Rise

Two games. Two different chapters in two different lives. Two friends on the same Champion, both carrying their teams. One had millions of fans watching his game online and cheering him on and 12,500 people booing his name in the arena he was playing in. He was the one taking down the crowd’s favourite! The other one had a small audience of little more than a dozen people gathered around an isle of computers. They were talking amongst each other, never really cheering. Not like the fans watching the other game did. The stakes were too different. A world apart. But the importance in that very moment felt the same for these two young players. This was their story.

High School 13 versus Tonji Affiliated High. Bottom side river, just above the Dragon pit. Lin Feng had just jumped on the Caitlyn. No one had seen it coming. Everyone panicked. The players from High School 13 stared at their screens, forgetting they were playing the game, while the players from Tonji Affiliated High were screaming into their voice chat. They were shouting incoherently, searching for something, anything they could do to save the Caitlyn. They couldn’t. She flashed away and then she died to the second part of the Riven’s ultimate–Wind Slash! Then, at Lin Feng’s command, a full teamfight broke out.

KG versus Legend. KG’s top side jungle, Blue Buff Camp. Tian Tian had just killed the Morgana. The other four players turned away from whoever else they were chasing and all focused on him. He was the only one worth killing, because he had the bounty to his name. The Yasuo flashed on him, while the others walked into a funnel towards him. He didn’t flash away. He didn’t try to run. This was his game and this would be his play! He flashed right into the middle of the three other players from Legend and pressed down on the W key–Ki Burst! Fiora, Kalista and Sejuani were all stunned!

“...HE IS GOING FOR THE 1v4!” Stone finished shouting into the camera. He let go of the camera and turned back to Qinghe and Lolo behind the caster desk. “OH. MY. GOD! HE’S DOING IT!”

“He really is, isn’t he?” Qinghe laughed. His eyes never left the monitor. He chewed his lips, afraid to blink and miss even a fraction of this fight. This was a 1vs4! This could very well become the play of the year! “Come on, Roundy,” he mumbled.

The Chinese fans at the Wembley Arena were also shouting in support of God Roundy, but their voices were drowned out by the crashing waves of booing from the European fans. Their team was losing and they wouldn’t have any of it! But the message to KG from their fans around the world was clear. Every one of them wanted to see God Roundy pull this play off.

「YESYESYES! RIVEN 1V4 TURNAROUND!」

「GOD ROUNDY 6666666666!」

「DOOOIIIIITTTTTTTTTT ROOUUNNNDDDYYYYY!!!!!!!」