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

"There's really nothing to regret. He was given the opportunity, but he just didn't seize it. When facing Xayah and Rakan, he still chose the policewoman with a desperate gamble. In the end, failure was inevitable."

Xiao Yan spoke slowly.

He had already planned this match in his mind. There was only one way to win: to take advantage of the female police officer's strength in the early game, gradually expand the advantage, and at the same time, let her influence his teammates to end the game at a very fast pace. Once the game drags into the late game and gold coins become useless, then it is certain to lose.

Xiao Yan paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over each member of SKT.

"Everyone, RNG's defeat is a painful lesson for us."

"We're heading to the Bird's Nest soon. Our opponent is SSG, the team that stepped over RNG's corpse. They're riding high right now, and their understanding of the meta has reached perfection. If we still cling to the old ideas of 'relying on Faker to save the world' or 'relying on dominating the bot lane,' then RNG's present will be our future."

Faker stood up and straightened his team uniform.

His eyes remained calm, but deep within them burned a fierce fighting spirit.

"SSG is indeed very strong. But this is SKT. We will crush them at the Bird's Nest in our own way."

Xiao Yan looked at Faker's confident back and smiled faintly.

He knew the original course of history.

He knew what kind of defeat SKT would suffer on that cold night at the Bird's Nest.

He knew that Faker's tears as he looked back at the trophy would become one of the most heartbreaking moments in esports history.

"This time, I've come."

…………

Back to the competition venue.

The SSG team members had finished celebrating and, led by Ambition, lined up and headed towards RNG's soundproof booth for the post-match handshake ceremony.

This is the cruelest aspect of esports.

The victors wear smiles and offer condescending consolation, while the losers must suppress their grief and display so-called "manners."

Master An walked at the front. This veteran, who had weathered countless storms, didn't display much arrogance. He walked up to Xiao Hu and extended his hand.

Xiao Hu stood up, mechanically extended his hand, and shook hands with Master An.

"You played very well, but we were better prepared," Master An said in broken English.

Xiao Hu forced a smile but didn't say anything.

When Ruler walked up to Uzi, their eyes met in mid-air.

Ruler's eyes gleamed with awe for his senior, but also with the pride of a victor. He knew very well that he had defeated the world's undisputed strongest ADC.

Uzi took a deep breath, braced himself on the table, and struggled to his feet. His legs were weak from being tense for so long, and he almost lost his balance.

Looking at the Korean ADC who was a few years younger than him, and at his energetic face, he felt a mix of emotions.

"GG." Uzi stretched out his hand, his voice low.

"GG, Uzi-senpai." Ruler grasped Uzi's hands and bowed deeply. "Your policewoman is truly terrifying. Several times I thought I was going to die."

These words sounded like a needle piercing Uzi's heart.

What's the point of terror? In the end, won't you still be the one who wins?

After the handshake ceremony, the SSG members walked to the center of the stage and bowed to the audience.

Meanwhile, the five RNG members quietly packed up their keyboards and mice, shouldered their heavy peripheral bags, and turned to walk into the shadows behind the stage.

That was the passage to the lounge, and also the passage to the abyss.

The moment they stepped down the steps, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the crowd.

"RNG! Go for it!"

"Uzi! Don't cry!"

"Come back next year! We'll be waiting for you!"

These shouts weren't for victory, but for reluctance to part, for heartache. Tens of thousands of Chinese fans, in their most sincere way, wanted to give this team, which had brought them countless hopes and emotions, one last bit of warmth.

Upon hearing the shout, Uzi, who was walking at the back of the group, suddenly stiffened.

He stopped, turned around, and looked at the stands that were still faintly lit with red light.

His vision was blurred. He couldn't see the faces of his fans, only the swaying red support signs.

He suddenly felt so tired, so very tired.

From the arrogant young man who burst onto the scene in Season 3 and became a legend with Vayne at the World Championship, to the veteran now riddled with injuries and carrying the hopes of the entire region, he has always strived, yet he has never been able to reach that ultimate peak.

They fell to SKT in S3, to SSW in S4, and were eliminated by SKT again in S6...

Each time, he thought he was strong enough; each time, he thought he was fully prepared. But reality slapped him hard in the face time and time again.

"Am I really not destined to be a champion?"

Uzi asked himself in despair.

Feng walked up from behind, put his arm around Uzi's shoulder, and patted him gently.

"Let's go, Pride. This place no longer belongs to us."

Uzi took one last deep look at the dazzling stage and the spotlight that belonged to the victor, then resolutely turned around and walked into the dark tunnel.

That long passage seemed to have no end.

The walls on both sides of the corridor are covered with classic images from previous World Championships. There's Faker's triumphant moment when he lifts the trophy, PawN's ruthless dunk when he instantly kills his opponent with a spike, and his own unrestrained smile on stage.

But now, it all seems so ironic.

Back in the lounge, there was a deathly silence.

No one was speaking. Only heavy breathing and occasional suppressed sobs could be heard.

The club staff silently handed over water and towels, their eyes also filled with disappointment.

A short while later, a staff member opened the door and said softly, "Brother Feng, it's time for the post-match press conference."

Feng stood up and straightened his suit. He glanced around at the team members, his gaze lingering on Uzi for a moment.

"Xiangguo, Xiaohu, you guys come with me. Zihao, you... you can rest here." Feng Ge knew that Uzi was on the verge of a breakdown, and he couldn't bear to let this young man covered in injuries face the media's barrage of questions and sharp remarks.

But Uzi shook his head and slowly stood up.

"No, I'll go." His voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable determination. "I'm the captain. If we lose the game, I can't be a coward."

The press conference venue was already packed with media reporters from all over the world.

When the RNG players and coaches walked in, the flashbulbs went off like crazy, so bright they were blinding.

The atmosphere was terribly oppressive.

The first person to ask a question was a reporter from a Chinese esports media outlet.

Her eyes were red, and her voice trembled slightly.

"Brother Feng... In today's match, especially in the fifth game, why didn't we ban Xayah or pick her? It's widely believed that Ruler's Xayah was the key to SSG's victory today."

Invincible Demon King F presents "LPL Doesn't Want Me? I Joined SKT Instead!", exclusively published by Cola Novels!