Chapter 460: 15 Sen, is that you?

"Although I thought COL might have a better chance on Mirage, I didn't expect them to have such a big advantage in the end." Ma Xixi's tone was full of surprise.

For him and most of the audience, COL's performance in Map 1 was much more powerful than imagined.

The final score was locked at 13:5. It seems C9 got 5 rounds, and the overall gap wasn't a crushing situation, but in reality, in the confrontation in the match, C9 was suppressed and beaten the whole time.

Frontal gun duels couldn't be won, individual ability couldn't be compared, and tactical games couldn't be played.

You have to know that Mirage is a map that the vast majority of teams are good at. Every team has its own "three axes" on this map.

But as a team that had just reorganized during the off-season, COL almost crushed C9, which was really surprising.

"To be honest, the paper strength of this C9 roster is actually not bad." Ma Xixi analyzed. "Now Fat Ball has two great generals, Ax1Le and electronic, under his command, and the firepower is quite sufficient, but this firepower didn't play out as imagined."

Paper strength is ultimately paper strength. Whether there is a chemical reaction between players is quite important. If players are just 1+1=2, then Faze should have dominated the competitive stage a few years ago.

The hard strength of C9's few players is definitely there, it's just that combining them together always makes people feel something is missing.

"And the current COL is different. Nice is truly a monster."

Karrigan in the lounge evaluated with a smile, "He can make his teammates play very easily. It feels like NIKO has no psychological burden, and NIKO is gradually finding his state."

The post-match data of Map 1 was quickly released on the screen, and Faze members put more focus on COL's players.

NIKO: 25/6/11, Average Damage 142.2, Rating: 2.08

Nice: 20/2/12, Average Damage 102.3, Rating: 1.77

Danking: 15/3/10, Average Damage 74.1, Rating: 1.22

Elige:...

"This NIKO was awakened by Nice?" Rain looked at the kill information and felt a bit tricky.

He and NIKO are among the best brothers. To this day, he still misses the NIKO during the Faze period, and even in many interviews, when asked to choose a partner, he chose NIKO.

Because in his cognition, NIKO is truly the kind of player who can slaughter at will in the server.

It's just that this old brother of his has been a bit terrible since CS2.

The performance he put out has always been a bit sluggish.

It wasn't until this match today that it could be considered quite eye-catching.

"He does have the style of the GO era in this round, but Beifang also gave him the opportunity to perform." ropz saw it clearly.

He also understood in his heart that his good friend's transition to IGL was a success in general, and they would welcome a powerful opponent again next.

When several of the most terrifying firepower points in the world are concentrated in one team, and there is also a good, or even outstanding IGL, how terrifying will this team's firepower be?

They are looking forward to it, and also a bit worried.

Looking forward to seeing where the ceiling of the CSGO roster is, and worried about themselves.

After all, Faze's goal since its inception has been to strive for the championship.

If COL truly plays out its roster strength, they will welcome a very tricky strong enemy.

Broky yawned lazily on the side. "If you ask me, might as well go to KFC for some fries and let them play a Vertigo to be honest."

The other Faze members couldn't help but smile.

Although today's Mirage was indeed eye-catching, COL's Vertigo yesterday was indeed a bit abstract.

"Taken! Woohoo~" When the last kill appeared, NIKO raised his hands high and shouted happily.

Danking immediately winked on the side: "Not, popping champagne again? As expected of the nightclub little prince!"

NIKO didn't care about the teasing of the "Valorant player" on the side, but breathed a sigh of relief.

Losing the team's victory because of his performance on Vertigo yesterday put a lot of pressure on NIKO.

Fortunately, he slowly found his state today. Although he only won one map, his mood had already improved.

The IGL on the side saw him like this and stretched out his fist towards him.

NIKO didn't spoil the fun and bumped with Xu Beifang.

Xu Beifang bumped fists with the two teammates beside him, then snapped his fingers. "Brothers, Map 1 was played very well. I'm not encouraging you, Map 1 was really played very well."

This sentence was a bit convoluted, but the members could understand Xu Beifang's meaning.

"The offensive method I envisioned was realized in Map 1. Although there are still some flaws that need adjustment, everyone performed very well at this stage." After imagining the future, Xu Beifang brought the topic back to this match. "Next is Map 2, Ancient. To be honest, we haven't practiced this map many times, but don't have too much pressure, we have already won one map..."

JKS inserted: "The one with pressure now should be C9."

Xu Beifang nodded: "Especially since they suffered a miserable defeat on this map a few days ago, they might have even less confidence on this map."

Danking looked up. In the C9 match room diagonally in front, the atmosphere looked a bit silent.

