December 10th, 2018.
Seoul, South Korea, SKT's training ground.
"This is Li Xu from China. He'll be our team's substitute top laner from now on. Let's get to know each other." SKT's head coach, Kim Jung-hoon, introduced the young man beside him to the crowd.
"China?" The atmosphere was heated.
"LCK has never had a non-Korean eSports player, not even a relegation team, let alone SKT." Effort, the substitute support, was the first to speak.
"That's right. We'll become the joke of LCK and the whole world."
"It's always been the Korean players who go to other countries as foreign aid."
• • • • •
"Are you guys done?" Kim Jung-hoon asked coldly.
The training room quieted down, but Effort still looked disapprovingly at the China foreign aid who was about to become his teammate.
"Are you guys still immersed in the glory of the past? Didn't China teach you guys a lesson last year? "
In last year's S8 global finals, AFS, known as the African team by the China players, was eliminated by C9 from North America. The Korean team's five-year reign as the global champion came to an end.
It was the first time that a Korean team had not entered the top four since the start of the competition. The defending champion, GEN G, was eliminated in the group stage with 1 win and 5 losses. In the end, IG defeated FNC with a score of 3 to 0 and won the championship.
"Last year's IG was won by the Koreans," someone whispered.
"Was the MVP of last year's finals a Korean?" Kim Jung-hoon was furious. "Other than FAKER and MATA, who else has won the championship? It's time to face reality. The Koreans are no longer the best and only choice. Furthermore, SKT didn't even make it to the international tournament last year. "
"FAKER, what do you say?" Kim Jung-hoon looked at Lee Sang-hyok.
"I want to be the champion, I don't care about anything else." Lee Sang-hyok stared at Li Xu with his round-framed glasses.
Li Xu looked at the number one player in LOL history. Five years ago, Li Xu had started playing League of Legends when he was 16 years old. That year, Royal Dynasty had met SKT in the finals. However, "FAKER and I are evenly matched" and "Mad Puppy" did not help Royal Dynasty win the game. They had taken three hits. That was the beginning of the SKT dynasty.
After graduating from high school, Li Xu went to Seoul University to study. After graduating, he stayed in Seoul. He was determined to pursue his dream. Twenty-one years old was not young for eSports. He was still willing to pursue his dream.
Li Xu extended his hand to Lee Sang-hyok. "Nice to meet you."
Lee Sang-hyok breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the fluent Korean. After all, regardless of the level of the game, communication between teammates was very important in the professional scene.
Some of the Korean helpers controlled Thunder and Lightning in LCK, but the moment they went to other regions, they would quickly change their Thunder and Lightning. The language barrier was a major reason for this. After all, tactical communication was required in the competition. It was not as simple as shouting "nice" or "666".
Lee Sang-hyok shook Li Xu's hand. "I welcome any teammate who can make me stronger."
Li Xu smiled. "I'm the teammate who can make you stronger." It seemed that Li Ge was scared of his teammates last year. Under the joint performance of Black and Yellow, T Emperor, and P Emperor, there were even jokes like "one dead and one free" and "hearse in the warehouse". In the end, his teammates worked together to bring him out of the international competition.
Seeing that even Lee Sang-hyok welcomed Li Xu's addition, no one raised any objections. After all, SKT only had one leader. Who would dare to go against Li Ge? Not a single person who acted as Li Ge last year was left. Even Bang, who performed more consistently, was traded to North America. The club recruited Captain Teddy at a high price.
The mischievous Teddy even clapped and screamed. The atmosphere in the training room suddenly became lively.
"He's just a substitute. Whether or not he can play is another matter." However, there was one person who did not welcome Li Xu's arrival. That was the new top laner this year, KHAN.
Last year, KHAN's experience in KZ was like a rollercoaster. In the Spring Season, he entered the MSI Mid-Season as an invincible player. Before that, KHAN had always been regarded as the world's number one top laner.
LPL's official commentator, Ze Yuan, even gave an eye-popping prediction before the match against RNG.
"KZ against RNG, 10: 0. RNG can only win if KZ breaks his hand."
However, in this match, KZ was crushed by RNG.
After that, the Xuanming Elders in the bottom lane became the Xuanming Duo, Little Peanut became a Little Beginner, and KHAN's performance was not satisfactory. In the end, KZ even lost the qualification for the S8 international finals. This season, SKT, who was looking forward to a new start, extended an olive branch to KHAN. He came to SKT without hesitation. He felt that this was a chance for him to prove himself.
Li Xu's arrival was no doubt a competition for his job. Of course, he could not express his welcome.
"I'll prove who's the better top laner." Li Xu was fearless.
Jin Zhengxun did not stop him. A certain competitive atmosphere in the team was necessary.
"Alright, let's get to know each other. After lunch, we'll have an internal training match in the afternoon." Jin Zhengxun turned and left.
"Hey, Li Xu, let's have lunch together." The blonde Teddy invited him. He was the first member who took the initiative to express goodwill to Li Xu.
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