Russian Super League Commentator: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to watch the Russian Super League gold medal match. Now, we can see the team wearing blue jerseys is the Hamster Club, and the team wearing red jerseys is the Beluga Club. The Beluga Club has gained the serve.”
As a libero, Qin Chunxiao wore a white jersey, standing behind his towering teammates, taking a gentle breath.
As the opponent’s No. 1 player served, Qin Chunxiao immediately started running, and before the ball touched the ground, he was already in position, using both hands to send the ball to the net. Anton had already run to the ball’s lower side, ready for a jump set, and several attackers started their approach jump.
The Beluga team’s blockers kept scanning the surroundings. Whom will Anton set the ball to? Who will attack this ball?
The ball flew out of Anton’s hands, but this time, he didn’t set it forward or backward. Instead, he set the ball to the farther side of the net, choosing a back-row attack!
The Beluga players on the left and right sides of the net had already jumped up to block, but as Anton landed, there was no blocker in the position where he was standing—it was an open net!
Li Ling jumped up and roared as he smashed the ball.
1:0.
Roman looked at Li Ling’s attack and blew his whistle. “Not bad, you have already improved by half of my power. The trajectory of the ball has become much more varied, but the strength and jump still need improvement.”
Li Ling’s poor Russian listening skills obviously couldn’t fully understand what Roman was saying, so he asked Qin Chunxiao, “What did he babble about over there?”
Qin Chunxiao translated, “He was praising you.”
Knowing Li Ling’s character well, as long as Qin Chunxiao said it this way, he wouldn’t delve deeper and would focus more on the game.
Li Ling: “Oh! But how can I accept compliments like that?”
As expected, he didn’t delve deeper and happily continued playing the match.
Qin Chunxiao: Mission accomplished!
The match continued, and both teams started to fight fiercely against each other.
As Nikolai watched the Guangdong Twin Stars on the court, he felt like Newton should really pay him money because, you see, these two kids had evolved so well under his guidance.
Li Ling originally only possessed strong physical talents, but now his talents are starting to show on the court. As for Qin Chunxiao, facing Roman’s attacks, although it was still challenging, he was handling it much better than the first time they encountered each other.
Misha had shared his experience in dealing with the “Divine Beast” with Li Ling, and Tutankh-Amun’s guidance had elevated him by at least ten levels!
This was the gold medal match, and everyone brought out their best form. Roman began to increase the intensity of his attacks, but at this moment, Qin Chunxiao displayed unparalleled tenacity, firmly holding back Roman’s scoring efficiency.
Meanwhile, the presence of Li Ling, Oleg, Alexander, and Danny as four attackers miraculously raised the Hamster Club’s scoring efficiency to a level on par with the Beluga.
In the first set, it was a back-and-forth battle, with each team fighting for every point.
When the score reached 17:17, Qin Chunxiao rubbed his arms, showing an unhappy expression. Roman had attacked 12 times, and he blocked 8 of those attacks. This was the best efficiency he had ever achieved in defending Roman, but he was certain that there were already bruises on his arms.
The dull pain from being hit by flesh and bones together, as well as the stinging sensation from the skin being scraped, made Qin Chunxiao look quite pale.
Alexander worriedly asked, “Misha, should we call a timeout?”
Qin Chunxiao immediately replied, “No need!”
His stubbornness came up. Today was the time to face Roman head-on!
“And besides, you had a closed training session before the match. If you, in this condition, don’t call for a break, why should I?” Qin Chunxiao glared at Alexander’s knees.
Alexander chuckled, “I knew I couldn’t hide it from you.”
Anton walked up to Alexander and patted his shoulder. “In this match today, we cannot afford to lose!”
The arena was filled with lights, the sound of teammates breathing heavily, the screeching of shoes on the floor, and in the distance, there was a roaring cheer and encouragement from the fans. Facing formidable opponents, this was probably the battlefield where no player would willingly retreat.
Victory was at this moment, honor was at this moment, and the gold medal was just within reach. A thousand words and phrases converged into one word: Fight!
The first set was won by the Hamster Club’s main players, all in top form, with a thrilling score of 32:30.
Watching this match, Fu Biyang beside the computer began rubbing his chest. “Damn, they are too tight! Thanks to Xiaozai chasing after the balls, they managed to stop Beluga from taking the set at 26:25. He received three consecutive spikes from the other side, or else the Hamsters would have been outplayed!”
The ups and downs of this match had reached the world’s top level. No one knew the outcome until the end, and Fu Biyang was almost getting a heart attack from watching it.
Fu Biyang could be sure that both teams’ players were fighting for their lives today. Even Alexander, who was injured, began using his one-foot jump and landing move, which he had only used in the early stages of his career. It was a powerful technique!
It should be noted that this guy’s knee problems were famous. Those who played volleyball knew about Alexander’s wild play in his early years, which left him with significant potential dangers in his career. Therefore, he was often cited as a negative example by coaches when educating young athletes.
Qiao Mingming noticed something, “Alexander must have had a closed training1 session. Otherwise, just the injuries alone would be enough to affect his performance. He wouldn’t be able to achieve his current state without a closed session.”
The so-called “closed training” is when athletes receive injections of medication to temporarily numb the pain and other sensations, creating a state of “pseudo health.”
However, once the effects of the closed training wear off, the aftereffects of playing with injuries will only worsen the condition and may even directly ruin an athlete’s career.
Therefore, using closed training is a forbidden move that burns through a player’s professional career. Athletes won’t resort to this unless they are pushed to their limits.
Qiao Mingming wondered if Xiaozai and Er Leng knew that Alexander was going all out in this match. They must know, as Xiaozai was clearly giving it his all as well!
Between the first and second sets, Qin Chunxiao had ice packs on his hands, his eyes were cold and sharp like a wolf, exuding a fierce beast-like aura. Even his handsome face looked so sharp that people dared not look directly at him.