He had chatted with Xu Beifang and knew this was the traditional skill of the CIS region, and the atmosphere had always been relatively high-pressure.

But now only Fat Ball was talking endlessly, and others seemed a bit absent-minded.

He thought C9 was using this time to adjust themselves. After all, C9 was almost broken by the end of Mirage.

However, in such a short time, can they really adjust back... Danking was a bit curious.

After a short halftime break, both sides entered the server again.

Map: Ancient

T: electronic, Hobbit, Boomb14, Ax1Le, Perfect0

CT: Nice, NIKO, Danking, Elige, JKS

The match officially started.

(Ancient map point details)

"COL crushed the whole way in the previous map, now coming to C9's selection map, let's wait and see what they can play!" Ma Xixi brought the emotions as usual and put his attention into the match.

"COL made a most conventional 212 opening here, Beifang went to the first lane with dual pistols, NIKO is hanging on the side, but C9 directly pushed fast, B Site directly came with a train!"

"Beifang listened to the movement in the second lane, Danking who was retaking gave a flash, Beifang used dual pistols to kill one, then another, and a third... unfortunately, he was headshot while blinded by Ax1Le."

Ma Xixi praised, "This flashbang was given well."

Xu Beifang cooperated with the flashbang to kill two head-on, so the others didn't need to be anxious, after all, it was already a numerical advantage.

The other three were all retaking from the front, now all concentrated in the first and second lanes, waiting for the smoke grenade to dissipate before starting to pull.

After the smoke grenade dissipated, Elige took the initiative to move from the second lane to scout information.

It was already determined that one was standing at the bomb site, and one was standing against the wall at the first lane corner.

Hearing the information from Elige, NIKO in the second lane peeked out directly and happened to see a big back-shot in front of him.

His hand feel was quite good today, so seeing the back-shot in front of him, he almost fired with conscious aiming.

But the moment he fired, the Terrorist in front of him suddenly moved in a small position, which led to him missing several shots in the back-shot.

Coach T. C standing behind instantly widened his eyes, because he watched the whole process, and he would have hit it if he were there.

"Damn your NIKO, back-shot again!" Ma Xixi looked silly. "Electronic turned his head and counter-killed him with one shot! The shadow of the third floor is always lingering!"

"However, Elige saved everything. He first killed the Terrorist at the bomb site, and also traded electronic!"

"3v1!"

Xu Beifang hurriedly reminded: "There's still quite a lot of time, don't be anxious to defuse, determine the position of the last person first, either in the Black Room or at B Long."

Hearing Xu Beifang's command, the three of them immediately moved.

Danking came to the bomb site and tapped the bomb, while JKS and Elige tacitly held both sides.

P-Marshal couldn't hold it anymore. After all, he wasn't sure if COL had a defuse kit. In this case, even if COL didn't have a defuse kit, he couldn't bet on it, so he directly found it from the Black Room, but the moment he peeked out, he saw two usps holding him, and he was instantly killed.

Danking finally quietly defused the bomb.

"Nice, Ji Ge!" Xu Beifang praised. "This wave is critical!"

He didn't make fun of NIKO's back-shot not being hit well, after all, CS2 back-shots are indeed hard to hit.

But as soon as he turned his head, he saw NIKO holding the mouse with a face full of doubt, and instantly felt a bit speechless.

The IEM official live broadcast room also replayed this scene, and the director happened to cut to NIKO's action of raising the mouse.

The bullet screen instantly started moving, and many viewers were amused.

【NIKO: I'll replace this broken mouse sooner or later】

【Press F to inspect mouse】

【As expected, NIKO is the man with the most accurate pistol head-on and side-on in the world】

【Fortunately, Ji Ge held it, otherwise Ni would have to carry a big pot this wave】

【How come NIKO is becoming more and more humorous after joining COL?】

【Gradually developing in the direction of a comedian, this old kayak is too interesting】

After laughing, everyone put their goals back into the match.

After winning the pistol round, Xu Beifang directly bought a full-armor FAMAS, Ji Ge bought a full-armor M4A1, and others were using MP9s.

"C9 chose a pure ECO in the second round, only equipped with a flashbang, so in this case, it's preparing to gather for an opportunity." Ma Xixi analyzed.

After entering CS2, in the case of losing the pistol round, pure ECO is a more rational decision, after all, the success rate of force buy is very low.

Fat Ball was also very calm, just chatting with a few brothers in the Terrorist home, playing a "drag" strategy, wanting to drag the time and consume some of COL's utility.

After Xu Beifang perceived C9's intention, he let the team maintain the formation and hold guns in place, which was enough. Since C9 planned to play a wave later, he would fight for reaction speed.

