CS: The Last Dance, a Dance That Leads to Professional Success

Chapter 137 The Shadow of a Dynasty? The Curtain Is About to Rise! (Two Chapters Combined)

Carlos's post immediately caused a frenzy among netizens and fans online, flooding comment sections, forums, and live streams...

Everything related to CSGO has been engulfed in a massive war of words because of this post.

Some people have clearly sided with Carlos, pointing the finger at Falcons and those "defected" players.

"Well said! I support you this time, Ka Laosi! Clubs like Falcons are a cancer in the CS scene! They don't understand esports, they only know how to throw money around, they're completely playing the money-driven football game! Look at the players they've bought! A bunch of veterans nearing the end of their careers, what is this if not a retirement home? This behavior seriously disrupts the ecological balance of the CS professional scene!"

"Niko has really disappointed me! He just won the Major championship he'd been dreaming of, and then he turned around and forgot his dream for money? G2 gave him the best platform and the best teammates, but he chose to leave at the peak of his career? He's so opportunistic! I bet Antwerp will be the last championship of his career!"

"You were the one who shouted on the finals stage that you wanted to win the most games and be number 1, but you turned around and joined a 'retirement home' for money? What happened to your dreams? Have you been corrupted by oil and dollars?"

"Yes, I thought he would become the next legend, but I didn't expect him to be corrupted by money so quickly. Don't tell me he went to Falcons because he thought it was a good team, no one would believe that! A 17-year-old boy, who was making bold statements about taking TOP1 on the finals stage, turned around and went to a 'retirement home' that doesn't even have S+ tournament tickets. This is simply self-destruction!"

"Stop fooling yourself. Did Dark go to Falcons because he thought it was a competitive team? That's laughable. Anyone with eyes can see it's for the money. Young man, you've narrowed your path."

Renowned streamer Lobanjica stated bluntly during his livestream: "NiKo's decision to join Falcons was entirely driven by financial considerations. This mentality is the root cause of NiKo's two missed Major titles so far, and this year's Antwerp title will be his last."

Finally, during his live stream, he revealed a meme: "Without genuine ambition, you can't win a championship!"

However, a considerable number of people scoffed at Carlos's behavior and chose to stand with the players and Falcons.

"Carlos, that's really hurtful. He's a champion who helped you win a championship. Can't you just part ways amicably? Why do you have to make it so ugly?"

"If G2's management had been a little more generous, would they have fallen apart right after winning the championship? I'm on the players' side this time; it's perfectly reasonable for them to pursue higher salaries!"

"G2's owner is absolutely disgusting! He won the Major championship, but instead of thinking about raising salaries to retain his players, he just wanted to reap the benefits of the hype. Now that they've left, he's here making sarcastic remarks and stirring up trouble. He's really hypocritical!"

"Don't you understand market economics? A professional player's prime only lasts a few years. If you don't make as much money as possible while you're famous and in good form, who will support you when you get old? Will you, Carlos, pay for it?"

"Support the player! Support Falcons! I love seeing someone like Kaka break down, it's so satisfying!"

"Support Dark and Niko! What's wrong with earning a high-paying contract through your own abilities? Does staying with G2 and being exploited mean you have to be 'ambitious'?"

"Hilarious! G2 doesn't want to spend money themselves, but they won't let others spend it? Falcon is willing to give it up, and the player deserves it, what's the problem?"

The internet is abuzz with heated debate, with various viewpoints clashing fiercely.

However, Meng Lang, who was at the center of the storm, did not miss this rare opportunity to earn Goat points. On a whim, he posted a response to Ka Lao Si on his personal Instagram.

"@Carlos, I'm sorry, Knight of Light needs a holy sword to match him."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the CS community!
Meng Lang didn't pay much attention to online comments; in the end, everything depended on his performance.

After posting his response, he began to enjoy his rare vacation.

Life in my hometown town moves at a slow and peaceful pace.

