LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

The golden rain continued to fall, transforming the entire stage into a magnificent sanctuary.

After the host, Yu Shuang, stepped off the stage, the staff quickly and orderly set up the awards podium.

A middle-aged white man in a sharp suit, with a refined demeanor, stepped forward. He was Nicolo Laurent, the CEO of Riot Games.

His face wore a genuine smile, and his eyes held heartfelt admiration for the team that had created a miracle.

“Congratulations, EDG!” Nicolo said in his French-accented English, and the applause erupted again.

He took the first championship medal from the tray of the hostess beside him and walked to the front of the line, in front of Su Mo.

The medal, crafted from pure silver, was heavy and featured an exquisite Summoner's Cup relief at its center, surrounded by the theme patterns of this year's S-series, with "WORLD CHAMPION 2020" engraved below. Nicolo placed the medal's ribbon around Su Mo's neck with both hands. The medal's cool touch, penetrating the thin team uniform, pressed against his chest; its weight was the weight of dreams.

"An incredible performance, Mo." Nicolo grasped Su Mo's hand and shook it vigorously. "You showed the world the true spirit of this game."

Su Mo nodded slightly: "Thank you."

Next up is Meiko.

When Nicolo pinned the medal on his neck, Tian Ye's fingers were still trembling slightly. Looking down at the honor on his chest, tears welled up in his eyes again. He bowed deeply to Nicolo, his voice hoarse, and said, "Thank you."

When it was Scout's turn, the veteran appeared much calmer. He bowed respectfully as he accepted his fourth honor.

Jiejie, on the other hand, grinned widely, smiling like a child who had just received a beloved toy.

The moment the medal was hung around his neck, he couldn't help but touch it with his hand; his pure joy was infectious.

Hope was still somewhat dazed until the medal was hung around his neck. Only then did he seem to wake from a dream and say "thank you" to Nicolo, with a shy yet happy smile on his face.

Coach Abu and the factory manager also went on stage one after another to receive their honors.

When the factory manager put on the medal he received as a coach, he looked up at the dome, his eyes flashing with countless thoughts, as if he saw himself many years ago chasing his dreams on the field.

The awards ceremony has ended, but the climax is yet to come.

Yu Shuang walked back to the center of the stage, holding a golden card in her hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I know what you've all been waiting for!" Her voice was full of suspense and passion. "After five thrilling matches, we not only witnessed the birth of a champion, but also the greatness of a player! He was called upon in the most critical moment for his team; he delivered a godlike performance with two completely different heroes; he ended the game with an incredible pentakill in the decisive match! He is... the winner of the 2020 League of Legends World Championship Most Valuable Player—FMVP!"

As the drumbeats began, the camera on the big screen scanned the faces of the five EDG players one by one.

Although everyone knew the truth, this moment still made everyone's heart race.

Yu Shuang took a deep breath and shouted that name with all her might:

"He is—EDG-Mo!"

"Oh!"

"yeah!"

The cheers erupted like a volcanic eruption, completely igniting the entire stadium!

Surrounded by a golden rain of light and her teammates, Su Mo walked to the center of the stage.

A FMVP trophy, more significant than the championship medal and shaped like a burning flame, awaits him.

Nicolo personally handed the FMVP trophy to Su Mo, solemnly saying, "The world will remember this. Congratulations, the undeniable MVP."

Su Mo accepted the trophy and bowed deeply to the audience.

"Brother Mozi, your fourth FMVP trophy—you've made history, a feat no one can match." Yu Shuang handed him the microphone. "Right now, is there anything you'd like to say?"

Su Mo held the trophy, feeling its cool metallic texture. He was silent for a moment before speaking:

"Actually, I don't think the FMVP belongs to me alone." His voice was clearly heard throughout the stadium through the speakers. "Without Meiko's determined look when we were down 0-2, without Scout's perfect ultimate in the final game, without Jiejie's earth-shattering kick, and without Hope holding off the pressure in the front row, I wouldn't have been able to win the game."

He paused, then turned his gaze to his teammates behind him.

"Therefore, this trophy belongs not only to me, but also to every EDG player, the coaching staff, the club, and to every one of you who cheered for us in front of the screen. We are all FMVP."

After he finished speaking, he bowed to the audience again.

There were no grand pronouncements, only the most sincere gratitude and humility.

But this humility is more regal than any boastful words.

The applause at the scene was long and enthusiastic.

With the final group photo of the champions, the grand awards ceremony finally came to a close. The EDG players, guided by staff, left the stage that belonged to them in glory.

As they walked through the long tunnel and pushed open the door to the backstage lounge, a completely different world instantly overwhelmed them.

"The champion is back!!!"