"There are 40 seconds left, and C9 has finally started pushing forward. They've reached the B-slope. Beifang is standing in the Second Middle, peeking the B-slope. What's the call here?"

Xu Beifang was peeking from the Second Middle, watching the entrance to B-Long and the bomb site. The mechanics of the current CS2 version have changed, and peeking now has higher priority, so he had to keep moving.

Then, as he peeked back again, he suddenly heard the sound of jumping footsteps coming from B-Long.

Xu Beifang immediately said in the voice channel: "B Long is here!"

NIKO was originally at the Black Room entrance, seeing this, he also started to adjust his position.

Xu Beifang peeked out directly, and immediately saw three Terrorists touching out.

He didn't fire anxiously, but quickly pulled back, doing a wave of position control.

Although he had a long gun and the opponent was just a Glock, being exposed to several people in an instant, he might be killed in seconds when he fired.

So he pulled back, controlling himself to expose only 1 person to look, and then fired.

"Da da!"

Headshot one, he peeked out again.

"Da da!"

The opponent pulled over to trade, Xu Beifang squatted down and sprayed, then stood up and actively came out to find people to fight.

"Beifang!! That world's number one FAMAS has returned, he directly killed all four people at the near point of B Long in one spray! Fat Ball wanted to play silent contact, default near point and give a flash to let them plant the bomb, but the flashbang was too late and the teammates were all dead!"

"Beifang's FAMAS only has two bullets left, but the confidence has been played out, today is just not changing!"

"Fat Ball peeked out, Beifang single-tapped, then tapped!"

"One spray of bullets completed five kills, Beifang is comfortable this wave!" Ma Xixi praised. "This trajectory control, although it was a wave of ECO, this position control, transfer spray, is not something ordinary people can do."

"Old treasure is not old!"

The match reached the first long gun round. Both sides were controlling the mid-round default, but Xu Beifang took NIKO and cooperated to press down from B Long.

Although Fat Ball had a feeling that something was wrong, he was finally caught by Xu Beifang, and the first kill was hit.

This round C9 originally planned to play a second-time B speed-up, but Fat Ball, this fulcrum, was killed, so they could only restart a wave of rotation attack.

Fat Ball commanded their attack to be quite slow, and it wasn't until 40 seconds that they started to move from VIP here.

A Long and VIP both brought pressure, so Xu Beifang took NIKO and touched out from the Jump Platform together, because the information released by the opponent was to play a wave of mid-round clamping A.

But what they didn't expect was that after Danking in VIP traded one person, C9 walked directly towards B from the bottom line.

Xu Beifang and NIKO's forward pressure directly missed. By the time they wanted to hit back in the second time, various gun positions had already been occupied.

And the rear-guard P-Marshal was also like a ghost, catching a timing and killing JKS, and making Elige crippled.

With this, this round was directly unplayable.

He could only command the team to encircle P-Marshal, and then save weapons.

"My problem, I was a bit taken for granted this wave, I should have left someone in B Site." Xu Beifang said.

NIKO comforted: "It's okay, the opponent played well this wave."

In professional confrontation, they have to admit their mistakes and also admit the opponent played outstandingly. Fat Ball's mid-round decision-making this wave was indeed eye-catching.

He bet that Xu Beifang's personality wouldn't honestly defend at B Site, and turned to B in the second time, playing a wave of "drawing the salary from the bottom of the pot."

Xu Beifang wanted to follow the opponent's footsteps and retake quickly, taking NIKO together mainly to increase room for error, having trade kill efficiency, and more possibilities later.

The decision had no big problems, it can only be said that Fat Ball did better in this round.

Why say that C9 directly ECOing in the second round is very rational, because it can prevent COL from accumulating economy.

This long gun round was lost, although two long guns were saved, their economy wasn't particularly good in the fourth round.

But although they had long guns, they didn't have much utility, so they became quite struggling in map control.

C9 is also a team good at this playstyle. Knowing COL had no money, Fat Ball pushed slowly, and then suddenly pressed over with a wave of explosive utility in the second time.

In the chaotic battle, they unfortunately didn't win this round in the end.

C9 gradually found the rhythm of the match on their own map.

In the next few rounds, C9's offensive was also very fierce.

It wasn't until the score reached 2:5 that Coach Xiaoxiao noticed something was wrong and took the initiative to call a timeout.

Xu Beifang's experience in this IGL position was still relatively lacking, and he felt a certain pressure when playing against such old veterans.

But he also understood that he was the team's IGL, and he couldn't pass this pressure to his teammates.

