ATIBTF Chapter 71

In the end, the final regular match of the WPL Spring Tournament, the deciding game between JW and AFK, ended with JW’s regrettable defeat.

Initially, JW held up well against the pressure in the early and mid-game phases, entering into a mid-game stalemate with AFK.

AFK intended to rely on their strategic play to stall JW’s momentum.

However, a team fight erupted near the pit, with JW’s team reaching the battlefield faster, gaining an advantage.

They managed to wipe out AFK’s team of four.

But despite JW’s early advantage, AFK’s economic superiority accumulated during the laning phase allowed them to respawn three players and swiftly return to the battlefield to finish off the low-health JW team.

Due to both economic constraints and prior respawns, JW was unable to counter effectively.

AFK seized the opportunity to push onto high ground, ending JW’s winning streak and securing second place in the regular season.

Meanwhile, AFK, continuing their dominance from the previous season, would enter the playoffs as the top seed.

After the match, the JW team remained silent on the ride back to their base.

Losing a match is never easy, but in esports, victories and losses come hand in hand.

What’s important is to identify the issues after a loss.

Including Coach Bai Yin, everyone silently reflected on their performance in the match.

Back at the base, they didn’t even have time for dinner, quickly starting their analysis.

“In this match, my drafting was problematic, and Yabo’s lane capabilities aren’t top-tier. I shouldn’t have given him a late-game hero,” Bai Yin stood in the center of the training room, facing the screen, pointing out the issues. “I put too much pressure on everyone facing a strong laning team like AFK. Our drafting was somewhat dictated by their coach.”

“I also made mistakes in that team fight,” Yu Hao stood up, taking the remote from Bai Yin’s hand, rewinding the match footage. “Here, the river terrain was clearly not in our favor, and our pursuit was too scattered. Moreover, facing a high-burst hero in their position one, chasing too deep was risky. Including myself, we were too aggressive.”

Hao Qianyi slumped in his chair.

He knew he was the biggest problem in this match. If he hadn’t recklessly initiated the fight, JW didn’t need to engage.

To protect him and to avoid being at a numerical disadvantage in the epic monster battle in the pit, Yu Hao had to command the team to engage.

Hao Qianyi’s individual skill was actually quite good among the younger players, but his shortcomings were obvious.

He was too impulsive and easily got carried away.

Often, while his teammates were slowly pushing the second tower, he was already thinking about attacking the enemy high ground.

“Hao Zi, why did we go towards the pit in that fight? Didn’t you notice the lack of vision?” Bai Yin fulfilled his duty as a coach.

“Sorry…” Hao Qianyi admitted his fault, “I wanted to scout…”

“Scout with your face?” Bai Yin was speechless. “Such mistakes shouldn’t happen on the professional stage. You need to think about it yourself.”

During the serious analysis, Bai Yin, unlike his usual gentle self, was a very strict coach.

“Speaking of vision… I had wards near the pit at that time, but they were cleared and I didn’t replace them in time…” Wei Yafeng admitted.

As they watched the match footage and reflected on themselves, they pointed out their shortcomings and mistakes.

“It seems we need to tie a leash to Hao Zi in the future,” Yu Hao lightened the atmosphere when it got a bit tense. “I’ll take care of him next time.”

Hao Qianyi immediately nodded, “I’ll pay more attention! I won’t get carried away like that again!”

“Good to know,” Bai Yin said, “It’s always you who gets too carried away. When will you learn to be calm?”

Hao Qianyi nodded in agreement with his head down.

After the analysis, it was evening again.

The cafeteria lady had already left, so they decided to order takeout again.

“Alright, we lost the game today, let me cook to cheer everyone up,” Yu Hao suddenly said.

Everyone was surprised.

Was the captain having a change of heart?

Finally, he wasn’t selfishly catering to himself and Sugar God?

For the first time, the JW team members got to taste Yu Hao’s cooking skills.

It’s just a regular season, they can bounce back in the playoffs!

Their goal is the championship of the Spring Tournament!

—

The WPL Spring Tournament quickly moved into the playoffs phase.

Ranked fifth, GEM defeated fourth-placed PHX but lost to OVO.

After playing four games against JW, OVO lost three to one.

The final of the Spring Tournament was once again a showdown between JW and AFK.

The venue was packed for the finals.

Many fans held banners and signs, cheering for their favorite teams and players.

The official commentators, “Golden Duo” Uncle Yuan, Ruby, and Lack, were still the commentators for this match.

“Welcome to the WPL Spring Tournament finals venue,” Ruby addressed the camera, “We can feel that the atmosphere here is quite intense.”

Uncle Yuan nodded, “Yes. According to the revised format, this is the last major domestic event hosted by WPL this year. After this, each team will enter a new stage of global points matches to accumulate enough points for this year’s World Finals.”

Lack looked at his notes and said, “Speaking of points, if the team that wins the Spring Tournament takes it, they should have a significant advantage in the global points matches, right?”

Ruby agreed, “Exactly. The champions of the Spring Tournament will have an advantage in points, theoretically, as long as they finish in the top three in two points matches, they should secure a spot in the World Finals.”

