Stepping out of the teahouse, it was already dark, and the neon lights on the street stretched the shadows of the three of them.
"That's it, we've made a reservation on the hot search again." Rita spread her hands helplessly, but there was a hint of a smile in her tone.
Luo Xin was a little worried: "Those two anchors won't retaliate against you, right?"
"Don't worry," Su Mo said calmly, "It would be ridiculous if I couldn't even deal with this storm."
His words were understated, but they carried an undoubted weight.
In this world, EDG is no longer an ordinary club. It is a symbol and a totem of LPL and even the entire League of Legends e-sports.
Any malicious attack on its core players is tantamount to trying to control the situation.
As expected, the fermentation and reversal that night came faster and more completely than expected.
The guild behind the two anchors, after learning who the idiot under its banner was provoking, almost as soon as the video was leaked, in an almost self-destructive manner, it issued a long apology letter and announced the termination of the contracts of its two anchors.
A small storm disappeared without even touching the hot search topic.
The three-day vacation of the EDG players also came to an end in this leisurely and interlude.
The holiday soon ended, and the EDG base returned to its former bustle, but what filled the air was no longer a simple atmosphere of preparation for war, but a unique commercial atmosphere.
Business activity week officially begins.
The first stop was the LPL official studio, where the official promotional video and makeup photos were taken for the defending champion who will represent the LPL in MSI for the fifth time.
In the huge studio, the atmosphere is professional and serious.
"Jiejie, look a little more fierce! Yes, you are not the bully of LPL, you are the king of the jungle in the world!" The director held up the speaker, trying to inspire Jiejie's aura.
Jiejie tried hard to stare, but ended up trying too hard, which made her look a little funny.
"Click!" The director shouted helplessly, "Forget it, look at Brother Mozi next to you!"
Everyone's eyes turned to the other side.
Su Mo was sitting boredly on a high stool, letting the makeup artist touch up his makeup.
He just glanced at the camera casually, with a hint of natural laziness and disdain in his eyes, as if the place he was going to next was not the world championships, but the convenience store downstairs.
However, just this casual glance formed a powerful aura of looking down on all living beings under the lens.
"Yes! That's what it feels like!" The director slapped his thigh excitedly, "This is called the king's calmness! Forget it, Jiejie, just laugh and show the affinity of our champion."
Jiejie cried sadly: "Director, this is too different..."
The whole audience burst into laughter.
· During the break between shooting, the EDG team met the RNG players who also came to shoot the material.
As the loser in the final, the atmosphere within the RNG team was a bit dull.
Xiaohu saw Su Mo, walked over to him, handed him a bottle of water, with complicated eyes: "We still failed to challenge."
"It was a pretty good fight," Su Mo took the water, opened it and took a sip, "Keep up the good work in the summer competition."
"It's not just us," Xiaohu glanced at He lowered his voice, "Teams all over the world are studying you now. They watch your videos more every day than their own. This year's DK in the LCK is said to have twice as much training as us. Their only goal is to knock you off the throne in Iceland."
This conversation was not filled with the unwillingness of a loser, but more like a trust within the LPL.
The tasks we failed to complete, now it is up to you to face the challenges of the entire world.
The news that EDG is about to go on a tour has already spread throughout major competition areas around the world.
While LPL fans are reveling in the continuation of the dynasty, the audience and players in other regions are filled with a sense of "crying wolf" tension and excitement.
In the European LEC post-match analysis program, the host quoted Perkz's speech on social media: "Over the years, we have replaced countless talents and formed various galactic battleships, but in the end we found that all roads leading to the world championship end with the man named Mo. This year, I am not in Europe. I hope the guys at MAD can take my place...at least let him use more effort."
In the forum of the North American LCS, fans are filled with mixed emotions of pessimism and expectation: "Oh my god, it's EDG again, our Phantom God C9 will be successful if they can win a small round from them this time!"
In the LCK, the atmosphere is exaggerated to the extreme.