But as news of his return to China gradually spread from his classmates' group, curious neighbors, distant relatives, and even acquaintances of similar age kept coming to visit him.

Everyone sat around in the main room, drinking tea and chatting, asking all sorts of questions in their familiar Sichuan and Chongqing dialect:
"You brat, are the events at overseas competitions really that big? Do you manage to keep up with all those foreigners yelling in the audience?"

"What's it like inside the G2 club? Are Niko and Kid handsome in person? Are they fun to be around in private?"

"Would Young Master Ni go to a nightclub and say, 'I'll pay for everything tonight'?"

???

Meng Lang smiled and answered with some amusing anecdotes that didn't involve his personal privacy:
"Niko is a very nice person. He trains very hard. I don't know much about his nightclub life. He's just a kid who's addicted to the internet. He does nothing but play games except for training. We usually just train, have meetings, and play matches. It's pretty much like going to work."

"I heard you signed with that... Saudi club? Falcon Soc? Is it hot there? Will you be able to settle in? I heard they eat mutton every day?"

"Hey kid, everyone online says you've become a millionaire, is that true? Can you really make that much money playing video games?"

Meng Lang neither confirmed nor denied it, simply smiling as he handed over a bottle of cola. However, his nonchalant attitude, along with the subtle confidence and a demeanor unlike his usual self, spoke volumes!
This immediately made the people of the same age in the small town feel dizzy, as if they were in an unreal world.

On June 5th, the hustle and bustle subsided temporarily.

Meng Lang then wandered around Jianyang again, and together with his childhood friend Erpang, they climbed the famous Longquan Mountain.

The mountain is not high, but the scenery is beautiful.

The two walked along the tree-lined path, breathing in the fresh air, chatting about embarrassing things from their childhood, feeling exceptionally relaxed.

After descending the mountain, Erpang suggested, "Come on, Mengwa'er, it's been so long since we went to an internet cafe to play games together, let's have a couple of rounds!"

"Get it!"

The two arrived at the largest internet cafe in town.

Today, CS:GO's popularity in China is vastly different from what it used to be, partly due to Meng Lang's legendary championship experience, which successfully propelled the game beyond its core audience and attracted a large influx of new players.

The internet cafe owner, a middle-aged man in his forties, recognized Meng Lang at a glance.

"Hey! Isn't that... isn't that the M10 champion?!"

The owner rubbed his hands excitedly and came out from behind the bar to greet him, "I've heard you're from Jianyang, you're the pride of Jianyang! Come on, come on, internet access is free today, play as much as you want! Take whatever you want to drink!"

Meng Lang smiled and waved his hand:

"Boss, you're too kind. Just give me whatever price you owe."

"Oh, don't talk about money! Just come visit me more often, that's the biggest support you can give me!" The owner warmly led the two to the best camera position and even personally brought them drinks and snacks.

After leaving the internet cafe, Erpang clicked his tongue and said, "That boss is really shrewd. He thinks you can advertise his internet cafe for free with just a little internet fee? My brother is now a star in e-sports!"

Meng Lang quickly waved his hand:

"No, no, no, what celebrity? He's just a gamer."

On June 7, just as Meng Lang was enjoying a rare moment of leisure in his hometown, several major news items emerged from the CS transfer market.

First, FAZE's star rifleman ropz suddenly posted a long article on his personal social media, announcing his departure from the team and joining Little Bee.

"...My time with FAZE has been one of the most valuable experiences of my career. Together we won the Katowice and EPL S15 championships and lifted that heavy trophy. Thanks to Big Cousin, thanks to broky, Twistzz and rain, thanks to all the staff at the club... But life always has new challenges, and after careful consideration, I have decided to start the next chapter of my career."

Goodbye, Galacticos! See you on the field. #FAZEUP

The CS community immediately erupted in discussion:

"I'm so reluctant to see Ropz leave! He's half of FAZE's business!"