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Two loud bangs followed, and countless champagne bubbles and ribbons erupted, soaking the five people who had just entered. But their smiles only grew brighter.

Abu and the factory manager laughed like two 300-pound children.

Club owner Ed Zhu also attended in person. He was so excited that his face turned red, and he hugged each of the people who had brought him such glory.

"Great! Excellent! Xiao Mo, you really didn't disappoint me!" Ed Zhu patted Su Mo's shoulder hard, his voice trembling slightly. "Bonus! Doubled! No, tripled! What do you want? Tell me! I'll give you everything!"

"The boss is so generous!" Jiejie wiped the champagne off her face and shouted excitedly.

The lounge had become a sea of ​​joy.

Everyone sprayed each other with champagne, releasing the pressure and tension of the past few months in that moment.

Meiko hid in a corner, took out her phone, and dialed her home number.

As soon as the call connected, he couldn't hold back any longer. Between sobs and laughter, he said, "Mom...we won...we're the champions..."

On the other end of the phone, I heard my mother's voice, filled with joy and choked with emotion.

Jiejie excitedly scrolled through Baidu Tieba and Weibo on her phone, grinning from ear to ear as she read posts and comments like "Jiehuang's kick has ignited the entire summer!" and "The world's number one kick!"

Hope was a little overwhelmed by the scene. Su Mo walked over, handed him a bottle of water, and said with a smile, "How are you feeling, world champion?"

Hope took the water, nodded heavily, and her eyes shone with an unprecedented light: "Brother Mozi, thank you."

Just then, a staff member knocked on the door and came in, reminding them that they needed to go to the mixed zone for media interviews.

The revelry has only just come to a temporary end.

The mixed zone was a long corridor packed with journalists from all over the world. A cacophony of cameras and flashes filled the air, and questions in various languages ​​rose and fell in a noisy yet enthusiastic atmosphere.

The contestants were interviewed in batches.

Scout, a veteran South Korean player, was surrounded by a group of South Korean reporters.

"Scout, as a Korean player in the LPL, you've once again defeated an LCK team to win the championship. What are your thoughts?"

Scout calmly replied, "First and foremost, I am an EDG player, and winning for my team is my only thought. LCK is strong, but this year's championship belongs to LPL."

Jiejie and Hope were surrounded by several mainstream media outlets in China. "Jiejie, what were you thinking when you did that spinning kick in the fifth inning? Was it pre-planned?"

Jiejie scratched her head and said with a smile, "My mind went blank at the time. I just heard Brother Mozi shouting for help, so I rushed over. When I saw an opportunity, I kicked him. I didn't expect it to be so effective."

The reporters around him burst into laughter.

Finally, when Su Mo appeared, the entire interview area instantly erupted in cheers.

Almost all the reporters rushed over and surrounded him.

A renowned esports journalist from Europe, speaking fluent English, secured the first question: "Mo, one last question, why Aatrox? When everyone thought that champion was unplayable, you used him to end the game. Was it a tactical choice, or... an artistic expression?"

Su Mo looked at him, thought for a moment, and replied in equally fluent English, "Perhaps both. But more importantly, I chose him because of his story. Aatrox was a god who was abandoned by the gods, yet refused to die and declared war on the entire world. I think that resonated with our state of mind at the time."

This philosophically insightful answer momentarily stunned the reporters present, before erupting into even more heated discussion and the sound of camera shutters clicking.

"So what did you say to the Showmaker?" another reporter pressed.

“I told him he was very strong,” Su Mo said calmly. “He is one of the best mid laners of this era, but one person’s strength cannot win a war. League of Legends is ultimately a game for five people.”

Finally, a veteran domestic journalist, who had watched Su Mo grow up, asked the question that everyone was concerned about:

"Brother Mozi, is this return a temporary farewell or a new beginning? Will we see you on the field again in the future?"

Su Mo looked at him, at the expectant faces behind him, and at the countless flashing cameras.

He was silent for a moment, then gave a meaningful smile:

"The world of League of Legends is vast, who can say for sure?"

He did not give a clear answer, but left everyone with endless speculation.

After the interview, Su Mo returned to the lounge under the escort of staff.

When Su Mo and his teammates returned backstage, a war without gunpowder had just begun in another dimension.

EDG's team manager, Abu, is now like a general strategizing behind the scenes. His phone screen is brightly lit, and his fingers are flying across the screen as he directs the club's publicity department's "all-out attack."

"Quick! Official Weibo! Post the photo of us holding the trophy first! Use our prepared Plan A for the caption: 'Four-star glory, legend never dies, we are the champions!' Add plenty of exclamation marks, and make sure the emotion is at its peak!"

"Simultaneously on Twitter and Facebook! Be sure to include a GIF of Mozi getting a pentakill, so they know who the real king is!"

