After the game of "Warcraft" finally came to an end, the next game to take the stage was "Yu-Gi-Oh!". Of course, John would not be serving as the commentator this time. The contestants who received this news couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief.
Although everyone knew very well that the so-called jinx was nothing more than an amusing joke, and that the final outcome of a game would ultimately depend on the players' personal strength, tactical decisions, mental state, and on-the-spot performance, the existence of a poisonous jinx like John was simply too unscientific.
After all, the player who had been hailed as God had been beaten 3:0. The supposedly powerful Lubu of the 9c Club had also been directly overturned in the very first round of the tournament.
Under such circumstances, who could possibly not be afraid? Even if they knew it was only a joke, there was still a strange psychological pressure whenever John's eyes fell upon a particular player.
However, although the contestants were relieved, many of the spectators at the venue and the countless players watching through the live broadcast were actually a little disappointed. After all, they had been secretly looking forward to seeing whether John could once again unleash his bizarre "curse" and somehow send both of the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" players into defeat. It had already become one of the most amusing spectacles of the entire convention.
Unfortunately, they were disappointed. This time, John did not appear as the commentator. Instead, just like after the "Warcraft" competition had ended, the trophy ceremony and player interviews were completed first. Only then, amid the surprised expressions of everyone present, did John suddenly appear on the stage. The appearance of the man immediately caused a stir throughout the venue.
"Thank you, everyone..." John smiled and looked toward the audience. His expression was calm, but the faint smile on his face immediately made countless people realize that something was probably about to happen.
"Actually, I should have waited until tomorrow before meeting everyone again. But I think everyone has been looking forward to this for a very long time." He paused deliberately. "So today, I feel that I should show you something in advance. Something that everyone will officially learn about tomorrow."
The moment his words fell, cheers as loud as thunder erupted throughout the entire venue. The sound waves rolled through the hall one after another. At this moment, the joking title of "jinx" was temporarily thrown aside.
What was the new content from PixelPioneers? Was it a brand-new game? Or perhaps a massive new version for one of their existing games? Could it be some kind of mysterious project that PixelPioneers had been secretly preparing for months? Countless players were filled with anticipation and curiosity.
Even the audience watching the live broadcast immediately became restless, with comments flooding across at an astonishing speed.
"We previously released a promotional CG for a brand-new product, along with a very cool demo." Because there was not much time, John did not bother with unnecessary theatrics or spend too long deliberately building up the atmosphere. Instead, he simply went straight to the main topic and everything had already been prepared in advance.
The huge screen that had previously been displaying the live game footage suddenly went dark. Then, it lit up again.
A black-and-white assassin appeared on the screen. The camera slowly revealed a magnificent scene, showing the assassin standing high above a towering fortress and overlooking the vast lands of Italy beneath him.
The scenery was breathtaking. The architecture, the streets, the distant buildings, and the atmosphere of the era were all rendered with an astonishing sense of detail.
Then, without warning, the assassin leaped outward. His arms spread wide. His body plunged downward from the towering structure and disappeared into the sky below.
At the same time, the screen suddenly displayed two familiar words, "Assassin's Creed."
The players at the venue erupted into excited cheers. They had already expected this moment. There was no longer any doubt. The game "Assassin's Creed" had officially been revealed at this PixelPioneers convention.
"Yes, I believe everyone had already guessed this before today," John said with a smile. "This will be our next game, 'Assassin's Creed'. It is an action-adventure game, and in it, we will return to Renaissance-era Italy and experience an age that most people have only ever seen described in history books."
The cheers from the venue did not stop. They continued for more than ten seconds before gradually becoming quieter. The players had just received confirmation of a brand-new game.
But before they could fully digest the excitement, John had already prepared another surprise. "However, that isn't all."
The moment those words were spoken, many people immediately raised their heads.
John looked toward the audience. "In addition to this, the new content for 'Warcraft: The Frozen Throne' will also be going online soon."