Qin Chunxiao was also playing with injuries against Roman!
Li Ling stood beside Qin Chunxiao with a grim expression, clearly feeling angry about Qin Chunxiao’s injuries.
The most frustrated one was Roman. It was the first time he experienced being limited in strength by the libero, and he felt so frustrated! He threw the towel on his seat and walked back and forth anxiously. The coach had to stand up and remind him to stay calm.
“Hey, Roman, if you keep getting anxious like this, you’re falling into their trap. They are weakening you using this method!” Roman could understand the reasoning, but he was still anxious because the Hamsters’ tactics were clearly effective! They had just lost a set because of it!
In the coach’s “stay calm” reminder, Roman drank half a pot of water in one breath. With his height of over two meters, his hands were also quite large, and the water bottle looked like a toy in his huge hands.
Roman muttered to himself, “I don’t want to like the Hamsters today.”
His setter, Ludvika, calmly said, “That’s how it is. No matter what happens off the court, we can’t be friends on the court.”
The vice attacker of the Beluga, who was marked by Qin Chunxiao as the second defensive target in the first set, said fiercely, “When we score again, I’m going to meow at them!”
In the second set, the atmosphere on the court became even more intense. In simple terms, both sides were giving it their all.
The two commentators of the Volleyball Frontline were experts in the sport, and watching the players’ tactics and their serious expressions, they couldn’t help but sigh.
“They’ve really gone all out. It’s said that both teams had athletes undergo closed training, and for the gold medal, they’ve disregarded their future.”
“For athletes, closed training is a very cruel topic. Ludvika with the second attack! Qin Chunxiao receives. Li Ling with the second set! Alexander attacks again!”
“Li Ling’s progress in this season of the Russian Super League has been tremendous. We can see that his shots have become more unpredictable. Although he hasn’t had many attacking opportunities in this match, his scoring efficiency has improved significantly compared to the regular season data!”
“Qin Chunxiao is really giving it his all today. You can see how he frequently scrambles to the other side to receive the ball, rolling on the floor, and even his white jersey is stained with dirt. His fighting spirit, along with his reliability as a libero, is boosting the morale of the Hamsters today!”
It turned out Li Ling has a bit of a “favorable wind dog, adverse wind god” attribute. When things go smoothly, he tends to be unconventional, but when things don’t go well, he becomes a “seed exploder.”
After entering the Russian Super League playoffs, Li Ling had been consistently stable. Later, someone realized that given the intensity of the Russian Super League playoffs, it was like facing adverse conditions in every match for Li Ling! No wonder this kid keeps getting better as he plays!
However, in the second set, there was a hiccup on Anton’s side. His wrist started to turn red, and by the end of the second set, it had become slightly swollen.
It was no surprise. With two setters on the team, Anton, a nanny-type setter, also had to take on some defensive responsibilities. Every time he jumped, he had to support himself with his wrists. To be efficient, Anton often performed single-handed jumps, requiring wrist rotations to control the angle and trajectory of the set, putting significant pressure on his wrists.
Just like Qin Chunxiao, he had the same issue when he was in his twenties. With his young age and proper self-care, he managed to maintain his condition well. However, he couldn’t be sure whether he would also suffer wrist injuries after a few more years of competing at the top level.
If everything goes well, Qin Chunxiao hoped that this type of injury would only emerge after he turned 25. After all, he was at least eight years away from that age.
Anton had experienced wrist soreness during training, but it was never severe. He could just apply ice and rest for a while, and it would be fine. However, if his wrist swelled during a match, it would be troublesome because it would seriously affect his performance.
At the end of the second set, Anton tried to set the ball with both hands for the second attack, but the pain caused his movements to distort, and his arm touched the net.
The referee decisively called a fault on their side, giving one point to the Beluga Club, which directly led to the Hamsters losing the second set!
After confirming that they lost the second set, Anton lowered his head and went back to the coach while applying ice to his wrist. At the same time, he punched his own leg in frustration.
Why did the injury have to occur at this moment? Why did he make such a basic mistake of touching the net?
Most of the responsibility for losing the second set rested on him!
The teammates didn’t know how to console him, and they were all exhausted themselves.
Qin Chunxiao and Nikolai exchanged glances and came to a conclusion. Qin Chunxiao would go and console Anton first, and if needed, Nikolai would take over.
Qin Chunxiao walked up to Anton and said, “Hey, toughen up a bit.”
Anton: “Huh?”
Qin Chunxiao: “I said toughen up a bit. Don’t beat yourself up over the mistake just now. Focus on playing well in the rest of the match. I’ll take over the defensive duties, and you focus on setting and blocking. As long as we win the game, we won’t hold your mistake against you.”
In other words, what you do off the court is none of my concern. But on the court, don’t get in my way of winning the gold medal. If you dare to pull that attitude again, just wait and see what I’ll do to you after the match.
According to Qin Chunxiao’s experience, saying things like “It’s okay, we don’t mind your mistakes” at this moment would only burden Anton, who is more of a nurturing-type player. It’s better to be straightforward and admit that yes, he was annoyed by Anton’s mistake, but for the sake of victory, they need to let go of unnecessary mental burdens so it doesn’t affect their performance.
Alexander frowned slightly. While Misha’s words seemed fine on the surface, upon closer consideration, it sounded like something a crafty old player on the court would say. Moreover, he wasn’t sure if he misinterpreted the underlying meaning, but it sounded like a veiled threat.
Li Ling’s expression became subtle too. He really wanted to grab Qin Chunxiao’s sleeve and remind him that Nikolai was still there listening. Xiaozi, if you want to express your thoughts, at least find a place without coaches around!
Anton clenched his fists tightly. “Rest assured, Misha, I won’t let my emotions interfere with the game.”
