LPL didn't want me? I joined SKT instead!

The moment the crystal nexus shattered, it felt as if the air in the Guangzhou Gymnasium had been instantly sucked out.

The word "VICTORY" frozen on the big screen was seen by the SKT players as a ticket to the semifinals, but to the tens of thousands of spectators and EDG players, it was as cold as a tombstone.

Xiao Yan took off his headphones, and the piercing roar in his ears gradually faded away, replaced by an almost deathly silence.

He let out a long sigh, his chest heaving. Although the "divine presence" state had ended, the lingering effect of controlling lightning and seeing through everything still trembled slightly at his fingertips.

"Let's go shake hands." Faker stood up, his tone calm.

Xiao Yan nodded and followed the team toward EDG's competition booth.

That was the most difficult stretch of his career.

The first one is iBoy. This prodigy who debuted at his peak is currently staring blankly at the screen.

His hands were still mechanically resting on the mouse and keyboard. When Xiao Yan reached out, iBoy looked up, his once bright and intelligent eyes now bloodshot, red-rimmed, filled with resentment and confusion.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he only let out a soft, trembling sob and mechanically bumped fists with Xiao Yan.

Next up were Meiko and Scout. Meiko kept his head down, tidying up his peripherals, trying to hide the tears welling up in his eyes. Scout, on the other hand, looked somewhat vacant. As a former member of SKT, he knew better than anyone how despairing Xiao Yan's power was today.

Finally, Xiao Yan arrived in front of the factory manager, Clearlove.

This key figure in the LPL is currently looking down, covering his face with his hands, and his shoulders are trembling slightly.

Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks.

On an emotional level, he actually admired the factory manager, this veteran who had persisted for his dream for several years.

At that moment, looking at that slightly hunched back, Xiao Yan felt a pang of sympathy.

But this sympathy was fleeting, replaced by the professional player's coldness and rationality.

The arena is like a battlefield; there is no distinction of age or status, only winners and losers. Showing mercy is the greatest insult to your opponent.

"You fought very well," Xiao Yan said softly.

The factory manager slowly raised his head. There was no anger in his eyes, only a bottomless despair.

Those were the embers after a dream was shattered, the end of an era.

He looked at Xiao Yan, his once spirited eyes now only filled with weariness. He opened his mouth, his voice terribly hoarse: "You... are very strong."

Just two words, yet they contain endless helplessness.

The moment their fists bumped, Xiao Yan felt the coldness and trembling of the Factory Manager's fingertips.

As he stepped off the stage, Xiao Yan glanced back.

The EDG players were packing up their peripherals looking dejected. In the shadows where the spotlights didn't reach, their figures appeared so small.

……

EDG lounge.

The moment the door closed, the atmosphere in the room became extremely oppressive.

Coach Abu stood in the center, his hands gripping his notebook tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He looked at the team members who came in dejectedly, his lips moved, but he couldn't say a word.

How to review the situation?

Their early game rhythm was perfect, their mid-game lane rotations were flawless, and even in the team fight at the Baron pit, their decision-making and execution were almost flawless. However, that man named Xiao Yan single-handedly turned the tide with his superhuman skills.

"sorry."

A deep voice broke the silence.

Everyone looked up and saw that it was the factory manager who was speaking. He was sitting on the sofa in the corner, his head buried deep between his knees.

"Damn it. I shouldn't have used my R-flash on that Baron." The factory manager's voice was thick with a nasal tone. "If I hadn't died, if I could have kicked him back..."

"It's not your fault, Mingkai." Abu sighed, walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "That wave, it didn't matter who went. His reaction... was beyond what tactics could control."

The factory manager did not look up.

Only he knows how much he has sacrificed this season.

He originally planned to bring his professional career to a perfect close on the stage of the Bird's Nest, regardless of victory or defeat.

That was his only motivation to survive this year.

But now, everything has come to an abrupt end. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals, swept out of the competition by SKT on their home turf in a near-humiliating manner.

Is it just bad luck to run into SKT?

The factory manager gave a wry smile.

Luck has always been a part of ability.

If you are strong enough, it's just bad luck for others to run into you.

Outside the locker room, the cries of the "pig offal" fans inside the arena could be faintly heard. Those fans wearing EDG jerseys and holding up support signs were experiencing the darkest night of their professional careers. The night sky over Guangzhou seemed to have become exceptionally cold because of this defeat.

……

Meanwhile, the scene inside SKT's lounge was quite different.

Although everyone was exhausted, the joy of advancing to the semi-finals overshadowed their fatigue.

Coach KkOma couldn't stop smiling as he kept praising Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was sitting in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

A mechanical voice echoed in my mind.

[Ding! Host's defenses have been severely compromised.]

[Rewards are being distributed...]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Permanent enhancement of physical functions - "Hand Enhancement"!]

Xiao Yan was overjoyed.

As a top esports player, he knows all too well the value of his hands.

As athletes age or undergo high-intensity training, tendonitis, decreased hand speed, and slowed reaction time are almost inevitable.

Even someone as strong as Uzi has been plagued by injuries for many years.

As the rewards were distributed, Xiao Yan felt a warm stream of light flow from his heart to his arms, finally converging at the tips of his fingers.

The feeling was incredibly mysterious; the soreness and swelling caused by the high-intensity competition vanished instantly.

He tried clenching his fist and found that his fingers had become more flexible than ever before. The nerves under his skin seemed to be reconnected, becoming more sensitive and resilient.

This is not just an improvement in hand speed, but a qualitative change in the control of hand feel.

With these hands, he can guarantee that his peak period will be extended several times over. Although he doesn't intend to play forever, he wants to retire in glory, not because of injuries.

"Xiao Yan? What are you thinking about? Why are you so happy?" Peanut leaned closer and grinned as he put his arm around Xiao Yan's neck.

"It's nothing, I just think... the air in Guangzhou is pretty good." Xiao Yan smiled slightly, opened his eyes, and his gaze was incredibly clear.

……

Over the next few days, the entire SKT team enjoyed a rare period of leisure in Guangzhou.

To treat everyone, KkOma treated them to authentic Guangzhou morning tea.

Shrimp dumplings, red rice rolls, chicken feet in black bean sauce, custard buns... a dazzling array of dim sum was laid out on the table.

"Wow, this is really delicious!" Peanut mumbled, his mouth full of a custard bun. "The flavor here is so much richer than the ones in Seoul."

Huni stared at the plate of roast goose, his eyes shining: "Coach, can we eat this every day?"

"If you make it to the finals, I'll treat you to Quanjude in Beijing," KkOma joked with a smile.

Xiao Yan sat by the window, looking down at the bustling streets. Although EDG had lost, Guangzhou remained a vibrant city. Only outside some esports-themed cafes could one see a few young people looking dejected.

In the past few days, the other matches of the S7 quarterfinals have also come to an end.

The moment the final four were announced, the entire esports world was shaken.

The four teams that advanced are: