As the competition date drew near, thirty-two league of legends teams, selected from all over the country, totaling nearly two hundred players, coaches, and accompanying staff, had all safely arrived in the Capital City and successfully checked into the official designated "Esports Player Village" hotel.
This formerly quiet four-star hotel now seemed to be infused with surging vitality and youthful vigor.
In the lobby, restaurant, and corridors, young people in various team uniforms could be seen everywhere; they were either discussing tactics in low voices or curiously sizing up their future opponents, and the air was filled with a unique atmosphere of an impending major battle, mixed with tension and excitement.
To welcome these esports warriors who had come from afar, and to give all teams a chance to relax and socialize before the official competition, Riot Games meticulously prepared a grand official welcome banquet.
The banquet was held in the hotel's largest ballroom.
As evening fell, the lights began to illuminate the city.
The ballroom was decorated simply yet grandly.
A giant league of legends event logo was projected onto the stage backdrop, and soft lighting illuminated the neatly arranged round tables.
Each table had an exquisite place card with the team's name printed on it, ensuring all teams could find their designated seats.
Soothing background music floated in the air, temporarily dispelling the scent of battle.
The team members entered one after another.
They had changed out of their daily training clothes, mostly wearing their team uniforms, looking energetic.
Players from veteran strong teams like "Tiangong" and "Pojun" appeared composed, greeting each other familiarly; while teams like Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language and Snowfield Wolf, who had fought their way up from smaller cities, found everything before them both novel and a little reserved, cautiously finding their seats.
Yan Han led the Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language team members into the ballroom and was immediately awestruck by the grandeur.
Sparkling crystal chandeliers, white tablecloths, and polite waiters moving through the space... This was completely different from their Imagine of "eating."
"Is this... a state banquet?" the support player Xiao Yu whispered.
"Don't show your inexperience, just be natural," Yan Han took a deep breath, trying to appear calm, and led his teammates to the table labeled "Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language."
Soon, the ballroom was full.
Thirty-two teams, all gathered together.
Although they would soon fight to the death on the competition stage, at this moment, everyone was just a young person with the same dream, and the atmosphere was harmonious and lively.
As the banquet was about to officially begin, the lights in the hall dimmed slightly, and a spotlight shone towards the stage entrance.
Everyone subconsciously stopped talking, their gazes uniformly directed there.
Qin Feng, wearing a well-fitted dark suit without a tie, appeared solemn yet approachable.
He slowly walked onto the stage and took the microphone from a staff member.
The entire ballroom instantly fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
All players, no matter where they came from or how famous they were, watched this creator of league of legends, the helmsman of the esports empire.
Qin Feng stood in the center of the stage, his gaze slowly sweeping over the young, vibrant, and slightly nervous faces below.
He saw the composure of the "Tiangong" players, the sharpness of the "Pojun" players, the agility of the "Xinghuo" players, and also the simple resilience from afar in the eyes of the Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language and Bronze Wine Goblet players.
He was silent for a few seconds, as if organizing his words, or perhaps savoring this historic moment.
Then, he spoke into the microphone with his steady and clear voice, and his first sentence surprised everyone:
"First, I want to say to everyone—you've worked hard, thank you."
There were no flowery words, no condescending attitude, only a sincere thank you from the bottom of his heart.
"I know what each and every one of you, every team, has sacrificed to be here."
"I heard that some teams train for over ten hours a day, their fingers calloused, their eyes bloodshot from staying up."
"I heard that some teams, to gather travel expenses for offline competitions, scrimped and saved, even borrowing money from relatives and friends."
"I heard that some teams, from areas where the internet is not well-developed, had to travel dozens of kilometers to find an internet cafe for a stable training environment."
"I also know that before coming here, you have already gone through a brutal elimination of over 127,000 teams.
You are the strongest thirty-two teams, over a hundred people, who have fought their way out of a sea of blood, step by step, with your own strength!"
His voice was not impassioned, yet it carried a power that resonated deep within people's hearts; every word struck the young players below the stage.
Many were moved, recalling the hardships of training, the thrill of the qualifiers, the mutual support and arguments among teammates...
All those unknown sacrifices now seemed to have been seen and understood by the person on stage.
"Thank you," Qin Feng repeated, his tone more solemn, "Thank you for choosing league of legends, thank you for endowing this game with such a moving soul and such a wonderful story with your youth, sweat, and talent.
It is you who make Summoners Rift so magnificent; it is you who make esports so captivating!"
A warm round of applause erupted below the stage, and many players' eyes welled up slightly.
"Today, we are here to welcome and entertain you all," Qin Feng's tone shifted, becoming gentle, "Please temporarily set aside the burden of the competition and forget the impending battles.
Tonight, there are no opponents, only friends.
Enjoy this dinner, chat with partners from all over the country who also love this game, and make friends."
He raised the glass (containing juice or a beverage) that a waiter had already prepared, facing the entire room:
"This glass, I toast to all of you! To your fearless courage! To your unyielding perseverance! To your purest love for esports!"
Everyone in the hall stood up, raising their glasses in unison.
"To President Qin!"
"To league of legends!"
Various voices mingled together, filled with excitement and sincerity.
"Cheers!"
Qin Feng was the first to drink it all.
Everyone below also raised their glasses, and the atmosphere instantly reached its climax.
The subsequent dinner proceeded in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Exquisite dishes were served one after another, and the players feasted.
Teams at adjacent tables also began to interact.
Yan Han mustered his courage and led his teammates to toast the "Pojun" team with a drink.
Han Feng politely responded and briefly exchanged views on the game version.
Qin Feng did not stay at the head table; he carried his glass and moved among the tables like a patriarch.
He went to the "Tiangong" team's table, affirming their strong foundation as a veteran team; he went to the "Xinghuo" team's table, encouraging them to maintain their dark horse momentum; he went to the Bronze Wine Goblet table, praising their legend of the undying veteran; finally, he specifically came to the Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language team's table.
"How is it? Are you used to it? Is the food to your liking?" Qin Feng asked with concern.
"Used to it! Very used to it! Thank you, President Qin!" Yan Han and his teammates quickly stood up, answering excitedly.
"No need to be formal, sit down and eat," Qin Feng smiled and waved his hand, "It's not easy for you to come from so far away.
I look forward to your performance in the competition, bringing out the wildness and agility of your southwestern border region!"
These simple words greatly encouraged the Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language team members, filling them with strength.
The welcome banquet lasted for nearly two hours.
When the banquet ended, many players were still reluctant to leave.
They not only enjoyed a delicious meal but also received respect, understanding, and encouragement from the highest level of the official organization.
Back in his room, Yan Han stood by the window, gazing at the dazzling night view of the Capital City, his heart filled with ambition.
He recalled every word Qin Feng said on stage, recalling this dreamlike journey.
He knew that the warmth and relaxation of the welcome banquet were over.
From tomorrow, they would enter the final preparation stage, and what awaited them would be the brightly lit, attention-grabbing ultimate battlefield of the Capital Gymnasium.
And they were ready to give their all for their dream.