Inside the Cloud Mist Internet Café, the atmosphere had shifted completely from the tense silence of the earlier battles. The terrifying confrontation inside the Abyssal Demon World had shaken the cultivators deeply, but the system's sudden announcement of a new game called DOTA had ignited a new kind of excitement.
The giant screen in the center of the café continued displaying the interface for the new game.
Rows of unfamiliar heroes stood in glowing portraits across the screen, each with unique weapons, armor, and mysterious abilities. Unlike the previous realms where cultivators entered dangerous battlefields alone, this new system clearly emphasized cooperation.
The announcement on the screen repeated once more.
DOTA — DEFENSE OF THE ANCIENTS
TEAM BATTLE MODE
5 VS 5
Inside the café, the cultivators gathered around the machines, discussing the strange new concept.
"So we need ten players?"
"Five per team?"
Nearby, Liu Kang laughed excitedly.
"Hahaha! Finally a game where we can fight together!"
Beside him, Chen Yu studied the hero selection screen carefully.
"This game seems to rely on strategy rather than brute strength."
Yan Feng nodded.
"And each hero appears to have unique abilities."
On the third-floor balcony overlooking the hall, Long Wei watched the crowd with interest.
"This might change the way the cultivators fight."
Beside him, Mo Tian added quietly.
"Team coordination will become important."
Standing behind the counter, Lin Tian leaned casually against the wooden surface while observing the scene.
He had already read the system description earlier.
Unlike the previous games, DOTA was not simply about defeating monsters.
It was about battle strategy, positioning, and teamwork.
Inside the café, Liu Kang suddenly turned toward the others.
"Alright!"
He clapped his hands.
"Let's form the first teams!"
Several disciples immediately volunteered.
"I'll join!"
"Me too!"
Within minutes, ten cultivators gathered around the computers.
Liu Kang stood at the front of the group.
"Alright, we need two teams."
He pointed at Chen Yu.
"You're on my team."
Then he looked toward Yan Feng.
"You too."
Two more disciples stepped forward to complete the group.
"Five players."
Liu Kang grinned.
"Perfect."
On the opposite side, another team quickly formed.
Xu Shen, who had recovered slightly from his earlier battle, joined the opposing team along with four other cultivators.
The café buzzed with excitement as the players sat down at the gaming stations.
The machines activated.
The giant screen displayed the hero selection interface.
SELECT YOUR HERO
Rows of characters appeared.
Each hero looked unique.
One hero stood covered in red armor with a massive axe.
Axe
Another appeared wearing mystical robes with glowing runes floating around his hands.
Invoker
A swordsman wearing a white mask appeared next.
Juggernaut
A female assassin cloaked in shadows appeared beside him.
Phantom Assassin
And a large figure with a grotesque appearance holding a meat hook stood in the corner.
Pudge
Inside the café, the spectators murmured in amazement.
"These heroes look powerful."
"Which one should they choose?"
Liu Kang leaned forward in his chair.
"Hahaha!"
He pointed at the screen.
"I'm picking Axe."
The hero portrait lit up.
On the other side, Chen Yu studied the options carefully.
"This hero…"
He pointed toward the mage.
"…Invoker."
Yan Feng selected Juggernaut, drawn by the swordsman's powerful aura.
The remaining teammates selected Crystal Maiden and Anti-Mage.
On the opposing team, Xu Shen selected Phantom Assassin.
His teammates chose Pudge, Sniper, Earthshaker, and Shadow Fiend.
Inside the café, the giant screen displayed the final message.
MATCH STARTING
The battlefield appeared.
A massive map filled the screen.
Three distinct pathways stretched across the land.
Top Lane
Mid Lane
Bottom Lane
Between them lay dense forests filled with neutral creatures.
At the center of each team's territory stood a massive structure.
The Ancient.
Inside the café, the cultivators watched in fascination.
"That map is huge."
"Where do they go?"
Standing behind the counter, Lin Tian explained calmly.
"Each lane must be defended."
He gestured toward the screen.
"The goal is to destroy the enemy's Ancient."
The match began.
Small soldiers called creeps marched down each lane.
The heroes followed behind them.
Inside the café, the spectators leaned closer.
"This is different from the other games."
In the middle lane, Invoker and Shadow Fiend confronted each other.
Energy spells flashed across the battlefield.
At the top lane, Axe and Crystal Maiden faced Pudge and Sniper.
Meanwhile, Juggernaut and Anti-Mage battled against Earthshaker and Phantom Assassin in the bottom lane.
Inside the café, Liu Kang laughed loudly as he played.
"Hahaha! This game is amazing!"
Chen Yu remained focused.
"We need to control the lanes."
Yan Feng nodded.
"Don't let them destroy the towers."
The spectators watched as towers fired energy beams at approaching enemies.
Creeps clashed in the middle of each lane.
The heroes fought carefully, using their abilities strategically.
Suddenly—
A loud sound echoed across the battlefield.
FIRST BLOOD
Inside the café, the crowd erupted.
"Someone died!"
On the screen, Xu Shen's Phantom Assassin had eliminated Crystal Maiden with a swift strike.
Liu Kang shouted.
"Hey! That's cheating!"
Chen Yu shook his head calmly.
"No."
He looked at the screen carefully.
"That was good positioning."
Standing behind the counter, Lin Tian smiled faintly.
Because he knew something important.
This game would teach the cultivators something they had never experienced before.
In the cultivation world, strength was usually individual.
But in DOTA, victory belonged to the team that worked together best.
And as the first match continued inside the Cloud Mist Internet Café, the cultivators slowly began realizing that the world of gaming inside the shop…
Had become even more complex than the cultivation world itself.