The overwhelming public opinion engulfed DT. Even without looking at the barrage, the five of them knew what kind of predicament DT was in.
Lin Lan kept recalling the previous game in his mind.
The problem wasn’t with Twisted Fate at all. Even if he didn’t pick Twisted Fate, Qi Mo would still form a deadly synergy with Taliyah, ending the game in the early game.
From the very beginning, this match was targeted at them.
It was a trap meticulously designed by Qi Mo for them.
What was even more despairing was that in the next game, ENG would have the side selection advantage. If nothing unexpected happened, they should continue to choose the red side.
The staff informed Shi Quan of ENG’s side selection result, and his expression instantly became serious. Lin Lan’s worries came true, “They chose the red side.”
Choosing the red side, everything would go back to the previous game.
It was like an unsolvable chess game. No matter how they changed their strategy, in the end, it would all lead to one word: defeat.
The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy as everyone began to anticipate unfavorable outcomes. Lu Shi tried to lighten the mood, “Well, even if we lose, it’s okay. We can still go to the World Championship, right?”
Then he received several icy glances.
However, the atmosphere did improve significantly.
Lin Lan was the first to speak up, “We can’t just sit back and wait for defeat. We must break through their tactics.”
Shi Quan nodded, “Zilean is crucial. We absolutely cannot let them have him.”
“Jiang Jin can also play Zilean, so I think it’s better to prioritize picking him instead of banning him. Let’s secure the champion early.”
“Picking Zilean means we have to play for the late game, which makes us weaker in the early game…”
“The jungle must support the bottom lane for counterganks.”
“But then the top lane will be put on the defensive.”
The situation was delicate, and any slight change would bring endless consequences.
Lin Lan also felt a bit overwhelmed. The pressure Qi Mo brought upon him was immense. How could they break through their strategy? How could they pull out this linchpin?
“Is there really no solution?”
With over a hundred champions in League of Legends, countless combinations, and endless strategies… How could there be no solution?
There must be something they hadn’t thought of yet…
Lin Lan immersed himself in brainstorming. After eliminating countless impossible answers, he realized there was not a single solution left.
Qi Mo’s decisions were close to perfection. But perfection itself was also a flaw.
Suddenly, Lin Lan looked at Shi Quan with determination, “Coach Shi, even though their lineup seems perfect, it can still be broken. Do you remember when Taliyah caught me?”
Shi Quan evidently recalled that moment. Despite Qi Mo and Zhang Chao’s nearly flawless operations, Lin Lan and Xiao Shengjing managed to secure first blood through a miraculous synergy.
If this kind of synergy can continue to occur continuously, then DT might find a solution.
Shi Quan slapped his thigh, “Alright, let’s take a gamble.”
On the other side, ENG was also reviewing the previous game. The coach reminded them earnestly, “The synergy between Lin Lan and Xiao Shengjing has surpassed our expectations. We must not underestimate them in the mid-lane. If I’m not mistaken, this game should play out like the last one, where DT simply couldn’t deal with us…”
The coach of ENG had some arrogance about him. As a top team in the LPL, they had far more experience than DT.
The second game quickly began. Upon learning that ENG had chosen the red side again, and DT remained passive, the barrage started to get noisy again.
As the pick-ban phase progressed, everything began to follow the same old routine. Besides losing Zilean, ENG made almost no adjustments. And after ENG lost Zilean, they immediately picked up Karma as a substitute. DT can be said to have gained no advantage.
The audience in the barrage was cursing DT. They had clearly lost the previous game due to this, so how could they dare to pick like this again? Did they not have any countermeasures at all?
As the heroes on both sides were locked in, and with lineups almost identical to the previous game, the attitude of DT fans in the barrage was starting to explode.
[Just forcing it?]
[No other strategies?]
[Is this the only lineup they prepared?]
[This is the finals, bro. Is there really no other way?]
[Is this not up to DT’s standard, or are they saving a trick for the World Championship?]
[Help, are they really going to lose because they’re holding back their ace?]
Under the barrage’s relentless attack, DT suddenly locked in their final champion: Yasuo, the Unforgiven.
The screen full of angry comments immediately turned into question marks. Even the commentators found it absurd: “What does this mean? Did they misclick? Oh, it’s locked in? Ah, this…”
Tens of millions of viewers were left bewildered by this pick. Yasuo is known for being a very mechanically demanding and error-prone champion, with an abysmally low win rate across all skill levels. So, except for the Yasuo players themselves, no one else is happy with this pick. This champion is often jokingly referred to as the “Happy Wind Man” or “Yasuo, the Babysitter.”
To bring out something you’d kick your teammates for in a regular ranked game, and now they’re pulling this out in the freaking finals? Is this a joke?
Amidst the torrent of curses, someone weakly remarked, [But this is Lin Lan playing.]
The audience fell silent instantly. After all, Lin Lan was known as a mechanical genius. No matter how difficult the champion, he could unleash unlimited potential.
Moreover, Yasuo’s ultimate could follow up on any knock-up abilities. With Xiao Shengjing’s Gragas, Jiang Jin’s Malphite, and Jiang Xu’s Sejuani; everyone provided two knock-up controls on average. Yasuo’s ultimate could almost certainly be triggered in team fights. When you think about it like that, picking Yasuo doesn’t seem so absurd, does it? It might even seem more reliable than Twisted Fate from the previous game.
[Dang. I actually think Yasuo is a decent pick. I must be losing my mind.]
[Bro, you’re not alone.]
[As long as it’s not Twisted Fate, I’m fine with it.]