"Ropz is gone, who will take care of FAZE's post-game situation? It feels like the stability of the Galactic Battleship is going to drop a notch."

"Why? FAZE did so well in the first half of the year, why would they go to Little Bee?"

Immediately afterwards, FAZE's official account announced the addition of the powerful rifleman Han Wang to the MOUZ team, while officially confirming Ropz's departure.

The official announcement stated:

"Galactic battleship, engines re-ignited!"

@FaZeClan:
"Parting is for a better reunion. Thank you @ropz for the glory you brought to the Galaxy Team, and we wish you all the best! We also welcome a new crew member! The genius rifleman @frozenCSGO from @mousesports has officially joined! In the second half of 2022, the engines of the Galaxy Team will roar again, and our goal remains the stars! #FaZeUp #CSGO"

Netizens are in an uproar again:
"Hanwang is very strong, but he doesn't seem to be the same type of player as Ropz. FaZe's style needs to change."

"FAZE won two S+ tournament championships in the first half of the year and reached the semifinals of the Antwerp Major. They are undoubtedly a super team! Why would ropz abandon such a team and join the Little Bees?"

"Exactly! The performance of the Little Bees in the Major was obvious to everyone, yet they were eliminated in the Legends stage. Moreover, the three players they just brought in from Alliance, coach Zonik and his protégé Magician have all run off to Falcons to make money! Do you really think this kind of team has a better future than FAZE?"

Indeed, the performance of the Little Bees at the Antwerp Major was only mediocre. They made it into the Legends Group but failed to enter the Champions Group and were eliminated early.

Moreover, the coach Zonic and core player Magisk, who were just introduced to Team A this year, have just left the team for Falcons. Under these circumstances, joining the Gazelles doesn't seem to offer a brighter future than staying with FAZE.

Meanwhile, some Rat Team fans were even more indignant.

"I'm disgusted! Our Rat team should just change its name to 'FAZE Youth Team'! From Niko to Karrigan, and now Frozen, they've been consistently feeding the Galacticos every year. How are we supposed to compete on our own?"

However, the series of actions taken by Little Bee next triggered the second earthquake in the industry!

They first quickly acquired the young and dynamic rifleman FlameZ from the OG team to fill the firepower gap left by Magisk's departure.

Following that, it was announced that Misutaa, whose performance within the team was not satisfactory, had been demoted.

These two announcements have just been officially released, and G2's coach XTQZZZ also posted a message saying:
"My time at G2 was incredibly enjoyable. Working with such a fantastic team of players and staff, and lifting the Antwerp Major trophy together, are invaluable memories of my career. With Niko and m0NESY leaving, my coaching role has come to an end. It's time to return to France, see you all on the field!"

At this point, all the puzzle pieces are complete.

The Little Bees' official Weibo account has finally announced their new roster for the second half of the year and provided a preview of the new season.

"Rebuilding the honeycomb, tempering it into steel!"

@TeamVitality:
"As the hive is rebuilt, a new dynasty is about to rise! Welcome the legendary coach @XTQZZZ, top free agent @ropz, and Israeli lion @flameZ! In the second half of 2022, the Little Bees' brand-new lineup sets sail!"
Coach: XTQZZZ
Commander: apEX
Sniper: ZywOo
Rifleman: dupreeh
Breakthroughist: flameZ
Freelancer: ropz
Our goal is singular—the championship! #VForVictory

A brand new lineup, unwavering ambition! Let's join hands and unleash a new storm in the second half of the year! #VforVictory #”**
On the G2 side, when Leonardo DiCaprio and his cousin, who were on vacation, saw this series of news, especially after coach XTQZZZ left the team to join the Little Bees, they felt like the sky had fallen!
Although Niko and Meng Lang both informed them to varying degrees when they left the team, hinting at future changes.

Carlos also personally called to reassure them, confidently stating that this was just a "strategic adjustment" and that he would invest heavily to build a brand new championship-contending roster around them.

