LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

"Let's lift the trophy!!" The factory manager and Abu rushed onto the stage, and a group of people surrounded the trophy, their faces beaming with joy.

Su Mo stood in the very center, and his teammates tacitly reserved the center position for him.

"one two three!!!"

With a unified shout, five hands exerted force at the same time, lifting the heavy trophy high above their heads!
"boom!!!"

The atmosphere at Chase Center reached its peak at this moment.

Brilliant fireworks erupted around the stage, and golden ribbons cascaded down like waterfalls, engulfing the EDG team members in a sea of ​​glory.

The rousing melody of "Star Walkin'" rang out again, and the entire audience rose to their feet, applauding and cheering in waves like a tsunami.

Su Mo looked up at the golden rain falling from the sky and took a deep breath.

This is the air at the top of the world.

This is what it feels like to be invincible.

……

After the festivities, the highly anticipated awards ceremony took place.

Riot Games CEO Nicolo Laurent walked onto the stage, holding the trophy that symbolizes the highest personal honor—the FMVP trophy.

The entire venue gradually quieted down, and everyone waited for the name that was no surprise.

"The Most Valuable Player of the S12 World Championship Finals is—"

Nicolo paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over the EDG players before finally settling on the calm-looking young man.

"TOP, Mo!! Mo!!!"

"Mo! Mo! Mo!"

The scene erupted instantly, with deafening, synchronized shouts.

Su Mo smiled as he stepped out of the queue and accepted the FMVP trophy. He gently stroked the base of the trophy, the highest accolade for his dominant performance throughout the series.

Three games, three different heroes, three head-to-head victories.

Jax's divine intervention, Warwick's desperate bite, Riven's broken sword reforged.

This FMVP award is well-deserved.

The host, Sjokz, dressed in formal attire, walked up to Su Mo with a microphone in hand, a professional yet excited smile on his face.

"Congratulations, Mo! This is an incredible night!" Sjokz's voice echoed throughout the arena through the speakers. "You swept T1 3-0, defended your championship title, and you won the FMVP award. Now, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans around the world?"

Su Mo took the microphone and looked at the enthusiastic faces below the stage and the five-star red flag waving in the distance.

He paused for two seconds, then slowly began to speak:
"In San Francisco this year, we told the world that EDG is still here."

"Many people have said that T1 is an invincible mountain, and Faker is an insurmountable god." Su Mo's voice was calm. "But in the world of esports, there are no eternal gods. If there are, then it is us standing in front of you right now."

"Wow!!!"

This domineering statement instantly ignited the entire audience, captivating both LPL fans and overseas viewers with its indomitable spirit.

Sjokz's eyes gleamed as he continued, "We all saw that in the final game's draft, T1 banned five top lane champions specifically targeting you. But in that situation, you locked in Riven. What was your reasoning? Was it confidence, or some special feeling?"

Su Mo smiled and looked down at the FMVP trophy in his hand.

"The reason is actually very simple: I'm confident in whatever I play."

At the end of the interview, Sjokz asked the question that all players were most concerned about.

"So, Mo, as the FMVP, have you decided which champion you'll choose for your championship skin? Is it the invincible Jax from the first game, the unexpected Warwick, or the Riven from this battle of faith?"

The golden rain on the stage was still falling, and Sjokz held the microphone to Su Mo's lips, waiting for the answer about the champion skin.

Su Mo held the microphone, a playful smile playing on his lips, his eyes darting between the audience and the cameras.

At that moment, many images did indeed flash through his mind.

In the first game, Jax was an unstoppable numerical crushing, a godlike dominance.

Warwick in the second game was the ultimate blow to T1's mental defenses, a fear that sent chills down your spine.

The Riven in the third game was a testament to faith, a reforged sword, and the pinnacle of skill and brilliance.

Every hero has an irreplaceable significance.

“This is a very difficult choice.” Su Mo shrugged into the microphone. “To be honest, Riven is the faith of many people, and it is also my original intention; but the feeling of Warwick gave me in this final was too great, and the thrill of the hunt is hard for me to give up; as for Jax, that is the dignity of the weapon master.”

The audience below the stage let out a burst of good-natured laughter and expectant exclamations, with some shouting "Riven" and others shouting "Warwick," the voices rising and falling.