Uncle Yuan added, “Even just winning one event should be enough in terms of points.”

Ruby said, “That’s right. So winning the Spring Tournament is very important, as it determines the pace and strategy of the team matches in the upcoming global points matches.”

Lack: “We can see both sides’ players have already taken their seats in the battle room. This WPL Spring Tournament final will unfold between JW and AFK. We all know that in the last regular season finale, JW lost 1:2 to AFK. I wonder what adjustments they’ll make today?”

Inside the battle room, JW’s players were getting ready, hands moving.

“Brothers, today you all have to rein me in!” Hao Qianyi said before the match began, “I’m going to be a prince who doesn’t get carried away!”

“Why do I find that hard to believe…” Wei Yafeng muttered under his breath.

“This time, I definitely won’t recklessly initiate fights because I got carried away! Really!” Hao Qianyi insisted.

“Alright, let’s all stay focused for today’s match,” Yu Hao spoke up, “Although playing more games in the global points matches might be considered a funded vacation, I still want to win enough points in one go. Whether it’s today’s final or the upcoming events, I want to win the championship.”

“No problem, Captain!” Hao Qianyi was the first to respond.

“Sweetie, can you play unconventional heroes in the mid lane today?” Yu Hao suddenly asked Jiang Min.

“…Sure.” Jiang Min nodded.

“Okay, Whitey, I’ll leave the drafting to you,” Yu Hao said to Bai Yin.

“Got it.” Bai Yin picked up his notebook.

He had been working tirelessly these past few days, preparing to face AFK.

The first game began.

JW chose Hell Mage for the mid lane.

AFK mistakenly assumed Hell Mage was in the position five, so they picked mage heroes for the mid lane.

As a result, Jiang Min harassed them with mana depletion.

The mid lane collapsed, and other lanes didn’t fare any better.

It seemed JW had thoroughly studied AFK’s habits, countering them accurately one after another.

In contrast, AFK was caught off guard in the first game by JW.

So, JW led 1:0 for the time being.

In the second game, AFK regained some momentum.

By relentlessly targeting Wei Yafeng, JW’s position one, they caused JW’s team fight output to fall short.

Although Jiang Min tried to maximize his hero’s burst damage, he couldn’t reverse the team’s disadvantage because the opponents had magic immunity items. In the second game, AFK equalized.

In the third game, AFK won again by managing the game flow.

In the fourth game, AFK reached match point.

JW perfectly predicted the positions of AFK’s players in the early game, initiating a team fight that resulted in a 0 for 3 exchange.

AFK’s disadvantage from the early game couldn’t be recovered.

JW smoothly won this game.

In the fifth game, the deciding match.

After playing a BO5 series for a long time, the players were slightly exhausted.

But victory was within reach, they had to persevere.

“How about I pick a physical hero for this game?” Jiang Min asked the coach and teammates when he saw the enemy’s picks.

“Sure, Dark Dance? Or Templar Knight?” Bai Yin asked.

“Templar Knight, for mid-late game damage output,” Jiang Min replied.

For early to mid-game damage output, it would depend on Wei Yafeng’s Star Swordsman.

Hao Qianyi still chose Centaur, Wei Yafeng chose the position five mana replenishment hero, Bright Sacrifice.

And Yu Hao picked the Witch Wizard, who had performed well in the regular season.

“It’s the last game, victory or defeat hinges on this one, let’s go!” Yu Hao encouraged morale before the match officially began.

In this game, due to not seeing the vision, Jiang Min’s Templar Knight died in the mid lane after being caught, which was quite detrimental.

In the mid-game, Wei Yafeng’s Star Swordsman couldn’t come forward due to AFK’s strategic play.

JW’s decline seemed inevitable.

“I’m going to buy Wrath of Heaven,” Jiang Min immediately spoke up as he saw the unfavorable situation on the field.

Wrath of Heaven is a very special item in WOC. It has the highest attack power of all items, only adds attack power, but it’s also the most expensive item, occupying two equipment slots.

Buying this item meant making a last-ditch effort, going all-in.

The Star Swordsman had already entered a period of weakness in the late game. If the Templar Knight in the position two didn’t step up, JW was really in trouble.

To buy Wrath of Heaven meant that the entire team had to give Jiang Min resources so that he could farm enough money in the shortest time possible.

Wrath of Heaven, although it didn’t look like a team item, was actually an item to supplement the team’s damage output.

“Alright,” Yu Hao, as the captain, made the decision.

Their two high ground towers were broken, and even their outer towers were in danger. If they didn’t take action soon, they would lose.

So, Jiang Min’s Templar Knight disappeared from the enemy’s vision.

While ensuring his own safety, he began a rapid farming mode.

The commentators watched in amazement as the Templar Knight sold off his items and began buying those special components.

“This…this is…Wrath of Heaven! JW’s Sugar God is preparing to buy Wrath of Heaven!” Lack exclaimed.

¹TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading ❤️”

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  TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading ❤️”