Volume 1 【001】Brian the Great

“Brian the Great’s return countdown: 1 day...”

Writing this line in her diary, Dylan beamed with sweet happiness.

As a girl’s nickname, Dylan doesn’t actually sound very nice, but her best friend Sophie insisted on calling her that. The reason dates back to when they were fourteen: Sophie’s chest was as flat as a tablet, while Dylan was already a C-cup. Even in middle school, Dylan possessed all the prime qualities of a new-generation moe girl: big chest, long legs, and naturally airheaded...

Even airheaded girls have their pursuits. For ten years, Dylan has kept a daily diary, and its content is always about a man. In just one more day, the man she sees as omnipotent will return.

“Brian the Great again? Will you die if you don’t think about Brian the Great for just one day?”

A crisp, girlish voice sounded behind Dylan; it was Sophie.

Sophie is just like her name—small in every way. Calling her “Tiny” would be even more fitting.

Whenever Dylan and Sophie stand together, it’s easy to recall a lyric: “Big has its advantages, small has its charm...”

“None of your business.” Dylan has a good temper and is often bullied by Sophie, but when it comes to Brian the Great, she never backs down. Dylan staunchly defends Brian the Great, even if it means arguing with Sophie.

“Look at you! Do you really think he’s still that dazzling, god-level player from back then? Girl, please face reality: the career span of an esports player is very short. Most retire by twenty-five. The Brian the Great you’re always thinking about is already twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight, right? Even if he’s out of prison, so what? Do you really think he can stage a glorious comeback?” Sophie grew more and more dismissive as she spoke.

“You don’t understand, you don’t understand anything. He’ll always be number one in the world!” Dylan retorted, her face flushed, but she was never good at arguing and her words came out a bit jumbled.

“Number one in the world? I can only laugh. Maybe seven or eight years ago, at his peak, Brian the Great was number one. But what is he now? The gaming world changes every three years, new talents keep emerging. Tell me, your Brian the Great who’s long been out of the game—how can he compete with the new generation of kings?”

Sophie was always sharp-tongued. As she spoke, her hand unconsciously landed on Dylan’s now E-cup chest, putting on a world-weary look: “Girl, take my advice and wake up. Look, how many young people today even remember Brian the Great’s name? Someone eliminated by the times isn’t worth your obsession...”

She softened her tone: “I know, when you were eight, Brian the Great signed an autograph for you, and you’ve been his fan ever since. Ten whole years have passed; you’re no longer that elementary school kid. You’ve grown up and changed so much. Now you’re a college student getting a higher education—please stop dreaming those childish dreams, okay?”

Dylan shook off Sophie’s small hand, turned away, and fell silent.

She always believed that when that man returned, he would shock the world.

Because that man was once called the supreme god of the gaming world.

……

Ten years ago, in the year 2118, at the World Youth Gaming Championship, a dazzling new star burst onto the scene. Most new stars attract attention when they rise, but this person not only drew attention, but also controversy. From the very first day of his debut, he was surrounded by all kinds of controversy, ranking first among the world’s most talked-about people in 2118.

Why did a teenager playing games attract so much attention? To explain briefly: since the professionalization of esports in 2028, it has drawn widespread attention from all sectors of society. By 2038, esports ranked just behind soccer and basketball, known as the world’s third sport.

Some predicted that, due to the popularization and accessibility of esports, it would one day become the world’s number one sport. Sure enough, by 2050, esports had become the planet’s top sport—anyone could participate just by sitting in front of a computer, and countless grassroots experts emerged.

In the past, only in soccer would clubs pay tens of millions or even over a hundred million euros for a player’s transfer. By 2118, the ninetieth year of professional esports, some top teams were willing to pay over a hundred million for a top gamer. In such a historical context, the birth of a new star would inevitably attract countless eyes.

That year, people truly understood what it meant for masters to be among the people.

An eighteen-year-old boy challenged already famous pros on the battle net, sweeping through all opponents, defeating gods and Buddhas alike. In two months, he fought 128 matches without a single loss.

His ID was: Brian Clark, who never rests day or night.