34 minutes.

34 minutes before the servers for League of Legends Korea shut down.

34 minutes before the Korean Challenger Ladder Rankings finalized for the season.

34 minutes before CNHOOK2 epic challenge of the Korean gauntlet ended.

With over a million hopeful and tense eyes watching, CNHOOK2 started his final game of the night. A game that he needed to finish in 34 minutes.

Weve seen a lot of miracles from CNHOOK2 tonight, thats for sure! But this one I dont know, guys. Hes on that razors edge and theres no telling how this could go. We dont know much about the players on the other team or the players on his team. But all 10 players in this game know that theres only 34 minutes left. Theres a definitely chance that they could drag this game out just to stick it to CNHOOK2. Itd be a bitch move and completely tarnish Koreas reputation in the League scene, but you never know how these things will play out. All we do know is that CNHOOK2 is right up against that wall. Lightless said to his viewers. And then he frowned. I know HE pulled off some crazy shit back in the DOTA days. Things beyond miracles. But this this might be beyond even him. Theres too many variables here, too many things that can go wrong. Lightless shook his head to snap himself out of his thoughts and addressed his stream again. If this game ends up taking long or if they stall him out Even if he does win, CNHOOK2 wont hit Rank 5.

Lightless was absolutely right. All of the viewers on his stream understood that there was no way to tell how this game would go, and that uncertainty only added to the pressure. CNHOOK2 needed to defeat Orion, a World-class Midlaner and named King, and also win the game before the Ranked Ladder reset. Nearly everyone watching the game understood that they would suffocate and crumble under that much pressure and weight.

But there was something awe-inspiring about watching CNHOOK2 stand tall against all that pressure. He was doing something that none of the viewers could ever accomplish. Or even dream of accomplishing. And considering that he was doing it after grinding out game after game for hours with almost no break time, that elevated CNHOOK2 to even greater heights in their hearts. The insane number of games hed played on this night would leave even the most hardcore professional players exhausted to the point of passing out. But CNHOOK2 stood there, unwavering, against the most fearsome opponent hed faced so far in the most important game of his climb!

Shit. Herm? How many ways can you fuck a duck and still cook it? Nightsong asked his old friend without moving his eyes from the stream.

The question startled Hermes enough that he asked, What? Just what? Nightsong, you say some strange things and I usually know what you mean. But this I genuinely have no idea what youre asking.

Nightsong sighed before replying, Your thoughts, Herm! On whats going on with CNHOOK2 and Orion! The shit that were watching! Theres so many ways this can play out and Im wondering what his chances are! How is that not fiddle-fucking-obvious?

Hermes rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered what to say. Nightsong understood that in a game like the one about to be played, with two Midlaners of that caliber, the only person that could accurately judge which way it would go was another World-class Midlaner and fellow King like Daybreak Hermes. No one else, professional player or not, could play out the possibilities and predict what could happen in this game.

Hermes closed his eyes and continued to think for another minute. Then he opened them and said, CNHOOK2s got a 30% chance of winning? Maybe? If it were me, and I was going into this game after already having played 13 games straight, Id maybe have a 30% chance of winning. Thats being optimistic about it. But thats for me. If CNHOOK2 is really him then even Im not sure what the probability is here. Theres no way to tell with that guy. But I know that theres no way Id be playing at my best in this game.

Inside the Team Rapids gaming house, Shi Hang and Aurous were deep into the same exact conversation as Nightsong and Hermes.

It doesnt matter if hes playing at his best or not right now! Lin Feng is resilient, and almost always comes through when hes in a pinch, Shi Hang stated confidently. He had absolute faith in Lin Feng.

Aurous frowned. It doesnt matter how good he was! You said he wasnt back to peak Maple yet! And theres no way you can say for sure that hes still going strong. No shot. Hes played 13 games before this one and hes had no time to rest or reset mental. Theres literally no shot that hes playing at peak energy. Even if he goes in strong and looks good in the first few minutes of the game, hell start falling off as he gets more and more tired. Theres no way you can say for sure that wont happen, right? Lets not forget that hes playing against Orion right now, who is still fresh. Id say that even Hermes in peak condition has a 50-50 chance against Orion!

Shi Hang had nothing to say. He knew that Aurous was right. The argument here really wasnt about Lin Fengs mental or physical state. That mattered somewhat, but it paled in comparison to the biggest determinant factor for this game. Lin Fengs opponent was Orion. A King and the 3rd best Midlaner in Korea.

