LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

Besides the cheers of countless spectators, there were also screams from his teammates.

The teammates around him had gone completely mad.

Jiejie jumped up from her chair like a monkey and hugged Su Mo tightly: "Brother Mo! We won! We're the champions! That bucket was so cool! Brother Mo is so cool!!"

Although Viper is usually reserved, he couldn't hide his excitement at this moment, his face flushed as he hugged Meiko tightly. Flandre, on the other hand, looked relieved, slumped in his chair and grinned foolishly for a couple of seconds before suddenly standing up to join the celebration.

Su Mo let his teammates pull him along, a calm and confident smile always on his lips. He straightened his slightly disheveled team uniform collar and patted Jiejie on the back: "Alright, don't strangle me, we still need to shake hands."

The five of them lined up and, under the watchful eyes of the audience, walked to the other side of the stage—JDG's players' bench.

That was the domain of the losers; the air seemed to freeze.

At this moment, several JDG players were either slumped in their chairs or covered their faces with their hands. The sense of defeat, of being so close to the championship but being shattered, was written on everyone's face.

Su Mo walked at the very front.

The first one is top laner 369.

At this moment, 369's eyes were bloodshot, and his gaze was somewhat unfocused. When he saw Su Mo walk over and extend his hand, his body subconsciously trembled—it was a physiological fear caused by three consecutive rounds of military training.

From AP Titan's Deep Sea Anchor to Jayce's Thunder Cannon, and then to that devastating Triple Fire Barrel attack just now.

That night became a haunting nightmare for 369's professional career.

"Well done." Su Mo held 369's cold and slightly sweaty hand, his tone calm, without the arrogance of a victor, but with a hint of relief, "Next time remember to roll the dice more accurately, don't always roll a 1."

369 was stunned for a moment, then looked up at the man in front of her who exuded a powerful aura. Her lips moved, but she could only squeeze out a bitter sentence: "You're too ruthless. But losing to you is only to be expected."

Then came Kanavi, Yagao...

Su Mo shook hands with each of them to express his greetings.

Kanavi's gaze towards Su Mo was filled with complex emotions, a mixture of resentment and admiration.

After the handshake segment ended, the five members of EDG returned to the center of the stage.

At this moment, the rousing background music resounded throughout the venue.

At the very center of the stage, the Silver Dragon Cup, symbolizing the highest honor in the LPL, shimmered with a breathtaking silver light under the spotlight.

The silver dragon coiled on the cup is lifelike, as if it is waiting for the new king to be crowned.

The host, Ren Dong, dressed in a sharp suit, held a microphone and spoke in a high-pitched voice that was almost a roar:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Let's give a round of applause and cheers to EDG!! With an absolute 3-0 victory, welcome the king to his throne! Let's lift up this Silver Dragon Cup that belongs to them!!"

Su Mo and his teammates gathered around the trophy.

"One, two, three! Go!"

All five hands exert force simultaneously.

The heavy silver dragon cup was raised high!

At that moment, the golden rain intensified, and the stage erupted with dazzling cold fireworks, transforming the entire Mercedes-Benz Arena into a sea of ​​joy.

Su Mo stood in the center, one hand on the base of the trophy, his gaze piercing through the layers of golden rain, looking at the countless excited faces below the stage, and at the fans holding up "Mo" light boards and screaming wildly.

A sense of supreme power surged within him.

That's the charm of esports.

This is what it feels like to win.

The awards ceremony proceeded in full swing.

The first prize awarded was the champion's bonus.

Senior executives from Tencent Interactive Entertainment walked onto the stage, holding a huge rectangular KT board check in their hands.

A string of numbers was clearly written on it—

RMB 2,000,000

Two million yuan!
Although for Su Mo now, this money may only be a fraction of the endorsement fees, it is a symbol of honor, a spoil of war earned through countless bloody battles.

As the representative, Su Mo accepted the huge checkboard from the leader, and the flashbulbs went off wildly, freezing this moment in time.

