Cole scratched his head, whispering, "Who's that? I thought Theodore was dead. How did he return to life?"

Cole was clearly unaware of the whole situation. Tyler frowned slightly and said, "Don't dwell on it. Let's concentrate on the game."

"Alright," Cole muttered, letting the topic go.

After laughing, Sonia teased Ariana, "Is the CEO not too busy? He really has time to participate in a gaming competition."

Ariana, slightly resigned, replied, “Our team was shorthanded, so I had to invite him."

Holden, standing nearby with a raised eyebrow and folded arms, interjected, "Had to? Am I your last choice?"

Ariana swiftly attempted to comfort Holden with a laugh. "Not at all. I chose you because you're skilled at games. You're my top choice; you excel in playing support."

Tyler coughed, observing them and reflecting on how Holden hadn't changed at all. He then took out his phone and suggested, "I've devised some tactics. Let's review them, and you can tell me what you think afterward."

Ariana joined the conversation, and after further discussion, the group settled on their final strategy.

Tyler cheered the team, feeling optimistic about their odds of winning.

As they prepared to leave to attend the competition, Cole produced some head masks. "I brought these masks; I figured we might need a disguise, given that we're famous. It's best not to attract too much attention."

Ariana agreed, noting that it was logical, particularly since Tyler was a prominent actor.

The team concurred, and Cole distributed the masks.

Ariana received a tiger mask, Holden a rabbit, Sonia a cat, and Tyler a dog. Cole, being the one who had prepared the masks, retained the impressive Pikachu mask for himself.

Upon arriving at the venue, they found it filled with fans holding different support banners.

Ariana now recalled that the competition was designated as an all-star event, indicating that the participants were either celebrities or seasoned esports players, each boasting a substantial fan base.

Sharing glances, Ariana and the others realized they might have overreacted with the masks. However, removing the masks seemed cumbersome, so they continued with their original plan.

The rivals were youthful celebrities and esports stars with lots of fans. Their introductions elicited screams and cheers from the audience.

However, when Ariana's team was called to the stage, the prior enthusiasm waned. The group wearing animal masks stepped forward, creating a somewhat comical scene.

The audience was taken aback, all eyes fixed on the group on stage, murmuring with confusion. The group's striking looks were clearly out of place.