In the blink of an eye, it was September 30th—the day before the National Day holiday that the entire nation eagerly anticipated. This day also marked the opening of the 2016 League of Legends World Championship.
Those slacking off at work.
Those daydreaming in class.
Those living in a reversed day-night cycle at home.
As long as they followed the League of Legends Professional League, everyone had their screens tuned to various live-streaming platforms by 7 a.m., eagerly awaiting the opening ceremony of this year’s S6. Even before the ceremony officially began around 6 a.m., the live broadcast room was already open. People gradually gathered, staring blankly at the chaotic Group Stage arena on screen; watching fans lucky enough to attend the opening ceremony in person file into the venue with their support banners; observing staff members scurrying nervously to prepare for the imminent kickoff. The live comments section was already buzzing—
[Why hasn’t it started yet?]
[The last time I was this nervous was during the Beijing Olympics opening… Can LPL make us proud this year?]
[I wish I could be there in person!]
[That Sona cosplayer’s assets are impressive, 66666.]
[I spotted a Yasuo cosplayer—bro, let me tell you, cosplaying this Champion in China will get you beat up.]
[LPL! LPL! LPL!]
[Feel bad for you Bronze and Silver players wasting time watching LPL scrubs fight. LCK’s god-tier battles are where it’s at.]
...
The chaos continued until 6:59:50, when the pitch-black center of the stage suddenly lit up! On the four giant screens surrounding the stage, the number “10” appeared simultaneously—the live audience erupted, waving their glow sticks as the entire venue began a synchronized countdown!
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
...
Four.
Three.
Two—
With a thunderous boom , white mist exploded across the stage. An ethereal female voice sang [ Welcome to your life ], the low, magnetic tones piercing through the crowd’s eardrums—a lift rose at the center of the stage, revealing the dazzling, intricately crafted S6 World Championship trophy, shimmering as it came into view. Everyone in the stands went wild, rising to their feet one after another, shouting and cheering for the teams they supported and loved. Amid their roars, the stage lights gradually brightened, and the background music— Everybody Wants to Rule the World —resonated like a strike to the heart. Just as the female voice reached the line [ Everybody wants to rule the world ], golden light suddenly burst across the four giant screens that had displayed the countdown moments earlier.
The image sharpened gradually, golden radiance veiled in milky mist. On the screens, the crowd’s eyes locked onto an ancient deity with golden wings and a crown, emerging from the mist with its back to the light. Its eyes were closed, its features indistinct, yet its expression was icy and arrogant—the crown symbolized the dominance of the region over the years, while the deity’s very image reinforced this statement. As the camera zoomed in, a beam of light suddenly pierced through the mist behind it, illuminating the crown.
The deity opened its eyes.At the center of the stage, with their backs to the S6 World Championship trophy, the lift platform rose, revealing fifteen starting players from three LCK (Korean region) teams standing back-to-back in a triangular formation—four giant screens displayed highlights of these three LCK teams during the Summer Split, accompanied by the passionate shouts of Korean casters in the background. The main screen showed the final moment of the LCK Summer Split: the five members of TAT Team lifting the Summer Split trophy.
The crowd erupted in unison, chanting "LCK! LCK!" The deafening cheers filled the air. Even though this was a tournament held in the U.S., in esports, strength reigns supreme, so the Korean teams naturally had no shortage of fans compared to other regions!
[Itsmyowndesign (what I aspire to), itsmyownremorse (what I regret), helpmetodecide (what drives me to decide)...]
The image of the deity gradually blurred. The four giant screens were suddenly splashed with vermilion ink, the thick red pigment spreading and staining the golden-winged deity until it was swallowed by the crimson hues. An Eastern dragon burst forth from the ink, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws—[Nothingeverlastsforever (life is fleeting).]
In another corner, with their backs to the S6 trophy, fifteen players clad in the regional team jerseys—red with a bright yellow dragon embroidered on them—slowly ascended on the lift platform. As the dragon roared, breaking free from the thorny vines symbolizing the region's slump, its massive claws slammed into the ground. Inside the enormous venue, many in the seated crowd suddenly rose to their feet again, shouting in Chinese at the top of their lungs, "LPL, fight!" The thunderous roar seemed ready to lift the stadium's roof.
On the four giant screens, the familiar voices of LPL casters rang out. Scenes of the three teams decisively defeating their opponents, turning losing team fights around with sharp positioning, and sneaking into the enemy base to backdoor flashed before the audience—["They're backdooring! Xiao Hua! Xiao Hua! Red Arrow Team never expected the Elder Dragon tug-of-war to be a feint—CK Team's bot laner Xiao Hua teleported to the minion wave and stormed Red Arrow's base! One hundred HP left! Fifty! Congratulations to CK Team!"]
["From fighting relegation in the Spring Split to becoming Summer Split runners-up, breaking through to claim the last ticket to S6—congratulations to YQCB!"]
...
["Summer Split Finals champions! China Telecom Team! The entire audience is on their feet—let's give them the loudest applause—"]
["The first team to represent LPL at this year's World Championship is born!"]
["On behalf of all twelve LPL teams, make up for the regrets of all these years and reclaim the glory that belongs to us! LPL will never bow to the world again!"]
Amid the casters' impassioned cries, the main screen showed ZGDX's five members lifting the trophy—then a tall, handsome man lifting a slender girl into his arms. Tears of joy welled in her eyes as she cupped his face with a radiant smile and leaned down to kiss him... Cheers, whistles, and laughter erupted across the venue.At one pointed corner of the triangle formed by the three teams, a girl identical to the one on the massive screen raised her hand, beaming as she waved enthusiastically at the sea of dark silhouettes in the audience!
【Everybody wants to rule the world.】
After the Eastern dragon vanished—
There was the blue berserker warrior representing the North American LCS region, symbolizing their indomitable spirit and fearless resolve upon stepping onto the battlefield. Then came the green serpent representing the Taiwanese LMS region—another incarnation of the Eastern dragon, yet bearing its own fangs and possessing night-vision eyes capable of striking lethally when least expected… embodying the glory of LMS’s unexpected triumph in breaking through the competition to claim the S2 championship. Next was the gray eagle of the European LCS, signifying their perpetual dominance in the skies, striving to pierce through storm clouds and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with gods and dragons. Lastly, the archer representing the IWC Wild Card regions—ordinary beings of the world, lingering beyond the five major regions, yet undaunted by the overwhelming forces of nature, boldly drawing their bow to aim at the storm-laden skies—
When all sixteen teams from the five major regions and the Wild Card gathered in a hexagram formation around the S6 trophy at the center of the stage—on the screen, the archer’s arrow split the heavens.
A crack tore through the pitch-black sky.
【So glad we've almost made it (Celebrate when joy arrives)】
【So sad they had to fade it (Let failure fade away)】
……
【Everybody wants to rule the world.】
As the background BGM faded into its final notes, the venue lights blazed to life. A tall, suited host strode onto the stage from the wings, his voice booming with fervor—
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the opening ceremony of the 2016 League of Legends Pro League World Championship! I hereby declare—the year-end grand feast has officially begun! Cheer! Shout! Call out the names of the teams you love, let them know you are here, their unwavering support!"
Giant fireworks erupted across the night sky outside the arena.
Voices in countless languages rose simultaneously, yet harmonized unexpectedly into the overture of a jubilant symphony.
The year-end spectacle, the final battle, had now begun!
OpenNovel