But what's with this whole setup and then suddenly "reassigning" the coach who just led the team to a Major championship?!
Li Zi and his cousin looked at each other, both feeling like they had been tricked and had been tricked.

Then, G2's official announcement of the new member they added left both Leonardo DiCaprio and his cousin completely stunned.

The three new additions are: malbsMd, Snax, and SunPayus, who was originally in contact with Falcon but was temporarily replaced by m0NESY.

The moment this roster was announced, even the most die-hard G2 fans couldn't contain their excitement.

Niko, Dark, and Kid, those three "traitors," are gone, but it's okay! We'll strengthen our team, grow bigger and stronger in the second half of the year, and create even greater glory!
We'll give them a good slap in the face then!
But what kind of lineup did you put together on Pinduoduo?!
G2's official account comment section was instantly flooded with angry fans.

"Ka Lao Si, you have absolutely no shame, have you? You sold three cores and all you brought in were these worthless bastards?"

"I'm disgusted! Who is malbsMd? How many years has Snax not played in a top-level competition? SunPayus is good, but can he compare to m0NESY? Are you building a team or tanking?"

"malbsMd? Snax? SunPayus? I can't say they're bad, but what does that have to do with a 'championship contender' lineup??"

"G2 Esports Club? I think they should just change their name to G2 Money-Saving Club! They're incredibly stingy!"

"I'm speechless. G2's management is incredibly stingy! What happened to the money they made from selling their core players? Did they feed it to the dogs?"

"I'm announcing I'm no longer a fan! This G2 is no longer the G2 I know!"

"It's over, G2 has completely tanked. Cousin and Leonardo DiCaprio, run!"

"Give me my money back! Give me back the money I paid for my Champion Capsules!"

"."
Shortly after G2 officially announced their new roster.

Just as G2 was announcing their new roster and being bombarded with criticism from fans, Falcons finally finalized Kid's contract and announced their final roster for the new season.

@FalconsAE:
"The foundation of our dynasty has been laid! Welcome the genius sniper @m0NESY_CSGO! With this, Team Falcons' CSGO roster for the second half of 2022 is complete!"

Coach: zonic
Commander: Snappi
Sniper: m0NESY
Rifleman: NiKo
Breakthroughist: Magisk
Freelancer/Secondary Sniper: Dark
The falcon is about to take flight! #FalconsAreHere

This lineup has once again sparked heated discussions online:
"Even m0NESY...sigh, are all the new generation of players only interested in money?"

"This lineup... looks great on paper, but something feels off. Will they be able to create any chemistry?"

"No matter what, with the longest-serving rifleman Niko, the rising star Dark, and the prodigy m0NESY, the viewership is absolutely off the charts!"

Indeed, with the massive following of Niko, Dark, and m0NESY, Falcon's new lineup has given this CS division, which was only established last year, a huge number of fans. Every post easily gets over 10,000 comments.

It is filled with a large number of Chinese IP comments:

"You know, I've been a Falcon fan for ten years!"

"Manager! Please film more of Nini, Haihai, and Heihei's daily lives! Please! The kids love to see them!"

"When is the first game of the second half of the year? I can't wait to see the new Falcon take off!"

"Has Dark returned to the club? Is he settling in well in Riyadh?"

"Can the rich guys in the Middle East start a live stream for the kids and send them rockets?"

"."

Riyadh, Falcon Club CS Division.

Manager Roussac looked at the explosive interaction data under the official account and the heated discussions about Falcon on various forums, and once again felt how correct his strategy of spending a lot of money to buy the "G2 trio" was.

Perhaps in the eyes of some veteran commentators and "experts," of the three players the Falcon acquired from G2: Niko is no longer in his prime; m0NESY's performance is inconsistent, often "hiding" and missing shots throughout the game.

