LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

When DWG's base crystal exploded with Irelia's final auto-attack, the entire arena was instantly engulfed by a detonated nuclear bomb, accompanied by a deafening roar.

The situation in the commentary booth had completely spiraled out of control.

Miller sprang from his chair, his hands clenched into fists, veins bulging on his neck, his voice hoarse with excitement: "A comeback from 0-2 down! EDG was on the brink of defeat, facing the invincible DWG, and they dragged the game into a decisive final game! It was Mozi! It was that man! He showed the world with two unparalleled performances that the king of the LPL has not yet abdicated!"

Rita's eyes were already red: "I don't know what to say... This is legend, this is why we love this game so much! In the most desperate moment, he came back, like a ray of light, piercing through all the darkness! That quadra kill, he wasn't just playing, he was writing poetry! A poem of death for Blade!"

Guan Zeyuan adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses filled with shock and disbelief.

He opened his mouth, but his usual eloquent analysis caught in his throat, ultimately turning into a sigh: "I...I retract all my previous predictions. This match has transcended tactics and data; it's a battle of wills. All I can say is...DWG, you're in danger."

The tens of thousands of spectators at the scene had already gone wild.

The sounds converged into an invisible giant wave, crashing against the dome of the venue as if to overturn it.

The live stream chat was a veritable text-based extravaganza.

"They're really going to come back from 0-2 down to win 3-2!!"

"I cried, what about you? From 0-2 to 2-2, I thought it was a dream!"

"The senior colonel spoke up early! EDG is in the bag, brothers, we can start popping the champagne now!"

"Who said Mozi has retired? He just went to inspect his business empire!"

Showmaker: Times have changed. Su Mo: No, you've come at the wrong time.

"I would call this the greatest individual heroism performance in the history of the World Championship!"

"If EDG can win the fifth game, then Mozi will be a true god!"

……

At the heart of this storm, Su Mo simply and calmly removed his headphones.

He heard his teammates' excited and heavy breathing.

"We won...we won again!" Meiko's voice trembled as he rushed over and gave Su Mo a tight bear hug, so strong it was as if he wanted to meld him into his own body.

"Brother Mozi, that kick of yours... no, that kick of mine, combined with yours, we were both so cool!" Jiejie stammered, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

He knew that the incredible spinning kick wasn't his achievement alone; it was Su Mo's extremely calm "Jiejie, go!" in the voice message that gave him boundless confidence and courage.

Su Mo smiled and said, "Alright, everyone, don't get too excited yet, there's still one more game to go."

His words were like a bucket of cold water, yet they were just right to quell the burning emotions in everyone's hearts.

Yes, it's not over yet.

The most crucial match is yet to come.

They rose and walked backstage under the watchful eyes of the entire audience.

The passageway was dimly lit, with deafening cheers at one end and the unknown leading to the final battle at the other.

As Su Mo passed by DWG's players' bench, his gaze met Showmaker's in mid-air.

The boy, now known as the "new king," no longer had the arrogance and confidence he displayed before the match, nor the frustration and dejection of losing.

His eyes held a kind of burning calm, like a bottomless pool of cold water, beneath which scorching magma surged.

Those eyes seemed to say: You've won two battles, but you haven't won the whole war.

The atmosphere inside EDG's lounge is a blend of ice and fire.

As soon as the team members entered, Abu and the factory manager came to greet them.

Abu was so excited his face turned red. He hugged each of his teammates. When it was Su Mo's turn, he patted Su Mo's back hard and kept saying, "Well done! Well done! You're really something!"

The factory manager walked up to Su Mo, handed him a bottle of water, and smiled faintly: "It's been so long, and your hands are still warm?"

"Just warmed up." Su Mo unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip, and replied with a smile.

"That's fine then." The factory manager nodded, then turned to everyone, his smile fading and his expression turning serious. "Sit down, everyone, and listen to me first. We won two games, that was great, you showed the fighting spirit of the LPL. But now the score is 2-2, not 3-2. The next game is a best-of-one, a do-or-die match, there's no turning back."

The lounge fell silent instantly, everyone sitting up straight, their earlier elation replaced by a solemn focus.

Su Mo placed the water bottle on the table, his gaze sweeping over each of his teammates: "Clearlove is right. From now on, forget the first four games. Let's treat this as our first and last game today. DWG's mentality right now is definitely more terrifying than we imagined. They are a desperate army, beasts ready to fight to the death. We cannot afford to relax in the slightest."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a convincing calmness.

Jiejie and Meiko took a deep breath and nodded vigorously. Even Hope, who needed the most psychological support, had an unusually firm look in her eyes at this moment.

Meanwhile, on the other side, DWG's lounge was deathly silent.

Coach Daeny didn't fly into a rage as people expected; he just stood there silently as the giant screen repeatedly played the footage of Irelia's quadra kill.

Those fluid and skillful maneuvers, those precise and accurate predictions—every replay felt like a knife stabbing into the hearts of every DWG player.

In the room, there were only the occasional soft sounds of a mouse and keyboard being touched.