Another bombshell! It was as though another enormous stone had been thrown into an already turbulent lake. The moment John's words fell, many of the players at the scene had not even had time to react before a brand-new CG animation began playing on the huge screen. The venue instantly became quiet, and everyone's eyes were drawn toward the screen.
Within a vast and endless glacier, Arthas, who had already become a Death Knight, rode upon a skeletal horse and confronted Illidan, the demon standing before him.
The cold wind swept across the frozen landscape and snow drifted through the air. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to pass through the screen itself.
"This Frozen Throne is mine, demon. Get out of my way!" Arthas stared coldly at the demon opposite him.
"Leave this world and never come back. If you dare return..." His voice became colder. "I will be waiting."
Illidan's expression did not change. "I have sworn to destroy it, Arthas. This must be done."
He gripped the twin blades of Azzinoth tightly in his hands, his voice filled with an unmistakable determination.
At that moment, Frostmourne suddenly burst into a dim and sinister glow. The power of the Lich King sealed within the Frozen Throne began pouring endlessly into Arthas's body.
The surrounding atmosphere seemed to become heavier, and the cold wind roared across the glacier.
Arthas slowly dismounted from his skeletal horse. His boots landed heavily upon the ice. Frostmourne was tightly clenched in his hand. Then, he charged.
At almost the exact same moment, Illidan moved as well. The demon's enormous wings spread wide behind him. Blue-green flames burned fiercely across his body, illuminating the surrounding darkness with an eerie glow. Illidan also rushed toward Arthas.
The two figures rapidly closed the distance between them, and then they collided.
Boom! A fierce battle erupted.
The screen was immediately filled with powerful special effects. Rapid close-up shots followed one after another, showing Frostmourne violently colliding with the twin blades of Azzinoth. Sparks exploded into the air. Ice shattered beneath their feet. The enormous force of their attacks caused cracks to spread across the glacier.
The camera repeatedly switched between sweeping wide-angle shots and intense close-ups. Every clash carried a terrifying sense of power. Every movement was filled with tension. The entire scene left every player watching completely exhilarated.
Cheers erupted from the seats throughout the venue. Some players even stood up directly from their seats, unable to restrain their excitement. Meanwhile, those who were not physically present and were watching through the live broadcast frantically flooded the screen with comments, expressing their emotions without holding anything back.
"This CG could only be described as extravagant." That was the first thought that appeared in the minds of many people.
The entire production team had clearly spent an enormous amount of money on it. Every second seemed to be burning cash, and this was not some cheap spectacle assembled merely for appearance. There was no complicated explanation of the entire plot, nor was there any deliberate attempt to reveal every important detail.
It was simply a battle. Nothing more. Yet it was a battle created with an almost overwhelming amount of financial resources and production power. Every movement, every impact, every camera transition, and every special effect revealed the terrifying hard power behind the production. It was the kind of CG animation where sheer production strength completely crushed expectations.
Within a clip that lasted roughly a minute, the battle finally reached its climax. Illidan's movements slowed for a brief moment, and Arthas seized the opportunity. Frostmourne flashed through the air. The next instant, it pierced through Illidan's body.
The demon staggered as purple blood flowed from Illidan's body and dripped onto the frozen ground below. Yet despite suffering such a serious injury, Illidan remained conscious. His eyes still burned with an unwillingness to submit.
But Arthas did not stop. He turned his back on the defeated demon and continued forward. Frostmourne remained firmly in his hand as he marched toward the towering Ice Throne.
The camera followed behind him.
Countless strange noises and vague whispers echoed throughout the frozen prison where the Lich King Ner'zhul was imprisoned. No one could clearly determine what the voices were saying. They were fragmented and distorted. Almost like the murmurs of countless trapped souls. They drifted through the icy surroundings, creating an atmosphere that was both mysterious and horrifying.
Arthas continued upward. Frostmourne was firmly held in his hand. One step, then another. His footsteps echoed through the frozen prison.
The camera gradually moved closer.
At the very top of the prison, the voice of Ner'zhul finally rang out.
"Bring the sword back, so that I can be completely liberated from this abominable imprisonment." The whisper echoed directly within Arthas's ears.
