At the Digital Sabers captain''s usation, the faces of the Neverfall Navigators members turned grim.


    "The rule requiring all tournament participants to be registered professionals was abolished years ago," MystiCat shot back, standing up in fury. “Did you really think you could win by trapping our substitute yer in Batonia?"


    "That''s right," another teammate chimed in, his anger finally boiling over as he faced the ugly truth of Digital Sabers'' tactics. "You y dirty when you can''t win? Your country''s sportsmanship is truly something else.”


    "If you can''t handle a loss, don''t y," MystiCat added with a cold, sarcastic smile. "What do you know? Any random gamer from our region could wipe the floor with you."


    The Digital Sabers members'' faces turned livid with rage. They had never imagined that some slip of a girl could be so ridiculously good at the game.


    However, their captain just curled his lip into a smirk. "You''re right, the old rule was abolished," he said slowly. "But the approval process for the new rule is incrediblyplex. The new regtion doesn''t officially take effect until tomorrow."


    He paused for effect. "And if it''s not in effect, we follow the old rules."


    If they had gone to the trouble of trapping Neverfall Navigators'' sub in another country, did anyone really think they hadn''t considered every possible contingency?


    Not in effect? The other teammates looked at MystiCat, who in turn looked toward the referee. The official, having just finished checking, gave them a slight nod. It was true. The new rule wasn''t active yet.


    Mysticat and his teammates were stunned. The rule change had been in the works for two years,


    spearheaded by Demon himself


    They had assumed it was finalized long ago which was why they felt confident having Ms. Payne join the team. Had the trophy they''d just won been snatched from their grasp?


    "ording to the regtions, Neverfall Navigators'' results should be nullified," a Digital Sabers yer announced, staring at them with tant provocation.


    The referees huddled together, clearly discussing how to handle the situation. It was an unprecedented and bizarre turn of events.


    The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, their previous tion turning into bitter disappointment. After such a hard-fought, spectacr victory... Digital Sabers had pulled a stunt like this. It was disgusting!


    "Ms. Payne..." MystiCat clenched his fists, turning to the girl beside him, who was calmly sipping a bottle of water. All the shouting had made Juniper thirsty. While they argued, she drank.


    Seeing that she had finished,


    MystiCat bowed respectfully. "Ms. Payne, thank you for your hard


    work he said his voice crack


    with defeat "I suppose this is just ins our fate. The destiny of Neverfall Navigators."


    He had thought that by giving it their all and oveing every obstacle, they could bring glory to their country. He never imagined it would end like this.


    “Fate?” Juniper set down her water bottle, her clear, cold eyes narrowing slightly. Her tone waszy, almost casual. "I don''t believe in fate. I make my own."


    Mysticat forced a weak smile. He used to think that way too, but the facts were undeniable. Neverfall Navigators had won, but they had broken the rules. There was no way around it.


    “ording to the WKL eSportsmittee regtions,


    17.


    non-professional yers must be registered three months prior topetition, the head referee announced into the microphone. "The substitute yer for team Néverfall Navigators has vited this rule. Therefore, their results are void. The championship for this tournament will be awarded to..."