Chapter 301 Speaking with Skill
The mere mention of the game sent a surge of excitement coursing through Alyssa. "Bring it on," she declared, a fiery determination in her eyes. "It's high time I showcased my vastly improved skills."
However, the outcome of the round was predictable. Alyssa was defeated. Reese, after all, had been a hotshot in the gaming world, a player coveted by top-tier teams.
Even though Alyssa had benefited greatly from King's mentorship in recent days, she was still no match for Reese.
Drained, Alyssa slumped onto the couch, her voice tinged with frustration. "Competing against you is pure masochism, Reese. I put everything into it, calculated every move, but still, it was futile."
Reese, however, was genuinely impressed. Alyssa had made significant strides, largely due to King's guidance. "You improve by practicing with professionals," Reese said, patting Alyssa's shoulder in a reassuring manner. "You've come a long way. I believe with your current skills, you're ready to venture out on your own—no more need for substitutes."
Rumors had been circulating, and if Alyssa continued to have Reese step in for her, people would soon catch on. It was time for Alyssa to stand on her own.
Alyssa's face was a mix of surprise and delight at Reese's praise. She grabbed Reese's arm, her excitement barely contained. "Really? Do you think I'm ready to go solo? I'm still somewhat apprehensive. What if they notice the difference in play style?"
Reese chuckled at the worry evident in Alyssa's eyes. "You care more than you let on. You value your fans greatly, don't you? Trust me, you'll do just fine. Just log in and play naturally—no need to overexplain."
Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.
The moment Alyssa logged in, the chatroom erupted with comments.
"She's finally playing for herself! The bottom-dweller who got others to play is actually online!"
"She must be desperate. If she doesn't show up now, she can kiss her streaming career goodbye."
"But seriously, she's not here to make excuses, is she? That gameplay we saw before was clearly someone else's—way out of her league."
"I agree. It's ridiculous that she even had the gall to accept gifts from us while using a stand-in."
"Deceiving the audience? Get out of esports, get off the streaming platforms!"
"We should band together and report her. Let's see her struggle to stay relevant in the streaming world."
"Goodbye to streaming, goodbye to esports, someone like her doesn't deserve it."
Reading the comments felt like a punch in the gut for Alyssa.
Reese stood by her, offering words of strength. "Just focus on your own path, and don't listen to them. The journey is yours to make and the choices are yours to take. They're just talk, but you're the one who truly shapes your future."
Why let irrelevant opinions weigh you down? It would be an exhausting way to live.
No one knows you better than you do.
Hearing Reese's words, Alyssa felt a sense of clarity wash over her, as if she had found enlightenment amidst the chaos. "Yeah, why should I let unrelated folks sway my own judgment and my own path? They just run their mouths—talking is easy, but they have no clue about the struggle and the effort that goes into every little bit, every single day. Only I know the real deal," she mused.
She had put in her time, relentlessly practicing her gaming skills into the wee hours of the night, striving to master each character as if it were her calling. She certainly wasn't one to slack off.
Even when Reese stepped in as a substitute player, she didn't just sit around. While he played on her behalf, she continued to work hard behind the scenes.
Alyssa seemed to have an epiphany. Instead of wasting her breath arguing with naysayers, she went live, boldly positioning the camera on herself and her room. Reese just sat by her side, unfazed by the attention.
After all, these viewers didn't know her identity. Now was the chance to prove her skill; at this juncture, it was the only way.
Once the game began, Alyssa quickly found her groove, her mind racing with when to attack, predicting her opponents' moves, and anticipating their abilities.
King had once advised her, it's not enough to know your own character; you must have a basic understanding of all the characters in the game, their abilities, the damage and effects they can have on you. Only then can you effectively dodge and counter.
Back in the day, she'd only focus on offense, clueless about the enemy's abilities and the pressure they could exert.
Now, she kept an eye on her adversaries and was mindful of her own moves.
Mid-game, Alyssa snagged a five-kill streak, ultimately dominating the arena. The rival team, all five of them, couldn't handle her.
Her teammates cheered, "Incredible!"
"Do we even need to show up? This is a guaranteed win!"
"Can I add you as a friend? We're totally depending on you from here on out."
"That was amazing. I've played countless games, but this is a first."
"Your moves are so smooth!"
Even Alyssa's former critics were flabbergasted.
"What just happened? Did I see that right?"
"No glitches on my end either, surely she's not faking it?"
"It doesn't look like a stand-in. Just look how focused she is."
"Was the gossip all wrong?"
"Guess so. These skills can match any top gamer. Remember when she ruled the league? No one was a match, and her strategies—spot on."
The stream's chat flooded with praise and astonishment at Alyssa's performance, bringing a smile to her face.
Turns out heeding Reese's advice was spot-on; actions really do speak louder than words.
If she had spent her time explaining herself, probably, they'd still remain unconvinced.
She knew well that proving herself in action trumped a whole night's worth of explanations. After just a few rounds, Alyssa had tot ally shrugged off the negative chatter.
When it was finally over, she let out a deep breath of relief.
"Oh my God, Reese, that was absolutely exhausting."
Reese raised an eyebrow, "But it paid off, didn’t it?"
The weight that had been on Alyssa's chest for days had lifted, and she nodded incessantly.
"Yeah, it really did. Not only that, but my follower count has even spiked."
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