Chapter 38: The Final Confrontation
Tianyu Internet Café.
In front of the large screen in the first-floor lounge area, a crowd had gathered. Whenever someone passed by and glanced at the screen, they were quickly drawn in by the images displayed and found themselves staying without realizing it.
From time to time, the low hum of whispered discussions could be heard among the onlookers.
“Nineteen kills! This guy is incredible!”
“Damn, ghillie suit, AWM, the classic chicken dinner setup!”
“Just as they say: poor when looting houses, rich when looting crates!”
“With an AWM in hand, he’s about to go wild!”
...
In the game.
Yang Hao’s squad of four had swept out of the lower city, advancing relentlessly and leaving almost no survivors in their wake. By now, standing behind them were not only Yang Yu’s classmates but also quite a number of other spectators.
All around, several computers sat unattended, their users having abandoned their seats to gather and watch the game unfolding at Yang Hao’s station.
When Yang Hao picked up the AWM from a crate, a collective jolt went through the crowd. If he was already so brutal with a Kar98k, what would happen now that he had an AWM? Wouldn’t he become unstoppable?
At this point, only twenty-four players remained alive in the game.
He’s going to win!
The same thought flashed through many minds almost simultaneously.
Just then—
Da! Da! Da!
As Yang Hao finished looting the AWM and was about to leave, the muffled burst of a suppressed assault rifle echoed from a distant hillside. Two bursts of blood spattered from Yang Hao’s character, and his health plummeted into the red.
Danger!
As everyone tensed up for Yang Hao, he remained unfazed, quickly ducking behind a large rock for cover. Losing sight of Yang Hao, the enemy immediately shifted fire towards Zhang Tian and the others.
While the onlookers were still scanning the screen for the shooter’s position, Yang Hao, with his health bar deep in the red, suddenly sprang into action.
The screen flickered.
Pre-aim, scope in!
Bang!
He pulled the trigger, and an AWM bullet streaked through the air at lightning speed.
Thud!
Behind a tree on the hillside, a player wielding a suppressed M416 and wearing a level-three helmet was suddenly enveloped in a cloud of blood.
One shot, through the clouds!
“Neighbor Wang knocked out ‘Rice for Money’ with an AWM headshot!”
There’s another one!
When this knockdown notification appeared, the same realization struck everyone’s mind.
Bang!
As that thought surfaced, a Kar98k shot rang out from the hillside, striking the spot where Yang Hao had just fired. Fortunately, he had already ducked back into cover; with his current health, even a stray rifle shot would have been fatal, let alone a Kar98k round.
But before anyone could sigh in relief, Yang Hao, who had just taken cover behind the rock, suddenly stood up again.
Now, instead of the AWM, he held a Kar98k.
Seeing this, the crowd was momentarily stunned.
Bang!
Another shot echoed!
“Neighbor Wang killed ‘Sleeping in the Day’ with a Kar98k headshot!”
“Neighbor Wang killed ‘Rice for Money’ with an AWM headshot!”
Another headshot!
When these two kill notifications popped up, everyone was left in shock.
Yang Hao’s reflexes were terrifying—so fast that before anyone could react, the other player was already dead.
Twenty-one kills!
As the number flashed across the screen, everyone cast a glance at the calm and composed Yang Hao, their faces now tinged with an indescribable awe.
This man was formidable.
Switching back from the Kar98k to the AWM, Yang Hao ducked behind cover and began healing. Once his health was restored, he downed two energy drinks, slung both rifles across his back, and hopped into the car Zhang Tian had driven over.
Seeing this, the onlookers were momentarily taken aback.
Two sniper rifles?
They’d noticed this earlier in the heat of battle but hadn’t paid much attention. Most had assumed that once the fight was over, Yang Hao would swap out the Kar98k for something else—but he hadn’t.
“Two snipers? That’s some serious style!”
“No wonder he’s a pro—his playstyle is so aggressive!”
“Wow, I’m impressed!”
“That’s not something an ordinary player would dare!”
...
Sitting in the car, Yang Hao caught the murmurs behind him out of the corner of his eye, taking in the expressions of the crowd. A faint smile appeared on his face.
Why carry two sniper rifles?
A strategy?
Or simply personal preference?
No! No! No!
Anyone who knew Yang Hao understood: he did it purely to show off.
If not for flaunting, everything would lose its flavor.
...
Elsewhere.
Seeing the two new kill notifications flash across the screen, Gao He’s eyes darkened. He glanced over at Yang Hao’s position, at the crowd gathered behind him, and felt a difficult-to-describe sensation welling up inside.
He still remembered that before Yang Hao arrived, he was the one drawing the crowd’s attention and excitement. Gao He relished being in the spotlight—especially with several pretty girls among the onlookers; his vanity was thoroughly satisfied.
But now, it seemed the spotlight had shifted.
Gao He gritted his teeth in secret. Since the start of the game, he’d racked up nearly fifteen kills—a score worth boasting about. But Yang Hao’s tally was clearly superior. Though only a few kills separated them, in a game with just a hundred players spread across such a vast map, it was already difficult to encounter, let alone kill, more than ten opponents in a single match. With so few players left, there was no telling how many more opportunities he would get. Catching up to Yang Hao’s kill count was almost impossible.
Just moments ago, he’d mocked Yang Hao in front of Xu Zihao, belittling him as worthless—only to be utterly humiliated before the match was over.
Thinking of this, Gao He steeled himself: when it came down to the final circle, he would show his true skills and reclaim his pride.
So what if the other had more kills?
As long as he defeated him in the end, the spotlight would return to him.
...
“Neighbor Wang killed ‘Hit Me If You Can’ with an AWM headshot!”
A few minutes later, when this kill notification appeared, Gao He’s heart sank.
Twenty-seven kills!
But that wasn’t the main issue.
The crucial point was that only their two squads remained in the final circle.
The other team was still at full strength with four players, while his own squad was down to two—two of his teammates had been headshotted by the enemy while entering the final zone.
What really worried him, though, was the enemy sniper. As long as that sniper remained standing, his team’s numerical disadvantage would be a crippling weakness.
Just then, Gao He’s pupils contracted.
He could clearly see two players advancing toward their position.
The enemy was on the attack!