League of Legends: Reborn in Season 3, Tuning the Entire League

Chapter 240 The Finals: Taming the Entire League!
"The mutual distrust, the disputes arising from differing opinions, and the exaggerated training volume... some people chose to leave, while others chose to stay and persevere!"

In post-production, the editor fast-forwarded the scenes of conflict and focused a large portion of the visual language on the changes in personnel, rather than drawing attention to the conflict itself.

After all, Jiang Ming's purpose in creating this pre-match promotional video was to further enhance his brand image and promote his products, not to expose the true nature of e-sports addiction among teenagers, as some of those obsessed people outside have been clamoring that games "ruin everything."

“Such scenes often occur in this simple basement. Athletes may break down emotionally because of a mistake, or feel lost due to the fatigue of long training sessions. But many people don’t realize that once you choose this path, you can’t give up easily. Only those who persevere are qualified to witness the view from the top of the mountain.”

"Therefore, the most important thing in esports is perseverance!"

He nodded, expressing his deep agreement with the explanation of perseverance in the video.

In fact, the essential difference between esports and internet addicts lies in this perseverance. Imagine, for those children who can hardly concentrate in even a 40-minute class, how could they be qualified to stand on the stage of "professional esports events" without undergoing high-intensity training for more than ten hours a day, turning their hobby into a profession, and persevering to the end?

If you can't even stick to training, how can you talk about being a professional?

Just as he himself only completed his postgraduate studies last year, during which time he was repeatedly advised by relatives and friends back home that "it would be more practical to start working sooner," but as a student who came from a rural background, he knew better than anyone else:
In the absence of social resources and background support, only by using higher education as a springboard can one seize that first-mover advantage in the competitive wave.

The video switches to the next stage, and after time blurring, the figures of the contestants in the underground training room change one after another, like a revolving lantern, with people constantly joining and leaving.

That night, the camera suddenly focused on the clock on the wall.

The clock hands pointed to three in the morning.

The basement lights were still on.

The players gradually left to go back to their rooms to rest, and the number of figures on the screen gradually decreased until only a few players with lower rank scores remained sitting in front of their computers, their eyes fixed on the screen with focused expressions.

The young man, whose face was obscured, seemed to be fighting with his eyelids, his body swaying as if reminding the other party to rest quickly so that the conflict could subside...

"In order to improve themselves, the players often need to train until late at night. Unlike the entertainment of playing games all night, they feel no joy when they are physically and mentally exhausted in the high-intensity competition."

"But it's still esports!"

"In this field, the difference in talent is greater than you can imagine—while some are still learning to walk, others have already taken the lead by a wide margin with their superior comprehension."

"But in the esports arena, there is something that is just as important as talent—that is relentless effort."

"Talent may be wasted on complacency, but sweat will never lie to anyone: every bit of perseverance in extreme training and every focused moment in a debriefing session will turn into a powerful burst of energy on the field."

……

"From the initial dozen or so people to the final five, the road was not easy. Some left along the way, while others chose to persevere. However, those who persevered to the end have, from this moment on, their own burning testament to their journey..."

NXG!

[Wuhu, let's get this fired up! This is the kind of passionate story esports should have!]

I hereby declare that from this moment forward, please remember the name NXG; the prologue to this legend has begun!

[Heh heh heh, from the moment NXG entered the LPL, the LOL esports scene learned what cruelty truly meant.]

[Well done, no wonder it's called "The Nameless".]

[The five members of NXG really deserve a shout-out to JM. She's not just a boss, she's more like a parent to them!]

In a way, JM is indeed like a second parent to them, guiding them professionally, planning their lives, and shaping their values. If my child had esports talent, I would also be willing to send him to NXG.

JM is great!

That last shot felt absolutely killer.

In the lens, the NXG looks like a thorny weed, sprouting from the concrete floor of the basement!

Where is the moral integrity? I silently watched until the very end.

