While the whole world was losing their minds over the surreal success of the LUX face mask, with international companies collapsing one by one and influencers lining up to lick the packaging…
Luna?
Luna was… Playing LoL. In pajamas. With a fox-ear headband. And a smoothie cup the size of a fire extinguisher.
The screen in the gaming room of her New York mansion flickered with the chaos of Summoner's Rift.
She was playing Annie support.
"Lisaaa, are you nervous or just playing like an NPC today?" Luna teased, laughing.
On the other end of the headset, Lis4, now the friend and constant duo of the gamer magnate, let out a tense sigh. "Ah, Luna… I can't even do an auto-attack right. I feel like a million eyes are judging me… What if I troll in the final?!"
Luna chuckled. "You're only playing against Koreans. Basically like… Thanos with all the Infinity Stones."
Lis4 groaned on the other side. "Exactly, woman! Those guys breathe in APM. One of them took three dragons while writing a fanfic and still got the herald!"
Luna laughed out loud, throwing Tibbers onto the enemy support, triggering a perfect combo. "Relax. If it goes bad, say you had emotional lag. Works every time."
In those days leading up to the MSI final, Luna followed her routine as unpredictable as it was billionaire:
She woke up at 1 p.m. with Ivy calling her not to miss the meeting with the Wall Street sharks.
She went in sweatpants and crocs to close deals with oil magnates.
She came back home and watched 4 episodes in a row of a drama, crying from laughter.
And at night? She climbed the LoL rank listening to BLACKPINK and LE SSERAFIM at full volume.
It was the calm life of a capitalist genius with the Tycoon System running in the background, ensuring every second of idleness earned more than the GDP of medium countries.
Since the first time Luna donated millions to Lis4 on a random stream, the friendship between the two grew unexpectedly.
Lis4, who before barely had time to breathe between training and jobs to help her family, becoming the starting player of the Galáctico Sports team, an international powerhouse. The anxious Maiden about to live her first international final in the New York stadium. And, secretly, totally dependent on Luna's words of encouragement, which became her pre-game ritual.
3 days until the final
The countdown to the final already hovered like a cloud of electric energy.
Luna, even acting relaxed, knew something important was approaching. Not only for Lis4, but she was already starting to consider the thousand secret marketing possibilities and social impact ambushes she could pull off during the event, if she was in the mood.
But for now?
"Lis4, stop walking forward when Vi is ulting."
"I'M NERVOUS, MAN!"
"Don't play like a bot in the final, huh. I want to see you stomping the Koreans."
"They are Koreans."
"Even easier." Luna winked.
At the end of the match?
Victory. Enemy surrender at 18 minutes. Jinx with a pentakill. Annie with 25 assists and zero deaths.
Lis4 smiled relieved, even through the screen, and Luna could feel it.
"You're going to shine on stage, girl. Just breathe. And if it doesn't work out… well, I can always buy Team Iridescent and put you there just for revenge."
"You're crazy. But thanks." Lis4 laughed, lighter. "And seriously… thanks for everything, Luna. I don't know what would have become of me without that crazy donation."
Luna just gave an enigmatic smile. "That's what bored multimillionaire goddesses do on Tuesday nights."
Days later, the day dawned clear, with the sun finally tearing through the gray clouds that had swallowed New York's sky for days.
The streets were lively early on, but the real storm of excitement was concentrated around the MSI Arena, where the international League of Legends final between the colossi Team Iridescent (Korea) and Galáctico Sports (Europe) would take place.
The event was not just sporting: it was cultural. A festival of fandom, technology, and hype.
And of course…
Luna arrived at the center of it all, as if about to save Demacia.
Dressed in a perfect cosplay of the champion Lux, Luna crossed one of the VIP access corridors of the arena. The outfit was a mix of haute couture with cutting-edge technology: reflective fabric, light enchanted LED particles, and real gold details on the edges of the cloak. Her staff floated beside her, as if really carrying the magic of light.
A pair of arena security guards discreetly made way for her, not that it was necessary.
Fans noticed her, and although they didn't exactly know who she was, they could recognize a goddess incarnate in cosplay when they saw one.
Around the arena, Riot booths sold:
Highly detailed action figures of champion skins;
Limited posters with autographs;
Phone cases that changed skins when rotated;
T-shirts with phrases like "I got ganked at MSI 3031 and all I got was this T-shirt."
It was the kind of event where capitalism embraced the gamer warmly, then charged 80 dollars for a plush toy.
Luna walked backstage with light steps.
A floating hologram indicated: "Restricted area – Staff and Finalist Teams only."
She ignored it. After all, she was Luna.
Upon opening the door to the teams' waiting room, she faced the scene.
On one side, five Koreans, serene like monks, headphones connected to some kind of mystical playlist that probably unlocked the brain.
On the other, the European team, a mix of French, Spanish, and a Swede who looked like an NPC from a medieval knights game.
In the middle of it all… A single player.
Medium-length blonde hair tied practically, blue eyes staring fixed at the floor trying to control anxiety.
