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

"This place was once the residence and administrative center of twenty-four emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China," Xiao Yan explained dutifully. "See that tallest hall? That's the Hall of Supreme Harmony, also known as the Golden Throne Hall. It was only used for the grandest ceremonies, such as the emperor's enthronement, wedding, or military expeditions."

Faker stood with his hands in his team jersey pockets, silently gazing at the massive vermilion palace gate. His eyes were deep, as if piercing through centuries of historical mists.

"Sang-hyeok-hyung, what are you thinking about?" Xiao Yan walked up to Faker and asked softly.

Faker withdrew his gaze, pushed up his round-framed glasses, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "I was thinking, the ancient emperors, who possessed such large palaces and ruled such vast empires, must have faced far more pressure every day than we are playing in the World Championship Finals."

Xiao Yan paused for a moment, then smiled: "That's for sure. An emperor has to face the people and the nation. One wrong move could lead to a change of dynasty."

"A change of dynasty..." Faker repeated the words softly, his gaze gradually sharpening. "Esports is the same. Every year, countless teams try to pull us off our throne. KT failed, and now, it's SSG's turn."

"SSG's performance this year is truly terrifying." Xiao Yan's smile faded, and his tone became serious. "Especially the bot lane duo of Ruler and CoreJJ. Watching them play against RNG yesterday, their impenetrable defense and the way they pulled back and forth in late-game team fights were like a wall of sighs. Ambition's rhythm is just too steady; he's like a seasoned hunter who never makes a gank without a chance of success."

"This will be a tough battle." Faker nodded, turning to look at Xiao Yan with eyes full of trust. "But in the mid lane, I'll suppress Crown. As for the bot lane, Xiao Yan, can you and Wolf withstand Ruler's pressure?"

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, looked at the sky above the Taihe Hall, and the image of Uzi's lonely figure appeared in his mind.

"Don't worry, Sang-hyeok-ge." Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly in his pockets. "What Uzi couldn't finish, I will finish for him. Ruler's Xayah is indeed strong, but my Vayne is no pushover either. In this Ardent Censer meta, whoever survives to the end is the true king."

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun deepened the color of the red walls of the Forbidden City. The SKT team members took a group photo in front of the Shenwu Gate, concluding their first day of activities.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Xiao Yan knocked on each of his teammates' doors.

"Wake up! Wake up! Today we're going to challenge the Great Wall!"

Two hours later, the bus arrived at the foot of the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Compared to the crowds at Badaling, Mutianyu is steeper and more precipitous, allowing one to better appreciate the desolate grandeur and imposing magnificence of the Great Wall.

"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is no true man." Standing at the entrance to the wall, Xiao Yan translated this famous Chinese proverb into Korean for his teammates. "It means that only by climbing the Great Wall can one be considered a real man. Everyone, it's time to prove your physical prowess!"

However, it turns out that for these internet-addicted teenagers who sit in front of their computers for more than ten hours a day, climbing the Great Wall was a nightmare no less than playing a full best-of-five series.

After climbing less than three watchtowers, Wolf collapsed onto the steps, panting heavily, waving his hands and pleading, "I can't take it anymore... my legs aren't mine anymore. This is more tiring than playing ten games of Tahm Kench in a row!"

Huni, hands on her knees, gasped for breath: "Xiao Yan, are you sure ancient soldiers patrolled places like this every day? They wouldn't even need to fight; just climbing stairs would be exhausting!"

Looking at his teammates who usually dominate Summoner's Rift but are actually quite weak in real life, Xiao Yan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hold on, brothers! That tallest beacon tower ahead is our target!"

"Xiao Yan pointed to a watchtower on a distant mountain ridge and shouted.

Surprisingly, Faker, who usually appears the thinnest, displayed astonishing perseverance. Although he was panting and his forehead was covered in sweat, he never stopped climbing, step by step, determinedly ascending upwards.

"Sang-hyeok hyung, do you want to take a break?" Peanut asked with concern as he followed behind Faker.

"No need." Faker gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the steps ahead. "If we can't even conquer this height, what makes us think we can conquer the Bird's Nest?"

These words were like a shot in the arm, instantly igniting the fighting spirit of the SKT team.

"I'll give it my all! For the championship!" Wolf gritted his teeth and got up from the ground, continuing to move upwards like a heavy tank.

When everyone finally climbed the tallest beacon tower, panting heavily, a biting north wind swept by, scattering the sweat from their bodies and dispelling the fatigue that had accumulated over the past few days.

Looking out, the mountains stretch endlessly, like the spine of a giant dragon. The winding Great Wall, following the contours of the mountains, extends to the horizon, creating a magnificent and ever-changing spectacle.

"So beautiful..." Little Peanut stood by the city wall, looking at the magnificent scenery before him, and exclaimed sincerely.

Coach Kkoma took out his phone and captured the moment. Looking at the group of young people in front of him, who were tired but whose eyes were full of light, he felt a strong premonition.

This team will surely create a miracle at the Bird's Nest.

At 2 PM, the entire SKT team returned to the hotel's training room on time.

After a brief respite, they faced extremely brutal and high-intensity targeted training.

For the next few days, SKT's training room was brightly lit day and night.

The sounds of keyboard typing and mouse clicking mingled together, like a stirring symphony. Everyone was pushing themselves to the limit, making a final sprint for ultimate glory.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, only one day remains until the final battle of the S7 World Championship.

On the evening of November 3, in order to ease the extremely tense atmosphere before the game, Coach Kkoma made an exception and allowed the players to leave the hotel and have a good meal at a famous high-end Chinese restaurant nearby as a "send-off drink" before the game.

The restaurant is located near Sanlitun, with an elegant environment and excellent privacy.

However, just as the SKT team entered the restaurant lobby and were about to be guided to their private room by the waiter, fate seemed to play a not-so-small joke on them.

Approaching us was a group of people wearing blue and white team uniforms.

Leading the way was a tall, stern-faced man wearing black-rimmed glasses. His eyes held a calm and sharp quality born of experience, like a lurking lion ready to deliver a fatal blow to its prey.

SSG's jungler is also the soul of the team, Ambition.

Following behind him were Crown, CuVee, CoreJJ, and Ruler, the ADC who crushed all of RNG's hopes with Xayah in the semifinals, all with equally serious expressions.

Two teams, who are set to clash at the Forbidden City tomorrow, unexpectedly met in the lobby of this restaurant on this ordinary evening.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The SKT players, who had been joking around, instantly fell silent. Huni's smile vanished, and Wolf instinctively straightened his back.

The two teams stopped less than five meters apart.

There were no heated arguments, no provocative exchanges. But the invisible aura of top professional players was already clashing fiercely in mid-air.

Those were two completely different auras.