From NXG's initial stumbling steps to the ups and downs of its growth; from being questioned as a "marketing team" when it first entered the LPL, to being caught in a vortex of excessive praise after its crazy winning streak shocked the competition - every step of this team has been full of controversy and challenges, as if it is about to walk on the edge of a cliff.

Finally, the video shifts from NXG's conquest of the world back to the original basement entrance.

Jiang Ming, the founder of the team, stepped into the camera for the first time.

That was the day NXG moved to its new base; it was the last time he got into the car.

The phone scanned the basement wall again; the team rules and regulations were still hanging there, albeit somewhat worn...

Next, the five contestants stood at the entrance to the basement, sunlight streaming in from outside and illuminating their faces.

Song Yuan and the other four exchanged a smile, waved to the underground training room, their eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

"Let's go!"

"gone."

The short video, which was only a dozen minutes long, did not shy away from showing how they were crushed by talented players and how their mentality collapsed during training matches.

It also captured the smiles of the five contestants as they went from being green teenagers to becoming independent and winning the championship.

They witnessed firsthand how a group of internet-addicted teenagers transformed into qualified professional gamers.

Those journeys intertwined with sweat and tears have ultimately become the starlight that shines in my eyes today, giving this companionship a profound warmth.

"The original intention I have witnessed along the way has never changed, and I am still willing to stay for them even now."

At the end of the video, the person who posted the video picked up their phone, typed out a line of text that might seem a bit sentimental in everyday life, and then left a comment in the live chat:
Good luck in the finals!

"come on!"

……

Staples Center.

The stadium was completed and officially put into use in October 1999. The overall design of the stadium is built to modern professional basketball standards. The games on the center stage can be clearly viewed from any angle of the three-tiered stands. It is equipped with nearly 300 luxury boxes, top-notch sound and lighting systems, and six super-large suspended TV screens, and can accommodate about 1.9 to 2 spectators at the same time.

It has been the shared home arena for many professional teams, including the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, the WNBA's Sparks, and the NHL's Kings. It is also the only arena in NBA history to be shared by two teams for an extended period. The Lakers achieved their three-peat from 2000 to 2002, the Sparks won two WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002, and later won seven NBA Finals and three WNBA Finals.

It can be said that it is the birthplace of West Coast champions in Los Angeles, witnessing one king after another ascend to their throne.

At 5:10 PM on October 17, 2013.

Long queues have already formed at the main entrance of Staples Center.

This iconic arena in the United States welcomed its first audience from the entirely new world of esports. The giant portraits of Lakers legends Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O'Neal that previously hung outside the arena were replaced by enormous League of Legends posters.

Thanks to its prime location, this luxury building is surrounded by a full range of amenities, with luxury hotels and restaurants just a few hundred meters away, and a light rail line that goes directly to the door, saving countless e-sports enthusiasts a lot of travel hassle.

An hour later, the opening ceremony of the finals took place on the temporary central stage set up at Staples Center.

The design of the finals was actually not much different from the inspiration for the opening ceremony of the group stage.

The core concept is to combine a symphony orchestra with electronic music to create a highly dynamic atmosphere for the competition in advance.

【Oh ho ho, it's starting, it's starting!】

[Finally, you're here!]

It was worth taking half an hour off work to get home. Lying on the sofa, sipping iced juice, and watching the game is just too good to be true.

[Wow, countdown, hurry up! I don't want to watch any shows, I want to watch NXG's match!]

Hey, why are you even watching the match? Let's skip it and see JM lift the trophy!

[Looking forward to it, JM should start today.]

[That damn JM, he posted that weird video the day before yesterday and messed things up. We all forgot he hadn't announced the starting lineup for the finals.]

The discussion in the live stream chat didn't last long; the originally dark screen in the live stream was suddenly covered by blue lights.

Boom!
dong dong!

The camera zoomed in and out, focusing on the main stage's large screen.

The video, which encapsulates the history of League of Legends esports, opened the show. Then, performers on stage strummed strings and played drums, with incredibly exciting background music echoing iconic images, from FNC's championship victory in the early days of Season 1 to TPA's classic 4-1 split push and the shouts of triumph.