Aker, the mid laner of the well-known strong team DK, was asked in an interview what he thought of MSI's opponent EDG. He looked at the camera and said in an extremely serious tone:
"When I first debuted, people said I was the next Faker. After I won multiple LCK championships, they said I was the number one mid laner in the world." He paused, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, "But I know very well that as long as that person is still playing, the title of No. 1 in the world will never be worthy of the title. I have watched all his games, his operations, and his decision-making...that is not what humans can do. People call him a god, and I...want to try it in Iceland and see if it will bleed."
This declaration was reported by major media, which directly ignited the excitement of this MSI to the highest point in advance.
An undefeated dynasty that ruled for four years.
A challenger alliance that brings together talents from all over the world.
Everyone understands that this year's Iceland will not only be a championship match, but also a god-killing battle in which the new king challenges the old gods!
At the same time, LPL's official "MSI Expedition Ceremony" was held grandly at Shanghai Zhengda Plaza.
When all members of EDG took the stage wearing brand new team uniforms with dark patterns of the five-star red flag, the scene was filled with roars.
The leader of the league personally awarded the flag to EDG. The battle flag with the LPL logo has long become EDG's "exclusive expedition flag."
"Before setting off for the expedition, please make a declaration from each team member!" Host Yu Shuang's voice was solemn and exciting.
Meiko, Jiejie and others spoke in turn, expressing their determination to defend their title.
Finally, the microphone was handed to Su Mo.
The whole place fell silent for a moment.
Su Mo took the microphone, looked around the golden sea of flags under the stage, and spoke slowly, his voice was not loud, but it was enough for the world to hear:
"I heard many people say that teams from all over the world want to challenge us."
"There are many competition regions in the world, and each region has its own king. But there is only one throne in League of Legends."
"The one in Iceland, we have been sitting on it for a long time."
"This time, I just went back to see if the chair had been stained."
Hence the words fell, there was a brief silence at first, and then a deafening carnival broke out!
This is no longer a declaration! This is a verdict!
He did not put the other teams in the position of challengers at all, but acted like a king patrolling the territory, telling the world that the king is back again!
The ceremony ended, and the EDG team went directly to the airport.
Amidst the shouts of countless fans, "The glory of the LPL is at stake," we flew to that land of ice and fire.
After more than ten hours of flight, EDG arrived in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.
The biting cold wind and the desolate and magnificent scenery gave the team members a completely different atmosphere from Shanghai.
This is the legendary residence of the Nordic gods, and it is also the battlefield where they will defend their throne.
After entering the officially arranged hotel, EDG did not take a moment to rest and immediately began training to prepare for the battle.
It is worth mentioning that Abramovich actually invited DK to play a friendly match.
The opponent's only condition is to ask Su Mo to play...
Su Mo is sitting in the top lane position, and the ID opposite is Khan, who is known as "LCK's last top lane glory".
During the BP stage, DK's coach Kkoma showed the strength of the world's top coach. He frantically targeted EDG's bottom lane and mid lane, but only released a few of Su Mo's signature heroes.
"They... want to try your unique skills in a training match?" Abu whispered behind Su Mo.
Su Mo smiled: "Then satisfy him."
EDG's last move was to lock one of Su Mo's signatures - the blade dancer, Irelia!
The training match begins!
Everyone thought this would be a solo show on the road. However, DK used actions to tell EDG why they are known as the "world's number one challenger."
Canyon's Leopard Girl and Aker's Syndra launched an endless attack on the top lane from the first minute of the game!
Level 3, the midfielder and jungler work together to force Su Mo to flash.
Level 5, the jungler cooperates with top laner Khan to forcefully cross the tower again.
Faced with this suffocating target, Su Mo relied on his miraculous operation to complete a wave of one-for-one swaps under the tower, replacing Khan's head, but he was also taken away by Canyon.
"西八..." In DK's team voice, Aker looked at the gray screen and let out a low curse.
In the wave just now, he was a step late in supporting, causing Khan to be replaced.
"It's okay, he didn't dodge TP anymore," Canyon's voice was still calm, "He will die in the next wave."
However, they underestimated Su Mo's fear.