But this is not the end.

Next up is the most anticipated part of the evening: individual honors.

Ren Dong stood to the side of the stage, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense: "Tonight's match can be described as a battle that will go down in history. Whether it was the Titan's unconventional strategy in the first game, the Jayce's solo show in the second game, or the earth-shattering triple barrel combo in the third game... I think the audience already knows who deserves this award!"

The audience seemed to be of one mind, and began chanting the same name in unison.

The sounds grew louder and louder, eventually coalescing into a deafening thunderclap:

"Mo!!"

"Mo!!"

"Mo!!"

Ren Dong took a deep breath and shouted, "That's right! Let's congratulate EDG.Mo, the 2022 LPL Summer Split Finals Most Valuable Player and FMVP!!!"

On the big screen, the scene of Su Mo's instant triple-barrel combo that wiped out the two Cs was played again, followed by a freeze-frame of his portrait with his hands in his pockets and a disdainful look in his eyes.

Su Mo handed the Silver Dragon Cup to Holy Gunner beside him and took a step forward alone.

An executive from one of the sponsors came up carrying an elegant tray.

There are two things on the tray.

It is also a special crystal trophy symbolizing the FMVP honor. It is crystal clear, with the words "FINAL MVP" engraved on the base and a golden miniature model of Summoner's Rift on top.

The other item is a championship ring designed this season in collaboration with the top luxury brand Tiffany & Co., as well as an exclusive FMVP commemorative gift.

It was a silver ring inlaid with sapphires and diamonds, reflecting a dazzling light under the lamp, exuding luxury and nobility.

Su Mo accepted the FMVP trophy, its weighty texture making his palms feel slightly heavy.

Then, he picked up the ring again, put it on his slender index finger very naturally, and then raised his hand to show it to the camera.

This irresistible charm instantly paralyzed the live stream chat once again.

[Ahhh! My husband's hand looks so beautiful with that ring on it!]

This is what a true e-sports novel protagonist should be like! Rich, handsome, and skilled!

[A Tiffany ring! I want one too! Mozi, marry me!]

At this moment, he is the king of the LPL!

Honey, I want to have your babies!

After the awards ceremony, the host, Ren Dong, handed the microphone to Su Mo's mouth.

"Brother Mozi, at this moment, you've lifted the Silver Dragon Cup, won the FMVP award, and received a two million yuan prize and a Tiffany exclusive ring. You've achieved both fame and fortune. Is there anything you'd like to say to everyone, or to yourself?"

The entire room fell silent, awaiting the words of this "madman".

Su Mo looked down at the audience, his gaze seemingly piercing through the crowd and reaching into the distance.

He gently stroked the FMVP trophy in his hand, his tone no longer as arrogant as before the game, but unusually firm and calm:
"The Summer Finals championship is just the beginning."

He raised his head, his eyes burning with an even more intense flame:
"I've already won the LPL Silver Dragon Cup. Next... I'm going to go to the other side of the ocean and bring back the trophy that belongs to the world champions."

"S12, here we come."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in cheers.

The awards ceremony has ended, but for EDG, who have just been crowned champions, the night has only just begun.

Amidst a shower of golden rain and the heart-wrenching shouts of fans, Su Mo, with one hand in his pocket and the other carrying the heavy FMVP trophy, led his teammates to the backstage media interview room.

As soon as they entered the passage, LPL official photographers who had been waiting for a long time swarmed around them.

"Brother Mozi! Look this way! Raise the trophy!"

"Group photo! Everyone, smile!"

The flashes of light were so intense that the passageway was as bright as day.

Su Mo cooperated by striking a few poses, his calm and composed superstar demeanor making Jiejie, who was standing to the side, extremely envious.

"Is this what it means to be a king of singers to have camera presence?" Jiejie whispered to Meiko, "I feel like a security guard trying to crash the red carpet."