Su Mo smiled and continued, "If I make a decision now, it would be unfair to the other two heroes. Besides, I also want to hear the fans' opinions. So—"

He paused, then left everyone in suspense:

"I've decided to keep this a secret for now. After I return to China, I'll do a live stream to discuss it with everyone and then make a careful decision. After all, this isn't just my skin; it belongs to all the players who support EDG and LPL."

"Woooow!!!"

Although no direct answer was given, Su Mo's witty and interactive response still won applause. Sjokz nodded with a smile, "A very suspenseful answer! Let's all look forward to your final decision!"

……

After finishing their interviews on the main stage, Su Mo and his group finally returned backstage.

As soon as I entered the passage, the LPL official hosting team was already waiting for me.

The person in charge of the interview was Yu Shuang, who was wearing an elegant cheongsam today, and her eyes were red.

"Congratulations Mozi! Congratulations EDG!" Yu Shuang said, holding a microphone with the LPL logo. "Weibo in China is completely down right now, and you guys have practically taken over the top ten trending topics. As the FMVP, what would you like to say to the LPL fans who have been staying up all night to support you?"

Su Mo's expression softened considerably when facing the cameras of his own region.

He waved the FMVP trophy in his hand at the camera, his tone sincere:
"This is not only my trophy, but also LPL's. Thank you for believing in us and staying up all night with us. Tonight, everyone can stand tall and tell everyone loudly—we are still the champions! Now, go and catch up on your sleep, your health is the most important thing—of course, if you're celebrating all night tonight, be careful not to drink too much."

These words, both powerful and heartwarming, once again brought tears to the eyes of countless viewers watching on their screens across China, who exclaimed, "Brother Mozi is so sweet!"

……

Back in the lounge, before the team members could even sit down and catch their breath, the door was violently pushed open with a bang.

A slightly overweight middle-aged man in a suit rushed in, his face bearing a smile even wilder than Su Mo's, his tie askew to one side.

He is EDG's owner, Edward Zhu.

He was originally still in China, but the moment EDG advanced to the finals, he flew directly to San Francisco overnight.

He was thrilled watching the scenes of victory from the stands; his voice was hoarse from shouting, and he almost broke two of his cheering sticks. "Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!!"

Ed Zhu rushed in and, without saying a word, went straight to Su Mo and gave him a big bear hug.

"Brother Mozi! You're my god! This Riven game almost gave me a heart attack, it was so cool!!"

Ed Zhu released Su Mo, waved his hand, and roared to everyone in the room with boundless pride, "Everyone! Double the bonus! One house for everyone! I mean it! Especially Brother Mo! What do you want? As long as I can give it to you, just name it! You've really made us proud!"

Abu chuckled and teased his boss, straightening his tie: "Boss, calm down. Mozi is a global superstar now. Your little bonus probably won't be enough to keep him. There are plenty of teams outside waving their checkbooks and waiting."

"Who dares to poach him?!" Edward Zhu's eyes widened, then he put on a smiling face and put his arm around Su Mo's shoulder tightly. "Su Mo is the crown prince of EDG! Nobody can poach him! Right, Brother Mo? Tonight, I've booked the whole San Francisco Seaview Manor. We're drinking until we drop! Australian lobster, tomahawk steak, Lafite, all you can eat!"

After saying that, Ed Zhu seemed to remember something, his eyes darted around, and he leaned close to Su Mo's ear mysteriously, lowering his voice:
"By the way, Brother Mozi, I've already invited those people from your family, but I'm worried they might not come, so could you let them know?"

Su Mo raised an eyebrow: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, boss. I'll let them know."

"OK."

……

That night, a seaside manor in San Francisco was brightly lit.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies the magnificent Pacific Ocean, while inside, a long dining table is laden with top-quality champagne and gourmet food.

The EDG players completely let go of the pressure of the match. Jiejie and Viper were drinking, Meiko and Scout were fighting over the last king crab leg, and Flandre was happily creating a lively atmosphere on the side.

Su Mo sat on the sofa on the terrace, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand, the sea breeze ruffling his hair.

He was surrounded by a fragrant breeze.

Rita, dressed in a red evening gown, was standing sideways, looking at Su Mo with eyes full of adoration.

