Room 32566.
[Just came in, is this the stream of that Aeria who solo killed Gao Emperor?]
[Just came in, excuse me ^^. Where can I get the emoji pack?]
After taking First Blood, a huge wave of new followers suddenly surged into the livestream, spamming all kinds of strange comments. The original viewers in the chat were a little confused.
[What’s going on, why are there suddenly so many people…]
[Is the opponent really that A-Gao?]
[Yes, it’s exactly who you think. Watching the streamer stomp Gao Emperor is pure joy. Watching Gao Emperor’s first-person view could send you straight to the ICU from rage.]
As usual, Sui Ning gave a brief self-introduction to the new audience. Seeing the barrage of “666” and “so strong,” he unusually acted modest: “No, no, that operation just now wasn’t as difficult as you all think.”
This was the truth—Aeria was capable of much more than that little trick.
[Good lord, I just love when the streamer shows off casually without realizing it!]
[You solo-killed a pro like Gao Emperor, streamer, why aren’t you rushing to play pro and make a name for yourself?]
[Really strong. Been following since the Fox era—I might just be witnessing the rise of a new star.]
A pro Gao? Sui Ning raised an eyebrow, scrolling through the barrage gossip. Only then did he realize the enemy mid-laner might actually be a retired former HPL pro player.
[Honestly, I used to think the streamer only bullied bronze players, but with the game sense and those two kills on Gao Emperor, he really feels like a King rank]
[Among CN server Kings, are there even mid-laners with this kind of champion pool? Are we sure this isn’t some big-name smurf? Waiting for the decode]
[Champion pool? You mean Xiaolian, the least-picked mid champ in high rank, and Aeria, the seventh least-picked?]
[Who remembers this unlucky guy only had four champions before today]
“Former pro…?”
Sui Ning murmured under his breath, watching the stream filled with praise. Inside, his emotions were calm—he felt no joy from that solo kill.
“He just got careless.” After a pause, the black-haired youth spoke in a flat tone.
Sui Ning had been a pro long enough to know: a retired player away from professional, high-intensity training for years would inevitably experience severe decline.
And his goal wasn’t to beat up streamers or retired pros. Once on the pro stage, would this world’s professional mid-laners be as relaxed and full of openings as XGSY?
The little trick he just used—forget LPL in his past life, even a random Korean Challenger or Grandmaster could have easily countered it.
So he wouldn’t be overjoyed at a “solo kill on a former pro.” The reality of the pro scene was nothing like the kindness shown by XGSY.
In his past life, some seniors traded their health and injuries just for one chance at glory. Some endured four years without a title before finally stepping onto the world stage.
Some won countless Solo Kill crowns but never lifted the league trophy. Some gave up retirement to return and fill in mid because the team was in danger. Others practiced with ascetic discipline for ten straight years before finally achieving success.
On the pro stage, there were always few content hearts and far more unresolved regrets.
The more players a game had, the harder it was to climb to the very top. To fight through 500 million online players and become an “HPL ace mid-laner,” even representing Huaguo at World Championship, those people were undoubtedly the strongest of the strong. Sui Ning had already mentally prepared for this.
He had long drawn up a training plan for himself—Aeria was only the first champion on the list.
Although public opinion currently rated her poorly, in truth her skill ceiling and floor had a huge gap.
She naturally had an advantage against traditional mages, could roam flexibly, and when played properly, she combined the burst of an assassin with the poke pressure of a ranged mage. With multiple dashes, she was elusive as a ghost.
By turning the weaknesses of traditional assassins into strengths, she could very well disrupt the current meta of “utility mid-laners” in pro play. Sui Ning believed analysts would soon notice her.
——
The Blood Count revived and returned to lane.
Fortunately, everyone in Gold rank was used to absurd scenarios. Even XGSY feeding two kills at level one only earned a few “?” pings from teammates.
A-Gao smacked his lips awkwardly: “Damn it, I just messed up.”
[Gagaga, now you don’t dare flame teammates?]