Meiko rolled her eyes at him: "Be more confident, remove the 'like'."

...In the media group interview room.

At this moment, the small room was already packed with reporters from major esports media outlets. With their cameras and microphones set up, the moment the entire EDG team took their seats, a cacophony of camera shutters clicked.

Aside from the usual tactical debriefing questions, the reporters focused almost entirely on Su Mo.

A female reporter from "Esports Weekly" seized the first opportunity to ask a question. She looked at Su Mo with starry eyes: "First of all, congratulations to EDG on winning the championship, and congratulations to Brother Mo for winning the FMVP. As everyone knows, that triple barrel combo with EQ flash E in the third game was simply a miracle. How did you dare to make such a move under such high pressure?"

Su Mo adjusted the microphone, her tone languid: "Actually, I didn't think too much about it. I just glanced at my bank account balance and thought I should send Hope a plane ticket home so he can get some rest."

The whole room burst into laughter.

Immediately afterward, a male reporter wearing glasses stood up and asked a rather sharp question: "Mo Shen, everyone online is saying that you are a 'singing king whose talent was wasted on esports.' This year's S12 World Championship is being held in North America. If you accidentally win the championship again, would you consider holding a solo concert at the finals? It seems that Riot Games is also interested in inviting you to participate in the theme song performance."

As soon as the question was raised, everyone perked up their ears.

Su Mo raised an eyebrow, his fingers gently stroking the championship ring: "Singing is a separate matter. As for the world championship... if my opponent gets beaten too quickly in the finals, I wouldn't mind going up and singing a couple of lines to liven things up during the remaining garbage time."

mad!
This answer is absolutely outrageous!

But the reporters were excitedly writing furiously, and tomorrow's headline was ready: Su Mo boldly declared: The World Championship finals will become a personal concert!
Finally, a question about the championship skins was raised.

"If Mozi wins the S12 championship this year, is there any champion skin he would like to choose?"

Without a second thought, Su Mo smirked and said, "Actually, I really wanted to choose Teemo. After all, who could refuse a scout who's going to his death right now? But considering sales and how handsome he is... I'm not so sure right now. After all, I'm just an ordinary person, you know that."

……

Celebration banquet.

After a lengthy media interview and fan meet-and-greet session, it was already 11 p.m.

Already starving, the group headed straight for a top-notch seafood restaurant on the Bund, led by their owner, Ed Zhu.

This restaurant was booked out by EDG tonight.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the Huangpu River is bathed in dazzling lights at night, and the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower stands out. Inside, however, is a scene of revelry for the victors.

In addition to team members and staff, Su Mo's "friends and family" group—four beautiful commentators, Rita, Luo Xin, Yu Shuang, and Xiao Yu—were also invited to participate.

They had already changed out of their work dresses and into more flattering everyday clothes, becoming another beautiful sight in the restaurant as soon as they appeared.

"cheers!!!"

With a shout from Eddie, dozens of glasses filled with champagne clinked together.

"Thank you all for your hard work this season!" Edward Zhu said, beaming. "Although I'm not often at the base, I've seen all your efforts. Especially Mozi..."

The boss raised his glass and looked at Su Mo: "This glass is for you!"

Su Mo smiled, stood up, clinked glasses with the boss, and drank it all in one gulp.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Jiejie and Saint Gun, this pair of lively characters, started a drinking contest, while Meiko took care of Scout, who had drunk too much, like a mother hen.

Meanwhile, Su Mo once again found himself in a world of tenderness.

"Brother Mozi, try this crab. I just peeled it for you." Rita's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she handed over a piece of crab meat with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Eating seafood is considered 'cold,' so a sip of hot soup will warm your stomach." Yu Shuang gently served a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup.

Luo Xin, holding her wine glass, said with a sly look in her eyes, "Brother Mozi, that triple barrel drink today was so cool! As a reward for you, how about we have a toast together?"

