Chapter 124: Achieve greatness today

August 28, Bo Lan.

Kelakefu, Taolong Tiyuguan.

Taolong Tiyuguan

In front of the stadium, the normally extremely empty square today sees the streets emptied of people, with crowds surging.

In front of the main gate, a long dragon of spectators is queuing to check tickets and enter.

Meanwhile, backstage behind the stadium's stage, the G2 Zhong Ren are waiting for the match to begin.

Before handing over his phone, Liang Yan received a message from Fu Lan Duo and Ke Li Si Tuo.

Fu Lan Duo: 【S6 waiting for you】

Shuijing Ge: 【Come on, brother, do your best to bring glory to the country!】

Just two hours ago, the LPL qualifier ended.

As Liang Yan expected, Snake won.

Moreover, the victory was relatively easy, a 3-1 win over WE, securing LPL's third slot for the S6 World Championship.

Thus, although LPL has the most teams and the tightest schedule, it has become the first of the five major regions to confirm all its S6 slots.

LPL officials explained today after the match regarding yesterday's Bo8; they scheduled the timetable so tightly partly because LPL players' visas are more troublesome, but mainly to let LPL teams go abroad for training early, since the domestic server's version updates a week later than the overseas server, naturally leaving them behind; going out earlier lets them start practicing on the new version sooner.

At the same time, LPL also announced its plan to reduce the qualifier slots from four to three, which should take effect next year.

The anger sparked among LPL netizens over unfair treatment in the IM incident quickly subsided, and they began to turn their attention to the upcoming S6.

This year's three LPL teams competing are:

First Seed EDG,

Second Seed RNG,

Third Seed Snake.

The lineup looks quite strong, so someone shouted the slogan 'LPL's most promising year.'

"Indeed quite strong, especially EDG's new mid laner and their AD, really impressive; it feels like EDG struck gold." Liang Yan said.

In the G2 waiting room, everyone's phones had been collected; the venue was still preparing, the group wasn't up on stage yet, Ka Lao Si hadn't returned from the tournament organizers, people chatted in small groups, and Lao Zhang started discussing LPL with Liang Yan.

"Deft and Scott, one came from three stars, the other is Faker's junior disciple; both are core to EDG's lineup, they must have something." Liang Yan said.

Lao Zhang sighed and said:

"I just can't figure out how these Koreans are so strong."

"The system's advancement; their whole esports industry gets special support, we've only started a few years? The gap definitely exists, but we've caught up quite quickly."

Liang Yan said calmly.

Ka Lao Si walked in through the door, smiling broadly, plopped down beside Liang Yan, and a furry arm naturally draped over him.

"What are you muttering about?"

Liang Yan and Lao Zhang were chatting in Chinese, which Ka Lao Si couldn't understand.

But the three mid-lower players, after studying Chinese with Tang Anna for a while, actually understood some.

AP then laughed and said to Ka Lao Si:

"They're talking about LPL, saying EDG's mid laner is really strong!"

Ka Lao Si froze upon hearing that:

"We haven't even played the finals yet, why talk so far ahead? And shouldn't our opponents be LCK?"

"Just chatting casually."

"Alright."

Ka Lao Si stood up,

"Hey! You guys!"

"Get ready to go on stage!"

"All of you, give me some spirit!"

"Achieve greatness today!"

……

At the venue, the lighting was dim.

At a certain moment, the BGM suddenly cut off.

A beam of light appeared from above the stage, illuminating the small trophy placed on a little pedestal, its shape and main color strikingly ominous.

Immediately after, another, larger light shone.

Quickshot in formal attire appeared in the light, and the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators surged like a wave.

Quickshot smiled, waiting for the cheers to subside, then slowly raised the microphone:

"Welcome to the venue of the 2016 League of Legends European Regional Finals! This is Kelakefu Taolong Tiyuguan, I am the host, Quickshot!"

The fitting BGM set the mood, Quickshot gazed into the camera:

"We have gone through a tumultuous summer, witnessed the unbelievable rise of a dark horse, and also seen a king reborn from ashes."

"Tonight, the dark horse prince and the reborn king meet here."

"This match represents the collision of two utterly different fate trajectories!"

"And we will witness here!"

"Witness the birth of Europe's ultimate champion!"

"And the ownership of that ticket to the pinnacle of the world!"

The venue erupted completely.

The spectators' clamor even drowned out Quickshot's voice.

Quickshot had to pause again, only resuming his speech once the sound waves had slightly subsided:

Next, let us welcome the two champion teams with enthusiastic applause!

First up, G2Esports!

One person's applause is a patter; tens of thousands' applause is like thunder bursting from flat ground!

As Quickshot announced the player's ID in a loud voice, the camera panned to the backstage passage exit opposite the stage, where the light was scattered and smoke swirled, and a figure appeared and disappeared within.

Top lane, Island!

Lao Zhang walked out slowly, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists to ease his inner tension, but when the tsunami-like cheer washed over him, his stiff smile began to tremble uncontrollably.

The audience stretched across mountains and fields, the sound waves deafening.

He had only ever seen such a scene in his dreams.

Jungle, Firrrrrre!

Liang Yan walked out from the smoke.

The venue's sound surged again at that moment, like mountains overturning and seas overturning.

Many premium subscribers from Liang Yan's livestream came to the venue, including many locals from Bo Lan; this was their first time seeing Liang Yan in person offline.

As Liang Yan approached with a smile, some female fans became so excited they clapped wildly and emitted pure emotional-release screams, looking as if they were high on something.

On the stands all around, it was practically a frenzy of demons dancing.

Liang Yan waved with both hands as he walked, finally arriving before the blue team's player seats and standing beside Lao Zhang.

Some spectators closer to the stage started pulling out their phones to take frantic photos, but when Liang Yan first raised his hand to shield his eyes, those behind him silently turned off their flashes.

Actually, even the nearest ones were ten-odd meters from the stage; in terms of photo effect, whether the flash was on or off made no difference.

In the official match's livestream, countless people began spamming the same line:

【Eternal Enemy of the Defense Tower】