Dark, who is currently in top form and won the Antwerp Major MVP, is someone whose performance is uncertain. No one can guarantee that he can carry this form into the second half of the year.

After all, history has proven countless times that no one can win forever in the world of Counter-Strike. The rise and fall of new stars is what makes this game so eternally captivating.

Who can guarantee that the Antwerp Major won't be Meng Lang's only highlight in his life?
But manager Roussac felt that...
Putting everything else aside, the sheer volume of traffic and market attention generated by these three individuals is enough for him to present a remarkable report card to his superiors.

One of the management's core goals is to make esports a new calling card for Saudi Arabia.

Looking back from last year to now, although Falcon CS division has money, it has always been a "nobody" with little presence in the industry, and its posts are basically ignored.

Unlike now, a simple daily update can generate tens of thousands of discussions, which was unimaginable before!
Commercial value
This is also part of competitive sports.

Roussac said to himself with satisfaction.

He called his assistant and asked, "Have the specific return dates for Meng Lang, Niko, and m0NESY been confirmed?"

"It's confirmed, Manager. Dark will arrive around the 9th, and Niko and m0NESY will arrive a little later, also on the same evening."

"Great!" Roussac clapped his hands. "Prepare a grand welcome ceremony for them! Make it spectacular! From picking them up at the airport to them checking into the club, film the whole process and make it into a beautiful vlog to post online! We want all the fans to feel the warmth and sincerity of the Falcon family!"

The assistant was a little confused: "Manager, isn't this... a bit too much?"

"exaggerate?"

Roussac shook his head. "Not an exaggeration at all! This is exactly the effect we want! This is called brand building, this is called fan engagement! Get ready, make sure the details are perfect!"

On June 9, Meng Lang bid farewell to his family once again and embarked on his journey overseas.

The direct flight from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport to Riyadh takes about ten hours, which is indeed much shorter than his previous trips to and from Europe and America.

However, when he stepped out of the arrival gate of Riyadh Airport with some travel fatigue, the scene that greeted him immediately invigorated him!
Ahead, Falcons' manager Roussac, along with coach zonic and a group of club staff, were holding up a huge banner that read in both Chinese and English: "Warmly welcome Dark to Team Falcons!"

Some people were even filming with cameras, attracting the attention of many passengers at the airport. This scene...
It was ridiculously grand.

I don't know,

I thought it was some prince returning home.

Welcome, Dark!

Roussac greeted him with a beaming smile and gave him a warm hug.

The grand welcoming ceremony left Meng Lang feeling flattered, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Back at the Falcon training base in Boulevard City, Meng Lang was once again amazed by the conditions there.

After putting down his luggage, manager Roussac personally led him on a tour and gave him an introduction.

"This is your single apartment. Are you satisfied? Feel free to let me know if you need anything."

The apartment is spacious and bright, fully equipped, and luxuriously decorated, comparable to a suite in a star-rated hotel.

Meng Lang couldn't help but sigh: As expected of Saudi Arabia's wealthy elite, their living conditions are so luxurious, you'd think they were on vacation!
When he arrived at the training area, the Magician, coach Zonik, and conductor Snappi, who had arrived at the club earlier, all stood up to greet him warmly.

"Hey! Dark! I've been waiting for you!" The demon man laughed and gave him a high five.

Coach Zonick, the legendary coach of Team A, is now jokingly referred to as being more like a "Nice coach," but he is very gentle. He even poured Meng Lang a glass of water after his long journey.

"Thank you, Coach! No, no, no, I can do it myself."

Meng Lang quickly took the water glass, feeling a little embarrassed.

Coach Snappi was even more enthusiastic. He is 31 years old this year and has had many ups and downs in his career. Everyone remembers him as a veteran, but he has never won a heavyweight championship and has rarely even entered the finals of major competitions.

I originally thought my professional career would just be spent between second-tier teams and the top four in major tournaments until I retired!
Unexpectedly, at the end of his career, he was first noticed by the wealthy and powerful Falcon, and then "Dark the Dark" fell from the sky and became his fierce general!