[Masterpiece Mistake, by CN server #1 mid, Gao Emperor]
[Baby, your mouth is harder than your life]
“Don’t force the black humor, the game’s just starting.” With too much sarcasm flying by, A-Gao felt the pressure. “These useless Gold junglers and supports don’t know to come help me break the wave. I can’t do anything now, you know? Just wait till I hit 6—everyone knows how strong Count is at level 6. That little squishy, once I get close, I’ll one-shot him.”
A-Gao did have some skill. Even after dying twice, he immediately spotted Aeria’s weakness in lane: her main damage came from Q – Meteor Orbit, which scaled higher the farther away she cast it. This gave Aeria strong poke from range, but made her extremely weak in melee.
At point-blank, Q’s damage dropped so low it couldn’t even shave off a quarter of a caster minion’s HP.
But the Blood Count had no such problem, especially with W – Blood Pool, which let him spend health to become untargetable for a short time, dodging damage. In melee, his power crushed Aeria’s. Even being 0/2 down, hitting level 6 with his ultimate gave him a chance to solo-kill her.
With this in mind, A-Gao had his Count auto two minions.
Sui Ning glanced up, noticing the move, and declared immediately: “He wants to hit 6 fast and kill me.”
“Shoving the wave is absolutely bad for Count. My waveclear is faster, my control stronger. If he dares auto even one minion, I can keep the wave perma-frozen under his tower. Right now, it’d be better to give up some CS and hold the line—but he still did it. That can only mean he’s desperate to hit 6 quickly.”
[Brother, are you a fortune-teller?? Mind reader??]
[No way, he just autoed two minions—how could you read that much into it?]
[Couldn’t it just be a misclick?]
Sui Ning frowned slightly, puzzled: “Didn’t you say he was a former pro? There’s no way he doesn’t understand such basic lane principles. If he really wanted to freeze, he wouldn’t make such a rookie mistake like mis-autoing minions. His intent is so obvious—probably just too used to low rank and didn’t notice.”
[I think the streamer is overestimating him. He’s really just trash…]
[Gao Emperor’s trashiness is known from Constantinople to Istanbul, the eternal gatekeeper stalling at Master rank.]
[A master-rank player quitting the game in rage—he had a hand in it, respect]
The live chat was filled with mockery. In their eyes, the so-called “Gao Emperor” was nothing more than a useless low-rank player.
But the truth was, if this match hadn’t been against Sui Ning, any other Gold-rank mid-laner would’ve already been stomped by A-Gao into oblivion.
After auto-attacking two minions, the Blood Count seemed to realize his opponent was just a smurf. He couldn’t treat others like complete fools, so he instantly stopped moving, pretending to be disconnected. But Sui Ning stayed vigilant, his eyes never leaving A-Gao’s movements.
“This kid’s patience is insane?” A-Gao widened his eyes in disbelief. “He’s still not making a move? Damn, that’s tough.”
He let out an annoyed hiss.
He couldn’t hold the exp line any longer—should he just dive straight in for the kill? But… the enemy mid was already level 6. With his ultimate and Flash, he had multiple dashes. What if he got outplayed and humiliated?
A-Gao ran the numbers in his head. Better to surprise him with an R-Flash opener. The Blood Count’s ultimate dealt massive damage and applied magic vulnerability, making it an excellent engage skill. But the drawback was obvious: the long wind-up with a big, flashy animation—anyone paying attention could dodge it.
Flash’s forced displacement could cancel that animation. It was harder than a standard Flash-R, but—would a pro like Gao Emperor ever be afraid of that?
Back in Master rank, his Flash-R often got sidestepped anyway. Against a smurf? A-Gao scratched his head, thinking it was better to stay cautious. Every detail needed to be perfect.
Feigning nonchalance, he paced in circles midlane, but in truth his eyes were glued to his exp bar and the minion health.
Three… two… one! Now!
White light flashed around the Blood Count as he hit level 6. A-Gao instantly leveled up his ultimate with lightning speed and roared: “Damn it, I’m six now! Watch this play! Going all out! Just a smurf? Die for me—!”
