LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

"Brother Mo, you look so handsome today!" As soon as Luo Xin sat down, she looked at Su Mo with starry eyes, her tone full of admiration.

Rita was more direct. She picked up the serving chopsticks, took a piece of freshly cooked beef, carefully rolled it in the dipping sauce, and held it directly to Su Mo's lips: "Here, this is your reward."

The two's natural and affectionate behavior left Meiko and the others at the same table speechless with envy, their mouths practically watering.

"Ahem," Meiko pushed up her glasses and deliberately spoke loudly, "Brother Mozi, isn't this treatment a bit too much? We single guys can't stand this!"

With beautiful women present, the atmosphere at the dinner table became even more lively, and everyone started chatting and boasting.

"If you ask me, the most crucial moment today was that Lee Sin in the third game!" Jiejie took a sip of beer and started bragging. "If it weren't for my decisive tower dive in the mid lane that disrupted their rhythm, how would Mozi have had the chance to reap the rewards later? That play of mine was called a strategic sacrifice, you know?"

Upon hearing this, Scout silently picked up a piece of shrimp paste and retorted, "You almost got killed instantly, you gave away your Flash, and I got the kill. We both have a bright future."

"Hahahaha!" The whole audience burst into laughter.

The factory manager also picked up his glass and joined the boasting: "You youngsters are still a bit green. Back in my day, when I was jungling, ganking bot lane at level two and getting kills was just routine! But seriously, Mozi,"

One sentence caused the entire audience to burst into laughter again.

The dinner party continued late into the night amidst delicious food, fine wine, and relaxed banter.

Everyone chatted about interesting things that happened during the regular season and about their upcoming opponents in the finals, creating a lively atmosphere.

This is the calmest harbor before the storm.

Because everyone knows that when they step onto the field again, they will face the ultimate battle that will determine the outcome of the entire season.

The steam rising from the hot pot restaurant made everyone's cheeks slightly flushed, a mixture of alcohol and the joy of victory, bringing the atmosphere to its peak.

"Seriously, Mozi," Meiko pushed up his glasses, emboldened by the alcohol, "what are you planning to do in the finals against FPX?"

The moment the question was asked, the noisy private room fell silent.

Their opponent in the finals is another team that fought its way out of the winners' bracket and also demonstrated strong dominance in the regular season—FPX.

A team with Doinb as its absolute core, employing an unconventional playstyle, and adept at 4v2 and even 5v1 ganks.

Su Mo slowly swallowed the tripe in his mouth before raising his head amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd: "Let's play against FPX..."

He drawled out his words, whetting everyone's appetite, and then slowly said, "It depends on what Nuguri wants to do. I'm fine with anything. I can play anything."

"puff--"

Jiejie looked at Su Mo with a mix of amusement and exasperation: "Brother, it has to be you. If you have the ability, then go for it!"

Su Mo shrugged, looking completely matter-of-fact: "If he plays a tank, I'll play a champion that can scale; if he plays a warrior, I'll play a champion that requires skill. Is there a problem?"

There's really no way to refute this.

Because Su Mo has proven to everyone, with a perfect regular season and two rounds of devastating playoffs, that his hero pool is unfathomably deep.

His strength is far ahead.

Abu glanced at everyone and said, "Alright, alright, we'll go back and work on the finals tactics later. Today, let's talk about fun and not work! Come on, let's drink!"

The dinner party continued late into the night amidst laughter and cheerful conversation.

Most of the team members were slightly tipsy and returned to the base one after another in the cars arranged by the club.

Su Mo, on the other hand, simply took a taxi to take Rita and Luo Xin back.

"Are you under pressure in the finals?" Rita asked softly, turning her head to the side in the car.

"There's no pressure, just play your own game well," Su Mo said.

Luo Xin also analyzed: "But FPX is really strong, especially Doinb. He is so good at roaming, it feels like his head is full of unconventional strategies."

"Yes, she's quite strong." Su Mo nodded, acknowledging his strength. Then, a confident smile curved his lips. "But, no matter how strong she is, can she be stronger than me?"

"That's true."

"That's true."

The two said in unison.

Yes, as long as this man is there, EDG's top lane will always be the most unbreakable anchor.

Soon, the three of them arrived at their destination.