Because if that were the case, the teammates' pressure would be even greater.

"It's mainly an economic problem. We haven't had utility, and we've had very little control over the mid-round and B-outside. Without information, we can't play mid-round games. Every time we retake, the opponent has already occupied the position, so naturally, we can't play."

Xu Beifang had already figured it out. "In the next round, we'll be more proactive in the early stage to grab control of the front points. This way, C9's control speed will slow down, and we'll play much more easily."

"Ji Ge, you and Danking operate in the mid-round, I'll press down to B Long, NIKO, you pay attention to the timing in the Black Room, and support both sides at any time."

Coach Xiaoxiao frowned: "Won't the risk be too big?"

According to Xu Beifang's idea, all three points were pushing out this wave, which looked a bit aggressive.

"There's no problem playing mid-round with them, our clutch ability is very strong. If we can trade people to the mid-round, we are actually at an advantage." Xu Beifang said quietly.

The IGL was very confident, and the restless hearts of others slowly calmed down.

The timeout ended, and the group started moving according to the IGL's early layout.

Directly gave the Terrorist entrance smoke and smoke-behind fire, matched with flashbangs to suppress the enemies at the Terrorist entrance.

Xu Beifang also gave a B-door smoke, cooperating with NIKO to get information on B Small and B Long.

Everything was going according to his early ideas, but Xu Beifang smelled a hint of something wrong.

"Something's wrong, Danking and NIKO, we retreat quietly, be careful of the opponent speed-up directly, C9 doesn't seem to plan to control the map."

As soon as Xu Beifang finished speaking, Elige in the Donut shouted: "A Site gave smoke, seems like they want to explode!"

JKS quickly added: "It's exploding!"

JKS stood at the Ancient entrance, using the second box as cover. He watched the flashbang thrown by the opponent explode, and then grabbed an opportunity to peek out and fight a wave.

His idea was for him to kill one first, and then rely on this cover to pull, and then let Elige come to help.

But what made him suffocated was that as soon as he pulled out, he ate a flashbang.

Even if this flashbang didn't fully blind him, it just affected his vision, which also caused his gun duel this wave to fail.

"JKS pulled out wanting to catch a timing, but was held dead by P-Marshal. Then COL is a bit hard to play, because the frontal fulcrum is gone!"

Xu Beifang naturally knew this problem. They calculated the information early this wave, so Xu Beifang was retaking with NIKO at the first time.

But the problem is that retaking from B to A takes time. If the opponent has already occupied all gun positions, then the subsequent clutch can't be played.

So Xu Beifang immediately issued a command that looked a bit "brain-hemorrhaging": "Ji Ge, grab a timing, directly rush through the smoke to fight, let Danking send you a flash, Danking, after you give the flashbang, you follow in yourself."

Xu Beifang added: "I need their standing information, we can't let them find all gun positions easily."

Although they were still skeptical about this command, Danking and Elige still executed it.

Elige hid in the Donut smoke, and when Danking's flashbang exploded, he pulled out horizontally.

C9's frontal explosive utility actually calculated these details.

They specially gave a fire at the bomb site to prevent anyone from touching out from the Donut.

But sometimes giving fire also distracted their attention.

This allowed Elige, who rushed out, to grasp the opportunity to fire!

"Ji Ge mixed out from the Donut, stepped on the fire and directly killed Ax1Le, and a spray transfer also crippled the bomb planter!"

"Ji Ge killed one and was traded, electronic luckily survived, this bomb site is very chaotic."

"But electronic here, sigh! He was burned to death by the fire spread by NIKO's retake!" Ma Xixi admitted that saying electronic was lucky was too early.

However, seeing the ID is electronic, it's not surprising.

Strange things always happen to electronic, which is simply too reasonable.

However, NIKO was just as unlucky. He had just rotated back to CT-spawn and thrown some utility, only to be wallbanged to death by a burst from Hobbit.

"Danking mixed out from the Donut in the second time, and killed P-Marshal at the far point with a spray, but Hobbit's trade kill was fast!"

"Both sides had a top-tier passionate melee, leaving Xu Beifang with a 1v2 clutch, he can operate slowly." Ma Xixi's eyes lit up. This wave of COL played really interestingly. Everyone was brave and didn't want to be human, all rushing out to step on fire and fight.

But it was this kind of incomprehensible operation that actually traded for heads and fought for space for Xu Beifang to retake

If NIKO hadn't been infected by Electronic's virus, this might have been a 2v2 retake.

But something incomprehensible happened: Xu Beifang walked all the way from CT-spawn, stepping through the fire, and his 100 HP instantly dropped to 40.

