IRAJAS Chapter 134

After DT secured first place in the group with a perfect 6-0 record, several topics trended that evening. Among them were official posts expressing expectations for DT and ENG. The fans believed this to be the strongest year for LPL.

[Wow, this year is really strong! DT, ENG!]

[With DT’s unbeaten record, can they win the championship?]

[The atmosphere is already so intense, why not aim for a championship first?]

[How about an all-LPL final this year?]

[LCK’s second seed has been eliminated, but we’re still here.]

[Hahaha, let ENG stir up some trouble and take down YK. Let’s have an all-LPL final!]

[Or let YTF stir up some trouble and take down HAH!]

[Agreed.]

[+10086.]

In the heated atmosphere, YTF bore both the risk of elimination and the mission to eliminate HAH, keeping the excitement levels high.

On the day of the D-group knockout matches, almost all fans of LPL were watching, including those from Korea who were particularly interested in this event.

Currently, Europe’s first seed TO stands tall with a 3-0 record, leaving YTF and Korea’s HAH to compete for the remaining spot.

Will YTF stage a comeback and eliminate the Korean team, or will HAH fight strongly to bring glory to Korea?

The matches proceeded in tense atmospheres. There were a total of six matches today, with each team needing to play three games. YTF needed to win at least two or three games to qualify for the remaining spot against HAH.

HAH is the team that Shi Quan once led. Since Shi Quan left, their performance has plummeted, and fans have even written posts reminiscing about him. After two new players and a coach were brought in, the team’s performance improved, and their fans immediately turned their backs on Shi Quan, criticizing him for leaving and saying he should have left earlier. Their change of heart was faster than a Sichuan opera face change.

This incident caused a small internet storm for Shi Quan, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted. He even considered quitting the esports scene, but DT’s sincerity convinced him otherwise.

So, when it comes to HAH, everyone’s perception of them isn’t very positive. They all hope YTF can eliminate them.

However, during the matches, it became apparent that HAH’s strength was not lacking. They played conservatively in the first round but unleashed their full firepower in today’s knockout matches, only losing one out of the three games.

After YTF struggled to win two matches, everyone thought they were about to turn the tables. However, they suddenly began to decline in the subsequent matches and lost to HAH.

YTF only obtained 3-3 points, while HAH secured 4-2. YTF didn’t even have a chance for a tiebreaker and was directly eliminated…

This marked the first time an LPL team suffered such a dismal elimination in the World Championship, leaving everyone with mixed feelings.

Watching the YTF players packing up on stage, trying to hold back tears while still displaying smiles for the audience, many fans cried for them.

[It’s too difficult, this group is really tough!]

[I don’t blame YTF, they really did their best.]

[All the strong teams ended up in the lower bracket. It’s really unfortunate.]

[When YTF defeated TO, I really thought they had a chance. But I didn’t expect this outcome…]

[Oh no. Suddenly, I understand how UT fans feel.]

[Alas, there are no weak teams in the World Championship. Let’s do better next year.]

Let’s do better next year.

But how many next years does a professional player have in their prime?

LPL teams don’t need to go through the play-ins. It’s like YTF traveling all the way to Korea, only to end their journey after the group stage.

Their plane tickets haven’t been bought, hotel reservations haven’t been canceled, and they’re still at the World Championship. But the World Championship is no longer relevant to them…

The players from ENG and DT were the first to console YTF backstage, and Lin Lan followed suit.

Having been to the World Championship many times, Lin Lan was accustomed to such farewells, feeling okay about it. It was Jiang Jin, with red eyes like a rabbit, who stayed beside him, too afraid to bid farewell.

He said, “I’m afraid I’ll cry if I speak. I can’t handle this situation.”

Lin Lan teased him, “You’re such a coward.”

Jiang Jin retorted, “I just have strong empathy skills. Hmph, you’re so wicked, you wouldn’t understand.”

Lin Lan: “?”

“Jiang Jin.”

“Come here.”

“I promise not to beat you to death.”

YTF could only buy tickets for the early hours of the next day. After packing up, they didn’t even have time to say goodbye before hastily leaving.

The eliminated team had already departed, leaving behind those who had no time to be sentimental and needed to continue their journey.

During the preparation period, DT and ENG teamed up and acted as sparring partners for each other. The coaches on both sides also worked together to create a devilish training regimen.

The quarter-finals finally began.

ENG’s match started first. The intensive training in recent days has significantly improved their strength. They dominated the entire best-of-five series, securing victory.

After this match, the audience worldwide witnessed the strength of ENG. Amidst the praises, a large number of viewers from the Korean region began to feel intimidated.

This year’s LPL is indeed formidable. With ENG leading the charge and DT following closely behind, Korea only has YK to rely on…

After ENG won their match, it was time for DT’s game to begin.

Their opponent in the quarter-finals was none other than the third seed from Korea, HAH.

To be honest, Lin Lan hadn’t really considered this team a threat. Whether in terms of player strength or teamwork, they seemed slightly inferior to UT. Furthermore, in order to avoid facing DT, HAH had pulled out all the stops during the group stage, revealing many of their tactics. There was nothing to fear.

However, Shi Quan also had his concerns: “HAH’s playstyle is extremely diverse, especially since they changed coaches. We need to be wary of falling into their traps. Have you forgotten their group-stage matches? In three games, they pulled out three different strategies, each one firmly controlling their opponents. If it weren’t for TO’s own strength, HAH would have won all three games.”