Yu Shuang sat down with a plate of sliced ​​fruit, smiling gently as she interjected, "Mo Zi, your last answer that left everyone in suspense was terrible. Now everyone online is guessing which skin you'll choose, and some people have even started betting odds."

"Exactly!" Luo Xin, wearing a cute short skirt, chimed in, "Quickly, tell us secretly, which one do you want to choose?"

Xiaoyu blinked her big eyes and asked, "Can you give us an exclusive scoop?"

Surrounded by four beautiful women, Su Mo smelled their faint perfume and looked at everything before him—the golden trophy, the generous boss, his brothers-in-arms, and the smiling beauties beside him.

He chuckled mischievously, put down his glass, and put a finger to his lips in a "shh" gesture.

"It's a secret. But... if any of you can drink me out tonight, I'll tell her quietly."

“Alright! You said it!” Rita was the first to object, raising her glass. “Sisters, let’s go! Tonight, let’s get Mozi drunk!”

Laughter and the clinking of glasses echoed in the San Francisco night sky.

Su Mo looked up at the dazzling starry sky, feeling incredibly happy.

This is what it feels like to be at the peak.

The nights in San Francisco are destined to be noisy and intoxicating.

That night's celebration banquet was nothing short of a "battle of the gods".

Ed Zhu opened bottle after bottle of wine as if it were free. Jiejie eventually fell asleep hugging a giant lobster. Meiko and Scout sang "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies" on the terrace, facing the sea. Although they were completely off-key, their joy infected everyone.

As for Su Mo, he clearly underestimated the fighting power of the "Four Golden Flowers".

Rita is truly daring and capable of drinking a lot.

After a few glasses of red wine, the usually dignified and poised female commentator on the commentary stage had flushed cheeks and glazed eyes, and insisted on playing a drinking game with Su Mo.

"Good buddies... Five champions..." Rita's voice was soft yet bold, and she didn't hold back even after losing, tilting her head back and down the drink.

"Brother Mo, are you not good enough? Are you raising fish?" Seeing that Su Mo only took a small sip, Luo Xin teased him from the side, her mischievous spirit rising, wishing she could shove the wine glass to Su Mo's lips.

Su Mo had no choice but to risk his life to accompany the gentleman.

After a few rounds of drinks, Yu Shuang remained somewhat sober. She handed Su Mo a glass of warm water, her eyes gentle: "Drink less, you have to catch a flight tomorrow. Don't listen to their nonsense."

Su Mo took the water and looked at this kind older sister with gratitude.

However, the next second, Rita leaned close, her body exuding a fragrant scent, and breathed sweetly into his ear:

Looking into Rita's eyes, which seemed to be overflowing with tears, Su Mo took a deep breath and silently recited "Form is emptiness."

This isn't a victory celebration banquet, it's practically a spider's web!
Finally, the party ended when Ed Zhu completely blacked out and had to be carried away to rest.

……

Two days later, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Although EDG had tried its best to keep the flight information confidential, Su Mo was still shocked by the scene in front of him when he pushed his luggage cart out of the international arrivals exit.

Crowds of people.

The arrival hall was packed with fans wearing EDG team jerseys, holding light boards and banners. The scene was ten times more extravagant than when a top celebrity arrives at the airport.

"Welcome home!!"

"EDG is awesome!!"

"Brother Mozi! A god forever!!"

The moment Su Mo appeared, countless flashes went off, and the sound of cameras clicking filled the air.

Su Mo stopped and took off her sunglasses.

Looking into those eyes filled with fervor and admiration, and at that waving red flag, a strong sense of belonging welled up in my heart.

Winning a championship in a foreign land is exhilarating, but the feeling of being surrounded by your brothers and sisters on your way home is the most reassuring.

"Everyone, please be careful and don't push!" Su Mo shouted through a megaphone, and then, with the help of layers of security guards, he managed to squeeze onto the team's bus.

……

Back at the base, after a short day of rest to adjust to the time difference.

October 11, 10pm.

Su Mo started her first live broadcast after returning to China.

The moment the broadcast started, the popularity of Huya Live exploded.

The number of VIP seats quickly exceeded 10,000, and the barrage of comments was so dense that it was impossible to see clearly. Various treasure maps and Huya No. 1 messages were flying around like they were free.

Even Su Mo now couldn't help but sigh at how many rich people there were... (End of Chapter)