Canyon had her head down, her hands clasped together, her knuckles white from clenching them. Nuguri, on the other hand, was staring intently at the screen showing her Ornn falling, her lips pressed tightly together.

“Mo…” After a long silence, Showmaker spoke, breaking the suffocating silence. His voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear, “He’s strong, stronger than I imagined…”

Coach Daeny finally moved. He turned off the recording, turned around, and said sharply, "So what? Are you going to give up? Just because of him, you're going to hand over the championship that's within your grasp?"

“No.” Showmaker raised his head, the flame in his eyes reignited, burning brighter than ever before. “Coach, in the next match, leave the counter position to me. I will beat him myself.”

He didn't say "we," he said "I."

At this moment, he shouldered all the pressure and responsibility. This was no longer a simple match; it was a duel where he staked his name as the new king.

Canyon looked up and said to Showmaker, "I'll help you."

Nuguri, BeryL, and Ghost all nodded silently.

There were no grand pronouncements, but the resolute determination to burn one's bridges made the air in the entire lounge seem to freeze.

The short break is over, and the bell for the decisive game is about to ring.

When the two teams emerged from the tunnel again, the atmosphere reached an unprecedented peak.

If the past was a carnival, then now it is a grand pilgrimage.

"EDG! Come on!"

"LPL! Victory is certain!"

The shouts were no longer just scattered names, but converged into a torrent of faith.

Su Mo walked at the front of the group. He could feel the slightly rapid breathing of his teammates behind him, the burning gazes of tens of thousands of spectators, and the mixed atmosphere of "hope" and "tension" in the air.

He walked to his seat, sat down, and put on his headphones.

All the noise from the outside world vanished instantly, and the world fell silent.

On the big screen, the director gave him an extremely long close-up.

His handsome face showed no sign of tension or excitement, only a profound calm, like the calmest sea before a storm.

He gently moved his fingers.

LPL viewers and Summoners worldwide all know this.

The final dance is about to begin.

The countdown to halftime ticked on the screen, each second like a hammer blow to everyone's heart.

The lights in the stadium dimmed, leaving only beams of spotlight sweeping across the audience, illuminating faces filled with anticipation, tension, and fervor.

The earlier roaring shouts gradually subsided, replaced by a deeper, more oppressive buzzing sound.

The buzzing was a symphony of the heartbeats and breaths of tens of thousands of people, like static electricity in the air before a massive storm.

In the commentary booth, the three commentators also began their final pre-battle pep talk.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Miller's voice echoed through the microphone throughout the arena and onto the screens of hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. "Welcome back to the final battle of the 2020 League of Legends World Championship! EDG vs. DWG, Game 5 of the BO5! History is unfolding before our eyes! Will LCK return to glory and reclaim its former supremacy? Or will LPL withstand the pressure and pull off the most incredible comeback in S-series history, coming back from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2?"

"My palms are sweating!" Rita's voice trembled slightly, but was filled with excitement. "No matter the outcome, EDG has proven themselves! Mozi's return is like the most exciting chapter in a manga! Now, all that's missing is the perfect ending!" "I have nothing more to say." Guan Zeyuan took a deep breath, his expression more serious than ever before. "This is a true BO1, a battle where everything is at stake. DWG has no room to retreat; they will pull out all the stops. And EDG, after winning two consecutive points, is riding high. This match will test not only skill but also nerves! Now, let's witness the birth of a legend!"

The chat in the official live stream room has turned into a grand "flag-making ceremony".

"If EDG wins this game, I'll do a handstand while washing my hair on stream! I mean it!"

"If I win, I'll confess to the girl I've had a crush on for three years! If I lose, I'll never watch a game again!"

"I'm making this promise! If EDG wins the championship, I'll give away my treasured Mozi-signed jersey in a raffle!"

"I don't care, as long as I win, I'll never criticize Colonel Guan again in my life!"

"Please, please, come back from 0-2 down to win 3-2! I'd trade ten years of being single for an LPL championship!"

"Stop breastfeeding! Stop breastfeeding! My heart can't take it anymore, let's get started!"

Inside the players' tunnel, the two teams waited quietly.

On DWG's side, Showmaker closed his eyes, frantically reviewing the losses of the first two games in his mind.

Mo's unreasonable playing style was etched into his mind like a brand.

He knew that conventional fighting methods were no longer effective in stopping the man. He had to... defeat him using the methods he was best at.

His fingers were tapping unconsciously, not out of tension, but out of an intense desire for battle.

Inside the EDG tunnel, Su Mo was giving his final instructions.

He looked at Hope, the youngest player on the team whose mentality was most volatile, and calmly said, "Hope, remember, in this game, just treat yourself as a tool. If you can deal damage, then do so; if you can't, then use your skills to survive. Don't get carried away. Surviving is victory."

Finally, his gaze fell on the factory director's face.

The two looked at each other and said nothing.

"Please welcome the contestants to the stage!"

With a loud shout from the staff, the lights focused, and the two teams returned to the stage amidst thunderous applause.

Su Mo walked at the front, and the moment he sat down, all eyes seemed to be on him.

