The King's Avatar Chapter 1 – The Banished Battle God

Click, click, tap, tap......

Slender fingers danced swiftly over the keyboard and mouse. The crisp tapping created a vibrant melody. The display burst with dazzling flashes as the foe collapsed amid a burst of blood.

'Ha ha.' Ye Qiu chuckled while raising his hand to grab the cigarette dangling from his lips. A lengthy trail of silvery smoke had built up, yet he pressed on undeterred, wielding his mouse and pounding the keys. He swiftly snuffed out the cigarette in the quirky ashtray on his desk. His hand darted back to the keyboard. Just as he prepared to taunt his rival, his room door burst open with a loud 'bang'.

Without turning around, as if expecting this exact instant, Ye Qiu simply inquired: 'Arrived?'

'Arrived,' Su Mucheng responded curtly.

'Then let’s go!' Ye Qiu rejected his opponent's duel invitation once more. He delicately extracted the card from the Glory login device. Making his way to the exit, he snatched a jacket off the nearby clothes rack.

The night had deepened fully, yet Club Excellent Era's lights blazed brightly. Ye Qiu and Su Mucheng emerged from the room and proceeded down the hallway to its far end. There sat a vast meeting room; its doorway walls were nearly plastered with digital screens displaying 'Glory Professional Alliance' standings and select skill stats.

Ranking: Excellent Era Battle Team at position 19 — next to last.

A once-dominant squad with three straight league championships, their past glories shone brilliantly. Now they gleamed on the wall, mockingly taunting all who beheld them.

The room's vibe wasn't tense. Instead, it felt oddly warm. Excellent Era's players clustered around one figure like planets orbiting a star. They overlooked Ye Qiu's entrance, and those who noticed shot him chilly, sneering looks.

'Ye Qiu, the club has decided: incoming transfer Sun Xiang will replace you as captain. Henceforth, Sun Xiang commands your account One Autumn Leaf.' The Club Manager spotted Ye Qiu and pivoted to announce bluntly. No preamble, no softening — just a frigid declaration, like discarding soiled tissue.

Su Mucheng parted her lips to protest, but Ye Qiu gave her sleeve a gentle pull. He offered her a smile and a nod, signaling no shock.

'Brother Ye, sorry, but right after arriving, I claimed your spot.' At the conference table's left — prime seat for Excellent Era's captain, rightfully Ye Qiu's — Sun Xiang lounged there while uttering this. Yet his eyes skipped Ye Qiu entirely. This went beyond neglect; it was outright dismissal. His stare landed on Su Mucheng, who accompanied Ye Qiu.

Truthfully, Su Mucheng outshone Ye Qiu visually. Dubbed the Glory Professional Alliance's top beauty, she'd stand out even in entertainment circles as a stunning gem.

Even Excellent Era teammates who saw her daily froze briefly upon her entry. They snapped back fast, drawn instead to another key presence.

'Ha ha, Brother Xiang, you're spot on — that seat fits you perfectly.'

'Right, some folks are past their prime and obsolete!'

'One Autumn Leaf ought to obey Brother Xiang to unleash our true power as a force!'

This spotlight belonged to the current talk — Sun Xiang, Glory Professional Alliance's prodigy. Last season, his stellar MVP stats earned him Best Newcomer, hauling average Over the Clouds Team to eighth. Playoffs loomed promisingly until he jumped to faltering Excellent Era Club. Though Excellent Era floundered, they held Glory's famed Battle God: Battle Mage One Autumn Leaf.

These Excellent Era players fawned over Sun Xiang, barely two years in the Alliance. Evidently, he'd helm the team's tomorrow. Sun Xiang basked in their praise, loath to spare Ye Qiu a look, deeming it unworthy.

“Ye Qiu, pass your One Autumn Leaf account card to Sun Xiang!” the team manager declared.

Though Ye Qiu had stayed composed earlier, pain now pierced his heart unavoidably. The bond between Ye Qiu and One Autumn Leaf stood out plainly. (TLNote: Ye Qiu means Autumn Leaf). He picked this name upon diving into Glory's virtual world. For a complete decade, the account stuck by Ye Qiu's side. A total beginner rose to textbook-pro status as an expert. The lowly Battle Mage transformed into Glory's celebrated “Battle God.” Yet seven years prior, entering the pro scene, he sealed a deal with the club, ceding all One Autumn Leaf rights to them. Ye Qiu always sensed their parting loomed, and today it struck.

Ye Qiu's fingers quivered faintly. For any pro gamer, firm hands proved essential. This trait etched deep into the seasoned veteran's core, yet now his hands shook. Su Mucheng turned her face away. She hated witnessing this, yet stood helpless to intervene.

The crowd relished his downfall as the silver-white One Autumn Leaf account card passed into Sun Xiang's grasp.

Greed and joy sparked in Sun Xiang's gaze. He had eagerly switched teams to the weaker Excellent Era Club just to claim One Autumn Leaf. Lately, its old master Ye Qiu's record faltered amid clashes with the club. Sun Xiang brimmed with total certainty he could supplant him.

“Mine!” The second he snatched the card, thrill surged through Sun Xiang, though he sensed a faint pushback from it.

Detecting Ye Qiu's hesitation, Sun Xiang smirked triumphantly: “Let go, Brother Ye. Your hands are shaking this badly? How can you wield Battle God might with those? Leave it to me! I'll make the Battle God name resound across Glory again. You? Time to retire!”

With those words, Sun Xiang spotted a flicker of agony in the quiet Ye Qiu's eyes, who had just surrendered One Autumn Leaf. Shocked, he watched Ye Qiu's shaky hands abruptly stabilize.

