Chapter 1666 - Don’t Cry, Lu Boyuan
The King's Avatar
Translator: Nomyummi Editor: Nomyummi
16%.
Lu Boyuan looked at the health remaining on Chaotic Cloudy Mountain.
There wasnât much health left, but he couldnât retreat. He knew what target Tang Rou was charging toward, and he was determined to strike at her head-on.
Chaotic Cloudy Mountain rushed forth. At the center of the canyon, the two characters met. Tang Rouâs style was always to charge without hesitation, and her common starting move was the powerful attack Dragon Breaks the Ranks.
Lu Boyuan had memorized all of this, and as soon as Soft Mist appeared in his view, he was already bracing himself. Chaotic Cloudy Mountain no longer traveled in a straight line, and instead began to advance in an unpredictable roundabout way, to prevent Soft Mist from breaking through with a single Dragon Breaks the Ranks.
It seemed like Tang Rou didnât care about that much. Soft Mistâs movement was as straight as ever, but her camera view was tracking Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs nonstop movement, keeping him in the center of her field of view.
He had chosen this kind of roundabout movement for two reasons. One was to prevent Tang Rou from using her normal method of Dragon Breaks the Ranks, and the other was that this was a common method of closing in on the opponent.
Compared to Gunners and other Mages, Battle Mages and Grapplers were both close-range attackers. But comparing a Battle Mage and a Grappler, there was still a difference in their attack ranges.
The attack range of a Grappler was basically the length of a characterâs arms, within two units of distance. As for Battle Mages? Their attack range included not only the length of their arms but the length of their weapon. With that, their attack range could reach a max of five or even six units. So to Grapplers, Battle Mages were also long-range attackers. Breaking through that six-unit range to get to two units, completing the close-in, was a difficult problem to solve.
Grapplerâs skills tended to focus on pure damage. Not including the skills of the other Fighter classes, there was basically no way to restrict, control, or distract the opponent. Movement was the most realistic way.
Today, Lu Boyuan had chosen to put the skill Cloud Body on Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs weapon. It strengthened his movement ability.
The two characters moved closer and closer, gradually nearing a distance of ten units.
Tang Rou had held back on Dragon Breaks the Ranks. Right now, with just a few more steps, she could directly initiate attack.
Lu Boyuan suddenly changed the rhythm of Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs movement. Originally, he had been moving around 70% vertically and 30% horizontally. But with a sharp turn, his horizontal movement suddenly changed to 80%, and his vertical advance was only at 20%.
Instantly, the speed at which the two characters were approaching slowed down. Chaotic Cloudy Mountain, using a large horizontal movement, was swiftly moving to flank Soft Mist.
Ordinary gamers might not have been able to detect much, but in the eyes of the pros, this was an extremely old and clever way of using a rhythm change to create a time disparity.
Once Tang Rou had gotten accustomed to the approach speed of the opponent, if the opponent suddenly changed speed and direction, her reaction would be slowed by a half a beat or a beat.
When close-range classes fought, they needed to take the initiative. One beat or half a beat, that was enough to separate who was faster and who was slower.
Lu Boyuan seized the initiative!
The angle of attack chosen after changing the rhythm was also chosen very well. Chaotic Cloudy Mountain cut into Soft Mistâs attack range, but Tang Rouâs field of view couldnât keep up. She hastily spun, but she was too slow, Chaotic Cloudy Mountain was right next to her, but she couldnât catch him in her sights. She was only off by that half-beat.
Take the lead first!
Chaotic Cloudy Mountain was already reaching a hand toward Soft Mist.
But a streak of red light suddenly swept across his waist!
Tyrantâs Destruction!
Soft Mistâs sight hadnât arrived, but her attack had.
Just when Chaotic Cloudy Mountain was about to grab Soft Mist, he was sent flying by this Tyrantâs Destruction.
Slow by half a beat?
Yes, she was slow.
But this half-beat slow wasnât because Tang Rouâs reaction was slow. It wasnât because she had fallen into the trap laid by Lu Boyuanâs sudden change in rhythm.
She was slow by half a beat because she hadnât used her vision to chase Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs movement. She had instead opted to directly control Soft Mist to use an attack.
The control and launch of a Tyrantâs Destruction would always be a bit slower than turning oneâs camera.
This was where the delay had come from.
But in the end, Chaotic Cloudy Mountain was sent flying.
Falling Flower Palm!
Soft Mist slid and forced a palm out, toward the flying Chaotic Cloudy Mountain. With a boom, the palm hit, sending Chaotic Cloudy Mountain flying out even faster, toward the canyon wall behind him. After the Falling Flower Palm hit, the Fire Chaser it generated shot toward him and exploded against him, swallowing him in a burst of red fire.
Chaotic Cloudy Mountain took even more damage. Soft Mistâs arms were already wreathed in the strength buff granted by the Fire Chaser, and Soft Mist charged forward, Dragon Breaks the Ranks!
Dancing Fire Flowing Flame was instantly in front of Chaotic Cloudy Mountain. Soft Mist didnât reduce her momentum. Forward, continue forward.
Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs back finally slammed against the canyon wall, sending a boom echoing through the canyon. It was clear how forceful the blow had been. But his path didnât stop there â his body actually continued to sink into the mountain wall, leaving a hole into the stone.
Dancing Fire Flowing Flame had already completely penetrated Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs body. Right now, she was extremely close to the other character, at a distance of only one unit. For a Grappler, this was the optimal attack distance.
But Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs arms were stuck on both sides of his body, he had no way of lifting them. No matter how fast Lu Boyuanâs hand speed was, no matter how high his technique, no matter how strong his willpower, no matter how great his determination, he couldnât.
His health reached zero. Chaotic Cloudy Mountain died.
Tyrantâs Destruction, Falling Flower Palm, Fire Chaser, Dragon Breaks the Ranks.
Four attacks surpassed the 16% damage needed to end the life of Lu Boyuanâs Chaotic Cloudy Mountain.
Victory was decided. The winner, Happyâs Tang Rou.
The stadium hadnât even reacted yet. In the broadcast, Pan Lin and Li Yiboâs analysis of Lu Boyuanâs clever rhythm change came to an abrupt stop.
What more was there to analyze? Lu Boyuanâs Chaotic Cloudy Mountain was already dead. Victory was already announced.
No one had really expected Lu Boyuan to win with Chaotic Cloudy Mountainâs remaining 16% health, but this loss was a bit too quick and neat, wasnât it?
The stadium was quiet for a while, until finally, the cheers and applause of Happyâs fans rose up from a corner of the stadium.
Samsaraâs fans seemed to be at a loss. They didnât know how they should respond to the cheers of the opposing fans. Tang Rouâs clean victory had left them speechless.
Happyâs cheers resounded in Samsaraâs stadium for quite a while before finally being suppressed by the random noisemakers of Samsaraâs fans. They could only take advantage of their numbers, because right now, they didnât have any unified slogan to shout. They couldnât stand up together and yell âdonât cry Lu Boyuan,â right?