Legacy of the Stars

1. Initial Tension

The morning after the intense team meeting was filled with silence. The air was heavy with tension, unspoken thoughts, and the feeling that they were under invisible surveillance. Liu Cheng sat at the table in the common area, staring silently at his laptop. On the screen was a list of files from the USB drive, many of them encrypted.

Lin Mei entered the room with a cup of coffee in hand, quietly sitting beside him. "What's the next step?" she asked softly.

"First," Liu Cheng replied, not taking his eyes off the screen, "we need to make sure this data is protected. If they get hold of it, we lose everything."

Lin Mei nodded. "Zhang Wei already suspects something. If he finds out how far we're going, this could blow up in our faces."

Liu Cheng sighed and closed the laptop. "We need to gather the team. If we're going to keep digging, everyone needs to be involved. This isn't something we can solve alone."

---

2. The Team Faces the Truth

Liu Cheng and Lin Mei decided to gather the team in a private room within the arena, far from potential eavesdroppers. Zhang Wei sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, his skepticism clear. Chen Rui and the others looked confused but listened intently as Liu Cheng began presenting the evidence.

"We found this on the USB," Liu Cheng began, connecting his laptop to the projector. "These are encrypted messages between someone within the tournament organization and external saboteurs. Their goal is to manipulate match outcomes, including ours."

A series of time-stamped logs appeared on the screen, including messages that pointed to the glitches during their matches. Lin Mei highlighted one of them:

"Target: Glory International. Eliminate by semifinals. Method: Technical manipulation and psychological pressure."

The silence was deafening. The tension was palpable, and Zhang Wei was the first to break it. "And how do we know this isn't fake? These messages could easily be fabricated."

"Phantom wouldn't go to such lengths to stop us if it were fake," Liu Cheng retorted coldly. "Every threat we've received, every technical issue—it all leads back to these messages."

Chen Rui shifted nervously in his seat. "If this is true, then what? What can we do against something this big?"

"We fight," Liu Cheng said resolutely. "We won't stop until we uncover who's behind this."

"But what if this jeopardizes our position in the tournament?" Zhang Wei asked, raising his voice. "If it gets out that we're investigating the organizers, we could be disqualified."

"Disqualification is better than letting them destroy us," Lin Mei countered. "This isn't just about winning. This is about honor."

The team remained divided, but after a long debate, they agreed to move forward, on the condition that everything remained strictly confidential.

---

3. New Threats

Later that day, Liu Cheng received a new message from Phantom:

"Final warning. If you continue, you will be stopped."

Lin Mei, standing behind him as he read it, clenched her fists. "They're watching us. We have to assume they're monitoring everything we do."

"That means they're scared," Liu Cheng replied. "If we back down now, they win."

However, suspicion within the team continued to grow. Zhang Wei became increasingly unapproachable, while Chen Rui and the others seemed barely able to cope with the stress of the situation. The atmosphere was so tense that every conversation ended in whispers.

---

4. An Unexpected Ally

During their evening training session, Liu Cheng and Lin Mei noticed they were being followed by an unfamiliar individual. It was a young woman in an official tournament uniform. Instead of fleeing when discovered, she approached them.

"We need to talk," she said quietly. "I'm not here to harm you."

Her seriousness confused them. Liu Cheng led her to an empty room, where she revealed her name—Jiang Yan, a technical analyst working for the tournament.

"I know what you're doing," she admitted. "And I know your accusations are true. This isn't the first time such manipulation has happened. I want to help you, but you need to be careful. They'll do whatever it takes to stop you."

Liu Cheng listened intently. "Why are you risking helping us?"

"Because I was a target once too," she said. "I know what it's like to be on this side of the system."

5. The Web Grows

Jiang Yan leaned against the table, her voice barely above a whisper. "What you're dealing with isn't just sabotage. This is an organized effort with high-level involvement. If you push too hard, they won't hesitate to make you disappear from this tournament—and beyond."

Liu Cheng frowned, his mind racing. "You're saying this goes deeper than just manipulating matches?"

Jiang Yan nodded. "There are sponsors, influential figures, and even some team managers involved. For them, controlling the outcome of these games is about money, power, and maintaining their grip on the scene. If you expose them, they lose everything."

Lin Mei crossed her arms. "Then why help us? What's in it for you?"

Jiang Yan hesitated before answering. "I've been complicit in this system for years. I've seen teams torn apart, careers ruined, and lives destroyed—all for the sake of their agenda. Helping you... it's my way of making amends."

