The warmth and clamor of the official welcome banquet were like a brief rest, and when the morning light of the next day once again streamed into the rooms through the hotel curtains, the atmosphere permeating the "Esports Player Village" had undergone a subtle yet complete change. Relaxation and interaction were replaced by an almost solemn focus. The urgency of the impending battle, like invisible mercury, quietly seeped into every corner.
For the thirty-two teams staying here, every day, every hour that followed became incredibly precious. They clearly knew that the difference in strength between them might be only a hair's breadth, and any extra preparation could become the key to victory.
In the several training rooms temporarily converted in the hotel, the sound of keyboards tapping and mice clicking continued almost non-stop from morning to night. There was no loud clamor here, only the urgent communication of team members in hushed voices.
In the largest training room, the "Broken Army" team was engaged in high-intensity simulated battles. Han Feng (Sharp Edge) frowned, staring intently at the screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard, occasionally issuing concise commands: "Hold the lane, wait for me." "Vision, give vision." Wang Hao's (Gui Shu) jungling was like a ghost, darting across the map, searching for every possible breakthrough. Their training opponents were the equally strong "Heavenly Palace" team, and both sides went back and forth, the battle intense, each simulated match comparable to an official game.
In the slightly smaller training room next door, the "Spark" team was conducting a review under the guidance of their coach. A projector displayed recordings of their previous regional matches, and the coach paused the screen, carefully analyzing the positioning of each team fight, the timing of skill releases, and the trade-offs of resources. ADC Chasing Star diligently took notes, while mid-laner Ink Stain occasionally offered his opinions. They knew that as dark horses, they needed more meticulous preparation and more flexible tactics to cope with those experienced opponents.
And in some double rooms, many teams were also using the computers provided by the officials for individual practice or duo queue coordination. Yan Han and Yu Bo (Phoenix Tail Bamboo) from Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language were practicing their bot lane synergy, repeatedly refining their lane phase poke and kill timing. Sweat beaded on Yan Han's forehead, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
In the corridor, players could occasionally be seen hurrying past, perhaps carrying takeout, or simply stepping out for some fresh air, but their eyes all held the same focus and contemplation. When they met, they nodded in greeting but rarely spoke, the air filled with an unspoken competitive atmosphere. This was no longer the harmonious exchange venue of the welcome banquet, but the final training camp permeated with invisible smoke.
While all the players were engrossed in their strenuous training, inside the Capital Gymnasium, Riot Games' core team was conducting the final full-process rehearsal before the grand finals. Qin Feng was present on-site, overseeing the command.
In the center of the huge stadium, a futuristic and esports-themed competition stage had already been built. A giant circular screen, player booths, commentator desks, and analyst desks were all in place, and the lighting equipment was undergoing its final adjustments. Below the stage, over ten thousand audience seats were silent, awaiting the roar of the crowds a few days later.
Qin Feng stood alone in the center of the empty venue, surveying everything. In his hand was a thick, dozens-of-pages-long "Grand Finals Execution Manual." Zhao Dong, Li Ming, Chen Ran, and the supervisors responsible for broadcasting, security, and logistics were all present, each with their respective process documents open before them.
"From the first player stepping into the venue to the last audience member leaving, every single Link, let's review it again," Qin Feng's voice echoed in the spacious venue, carrying an undeniable rigor.
The process rehearsal began:
1. Player Entry and Preparation Phase (09:00 - 13:30)
Zhao Dong reported: "Players will arrive at the venue in batches by dedicated buses from the hotel at the scheduled time. They will enter the backstage lounge through independent security and player channels. Water and light meals are ready in the lounge. Makeup, equipment debugging (using official standardized peripherals), and pre-match warm-ups will proceed in sequence. Key point: Time control must be accurate to the minute, ensuring that teams do not interfere with each other, especially popular teams."
Qin Feng: "Recheck the soundproofing of the lounge to ensure absolute quietness. During the equipment debugging phase, the technical team must follow up one-on-one to ensure every machine and every peripheral is foolproof."
2. Audience Entry and Warm-up Phase (12:00 - 14:00)
The security chief reported: "Audience members will enter through designated security checkpoints, strictly prohibited from bringing prohibited items. All guiding signs in the venue are in place, and volunteers have been trained. The warm-up segment includes Cosplay performances, theme music playback, highlight reels, and interactive prize draws with online viewers."
Qin Feng: "The security process must be both strict and efficient to avoid large-scale congestion at the entrances. Further optimize the interactive design of the warm-up segment to fully engage the on-site emotions, but without overly exhausting the audience's energy, to preserve sufficient anticipation for the main competition."
3. Competition Phase (14:00 - estimated 22:00)
Li Ming reported: "Competition server stress tests have been completed, and backup plans are ready. The OB (spectator) team has rehearsed various camera angles to ensure that key plays and team fight details are captured. The live broadcast signal streaming is stable, with backup lines available. Rest times and commercial breaks between each game have been strictly regulated."
Qin Feng: "The OB director is key; they must not only keep up with team fights but also understand the game, anticipating areas where battles might occur. Player camera capture must be precise, especially close-ups of expressions after crucial team fights—that's part of the story."
4. Opening Ceremony and Awards Ceremony
Chen Ran reported: "The opening ceremony process has been streamlined, emphasizing ritual and the esports theme. The focus is on the flag entry of the thirty-two teams before the Grand Finals begin, and the champion awards after the Grand Finals. Trophies, gold medals, and champion rings are ready. The concept for the champion team's exclusive commemorative skins has also been initially completed and will be announced at an appropriate time after winning the championship."
Qin Feng: "The opening ceremony must be short and powerful. The flag entry segment must be solemn, allowing every team, regardless of whether they make it to the end, to feel the glory. The awards process must be rehearsed repeatedly to ensure smooth execution without any flaws."
5. Emergency Handling
All parties reported their emergency plans: including technical failures (pausing the game, activating backup equipment), personnel injuries (on-site medical stations for emergency treatment), and sudden security issues (immediate intervention by security).
Qin Feng: "All emergency plans must be thoroughly known by relevant personnel. If an incident occurs, handle it calmly according to the plan to minimize impact."
The rehearsal lasted an entire morning, with repeated confirmations and tabletop exercises for every time node, every division of responsibility, and every possible contingency. Qin Feng was meticulous, questioning everything to ensure there were no ambiguities.
When the meeting concluded and everyone dispersed to their posts for the final sprint, Qin Feng remained alone in the venue. He walked onto the stage, stood where the future champions would stand, and looked out at the audience seats that would soon be ignited with passion.
The venue was exceptionally quiet, with only the faint hum of equipment debugging. But he could already hear, a few days later, the thunderous cheers, the intense keyboard tapping of the players, the passionate shouts of the commentators, and finally, the deafening roar and golden rain when the ultimate champion was crowned.
He took a deep breath, his gaze firm.
All the preparations, all the efforts, all the expectations were in place. Now, all that remained was for the final horn to officially sound in this hall symbolizing glory.