League of Legends: League of Unknowns

Yu Luocheng politely helped Bai Feifei to switch on her computer, and only then did he turn around to play his ranked games.

Yu Luocheng’s ranking in the Ionia Region was “merely” 1900 points. Noticeably, opponents in this region were generally tougher than those in Freljord. Players who had around 1900 points here were usually as good as those in the range of 2000 points.

Yu Luocheng clicked on login and keyed in his password swiftly. He peeked to the side while waiting for the game to load. Bai Feifei was typing on the keyboard dexterously, her long and white fingers moved gracefully like it was dancing on a piano. Seeing the softness of her touch, Yu Luocheng wondered whether she could get anything typed if she was on one of those aged keyboards of old-time cyber cafes.

Bai Feifei did not turn on her QQ app, instead, she was searching for something through Baidu. By now, Yu Luocheng’s computer screen had entered the game interface and he clicked on the solo queue. He was paired not long later and someone from his team hastily announced. “First floor ADC.”

“Fifth floor SP.”

“Hi, TTYL and TTYA. It’s you two again.” The third floor player with the ID Sitcom typed.

“Hey, what a coincidence,” TTYL replied.

“Look like this is going to be a free win.” Sitcom typed again.

Yu Luocheng would usually pick the bottom lane in a ranked game but he couldn’t do anything since someone had snatched his favorite positions first.

He was sequenced at the fourth position. The only lane left for him was the top.

According to their chat, TTYL and TTYA must have covered the bottom lane regularly. They had to be two of the top guns at this tier too since the other person had confidently declared the win.

“Fourth floor, are you confident in taking on Renekton? The opposing team’s player is known as the Mayor.” Sitcom signaled Yu Luocheng.

Renekton was the first floor on the other side and he was obviously Yu Luocheng’s top lane’s opponent. He reckoned the player should have around 2000 League Points. This value was usually the minimum requirement set by clubs and professional teams in recruiting new players.

“Who is this Mayor?” Yu Luocheng asked.

“He is the solo top player from Waterscar,” The guy nicknamed Sitcom said.

It’s common bumping into an acquaintance in such high-end ranked games. Some of them added each other when they were being assigned to the same team during solo queue. That meant that in the future, if the acquaintance was appointed to the opposite team, one could easily guess who that player was even when the ID was masked.

More so, when you were at this level, often your teammates would remind you which hero to ban if he or she recognized an in-game friend from the opposite team to help boost the team’s winning probability.

“Ah, then it might be a little tough. I don’t usually play well at the top,” Yu Luocheng confessed.

“If so, stay low and wait for support.”

“Alright.”

Yu Luocheng had selected Kennen. He didn’t have much confidence in other solo top champions. Renekton was a formidable champion at the top lane and not many powerful champions could match him there.

Kennen was considered one of the few that would not be intimidated by Renekton. After all, this champion was a ranged hero and would not be over-pressed as long as he was careful with his positioning.

During the early game, Kennen had no problem fighting like an ADC with Doran’s Blade as the starting item. He could adequately harass the opponent with his skill and defend the top lane until reinforcement arrived.

He reached the lane early and immediately checked Renekton’s item using the TAB key.

‘Out with Elixir of Fortitude? What a confident Renekton. This is such a bold selection of starting items against Kennen!’

***

At the Bluedream Studio in Beijing, a guy with spectacles who was wearing an oversized T-shirt was focusing on the computer screen single-mindedly. As a professional top lane player, he understood that gaining experience during the early game was essential. This was because leading in level meant a better chance at first kill and subsequent suppression.

“How rude. You will taste the consequences later.” The guy in spectacles snorted, seeing how Kennen kept auto-attacking him presumptuously.

A level 1 Renekton vs a level 1 Kennen—This confrontation certainly favored the latter. Basic attacks from the ranged hero alone could sufficiently pin down Renekton.

Renekton backed up a little, only focusing on his CS and recovered using his HP potion. He was patiently biding his time until he reached level 2, which after looking at the number of minions, he realized his champion would soon reach it.

When the Mayor was laning against a player that had less than 1700 League Points, he could usually draw first blood already at this point which would then snowball his advantage from here on out; while against players with skills worthy of 2000 League Points or beyond, he would still usually come out on top even though he would be unable to finish off the opponent.

Kennen using a Doran’s Blade was suicidal in the Mayor’s perspective. This was because Renekton could easily force the opponent champion to travel back to the fountain, providing that he or she could first survive his flurry of skills.