Qin Chunxiao nodded in satisfaction. That’s a good comrade. He didn’t care how conflicted Anton was inside, but no matter what, Anton had to assist him in winning the Russian Super League gold medal.
Anton didn’t know yet that he had slipped from the main setter position to an assisting role. However, that was the treatment he received under Qin Chunxiao’s management since the competition in sports could be so ruthless. If injuries affected performance, then that’s how it would be.
The audience hadn’t noticed Qin Chunxiao’s side and were expressing their admiration in the bullet comments.
“Qin’s team is really kind. He comforted Anton before the match despite his injury.”
“Anton’s injury is just unfortunate. Luckily, Qin reassured him before the game.”
“Our Qin is truly too kind and resilient. He doesn’t blame his teammates for their mistakes on the court and gives his all to save the ball.”
“He’s truly like a crystal-like young man.”
Tch! Gao Depi saw Qin Chunxiao’s expression when he talked to Anton and knew that this kid wasn’t saying anything good. At that moment, Pi Shen was so anxious that he wanted to climb through the internet cable to shake Qin Chunxiao.
Xiaozi, it’s okay for you to scold me when I make mistakes off the court, but now you’re playing on the Russians’ turf. Please don’t threaten the team captain, alright? What if the team becomes chaotic, can the gold medal match continue?
But when Gao Depi saw the state of the Hamsters in the third set, he had another thought. Anton was actually cooperating with Xiaozi in playing the ball so obediently, and their understanding seemed good. Could it be that this kid had long been in awe of the team captain?
Anton: What do you mean by being in awe of the team captain? I’ve just recognized Misha as a reliable teammate and am determined to fully cooperate with them!
However, the Belugas were not an opponent that could be easily dealt with immediately after their key setter got injured. The Hamsters lost the third set 24:26, making the overall score 2:1, and the situation started to become dangerous.
If they lost the fourth set as well, the Hamsters would have their sixth Russian Super League runner-up title. Winning one or two runner-up titles is okay, but when you get to the sixth, even dogs would find it pathetic!
Alexander also realized the critical situation, and he started to feel anxious, but he couldn’t blame Anton.
At that moment, Nikolai stepped forward.
The renowned coach was about to exert his authority.
Nikolai: “Everyone, gather around!”
As the players applied ice to their exhausted body parts, they stood up and looked at the tactical board in the coach’s hand.
“Now is the time to go all out. If we lose this set, many people won’t have enough energy to compete in another gold medal match next year. I think you can all feel that.”
Nikolai pointed out the reality, “Soso, you are my most reliable server. I will sub you in for Danny, and after that, you won’t come down again. Besides serving, I want you to help Misha with defense, especially at the net. I need you to put in extra effort in that position.”
As a South American of Latin descent, Soso not only had a handsome face but also stood at a height of two meters, making him even better at blocking than Li Ling and Qin Chunxiao.
Then, Nikolai looked at Qin Chunxiao, “Misha, you are our defensive core. I’ve always hoped that you can liberate all our attackers, so they can focus solely on offense. I’ll have Soso assist you, and the rest of the team will switch to attack. Can you do it?”
Qin Chunxiao took off and shook his headband, then re-tied it and replied solemnly, “I can.”
Nikolai said, “Good. Now, boys, let’s go all out against the Belugas today!”
The coach extended his hand, and all the players, including the substitutes, placed their hands on top of his.
“Ura!”
“Ura!”
The fourth set began, and Soso stepped up to serve. His first serve was a deceptive floater aimed at the attacker. Roman, used to raising both hands, prepared to receive it, not realizing the ball’s trajectory was so elusive that he couldn’t read it correctly. In the end, the ball brushed against his arm and hit the ground.
1-0!
Soso served again. This time, the Latin heartthrob did five push-ups with a strong sense of ceremony before serving. After completing the exercise, he pounded his chest and roared.
Some long-time fans who had been following Soso for a while shed tears when they saw this scene.
“Pounding the chest and stamping the foot! Soso is serious now!”
“A gorilla serves! Soso, my youth is back!”
Soso had a fierce run-up, and this time it was a powerful jump serve!
Boom!
The ball landed with a speed of 128 km/h, one of the top serving speeds in men’s volleyball!
On the third serve, Soso did the push-ups and chest-pounding again. His wild posture ruined his pretty boy image but seemed to add a touch of barbarian aura to him.
Another powerful jump serve!
The speed displayed on the measuring instrument was 127 km/h.
3-0!
It was not until the fourth serve that Roman used his shoulder to cushion the ball, and it bounced towards the crowd. Veteran Ludvika chased it, miraculously sending it back onto the court before it reached the spectators’ area.
It was a no-look back pass!
The Belugas’ opposite hitter immediately attacked, but behind Oleg, Qin Chunxiao’s figure appeared. With his right hand clenched into a fist, he fiercely pounded the ball upward above Li Ling.
Li Ling didn’t even look, he raised his right hand lightly, and the ball slid down along the net.
4-0!
“Damn, amazing! The Hamsters scored 4 consecutive points in the third set, guys! Don’t forget, they’re facing the Belugas, and those 4 points are like miracles!”
“Soso did a great job! He truly deserves the title of the former South American serving genius!”
“How long has it been since he served so freely since recovering from his waist injury?”
Soso grinned. He also played with a closed injury today. As an athlete, he had competed in the Olympics and numerous other major events, but the only title he was missing was the World Club Championship gold medal. To obtain that, he first needed the Russian Super League gold medal and then the European Champions League gold medal. He had to win all the way to achieve his goal.
The addition of the Twin Stars brought Soso closer to that goal in this season, so he was giving it his all!
He didn’t care about his health bar or long-term considerations. He only wanted the gold medal now! Even if it meant paying any price!
