The fervor for the Star Sea Cup continued to burn, with the frenzy of capital, the competition between teams, and the anticipation of players all weaving together a golden age of esports.
Major media outlets and trending online searches were almost entirely dominated by news related to team analyses, player interviews, and prize money distribution predictions.
The entire community was immersed in an exciting and restless atmosphere, moving towards a higher stage.
However, amidst this bustling excitement, a post published in the 'Player Stories' section of the league of legends official forum quietly appeared with a distinctly different, heavy and sorrowful tone.
It quickly went viral, skyrocketing to the top of the trending topics.
The title of the post was exceptionally striking: [Farewell, my beloved world; farewell, my beloved league of legends.]
The poster's ID was "Sun-Chaser Bow."
The content of the post was not long, but every word dripped with blood:
"To all Summoners, by the time you read this post, I should be in the hospital, undergoing my first round of chemotherapy.
Yes, cancer, late stage.
The doctor says I don't have much time left.
Just last month, my teammates and I, the five brothers of our 'Dawn Team,' were still training desperately for a Star Sea Cup qualifier spot.
We had promised each other that we would make everyone see our names on the Star Sea Cup stage.
We studied footage of all the strong teams, designed our own tactics, and even planned how we would celebrate after winning.
But fate played the cruelest joke on me.
A diagnosis shattered all our dreams.
I can no longer fight alongside my brothers in Summoners Rift, and I can no longer hear the words, 'Welcome to league of legends.'
I'm not afraid of death, I'm really not.
But I'm truly so unwilling… Unwilling that I couldn't step onto that stage with my brothers, unwilling that I couldn't personally touch that trophy, even just once… Maybe I couldn't have touched that trophy at all, but I have to leave without even playing a single match, my brothers.
My keyboard, my mouse, my account 'Sun-Chaser Bow'… they are all there, as if waiting for me.
But I can't wait anymore.
Farewell, my beloved Valoran.
Farewell, my beloved Demacia, Noxus, Ionia… Farewell, my main hero, Ashe.
I'm sorry, I can no longer accompany you in shooting countless Frost Arrows.
Farewell, my teammates, I'm sorry, I broke my promise.
Farewell, all Summoners I've never met.
May Runeterra forever be free from illness.
—A common player on the verge of fading away, final words."
This post contained no flowery language, only the most simple, most sincere expression of emotion, and the deepest longing and unwillingness of a young life for its dream in desperation.
It was like a poisoned dagger, instantly piercing the defenses of everyone who read it.
Below the post, comments poured in like a breached dam, refreshing at a rate of thousands per minute.
"I cried… Brother, hang in there! You must hold on!"
"I know the 'Dawn Team'! They played very well in the city competition before, I never expected…"
"Why is fate so unfair?!"
"Ashe player reporting in, brother, may the wind guide your path!"
"Calling for official attention! @Riot Games @Qin Feng Can you help him?"
"Brothers, is there any way to contact him? Can we do something for him?"
Players' spontaneous actions quickly unfolded.
Some tried to find the true identity and hospital of "Sun-Chaser Bow" based on sparse information in the post; others initiated a fundraiser, hoping to provide him with some financial support.
Even more players spontaneously organized in-game, choosing the hero Ashe at specific times, standing silently in the fountain, or shooting Enchanted Crystal Arrows into the sky, sending blessings and prayers to a comrade they had never met in this unique way.
#PrayForSunChaserBow# and #Ashe'sArrowsAreShotForYou# quickly topped the trending searches.
This pure emotional torrent originating from the player community was so immense that it quickly caught the attention of Riot Games' public opinion monitoring department.
The report was swiftly escalated through various levels and finally landed on Qin Feng's desk.
Qin Feng put down the proposal for the Star Sea Cup final stage venue design and picked up this report with its heavy atmosphere.
He silently and carefully read every word of the post, as well as the several pages of rapidly scrolling player comments filled with sadness and encouragement.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time.
The office was quiet, a stark contrast to the fervent lament online.
He could imagine what a young soul, so passionate about this game and so eager for the competitive stage, lay behind that ID.
Just as his dream was within reach, he was cruelly pushed into the abyss.
This extreme contrast and sense of powerlessness were enough to make anyone feel despair.
"Has it been confirmed?" Qin Feng opened his eyes and asked his assistant, who stood nearby, in a low voice.
"Mr. Qin, we have largely verified it through technical channels and clues provided by players," the assistant's voice also carried a hint of heaviness.
"The poster's real name is Zhang Wei, twenty-two years old, and he is indeed a dedicated league of legends player.
His 'Dawn Team' did indeed register for the Star Sea Cup qualifiers.
His condition… the hospital has also indirectly confirmed it, and the situation is not optimistic."
Qin Feng stood up and walked back to the large floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside the window were the brilliant city lights, countless lives bustling for life and dreams.
And one of these young lives might soon quietly extinguish.
Perhaps countless people would leave, which was natural, and if he didn't know, it would be fine, but today he knew.
The online clamor, the capital feast, the glory of the competition… at this moment, all seemed to be cast under a faint shadow.
The world of esports was not just about glory, money, and competition; it also connected with the emotions, dreams, and… lives of countless ordinary people.
He gazed silently into the distance, his mind filled with tangled thoughts.
An idea began to take shape in his heart.