The smell of disinfectant from the hospital hadn't completely dissipated, but the training room at the NF base was already filled with the unique smell of sweat and tension that was characteristic of the lead-up to the playoffs.

Xie Chen's back wound healed very quickly, almost beyond normal limits, leaving the doctors amazed. But Su Nian knew that it wasn't simply due to a unique physique, but rather because of the spontaneous repair by the stellar origin power within him, a power not belonging to the rules of this world. However, this power had now become a double-edged sword.

After the chandelier incident, the cold imprint belonging to "Star Remains" that was activated deep in Xie Chen's soul was like a lurking virus. Not only could it not be eradicated, but it became more active and clearer with the intense fluctuations of his emotions (especially when it involved Su Nian's safety) and his more and more frequent use of the power of the stars.

It's like an invisible thread, with one end tied to the unknown darkness, constantly radiating a cold allure and interference, trying to drag his power, along with him, into the abyss.

During the training match, Su Nian could clearly sense Xie Chen's "instability".

His skills remain top-notch, and having narrowly escaped death, his obsession with winning and his killing intent on the field are even stronger, making his playing style more aggressive and ruthless. However, occasionally, in extreme duels or when micro-management requires extremely high concentration, his reactions will show extremely subtle, millisecond-level delays, or he will make some decisions that are inconsistent with his usual style, too risky, or even somewhat self-destructive.

Like a precision instrument, a subtle crack appears in a core component. It may function normally, but under maximum load, it will emit dangerous noises.

"Brother Chen, that last wave... was a bit too hasty." Another training match ended, and although they won, Fatty Monkey couldn't help but scratch his head and say. Xie Chen had just made a move that was almost a one-against-three, and although he won by sheer skill, the level of danger made the onlookers hold their breath.

Xie Chen stared at his data on the screen, expressionless, but his hand on the mouse unconsciously tightened, his knuckles turning white. He felt it himself. In the moment when the excitement of the killing surged through him, his consciousness had blurred for a fleeting instant, as if slightly disturbed by another cold will.

"It's nothing." His voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible irritation. He stood up, without looking at anyone, and walked straight to Su Nian's side. Like a compass searching for magnetic poles, he naturally sat down next to her, his arm pressed tightly against hers, as if only through this physical contact could he dispel the chill and unease in his heart caused by the loss of control.

"Tired?" Su Nian turned to look at him, handing him a glass of warm water, her tone as usual. She could clearly feel that the mark deep in his soul was slightly burning from the emotional fluctuations just now, like a malicious eye opening a crack in the darkness.

Xie Chen took the water glass, his fingertips touching hers. The familiar coolness, carrying the scent of icy lotus, spread from the point of contact, like a clear spring flowing over scorching sand, instantly soothing the restlessness in his heart and the discomfort caused by the mark. His tense nerves relaxed, and almost dependently leaned more of his body weight against Su Nian, letting out a soft "hmm".

He needed confirmation of her presence more than ever. Her touch, her scent, were the only barrier she had built for him, protecting him from that chilling encroachment.

Su Nian remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was burning with anxiety. She had tried many times to penetrate and purify the mark using a gentler, more icy power, but with little effect. The mark, like a leech, had formed a strange symbiosis with Xie Chen's soul essence; forcibly separating it could potentially cause irreversible damage to his soul. Moreover, she could sense that the energy level of the entity connected to the other end of the mark far exceeded her current state of recovery. Rushing in might alert the enemy and even provoke a more violent backlash.

[Host, according to the energy spectrum analysis, this mark is more like a 'beacon' or 'receiver' than a simple source of pollution.] 088 analyzed the data while crunching on an energy bar. [It's constantly receiving specific frequency fluctuations from a certain source and attempting to synchronize with the sinking energy frequency. Forcibly interrupting the reception might cause the 'beacon' to self-destruct, damaging the carrier.]

'In other words, we need to find the source of the signal to solve the problem at its root?' Su Nian thought to herself, her brows furrowed. 'Star Remains' was hidden too well; even 088's current clearance level made it difficult to trace its exact location.