The match heated up. Under the intense pressure from the Hamsters, the Belugas also started to consistently excel. The audience at the venue and those watching on TV held their breath.
At this moment, the atmosphere of the Russian Super League gold medal match was no less intense than that of the Olympic final.
Lu Xuandong also widened his eyes, watching this scene.
The struggle was unfolding in the most straightforward way on this court. Under the white lights, every drop of sweat sparkled on the players’ foreheads, necks, and arms. They took deep breaths, carrying the warmth of life, and then channeled all their passion and will into the fight.
The Belugas coach also sensed the Hamsters’ momentum and called a timeout skillfully, trying to break their rhythm. However, it turned out to be futile.
After the timeout, facing a 25-24 score difference, Roman initiated his 18th attack in this match, determined to bring the lead back to his team!
He hit a cross shot from the fourth position to overcome the Hamsters’ blocking, intending to score with a straight-line shot. But Qin Chunxiao was already in position, receiving this lethal move!
Roman couldn’t help but feel annoyed. He knew that Qin Chunxiao had seen through his shot. As the Hamsters launched a counter-defensive, the Belugas’ libero successfully received the ball. Roman and the setter coordinated for another attack. This time, his target was Oleg’s fingers; he wanted to deflect the ball out of bounds!
Qin Chunxiao had been intently watching the ball. As the ball grazed Oleg’s fingertips and flew past, he decisively turned and ran backward!
He made a diving effort, his palm touching the ground to dig the ball up. Li Ling followed closely, pushing the ball backward with both hands.
“Attack!”
The ball flew over the net, and Ludvika managed to dig it back with a one-handed ball, which was then received by Anton.
Alexander had been watching the ball the whole time, with a focused expression and a fiery gaze. He jumped with one foot and whipped his right arm like a whip, hitting the ball.
“Score!”
26-24, the Hamsters won the fourth set! The score was tied 2-2!
Realizing that the Hamsters were not defeated, as the match entered the highest suspense in the fifth set, Lu Xuandong couldn’t contain his excitement. He stood up with Powell, raising both hands and shouting loudly.
“Hamsters!”
“Misha!”
“Keep going!”
Lu Xuandong, as the level of Asian beauty was captured by the camera showing ecstatic expression, which was broadcasted to all sports channels. Apart from Chinese fans who were crying and laughing, fans from other countries started cheering.
“Switch the camera to the players! We want to see them!”
“Let’s see the handsome guy later. For now, we want to watch the game! Has the fifth set started?”
“Damn! This Russian Super League gold medal match is much more exciting than before. This is how a match should be to be entertaining! I love intense showdowns like this!”
The camera smartly returned to the court, but this time it focused on Qin Chunxiao. Some TV stations even zoomed in, emphasizing his eyes.
What kind of eyes were those? Clearly, they were human eyes, yet they seemed to emanate bloodthirst and killing intent! The viewers didn’t feel cold, only a burning sensation.
A primitive wildness was undeniably present in Qin Chunxiao.
Misha’s strong desire for victory seemed almost tangible. Even his teammates standing beside him looked like wolves ready to tear their opponents’ throats. This was the power of team spirit. When his emotions flared up, they could infect everyone around him.
Qin Chunxiao knew that despite the explosive form of his teammates, their health bars were not looking good, and he himself was already exhausted. They absolutely couldn’t afford to drag this match out if they wanted to win.
He shouted, “Let’s finish the match at 15 points!”
The Hamsters team roared, “Alright!”
At this moment, the status of Roman, the Beast, had completely lost its intimidation factor. The invisible pressure that the Belugas had imposed on all Russian Super League teams for a full five years was broken by the Hamsters’ fierce counterattack.
The agile Hamsters deployed a highly complex swaying formation on the court, defending and attacking round after round. Their defensive core, Misha Qin, even brought out his directional acceleration technique again to assist his teammates in blocking Roman’s attacks.
Even though the net separated them, Roman felt as if his wrists were being bitten by the Hamsters, preventing him from executing his usual agile shots.
Since reaching his peak, Roman had never encountered such a tenacious opponent in top-level competitions like the Olympics and World Club Championship because other teams usually had similar superstars to counter him. However, the Hamsters had no superstar; they only had a group of ordinary people who now stood in front of him, challenging him! Even the gods felt fear.
How could ordinary people contend with a superstar’s attack?
Through defense, of course!
Mars, who had been paying close attention to the match, suddenly stood up and exclaimed, “They’ve pressed Roman!”
The 17-year-old Misha Qin made Roman feel suppressed in this match. Such a player…
Mars mumbled, “I’ve been waiting for a player like him for a long time.”
With the referee’s signal, the score reached 15-13.
Everyone stared at the scoreboard blankly, including the players on the court.
In the next instant, all the Hamsters’ supporters stood up, and Misha Qin was already lifted by his teammates. Alexander looked up, Antong raised his leg, and they began celebrating around the court.
They won! They actually won!
The commentator on the Russian sports channel’s eyes turned red with excitement. He opened his mouth and let out a choked sound, realizing how emotional he was because of this match.
He held the microphone and hoarsely announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, just now, in the 2017-2018 Russian Men’s Volleyball Super League gold medal match, we have a winner! It’s the Hamsters Club from Saint Petersburg. Let’s congratulate them!”
“This is a great achievement! After the Belugas Club won five consecutive championships in the Russian Super League, the Hamsters, with unwavering determination and persistence, interrupted their sixth crown and took the gold medal for themselves!”
Lu Xuandong wiped the corner of his eye and heard Powell ask him proudly, “How do you feel? Do you sense the charm of volleyball?”
Lu Xuandong smiled as he looked at Qin Chunxiao being lifted by his teammates, his face full of joy, and replied, “Yes, volleyball is truly fantastic.”