Then, he silently blended into the CT-spawn smoke.

Xu Beifang only dared to play this way because he heard Danking report that both were at the far point.

He was trading his HP for a timing.

The opponents had just thrown fire behind the CT-spawn smoke, so they would surely assume the area behind the smoke was safe and keep most of their attention on the ruins. By emerging from this direction, he could seize an opportunity.

As long as he could take one out first, the subsequent 1v1 would be a duel-based clutch.

Xu Beifang moved silently inside the smoke, adjusted his crosshair, and then crept out to the left.

But something he hadn't expected happened.

Unbeknownst to him, another incendiary grenade had been thrown to the left of the CT smoke. As he stepped out, his HP was scorched down even further.

He knew he had to act now, as his position was exposed.

"Both of them should be low HP!" Danking reminded him.

Hearing this, Xu Beifang immediately peeked to the right.

The opponent had clearly just heard the sound of someone being burned at the close point. The terrorist next to the single box panicked and tried to run into the box, but Xu Beifang peeked out just in time and caught him red-handed.

"Bang!"

【Nice+NIKO used M4A1 to headshot kill Hobbit】

"Beifang has 8 HP left, but he didn't die to the fire; instead, he took down Hobbit!" Ma Xixi's tone was full of anticipation. "It's down to a 1v1!"

"Boombl4 just finished planting the bomb, and his position is locked behind the box. What's the play? Is 8 HP going to be the setup for a comeback?"

After planting, Boombl4 immediately moved two steps to the right. He knew where Xu Beifang was, and Xu Beifang knew where he was.

The two were practically playing a bullfight across the three boxes at the bomb site.

"He walked through the fire, and he just got burned, so he shouldn't have much HP left," Hobbit reminded him.

But this did nothing to ease Boombl4's tension.

Even if he was low on HP, it was still Nice, after all.

Hobbit might not have felt it as deeply, but he knew exactly what Nice was like in his prime; that guy had pulled off too many inhuman plays against them when he was low on health.

Just like this round—who in their right mind would walk through two fires to take a head-on fight?

His anxiety grew, his forearm tensed, ready to flick and kill the mysterious object in front of him at any moment.

Xu Beifang didn't know that Boombl4 had also caught the "Fear of North" from the CSGO era; he just wanted to win this round for his team.

The score was now 2:5. If they lost this round, it would be 2:6, and if the gap in the first half was too large, it would be hard to catch up in the second half, so he had to try his best to win this one.

His teammates beside him were incredibly nervous; Xu Beifang could hear their breathing through his headset.

The opponent had just planted the bomb, so he would definitely change positions, which meant Xu Beifang actually knew Boombl4's specific location.

But his health was so low that he was worried about being pre-fired by Boombl4.

Recalling Danking's reminder, a bold idea formed in his mind.

He took a small step to the right, threw his M4A1, and then peeked to the left.

"The two are bullfighting across the box. Let's see who loses patience first. Beifang makes the first move—he throws his gun to bait!"

"Boombl4 actually fell for it! Beifang pulls out his USP and one-taps Boombl4 instantly!!"

Ma Xixi couldn't help but laugh: "Holy crap, what is this round? It's nothing but legendary moments!!"

"COL's guys kept throwing themselves into the fire like Olaf, Electronic became the unlucky one again, and Beifang's 'Heavenly Dragon Sniper'—this is a world-class legendary moment!!"

Ma Xixi was exclaiming in wonder, and the viewers in the stream were stunned.

【S1mple, are you watching?】

【Holy crap, I actually saw 21NAVI in a match between C9 and COL. My youth has returned.】

【Boombl4, Perfectr0, Electronic, Hobbit, and a star player who can pull off a Heavenly Dragon Sniper—if this isn't 21NAVI, what is!】

【The buffs in this round are maxed out, holy crap. COL is playing so bravely.】

【Don't say that, Boombl4 was actually accurate; he even hit the M4A1 twice.】

【The focus was just too intense this round.】

【The game-theory monster is back.】

The viewers in the chat were having a blast with the memes, while Boombl4 was in absolute agony.

When Xu Beifang's footsteps sounded on his left, he focused his attention there and fired as soon as he saw the barrel.

But when he noticed the M4A1 fly away, he realized he'd messed up, but it was too late.

The image of that confident, god-like eagle from his past flashed through his mind.

He really hadn't expected Xu Beifang to use his old teammate's signature move during a 1v1 bullfight.

You have to say, he has nerves of steel.

Although the score was only 3:5, Boombl4 had a strange feeling that things might get difficult from here on out.

PS: 7400 words, a great victory!!

(End of chapter)