[Theoretically, that's how it is. Or...] 088 paused, [If a method could be found to make Xie Chen's own mental strength and willpower strong enough to shield or even reverse control of this 'beacon,' the problem could also be solved. But this would take time and be very risky, easily triggering a power outage.]

Time…time is what they lack most. The playoffs have already begun, and every game is a life-or-death battle. There simply isn't enough time for Xie Chen to slowly hone his skills and gain control. And “Star Skeleton” is like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, never giving them a chance to develop peacefully.

Su Nian looked at Xie Chen beside her, who was gradually relaxing because of her comforting words and even starting to playfully dabble in her fingers. A heavy feeling settled in her heart. This seemingly strong man, clingy as a large dog, was having his soul pulled by invisible threads toward unknown danger. And she couldn't just stand by and watch.

She had to find a way to contain or even eliminate this potential threat before the finals. At the very least, she needed to ensure that he wouldn't lose control because of it at the most crucial moment.

The playoff journey was not without its challenges.

Although the NF team is strong, there are no weak teams that make it to the playoffs. Coupled with Xie Chen's occasional inconsistent performance, they had a much tougher time than in the regular season. In several matches, they only managed to narrowly defeat tough opponents thanks to Su Nian's godlike command, his clutch plays in crucial moments, and the team's unwavering resilience.

Xie Chen, under Su Nian's constant "supervision," experienced fluctuating performances. When he was in good form, he remained the "Wolf King" who dominated the arena, displaying sharp skills and exceptional awareness. When he was in bad form, he became unusually silent, his eyes cold and empty, his actions ruthless and reckless, as if he were venting his inner frustration and violence through extreme combat.

Whenever this happened, Su Nian would quietly approach him, whether with a gentle touch, a whispered reminder, or by choosing a hero and positioning that would better protect him during a team fight. Her presence was like the only lighthouse in a storm, always pulling him back just when he was about to be swallowed by the darkness within him.

Their teamwork, honed under such pressure and crisis, became even more resilient and profound. A single glance, a subtle movement, and they understood each other perfectly. The audience, both in the audience and watching on screen, only saw their seamless coordination and carry performance, cheering wildly, but they couldn't see the cracks and struggles hidden beneath that brilliance.

The popularity of the "Silent Couple" reached unprecedented heights as the NF team stumbled and struggled their way into the semifinals. Every match they played was full of talking points, with supporters cheering for each thrilling advancement and worrying about Xie Chen's occasional "over-the-top" moves.

The outside world attributes Xie Chen's fluctuating performance to injuries and the pressure of major competitions, but only Su Nian knows how dangerous the war on another level, hidden beneath the halo of e-sports, is.

The night before the semi-finals.

Xie Chen awoke from another nightmare, drenched in cold sweat. In the dream, he was dragged into endless darkness by countless cold chains, while Su Nian's figure receded further and further into the light. He sat bolt upright, gasping for breath, and instinctively reached for his side—empty!

In an instant, immense panic overwhelmed him like a bucket of ice water, almost suffocating him!

"Niannian!" he growled hoarsely, jumping off the bed barefoot and searching the room like a headless fly.

Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Su Nian came out, drying her wet hair with a towel. Seeing his panicked appearance, she paused for a moment and asked, "What's wrong?"

Xie Chen practically lunged forward, pulling her into a tight embrace with astonishing force, his body still trembling uncontrollably. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, which smelled of shower gel, his voice muffled, thick with nasal congestion and lingering fear: "I...I thought you were gone..."

Su Nian felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She put down the towel, gently hugged him back, and patted his back to comfort him: "Did you have a nightmare? I'm right here, I didn't go anywhere."

Feeling her real body temperature and heartbeat, Xie Chen's frantic heartbeat slowly calmed down. But he didn't let go; instead, he held her even tighter, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.

“Niannian,” he whispered in her ear, his voice filled with a desperate vulnerability and dependence, “If…if I become someone else…if I become bad, terrible…would you still want me?”

Su Nian's heart clenched. She knew he was referring to the potential consequences of that mark.

