with a starry sky, vast and boundless, with a dazzling galaxy. The scene was so magnificent that it captivated him, drawing him in deeply.

A blue light suddenly appeared in the starry sky, gradually expanding to fill the entire screen, forming a blue vortex. Wu Yi let out a scream as he was sucked into it.

---

The page turned, and the advertisement began.

The page turned, and the advertisement ended.