Munich International Airport was as bustling as ever. Passengers were enjoying the amenities, families were bidding their loved ones farewell and the staff were doing their best to keep the entire facility up and running behind the scenes. Today, the airport was flooded by a sea of red and white banners, scarfs, shirts and flags. Thousands of fans had come to welcome back their favourite FPS eSports team, Bayern Soldaten after coming away with another match victory in the Deutsche Berufs Liga (DBL).
As the stars of Bayern Soldaten disembarked their plane, they spotted a large crowd had already amassed outside the arrival bay. Most of the players were still recovering from their long in-flight celebrations after clinching another easy victory in the German League. This time, their victims were Alpha Centurion, who suffered a humiliating defeat in a game of search and destroy, with a scoreline of 5-0 in favour of Bayern Soldaten.
The only player who did not look disheveled was, The Law. While most of his teammates were recovering from their hangovers, he was instead glued to his phone throughout the whole flight. Even as they were exiting their plane and boarding the bus ferry to the terminal, his eyes remained locked onto his screen. Streaming on his phone was the latest news from PwnZwn.
"This season has been one to remember in FPS history!" Scott Slanders exclaimed. "In Germany, Bayern Soldaten have waltzed through their domestic season to claim their fifth consecutive DBL title in as many seasons. This broke the previous record of four back-to-back German league triumphs held by their rivals Ultimaver. Seoul Infinite were crowned champions of South Korea two days ago, making it the first time a team won the South Korean Championship (SKC) having just joined the league within the same season. And tonight, the Sentinels could clinch their eighth NAC title, the most any North American team has won since the championship's inception."
"But it's not just the teams that have been making history." Shot Bot 2.0 said. "Manchester Fury's Frederick Steiner (Demon) became the most decorated player in history after winning The British Premiership (TBP). This means the veteran has thirty official FPS titles to his name. The Brisbane Wardens are led by Samantha Worthing (Banshee) who currently has the most kills in the entire world this season. And the name on everyone's lips since he burst onto the FPS scene this season, Aaron Blackwater (Ghost). The eighteen year old sniper fresh out of highschool has been phenomenal for the Chicago Rangers and now ranks amongst the top three in his role."
"With the second half of the season still to play, all eyes are on the few remaining spots into the FPS Champions Tournament that starts three weeks from now in July. Can the Paris Panthers make a return to glory, or will the Los Angeles Angels finally overcome their history of choking. More to come, after the break."
Law broke into a soft chuckle before switching over to a website indicating all the teams that have qualified for the Champions Tournament and those with a high chance of doing so. "We've got a fun line-up of teams this year," He said snidely. "I just hope the young bloods are no slouches either."
"It doesn't matter who we play against." Hans Muller (Stein), the team's captain said. "We will give them a proper fight regardless, and we will win. I suggest you stop focusing on other teams and players, and start focusing on training."
"They're tactical studies. They'll help us gain an advantage over our upcoming opponents in the Champion's Tournament. By closely analyzing our enemies, infiltrating their minds and swimming inside of them, we can identify their weaknesses and exploit them before we even meet them in combat."
"I will not tolerate another one of your 'tactical studies' to explain your absence in training anymore. If you do not adhere to the team's high standards of discipline, then you can expect to play in a different jersey in the second half of the season. You may think you're the only assassin with the skills to play for Bayern Soldaten, frankly you're just the cheapest option we had on short notice."
Law's usual smug smile disappeared. The idea of him being kicked out of yet another professional team was something he could not entertain. Despite leaving VGHS with his reputation as a top fragger torn to shreds, he was still regarded as a skilled assassin within the professional community. However, no team was willing to offer him a contract up front when he left VGHS after the match against Napalm. His agent tried to get him a contract but no one was willing to take a gamble. While Law's name was cleared of all the cheating allegations, his exploits and shenanigans outside the Field of Fire were something teams did not wish to have which could tarnish their brand and identity.
Therefore, since teams would not sign him directly, the Law was determined to make them sign him by force. Thus, he signed up for open first-team trials. Almost everyone would reject his application. Except for one team, Shanghai Super. Though it was not ideal, he did not waste his chance and absolutely dominated his competition. He quickly became a key part in the team and would help them clinch the Chinese Super League in just six months.
However, he would then be ousted by the team after constant disagreements with the team in terms of leadership, missing training sessions and not wanting to participate in the team sponsors' brand ads and campaigns which were agreed upon in his contract. Fortunately, his achievements in China would open more doors back into the professional game. Slowly, teams from all over the world were clamoring for his signature.
This was the beginning of the Law's journey across the globe. He quickly found himself jumping between teams, cities and countries. Signing for a team and helping them win a trophy or two, then being forced out after a few weeks or months. His time with each subsequent team varied. Yet, one constant between all the teams he played for, was that he would win a trophy for them or improve their performance drastically when he played for them.
