People always said I had anger issues. My mom, my teachers, even that one guy I beat in a 1v1 match and rage quit five minutes in. I prefer to call it "passionate gameplay."
My name's Ren Takahashi. Seventeen. Student by day. Rising eSports player by night. And trust me, if sarcasm could be weaponized, I'd be banned from every tournament worldwide.
I wasn't always good at Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. But once I figured out the mechanics, roles, counters, rotations… that was it. Hooked. Obsessed. Climbing ranks like my life depended on it. Mythic? Too easy. Mythical Glory? Getting there. Toxic teammates? Part of the experience.
I sat cross-legged in my room, phone in hand, fingers moving like a pianist on steroids. I was in the zone. Screen glowing, sweat on my brow, trash talk echoing in my head.
"Bro, how are you still gold lane with that kind of aim?" I muttered to myself, letting out a short, sarcastic laugh as my teammate whiffed yet another skill shot.
"Retreat? No thanks. I'm built different."
I juked, dashed, landed a perfect combo, and deleted two enemies in under three seconds. My hero – Ling – flashed across the screen like a shadow with a grudge. My kill counter lit up. My teammates spammed "Attack the Lord!" but I had other plans.
Victory. Another win. MVP, obviously.
I tossed my phone on the bed and stretched, cracking my knuckles like a war general after battle. I leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"Maybe I should stream," I said to no one in particular. "Let the world see this unmatched talent in action."
Sarcasm, again. But deep down? I knew I was good. Not just good—scary good.
Outside my room, the muffled sounds of dinner being made filled the air. Inside, it was all Mobile Legends, all the time. Posters of heroes lined my walls. A glowing keyboard sat next to my phone setup. Trophies from school tournaments gleamed under my desk lamp, barely touched by dust.
That's when my phone buzzed. A notification. A big one.
[MLBB eSports Invitation]
Congratulations! You've been selected to enter the Global Rising Stars Tournament. Do you accept?
I blinked. My heart did that stupid fluttery thing people in romance shows talk about.
"You're kidding," I whispered.
I read it again. Still there. Still real. My hands trembled a bit. I wasn't the emotional type, but this? This was insane.
The Global Rising Stars Tournament wasn't just any competition. It was where amateurs turned pros. Legends were born there. Contracts were signed. Dreams became reality.
I tapped "Accept" without hesitation.
Seconds later, the screen went black.
"Huh?"
I tapped the screen again. Nothing. My heart skipped. The room around me seemed to pulse—no, warp. Like the air itself was stretching.
"What the—"
A sudden flash. White light. Then darkness.
Just like that, my world changed forever.