LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

After the interview, when Su Mo stepped off the stage and returned to the backstage dressing room, he was greeted by his already excited teammates and coaching staff.

"Brother Mozi, that last line was so cool!" Jiejie was the first to rush over, chattering away, "What is vision? This is vision! I feel like my mentality will improve a level when I play ranked matches from now on!"

Meiko also sincerely said, "Seriously, Mozi, I feel like you've redefined the meaning of the word 'professional player'."

Su Mo felt a little embarrassed by their flattery and waved his hand, "Alright, stop bragging. I'm hungry. What about the celebration banquet?"

"Let's go! Everything's ready!" Abu clapped his hands with a laugh. "We won't leave until we're drunk!"

……

That evening, the entire EDG team held a celebration banquet at a high-end club.

Meanwhile, in the online world, Su Mo's interview sparked a massive media storm.

The hashtag #IWantToSeeWhereTheLimitsOfThisGame# suddenly appeared at the top of Weibo's trending topics with an unstoppable momentum, followed by a deep red "Explosive" sign.

This statement is being discussed on major esports forums, video websites, and even some social media platforms that have nothing to do with esports.

“I used to think Mo was just a gaming genius, but now I realize he’s a philosopher.”

"This is the true spirit of esports! It's not about prize money or fame, but purely about exploration and passion!"

"I'm a fan now! From today onwards, I'm a die-hard fan of Mo Shen! He's not playing games, he's playing art!"

Even the LPL official team got involved, editing the interview video, adding rousing music and footage of EDG winning championships over the years, and releasing it on various official channels with the title: "[A Tribute to Legends, A Tribute to the Pioneers of the LPL]".

Meanwhile, the developer of Stardew Valley, the other "protagonist" of the incident, woke up the next morning to find his game's sales skyrocketing and player reviews pouring in, and was plunged into deep confusion.

They posted a tweet on their official Twitter account with a wry smile: "We don't know what happened in the East, but we sincerely thank the Chinese player who likes to push the limits in our game."

This interaction added even more color to the carnival.

……

After the commotion subsided, life returned to normal.

EDG's summer season continues with an unstoppable momentum.

Facing the various powerhouses in the LPL, whether they are established teams or rising dark horses, none can shake this majestic mountain.

Saint Gunner became increasingly confident as he played in the starting position, and EDG swept all opponents with overwhelming force, achieving a winning streak.

Su Mo was happy to have some free time. Apart from occasionally stepping in to "stretch his muscles" in the crucial BO3 final game, he spent most of his time on the bench studying the handheld games he had just bought, or chatting casually with Rita and Luo Xin on his phone.

That afternoon, there was no match, and the club gave the whole team a half-day off.

Su Mo was lying on his bed in the base dormitory, wearing headphones and intently watching a martial arts movie.

The phone screen lit up; it was a video call request from Rita.

"Hello?" Su Mo answered the call, and the screen showed Rita and Luo Xin's pretty faces close together. They seemed to be in a uniquely decorated coffee shop.

"Busy guy, you've finally decided to video chat?" Rita teased. "We thought you were so engrossed in farming that you'd forgotten about us mere mortals."

"No games, I'll catch up on some movies," Su Mo replied lazily.

"Brother Mozi~" Luo Xin waved her hand from the side and said with a grin, "We've seen a lot of people online analyzing your interview from that day, calling you an 'e-sports philosopher,' how do you feel about that?"

"They seem to have a lot of free time," Su Mo chuckled.

"Let's get down to business," Rita cleared her throat, her expression turning serious. "Next weekend, the last week of the regular season, are you playing against RNG?"

"I think so," Su Mo didn't remember the schedule very clearly. "What's wrong?"

“I was commentating on that match that day, and Sister Camel was also in charge of the post-match interviews,” Rita said. “After the match, we didn’t go back to the commentary apartment; we went straight to your place. We’ve decided to continue taking care of your food, clothing, and accommodation until the playoffs begin, so you can enter the playoffs in top condition!”

This suggestion made Su Mo raise an eyebrow.

“Sure,” he agreed without hesitation, “then I’ll have to trouble you.”

"Then it's settled!" Luo Xin excitedly made the decision. "Brother Mozi, let us know in advance what you want to eat, and we'll prepare it for you!"

After hanging up the video call, Su Mo looked at the two girls' bright smiling faces on his phone screen, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

This feeling of being remembered and cared for isn't so bad.

……

A week flies by.

The LPL Summer Split regular season has come to a close.

The league's schedule seems to be a script of fate, placing the most talked-about and entertaining matchups on this last day.

EDG vs. RNG!

This was an "e-sports Spring Festival Gala" that transcended victory and defeat itself.

These two teams represent two different eras of glory in the LPL and boast the league's largest fan base.

Every time they collide, it's an earthquake of online traffic and a carnival of sentiment.

Before the match even started, the area outside the Shanghai Hongqiao Tiandi Performing Arts Center was already packed with fans of both teams, and various support materials transformed the venue into a sea of ​​red and black.

