Chapter 21: A Shining New Star, Post-Match Interview

In this match, Chen Yan’s Lucian undoubtedly carried individualism to its absolute extreme. Like a sharp blade, he tore through every defensive line OMG could muster. It was the epitome of brute force overcoming all obstacles. Everyone present was stunned.

The live chat was flooded with comments.
"EDG was right!"
"This newcomer is incredible; he’s playing against OMG like they’re bots."
"I apologize; I was speaking too loudly earlier."
"Abu hit the jackpot—damn, he really pulled a god-tier card."

The arena was filled with waves of cheers. Chen Yan took off his headset, letting the roar of the crowd wash over him. He wasn't surprised. Why did players like Uzi or TheShy have so many fans? While their skill was undeniable, it was their playstyle that truly captivated people. They didn't shrink away; they just went in and fought.

Such a playstyle had major drawbacks—it was incredibly easy to get caught out or become a liability. But conversely, once an advantage was secured, the spectacle of such an aggressive approach far exceeded other styles, leaving a much more profound visual impact. Just like Chen Yan’s Lucian in this game, whether it was the forced one-versus-five or the flanking maneuver, it was the kind of performance that people would talk about for a long time. Some professional players might go their entire careers without achieving the highlights Chen Yan had produced in this single match.

Accompanied by the cheering, Chen Yan stood up and walked toward the OMG side. His teammates hesitated for a moment before following. They shook hands and departed. iCon watched Chen Yan’s receding back, slumped in his gaming chair like a deflated balloon. Chen Yan hadn't just won the game; he had shattered iCon’s long-standing pride.

Back in the lounge, the looks Abu and Nofe gave Chen Yan had changed. The rest of the EDG team, including the starters, had clearly shed the subtle disdain they’d shown when Chen Yan first rejoined. It wasn't that the EDG roster was a group of snobs; it was simply that in this world, if you want others to respect you, you must possess the strength to match.

In the field of esports, this was especially true. Everyone was here to work and make money, not to play house and make friends. Talking about respect and sentiment was never as real as talking about results and money. Having been a streamer for so long, Chen Yan was no fool; he had his own insights into the logic of society. He stayed far away from those who preached moral superiority—they would never understand his struggles, nor could they solve any practical problems; they were merely satisfying their own egos.

This world has always been driven by interests. In any field, taking tangible action is always more important than shouting slogans. Therefore, Chen Yan always remembered one thing: don't listen to what people say, look at what they do.

Following this victory, Chen Yan’s status within EDG rose sharply. Scout looked on with a grave expression, feeling a strong sense of threat. He had dared to throw tantrums at EDG only because he believed they couldn't find a replacement and had no way to deal with him. But now, it seemed there was a problem. Even he felt a chill down his spine watching Chen Yan’s Lucian. If he continued to act arrogantly, he might really end up warming the bench, watching the water cooler, and pouring drinks for Chen Yan. Just thinking about that scenario made Scout shudder. He wouldn't even pour water for Faker, let alone for some unknown nobody? He, Lee Ye-chan, could not accept that! Scout’s eyes darted around as he began to contemplate how to crawl back and apologize to Abu.

Chen Yan was completely unaware of Scout’s internal struggle, and even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared. He had no particular obsession with being a professional player. If it weren't for the fact that a professional career boosted his fame, helped him complete system tasks, and allowed him to earn money, he would rather stay home and stream than come here to compete. After all, the intensity of professional matches was much higher than ranked games. Playing these two rounds was more exhausting than an entire day of streaming.

Fortunately, the rewards were substantial: 25,000 in commission for the two matches, plus a new skill. However, to Chen Yan’s disappointment, the second game didn't trigger a system task. This meant that OMG’s strength was merely average; not enough to trigger continuous system tasks. Thinking of this, Chen Yan couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. OMG was already considered one of the top teams in the LPL; if they couldn't trigger back-to-back tasks, then teams weaker than them had no chance at all.

"Playing against weak teams is less rewarding than streaming ranked," Chen Yan thought to himself. "I'll only bother showing up if it's against a strong team."

Just then, the MVP of the previous game appeared on the screen. Chen Yan’s official portrait, paired with Lucian’s cool dual pistols, immediately ignited another wave of excitement. At the commentary desk, Guan Zeyuan looked at the unique stats on the screen and couldn't help but exclaim, "Highest damage, legendary, and several highlight plays—I can only say this MVP is well-deserved."

Zhihuan nodded in agreement and added a few thoughts. The two began to chat about Chen Yan. "This player gives me the feeling that he fears nothing. He is always thinking about how to make plays, and he has the courage to try."

"Exactly," Zhihuan said, picking up the thread. "Actually, the LPL has a common problem right now: severe homogenization. We see the same few playstyles and lineups over and over again. The top lane picks a tank to endure pressure, and the mid and bot lanes decide whether to attack or defend based on the situation. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but everyone is trapped in this box. No one wants to step out of their comfort zone; it’s always by the book. Regardless of whether they win or lose, it’s never surprising."

"On the contrary, this newcomer from EDG feels like a breath of fresh air. His playstyle is incredibly oppressive. After securing an advantage through his mechanics, he doesn't just play the conventional way of feeding that advantage to his teammates; he continues to maximize his own lead until he becomes a point that OMG simply cannot handle."

"And that solo flank at the end—it all goes to show that there are countless ways to win a game, rather than being confined to one specific method. I hope the appearance of Chen Yan will inspire other LPL teams."

The commentators’ words undoubtedly resonated with the audience. The current LPL was too boring, so Chen Yan’s arrival was like a light in the dark, shining brilliantly. The fans were hungry for change. Thus, even though Chen Yan had only won this one match against OMG, he left a profound impression on countless people.

By now, Chen Yan had been invited for a post-match interview. Soon, the audience saw Yu Shuang and Chen Yan appear on the screen.

Chen Yan: "Hello everyone, I am the EDG substitute mid-laner Chen Yan. Thank you all for watching my match."

"???" Countless question marks filled the chat.
Substitute mid-laner? What kind of bizarre self-introduction was that?