Russian Super League Commentator: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to watch the Russian Super League gold medal match. Now, we can see the team wearing blue jerseys is the Hamster Club, and the team wearing red jerseys is the Beluga Club. The Beluga Club has gained the serve.”
As a libero, Qin Chunxiao wore a white jersey, standing behind his towering teammates, taking a gentle breath.
As the opponent’s No. 1 player served, Qin Chunxiao immediately started running, and before the ball touched the ground, he was already in position, using both hands to send the ball to the net. Anton had already run to the ball’s lower side, ready for a jump set, and several attackers started their approach jump.
The Beluga team’s blockers kept scanning the surroundings. Whom will Anton set the ball to? Who will attack this ball?
The ball flew out of Anton’s hands, but this time, he didn’t set it forward or backward. Instead, he set the ball to the farther side of the net, choosing a back-row attack!
The Beluga players on the left and right sides of the net had already jumped up to block, but as Anton landed, there was no blocker in the position where he was standing—it was an open net!
Li Ling jumped up and roared as he smashed the ball.
1:0.
Roman looked at Li Ling’s attack and blew his whistle. “Not bad, you have already improved by half of my power. The trajectory of the ball has become much more varied, but the strength and jump still need improvement.”
Li Ling’s poor Russian listening skills obviously couldn’t fully understand what Roman was saying, so he asked Qin Chunxiao, “What did he babble about over there?”
Qin Chunxiao translated, “He was praising you.”
Knowing Li Ling’s character well, as long as Qin Chunxiao said it this way, he wouldn’t delve deeper and would focus more on the game.
Li Ling: “Oh! But how can I accept compliments like that?”
As expected, he didn’t delve deeper and happily continued playing the match.
Qin Chunxiao: Mission accomplished!
The match continued, and both teams started to fight fiercely against each other.
As Nikolai watched the Guangdong Twin Stars on the court, he felt like Newton should really pay him money because, you see, these two kids had evolved so well under his guidance.
Li Ling originally only possessed strong physical talents, but now his talents are starting to show on the court. As for Qin Chunxiao, facing Roman’s attacks, although it was still challenging, he was handling it much better than the first time they encountered each other.
Misha had shared his experience in dealing with the “Divine Beast” with Li Ling, and Tutankh-Amun’s guidance had elevated him by at least ten levels!
This was the gold medal match, and everyone brought out their best form. Roman began to increase the intensity of his attacks, but at this moment, Qin Chunxiao displayed unparalleled tenacity, firmly holding back Roman’s scoring efficiency.
Meanwhile, the presence of Li Ling, Oleg, Alexander, and Danny as four attackers miraculously raised the Hamster Club’s scoring efficiency to a level on par with the Beluga.
In the first set, it was a back-and-forth battle, with each team fighting for every point.
When the score reached 17:17, Qin Chunxiao rubbed his arms, showing an unhappy expression. Roman had attacked 12 times, and he blocked 8 of those attacks. This was the best efficiency he had ever achieved in defending Roman, but he was certain that there were already bruises on his arms.
The dull pain from being hit by flesh and bones together, as well as the stinging sensation from the skin being scraped, made Qin Chunxiao look quite pale.
Alexander worriedly asked, “Misha, should we call a timeout?”
Qin Chunxiao immediately replied, “No need!”
His stubbornness came up. Today was the time to face Roman head-on!
“And besides, you had a closed training session before the match. If you, in this condition, don’t call for a break, why should I?” Qin Chunxiao glared at Alexander’s knees.
Alexander chuckled, “I knew I couldn’t hide it from you.”
Anton walked up to Alexander and patted his shoulder. “In this match today, we cannot afford to lose!”
The arena was filled with lights, the sound of teammates breathing heavily, the screeching of shoes on the floor, and in the distance, there was a roaring cheer and encouragement from the fans. Facing formidable opponents, this was probably the battlefield where no player would willingly retreat.
Victory was at this moment, honor was at this moment, and the gold medal was just within reach. A thousand words and phrases converged into one word: Fight!
The first set was won by the Hamster Club’s main players, all in top form, with a thrilling score of 32:30.
Watching this match, Fu Biyang beside the computer began rubbing his chest. “Damn, they are too tight! Thanks to Xiaozai chasing after the balls, they managed to stop Beluga from taking the set at 26:25. He received three consecutive spikes from the other side, or else the Hamsters would have been outplayed!”
The ups and downs of this match had reached the world’s top level. No one knew the outcome until the end, and Fu Biyang was almost getting a heart attack from watching it.
Fu Biyang could be sure that both teams’ players were fighting for their lives today. Even Alexander, who was injured, began using his one-foot jump and landing move, which he had only used in the early stages of his career. It was a powerful technique!
It should be noted that this guy’s knee problems were famous. Those who played volleyball knew about Alexander’s wild play in his early years, which left him with significant potential dangers in his career. Therefore, he was often cited as a negative example by coaches when educating young athletes.
Qiao Mingming noticed something, “Alexander must have had a closed training1 session. Otherwise, just the injuries alone would be enough to affect his performance. He wouldn’t be able to achieve his current state without a closed session.”
The so-called “closed training” is when athletes receive injections of medication to temporarily numb the pain and other sensations, creating a state of “pseudo health.”
However, once the effects of the closed training wear off, the aftereffects of playing with injuries will only worsen the condition and may even directly ruin an athlete’s career.
Therefore, using closed training is a forbidden move that burns through a player’s professional career. Athletes won’t resort to this unless they are pushed to their limits.
Qiao Mingming wondered if Xiaozai and Er Leng knew that Alexander was going all out in this match. They must know, as Xiaozai was clearly giving it his all as well!
Between the first and second sets, Qin Chunxiao had ice packs on his hands, his eyes were cold and sharp like a wolf, exuding a fierce beast-like aura. Even his handsome face looked so sharp that people dared not look directly at him.
