"Do it or gay."
"I'm a woman!"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of frantic keyboard tapping echoed through the net cafe.
"Zhao Lusi, sorry. You're on your own. Mother nature's taking its course."
"What?! Hey!"
Profanities and insults continued to ring out across the cafe along with the clatter of keyboards and clicking mice.
Amid the noise, Yu Jin quietly walked past and made his way to the counter. He ordered a cola, needing something to quench his thirst after three straight hours of studying.
Studying in such a raucous environment was, by all accounts, ridiculous. But oddly enough, this was exactly the kind of atmosphere Yu Jin felt most comfortable in.
Looking up, Yu Jin's gaze wandered to one of the cafe's monitors playing a recent interview. On screen was a seasoned pro from a team currently dominating the scene, Liu Zhen from Grand Order.
——Out of everyone, who's the player you fear the most?
——Among the pros? I'd say Kaiser from Fleeting Blade. Every time we encounter each other, I feel like I'm the one chasing the win.
——Among the pros, you say? Then what about outside the scene? Surely, you've encountered hidden talents in the open world?
The question gave Liu Zhen pause. He went quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Yu Jin took another sip of his cola as Liu Zhen finally spoke again.
——Not really. But… there was this one player. Back in the early days, he could make any pro look like a complete amateur. Actually, when Grand Order was still starting out, we were supposed to be on the same team….
Yu Jin exhaled through his nose, already losing interest. He crushed the empty cola can in his hand and tossed it into the nearby trash bin without looking back.
——If I could say anything to that person? I guess... I hope he's doing okay.
Yu Jin was about to return to his seat and resume studying for his upcoming exam when something caught his eye. The two players who had been arguing earlier, one seat was now empty, and the other was in a panic.
"Ah! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! Why isn't he back yet?!"
The woman, with flowing black hair and amber-colored eyes, was clearly playing Legacy Online, frantically tapping on her keyboard while her character was being ganged up on by two other players.
It seemed to be a 6v6 Arena match. Meanwhile, the adjacent seat, presumably her teammate's, was empty.
Legacy Online, an open-world, first-person MMORPG, had long since outgrown its humble beginnings. What started as just another ambitious title in a crowded market had, over the years, transformed into a global phenomenon.
Competitive guilds formed, rankings emerged, and dedicated communities sprang up in every corner of the world.
Eventually, it evolved into a fully-fledged eSport.
Tournaments were held regularly. First online, then in LAN arenas, and eventually in sold-out stadiums. The game's popularity exploded, reaching far beyond traditional gaming circles.
International leagues were established. Sponsorships, merchandise, celebrity endorsements, televised events, Legacy Online had it all. It had developed a cult-like following and had become a staple of the global eSports scene.
Yu Jin stared at the setup beside the woman for a moment, then glanced toward the bathroom and immediately held back a chuckle.
It sounded like the poor guy was fighting for his life. A few people in the cafe heard the agonized groans and burst out laughing.
On the screen, assuming it was a Vanguard since the avatar was holding a lance, it was clearly idle around some kind of corner.
"If you don't mind…"
Shamelessly, Yu Jin sat down and took control of the idle Vanguard. The woman turned, catching the movement from the corner of her eye.
"Ah, finally! You're back! Help—"
She stopped mid-sentence upon realizing it wasn't her friend and her eyes widened as she stared at Yu Jin in confusion.
"Wait, who the hell are you?!"
She looked like she was about to complain about the audacity of a random stranger touching her friend's setup, but then her gaze turned to the screen, causing her to pause.
On it, her friend's avatar, now controlled by Yu Jin, was locked in a 1v3. And despite the disadvantage, he was outmaneuvering all of them.
"Pay attention to your side."
Yu Jin flashed her a brief smile before turning back to his screen. His fingers moved fluidly across the keyboard, as if he had done this a thousand times.
The woman blinked her eyes and snapped out of her daze. She quickly turned back to her own monitor and rejoined the fight as the enemies continued their assault. With Yu Jin backing her and their team, the tide was changing fast.
She had no idea who he was, but he was most definitely skilled.
"Who the hell is this guy...?"
She glanced at him again as he perfectly timed a skill cancel, baiting one of the enemies into a cooldown trap.
Immediately, Yu Jin capitalized on the opening and transitioned in a fast combo that sent the enemy's HP plummeting.
She quickly followed up, coordinating seamlessly. At that moment, the enemy collapsed.
"Two left."
Like a piano recital, Yu Jin's fingers danced across the keyboard as he chained movements that ordinary players would struggle to follow.
The woman barely had time to react before the next skirmish broke out. One of the remaining enemies lunged at her, but Yu Jin was already there and intercepted with a flash-step, forcing a parry trade.
"Focus on the Sorcerer."
"Ah, yes."
She didn't question it and followed his lead. Within moments, the second enemy was down.
And then another, and then another.
Until victory flashed on her screen.
"Oh hey, you did it! What the hell? Since when were you this good, Zhao Lusi?"
"No, it was—"
Zhao Lusi turned toward the adjacent seat, ready to explain, only to find it already empty. Her friend had just returned from the bathroom, smelling like plum perfume and casually sat down as if nothing had happened.
Zhao Lusi sat there for a moment, looking around the cafe for any signs of Yu Jin.
"I swear, he was just…"
"Huh, MVP? Did someone use my PC?"
Meanwhile, across the room, Yu Jin had already returned to his seat and resumed studying for his exam.
It was a good break. It had been a while since he last played Legacy. Not that he could do it often anymore, it was nearly impossible to play at home these days.
After a grueling study session, he finally leaned back and checked the time.
[11:00 P.M.]
With a sigh, he began packing up his things and headed home.
At least, around this hour, home would be a little less suffocating.