League of Legends: League of Unknowns

“F*ck, why did we draw them again?!” said Hao Yue angrily, clearly unsatisfied.

“You really can’t avoid what you want to. This is our chance to wash our shame away!”

At the hotel, some members of Team Revelation were complaining, while others were full of confidence.

This year, they would be going up against Team Skycrown in their first match of the LPL. Last year’s three to zero defeat was really hard to accept, and now they had the chance to reclaim their pride!

This year’s season was using the best of two—BO2—format, which meant that teams would play two games. Winning both games would earn a team three points. If the score was one to one, then both teams would get a point each. Losing both rounds would result in zero points.

The rankings would still be determined by the points held by each team. Last year, Team Revelation didn’t score a single point during their match against Team Skycrown, which made their ranking fall.

Luckily, both Team Sky and Team Skycrown ended up being banned from the competition, which allowed Team Revelation to obtain the third place ranking for the first time.

The ranking didn’t really matter, but this year absolutely had to be different from last year. Recently, there were rumours flying around that Team Revelation was unable to perform well, and if they couldn’t show good results in this round, the rumours would definitely not die down.

As soon as it was time for the competition, Team Revelation cleared their minds and headed towards the arena. The participating teams were all accommodated at the same residence, so as soon as they walked out, they saw their opponents—Team Skycrown.

Both teams greeted each other amicably, but not in an overly-friendly way because they were still opponents at the end of the day. If they had too good of a relationship, then they would feel bad going all out and being aggressive during the match.

Once they got off the bus arranged by the organizers, a wave of fans immediately crowded around them.

It was necessary for professional players to interact with their fans, so the organizers had not arranged for the bus to purposely avoid them, but instead made sure that the players had time to interact with the fans.

“So many pretty girls!” said Da Luo, his eyes lighting up and excitement in his voice.

What young man full of vitality wouldn’t like those girls in short skirts? Especially those that came over with such enthusiasm.

“I’m sure they’re all headed for Bai Feng,” said Lin Dong, a pout on his face.

When they thought that they were the ones at the center of everyone’s attention last year, who knew that the crowd was actually headed towards Team Revelation’s Bai Feng instead? At that time, their team took a blow, and they also clearly remembered that d*mn photographer.

They especially remembered Li Meiqi’s bold gamble with that huge sum of money, as well as the words she had uttered indignantly.

A year later, they were now more mature. Because no matter whether they won or lost, and whether or not there were people paying attention to them, they would continue to work their hardest.

Also recalling the events of the past year, a smile graced Da Luo’s lips. He wasn’t really in the mood to interact with anyone else, because… they would still beat the popular Team Revelation, just like last year!

Getting down from the bus, the five members of Team Skycrown headed towards the arena. Only, they didn’t make it past a few steps before Da Luo realized that there were fans who were blocking them.

“Aren’t you Lone Gull? I finally get to see you in person! Great God, I love playing Top, could you please sign this for me?” said a youth who looked to be in university, smiling widely.

This youth clearly came prepared with a mousepad and pen in his hand.

Da Luo was taken aback, disbelief written all over his face…

There was someone who wanted his signature?!

Da Luo’s gaze flickered to Lin Dong who was standing next to him. His expression clearly displayed his thoughts of ‘Do you see this? Do you? There’s someone asking for my autograph!’

Similarly, Lin Dong’s reply clearly showed on his face too, stating, ‘This is nothing, you’re more excited than the person asking for your autograph!’

Amongst the crowd, a chubby girl could be heard crying out, “Team Skycrown is here, and the one walking at the front is Fighting Hawk!”

As Yu Luocheng walked towards the arena, his mind was filled with thoughts of all that had transpired in the previous year. The images were continuously pouring into his mind, and so he didn’t even notice that there were people crowding around them.

When he snapped back to reality and turned around, he saw a girl who probably weighed at least one hundred and eighty… kilograms rushing towards him in excitement. He almost fell backwards to the ground in fright.

Fortunately… fortunately this mammoth was only interested in obtaining his autograph for her LOL-obsessed younger brother. When she exhibited no other extreme actions, Yu Luocheng breathed a sigh of relief.

However, there were more and more people surrounding them. Mousepads and notebooks were being shoved at them. All these people worshipped Team Skycrown so much, that nothing would stop them from getting to their beloved idols!

Standing to the side, Li Meiqi watched as the five members of Team Skycrown were overwhelmed by their fans, a smile on her face.

This year, they were no longer an unknown, nameless team. They were the team that had accepted any challenge from teams from all over the country, and they had not lost a single match in more than four months!

They had no club support and no training ground, had been banned, blacklisted from the media, and looked down on by the fans. But so what? As long as they continue to persist, the sun will shine down on them one day!

