The Pinnacle Moment!

The crowd below burst into laughter. The host had not announced the result, but everyone had silently arrived at the same answer.

Dead Cells

Its player vote count was simply too high. Someone had calculated that even if the media gave Dead Cells not a single vote, it could still win this award on the strength of its player votes alone.

"Perhaps everyone already knows the answer, but I still have to announce it officially." The young woman held her breath and looked at the cue cards in her hands. Ethan Vale's awards were listed together, not separated.

The organizers had arranged it this way on purpose.

The previous image on the massive screen behind her had already faded away. In the darkness, a green, seaweed-like mass dropped from above, splatting onto the floor before attaching itself to a headless corpse.

"The winner of Best Independent Game is—Dead Cells!"

A rapid montage of players' most thrilling gameplay clips flashed across the screen. Amid flashing blades and clashing steel, The Beheaded perfectly parried incoming attacks.

The Collector was still in the back, chugging Panacea again and again.

A spotlight suddenly lit up in the darkened audience, shining on Ethan Vale's section.

The livestream camera turned in that direction as well. He was sitting precisely where the host had been looking earlier.

"Just as expected of him. I knew it, it really was him!" Yinzi muttered as he watched the stream.

His emotions were incredibly complicated. He had already guessed the outcome, yet hearing the answer still sent a surge of excitement through his heart that he could not calm.

The comments began flooding the screen.

'Before Black Star, there was no sky; after Black Star, none can compare! Black Star the Great reigns supreme!'

'That black-hearted bastard merely made a tiny move, and he'd already reached the limit of an awards ceremony.'

'Covering the sky with one hand, ruling TGA alone. Wherever that black-hearted bastard stands is synonymous with invincibility.'

'The old bastard doesn't need to do anything. The players will act for him.'

Yinzi could not help laughing as he read the comments in his stream.

The netizens this year were all geniuses.

It was just like what everyone was feeling right now. Their hearts were brimming with the joy of watching a child grow up.

After all, they had watched that old bastard climb step by step to where he was now.

Now, they could proudly declare to the world, "My Black Star has the makings of an emperor."

Evan and Carter patted Ethan Vale on the shoulder and nodded at him approvingly.

Neither of them could stop smiling. The better Ethan Vale's achievements were, the happier they would be.

Ethan Vale rose from his seat.

The spotlight followed him step by step onto the stage, until he stood beside the host.

He had previously been interviewed by domestic gaming media, but this was his first time standing on the world stage.

From the moment he stepped up, the host's eyes never left him. Only when he reached her side could she stop herself from asking.

"You're Black Star, Sprout Studio's lead designer?" She looked Ethan Vale up and down, her Celeste eyes filled with wonder.

It was not that she could not accept a designer being young, but compared to what he had accomplished,

he was a little too young.

"Yes, that's me." Ethan Vale smiled and nodded. From the other side of the stage, someone was already carrying over a trophy.

Clips from Dead Cells continued playing on the big screen behind them, a montage of blazing combat scenes.

Every attack from the game character landed exactly on the beat of the music.

The host took the trophy from the assistant who had brought it over. She adjusted her microphone, then looked back at Ethan Vale, studying the young designer seriously.

"Now, let us congratulate Sprout Studio on winning this award for Best Independent Game!" The host raised the trophy high overhead, her sweet voice cracking slightly with excitement.

She solemnly handed the trophy to Ethan Vale, leading the audience into a frenzy of screams.

"Thank you. For this award, I'd like to thank the friends who supported me..." Ethan Vale's fingertips lightly traced the trophy's surface. The crystal cup felt icy cold.

The moment he began speaking, the blonde host beside him made a stopping gesture.

"I think you can wait before giving your acceptance speech." She gave Ethan Vale a playful wink.

Huh?

Ethan Vale froze, tilting his head as he watched the host pick up her cue cards again.

Before he could figure out what she intended to do, she turned to face the camera.

"Phew—" The young woman let out a soft breath, then lifted her microphone again.

The background music immediately vanished. "Next, I will be announcing another award: Best Action Game!"

The instant she finished speaking, wave after wave of applause erupted from below the stage.

"Oh, it seems everyone already knows the answer."

"That's right, it's exactly what you all saw before, exactly what you all voted for!" The blonde woman turned and looked seriously at Ethan Vale beside her.

He stood quietly onstage. Even as the result was announced, he did not scream or leap about in wild excitement. A faint smile rested on his face, like a general calmly commanding from within his tent, with everything firmly under his control.

"Best Action Game—Dead Cells!"

The camera swept over the assistants waiting backstage with trophies. Sharp-eyed viewers could see several young women in white skirts standing there with trophies in hand.

The assistant did not immediately hand the trophy to Ethan Vale. Instead, she held it and stood behind him.

The host blinked her big eyes at Ethan Vale. "It's not over yet."

She did not know the results of the remaining awards. They were all covered by an ink coating that she had yet to scratch away.

And yet, she knew the results of those awards too. There would be no surprises.

"There are still several awards left, and I believe everyone already knows the results."

"They are Best Narrative Game, Best Family Game, and Most Anticipated Game." The blonde host held up her scratch card. "The organizers told me to scratch them off one by one, but I really can't wait any longer."

"Because I know these awards all belong to the same person."

She spread her hands, then dragged the scratcher across the cards. She could not help but laugh. "I knew it. There wouldn't be any surprises."

"Now, let's have all the assistants holding trophies come onstage together!"

"Best Narrative Game—This War of Mine! Best Family Game—Overcooked! Most Anticipated Game—Bloodborne: Curse!" Standing beside Ethan Vale, her voice rose higher and higher, each word louder than the last.

The young women in white dresses backstage all looked different, each beautiful in her own way, while the trophies in their hands gleamed brilliantly.

With sweet smiles, they carried the trophies onto the stage and took their places behind Ethan Vale.

At that moment, the blonde host felt her vision go dark and her brain deprived of oxygen.

This had to be the pinnacle moment of her entire hosting career!!