Su Mo looked at these women who had been together for so long and were still openly competing with each other, and smiled helplessly. Before he could say anything, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and saw that it was a number labeled "Global Esports Head of Riot Games".

Su Mo made a shushing gesture and answered the phone.

"Hello, Mo?" A fluent English voice came from the other end of the phone. "Congratulations on winning! This is Naz. I'm sorry to bother you so late, but there's something very urgent and important I want to confirm with you."

"Go ahead," Su Mo said, taking a sip of red wine.

"Regarding the theme song for the S12 World Championship, 'Star Walkin', we originally planned for Lil Nas X to sing it. However, after seeing your performance on 'Masked Singer' and your popularity during the LPL finals... we unanimously decided in an internal meeting to invite you to participate in the recording of a special version of this theme song and to perform as a special guest at the opening ceremony of the finals in San Francisco!"

"Of course, the appearance fee is top-notch, and we will tailor-make an opening ceremony outfit for you."

Su Mo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

It's true what they say, what you wish for comes true.

“Okay,” Su Mo replied calmly, “but I have one condition.”

"Please say."

"If I make it to the finals, I'm going to sing while wearing my team uniform."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a hearty laugh: "Hahaha! As expected of Mo! No problem! Deal! We'll be waiting for you in North America!"

After hanging up the phone, Su Mo noticed that everyone at the table was staring at him in silence.

"What's wrong?" Su Mo raised an eyebrow.

Abu asked cautiously, "Was that... someone from Riot Games?"

Su Mo nodded, a smile playing on his lips: "Brothers, it seems that this time when I go to North America, I'll not only be competing, but I'll also be blowing up a storm at the venue."

"They asked me to sing the S12 theme song."

"Huh?!!" Jiejie dropped the chicken leg in her hand onto the table.

The entire private room erupted in chaos.

Are professional players going to sing the World Championship theme song? Or at the finals?
This display of power is unprecedented and will probably never be seen again!

"It has to be you, Mozi!" Saint Gun exclaimed with admiration. "Now that's great! If we win the championship, the background music will be sung by our own people, which is like having a built-in buff!"

……

The revelry continued until 2 a.m.

The next day, the entire EDG team did not get much rest.

Although the team-building trip to the Maldives was postponed to the off-season due to visa and competition schedule issues, the boss directly gave everyone a generous red envelope as a cash bonus, allowing them to relax in Shanghai for two days.

September 10, Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

The four LPL seed teams—EDG (first seed), JDG (second seed), TES (third seed), and RNG (fourth seed)—have assembled and are ready to charter a plane to North America.

Inside the airport terminal, the crowd of fans seeing off the passengers was enormous, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Banners, light boards, and flowers completely blocked the departure level.

Wearing sunglasses and a mask, dressed in EDG's team uniform, Su Mo walked at the front of the group, pushing his suitcase.

His upright posture, even with half his face covered, still made him the focus of the entire venue with his superstar aura.

"Brother Mozi!"

"Go EDG! Bring the championship back!"

"Brother Mozi! Give those foreign devils a taste of the LPL's power!"

Hearing the fans' shouts, Su Mo stopped and took off his sunglasses.

Those deep eyes swept across the entire arena, then he slowly raised his right hand, raised his index finger, pointed to the sky above his head, and then to the team emblem on his chest.

No words were spoken, but this one gesture spoke volumes.

First, it can only be us.

Rita, Yu Shuang, and others also arrived at the ticket gate.

As the official commentary team, they will also travel with the team.

Even if none of them are alive, we still have to go and cheer on their loved ones.

"Big star, are you ready to conquer the other side of the ocean?" Rita walked over, straightened his collar, and spoke with a hint of pride.

Su Mo looked out the window at the huge Boeing 747, at the LPL logo painted on its fuselage, and took a deep breath.

"Let's go."

Su Mo put his sunglasses back on, a confident smile curving his lips.

"Go and tell the whole world who the real King is." (End of Chapter)