Despite not yet playing a single game in this year’s LPL, Team Skycrown already had so many supporters. Their fame had even exceeded that of the veteran Team Revelation’s. However, Li Meiqi was well aware that all the games before this competition were just warm ups for Team Skycrown.

She had watched as this team grew through their sweat and tears. She had watched as they poured all their efforts into realizing their dream. No matter whether it was competitions or the challenge from Team Beijing, it wasn’t enough to explain the preparation and growth that Team Skycrown had gone through.

Only by once again standing on the stage of the LPL that they had previously been banned from, would they be able to display their true strength!

***

Music that trembled like thunder echoed throughout the arena, and gorgeous colourful lights shot out, sweeping past faces that were filled with excitement and anticipation.

The backstage adjustments didn’t take long, and both teams soon stepped onto the stage at the commentator’s invitation. Last year, the commentator had to take the time to deliberately introduce Team Skycrown, who was still unknown at that point of time.

This year, the commentator opened with, “I’m sure everyone is very familiar with the two teams here, so I don’t have to introduce them at all. Let the captains of both teams draw lots to decide which side they’re on!”

Yu Luocheng and Bai Feng walked out, and while they were choosing sides, Yu Luocheng’s gaze fell on the audience stands.

The professional players were sitting at the front. He saw Hades, Asmodai, Forgetful Laugher, Zhao Tinghua… and looking further, Yu Luocheng saw more than a few familiar faces.

As though they were aware of Yu Luocheng’s gaze on them, Jian Feng who had tied on a headband stood up. He unfurled a banner that he was holding together with the rest of the other students from the e-sports club.

‘Fighting Hawk is invincible, Team Skycrown will win!’

The large banner was held up high in the middle of the crowded stands, and everyone sitting in that particular section were all students of Shanghai University.

And there was a girl with black, shoulder-length hair that caught Yu Luocheng’s attention…

Wasn’t that Bai Feifei?

Yu Luocheng was surprised, having assumed that she had just mentioned it casually, and not really expecting her to actually come. The question was, does she understand what’s going on? Or was she just here to feel the atmosphere?

Looking at the other side, Yu Luocheng also spotted more familiar faces—the regulars from Demacia Cafe. It was rare to see them coming to the venue. But thinking about it, Demacia Cafe was probably fully occupied right now with people who were waiting for him to show his skills in the LPL.

Come to think of it, didn’t Xiao Duoduo say that he would eat his own keyboard if Team Skycrown managed to play in the LPL? He wondered if Feng Da and Jian Feng made sure that the little b*tch actually ate it.

Classmates and friends had come in person to support Team Skycrown, and this made Yu Luocheng appreciate them. There was too much discrimination and contempt before this, making Yu Luocheng who played professionaly cut off all relations with his previous classmates and friends, but it was different now.

If…

If… if his family could also be sitting in the stands, supporting him like the others, then that would have been a perfect scenario.

Another whole year had gone by without any words being said between them. Not a single phone call had come for him. His heart was heavy with guilt, but his passion for e-sports would not be shaken.

His family wouldn’t acknowledge it because he himself did not have enough glory yet.

Yu Luocheng didn’t expect that he would get their approval by running around having unstable orders, nor did he expect them to acknowledge him based on his popularity on the Internet.

He only hoped that when he reached the peak, they would then have at least some understanding that this glory was something that required a lot of effort and hard work!

“Captain Yu, I trust you’ve been well,” said Bao Jun, smiling slightly.

Yu Luocheng nodded his head.

“Is the goal this year to be in the top four and enter the finals? Before reaching the LPL, your performance has already been outstanding. People were making highlight reels from your games, and every clip was captivating. If I’m not mistaken, this is the goal you intend to reach, right Captain Yu?” asked Bao Jun.

Yu Luocheng shook his head, saying lightly, “We just want the championship.”

The LPL top four?

That was not what Yu Luocheng was aiming for. This year’s championship was theirs, no one could stop them from entering the S International League which would be their real battlefield.

When Yu Luocheng said this, it created an uproar in the stands.

We just want the championship!

This was a domineering phrase. In the history of the LPL, Team Sky and Team Daemons had always occupied the top two seats, and Team Daemons’ first place ranking was completely unshakable.

If they wanted the championship, then their goal was to defeat all seven teams in the LPL!

***

In the past, the LPL professional players thought that Fighting Hawk was someone who kept a low profile. But sometimes they were hard-pressed to not admire his courage!

Yu Luocheng didn’t bother to hide his ambition at all, and his expression was also amazingly indifferent.

Then, how did the other professional players and the fans who supported other teams feel?

Confidence is something that everyone has, the problem is whether or not you have the ability to go with it. Otherwise, you will have to pay a heavy price for speaking so brazenly today!