Ji's last thought echoed in his mind as the blinding light faded. The familiar hum of his AUP Cavite dorm had disappeared, replaced by an endless expanse of soft, rolling hills under a sky streaked with iridescent clouds. The air smelled faintly of pine, wet earth, and something else he couldn't quite place almost like ozone after a storm. Light moved in strange, flowing patterns, like liquid dancing across the grass.
He stumbled, catching himself on the edge of a small stone.
"Okay… definitely not dorm life anymore,"
he muttered.
"Dream sequence? New VR patch? Or maybe I actually failed calculus and this is purgatory…"
Floating symbols drifted in the air around him, soft glows that pulsed like breathing. Ji hesitated, then reached out. A glyph brushed against his fingers, warm and alive, and he pulled back instinctively. The energy wasn't threatening not exactly but it made his heart skip.
Not far from him, sitting cross-legged on a boulder, was a figure meditating. A calm, golden light shimmered around him, bathing the surrounding grass. His back was straight, his hands folded neatly, and his face radiated serenity so absolute it almost hurt to look at.
Ji's eyes narrowed. Wait… is this an NPC? Or did I just glitch into a cinematic cutscene?
He cleared his throat. "Uh… hi? You meditate here often, or… just extra realistic AI?"
The man's eyes opened slowly. Steel-gray, calm, yet piercing.
"You… are not from here."
Ji raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah… second-year AB English student at AUP Cavite. Essays, gaming, coffee you?"
The man inclined his head slightly. "I am Master Yi."
Ji's heart skipped. No way… Master Yi? Calm, precise, OP sword guy?
"Wait… you're literally Master Yi?"
Yi's expression remained serene.
"You carry potential… unusual. The scroll you hold… it bends reality."
Ji smirked, fishing out the Heaven's Draft scroll.
"Ohhh, that little thing? Picked it up yesterday. Totally legit. Not stolen. Works better than my essay citations."
Yi's eyes narrowed, just slightly.
"You understand it… instinctively?"
Ji shrugged.
"Instinct, trial-and-error, and a lot of late-night gaming. Works for me. Anyway… nice meditation lighting. Sets the mood."
For the first time, Yi's calm faltered. Centuries of Wuju training, countless scroll studies — and here was a boy casually holding a scroll that defied all expectation.
"Then…" Yi said slowly, "your skill… is master-level?"
Ji laughed.
"Uh… maybe? Woke up here three seconds ago. Not claiming full mastery… yet."
Yi's gaze remained unwavering.
"The demonstration is clear. You are… exceptional. I will learn from you."
Ji's jaw dropped.
"Wait… did you just… say you're gonna learn from me?"
Yi inclined his head.
"I am serious. I will follow your guidance."
Ji rubbed his neck.
"Alright… fine. You're my student. But don't take it too seriously — I'm still figuring things out myself."
The world shimmered around him, still dreamlike. Moss replaced linoleum; sunlight flickered through clouds that moved like liquid silk. Floating symbols pulsed softly in the air. Ji's mind ticked. Okay… dreamlike world, check. Scroll magic, check. OP swordsman, check. Time to innovate.
He traced a phrase on the Heaven's Draft scroll. A faint, ethereal projection of a sword appeared.
"Yi… watch closely. I'm about to show you how scrolls can make your Wuju Style… even better."
Yi tilted his head, silently observing.
Ji grinned.
"Alright, first lesson. Alpha Strike? We can add scroll-enhanced multi-strikes. Meditate? Faster recovery. Wuju Style? Precision plus scroll synergy."
He scribbled additional runes and attached them to Yi's aura. Light shimmered as Yi moved, and even in his calm meditation stance, the air seemed to bend around him.
Ji laughed.
"See? Scroll writing isn't just magic. It's innovation. Combine what you know, what you feel, and… gaming instincts. Who knew essays and ranked games would help in world-saving?"
Yi's eyes widened slightly.
"…This… is beyond understanding."
Ji shrugged.
"Relax. Think of it like patch notes. Sometimes nonsense, sometimes truth. But always improving."
He continued, writing phrases, drawing symbols, and integrating LoL-inspired skills into scrolls:
Alpha Strike → multi-strike enhanced by scroll energy
Meditate → faster stamina and energy recovery
Wuju Style → precise, augmented sword strikes
Yi mirrored every move, following Ji's guidance. Each swing, each meditation pulse, became faster, cleaner, more refined.
Ji grinned. "Alright, see? Multi-strike combo is smooth. Even Alpha Strike would be jealous. Not bad for a Cavite AB English major, huh?"
Yi's jaw tightened slightly.
"…I learn from you?"
Ji waved his hand.
"Exactly. Master Ji teaches, student Yi listens. Except… you're OP enough that I need to push you, or it's boring."
He scribbled another glyph, integrating elements of reflex timing, focus, and scroll magic.
"Now your Wuju Style flows with energy control and precision. You're welcome."
Yi studied him, admiration flickering behind the calm exterior.
"Master Ji… your innovation… unmatched." Ji shrugged.
"What can I say? Gamer instincts, critical thinking, and AB English essays that taught patience with words. Everything you know… made smarter. Welcome to scroll-enhanced LoL skills." For the first time, Yi bowed slightly, acknowledging his new teacher.
"Tomorrow… we push limits," Ji muttered, tracing a few more glowing phrases.
"You, me, scrolls… and maybe a few unintended innovations. One glyph at a time. That's how we rewrite history."
The floating symbols shimmered brighter. Ji's mind raced with possibilities: integrating skills, scroll experiments, small innovations to make life easier, perhaps even improving entire villages. The sun began to dip behind the hills. Ji stretched, feeling a strange mix of excitement and responsibility. Being a master here wasn't just about power; it was about teaching, innovating, and shaping the world. He leaned back on the grass.
"Okay… I came here thinking it was some dream or loading screen. Turns out… this is going to be way more fun than essays and ranked games." Yi glanced over, silent but attentive.
Ji caught the subtle hint of curiosity in the swordsman's calm eyes. Perfect. He's hooked. In that moment, Ji realized something important: mastery wasn't just about strength. It was about guidance, creativity, and making those around you stronger. And he planned to have a lot of fun doing it.