The 24-hour server maintenance finally ended amidst players' complaints, speculations, and a touch of unease in the player community. When the servers reopened, countless players eagerly rushed into the client, wanting to see what "urgent and important" map update was worth a full day of downtime.
However, as they entered the familiar Summoners Rift, controlling their beloved champions as they ran along the three lanes, they were confused to find that the map seemed to have no changes at all.
Fountain, turrets, bushes, jungle camps... everything looked exactly the same as before the downtime. Players were last-hitting and laning while discussing animatedly in public chat and live streams.
"What's going on? Updated nothing?"
"Is there a problem with the client? Didn't load new stuff?"
"I knew it, how could they suddenly update such a big map? I got my hopes up for nothing."
"Riot Games's move is really baffling..."
Disappointment and mockery began to spread; everyone thought this was just a failed technical update or an overreaction.
Just then, an intense team fight near the Baron Nashor pit in the Twisted Treeline was about to reveal this secret.
On one side was the advantaged "blue team," attempting to quickly Rush Baron Nashor to secure victory; on the other side was the disadvantaged "purple team," led by a young player with the ID "Night Owl," attempting a desperate struggle, to steal Baron Nashor and turn the tide.
The team fight erupted instantly, skills and light effects intertwined, and the scene was extremely chaotic. "Night Owl" was playing Ziggs, the Hexplosives Expert. He hid in the vision shadow above the Baron Nashor pit, nervously observing the battle, his finger hovering over the R key, Mega Inferno Bomb, waiting for the most opportune moment to drop it, steal Baron Nashor, and deal tons of AOE damage.
Just as he was fully concentrated, his finger trembled slightly due to nervousness, accidentally brushing against the mouse side button—a shortcut he had set to zoom in on the game screen. The screen view suddenly zoomed in, focusing on the Baron Nashor's body, covered in thick scales, inside the pit.
At that very moment, "Night Owl's" peripheral vision suddenly caught something! On the rough rock wall beside Baron Nashor's body, there seemed to be... several extremely subtle lines of text, almost blending into the rock texture!
His heart leaped, and he no longer cared about stealing Baron Nashor. He instinctively adjusted his view again, staring intently at that rock wall. Sure enough! It wasn't an illusion! Beside Baron Nashor's massive body, on the rock wall near the inside of the pit, there were indeed several lines of delicate and clear text inscribed, which required zooming in very close and a specific angle of light to barely make out:
"To all Summoners walking the Rift:
Life may be short, but passion is eternal.
May every kill bring joy,
May every collaboration be filled with trust,
May every match be played with a clear conscience.
— Sun-Chaser Bow, Final Words"
In the bottom right corner of this text, there was also an extremely tiny, signature-like arrow pattern.
"Night Owl" froze, his mind blank. He remembered the trending post from a few days ago, the player named "Sun-Chaser Bow," that heartbreaking story... So, the official downtime for a whole day, the mysterious map update, was all for this!
"Ziggs, what are you doing?! Zoom in! Baron Nashor is almost gone!" His teammates' exasperated roars came through his headphones. Because of his momentary distraction, the blue team had easily secured Baron Nashor and were now turning to encircle their purple team members, who had lost the initiative.
The team fight instantly collapsed, and the purple team was wiped out. Looking at the gray screen and his teammates' complaints and questions in the chat box, "Night Owl" offered no explanation. He just used his trembling fingers to forcefully type a line of text in the all-chat channel:
"Everyone, look at the wall inside the Baron Nashor pit!!!!!"
His tone carried an indescribable excitement and shock.
At first, the blue team players were mocking: "Can't win, so you make excuses?" "Look at what? Lost is lost."
But soon, curious players controlled their champions to the edge of the Baron Nashor pit and zoomed in their view.
Then, the public chat channel fell into a deathly silence.
Immediately followed by an even more violent outburst!
"Holy crap!!!"
"This... this is..."
"Sun-Chaser Bow! It's that Sun-Chaser Bow!"
"My God! Riot Games actually... actually carved his words there?!"
Everyone forgot that this was an ongoing game, forgot about pushing towers, forgot about winning or losing. All ten players from both teams, by unspoken agreement, gathered around the Baron Nashor pit, zoomed in their views, and silently read the lines of text on the rock wall. A solemn and moving emotion silently permeated the Rift.
"Night Owl" quickly exited the game (even though this meant a loss and a penalty), and he immediately logged onto the league of legends official forum and posted a thread with the title:
"Mystery Solved! Truth of the Downtime! Sun-Chaser Bow's Final Message Found on Baron Nashor Pit Wall! With Pictures!"
In the post, he detailed how he accidentally discovered this detail and attached multiple high-definition game screenshots taken from different angles, clearly showcasing the lines of text carved into the rock wall.
This post was like a nuclear bomb dropped into a calm lake!
All the previous confusion, complaints, and speculations vanished at this moment, turning into unparalleled shock and emotion!
"I knew it! Riot Games wouldn't just shut down the servers for no reason!"
"I'm crying... the official team is really too warm-hearted!"
"This is the game we love! It truly has warmth!"
"May Sun-Chaser Bow also be able to freely roam his Rift in another world."
"From now on, taking Baron Nashor will have a special meaning..."
The post was frantically shared and commented on, instantly soaring to the top of the trending topics! Major gaming media rushed to report, and hashtags like #BaronNashor'sProverb, #Riot Games'sRomance, and #ToSun-ChaserBow swept all social platforms.
The popularity of league of legends reached an unprecedented peak because of this detail, hidden deep within the game map and filled with humanistic care! It was no longer just a fun game, a successful esports project, but a living, breathing world that carried the emotions and memories of countless players.
Countless players spontaneously entered the game, not for ranked matches, but specifically to go to the Baron Nashor pit, to "pilgrimage" and view those lines of text, and take screenshots as keepsakes. Summoners Rift, because of this special commemoration, was endowed with a deeper meaning.
Meanwhile, at Riot Games, the employees who had been up all night watched the overwhelming positive reviews and touching messages from players online. All their fatigue was swept away, replaced by deep pride and satisfaction.
Qin Feng stood by the office window, looking at the seemingly brighter city lights below. He knew he had done the right thing. This memorial not only comforted a departed soul but also firmly united the hearts of all the living.
His esports empire not only had a commercial framework but also gained a warm soul.