Qin Chunxiao was also playing with injuries against Roman!
Li Ling stood beside Qin Chunxiao with a grim expression, clearly feeling angry about Qin Chunxiao’s injuries.
The most frustrated one was Roman. It was the first time he experienced being limited in strength by the libero, and he felt so frustrated! He threw the towel on his seat and walked back and forth anxiously. The coach had to stand up and remind him to stay calm.
“Hey, Roman, if you keep getting anxious like this, you’re falling into their trap. They are weakening you using this method!” Roman could understand the reasoning, but he was still anxious because the Hamsters’ tactics were clearly effective! They had just lost a set because of it!
In the coach’s “stay calm” reminder, Roman drank half a pot of water in one breath. With his height of over two meters, his hands were also quite large, and the water bottle looked like a toy in his huge hands.
Roman muttered to himself, “I don’t want to like the Hamsters today.”
His setter, Ludvika, calmly said, “That’s how it is. No matter what happens off the court, we can’t be friends on the court.”
The vice attacker of the Beluga, who was marked by Qin Chunxiao as the second defensive target in the first set, said fiercely, “When we score again, I’m going to meow at them!”
In the second set, the atmosphere on the court became even more intense. In simple terms, both sides were giving it their all.
The two commentators of the Volleyball Frontline were experts in the sport, and watching the players’ tactics and their serious expressions, they couldn’t help but sigh.
“They’ve really gone all out. It’s said that both teams had athletes undergo closed training, and for the gold medal, they’ve disregarded their future.”
“For athletes, closed training is a very cruel topic. Ludvika with the second attack! Qin Chunxiao receives. Li Ling with the second set! Alexander attacks again!”
“Li Ling’s progress in this season of the Russian Super League has been tremendous. We can see that his shots have become more unpredictable. Although he hasn’t had many attacking opportunities in this match, his scoring efficiency has improved significantly compared to the regular season data!”
“Qin Chunxiao is really giving it his all today. You can see how he frequently scrambles to the other side to receive the ball, rolling on the floor, and even his white jersey is stained with dirt. His fighting spirit, along with his reliability as a libero, is boosting the morale of the Hamsters today!”
It turned out Li Ling has a bit of a “favorable wind dog, adverse wind god” attribute. When things go smoothly, he tends to be unconventional, but when things don’t go well, he becomes a “seed exploder.”
After entering the Russian Super League playoffs, Li Ling had been consistently stable. Later, someone realized that given the intensity of the Russian Super League playoffs, it was like facing adverse conditions in every match for Li Ling! No wonder this kid keeps getting better as he plays!
However, in the second set, there was a hiccup on Anton’s side. His wrist started to turn red, and by the end of the second set, it had become slightly swollen.
It was no surprise. With two setters on the team, Anton, a nanny-type setter, also had to take on some defensive responsibilities. Every time he jumped, he had to support himself with his wrists. To be efficient, Anton often performed single-handed jumps, requiring wrist rotations to control the angle and trajectory of the set, putting significant pressure on his wrists.
Just like Qin Chunxiao, he had the same issue when he was in his twenties. With his young age and proper self-care, he managed to maintain his condition well. However, he couldn’t be sure whether he would also suffer wrist injuries after a few more years of competing at the top level.
If everything goes well, Qin Chunxiao hoped that this type of injury would only emerge after he turned 25. After all, he was at least eight years away from that age.
Anton had experienced wrist soreness during training, but it was never severe. He could just apply ice and rest for a while, and it would be fine. However, if his wrist swelled during a match, it would be troublesome because it would seriously affect his performance.
At the end of the second set, Anton tried to set the ball with both hands for the second attack, but the pain caused his movements to distort, and his arm touched the net.
The referee decisively called a fault on their side, giving one point to the Beluga Club, which directly led to the Hamsters losing the second set!
After confirming that they lost the second set, Anton lowered his head and went back to the coach while applying ice to his wrist. At the same time, he punched his own leg in frustration.
Why did the injury have to occur at this moment? Why did he make such a basic mistake of touching the net?
Most of the responsibility for losing the second set rested on him!
The teammates didn’t know how to console him, and they were all exhausted themselves.
Qin Chunxiao and Nikolai exchanged glances and came to a conclusion. Qin Chunxiao would go and console Anton first, and if needed, Nikolai would take over.
Qin Chunxiao walked up to Anton and said, “Hey, toughen up a bit.”
Anton: “Huh?”
Qin Chunxiao: “I said toughen up a bit. Don’t beat yourself up over the mistake just now. Focus on playing well in the rest of the match. I’ll take over the defensive duties, and you focus on setting and blocking. As long as we win the game, we won’t hold your mistake against you.”
In other words, what you do off the court is none of my concern. But on the court, don’t get in my way of winning the gold medal. If you dare to pull that attitude again, just wait and see what I’ll do to you after the match.
According to Qin Chunxiao’s experience, saying things like “It’s okay, we don’t mind your mistakes” at this moment would only burden Anton, who is more of a nurturing-type player. It’s better to be straightforward and admit that yes, he was annoyed by Anton’s mistake, but for the sake of victory, they need to let go of unnecessary mental burdens so it doesn’t affect their performance.
Alexander frowned slightly. While Misha’s words seemed fine on the surface, upon closer consideration, it sounded like something a crafty old player on the court would say. Moreover, he wasn’t sure if he misinterpreted the underlying meaning, but it sounded like a veiled threat.
Li Ling’s expression became subtle too. He really wanted to grab Qin Chunxiao’s sleeve and remind him that Nikolai was still there listening. Xiaozi, if you want to express your thoughts, at least find a place without coaches around!
Anton clenched his fists tightly. “Rest assured, Misha, I won’t let my emotions interfere with the game.”