Back home, Su Mo took two bottles of mineral water from the refrigerator and handed them to them, then collapsed onto the sofa in the living room like a cat that had run out of energy.

Rita looked at his lazy appearance, shook her head helplessly, and then skillfully walked into the kitchen to boil water and make tea.

Luo Xin, like a diligent little bee, began tidying up the snack wrappers and game controllers scattered on the table, humming an off-key tune.

Soon, the aroma of tea filled the air.

The three sat on the sofa, watching a movie playing on the huge projection screen, chatting casually.

Outside the window is the dazzling metropolis, while inside is a warm and tranquil atmosphere.

At this moment, there was no noise of the competition, only three young people enjoying a moment of peace in their own little world.

……

The following week was the final preparation period for the LPL before the finals, and the atmosphere was so tense that it felt like the air itself had frozen.

For Su Mo, however, it was a leisurely time that Rita and Luo Xin had arranged perfectly.

In the early morning, he no longer wakes up naturally, but is awakened by the enticing aroma of food.

"Brother Mozi, wake up! I made you seafood porridge and custard buns today!" Luo Xin's clear voice came from the kitchen.

Su Mo rubbed his sleepy eyes as he walked out of the room, where he was greeted by a table of sumptuous and nutritious breakfast.

In the morning, Rita arranged what she called "feel-keeping training".

“No ranked games today,” Rita said seriously, holding a notebook. “I’ve done some research, and high-intensity ranked games before the finals can easily lead to a fixed mindset. Let’s play something else today.”

She turned on her computer, but instead of the League of Legends interface, the screen displayed a VR game called "Beat Saber".

"Work-life balance, you know?" Rita proudly waved her finger. "This can both improve your reaction speed and relax your mind."

"I think you just want to play around," Su Mo said helplessly.

"Hehe, are you going to play or not!"

"Play, play, play." Su Mo looked at her with doting eyes.

So, throughout the morning, Su Mo's e-sports room was filled with dynamic music and the crisp sound of lightsabers cutting through blocks.

He played with Rita...

Luo Xin occasionally joined in.

The afternoon is a time for complete relaxation. The three of them will snuggle together on the sofa, watch an old movie, or simply do nothing at all, just listen to music and play on their phones.

Sunlight streamed in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden dappled patterns on the floor. The scene was serene and peaceful, as if even time itself had slowed down.

EDG teammates would occasionally send messages, their words always tinged with a sour envy.

Jiejie: ​​"Brother Mozi, help! The factory manager and Abu are dragging us into meetings and debriefings every day, I'm about to throw up! How are things on your end? What are your wives cooking for today?"

Su Mo would casually take a picture of Luo Xin's freshly prepared exquisite afternoon tea and send it to her, along with two words: "Not bad."

This message was enough to make Jiejie in the base wail for half a day.

This leisurely and warm atmosphere stands in stark contrast to the tense standoff outside, where a storm is brewing.

Online discussions about this LPL finals have already reached a fever pitch.

On one side is EDG, a team that won all its regular season games and swept both rounds of the playoffs, possessing godlike skills.

Meanwhile, in the eye of the storm, inside EDG's training room, the final tactical meeting was underway.

“We have thoroughly studied FPX’s core tactics.” Abu pointed to Doinb’s portrait on the tactics board with a serious expression. “It’s about using Doinb’s roaming and coordinating with Tian’s ganks to create openings in the side lanes in the early game. So, our tactics for the finals are also very simple.”

He looked at Jiejie and Meiko: "For the first ten minutes, your task is to protect the bottom lane at all costs. Do your best in vision control and counter-ganking. It's better to give up resources in the top half of the map than to let Viper's development be too much affected."

Then, he turned his gaze to the man who was still resting with his eyes closed in the corner.

"As for Brother Mozi..." Abu smiled helplessly, "Let him do as we said before and let him do as he pleases."

"Free up Mozi and let him carry the enemy team by himself. This is our safest and most unbeatable strategy," the factory manager added.

Su Mo slowly opened his eyes and spoke softly:
"Don't worry, the championship is ours."

……

In early September, the day of the LPL Summer Split Finals finally arrived.

The decisive battle was held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, which can accommodate 10,000 people.

Even before the match started, the entire venue, both inside and out, was already bustling with excitement.

EDG's dedicated bus traveled smoothly on the road to the venue.