Back on the line, Su Mo's sword girl fell behind in last-hitting, but every attack he made accurately hit Khan's pain points.
Ten minutes, the canyon pioneer fights.
DK's Nakano Suke and the other two teamed up again to try to encircle and suppress the lone Su Mo.
Just when everyone thought that Sword Girl would definitely die, the moment Su Mo was attacked by three people, a minion with the ultimate Q skill moved and avoided Syndra's fatal stun. Then he made a big move and framed the three of them with his backhand!
Q! refresh! Q! Refresh again!
He is like an artist dancing on the tip of a knife, his figure shuttles back and forth among the DK trio!
Hibiyi pulled out his double blades, accurately stunning Aker and his assistant BeryL!
【Double Kill!】
When the double kill prompt sounded, there was only the sound of heavy breathing in the entire DK training room.
In the end, Canyon's Leopard Girl succeeded in replacing Su Mo, who still had limited health, with the help of punishment and extreme healing.
A wave of three guarantees one, and the opponent beat him to a two-for-one!
"Is this...the power of God..." Khan muttered to himself as he looked at his gray screen.
On the other hand, Aker clenched his fists tightly, and instead of being frustrated, his eyes lit up with even hotter flames: "Interesting... so interesting!"
This wave of shocking operations completely disrupted DK's rhythm.
· The other members of EDG stabilized their position and began to operate steadily around Su Mo who was regaining momentum.
In the end, this much-anticipated training match ended with EDG's victory.
In the training room, Jiejie breathed a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Oh my God, Brother Mo Zi, I thought you were going to die just now, and I almost had a heart attack!"
Su Mo took off his headphones, moved his wrists, with a faint smile on his face:
"I told you, I just came back to look at the chair."
"Now it seems that they are quite clean, and their strength is just that."
The gunpowder has been ignited.
The whole world is waiting for the opening of the MSI main event!
The thrilling training match with DK was not concealed by the two teams. The news was like a pebble thrown into a lake, causing quite a stir within the major participating teams.
After completing the first round of testing with teams from various major competition regions, the factory director and Abramovich made a decision that surprised everyone - on the premise of ensuring daily basic training, give the team members half a day to get out of the hotel and experience the unique style of Iceland.
"It's not enough to be tense all the time," the factory director explained at the tactical meeting. "DK is very strong, MAD and C9 also have their own characteristics. But we are EDG, and we have our own rhythm. Mentality is our biggest weapon in the world arena. This MSI, we not only want to win, but also win relaxation and calmness."
This decision cheered a group of teenagers who were almost moldy in the hotel.
Hence, EDG’s “alternative preparations” began.
They did not go to those famous tourist attractions, but went on a unique "Iceland Discovery Tour" under the accompaniment and supervision of official Riot staff.
The first stop is a black sand beach not far from the hotel.
When the team members first set foot on the fine, ink-like sand weathered by volcanic lava, everyone was shocked by the strange sight in front of them.
"Wow! It's so cool here!" Jiejie was like a wild horse, running around excitedly on the beach. He also used his mobile phone to start the live broadcast to show off to fans in China, "Have your family seen it? This is Iceland! When I go back, I will bring you volcanic rocks as souvenirs!"
Scout and Viper were even more fascinated by this scenery.
Viper even took off his shoes and stepped barefoot into the cold seawater, feeling the biting chill, but with an excited smile on his face.
Su Mo did not participate in the young people's fight.
He walked alone to a higher basalt rock, faced the cold sea breeze, and looked at the endless Atlantic Ocean.
Meiko walked up to him and handed him a can of hot coffee: "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," Su Mo took the coffee and warmed his hands, "I just feel that compared with this world, winning or losing in the game is not that important."
"Absolutely," Su Mo also smiled, "Perhaps, playing games is the same as watching the scenery. The most important thing is to enjoy the process."
This conversation made the factory director and Abu, who were not far away, look at each other and smile.
They knew that Su Mo's mentality had reached a state of perfection.
He is no longer a victor who simply pursues victory. After all, there is no such thing as loss in his life.