Shi Hang took a deep breath and tried to keep the worry he felt off his face. This really is going to be a tough game to win. The Lin Feng from four years ago, when he was Maple, hed have no problem against Orion. But the Lin Feng of today? Has he gotten enough back to take on someone like Orion ?

All 10 players in the game locked in on their champions and moved into the loading screen.

Blue Team versus Red Team

Top: Lulu vs. Rumble

Jungle: Sejuani vs. Gragas

Mid: Yasuo vs. Zed

Support: Thresh vs. Janna

Ad-Carry: Tristana vs. Jinx

Lin Feng closed his eyes and took three deep breaths, exhaling slowly after each one as he prepared himself mentally for this final game. He could feel An Xin, still calmly sitting next to him and gazing at him warmly. His sole companion on this climb up the Korean Challenger Ladder. He could feel what she was thinking. This is the last game. Are you confident you can win?

Lin Feng thought about the question on An Xins mind. Can I win? Am I confident that I can win? I honestly have no idea if I can win this game. But that doesnt matter! Im not going to sit here second-guessing myself over getting into this game. It doesnt matter if Im up against Orion, Moon, or anyone else! Im going to keep my promise to One!

Orion the only way Im going to beat him in lane is if I go all out. No, no, no! I gotta pull out even more! All out plus! Orions known for being an aggressive Midlaner. Hes going to go in for the kill the second were in lane and thats the best kind of fight. No tricks, no fancy strategies and overthinking. Well be fighting each other with pure skill to decide who is better!

Thats what this game is going to be. A straight and fast slugfest! Thats a good thing too. With Orion setting the pace, theres no way this game is going to drag out. This is going to be a 15 minute game!

The two teams loaded into Summoners Rift as Lin Feng steeled his mental state, and when the Korean Announcers voice rang out to welcome them into Summoners Rift, he opened his eyes. He took a deep breath and readied himself for battle. This was his moment and he was going to do whatever it took to keep his word to One! He was all fired up and the intensity of his spirit raged out through his eyes. What almost no one knew, from Lightless to all his viewers to the professional players watching, or expected was that this was when Lin Feng was at his best!

The number of people that understood where Lin Feng was at right now could be counted on a single hand. One of those people was currently inside KGs Gaming House, nervously watching the Lightless steam of CNHOOK2s game. Tian Tian.

Tian Tian sat there watching the Champions load into Summoners Rift, alternating between a small smile of joy at his friends triumphs and nervous shivering. Then his phone started ringing, which startled him and made him fall back in his chair. Tian Tian quickly got up and took his phone out of his pocket to answer it.

Yo? AYO! Say something! Hello? Hello? FATTY!? You there? Its Read XIII! I hear you breathing loudly. Cant you talk?

The caller was the star Jungler and Team Captain of Taiwans Assassins, Read XIII.

Tian Tian tried to gather his breath and composure after the fall and answer. But before he could get a word in, Read XIII started asking another question. Anyways. Listen. Ive got something to ask you. Are you watching that Hook2 climbing on the Korean Server? Hes on Lightless Hearts stream. Its all over the forums too. Pretty much everywhere. All the other streamers are trying to figure out how to rebroadcast the Lightless stream. Anyways. That Hook2 guy, is that Maple?!

Just as Tian Tian had gotten his breath back, the question knocked it out of him all over again. Huh, u-uh. H-h-hm. Uh The suddenness of the question caught him off guard. But he quickly gathered himself and said, It is with a nod.

Read XIIIs voice grew even louder. HOLY SHIT! IT REALLY IS HIM!? FUCK! I thought it was One in the beginning, but then I realizedwait, that dont sound right. He definitely couldnt be assed to do something so annoying. Then I figured it out! Lightbulb! Lightning-on-the-brain! I thought about Maple! Who else would be this bananas? Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! This is nuts! That kid is even crazier than me!

Read XIIIs mouth was firing off like a cannon, not pausing in the slightest. He was completely lost in his excitement.

H-hey, calm down. Breathe! Tian Tian muttered, still confused and bewildered.

Read XIII changed the subject again. Hey, I wonder how far Maples gonna climb? Wait. Well, shit. Hes only got enough time for this one game. God damn! Hes even facing Orion!? Thisll be a tough match! Hey Fatty, do you think Maple can win?

Tian Tian paused for a moment, then forcefully nodded. Hell win!

Huh? How are you so sure? Read XIII asked, surprised.

Tian Tians eyes looked back at the stream, pride and joy shining through them. Because moments like this one are when Lin Feng is at his strongest!