Thepetition was a best-of-three series, and the first round ended just as expected, with Vortex Esports losing to Shadow Reapers.


    Arabe ripped off her headphones and snapped at the opposing team, "You guys just ganged up on me because I can''t y well. How does that count you capable? Shame on you!"


    She was not one to handle any sort of setback gracefully, and her temper red like a bonfire.


    The captain of Shadow Reapers chuckled. "Winning and losing isn''t on just one person. You''re part of Vortex Esports, so of course we''re going to target you. Do you think we should just let you win?"


    Arabe red at him, biting her lip forcibly.


    Another teammate chimed in with a smirk, "You''ve got your brother with you. If he decided to bring you along, we can''t just go easy on you, can we? This is a teampetition.


    Honestly, I didn''t expect you to not practice at all. You can''t even use your skills properly. Good thing your brother picked you, saved us from the hassle."


    Miranda, watching the scene unfold with amused detachment, propped her chin on her hand, a small smile ying on her lips. "Looks like we won''t be facing Vortex Esports in the exhibition match." Sebastian frowned. "Is this really Ms. Hawke?"


    His tone was tinged with disdain.


    Arabe turned to Sebastian, her eyes welling with tears of grievance.


    "Maybe it''s just how she was raised," Mirandamented, her words perfectly timed.


    The chat exploded with people copying Miranda''s remark, questioning the Hawke family''s upbringing. Arabe shot a look of hatred at Miranda and then turned to Lysander. "Lysander, you better protect me in the next round."


    Lysander stayed silent, his teammates'' expressions grim.


    The second match began swiftly but ended predictably, mirroring the first. With two losses in a row, there was no need for a third game. Shadow Reapers secured their spot in the exhibition match with the guest teams.


    Lysander watched Miranda take her seat for the exhibition match, staring nkly, clearly not expecting to lose.


    His teammates grumbled, "You just had to pick her."


    "You know how your sister ys."


    "Her skills aside, she doesn''t even practice with us. Did you really think you could carry her?" "Exactly, and insisting on saving her."


    Theirints were loud; they''d held grudges against Arabe about her earlier remarks of recing them and losing the game only deepened the feeling. Content. belongs to


    Thesements were a heavy burden on Lysander''s heart. Seeing Miranda''s mocking nce made him feel even more ashamed.


    Meanwhile, Arabe continued to


    use Shadow Reapers of targeting her, calling it unfair. When they tried to console her, Arabe''s anger only grew seeing Miranda in the exhibition match seat.


    Teeth gritted, she sneered, "She can''t y either, yet she''s allowed in the final match? This show is so biased."


    She couldn''t fathom why, despite the Hawke family''s investment, the show seemed to favor Miranda. The host awkwardly tried to diffuse the tension. "Alright, alright, Arabe, don''t be upset."


    Miranda, still smiling, turned to Arabe. "If you have what it takes, why don''t you take my spot?" Arabe''s face soured.


    "If you don''t have the skills, don''t


    make excuses. Otherwise, you''ll just


    end updosing, just as ugly as before." Miranda''s eyes drifted to


    Lysander and said deliberately, "Isn''t


    that right, Lysander?"


    She was clearly taunting him as well. Lysander remembered how he had boasted about beating her in the


    game, only to find himself not even qualifying to y.


    Sebastian adjusted his headset, nced at Miranda, and reminded her, "Game''s about to start."


    Miranda put on her headset and picked up her phone, but identally opened a familiar ck market webpage.