CHAPTER 238: WARSTAR RPG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL; ECHELON VS PHOENIX RISING [1]

The semifinal of the English playoffs was over.

And the 2 finalists were concluded.

[Warstar RPG Champions League Final: Echelon vs Phoenix Rising]

After a grueling 38-matchday season, and a short but engaging quarterfinal and semifinal clash in the playoffs, the most anticipated game in every season of the English Pro Alliance was finally here.

The Warstar RPG Champions League Final was here.

Multiple news channels in England covered the exciting events of the semifinal on their front cover page.

[English Warstar TV:]

["Echelon tears Cyber Squad apart with a flawless 6-0 victory in the Warstar RPG Champions League semifinal to secure a spot in the final. It’s another new record by Echelon; they’re the first English club to make it all the way to the Warstar RPG Champions League final in their debut season."]

...

[Warstar Sports Channel:]

["It’s Echelon vs Phoenix Rising in the final. It’s a record-breaking final matchup. With God Noah and Gabriel in the lineup of both sides, both with Lord Doom and Dain Ironvalor, predictions say it’s going to be the best final in the history of the Warstar RPG Champions League."]

Not just these 2 news channels, multiple Warstar-related news channels in England, even non-Warstar related channels broadcasted the hype of the playoffs that was sweeping through England like a plague.

Every year, the highlight of the season was the playoffs. Though it was short, it was a tournament filled with thrilling and exciting moments.

This season’s playoffs were no different.

With Cyber Squad being eliminated in such fashion, news channels had more than enough juicy news to post in their channels for the next 3 days till the final on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.

Besides, the pro players added even more flame to the already blazing fire of the Warstar RPG Champions League final.

After losing to Phoenix Rising in the semifinal, Jonathan shameless faced the media and called Noah out. He didn’t call Noah out to troll him though, rather...

"Bastard, well, it’s clear now that I can’t defeat Gabriel".

"Make sure you don’t lose to him too you smug blindweed, or what’ll they say about the old generation like us? They’d say we’re washed and useless, so you better win against Gabriel and his team".

At first, the reporters were confused, then one of them asked. "Jonathan, are you addressing Noah directly from the media?"

"What else did you think? I want them to win".

"Do you think they stand a chance?"

Hearing that question, Jonathan smirked. "In all my years of knowing Noah, I’ve always known him for not losing. And when he loses, he never loses twice".

"That bastard is not like me," he said with a pitiful look on his face, but then he brightened up. "Noah already lost to Gabriel once. Trust me, he won’t lose a second time".

"Heck, I still think it’s a miracle that Gabriel and his team managed to win against Noah 2 years ago".

"I’m excited too, I can’t wait to see how it goes, but since Scarlet Rose is out of the competition, I’m team Echelon".

Not just Jonathan, Caster also faced the media in the aftermath of Cyber Squad’s humiliating loss against Echelon.

When questioned by the reporters, Caster simply stared at them and replied. "I believe Noah is the best player in the league this season, and Echelon is the best team, so I see them winning".

And just like that, it seemed like the whole world supported Echelon, expecting them to win, automatically branding Phoenix Rising as the underdogs.

In his past 5 years in the English Pro Alliance since his club won their first league title and Warstar RPG Champions League, it’s been so long that Gabriel already forgot how it felt to be the underdog.

And yet, here he was again, a complete cycle.

In Phoenix Rising’s home building, rounding up their final training sessions for the final, Gabriel faced his teammates.

"It’s us versus the world".

"They think we’re the underdogs. They expect us to lose, let’s shock them".

"Let’s prove them wrong".

Time moved fast.

Day 1 of the wait to the final was completed uneventfully. Day 2 followed roughly the same script, and then Day 3 also passed.

Finally, it was D-day.

Just like last 2 seasons when Phoenix Rising clashed with Cyber Squad in the Warstar RPG Champions League, it was an all-London final.

Both clubs arrived at Wembley Stadium on time to witness a packed stadium.

For the final of the Warstar RPG Champions League final this time, the energy tipped even more in Echelon’s favor as their club owner, Nightingale was the music superstar who anchored the pre-game show.

After the performance, the players entered their player booths to loud cheers from the fans, and then it started.

[LOADING...]