[I only have one request for Lin Lan: don’t pick Twisted Fate.]
[At least it’s a damage dealer.]
[I believe in Lin Lan. As long as it’s a damage-dealing champion, there’s no output he can’t deliver.]
As the commentator analyzed, he gradually accepted this choice, “Actually, it’s not bad. It might even have a surprising effect. And from the previous game, Kiner playing Twisted Fate couldn’t control the tempo well. It might be better to pick Yasuo to break the deadlock. Alright, let’s wait and see…”
On the other side, Qi Mo found it unbelievable to see this champion being picked. But upon careful consideration, there was a faint sense of unease.
He preferred stability, so his lineup wouldn’t reveal any flaws. Lin Lan’s presence was like an uncertain dagger; he couldn’t predict where Lin Lan would strike.
“Yasuo?” Zhang Chao sneered, “Might as well pick Twisted Fate. At least, it won’t lose tempo in the early game.”
Qi Mo frowned, “Be careful of their jungle-mid synergy.”
In fact, his concern was not unfounded. Lin Lan was indeed targeting their jungle-mid, aiming to use Yasuo to drive the early game tempo. To do that, they must adopt a brutal and aggressive playstyle to forcefully seize control.
As the game began, fans on both sides were extremely nervous.
ENG fans were nervous because of the identical lineup to the previous game. As long as Qi Mo didn’t make any mistakes, DT would undoubtedly lose.
Meanwhile, DT fans were nervous because Yasuo was an uncertain champion. They hoped Lin Lan could make it work wonders with him, but they also feared that Lin Lan’s reputation would be ruined in an instant.
Both sides cautiously approached the lanes, but Lin Lan was exceptionally restless. Like every player who picks Yasuo, he felt uneasy until he proved his worth.
Even if he couldn’t attack the opponent, he would still draw his sword and sway it in front of Qi Mo.
He would take a few steps forward, display his emote, swing his sword, then take a couple more steps forward, and display his emote again. The drifting motions looked particularly joyful.
The commentator chuckled, “What’s Kiner doing? Is he possessed by the spirit of Yasuo?”
The barrage burst into laughter, completely forgetting the seriousness of the match, [Whether we win or lose, I don’t know, but at least Lin Lan is having fun.]
[No wonder he’s called the Happy Wind Man. He’s so funny even in such a serious situation.]
[He was so frustrated playing Twisted Fate in the last game, now he’s completely letting loose.]
[I’m both angry and amused. Playing a hammer Yasuo, seriously?]
[Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter. This must be entertainment to the death.]
[Lin Lan: Let’s have some fun with Yasuo.]
[Happiness belongs to Lin Lan. His teammates have nothing.]
Seeing Lin Lan provoking him, Qi Mo couldn’t help but laugh at this childish playstyle. They were all players in the finals, yet Lin Lan was acting so recklessly?
He raised his hand and gave Lin Lan a Q, breaking through Lin Lan’s passive. Lin Lan didn’t care, though. He approached and used Q on minions, keeping Steel Tempest charged in his hand, forcing Qi Mo to stay back.
Yasuo is indeed a counter to Galio, but fortunately, Yasuo cannot control the wave. Qi Mo could easily control the minion wave.
Moreover, although Yasuo’s E ability looks flashy, its fixed range also frustrates players a lot. Often, while dashing under the turret, they end up dashing right into the enemy turret.
So as long as Qi Mo keeps the minions under the turret, Lin Lan won’t be able to do anything.
Qi Mo was still pondering why Lin Lan would stoop so low as to play Yasuo. Playing Twisted Fate would actually be more useful than this champion.
His thought had just landed when Lin Lan suddenly disappeared from the top lane. Then, the next second, Zhang Chao panicked, “Captain, they’re invading my jungle. Should I release?”
Qi Mo: “Huh?”
Since they were invading the jungle, why would he release?
But the next moment, he suddenly realized something. His and Taliyah’s combat power was simply no match for Lin Lan and Gragas. Even if they knew they were invading, they couldn’t confront them head-on.
Moreover, they had a wave pushing under their turret. If they didn’t clear it, they would lose control over the lane.
Qi Mo gritted his teeth, “Release.”
Zhang Chao could only comply. But as Lin Lan and Xiao Shengjing kept invading wave after wave, Zhang Chao became flustered again, “Captain, I feel like there’s something wrong with this approach?”
With this approach, Lin Lan and Xiao Shengjing would inevitably reach level six first. At level six, Yasuo and Gragas would have a devastating combo with their ultimates, a damage that no hero could withstand.
But Qi Mo quickly calmed down again, “It’s okay. I’ll use my ultimate to support you at any time.”
His words had just fallen when, from a completely impossible corner, a Gragas ultimate suddenly flew out, blasting him from under the turret directly into the jungle. Then, Lin Lan, hidden in the bushes, instantly followed up with his ultimate and ignited Qi Mo upon landing. Xiao Shengjing followed up with his E ability. Qi Mo, who was already at half health, could hardly move and was instantly killed on the spot!
First blood!
Yasuo’s damage was just too explosive!
Galio’s passive only increases magic resistance against AP champions, while Yasuo is a standard AD mid-laner. Under the passive’s blessing, every blow from Yasuo created damage that a level six Galio simply couldn’t withstand!
Qi Mo’s hands and feet turned cold. He never expected that Lin Lan and Xiao Shengjing’s target would be himself; before this, they had been causing trouble in the jungle!
And, moreover…
This jungle-mid duo was just too violent!
He was just farming under the turret! Did they really have to force a kill like that? It’s not at all composed!