In the commentary booth, it was still the same combination of "Haier Brothers" and Rita.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the final day of the regular season!" Miller's voice was filled with excitement. "What we are about to witness is the ultimate showdown that everyone has been waiting for! EDG, with a 16-game winning streak and already secured first place in the regular season, will face off against our LPL's veteran powerhouse, Royal Never Give Up!"

Wawa was filled with emotion: "Yes! Although this game will not affect the final ranking of the regular season, it is a matter of honor and momentum for both teams! Especially at this critical juncture when the playoffs are about to begin, whoever wins this final game will enter the more brutal playoff journey with greater confidence!"

Rita then focused her attention on the players: "Today, in EDG's starting lineup, we saw that familiar yet fearsome name—Mo! Facing RNG, EDG chose to bring out their strongest form from the very first game!"

This news instantly brought the atmosphere at the scene and in the live broadcast room to its peak.

The atmosphere in RNG's preparation rest room was serious.

Head coach Tabe is making final tactical arrangements.

“We all know that the key to playing against EDG lies in how to deal with Mo.” Tabe’s expression was extremely serious. “The conventional counter-strategy is no longer effective. So, we’ll try a different approach today.”

He looked at his top laner, Xiaohu, who had made a magnificent transformation from "Tiger General" to "Tiger Supreme General" in the Spring Split.

"Xiaohu, today in the top lane, I need you to pick your most confident long-range champion, Lucian or Jayce. Don't think about peacefully farming with him, suppress him from level one! Use your strongest laning ability to harass him and force him to make mistakes!"

Then, he looked at jungler Wei: "Wei, you only have one task today, which is to protect the top lane at all costs! Go there at level three, go there again at level four, and gank him like a super minion! We're going to use the most unreasonable methods to tell them that RNG is not afraid of you!"

This is an extremely bold, even somewhat insane, tactic.

Use your strongest spear to meet the opponent's strongest shield head-on.

"Understood!" A fierce fighting spirit ignited in Xiao Hu and Wei's eyes.

On the EDG side, the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

"Oh, so the other side is determined to have a chaotic top lane brawl with me?" Su Mo said with great interest as he looked at the tactical predictions handed to him by the coaching staff.

“Very likely,” the factory manager analyzed. “That’s just RNG’s style. They like to play the most intense and bloodiest matches. Xiaohu’s playstyle has become very aggressive since he transitioned to top lane, and Wei also likes to make plays around the top side of the map.” “That’s perfect,” Su Mo stretched. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a challenging laning phase. My hands are getting rusty.”

"So what do you want to do this round?" Abu asked.

"Whatever," Su Mo's lips curled into a playful smile. "Since they want to fight, then let's fight them to our hearts' content."

At 7:00 PM sharp, amidst thunderous cheers, both teams took to the stage.

The first game of the BO3 has officially begun!
EDG is on the blue side, and RNG is on the red side.

During the business proposal (BP) phase, the game between the two sides was already quite intense.

As Tabe had predicted, RNG used their first three bans on Fryegor, Thresh, and Aphelios, clearly targeting EDG's strong mid-jungle and bot lane.

EDG, on the other hand, banned Lee Sin, Xin Zhao, and LeBlanc, also targeting RNG's mid-jungle rhythm.

In the first round of player selection, EDG immediately picked Gwen, the answer to the current meta pick.

The moment the girl with scissors was locked on, the whole audience erupted in uproar!

"Gwen!" Miller exclaimed. "Mo has picked this top lane carry that's always banned or picked in matches! Once this champion gets farmed up, his damage output in late-game team fights is devastating! Besides, everyone knows how good Mo is."

As expected, Xiaohu locked in his signature champion from the Spring Split on the second floor – Lucian, the Purifier!

"Lucian!" Wawa exclaimed excitedly, "Xiaohu has picked Lucian! He's going to go head-to-head with you in lane! This is a head-on clash between two of the LPL's top offensive top laners! Let's see if Xiaohu can gain an advantage against Mozi today."

Amid cheers from the audience, the lineups of both sides gradually became clear.

The final lineup is confirmed:
Blue team EDG:
Top Lane: Gwen, the nimble doll

Jungle: Diana, the Moon Queen
Mid Lane: Ryze, the Rune Mage

Archer: Aphelios, the Sorcerer of the Crescent Moon

Support: Thresh, the Chain Warden

RNG (Red Team):
Top Lane: Lucian, the Purifier (Xiaohu)
Jungler: Jarvan IV, the Demacian Prince (Wei)
Mid Lane: Twisted Fate - Cryin
Marksman: Kalista, the Spear of Vengeance (GALA)
Support: Leona (Ming), the Dawn Goddess
"The lineups for both sides are now finalized!" Miller gave his final analysis. "EDG has chosen a three-core lineup that focuses on late-game power: Gwen, Ryze, and Aphelios—each one capable of taking over the game! RNG, on the other hand, has maximized their strength in 'mid-jungle-support synergy'! Jarvan IV, Twisted Fate, and Leona—three point-and-click champions. Their goal is very clear: to break through EDG's laning phase through constant ganks in the early to mid-game!"