Outside the car window, the dazzling night view of Shanghai unfolds, and a promotional video is playing on a giant electronic screen.

Inside the train carriage, most of the team members were resting with their eyes closed or listening to music, accumulating their last bit of energy for the upcoming battle.

Su Mo leaned against the window, listening to soothing music in her headphones, her eyes calmly gazing at the dazzling night view outside.

His phone screen was lit up, displaying messages that Rita and Luo Xin had just sent.

Rita: "We're already here! The commentary booth is full of our own people today, so play freely! Good luck!"

Luo Xin: "Brother Mozi! Champion! Champion! Champion! I'll say it three times because it's important! [cheering][cheering]"

Su Mo's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as he typed two words on the screen—"Wait."

The bus slowly drove into the underground passage of the venue, completely isolating it from all the noise and light of the outside world.

Inside the Mercedes-Benz Arena, the place was already packed with people, with no seats available.

Eighteen thousand spectators gathered here, turning the entire venue into a giant vortex of black, gold and fiery red.

At the center of the enormous stage, dazzling AR effects formed the outline of the Silver Dragon Cup, which slowly rotated to the rousing battle song, each rotation causing the heartbeat of everyone present to pound.

Miller, Wawa, and Guan Zeyuan were already ready in the commentary booth.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Miller's voice resounded throughout the arena through the loudspeakers, passionate and penetrating, "Welcome to the 2021 League of Legends Pro League Summer Split Finals! The ultimate showdown that will determine whether a dynasty continues or a new king is born is about to begin!"

Wawa looked at the audience with emotion: "Yes! On one side is EDG, who have never lost a game in the regular season and reign supreme in the league with absolute dominance; on the other side is FPX, who have torn apart countless challengers with their unstoppable mid-jungle synergy!"

Unlike the passionate commentators and the enthusiastic audience, the atmosphere in FPX's preparation lounge was so heavy it seemed almost palpable.

The head coach stood in front of the tactics board, his brows slightly furrowed.

“Nuguri,” the coach’s voice was a little hoarse, “what are the chances of success online?”

Nuguri, the Korean top laner known for his aggressive playstyle and confident mechanics, showed no trace of frivolity on his face at this moment.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I'm not confident. In a one-on-one situation, I can't beat him..."

These words made the atmosphere in the lounge even more oppressive.

"We can't afford to be complacent!"

Suddenly, a passionate voice broke the silence.

It was Doinb. He stood up from the sofa: "We can't play macro-games with him! We can't lane against him! That's his world, if we go in, we're dead!"

"We're not going to play top lane against him! Nuguri, you pick a tank and be a support in top lane! Xiaotian and I will be staying in the bot lane from level one! Lwx, Crisp, you two get ready, we're going to use the most unreasonable 4v2, or even 5v1, to render Viper useless before 15 minutes! We don't need to play macro, we just need to fight! We'll use our most familiar rhythm to drag them into a chaotic battle!"

They abandoned the top lane and placed all their bets on their signature mid-jungle synergy and aggressive bot lane play.

The coach finally sighed and said, "Trust Doinb."

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in EDG's rest room was completely different.

Jiejie was still arguing with Meiko about whether to have hot pot or barbecue for the celebration party that night, Scout was quietly doing finger stretches, and Viper was watching a dance video of an idol group to relax.

Abu and the factory manager were making final tactical confirmations, their voices steady and confident.

"...Remember, no matter what, maintain vision in the bottom lane in the early game. Jiejie, you can give up some of your top side jungle to Tian, ​​but you can't give up a single river crab in the bottom side."

"clear."

"Scout, you must signal the moment Doinb disappears."

"OK."

Soon, the staff knocked on the door: "EDG's staff, please prepare to enter the room."

As the stirring battle song reached its climax, the contestants from both teams slowly emerged from the passageways on either side of the stage amidst thunderous cheers.

The lights focused, and the smoke rose.

On one side was FPX, dressed in fiery red team uniforms, their eyes resolute, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

On the other side was EDG, dressed in black and gold team uniforms, their expressions calm and composed, like kings reigning supreme.

The atmosphere reached its peak when Su Mo was the last to appear on stage!
"Mo! Mo! Mo!"

The unified shouts, forming a wave of sound, constantly testify to his popularity.

The bells of the final battle are about to toll. (End of Chapter)