He could feel the Showmaker's gaze, a look that was a mixture of admiration, fighting spirit, and madness.

Su Mo simply nodded slightly in response.

Heroes, cherish heroes.

But tonight, only one can stand until the end.

"Alright! Both players are ready! The draft phase of the decisive game is about to begin!" Miller's voice rose eight octaves.

DWG is on the blue side, and EDG is on the red side.

First round of BP:

DWG chose to ban: Irelia, Pyke, Sett.

"No surprise at all!" Miller said, "DWG directly banned the champions that Mozi played brilliantly in the first two games! They don't want to see any more warriors capable of creating miracles in the top lane!"

EDG Bans: Graves, Lillia, Lucian.

“EDG’s response is also very decisive!” Rita analyzed, “Continuing to block Canyon’s jungle carry and Showmaker’s signature mid lane! This is already a blatant strategy, it’s just a matter of whose champion pool is deeper!”

First round pick:

DWG's first pick: Ornn.

Guan Zeyuan nodded: "A very smart choice! By first picking Ornn on the blue side, Nuguri can guarantee his role in the laning phase and team fights no matter what EDG picks. This is the safest move, and also the one that will make things most difficult for EDG."

EDG's first and second picks: Ezreal, Leona.

“EZ and Leona!” Miller said. “EDG has decided on their bot lane duo first. This duo is strong in lane and flexible enough that it’s not easy to be targeted. Hope’s task this game is clear: to farm steadily.”

DWG's second and third picks: Ashe, Braum.

EDG's third pick: Lee Sin.

Second round of BP:

EDG Ban: Twisted Fate, Galio.

"EDG continues to target the mid lane, not giving Showmaker any chance to roam and provide support, just to force him to go head-to-head with Scout in the mid lane!"

DWG Bans: Crocodile, Jayce.

"On DWG's side, they've banned several typical top lane fighters. They're trying to force Mozi to pick a tank or utility top laner, preventing him from carrying the game like he did in the first two games!"

In the second round of player selection, DWG chose Kindred from four picks.

"Qianjue!" The entire audience erupted in an uproar.

Miller exclaimed, "Canyon's Kindred! This is his signature move! It's rarely seen in the World Championship, but in the LCK, his Kindred is devastating! His ultimate 'Lamb's Breath' perfectly counters EDG's burst damage! DWG's lineup is almost perfect!"

EDG's four picks: Orianna.

"Scout picked Orianna!" Guan Zeyuan analyzed. "This is the most stable mid-lane choice. Although there is pressure against Syndra in lane, he can hold his own, and his role in late-game team fights is far greater than Syndra's. EDG is going to have a late-game team fight against DWG."

Now, all the suspense is focused on the fifth floor of the red side, where EDG will choose their top laner.

On the screen, almost all the usual strong top laners in the selectable champion pool have been banned/picked.

The rest are either pure tanks like Sion and Maokai, or heroes that are not suitable for the current lineup.

What will Brother Mozi choose?

"It feels like I can only get by with a tank."

"Never pick up a tank; picking it is like handing your fate over to your teammates."

In EDG's team voice chat, the coach's voice sounded somewhat urgent: "Mo, play it safe, pick Sion or Malphite, we'll fight team fights."

Su Mo did not answer. His gaze slowly swept across the hero list, finally settling on an unexpected avatar.

He stretched out his finger and tapped it gently.

locking!

When that hero's image appeared on the big screen, the whole world seemed to be muted.

The silence lasted for a full three seconds.

Three seconds later, the stadium erupted in a roar that was more intense and unbelievable than ever before!
"Fuck!!"

"Am I seeing things???"

In the commentary booth, Miller almost jumped out of his chair; his voice trembled.
"Aatrox! In the decisive game, facing DWG's perfect lineup, Mozi pulled out a champion that's been abandoned by the meta... Aatrox!!"

Rita's eyes were filled with disbelief. "In this version, Aatrox has no resurrection, he's fragile, and extremely vulnerable to crowd control. DWG has Ornn, Syndra, Ashe, and Kindred, each of whom is his counter! But he still confidently picked him! Mozi is crazy!"

“No…no…” Guan Zeyuan stared intently at the screen, as if trying to see through Su Mo’s thoughts. “He’s not crazy. He’s going to use the most unreasonable methods to shatter DWG’s perfect defense! He’s telling everyone that League of Legends is never just a game about team composition! He’s going to…deliver them from their slumps!”

Whether they were LPL fans or LCK supporters, players or viewers, everyone was excited at this moment.

This move with Sword Demon has nothing to do with winning or losing; it's all about a player's pride and courage!

Showmaker's pupils contracted sharply as he looked at the figure wielding a giant sword on the screen.

Then, he spoke softly, "I want Syndra."

The final lineup has now been confirmed.

Blue side DWG: Top laner Ornn, jungler Kindred, mid laner Syndra, ADC Ashe, support Braum.

Red team EDG: Top laner Aatrox, jungler Lee Sin, mid laner Orianna, ADC Ezreal, support Leona.

"This is... the final battle." Miller stared at the screen, his voice solemn. (End of Chapter)