Chapter 492

To countless foreign netizens, today is the first time they have learned of a team called VG.

So what exactly is the reason that turned VG from an ordinary team into a monster capable of sweeping one of the four major regions of the LPL?

The answer is beyond doubt.

That guy is terrifyingly formidable?!

Thus, many foreign netizens have greater expectations for this final showdown about to begin in the LPL. Moreover, on Mouse Platform, many top LOL area broadcasters have locked their livestreams onto the LPL English stream, preparing to let their fans get a good look at that guy's heroic bearing.

Meanwhile, on Chinese-language forums, netizens' discussion heat about this final has also peaked as the match approaches.

It was past three in the afternoon.

Nanjing Aoti Zhongxin Gymnasium.

Figure: Nanjing Aoti Zhongxin

In the dimly lit arena, the four large electronic screens hanging above the stage were playing the promotional video for the 2017 LPL Spring Grand Finals, and the faint light from the arena screens occasionally illuminated the crowds filling the stands on all sides.

At the center of the arena stood a square stage, with a huge crystal lamp erected at each end, symbolizing the red and blue bases of Summoner's Rift.

Below the stage, both sides' players were already standing on the lift platforms, ready to appear.

With one minute left until the opening ceremony, the four large screens above the stage and the center of the stage floor displayed huge countdown numbers.

When the countdown had only ten seconds left, the entire audience shouted in unison:

"Ten!"

"Nine!"

"Eight!"

"……"

"Three!!!"

"Two!!!"

"One!!!"

At the moment the countdown reached zero, dozens of dazzling white light pillars poured down from above, ultimately converging at the center of the stage to form a scene resembling the exit of a teleportation gate.

A section of the stage floor rose slowly from the teleportation exit, a trophy shining within it; when the base bearing the trophy was fully level with the stage, another spotlight shone on a corner of the stage, where host Ren Dong stood in the beam and raised the microphone:

"Welcome to the 2017 League of Legends Professional League Spring Grand Finals!

"This is the Nanjing Aoti Zhongxin Gymnasium!

"From mid-January opening to now, our spring season has entered its final stretch; after over three months of fierce battles and competition, we have finally determined the last two teams, arriving at today's stage that represents the strongest of spring.

"So, first let us call out one team.

"Blue Side!

"ViciGaming!

Ren Dong's booming voice echoed throughout the venue; before his words faded, the huge crystal lamp on the left side of the stage began to brighten gradually, emitting ever more intense blue light.

The five VG starters on the lift platform rose slowly from beneath the stage, and at the moment the crystal lamp's light reached its peak brightness, the five VG members were fully positioned on the stage.

The Vici in VG's team name comes from the Latin word Vincere, meaning 'to conquer'.

Actually, behind the reception desk at VG's base, there is a huge VG emblem, beneath which is written a Latin phrase indicating the meaning of the team name:

{Veni, Vidi, Vici}

(I came, I saw, I conquered.)

The team name was decided by founder and big boss Ding Jun, revealing his ambition to let this team sweep the battlefield and vow to win the championship. Now, in the League of Legends domain, VG finally has hope of realizing its founding dream, or rather, VG has already achieved this ideal to a certain extent—VG conquered the 2017 LPL Spring regular season.

At this moment, VG stands upon another summit; it need only defeat the sole rival also eyeing the peak's throne, and VG will carve an eternal monument upon this peak.

Perhaps feeling that announcing each player's ID would slow the opening ceremony's pace, the organizers did not arrange a player introduction segment; Ren Dong merely used a few concise, powerful words to summarize VG team's achievements, then proceeded to introduce the next team's appearance:

"Next, let us welcome—

"Red Side!

"EDwardGaming!

The huge crystal lamp on the right side of the stage emitted red light, as the EDG members slowly rose onto the stage; the entire crowd of piglets let out cries and vigorously struck inflatable plastic rods, cheering loudly for the team they support.

……

Mouse Platform, Lao Zhang was broadcasting the LPL final live.

Although Lao Zhang no longer personally fights on stage, his S6 championship and subsequent team retention still brought him great benefits. Now, Lao Zhang has become one of the top broadcasters in Mouse Platform's LOL area; although not as exaggerated as Perkz, his popularity surpasses that of the former Mouse Platform LOL top broadcaster hailed as North America's number one ADC, Doublelift.

As for Liang Yan, as the time he spent away from the Ou Mei Region grew longer, and with the Europe Region intentionally downplaying his contribution to their first championship in publicity, his popularity on the Mouse Platform naturally began a gradual decline. Now, although Liang Yan still has over ten thousand paying subscribers on the Mouse Platform, compared to other top streamers who routinely exceed fifty thousand paying subscribers, he has already fallen out of the first tier for some time.

If it weren't for Perkz, Lao Zhang, and others frequently mentioning him during streams, or occasionally chatting with him via link-up, Liang Yan's popularity decline might have been even more severe.

The saying "when the person leaves, the tea gets cold" holds true all over the world.

"EDG is, after all, a traditional powerhouse of the LPL, so its popularity remains high."

Lao Zhang heard the cheers when EDG entered the stage at the LPL finals venue, and casually remarked. Nowadays his English has improved greatly; whether at work or in daily communication, he faces no problems whatsoever. As the saying goes, life is the best teacher—if you use a language every day, you can actually master it easily without deliberate study.

Upon hearing this, the viewers in the live chat sent a barrage comment asking:

【EDG has only been around for three years, can it still be considered a traditional powerhouse of the LPL?】

Lao Zhang then explained: "You can't count it that way; you need to see how many years League of Legends has been around. The professional leagues of the four major regions were officially established only in Season 3, and EDG was founded in Season 4, so in this field, it can indeed be called a traditional powerhouse."

"Moreover, you might not know why EDG is so popular; it's because they won a huge number of championships in their very first year—saying they swept the LPL is no exaggeration—and they also won the inaugural MSI title. That is their foundation."

As for the history of traditional powerhouses in the LPL, Lao Zhang, who debuted early, is well versed in it, and when he brings it up to the Ou Mei viewers in the live chat, it comes easily to him.

"So don't think VG has always been invincible before; but EDG, as a traditional powerhouse, definitely has its own trump cards, and VG still runs the risk of a upset today..."