As teams swapped sides for the second half, Noah checked the scoreboard with mixed feelings about his performance. His individual statistics were impressive, but the team score reflected the reality of competing against organised professionals with two drunkards.
Fortunately, something positive emerged from those challenging twelve rounds of competition.
[Your Gaming skill has reached level 3!]
Throughout those same twelve rounds, Noah had gradually learnt some good positioning and tactical things from the other team.
During those rounds, he had also checked the usernames of those against him. They weren’t weak at all, and he was shocked.
He was up against his own cousin’s professional team!
The discovery added personal stakes to what had been simple evening entertainment, though Noah’s streamer mode continued hiding his identity from the opposing team.
Meanwhile, in Ethan’s team chat, animated discussion centered on their mysterious opponent’s capabilities.
"That defender’s aim is absolutely insane," the captain observed with professional appreciation mixed with suspicion. "I’m starting to wonder if he’s using assistance software."
"His crosshair placement is perfect," added another teammate. "Every shot lands exactly where he aims, like he’s got some kind of aimbot running."
Ethan nodded in agreement, having witnessed several impossible shots that defied normal human reaction time. "What’s weird is that his game sense doesn’t match his aim. His positioning and decision-making are maybe semi-professional level at best."
That’s what’s throwing them off. Enhanced reflexes without corresponding game knowledge.
"Semi-pros don’t have aim like that," the coach interjected from his observer position. "Something doesn’t add up about this player."
"Should we report for investigation?" asked their support player.
"Let’s finish the match first," the captain decided. "If he’s cheating, the anti-cheat system will catch it. If he’s legitimate, we’re witnessing something incredible."
The professional team had been forced to completely adjust their strategy, focusing multiple players on neutralising Noah’s position specifically rather than executing the tactical setups they had practised.
The attacking portion began with a completely transformed dynamic. Noah’s team, having witnessed his incredible individual performances during five impossible clutch situations, now regarded him with the respect typically reserved for those at the top.
"Alright, what’s the plan?" asked his team’s entry fragger, his tone carrying deference that hadn’t existed at the match’s beginning.
"Yeah, you’ve been carrying us hard," added another teammate. "We’ll follow your calls."
He had complete trust from random teammates. That’s what clutching five 1v5 situations earned him.
Before reaching Level 3 gaming skill, Noah’s knowledge had been insufficient to create comprehensive strategies against professional opposition. His reflexes could win him duels, but coordinated team play required understanding that went beyond raw mechanical skill.
But now, with his upgraded gaming abilities, Noah found himself analysing the professional team’s previous tactics with understanding that hadn’t existed during the defensive half.
I can now understand their rotational timings, their utility usage patterns, and their preferred angles. Level 3 gaming skill has shown me the strategic layer behind their previous steps.
"Listen up," Noah announced, confident in his next play. "I’ve been watching their defensive setups for twelve rounds. Here’s what we’re going to do."
His plan emerged with strategic sophistication that surprised even himself. "They’re over-rotating to counter my individual plays, which creates predictable gaps in their defensive coverage."
Use their adaptation against them. Professional teams are creatures of habit once they establish patterns.
"I need two of you to execute a loud, obvious push on the main site," Noah continued, his tactical thinking operating at levels his previous gaming skill couldn’t have achieved. "Draw their rotational response, then immediately fall back. Although this is a very basic tactic that is known by everyone, they will not expect it. We have not used it once since the game began."
His teammates listened with growing respect as Noah outlined a complex bait-and-switch strategy that would exploit the professional team’s disciplined rotational habits.
"That’s going to get us killed," observed their support player with understandable concern.
"That’s the point, your deaths create the opening that wins us the round. Are you willing to sacrifice for team victory?"
Sacrificial tactics. Using teammates as strategic resources rather than trying to keep everyone alive.
The team exchanged a few words before accepting the plan. "If you think it’ll work, we’re in."
"Good. I’ll be flanking through their weak rotation while they’re focused on your distraction. Trust the plan."
The round began with Noah’s teammates executing their sacrificial assault with convincing aggression. Their attack looked genuine enough that Ethan’s professional team responded exactly as predicted.
"Rotate, rotate!" called Ethan’s captain as defenders moved to reinforce against the apparent main push. "Standard defensive adjustment!"
In more advanced games, they would have never done such a thing; it would definitely lead to a loss. But the people against them really didn’t have such a skill level; they were just unlucky to face them in quick play.
The reason they wanted to rotate immediately was because they didn’t want Noah to pick them off one by one; it would be tragic.
But as the professional team shifted their positioning, Noah moved through the gaps their rotation had created.
Noah’s aim eliminated two defenders before they realised their rotational response had been manipulated into creating exactly the vulnerability he needed.
"What the hell?" came Ethan’s voice through his team’s chat. "He was lurking!"
The remaining defenders fell to Noah’s reaction time and insane aim as he cleared the site with speed that was simply outrageous.
"Round won," Noah announced to his celebrating teammates. "Same strategy next round, different site. They won’t expect us to do it twice, also we have the advantage. Someone buy me, I need a powerful gun."
Immediately, someone used all his credits and bought Noah the most powerful rifle. He was left with no utility or guns for himself, but who cared? Noah himself was like a whole team, and arming him meant arming a whole team, no, in fact, it was better!
Meanwhile, in Ethan’s team chat, confused voices tried to process what had just occurred.