Liu Cheng exchanged a glance with Lin Mei. "What do you know about Phantom?"

Jiang Yan's face darkened. "Phantom is... complicated. I don't know their real identity, but I know they work for the same people orchestrating this mess. They're not your ally, but they're not entirely your enemy either. Phantom is a shadow, moving between worlds to protect their interests."

Lin Mei stepped forward. "If you know all this, then you must have access to more evidence. We need something concrete to confront them."

"I can get you what you need," Jiang Yan said, her voice firm. "But it'll take time. In the meantime, be careful. Don't let anyone outside your team know you're working with me."

She handed Liu Cheng a small, unmarked USB. "This has logs of previous sabotage incidents. It's not much, but it's a start. Use it wisely."

As Jiang Yan left the room, Liu Cheng felt the weight of her words settling over him. The battle they were fighting wasn't just against other teams—it was against an invisible, all-encompassing force.

---

6. The Match Begins

The tension was palpable as Glory International prepared for their next match. The opposing team, Shadow Blaze, was notorious for their aggressive tactics and unpredictable strategies. As Liu Cheng reviewed their plans, he couldn't shake the feeling that Jiang Yan's warning wasn't just about Phantom—it was about what might happen on the field.

"Remember," Zhang Wei said as the team gathered around, "Shadow Blaze thrives on chaos. Stick to the plan, and don't let them dictate the pace."

Chen Rui nodded, his face pale but determined. Lin Mei adjusted her headset, glancing at Liu Cheng. "We'll handle this," she said softly. "You just keep us together."

As the match began, Shadow Blaze immediately launched an aggressive offensive. Their striker, a player known as "Viper," broke through Glory International's defenses with calculated precision.

"Defensive formation!" Liu Cheng called out, his voice steady despite the pressure. "Chen Rui, fall back and support Lin Mei!"

The team adjusted quickly, countering Shadow Blaze's attacks and maintaining control. But just as they began to gain the upper hand, a familiar glitch struck. Lin Mei's character froze mid-action, leaving her vulnerable.

"Not again," Lin Mei muttered, frantically trying to regain control.

"Focus!" Liu Cheng barked. "Switch positions! Zhang Wei, cover Lin Mei until she's back!"

Zhang Wei hesitated for a split second but followed the command. The team managed to hold their ground, but the glitches became more frequent, targeting different players each time.

"This isn't random," Liu Cheng muttered under his breath. "They're testing us."

---

7. A Bold Move

Halfway through the match, Liu Cheng made a daring call. "We're switching to strategy Delta. Lin Mei, take point. Chen Rui, prepare for a counterattack. Zhang Wei, hold the line."

Zhang Wei frowned. "Delta? That's a high-risk strategy. Are you sure?"

"Trust me," Liu Cheng said firmly. "We have to take control before they overwhelm us."

The team executed the strategy with precision, catching Shadow Blaze off guard. Lin Mei's movements were calculated, her attacks perfectly timed. Chen Rui delivered a critical blow that shifted the momentum in their favor.

But just as victory seemed within reach, Phantom made their move. A massive glitch affected the entire system, throwing the match into chaos. Players from both teams experienced lag, erratic controls, and disconnections.

"What's happening?" Chen Rui yelled.

"Stay calm!" Liu Cheng shouted. "Adapt to the situation. Play defensively until we figure this out."

Despite the chaos, Glory International managed to maintain their lead. Liu Cheng's quick thinking and adaptability kept the team together, and they secured a narrow victory.

---

8. Aftermath and Revelations

In the locker room, the team's celebration was subdued. The glitches had marred their victory, and the reality of their situation was impossible to ignore.

"We need to report this," Lin Mei said, breaking the silence.

"To who?" Zhang Wei countered, his tone bitter. "The same people who are sabotaging us?"

"Jiang Yan might have more answers," Liu Cheng interjected. "She said she'd help us. For now, we focus on the next match and keep digging."

Zhang Wei stood, his expression unreadable. "I hope you know what you're doing, Liu Cheng. If this backfires, it's on you."

As Zhang Wei walked away, Lin Mei turned to Liu Cheng. "We're running out of time. Whatever Jiang Yan finds, it better be enough."

"It will be," Liu Cheng said, his voice filled with determination. "We're not just fighting for ourselves. We're fighting for everyone who's been silenced."