Mayor had already rehearsed how he was going to destroy Kennen in his mind—Level 2, instant upgrade of his E-skill, dash over, gulp the Elixir, basic attack, bite, second-time E-dash, basic attack. The enemy would be fleeing with limited HP by now, so all he needed to do was pursue him a little further and land another basic slash. The opponent would most likely Flash to escape. He would instantly Flash with him and connect another basic attack. This series of actions were usually sufficient to put down most solo top champions.

He only needed one more minion to be promoted to level 2. The guy in spectacles grinned. ‘Pfft, this Kennen still refuses to retreat. Then allow me to send you back home!’

Level 2!!

He instantly upgraded Renekton’s E-skill, Slice and Dice, with a shortcut key.

Roar!!

Renekton dashed sideways and lunged toward Kennen’s face. However, as if the latter had predicted the turn of events, Kennen’s small body immediately transformed into an electrical ball and fizzled back behind the minion’s line.

Renekton was unable to catch up even after he yielded Dice, the second sequence of E-skill.

‘This b*stard had upgraded his E-skill, Lightning Rush, first! What a witty opponent!’

Battling in LoL was like a sword fight. Most of the time, one simple action was enough to tell whether the opponent was the real deal or just a fluke. The guy in the spectacles knew well enough to compliment this Kennen’s player.

First of all, he or she too was highly aware of both champions’ experience bar. A great solo top player not only needed to calculate their own experience, but also had to pay close attention to the opponent’s leveling timing. Seven minions were required for a solo champion to reach level 2, and this Kennen’s player had obviously kept count on when his Renekton would reach the second level.

Secondly, he had never stopped harassing Renekton’s HP at level 1, but he had immediately retreated as soon as Renekton reached level 2.

‘He knew I was bringing an Elixir of Fortitude so he foresaw my plans to charge in and yet, he did not back down when my Renekton was close to level 2. Instead, he kept up the pressure and retreated precisely on time. That’s how he managed to lure me into casting Ignite on him…’

Ignite grants five extra attack points to a champion and Mayor was over-confident as he believed his assault plan was going to work out perfectly. Thus, he had chosen to cast Ignite first, but he had never expected Kennen to be able to flee in time. Not only that, but he had also failed to take away much of Kennen’s HP.

Damage from a level 2 Ignite was nothing as it could easily be recovered by Doran’s Blade.

***

Inside the multimedia center, Yu Luocheng’s lips curved up.

‘Hehe, it’s your turn to suffer without Ignite and dash now.’

Renekton without his E-skill, Slice and Dice, was no different from a shark stranded on a beach. Yu Luocheng attacked Renekton relentlessly, taking advantage of his skill being on cooldown, and soon, Renekton had finished his two bottles of healing potion.

Without recovery potions, Renekton had an even more difficult time enduring the attacks. An accurate Q-skill, Thundering Shuriken, triggered the third stack stun effect of Kennen’s Mark of the Storm. Yu Luocheng then decisively placed Ignite on Renekton.

One, two, three shurikens…

Realizing his champion’s HP was going to deplete soon, Renekton hurriedly gulped the Elixir of Fortitude and used Flash to escape. Yu Luocheng had accurately counted the damage and Flashed right along with Renekton, connecting an auto-attack and immediately turning into a bolt of lightning to chase Renekton right under the tower.

Kennen sustained the attack from the tower and threw another shuriken at Renekton, turning away graciously while the shuriken was still in midair.

‘He is going to die for sure.’

You have slain an enemy!

As expected, the kill announcement was sounded. The damage from Ignite and Kennen’s final auto-attack was enough to remove Renekton’s last drop of HP. Yu Luocheng’s damage estimation was extremely precise.

***

The guy called Mayor looked at his grayed screen and suddenly had the urge to go AFK. There was a risk of carrying the Elixir of Fortitude over other items, which was, if you failed to oppress the enemy in time, the tide would completely turn once the Elixir’s effect had expired.

Worse, not only he had failed to kill the enemy, but he had been annihilated with the Elixir of Fortitude in effect. Could you imagine, a situation in which you had eagerly tidied yourself and taken an aphrodisiac, ready to have fun, only to realize that the one baiting you is a man?

Such a feeling… Sigh, it was simply an unexplainable agony.

True, admitting defeat was cowardice, but continuing to play would only gratify the opponent’s excitement!