Shanghai, 2016.
The enormous stadium had been plunged into darkness, leaving only the silver-blue lights sweeping over the audience.
Thousands of spectators raised glowing signs bearing the same four characters:
雷霸冥天
(Thunder Dominator of the Dark Heavens)
The name did not belong to any ordinary professional player.
Within China's rapidly growing competitive gaming scene, it had already become a legend.
On the main screen, a masked figure sat motionlessly before her computer. She wore an oversized black hoodie with the hood pulled low over her head. A plain black mask covered nearly her entire face, revealing only a pair of calm, sharp eyes.
No one could tell that the person beneath those layers was merely fourteen years old.
No one knew that her real name was 李星月 (Li Xingyue).
And nobody, not even her own teammates, had seen her entire face.
The opposing team had secured the first Baron and was pushing towards the base. The commentators spoke so quickly that their voices nearly overlapped.
"雷霸冥天的队伍现在很危险!"
(Lei Ba Mingtian's team is in serious danger now!)
"中路高地马上就要破了，她会怎么处理？"
(The middle inhibitor turret is about to fall. How will she handle this?)
Xingyue remained silent.
Her slender fingers moved over the keyboard with extraordinary precision. The opposing mid-laner stepped forward for only half a second.
That was enough.
Xingyue's champion flashed across the screen.
"开。"
(Engage.)
It was the first word she had spoken in nearly eight minutes.
Her teammates reacted instantly.
The jungler moved in from the side. Their support locked down two opponents, while Xingyue slipped past the frontline and eliminated the opposing marksman before anyone could protect him.
One kill.
Two.
Three.
The audience erupted.
The commentators shouted until their voices cracked.
"漂亮！雷霸冥天又创造奇迹了！"
(Beautiful! Lei Ba Mingtian has created another miracle!)
"她早就算准了对方的位置！她一直在等这个机会！"
(She predicted their positions long ago! She had been waiting for this opportunity all along!)
Xingyue's expression did not change.
Even after her team destroyed the enemy nexus, she merely removed her hands from the keyboard and looked at the victory screen.
Her professional win rate had risen once more.
Ninety-nine per cent.
Her teammates leapt from their chairs. The youngest of them rushed towards her but stopped himself before touching her shoulder.
Everyone on the team knew that 小雷姐 (Little Sister Lei) disliked unexpected physical contact.
"雷姐，我们赢了！"
(Sister Lei, we won!)
YOU ARE READING
Beneath the Thunder, Between the Stars and Moon 雷霆之下、明月之间
Romance《雷霆之下、星月之间》 is a coming-of-age story about dual identities, quiet ambition, family protection, and the courage to remain oneself after being seen. Beneath the thunder of the arena and the scrutiny of the public, Xingyue slowly learns that being prot...