Qin Chunxiao nodded in satisfaction. That’s a good comrade. He didn’t care how conflicted Anton was inside, but no matter what, Anton had to assist him in winning the Russian Super League gold medal.
Anton didn’t know yet that he had slipped from the main setter position to an assisting role. However, that was the treatment he received under Qin Chunxiao’s management since the competition in sports could be so ruthless. If injuries affected performance, then that’s how it would be.
The audience hadn’t noticed Qin Chunxiao’s side and were expressing their admiration in the bullet comments.
“Qin’s team is really kind. He comforted Anton before the match despite his injury.”
“Anton’s injury is just unfortunate. Luckily, Qin reassured him before the game.”
“Our Qin is truly too kind and resilient. He doesn’t blame his teammates for their mistakes on the court and gives his all to save the ball.”
“He’s truly like a crystal-like young man.”
Tch! Gao Depi saw Qin Chunxiao’s expression when he talked to Anton and knew that this kid wasn’t saying anything good. At that moment, Pi Shen was so anxious that he wanted to climb through the internet cable to shake Qin Chunxiao.
Xiaozi, it’s okay for you to scold me when I make mistakes off the court, but now you’re playing on the Russians’ turf. Please don’t threaten the team captain, alright? What if the team becomes chaotic, can the gold medal match continue?
But when Gao Depi saw the state of the Hamsters in the third set, he had another thought. Anton was actually cooperating with Xiaozi in playing the ball so obediently, and their understanding seemed good. Could it be that this kid had long been in awe of the team captain?
Anton: What do you mean by being in awe of the team captain? I’ve just recognized Misha as a reliable teammate and am determined to fully cooperate with them!
However, the Belugas were not an opponent that could be easily dealt with immediately after their key setter got injured. The Hamsters lost the third set 24:26, making the overall score 2:1, and the situation started to become dangerous.
If they lost the fourth set as well, the Hamsters would have their sixth Russian Super League runner-up title. Winning one or two runner-up titles is okay, but when you get to the sixth, even dogs would find it pathetic!
Alexander also realized the critical situation, and he started to feel anxious, but he couldn’t blame Anton.
At that moment, Nikolai stepped forward.
The renowned coach was about to exert his authority.
Nikolai: “Everyone, gather around!”
As the players applied ice to their exhausted body parts, they stood up and looked at the tactical board in the coach’s hand.
“Now is the time to go all out. If we lose this set, many people won’t have enough energy to compete in another gold medal match next year. I think you can all feel that.”
Nikolai pointed out the reality, “Soso, you are my most reliable server. I will sub you in for Danny, and after that, you won’t come down again. Besides serving, I want you to help Misha with defense, especially at the net. I need you to put in extra effort in that position.”
As a South American of Latin descent, Soso not only had a handsome face but also stood at a height of two meters, making him even better at blocking than Li Ling and Qin Chunxiao.
Then, Nikolai looked at Qin Chunxiao, “Misha, you are our defensive core. I’ve always hoped that you can liberate all our attackers, so they can focus solely on offense. I’ll have Soso assist you, and the rest of the team will switch to attack. Can you do it?”
Qin Chunxiao took off and shook his headband, then re-tied it and replied solemnly, “I can.”
Nikolai said, “Good. Now, boys, let’s go all out against the Belugas today!”
The coach extended his hand, and all the players, including the substitutes, placed their hands on top of his.
“Ura!”
“Ura!”
The fourth set began, and Soso stepped up to serve. His first serve was a deceptive floater aimed at the attacker. Roman, used to raising both hands, prepared to receive it, not realizing the ball’s trajectory was so elusive that he couldn’t read it correctly. In the end, the ball brushed against his arm and hit the ground.
1-0!
Soso served again. This time, the Latin heartthrob did five push-ups with a strong sense of ceremony before serving. After completing the exercise, he pounded his chest and roared.
Some long-time fans who had been following Soso for a while shed tears when they saw this scene.
“Pounding the chest and stamping the foot! Soso is serious now!”
“A gorilla serves! Soso, my youth is back!”
Soso had a fierce run-up, and this time it was a powerful jump serve!
Boom!
The ball landed with a speed of 128 km/h, one of the top serving speeds in men’s volleyball!
On the third serve, Soso did the push-ups and chest-pounding again. His wild posture ruined his pretty boy image but seemed to add a touch of barbarian aura to him.
Another powerful jump serve!
The speed displayed on the measuring instrument was 127 km/h.
3-0!
It was not until the fourth serve that Roman used his shoulder to cushion the ball, and it bounced towards the crowd. Veteran Ludvika chased it, miraculously sending it back onto the court before it reached the spectators’ area.
It was a no-look back pass!
The Belugas’ opposite hitter immediately attacked, but behind Oleg, Qin Chunxiao’s figure appeared. With his right hand clenched into a fist, he fiercely pounded the ball upward above Li Ling.
Li Ling didn’t even look, he raised his right hand lightly, and the ball slid down along the net.
4-0!
“Damn, amazing! The Hamsters scored 4 consecutive points in the third set, guys! Don’t forget, they’re facing the Belugas, and those 4 points are like miracles!”
“Soso did a great job! He truly deserves the title of the former South American serving genius!”
“How long has it been since he served so freely since recovering from his waist injury?”
Soso grinned. He also played with a closed injury today. As an athlete, he had competed in the Olympics and numerous other major events, but the only title he was missing was the World Club Championship gold medal. To obtain that, he first needed the Russian Super League gold medal and then the European Champions League gold medal. He had to win all the way to achieve his goal.
The addition of the Twin Stars brought Soso closer to that goal in this season, so he was giving it his all!
He didn’t care about his health bar or long-term considerations. He only wanted the gold medal now! Even if it meant paying any price!