How could he not be excited?
"Dark! Dude! It's so good to see you!" Snappi gripped Meng Lang's hand tightly. "I can't wait to compete with you!"

After chatting for a while in the training room, Meng Lang asked about the upcoming match schedule.

Coach Zonik explained, "We won't be able to participate in IEM Dallas in three days or the Blast Spring Finals later this month."

Manager Roussac added, "IEM Dallas is an S-tier event with a total prize pool of only $25, so we... have no reason to participate. Blast Spring Finals is an S+ event, but there are only eight slots available, and you need to compete for those in the Spring Group Stage first. We don't have that slot, so we can't play."

He paused, then added casually, "Of course, the total prize pool for the Blast Spring Finals is only $42.5."

Meng Lang immediately understood what was going on.

He looked at coach Zonik and couldn't help but ask, "So... what's our first tournament to prepare for?"

Zonick nodded and said affirmatively, "Yes, it's next month, the qualifier for IEM Cologne, one of the three major CS:GO tournaments. We have a month to practice and prepare."

Later that day, Niko and m0NESY also arrived.

The "championship trio" of G2 reunited at the Falcon Club. The club manager naturally wouldn't miss this excellent material and immediately arranged to film a vlog of the three reuniting, visiting the base, and having a meal together.

That evening, the newly formed Falcon team, with all members present, held its first tactical meeting.

Everyone was in high spirits and full of energy!

He wants to prove himself in the upcoming competition and refute the outside world's doubts about him being a "retirement home" or "playing for money".

Whether it's Niko, the kid, or the magician, they all yearn to prove with their results that they weren't just bought off to coast through life.

The atmosphere inside the meeting room was lively.

"Besides the three regular maps, Sand City, Town, and Maze, we also need to develop two maps that are our own signature maps." Coach Zuo Nick wrote on the tactics board. "I suggest Ancient Ruins and Nuclear Crisis. These two maps have a relatively low ban/pick rate in the current matches, so we can make them our trump cards."

Once the core tone was determined, the next step was to discuss the details.

That evening, footage of Meng Lang arriving in Riyadh and being warmly welcomed at the airport, along with a vlog of the G2 trio reuniting at Falcon, was edited and posted on Falcon's official account, immediately sparking heated discussions among fans once again.

"The Dark Lord from the East has finally arrived at his loyal falcon!"

"I'm so envious! Whether the Falcons club has the strength to contend for the championship is still debatable, but the emotional value they offer and the treatment they provide, who wouldn't be confused?"

"Nini, Haihai, and Heihei are in the same frame! My youth... no, my new favorite team has arrived!"

When is Falcon's latest tournament? Will he participate in IEM Dallas?

"This training base is so luxurious! No wonder they're so wealthy!"

“Snappi is smiling so happily, it feels like he’s ushered in the second spring of his career.”

"."

After the meeting, that evening, the team's in-game leader, Snappi, started streaming on Twitch.

He arrived at the base relatively early, and since there haven't been any matches recently, he's been streaming ranked matches to maintain his skill level.

Shortly after the live stream started, a large number of viewers flooded in, with the chat filled with inquiries about Meng Lang joining the team.

"Snappi! Is Dark really coming?"

"How are things going with your new teammates? Is Dark as formidable as the rumors say?"

"Let Dark show his face!"

Just then, Meng Lang walked past Snappi during a training break. Snappi reacted quickly and grabbed him, saying, "Hey! Dark! Come say hello to the viewers in the live stream!"

Meng Lang leaned closer to the camera, smiled, and waved: "Hello everyone."

The live stream chat exploded with comments again.

"Aaaaaah! It's a living Dark!"

"Holy crap! It's him! He's so handsome!"

"With looks like that, it's a shame she's not in the entertainment industry!"

"."