[FIRST ROUND: INDIVIDUAL BATTLE]

[Lord Doom vs Stinger of War]

The first individual battle was the rematch that millions of fans of the English Pro Alliance wanted.

Gabriel didn’t shirk the responsibility.

Since losing to God Noah in the humiliating 10-0 game, Gabriel had gone back to the basics, shored up on everything, making his skillset grounded and unshakably solid. He entered the arena eager for revenge.

[Arena: Throne of Dawnfire]

The arena is a radiant battlefield formed from living gold and smoldering obsidian. Two majestic statues overlooked the battleground; one of a mage cloaked in flame, the other of a knight wielding a radiant sword.

The entire stage pulsed with light and heat, a fitting ground for titans.

The commentator booth was energetic, literally bubbling with energy and excitement that mirrored that of the fans.

Eli Castor, the main commentator of the final started in his attention-grapping voice.

"And here it is!" The first battle of the final! It’s Lord Doom versus the indomitable wall of Phoenix Rising, Stinger of War!"

"The Combat Mage versus the Paladin," Vera Nacht, his assistant added. "Magic against steel. Aggression against resilience. Buckle in, this is going to be seismic".

"We’ve seen this before," Eli chipped in. "In the league, we saw this exact fixture twice, and both times, God Noah and his Lord Doom won".

"Can he do it again?"

"Will Gabriel and Dain Ironvalor allow it?"

It was while the commentators talked that it started.

The moment the signal echoed through the golden chamber, Stinger of War charged like a meteor, his tower shield glowing with divine resonance.

His Celestial Armor set glowed with embedded sigils that also engulfed his shield as he activated Holy Ground, creating an aura dome that repelled all magic within a ten meter radius.

Lord Doom didn’t flinch.

Wreathed in his radiant white and gold armor, his red cloak fluttering behind him, the Avatar tilted its head, and calmly raised Aetherforge, the crystalline staff forged from starfire itself.

Lord Doom murmured a phrase, almost inaudible to the crown.

Then the runes on his battle lance flared, and the air shimmered as a singularity orb formed behind him.

BOOM!

With a blink step, he vanished and reappeared just outside the dome.

{Aether Whiplash=}

A whip of pure arcane force crashed against Dain Ironvalor’s shield with concussive power.

Stinger of War parried, responding with Sanctified Slam, sending shockwaves through the arena. The ground cracked. Spectral wings flared behind him as he taunted Noah, planting his shield and calling down Heaven’s Verdict, a high level Paladin skill that summoned a storm of radiant spears falling from above.

But... behind his monitor, Noah’s expression was calm.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

His left hand tapped his keyboard, the right calmly controlling his mouse. It was a fast-paced and lethal opening between both Avatars.

Lord Doom raised Aetherforge while chanting.

"Reality is the canvas... I am the brush".

Suddenly...

{Aether Distortion=}

An Awakened level skill!

Space bent around Lord Doom, the spears curving mid-flight and crashing around Stinger of War instead, forcing him to retreat.

Halfway through, Stinger of War went on a rampage; buffs surging, popping his Divine Reckoning stance. The Paladin Avatar glowed, suddenly immune to knockback, immune to slows, striking like a blessed juggernaut.

And then, he crashed into Lord Doom, knocking him back with a combo of Shield Bash plus Lightburst and Divine Chain.

[CRITICIAL HIT!]

Lord Doom’s HP plummeted like a freely running tap, leaving at 28%.

And from there, it went south.

Dain Ironvalor fought and advanced like a Berserker, unstoppable.

With that crazy combo, he took initiative over the battle finally. As soon as he did, Gabriel entered the zone state and there was no going back.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

His fingers flew through his keyboard in a mirage.

On the big screen in the arena, Dain Ironvalor advanced, forcing Lord Doom on the defensive, reacting instead of attacking as the Paladin struck with his longsword, cleverly using his shield to keep him under pressure.

The crowd rose to their feet. Even Phoenix Rising fans believed their captain got Lord Doom and God Noah finally.

"STINGER HAS HIM!" Eli Caster screamed. "LORD DOOM IS IN THE RED!"

But Noah exhaled...

His eyes sharpened. The battlefield warped.

Time seemed to stop, and then...

BZZZ!

Lord Doom erupted.