Chapter 46

Chapter 46:

The crowd burst into laughter at Fernanda’s words.

“Wow, she’s bold p>

Fernanda disregarded the crowd, locking eyes with Neal.

“Well, what’s your answer p>

“You’re quite the bold one,” Neal said, lounging back in his chair and resting a foot on the table. “But what if I win? What should I ask for p>

“Oh, you’ll win for sure,” Fernanda replied, blinking. “Do you really think you’ll lose p>

“No way!” Neal shot back.

“Exactly, so why bother asking for anything?” Fernanda quipped.

Neal was caught off guard for a second. It made sense, but something about it didn’t feel right.

“Fine then,” Neal said with a dismissive wave. “You’re a newcomer, so I’ll let you have your way this time p>

He was sure he wouldn’t lose. If he lost to some unknown girl, he’d be his own harshest critic.

Neal powered up his computer, and the department head switched on the large screen, displaying the match between them.

Both Fernanda and Neal put on their headphones, tuning out the noise of their classmates.

Fernanda selected the champion she was best at playing, and Neal did the same. Despite his usual arrogance, he was laser-focused and serious about the game.

They both played quickly, and within minutes, they were already locked in a fierce battle.

They picked flashy champions, and it wasn’t about the basic gear anymore—it was all about their skills.

Neal quickly sensed something was wrong as he played against Fernanda. Her playstyle was meticulous, her combos fast, and her precision flawless.

He had to admit, she was more skilled than he had expected. A real expert can always tell the difference in skill by the smallest details.

Ten minutes in, Neal’s expression hardened. He grew more focused, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as he tensed up.

The classmates were hooked, eyes fixed on the big screen, holding their breath.

Every move made by Neal and Fernanda left them feeling as though their hearts were suspended in the air.

Whenever one narrowly escaped, they couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

And cheers erupted for both players. This was, without a doubt, the most exciting solo match they had ever witnessed.

“Fernanda is something else,” Levi said, adjusting his glasses and stretching his neck like a giraffe. “Her moves are so sharp. She’s hands down the most impressive girl I’ve ever seen p>

Alex crossed his arms, leaning against the desk behind him, eyes locked on the screen.

“Honestly, Neal might lose this one,” he said.

A composed voice cut in,

“He’s already lost p>

Levi and Alex both turned to face the newcomer.

“Gifford, weren’t you tied up with something today p>

“Got done early,” Gifford Ruiz said nonchalantly, tossing his backpack onto the desk before pulling out a chair to sit.

“From that last combo, it’s clear this girl’s got more finesse than Neal p>

With twenty-two minutes on the clock, Neal tried to escape using a displacement skill, but Fernanda quickly followed and claimed the kill.

Using her invincibility skill, she blocked a lethal blow, swapped her gear in a flash, and obliterated Neal’s base.

The match ended with the blue “Defeat” flashing behind Neal and the bright “Victory” lighting up behind Fernanda.

A heavy silence blanketed the room.

Levi yelled,

“Bravo p>

And the rest of the group snapped out of their stupor, clapping with enthusiasm.

The applause swelled, growing as thunderous as a storm.

Fernanda turned to her right, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at the shocked Neal.

“You lost p>

Neal stared in disbelief at the screen, the blue “Defeat” glaring at him like a painful reminder.

After a moment of silence, he erupted,

“Unbelievable! This game has to be fixed p>

It wasn’t that he hadn’t lost before, but those defeats were always against top-tier players.

How could this unknown girl possibly beat him?

Neal could have suspected cheating if it hadn’t all happened right in front of him, but she had won fair and square.

He yanked at his hair, feeling as though his dignity had been torn apart and stomped on.

“Change your username already,” Fernanda said again, her tone playful. “Surely you can handle a loss, right p>

Neal shrugged and let out a dry laugh.

“Alright, I’ll admit defeat p>

“Then go ahead and do it p>

Levi immediately began taunting him.

“Neal, let us see this legendary moment when you change your username, alright p>

“Hurry up and change it p>

“Yeah, stick to your word p>

Neal shot a glare at his classmates.

These guys, who normally begged him to help them rank up, were now kicking him while he was down.

They were truly the worst kind of friends—especially the ones from his dorm.

They’d better not expect his help again.

Neal’s hands shook as he prepared to type in his new username.

It took everything he had to type in “True Loser p>

A sound confirmed the username change, and laughter broke out again.

Levi and Alex laughed so hard they couldn’t sit up straight. Even Gifford, trying to keep his composure, couldn’t stop a grin from tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“What’s so funny?” Neal slammed his fist on the table. “Is this really that hilarious p>

The department head was laughing so hard he had to sit down to catch his breath.

Meanwhile, the chat in the game was alive with chatter.

“The top player changed his username! Now he’s calling himself a loser p>

“From champion to loser? That’s a pretty big drop p>

“Maybe it’s one of his quirks. Top players are always a little nuts, right p>

“Oh, just shut up!” Neal typed in response to the comment. “You’re the one who’s insane p>

The chat buzzed with comments, and Neal’s face darkened.

He was overwhelmed with regret—he should not have agreed to Fernanda’s additional request.

Neal logged out of the game, ignoring the sarcastic comments from other players.

“Are you happy now?” he asked Fernanda, his face blank.

“Since you’ve stuck to your word, I’m definitely happy,” Fernanda said, nodding with a smile.

Neal scoffed, shoved his chair aside, and stood up.

Reaching the door, he turned back and pointed a finger at Fernanda. His face twisted into the fiercest expression he could manage as he declared,

“I’ll change my username back p>

His voice was laced with grit and frustration, a clear sign of his determination.

A brief silence followed, then the room exploded into laughter once again.

As Neal stormed out, Fernanda let out a quiet chuckle.

She really enjoyed the vibe of the esports department. It felt like everyone—from the department head to the students—was in perfect sync, a real sense of unity.

Now, she felt a genuine excitement for studying and living in this environment.