The enthusiasm of the players at the scene was completely ignited at this moment.

"Whoa oh!"

The next second, a thunderous shout resounded all around, announcing the official start of the S3 World Championship.

Champion Select!
Meanwhile, Crystal Magic, as a guest performer, made their second appearance after the group stage opening ceremony, playing this absolutely classic Summoner's Ranked background music for players worldwide.

In the first half of the performance, the symphony orchestra was in the center, but as the rhythm quickened and the drumbeats became more intense, the camera suddenly flipped, and the game scene, stage lights, and the atmosphere that was gradually building to a climax were combined together, accompanied by DJ electronic music that had just switched over.

The two teams for the finals appeared prominently on either side of the stage.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!"

"This is the Staples Center in Los Angeles!"

"The scene at the 2013 League of Legends World Championship."

Where are your shouts?!

boom!
Whoosh!

The venue was surrounded by what looked like a lit powder keg, with the audience and the host holding the microphone engaging in a volume contest.

Without the slightest hesitation, the host, sporting a stylish slicked-back hairstyle, raised his arm high and announced, "Today, we will be here, in this legendary sports center that has witnessed the birth of countless champions, to welcome the new king of the League of Legends season!"

"Now, let's give a warm round of applause to welcome the first team to the finals today!"

"They are SK Telecom—T1—from the OGN region!"

"Wow!"

A cheer erupted at Staples Center. During the World Championship, although SKT was overshadowed by JM and his NXG in terms of attention and strength rating, they still won over many North American viewers with their performance. Their mid-laner Faker was even hailed as the man closest to god in this World Championship.

This can be seen from the roar that erupted in the audience when the host introduced "Faker" as his ID.

A man close to God!

So who is the god of LOL? The answer is self-evident.

After introducing SKT, the host cleared his throat and presented his best self:
"Now, let's welcome the 2013 All-Star champion – LPL region's Nexus Vanguard!"

"NXG!"

Boom!Boom!
Riot Games gave Jiang Ming and his NXG team a grand welcome when they appeared, recognizing their significant contributions to the promotion of League of Legends.

The performers, who had stopped moving, suddenly swung their drumsticks, and the war drums blared like thunder, creating waves of sound.

Among them, the cheers from the audience were the loudest when Jiang Ming appeared, and the screams almost shattered the eardrums of the people sitting next to him.

No wonder the players at the scene reacted that way.

Today, when Jiang Ming walked into the camera, he was not wearing the usual coach's suit and uniform, but instead wearing the NXG team uniform with the captain's armband.

In the finals, JM starts!

With such information flashing through the minds of all the audience members, how could they possibly remain calm given the atmosphere on set?

Whether we acknowledge it or not, in China, people often admire the soldiers who fight on the front lines more than they admire the strategists and decision-makers who strategize and oversee the military.

There was no indication that Yihan should play a couple of games first to test SKT's capabilities, or that the atmosphere should be heated up to the extreme before he would step in as the savior.

atmosphere?

The atmosphere in the finals was already high enough; if it got any hotter, even something that wasn't flammable might get set on fire.

Savior?
Sorry, but knowing that Yihan would have a hard time gaining an advantage against Faker in the mid lane, Jiang Ming couldn't let his team face an ultimate boss. Losing their value was secondary; losing their Dao Heart would be a huge loss.

Therefore, in the finals, regardless of the considerations, he should rightfully be the starter.

S3 was the starting point for NXG's rise to glory. As mentioned in a previous interview, as the club continues to develop, he will eventually have to gradually leave the competition.

Before leaving, I don't care about anything else; my ultimate goal is to win the highest honor as a player.

Besides, now that they've been reborn in Season 3 and have trained the entire league, how could they possibly leave out Li Guapi?

Lee Sang-hyeok after 2017 was too much of a team player, while Lee Sang-hyeok before the S3 World Championship was still too inexperienced.
And now, it's just right!
(End of this chapter)