It was difficult to determine whether the voice was coming from the surroundings or directly from inside his own mind.
However, Arthas did not hesitate. Holding Frostmourne tightly, he continued forward without the slightest change in expression. Then he stopped before the frozen prison. Both hands wrapped around the sword's hilt, he raised Frostmourne high and brought it crashing down.
Bang! The frozen prison trembled violently. The sound of whispers became louder. Then came screams. Countless screams. The entire screen suddenly fell into darkness, and everything disappeared.
The audience was left staring at the black screen in stunned silence. Then, the ice shattered. Just as Arthas had once transformed into a Death Knight and used Frostmourne to kill his own father, the helmet slipped from the steps and tumbled downward. It spun several times before finally landing near Arthas's feet.
The camera slowly focused on the helmet.
Arthas lowered his head. Looking at the helmet that had fallen beside his feet, he slowly bent down and picked it up. For a moment, the entire world seemed to become completely silent. Then he placed the helmet upon his head.
His voice was low and cold. "Now, we are one."
The camera changed.
Arthas was now fully armored. He held Frostmourne upside down in one hand and sat upon the throne at the very top of the enormous ice tower. He did not move. He simply sat there. Like a king overlooking everything beneath him.
There was no background music. Only silence. Absolute silence. That silence somehow became more oppressive than any roaring orchestra could have been.
Then, little by little, the camera began to pull backward, and the enormous ice tower gradually appeared. Then, the frozen glacier. Then, the endless snowy landscape surrounds it. The scale of the scene continued to expand until the towering structure appeared almost insignificant compared with the vast frozen world surrounding it. Only a faint background sound slowly echoed through the silence.
The scene was magnificent and filled with an indescribable sense of oppression. It created an atmosphere so heavy that it seemed as though the entire venue itself had stopped breathing.
When the CG animation finally ended, enthusiastic cheers once again exploded throughout the venue. The silence that had filled the hall a moment earlier was instantly shattered.
Cheers.
Applause.
Excited shouts.
The entire venue seemed to boil over. Even the players watching the live broadcast were going completely wild.
After the cheers gradually weakened, John returned to the center of the stage. He waited until the audience had quieted down before speaking once again. "In addition to the new battle content, 'Warcraft' will also usher in a special mode."
The moment they heard John's words, every player at the venue immediately revealed an expression of extreme anticipation. A special mode? What kind of mode could it be? Was this another major addition to "Warcraft"? Could it completely change the way the game was played?
The audience became restless once again. They were waiting. Waiting for John to reveal the answer to what this mysterious new mode actually was. Even those watching the live broadcast had already begun speculating wildly in the comments.
However, instead of giving them the answer they were expecting, John simply smiled. "More news..."
He deliberately paused, and the audience leaned forward subconsciously.
Then John delivered the final blow. "Look forward to the unveiling of the game plans at tomorrow's convention."
Silence. Complete silence. For a moment, the entire venue seemed to freeze. ??? That was it? Having said so much, John was telling them that they still had to wait until tomorrow?!
They had been given a brand-new game announcement. Then they had been given the news about "Warcraft: The Frozen Throne". Then they had even been told that a special new mode was coming. Everyone had thought that John would finally reveal the details.
But after stirring up everyone's expectations to such a high point, he simply told them to come back tomorrow. What kind of behavior was this?!
Whether they were sitting inside the venue or watching the live broadcast from somewhere else, the audience was left completely dumbfounded. Some people simply stared at the screen. Others were speechless. And countless others immediately began complaining in the live comments.
They had been hyped up.
They had been excited.
They had been waiting for the answer.
They had been mentally prepared for another huge announcement.
And in the end... The only answer they received was: wait until tomorrow.
The venue immediately erupted into a strange mixture of laughter, complaints, and anticipation. Although everyone was complaining about being teased, no one actually left. Because everyone understood one thing.
Whatever PixelPioneers was planning to reveal tomorrow... It was definitely going to be something worth waiting for.