Rita's beautiful eyes sparkled: "The key to this match lies in the top lane! Can Xiaohu's Lucian suppress Mo's Gwen in the early game? Can Wei's Jarvan IV deliver the fatal blow to the top lane before Jiejie's Diana can react? This will be the ultimate showdown between spear and shield!"

With the system's female voice saying "Welcome to Summoner's Rift," the match officially began!
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the minion wave in the top lane, like searchlights.

At level one, Xiaohu's Lucian demonstrated the dominance of a top LPL top laner. Instead of helping the jungler, he rushed to the lane immediately, positioning himself before the minion wave converged, and using his long range advantage to constantly poke Gwen with auto-attacks. Each auto-attack was accompanied by the crisp sound of his passive "Holy Light Silver Bullet".

Su Mo's Gwen, on the other hand, appeared unusually calm.

He didn't rush to trade blows; instead, he calmly stood behind the minions, constantly adjusting his position to avoid Lucian's Q skill's minion-piercing damage.

He didn't miss any last hits while keeping his health at a relatively healthy level.

“Xiaohu is playing very aggressively!” Rita said quickly. “He wants to tell you in the most direct way that I’m in charge of this lane! But Mo’s ability to withstand pressure is too strong. Every move he makes is like it’s been measured with a ruler. He can always minimize Xiaohu’s energy consumption.”

Xiaohu relentlessly pushed the minion wave back to EDG's tower.

At two minutes and forty seconds, both top laners reached level two.

Meanwhile, the director's camera keenly captured that RNG's jungler Wei, after clearing the red and blue buffs, did not choose to farm his own lower jungle, but instead directly controlled Jarvan IV to silently sneak into the river bush in the top lane.

"Wei is here! He didn't even kill the frog, he came straight in before level three! RNG's tactics are executed too decisively!" Wawa's voice suddenly rose.

In RNG's team voice chat, Wei's voice was short and powerful: "Tiger, it's time to go in!"

"understand!"

Little Tiger understood immediately and began his performance.

He deliberately took a step forward, pretending to use his E skill to slide up and harass, creating a very tempting opening.

Su Mo's Gwent was still last-hitting minions under the tower, seemingly oblivious to the impending danger.

It's now!

Wei's prince has made a move!
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately unleashed a double EQ combo from the bushes!

The Demacian banner descended from the sky, and the prince's figure transformed into a golden lightning bolt, charging straight towards Gwen beneath the tower! That banner, symbolizing Demacia's glory, now seemed like the scythe of death, about to hurl Gwen to hell!
"The prince's banner is positioned perfectly! Mo isn't reacting... Huh?!"

Miller's exclamation abruptly stopped.

Just before the prince's spear was about to touch Gwen's body, a burst of golden light suddenly erupted from the blue and white figure!

flash!

Su Mo didn't even turn around. With a flash to the side and behind, he moved with an almost prophetic speed, narrowly missing the deadly spear tip!

"He dodged it! My God! What kind of reaction speed is that?! He didn't even see the prince's men, that's a blind-sight EQ combo!" Miller exclaimed excitedly.

Wei did not give up after his first plan failed.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and he decisively followed with Flash, applying a W skill to slow her down. Together with Xiaohu, who had already slid forward, the damage from the two of them poured down on Gwen like a tidal wave!

Su Mo's Gwent's health dropped rapidly, the health bar was dwindling at a visible speed, and the alarm sounded shrilly. It looked like only one-third of her health remained!

RNG fans are ready to erupt in cheers!
However, at that moment, a bright moonlight shone like a ghost from the bushes behind EDG's turret!

"Jiejie is doing a reverse squat!" Rita screamed.

It turns out that EDG had already figured out RNG's tactics!
After clearing her upper jungle, Jiejie's Diana didn't choose to return to base. Instead, she stayed there, waiting for her prey to walk into the trap!

Diana used her Q skill, Crescent Strike, on the prince, then used her E skill to close the distance, and activated her W skill, Pale Waterfall. Three silver orbs exploded instantly, reducing the prince's health, who was already tanking the tower, to below half!

The 2v2 in the top lane erupted instantly!
Xiaohu was shocked to see this and was forced to abandon the pursuit of the low-health Gwen, turning back to help his jungler.

But after creating some distance, Su Mo immediately activated his W ability, which he had been holding for a long time, to counterattack!

Go up and team up with Jiejie to deal damage to the Prince.

The prince just tanked a tower attack, and his health is very low.

Under the combined fire of the two, he was quickly turned into a corpse.

First Blood!

Su Mo got his first blood!

After the prince's death, Su Mo and Jie Jie unleashed all their anger on Little Tiger Lucian.

Xiaohu used Flash and fled in panic.

But Jiejie's Diana relentlessly pursued him, and finally, in front of RNG's tower, she used her last Q skill to take his life!
Jiejie also got a kill.

"We won! EDG pulled off a perfect 2-for-0!" Wawa slammed his fist on the table excitedly. "A textbook counter-gank! They not only perfectly neutralized RNG's most crucial and fatal offensive, but also counter-killed RNG's top and jungle! Now, Xiaohu's Lucian has no advantage in lane, and he even has to be careful of Mozi's counter-attack!"

The RNG training area was deathly silent. (End of Chapter)