The three years following VGHS had been a long journey back to the top of professional FPS eSports. From scrapping it against the best in China to now battling against the premier talents in Germany. The Law had his eyes set on a return to the NAC. The last four months with Bayern Soldaten was meant to be a platform for his return. Should he leave the team before the end of his contract, he was determined to make sure another team would notice him and pick him up.
As the team alighted the bus ferry and made their way through the arrival bay, they were met by a roar of fans. Their supporters cheered as their champions walked through the gates, chanting 'champion!' in celebration. The players themselves were still recovering but most on the team did their best to smile and wave at their fans. Stein would grab a patterned scarf thrown from a fan and swirl it above his head whilst singing German victory songs.
The Law put up a feign smile in front of the supporters. Before, he would have basked in the glory of being worshiped like a god by thousands. But, after donning the shirt of a dozen or so different teams and having to entertain the fans almost constantly, he had grown weary of them. He preferred to ignore them if he could, but Bayern Soldaten had a strict rule which was to always uphold a good relationship with the fans.
This was the first team he played for which had such a rule. Then again, this was his first team that competed in one of the top five FPS leagues in the world. His return to the echelons of FPS eSports was within his grasp. The only thing that stood in his way was the world that wished to see him fall.
"Are you watching the Sentinels versus Vancouver Valiant match tonight?" Jack Fox (Lumber Jack) asked as he crept up from behind Law.
"You think I'd miss what is potentially a history defining moment in the NAC?" The Law scoffed. "Not a chance. But, knowing who's going to win does spoil the occasion a little bit. The Sentinels are merciless and I can bet Vancouver would do its best to lose valiantly. Then again, seeing weak teams getting slaughtered is pretty fun."
"You act as if we have a better chance against the Sentinels who have more than half their players ranking amongst the top five in their roles. You'd barely survive a firefight against their weakest player, let alone their first choice assassin. Not to mention the fact that they've never failed to qualify for the Champions Tournament every season since their inception."
Since joining Bayern Soldaten, Lumber Jack was the closest thing the Law had as a friend. Both of them were the only Americans on the team, both were captains of their respective highschool varsity teams and both would also join the German outfit at the same period of time. However, while Law has had to grind his way back up to the top, Jack had been competing amongst the very best since his early years as a pro.
Which was why Law found it odd to hear Lumber Jack not be optimistic of their chances. He was someone who always viewed the glass as half-full, no matter the situation. Even when they were close to losing a match, he was there to raise the team's morale with a joke or an unplanned trick shot. However, seeing as he was once part of the Sentinel's youth academy and had brief stints with their first team, he knew better than anyone of the strength that they possess.
"Don't tell me you're scared." Law said. "I know your balls are small but come one man. At least don't grow a pussy while you're at it."
"As if your balls are any bigger." Jack retorted. "I still have that photo from Lisa's birthday of you passed out, face planted onto the toilet seat with your pants down. I wonder what Stein would do if the fans were to see this?"
A moment of tense silence passed before the two broke into soft laughter. Though the two had their own reservations about the other, they enjoyed each other's company as well. In a team full of stereotypically blunt and stone cold Germans, having another American around was a blessing both cherished.
The team bus ride back to the T-Mobile Sports Performance Center was short and peaceful. Most of the team took a nap to help recover from their hangover. Once they were back at base, everyone swiftly departed home to enjoy their extra time off their coach had awarded them for winning the league.
Law, always the odd one out, instead headed straight to the gym within the training complex. Exercising after a match had become part of his routine since becoming a pro. He found exercise to be a good way to recover and rest after matches as they help his mind to relax. While the matches weren't physically tiring, they put tremendous strain on the mind. Especially with the intensity and speed of thought needed to survive a pro match at the highest level, let alone perform well. It also helped to keep his body relatively fit seeing as his job confined him to his desk and chair.
All the while the Law continued with his tactical studies. He watched recorded footage and listened to the commentary of the other teams that would be competing in the Champions Tournament. Analyzing their tactics and the playing styles of each player. From the Glasgow Gunners of Ireland, to Seoul Infinite of South Korea and the Tokyo Blacks of Japan. Law was almost lost in thought as he watched them. He had thought his return to the echelons of FPS eSports would be relatively easy. Yet, his jaw was unhinged watching the world's best teams play.
This was the first time he properly sat down and analyzed the teams as they only recently qualified for the tournament. Their teamplay was perfectly coordinated whilst their individual talents were unmatched. He could not think of a counter to their perfect tactics and game style.
For much of his life, Law was ready for any challenges that stood in his way. Shot Bot further taught him that sacrifice was a necessary step to overcome all challenges. But, for the first time in his life, Law was not ready for this. A challenge that was ready for him.