Merfolk Have to Play Esports Too

Liang Chen was the top-ranked player, a gifted rising star with a bright future as a pro gamer. But on the eve of the game’s professional launch, he was caught in a shipwreck. Fortunately, he awakened his merfolk bloodline and survived. He drank a potion and lost his voice. Every step was like dancing on the tip of a blade, but he paid that price to become human again, all to fulfill his promise to win the championship with his teammates. But by the time he returned to shore, seven years had passed in human society. His team had long since disbanded, and his teammates had gone their separate ways. His appearance had changed beyond recognition, and his former identity had been declared dead. The legendary Emperor of Slaughter, Liang Chen, had become the lame and mute Meng Chen. The potion’s curse hung over him like the Sword of Damocles: he must never fall in love with anyone. Because if he failed to receive a true-love kiss from the person he loved, his heart would shatter and he would die. As it turned out, on his very first day back in the game, he ran into a frivolous young lady who chased after him, insisting they cuddle, calling him “big brother” over and over and shouting, “Wanna be a couple?” His hand slipped, and he killed the young lady outright. Don’t come near me. Other people need money to date; dating would cost me my life. * Lu Xihe is the only player in the league to have won every major title. After retiring, he became a variety streamer. His latest stunt is using a voice changer to pose as a newbie and crush the competition. His character is a beautiful young lady, with a cute, girlish voice, and he’s unstoppable in-game. Until he opens his mouth and gets killed by a newbie account on the opposing team. The way his killer played was exactly like his beloved, who died young in a shipwreck. * When a legendary amateur team makes a comeback all the way from the qualifiers, defeats one professional team after another, and wins the world championship, outsiders call it an inspiring story. But discussions on the gaming forums take a bizarre turn. [Is Lu Xihe really treating Meng Chen as a stand-in?] [Was Meng Chen being used, or did he know all along and climb to the top by stepping on Lu Xihe?] [They’ve won the championship and gotten their share of the spotlight. Shouldn’t Meng Chen dump Lu Xihe now?] #HowThatClearlyTrueLoveCoupleGotBuriedUnderAnAbsurdAmountOfDarkMelodrama# Notes: * Retired god-tier player who’s lovesick and jealous top × career-minded, aloof gaming genius bottom * My take on merfolk lore. Very few fantasy elements. The protagonist loses his voice and uses a wheelchair, but will eventually recover. * Original 1v4 asymmetric keyboard-and-mouse game, drawing inspiration from Identity V, Dead by Daylight, and others. The tournament is inspired by IVL. The rules are simple, and no prior knowledge is needed. * Not realistic fiction. The protagonist is an undefeated legend at the very top. Theme: The fire of passion never dies.