The match heated up. Under the intense pressure from the Hamsters, the Belugas also started to consistently excel. The audience at the venue and those watching on TV held their breath.
At this moment, the atmosphere of the Russian Super League gold medal match was no less intense than that of the Olympic final.
Lu Xuandong also widened his eyes, watching this scene.
The struggle was unfolding in the most straightforward way on this court. Under the white lights, every drop of sweat sparkled on the players’ foreheads, necks, and arms. They took deep breaths, carrying the warmth of life, and then channeled all their passion and will into the fight.
The Belugas coach also sensed the Hamsters’ momentum and called a timeout skillfully, trying to break their rhythm. However, it turned out to be futile.
After the timeout, facing a 25-24 score difference, Roman initiated his 18th attack in this match, determined to bring the lead back to his team!
He hit a cross shot from the fourth position to overcome the Hamsters’ blocking, intending to score with a straight-line shot. But Qin Chunxiao was already in position, receiving this lethal move!
Roman couldn’t help but feel annoyed. He knew that Qin Chunxiao had seen through his shot. As the Hamsters launched a counter-defensive, the Belugas’ libero successfully received the ball. Roman and the setter coordinated for another attack. This time, his target was Oleg’s fingers; he wanted to deflect the ball out of bounds!
Qin Chunxiao had been intently watching the ball. As the ball grazed Oleg’s fingertips and flew past, he decisively turned and ran backward!
He made a diving effort, his palm touching the ground to dig the ball up. Li Ling followed closely, pushing the ball backward with both hands.
“Attack!”
The ball flew over the net, and Ludvika managed to dig it back with a one-handed ball, which was then received by Anton.
Alexander had been watching the ball the whole time, with a focused expression and a fiery gaze. He jumped with one foot and whipped his right arm like a whip, hitting the ball.
“Score!”
26-24, the Hamsters won the fourth set! The score was tied 2-2!
Realizing that the Hamsters were not defeated, as the match entered the highest suspense in the fifth set, Lu Xuandong couldn’t contain his excitement. He stood up with Powell, raising both hands and shouting loudly.
“Hamsters!”
“Misha!”
“Keep going!”
Lu Xuandong, as the level of Asian beauty was captured by the camera showing ecstatic expression, which was broadcasted to all sports channels. Apart from Chinese fans who were crying and laughing, fans from other countries started cheering.
“Switch the camera to the players! We want to see them!”
“Let’s see the handsome guy later. For now, we want to watch the game! Has the fifth set started?”
“Damn! This Russian Super League gold medal match is much more exciting than before. This is how a match should be to be entertaining! I love intense showdowns like this!”
The camera smartly returned to the court, but this time it focused on Qin Chunxiao. Some TV stations even zoomed in, emphasizing his eyes.
What kind of eyes were those? Clearly, they were human eyes, yet they seemed to emanate bloodthirst and killing intent! The viewers didn’t feel cold, only a burning sensation.
A primitive wildness was undeniably present in Qin Chunxiao.
Misha’s strong desire for victory seemed almost tangible. Even his teammates standing beside him looked like wolves ready to tear their opponents’ throats. This was the power of team spirit. When his emotions flared up, they could infect everyone around him.
Qin Chunxiao knew that despite the explosive form of his teammates, their health bars were not looking good, and he himself was already exhausted. They absolutely couldn’t afford to drag this match out if they wanted to win.
He shouted, “Let’s finish the match at 15 points!”
The Hamsters team roared, “Alright!”
At this moment, the status of Roman, the Beast, had completely lost its intimidation factor. The invisible pressure that the Belugas had imposed on all Russian Super League teams for a full five years was broken by the Hamsters’ fierce counterattack.
The agile Hamsters deployed a highly complex swaying formation on the court, defending and attacking round after round. Their defensive core, Misha Qin, even brought out his directional acceleration technique again to assist his teammates in blocking Roman’s attacks.
Even though the net separated them, Roman felt as if his wrists were being bitten by the Hamsters, preventing him from executing his usual agile shots.
Since reaching his peak, Roman had never encountered such a tenacious opponent in top-level competitions like the Olympics and World Club Championship because other teams usually had similar superstars to counter him. However, the Hamsters had no superstar; they only had a group of ordinary people who now stood in front of him, challenging him! Even the gods felt fear.
How could ordinary people contend with a superstar’s attack?
Through defense, of course!
Mars, who had been paying close attention to the match, suddenly stood up and exclaimed, “They’ve pressed Roman!”
The 17-year-old Misha Qin made Roman feel suppressed in this match. Such a player…
Mars mumbled, “I’ve been waiting for a player like him for a long time.”
With the referee’s signal, the score reached 15-13.
Everyone stared at the scoreboard blankly, including the players on the court.
In the next instant, all the Hamsters’ supporters stood up, and Misha Qin was already lifted by his teammates. Alexander looked up, Antong raised his leg, and they began celebrating around the court.
They won! They actually won!
The commentator on the Russian sports channel’s eyes turned red with excitement. He opened his mouth and let out a choked sound, realizing how emotional he was because of this match.
He held the microphone and hoarsely announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, just now, in the 2017-2018 Russian Men’s Volleyball Super League gold medal match, we have a winner! It’s the Hamsters Club from Saint Petersburg. Let’s congratulate them!”
“This is a great achievement! After the Belugas Club won five consecutive championships in the Russian Super League, the Hamsters, with unwavering determination and persistence, interrupted their sixth crown and took the gold medal for themselves!”
Lu Xuandong wiped the corner of his eye and heard Powell ask him proudly, “How do you feel? Do you sense the charm of volleyball?”
Lu Xuandong smiled as he looked at Qin Chunxiao being lifted by his teammates, his face full of joy, and replied, “Yes, volleyball is truly fantastic.”
