The Golden Road: The Pentakill Prince

Chapter 2: Conditions

"You're Here, and you're late!" Oswin exclaimed upon seeing Noel walk in.

"This building isn't particularly easy to find, Oz."

"They're Waiting, let's hurry."

As Noel and Oswin rushed to the meeting room, they were met with the highly professional team of management, sponsors, and even equipment vendors and housing agents. Everything the soon to be newly reformed ROG International would need to get started.

Noel pondered. A new office building hidden in the city centre. It wasn't particularly a big or tall building, but it was sure flashy. Dawning the team logo at the front of the building, with pretty out of the box architecture. Hell, the interior looked the usual. Red and black colour-way on the walls and even some of the furniture. Even the office workers, interns, and managers of the organisation all bear the classic red and black colour-way of the team logo. It was no surprise that some things in fact, has not changed.

"Ah good! You're finally here. I am Nigel, and I am the one setting up everything here at this new building. Big fan of you, Mr Vengeance."

The douchey looking businessman extended his hand for a handshake. Noel looked at him, neither amused, nor impressed.

"Not one for handshakes? It's okay, me too." Nigel said.

"Have a seat, Vengeance." Oswin pulled up a chair.

As Noel sat down, Nigel gave his presentation to everyone on what his vision on the new ROG team should be, how they would get started. It was why housing agents and equipment vendors were in the room. Nigel continued on about how ROG, under the leadership of Noel, would have a brand new team of rookies to help rebuild the dynasty that Noel once built with his former team.

This was the very same story Noel has heard since his first RIFT championship win.

Back then, Sebastian 'MerryNoMercy' Kun had just finished his contract, and had wanted to retire from Professional Gaming. The squad was in the market for a new Support player for Noel to duo with for the upcoming season. The management had pitched in to bring Xen 'Xenith' Ng, a rookie in their academy team, to pair with Noel.

At first, Noel denied, saying he had better people in mind. However, he was told that the decision was already final, and Xen would be his team's support player for the season. It was then that problems began to arise. Noel had faced chemistry issues with Xen, and could not do well at all, or was even allowed to play every single time he got into a scrim.

The team then discussed to swap Xen over to Mid Lane, and have Grace take over for the Support role.

It worked throughout the season, up until the 2017 RIFT championship tournament. From start to beginning, Xen would not listen to any calls being made by the team, and even though they had made it to finals, they had lost due to Xen's ignorance and blatant disregard for any of the call outs that the team made. Be it if it was to back off from a fight they could not take, disengage from a potential dive threat, or even start an engage for the team to fight in.

It was on that day after heading back to the waiting room, Noel had yelled at Xen, calling him names. Noel was so frustrated that day, that he threatened the management. He would quit the team if Xen was to continue playing for ROG. The choice was given, loose Noel and keep Xen, or remove Xen from the team permanently and keep Noel.

Of course, management saw it Noel's way and removed Xen permanently from ROG International. On that day, Xen threatened Noel saying one day, he would be back to face him as a stronger rival, and when it most mattered, he would clutch a win right under Noel's nose. He would wait for the perfect opportunity to break Noel's mental. He swore it that day.