"Video team! Cut Jiejie's kick, Scout's ultimate, and Mozi's flanking maneuver into 15-second short videos, add the most exciting background music, and distribute them across all platforms! I want all the Summoners in the world to be so excited they can't sleep tonight!"

Abramovich now has experience winning championships, and he can easily implement measures one by one, which are quickly announced.

Soon after, EDG's official Weibo account was flooded with millions of "We are the champions" messages. The photo of Su Mo holding the trophy high was forwarded over a million times in just a few minutes, and the comment section became a sea of ​​fan celebration.

Similarly, on the international internet, the hashtags #EDGWIN and #Mo_Is_God unstoppably topped the global trending charts. Countless overseas players, commentators, and esports media outlets shared the video of the Aatrox pentakill, adding the highest praise such as "UNBELIEVABLE," "LEGENDARY," and "THE GOAT."

The contestants themselves also became the center of this celebration.

Jiejie held his phone, watching his own roundhouse kick highlights over and over again. The comments below were all "Jiejie is awesome" and "World's best kick".

He found it fascinating and enjoyable.

Meiko was scrolling through the private messages and comments from his fans. Seeing the words of encouragement that had been cheering them on since the score was 0-2, tears welled up in his eyes again. He liked each and every one of the encouraging fans.

Hope stared in amazement at her rapidly increasing number of followers, constantly refreshing the page, muttering to herself, "Am I... really this popular?"

Su Mo's phone was already low on battery due to too many message notifications.

He opened WeChat and saw congratulatory messages from almost half of the LPL players, including UZI, Jackeylove, and ZuoShou.

Rita's message was the simplest and most direct: a celebratory emoji accompanied by three words: "Waiting for you~"

Su Mo smiled, locked his phone, and put it back in his pocket.

Abu glanced at the excited crowd, waved his hand, and said, "Everyone, the boss said he's paying for tonight's expenses. How about we splurge a little?"

"it is good!"

"Oh yeah!"

The crowd immediately cheered.

Clearly, they're heading off to a victory celebration banquet.

That evening, EDG Club lavishly booked out a top-tier private club in Pudong, Shanghai.

Beneath a huge crystal chandelier, a long dining table was laden with exquisite dishes and top-quality champagne.

Today, not only EDG staff and players were present, but also many sponsors, LPL officials, and even management and players from other teams, such as UZI and Zz1tai. The entire banquet hall became a grand gathering of the LPL family.

Club owner Ed Zhu stood in the main seat, his face flushed, and raised his glass, his voice booming:
"Today, I won't say much! I'll just announce three things! First, the year-end bonuses for all team members and coaching staff will be multiplied by ten! Second, the 'return bonus' for Mozi will be eight figures, and he can fill it out himself! Third, all the revenue from the championship skins will go to the players and coaching staff, not a single penny from the club!"

"Boss is awesome!!!"

"Long live EDG!!!"

Cheers and applause erupted as the contestants excitedly clinked glasses and downed their champagne in one gulp.

The boss's words directly increased their income by at least several hundred thousand to several million, since the revenue from championship skins is quite substantial.

The celebration banquet was lively and extravagant.

Sponsor representatives stepped forward to toast Su Mo and the contestants, their words filled with expressions of interest in cooperation.

Once there were fewer people around, UZI walked over to Su Mo with his wine glass and clinked glasses with him: "Brother Mo, to be honest, I was there today and I almost wanted to go up and play a game with him. Your Sword Demon was just too unfair."

Su Mo smiled and said, "If you were to make a comeback, the bot lane would be even more interesting."

"Come on, being your opponent is too much pressure." UZI shook his head, then said seriously, "But thank you. Thank you for keeping this championship in the LPL."

The factory manager also came over with a cup of tea. He looked at Su Mo with complicated emotions in his eyes: "Before, I was the one who sheltered you from the wind and rain. Now, you've come back and created a safe haven for all of us. Xiao Mo, you've really... grown up."

Su Mo's lips twitched: "What are you pretending for, you old fool! Trying to take advantage of me, huh?"

"Hehe, you figured it out." The factory manager didn't blush or skip a beat, and wasn't embarrassed at being exposed. He just had a drink with Su Mo alone.

After that, Su Mo ignored everything and began to eat and drink excessively.

People would occasionally try to get close to him, but he would just brush them off.

After all, he was really hungry.

After taking a few bites, Su Mo suddenly remembered a question.

So he stood up, walked to the side, picked up his phone, and made a call.

A moment later, the call connected, and Su Mo said, "Sister Ta Zi, come over for dinner. I was too busy and forgot to call you."

Yes, the person he was talking to was Rita.

Rita's coquettish voice soon came through the phone: "You heartless bastard, give me the address!" (End of Chapter)