133 In vain

Knees, slightly trembling.

Browning took a deep breath, straightened his knees, and clenched his fists silently telling himself:

This is an illusion, it's all just a frightening illusion. There's no need to fear the Crimson Tide Storm; the opponents are merely paper tigers bluffing their power—they are capable and ready to defeat them.

They were ready.

However, the Crimson Tide Storm had its doubts: Really?

Sometimes, you think you're ready but you're not actually ready because self-comfort can lead to deception making you blind to the truth, at which point an observer is needed to remind you of the reality.

Like now, the Crimson Tide Storm was prepared to play such a rational role.

First gear, ten yards, Browning's "face lost its color", feeling his knees tighten.

—The Crimson Tide Storm, too, chose to blitz.