The East China regional finals kicked off under the gaze of hundreds of millions of viewers. On one side was the well-equipped and well-trained Phantom Team, and on the other was the "Dawn" team, carrying countless grassroots dreams and surprisingly making it through.
No one favored "Dawn." The first two games seemed to confirm this. The Phantom Team, relying on its rigorous operations and deeper hero pool, gave "Dawn" almost no chance, winning two consecutive games and easily reaching match point.
The live stream was filled with sighs, as if the ending of the dark horse story had already been seen. Even in the "Dawn" team's own voice channel, the atmosphere had dropped to freezing point. ADC Xiao Miao's face was pale, and his operations began to falter.
"Are we giving up already?" Captain A Le (jungler) roared in the voice chat, his voice hoarse with unwillingness. "We fought all the way here, just to let people see us get swept 3-0?!"
Top laner Da Kang remained silent, but the hero he controlled charged even more fiercely to the front, exchanging health in near-suicidal plays to buy the team breathing room.
"Brothers, have we forgotten how we got here?" The support also spoke up. "Have we forgotten Da Kang's motorcycle?! Let's fight! Losing is no loss, winning is a huge gain!"
The courage of a desperate struggle was completely ignited in their dire straits!
In the third game, the "Dawn" team cast aside all burdens and chose a lineup that heavily emphasized early-game aggression. They no longer competed with "Phantom" in macro play but instead frantically sought out fights from level one. Wild punches can defeat a master! As the Phantom Team was caught off guard, "Dawn" managed to win a game!
In the fourth game, the "Dawn" team, with its formidable momentum, continued its aggressive play, while the Phantom Team seemed to have its composure rattled by this reckless approach, making uncharacteristic mistakes. "Dawn" secured another game!
2:2! The match was forced into a decisive game!
The entire live stream erupted! A miracle comeback from two games down was within reach!
In the decisive game, both sides displayed two hundred percent concentration. The game was a grueling battle for over forty minutes. Finally, in a decisive Baron team fight, A Le's Lee Sin used a Ward Jump to kick back the opponent's key carry, and Xiao Miao's Kai'Sa made a clutch entry to clean up, completing an astonishing reversal!
Victory!
The moment the victory sign appeared on the screen, the five young men of the "Dawn" team practically jumped out of their chairs, embracing wildly, roaring, with tears and sweat mixing together! They did it! From unheralded grassroots players to defeating a strong opponent by coming back from two games down, they proudly marched into the Star Sea Cup national top 32 as the East China regional first seed!
At this moment, they became the faith and symbol of countless grassroots players!
However, the real test had just begun.
As their fame grew, invitations from various capital groups and sponsors poured in like snowflakes. Some wanted to directly acquire the team, some wanted to invest, and some sought commercial cooperation.
Facing these temptations, Captain A Le maintained astonishing composure. He politely declined all acquisition and controlling investment offers, only accepting purely commercial equipment sponsorships and a small amount of financial support that did not affect the team's independent operation.
"We're not playing well right now; we still have many problems," A Le told his teammates. "Relying on luck and a burst of spirit won't get us far. We cannot be held hostage by capital and forget why we play this game."
His clear-headedness earned the approval of most of the team members. However, the reach of capital is pervasive. Unable to approach the team level, they began to privately contact individual players, especially the outstanding and highly potential ADC Xiao Miao.
A newly established club offered Xiao Miao a contract several times his current income, promising him a core position and extensive commercial resources. Under the temptation of huge money and a "better future," Xiao Miao's resolve wavered. One day after the online tournament ended, he privately approached A Le and submitted a request to leave the team.
"Brother Le, I'm sorry... They're offering too much, and... they said they could give me a better training environment and future." Xiao Miao lowered his head, not daring to look A Le in the eyes.
This news was like a bolt from the blue, plunging the entire team into chaos and despair. The offline grand finals were imminent, and the core ADC suddenly leaving was an almost fatal blow! There was no time to find and integrate a temporary replacement. Were they going to give up the top 32 spot they had fought so hard for?
Just as A Le and Da Kang and others were falling into despair, even discussing whether they would have to reluctantly withdraw from the competition, a seasoned netizen named "Silent Swordsman," who had been following their matches and frequently analyzed them on forums, contacted A Le via private message.
"Silent Swordsman" not only analyzed their team's strengths and weaknesses but also mentioned a candidate—an ADC player with the ID "Lone Shadow," who was extremely skilled. He had originally been tied down by a terrible contract from a shady internet café team but had recently been rescued by enthusiastic netizens and legal aid, and was currently a free agent without a contract.
With a nothing-to-lose mentality, A Le contacted "Lone Shadow." After the tryout, they were pleasantly surprised to find that "Lone Shadow's" individual ability was even a notch stronger than Xiao Miao's, and his playstyle was very compatible with the team!
In their desperate situation, they truly seemed to see a ray of hope!
What surprised them even more was that this netizen with the ID "Silent Swordsman," after learning about their financial and operational difficulties, actually flew to their city for a face-to-face meeting.
"Silent Swordsman," whose real name was Chen Mo, was in his early thirties, with a steady demeanor. He turned out to be a self-made "first-generation entrepreneur" who had achieved some success in the technology field. He himself was a loyal player of league of legends and greatly admired the resilience and purity displayed by the "Dawn" team.
"I'm investing in you not because you're guaranteed to win a championship," Chen Mo said frankly, looking at the young people before him, whose eyes still held a mix of naivety and stubbornness. "I'm investing in your spirit, and investing in esports as a future direction. I can inject capital to solve your worries, provide a proper training base and logistical support. But I have two conditions."
"First, the team needs to be renamed after my technology company—'Qiming Team.' This is both a commercial act and symbolizes that you are the 'morning star' of the esports field."
"Second," Chen Mo pointed to himself, "I need to have a title and be your coach. Don't worry, I won't interfere with specific training and pick/ban phases, but I understand the game, and I understand even better how to manage a team and plan its development. I can help you avoid situations where players are easily poached again."
Faced with this heaven-sent opportunity, and the sincerity and capability Chen Mo displayed, A Le and Da Kang and the others barely hesitated. This was far better than accepting capital that only wanted to quickly cash in!
Soon, the "Dawn Team" was officially renamed the Qiming Team and announced that it had received personal investment from tech entrepreneur Chen Mo, who would also serve as the team's coach. Former ADC "Lone Shadow" quickly joined, filling the last vacancy.
A grassroots team that was on the verge of collapse completed its rebirth in desperation, emerging with a brand new look and a more solid foundation, ready to embark on the Star Sea Cup offline grand finals journey! Their story was even more convoluted and moving than the competition itself.