Chapter One: The Erased Starter

Realm of Kings was a five-player game of vision, territory, and traded resources. Shadow Hound could mark prey from darkness and dash from blind spots once the mark matured. It was not the strongest jungler in the current patch, but it was Lin's best. At sixteen, he had ridden it into the server's top ten and earned his academy contract. The scrim loaded. The instant the map appeared, countless lines blossomed before his eyes. Red, blue, gold, and gray threads extended from every champion's feet, crossing river, brush, and walls before splitting into branches. Some shone with solidity; others were faint as dying smoke. None reached farther than ten seconds. Beyond that waited only haze. "Lin?" Chen said in his headset. "Buy items."