She lifted her head, cupped his face in her hands, and made him look directly into her eyes. Her gaze was clear and resolute, without a trace of hesitation:

"Xie Chen, listen to me. No matter what you become, you are still you."

"If you get lost, I will find you."

"If you fall into darkness, I will go into the darkness and pull you out."

Her fingertips, carrying a hint of cool, icy power, gently touched the spot between his brows, where the mark stood, her tone carrying an undeniable promise:

So, don't be afraid.

"I will always be here."

Xie Chen stared at her, gazing at the unwavering determination and tenderness in her eyes. The icy wasteland of fear and unease in his heart seemed to be ignited by a blazing sun; the ice melted, and warmth surged forth. His Adam's apple bobbed, but he said nothing, simply pulling her tightly into his arms again, as if embracing the light of the entire world.

In the semifinals, NF faced off against another powerhouse team, cE. The match was extremely close, with the first four games ending in a 2-2 tie.

In the decisive game, both sides fielded their most powerful lineups, resulting in a stalemate. At the 35-minute mark, a decisive team fight around the Baron Nashor was about to erupt.

Just as both sides were pulling and tugging at each other near the Dragon Pit, searching for an opportunity—

Xie Chen's eyes suddenly went blank!

The hero he controlled, without warning, deviated from the predetermined tactical position, as if pulled by invisible threads, and rushed towards an extremely dangerous, almost suicidal location!

"Xie Chen!" Su Nian shouted urgently in the voice chat, her heart almost leaping into her throat!

It was that mark! It was activated remotely at the most crucial moment! An attempt to manipulate Xie Chen, to ruin this game, and even... ruin his professional career!

The audience in the theater and those watching live erupted in gasps! The commentator was stunned: "Shen's positioning this time! It's too risky! Something terrible is about to happen!"

At this critical moment!

Su Nian had almost no time to think! She pushed the little remaining Ice Soul Power in her body to its limit, concentrating it all at her fingertips. Through the mouse, she transformed it into an invisible mental shockwave with an absolute zero-degree will, which crashed into the cold mark deep in Xie Chen's consciousness that was burning hot and trying to control everything, along the strong soul link between the two of them!

"Buzz—!"

A violent tremor originating from the soul level, which only Su Nian and Xie Chen could "hear"!

Xie Chen jolted awake, his empty eyes instantly regaining their clarity! He saw his dangerous position and felt the stagnation emanating from the mark deep within his consciousness, which had temporarily failed due to strong interference!

Without the slightest hesitation! Relying on his honed combat instincts and absolute trust in Su Nian, he instantly adjusted his position, executing an extreme right-angled dance move to narrowly avoid cE team's fatal first-strike control! At the same time, he unleashed all his skills as if venting his controlled rage, pouring them towards cE team's core carry, who had been exposed due to his "mistake"!

"boom--!"

A perfect counterattack! Completely crushing the opposition!

Team CE was completely stunned by this sudden turn of events and the terrifying damage Xie Chen unleashed, which far exceeded his usual level!

"Ace! (Total wipeout)"

The system notification sounded!

Team NF wiped out the opponent and took down the Baron, securing the victory in one fell swoop!

"My God! What happened?! Shen! He fooled everyone! This was a perfect bait and counterattack! Unbelievable! Is this the realm of gods?!" The commentator was so excited that he was incoherent.

The entire stadium erupted! NF fans were screaming wildly!

No one knew that behind that thrilling scene was a silent life-or-death struggle at the level of the soul.

On the competition stage, Xie Chen slowly released the mouse, his back already soaked with cold sweat. He turned his head to look at Su Nian beside him, whose face was also somewhat pale.

Su Nian nodded slightly to him, her eyes questioning.

Xie Chen took a deep breath, feeling the cold imprint deep in his consciousness that was temporarily suppressed but still existed. Then, he reached out and tightly grasped Su Nian's slightly cold hand, which was placed next to the keyboard.

His palms were burning hot, carrying the lingering fear of surviving the ordeal and a more resolute, do-or-die determination.

He looked at her and mouthed the words silently:

"The final round, to finish it off completely."

Su Nianhui grasped his sweaty hand and nodded vigorously.

"good."

(End of Chapter 97)