If HAH were to win all their matches, enter the playoffs, and secure first place in their group, they could avoid facing DT.

Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed as TO’s strength far surpassed theirs.

Lin Lan put on his headphones and took a deep breath.

He wasn’t afraid of HAH; he was just reminded of some things from the original world when he saw TO.

Back then, when he entered the World Championships, it was the same grouping. They made it out of the group stage as the second seed and ran into TO in the quarter-finals.

That year was the one where Lin Lan’s hand injury was the most severe. The team’s core wasn’t relying on him, and he ended up with utility mid-lane champions. Facing TO’s incredibly strong jungle-mid synergy, he felt like he was suffocating in seawater.

With no one to help, always falling just short, no matter how he played, no matter how he managed the game, he felt like a fish on a chopping board, waiting to be carved up by the opponent…

“Here,” Xiao Shengjing patted his shoulder and handed him a bottle of water. “What’s wrong? Are you worried about the match?”

Lin Lan shook his head, taking off his headphones. His mood seemed subdued. “No, just thinking about some unpleasant things.”

Xiao Shengjing didn’t dismiss his feelings and immediately came over, comforting him by patting his head. “Can you talk to me about it?”

Lin Lan: “I’m a bit worried about the semi-finals, Captain. If… if, let’s say, we face a jungle-mid duo that coordinates better than us, how should I play?”

Xiao Shengjing: “Wait for me.”

Lin Lan: “Huh?”

Xiao Shengjing chuckled, patting his head again. “I don’t believe there’s a jungle-mid duo in this world that coordinates better than us. Wait for me, we’ll crush them.”

That answer was quite straightforward…

But Lin Lan liked it.

He liked the confidence in his captain, unlike the foolishness of the original world, always saying, “You should avoid their edge for now.”

Lin Lan took a big gulp of water, feeling suddenly uplifted.

In the following matches, he maintained his high spirits, unleashing one explosive output after another, crushing HAH’s strategies to pieces.

In the domestic broadcast audio, the commentator’s voice was passionate from start to finish: “Oh my god, Kiner has slain the enemy again! He’s always getting kills, every time! The timing of this engagement is just beautiful! Shenn’s initiation is amazing! DT’s jungle-mid synergy, it’s just out of this world! Let HAH and LCK see how incredible our geometry barrel feeding combo is!!”

Lin Lan and Xiao Shengjing executed one perfect synergy after another, breaking HAH’s hearts and causing agony to Korean netizens.

Even the jungle player from TO couldn’t help but ask while watching the game, “Do we stand a chance against DT?”

The mid-laner shrugged, somewhat helpless. “I don’t know.”

In esports, a small mental wavering can lead to unimaginable consequences. Lin Lan understood this principle very well, so he always adhered to the principle of staying clean and decisive in the game.

But in the original world, there were too many voices holding him back—voices from the team, the fans, the teammates—making him always hesitate in the game, unable to break through his own limits.

They all told him to stay calm, to restrain himself.

But no one ever told him to make bold moves.

At the end of the game, Lin Lan made a series of brilliant plays, ending the match five minutes ahead of schedule, winning with a 3-1 record.

At that moment, enlightenment dawned upon him. Lin Lan felt as if he had once again pushed open that door.

He saw clearly what lay beyond that door.

It was the answer he had been desperately seeking in the original world but could never find.

That answer was to forge ahead fearlessly.

Cheers erupted from the audience below, and the barrage on various platforms exploded. It wasn’t just the jubilation of the LPL; spectators from other regions were equally stunned by DT’s performance.

They had known DT was strong this year, but the extent of their strength remained unseen until the recent clash with HAH, where DT truly showcased their formidable prowess!

At this moment, TO also engaged in intense discussions about the match. They suddenly realized that their chances against DT might not be favorable.

Even before the match began, they already felt apprehensive about facing DT.

As the match concluded and the lights dimmed, the thunderous cheers echoed through the venue. Despite being in a foreign land, many LPL fans had traveled far to support their team in this crucial match.

Every time this moment arrives, Lin Lan can always feel the cohesion of the LPL.

No matter how tumultuous the domestic scene may be, when it comes to international competitions, there’s always unwavering support for every LPL team.

After defeating HAH, Shi Quan was the happiest.

Normally quite talkative, today he remained silent. Everyone insisted he stands at the center. He hesitated for a moment before being forcefully pulled to the middle by everyone.

The former Shi Quan was mercilessly abandoned by the Korean scene and denied any chance to even show his face or leave his name behind. Now, he could stand openly in the Korean arena and receive everyone’s applause.

His strength today was undeniable to everyone. He navigated the draft phase flawlessly, avoiding all the traps set by HAH, and setting up the best possible conditions for DT.

If Lin Lan was the one wielding the blade, then Shi Quan was the one tempering it behind the scenes. Because of him, Lin Lan could sharpen the blade.

All eyes were on him, including the defeated HAH. As they left, their three former teammates glanced back at Shi Quan three times, seemingly regretting his departure.

But Shi Quan, at this moment, no longer cared whether HAH acknowledged him. He was surrounded by his players, embracing their applause.

This time, no one dared to doubt Shi Quan’s abilities anymore.

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