Then, some viewers in the live stream started making jokes, asking, "Snappi, as the new commander, will you follow Leonardo DiCaprio's example and give Dark an AK?"

Upon seeing this comment, Snappi immediately became excited and confidently declared into the microphone:

"Of course! Is there even a question?! Who wouldn't be happy to see Dark single-handedly carry the whole game with an AK and wipe out the entire opposing team?"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, even standing up and giving a passionate speech to the camera:
"Guys, I'm 31 years old! I've been a pro for fourteen years and haven't won a decent championship yet! Now that Dark is on the team, I feel like I've seen hope!"

"Yes! I'd hand him the AK! I'd be the first to rush out and throw him a flashbang! I'd be his stepping stone! I'd even order him takeout, run errands for him, or even give him a massage!"

"Of course, no special services are offered!"

The live stream chat was immediately flooded with "hahaha" and jokes:

"That's such a passionate guy!"

"You have completely mastered the 'Dark User Manual'!"

"Congratulations, Snappi! You have grasped the ultimate essence of command!"

"With this level of awareness, you deserve to be clinging to a powerful figure at the end of your career (doge)."

Snappi's heartfelt performance was a huge success, creating a joyful atmosphere in the live stream and earning him many new Twitch subscribers.

It can be said to be both fame and fortune.

The next day, Meng Lang woke up from his simulation training.

Looking out at the unfamiliar, modern skyline of Riyadh, and then at the empty bed beside me and this excessively luxurious suite, I truly realized that I was in a completely new country, had joined a completely new team, and a brand new journey had officially begun.

On the first day of the falcon,
Meng Lang quickly sensed the difference in this club.

In addition to the high-intensity training, the club did arrange a lot of entertainment and team-building activities.

Manager Roussac updates the CS division's daily vlog on the official account almost every day, with content ranging from training highlights to dinners and local cultural experiences.

For example, athletes frolic in the pool, drive off-road vehicles across the desert, and enjoy fine dining in luxurious restaurants...

The show vividly portrays the "abundant" and "happy" lives of the team members, which makes some players and fans from other clubs extremely envious.

Meanwhile, the IEM Dallas tournament officially kicked off.

After a turbulent transfer period, all teams are fielding new lineups.

After three days of intense group stage matches, established powerhouses like the Little Bees, Na'Vi, and FaZe unsurprisingly made it into the top six. Even G2, whose roster underwent a major overhaul and was widely considered a loser, stumbled their way in.

Before the tournament, FAZE and NAVI were considered the favorites to win.

However, the course of the match took an unexpected turn. The regrouped Navi defeated NAVI, whose commander Boombl4 was absent, in the semifinals!

Then in the finals, facing his former team, the super team FAZE, Ropz once again exploded, delivering an extremely brilliant performance and helping the Little Bees defeat FAZE with a clear advantage, successfully winning the IEM Dallas championship.

He won the MVP award!

The CS community exploded instantly:

"Cargo! My Superman!"

"Holy crap! The Little Bees seem to be really different after the lineup change in the second half of the year! What a chemistry!"

"Apex's command is top-notch! This new lineup's execution is ridiculously strong!"

"Zaiwu is finally out of prison! It feels like everyone in Little Bee can do it now, and he doesn't have to be the only one to be the father and mother!"

"Ropz's transfer looks like a win-win situation now! FaZe got the transfer fee and strengthened the team, while the Little Bees got a piece of the championship puzzle!"

"XTQZZZ is awesome! This is a true tactical master! The Major championship wasn't given away for nothing!"

"."

Suddenly, someone in the comments section mentioned G2, who had worked so hard to make it into the top six, only to be eliminated by Black Panther in the quarterfinals!

"Sigh, I feel a little sorry for my cousin and Xiao Li. If Niko, Kid and Dark were still here, they might have been able to win another championship after just winning the Major."