Lisa.
Or Lis4, as the whole world now knew her.
Seeing her, Luna couldn't resist and ran up to her. "My little European ray of sunshine!"
Lisa raised her eyes and widened them upon recognizing the golden cloak, the glowing eyes, and the impossible to ignore presence.
She jumped up. "Luna?!"
"In flesh, bone, and Lux particles." Luna opened her arms.
Lisa laughed, half nervous, and went straight for the hug.
The other players stopped to look but no one commented — maybe out of respect.
"You really came… and… MY GOD, that cosplay!" Lisa stepped back and spun Luna around with wide eyes. "You're perfect! Like… legendary event skin level!"
Luna blinked and lightly spun the staff, which floated above her hand. "Lux needed to show up today. If it's for you to shine, I'll bring all the light."
Lisa blushed. For a second, she seemed more nervous with Luna than with the final. "Thanks for coming. I'm… very nervous."
Luna gently took her hands. "Listen here. You trained, worked hard, and now you're here, with everyone watching you because you DESERVE it. It wasn't luck. It was dedication."
Lisa took a deep breath. "You always have the right words, you know?"
"Of course. I'm rich, beautiful, and still play Annie support without dying. A miracle in human form." Luna winked.
Lisa laughed. The tension began to melt from her shoulders.
Luna then leaned in like an anime coach. "And listen, Lisa. They may be Korean. They may have perfect macro, out-of-this-world draft, and pretend that missing skillshots is a sin."
"But…?"
"But none of them had you. None of them played with the heart like you do."
Lisa smiled. It was the smile of someone who knew it was okay to feel fear but not to let it stop you.
And when Luna stepped away, walking with the staff floating in a golden aura, Lisa whispered: "She really is a Lux… but from real life."
Luna walked among golden spotlights and corridors decorated with animated banners of the finalist teams. Her Lux cosplay shone even more under the reflection of the photochromic panels, drawing glances and sighs from all VIP staff around — even among those pretending to be used to celebrities.
"This way, miss." a security guard guided her to the VIP seating area, a structure with a panoramic view of the arena and personalized service of everything — from drinks to shoulder massages if the emotion was too much.
She settled into the recliner chair made of dark blue synthetic velvet, with golden edges gently vibrating as if tuned to the ambient music.
A holographic waiter appeared with a digital gourmet snacks menu. "Champagne or juice?"
"Just silence and spectacle, dear." Luna smiled, focusing attention on the colossal stage ahead.
The arena, with capacity for over 300 thousand people, was in a state of collective ecstasy.
Lights danced in the sky as if the entire universe was in party mode. A choreographed musical show, with drones forming constellations and figures of the game characters flying over the stadium, began the eSports event.
"Ladies and gentlemen… Welcome to the GRAND FINAL OF MSI 3031!" announced the host with a giant three-dimensional hologram of his head blinking over the stadium.
The crowd screamed.
Literally, the arena shook.
On the main stage, international musical groups took turns:
A female group from the USA singing a remix of Rise with dancers in digital armor;
An African ensemble with electronic drums, dancing with reimagined legendary skins in tribal style;
A trio of Latin dancers with the giant Teemo mascot dancing salsa — don't ask me how that worked, but the audience went crazy.
Between each musical number, holographic screens showed the history of the finalist teams.
"Two months ago, one hundred teams started the journey…"
Interactive maps appeared showing epic battles, viral replays, absurd pentakills, all condensed in cuts worthy of a movie trailer.
"And now, only two remain. On one side, the champions of discipline, Team Iridescent. On the other, the galactic rebels, Galáctico Sports."
The audience roared loudly. Fireworks exploded on the arena ceiling. The teams' colors painted the digital sky.
And then… the lights went out.
The stage lit up with a line of blue-violet light in the center.
"Players, prepare for war." The narrator's voice echoed in dozens of languages simultaneously, with automatic translation adapting to each fan, wherever they were.
The lifting platforms began to rise… one by one, the players appeared in personalized outfits, adapted to their region's style.
The crowd exploded in applause, one name after another being announced with unique sound effects:
"KAEZUKI, the precision sniper!"
"TØRIN, the wizard of impossible strategies!"
"RAZIAH, the jungle warlock!"
Until…
"And straight from France, the dream sharpshooter — LISAAAAA! Also known as LIS4!"
Lisa stepped onto the stage with a new serenity in her eyes. The camera zoomed in on her face. A discreet, confident smile cut her expression — she no longer trembled.
Luna, from above, watched that with a warmth growing in her chest.
"Go, little European ray…" she whispered proudly.
Lisa didn't see her, but maybe she felt it.
Because the exact moment she stepped into the center of the arena, the side panels projected a Lux + Jinx combo dancing together in a funny animation — a reference to the famous ranked duo with Luna during previous weeks.
The audience laughed and cheered with excitement.
"Good luck, Lisa." Luna said to herself, crossing her legs elegantly. "And may the League… be with you."
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