He smashed the Flash key.
“He’s gonna R-Flash me, right here.”
Almost at the exact same moment—or perhaps even earlier—Sui Ning calmly read A-Gao’s intent, his tone steady and full of confidence.
Viewers with both streams open saw the synchronicity of their thoughts—the clash of intent, yet their reactions worlds apart. They clenched their fists, hearts pounding wildly.
Some leaned so close their noses nearly touched the screen, eyes unblinking, desperate to see the answer to one question—
Who would win this duel of experts?
Swish—!
Golden flash and blood-red light erupted simultaneously. The Blood Count tilted his head back with a cold, sinister laugh, shouting his ultimate’s chant aloud:
Drown, in the ecstasy of madness, in this ocean of blood!
His crimson eyes glared maliciously at the blue-haired girl. His pale hand rose high, sharp nails glinting cold, dark red blood-magic writhing between his fingers like a venomous serpent ready to strike.
The filthy blood poison that had claimed countless innocent lives sprayed forth.
The attack was about to land. A-Gao’s grin split wide, his excitement overflowing:
“A smurf? That’s it? Taste my Blood Count’s death combo—R-Flash-QAEAAQ—what the—?!”
In that electric instant, Sui Ning’s slender fingers pressed his keys.
The blue-haired girl tilted her head, cupping her cheeks, her innocent wide eyes filled only with puzzled curiosity.
Hmm… is he playing a game with me?
She was a sprite born from stellar, naturally curious and adventurous, unable to comprehend why Count Federico bore her such malice.
Could it be he discovered her prank?
Well—too bad for him. She’d never apologize! In fact, she would make it an even bigger deal, because…
That was what made it fun!
Her excitement bubbled over. As though she had already read the Count’s every thought, at the very last instant—perhaps no more than 0.25 seconds before impact—she giggled and cast her ultimate, R–Interstellar Leap, blinking sideways to dodge the fatal blow.
Not only that, she stuck out her tongue with a cheeky face. The enraged Count lunged to chase her, only to realize he was slowed—his left foot snared by the “Doll Trap” she’d left (E–“Come Play With Me”), while his right foot had landed squarely inside her W–“Mischief.”
Together they triggered the “Galaxy Bloom” mark on him, exploding for massive damage.
Damn brat! He looked up in fury.
Eh? You didn’t notice? I thought you had, and that’s why you were so angry.
Aeria asked, feigning surprise.
She used honorifics, but of course this mischievous sprite meant no respect. It was purely to mock him, to stoke his rage further.
I wish we could’ve played longer—what a shame.
A brilliant stellar orb formed in her hands, a condensed fragment of the vast galaxy. She pouted in disappointment. “Count, you’re far too careless. Ending this quickly… that’s no fun at all.”
Her eyes no longer sparkled with delight at discovering a treasure. Instead, they were filled with cold disdain for something that could not amuse her.
A stream of light streaked out, slamming into Count Federico’s chest, blood spraying everywhere.
It was a lethal Q–Meteor Orbit, fired from max range.
“Once you dodge his R-Flash, the fight’s easy. His intent was obvious. We bait him with a fake misstep, then ult backward.”
Sui Ning’s voice was calm, each word crisp, his fingers moving like a storm across the keys. “Drop an E at your feet, wait for him to bite… now.”
“Ult for distance, AWA followed by Q. He’s dead. Make sure to pull Q back to maximize damage. If needed, you can add a Flash for extra star distance. But here? No need. The damage is enough.”
Everything happened so fast, the opponent didn’t even cast his W.
Or rather, A-Gao never imagined Sui Ning would be this calm—calculating every move from the start. He Flash-engaged only to eat CC, dying without lifting a finger.
As Sui Ning finished his calm explanation, the Blood Count’s HP hit zero.
[Fenglan (Stellar Sprite) has slain XGSY (Blood Count)! ]
[Fenglan is on a Killing Spree!]
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