Immediately, a comment mocked:

"Come on! Those three are being corrupted by money right now! Look at the vlog Falcon posted, what are they attending? A party for Middle Eastern tycoons! How can they be in the mood for training and matches?"

Yes, Falcons' founder and CEO is not only a successful entrepreneur, but also a role model who transitioned from a professional player to the head of a club.

He especially admired Niko and Meng Lang. During this period, the vlogs released by Falcons were no longer just for daily entertainment, but rather Meng Lang and Niko were being taken to various lavish parties hosted by Middle Eastern tycoons.

After the IEM Dallas tournament concluded.

In an interview after winning the championship, apEX, the team's commander, said with great pride: "We have found the final piece of the puzzle. The team's chemistry is now perfect. Now, we will reap all the rewards in the second half of the year with an undefeated record!"

Following that, the BLAST Spring Grand Finals kicked off in Lisbon, Portugal!

The eight teams that have qualified to participate are: NAVI, Little Bee, G2, OG, ENCE, FAZE, Pain, and BIG.

After four days of fierce competition, the final was once again between NAVI and Little Bee, reigniting the flames of their destined battle!
This time, the reorganized and unstoppable Little Bees didn't give NAVI many chances, winning two straight sets and defeating NAVI cleanly and decisively with a score of 2:0!

ZywOo has once again won the MVP award at IEM Dallas!

After the match, ZywOo, known for his humility, calmly and firmly stated in an interview: "These two championships and MVP awards are just the beginning. I think I am now fully prepared to challenge for the TOP1 title this year!"

These words immediately sent countless fans of the game into a frenzy, and the CS community was instantly flooded with comments:
"Awesome cargo handling! That's how it should be! Show your domineering spirit!"

“ZywOo可是拿过19年和20年两届TOP1的！荣誉上，完全不虚同样拿过18年和21年两届TOP1的s1mple！”

"That's right! People have been saying that s1mple is the GOAT, and our CS:GO team is the 'Executive Vice GOAT,' and I've been annoyed by that for a long time! If we can get another TOP1 this year, then the GOAT debate in the CS:GO era will finally be settled!"

"Executive Vice President? He'll be promoted to full-fledged president this year!"

"Its cargo-carrying capacity should have already reached third place in the TOP1 rankings! The chances are very high this year!"

"This lineup of little bees is perfect for carrying cargo! It can attack and defend, and it can fully utilize its cargo-carrying capabilities! It seems that the owner's decision to leave the Galactic Battleship was really the right one!"

"The most unbelievable car-moving phone call in history!"

"Holy crap! The Little Bees' performance in these two competitions has been absolutely devastating!"

"We're aiming for number one in cargo handling! Is the little honey machine really going to become the king?!"

"."

At this moment, someone suddenly mentioned it in the comments section:
"Where's that kid who boasted at the Antwerp Major that he'd climb to the top as a rifleman? What happened to him?"

Immediately, a comment quipped:

"Him? You can find him at any rich man's party or reception in Riyadh, but you'll never see him at a match."

Another comment mocked:
"Leaving aside whether it's realistic for a rifleman to win TOP1, looking back now, what that Eastern kid said on the night of the championship seems more like a joke to attract attention. Perhaps he just wanted to use it to promote himself and sell for a better price."

This malicious comment actually received quite a few likes.

A few people also felt sorry for Meng Lang.

A brilliant newcomer to Counter-Strike, shining like a comet, could very well be "ruined" by money and a glamorous lifestyle.

And amidst all the noise, doubt, and regret!

The fifth day after the Blast Spring Finals.

7 month 1 day.

Meng Lang and Niko's group quietly arrived at Riyadh's airport, packed their bags, and prepared to board a plane to Germany.

Heading to Cologne, the holy land of CS!
Because the qualifiers for one of the three major CS:GO tournaments – the 2022 IEM Cologne – will be held there soon.

This is also Meng Lang's first game after joining Falcon!
(End of this chapter)