“Do you like this game?” Ye Qiu asked abruptly, staring directly at Sun Xiang.

“What?” Sun Xiang flinched.

“If you truly like it, cherish it all as glory, not empty bragging.”

“What was that? What's it got to do with you?” Sun Xiang erupted. Suddenly, he felt dwarfed by Ye Qiu. He refused to yield in stature to this rival. He arrived to oust Ye Qiu. He came to seize the Battle God One Autumn Leaf.

“Put it away.” As Sun Xiang mustered his pride, Ye Qiu released the account card calmly and spoke those words. He spun around to depart.

“Ye Qiu!” The manager called out sharply then.

Ye Qiu halted, glancing sideways as the manager approached from behind: “The club lacks a fitting competitive account for you now. Pair up with a teammate as your training partner for the time being!”

Training partner... The dynasty-builder of the Alliance, Glory's famed expert, reduced to mere training partner.

Sun Xiang relished this twist and burst into laughter: “Brother Ye's skill makes training a breeze. You're perfect as Glory Pro Alliance's top training partner!”

“Ha ha.” Taking the mockery in stride, Ye Qiu chuckled unexpectedly. He faced the manager: “Training partner? No need. I terminate the contract!”

“Terminate the contract? You're pushing for it yourself?” The manager's face showed contemplation.

“Yes. I demand contract termination.”

“Don't act impulsively!” Su Mucheng rushed forward to halt Ye Qiu. The Alliance followed strict rules. Breaking a contract mid-term demanded valid cause. Self-initiated termination incurred heavy penalties. Ye Qiu's deal with Excellent Era had half a year left. Forcing an exit would cost a fortune. Above all, Su Mucheng dreaded his leaving.

“The boss hasn't arrived yet. Hold off till he does!” Su Mucheng urged Ye Qiu to cool down.

Ye Qiu had caught the mocking curl on the manager's lips earlier. He shook his head at Su Mucheng with a wry smile: “Mu Cheng, don't you see? My exit is exactly what the boss wants. I hold no worth to this club anymore. I'm just a drain on funds.”

“Impossible. How could you be a money sink? Your prowess surpasses everyone.” Su Mucheng insisted.

“It’s not about strength. This is purely business. And I? I’ve never held any business worth.” Ye Qiu stated.

“You did possess value once, but you decided to abandon it on your own.” The manager cut in coldly right then.

“Correct, it’s my decision.” Ye Qiu replied. The Glory Professional Alliance was booming these days, with sponsors pouring in from every direction. Star players in Glory served as perfect endorsers for big-name products. Yet, despite being seen as a peak-level pro, Ye Qiu turned down every ad deal. He avoided interviews and press events too. He acted like an old-school online dweller, hiding his real self in the virtual world.

The club felt deep frustration over this. They saw him as a treasure trove of gold but couldn’t extract a single nugget. His overwhelming skill had kept them tolerant, bringing the Club prestige and victories. However, with their recent poor results, all that glory faded into history.

“Commercialization in the Alliance kept us alive, but these days... ...” Ye Qiu trailed off. He wasn’t sure if this path was a blessing or curse. Greed now dominated the Alliance. Every boss prioritized squeezing profits from their teams. Ye Qiu, fueled by pure passion for the game and endless grind in Glory, held dear the early days of the Alliance. Yet today, it chased only cash.

Su Mucheng stayed silent. She had arrived alongside Ye Qiu and seen the full story of this seasoned pro. Tears welled in her eyes. She realized Ye Qiu genuinely wished to depart. Stopping him would just deepen his hurt.

“If that’s the case, I... ...”

“No need.” Ye Qiu smiled, cutting off Su Mucheng. He knew her intent: “Don’t worry, I haven’t lost all hope. I’ll return.”

“Exactly. That’s the driven Ye Qiu I know. First off, let’s discuss the penalty! To be fair, after all these years and your stellar record, we won’t be harsh. Want to go? Let’s negotiate the contract termination terms properly. Sound good?”

“Just give it to me directly. What’s required?” Ye Qiu inquired.

“Fine. It’s straightforward: declare your retirement.” the manager declared.

“Retirement! Can’t we skip this demand?” Su Mucheng fumed. Ye Qiu turned 25 this year. For esports pros in competitive gaming, that age counted as advanced. Quitting then wasn’t unusual. But Ye Qiu had made it clear he didn’t plan to retire. The Excellent Era manager’s retirement stipulation targeted him directly.

Retired pros lost the right to compete again right away. Sure, they could return, but Glory Professional Alliance rules mandated a full year wait. This stopped quick jumps to rivals and instant comebacks. Ye Qiu already faced the twilight of his career. Time mattered immensely, yet they demanded he lose a year. After that, even if eager to rejoin, at his age, without ongoing high-stakes play to sharpen skills—and banking solely on past glory—clubs might hesitate. Plus, Ye Qiu carried a critical weakness: zero interest in business activities.

The demand seemed utterly unreasonable, yet Ye Qiu nodded calmly: “I agree.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Su Mucheng cried out in shock.

“After grinding so fiercely for years, can’t I take a year’s break?” Ye Qiu grinned.

“What... what do you plan to do?” Su Mucheng couldn’t fathom it.

“Not a thing.” Ye Qiu looked away. The manager had passed the papers already. Ye Qiu skimmed them and chuckled softly. They’d clearly plotted this far in advance! With that thought, Ye Qiu grabbed the pen, pressed it to the page, and swiftly signed.

Right before departing... Ye Qiu looked back at the spot he’d called home for seven years. No goodbyes escaped his lips as he quietly turned and prepared to go.

“Let me walk you out.” Su Mucheng alone trailed after him.