Chapter 128: Bp Crush! The Farce Is Over!
“Soraka! We won! Brothers!” Clearlove suddenly leaned back on the chair and let out a long sigh of relief.
“Holy shit! Fan Ge! You’re my god!” meiko yanked off his headphones and excitedly patted Team Leader Li Fan’s shoulder next to him. During the match, he was almost in tears; the pressure was fucking huge…
If they lost, bot lane would take the blame, and the fan backlash would be terrifying.
They didn’t want to lose and put pressure on Li Fan either.
zet also grinned foolishly. Although he got beaten badly early game, in the last two team fights, he at least outputted to his heart’s content. At this moment, the big stone in his heart finally dropped.
The disabled Kog’Maw finally stood up.
“See that? My two key ultimates and taunts directly crowd controlled them numb!”
“Yes, yes, yes, Guang Ge is awesome!” The teammates weren’t stingy with praise at this moment.
“But… we only took the first game, there are still two left. Everyone, get your spirits up. WE is still very strong. From that game, you can see that if not for Fan Ge’s strength, we would have flipped over.” Clearlove said to everyone.
At this time, everyone nodded and walked toward the lounge in the back.
……
This match was so satisfying for the fans to watch.
Mood swings were super intense, just like riding a roller coaster, but after it ended, the aftertaste was pure bliss.
“EDG! Awesome!”
“Unreal is about to strike!”
The fans’ enthusiasm almost lifted the arena’s roof.
The frustration from being trash-talked by WE fans and suppressed by their early advantage was completely released at this moment!
What could be more satisfying than striking back with a comeback from the brink of defeat?
The bullet comments in the live stream room also entered a carnival moment.
【Hater! Come out and speak! All pretending to be dead, huh? Come out and speak!】
【Seven thousand economy comeback……I’m just asking if there’s anyone else!】
【《Strike》! This is what《striking》 really means! I’m really liking Unreal more and more. Even his trash talk has the strength to back it up.】
【Unreal’s Vladimir made me wet. That flash engage was pure art.】
【WE players must be dumbfounded? The cooked duck flew away!】
【Time for the pillar of shame. Leading by seven thousand economy and still flipped? Probably only WE in the entire LPL?】
【Congrats EDG! 3:0! 3:0!】
The post-game stats panel popped up. Li Fan’s Vladimir, by leading the team comeback and nearly fifty thousand total damage, undisputedly took this game’s MVP.
But everyone’s attention was all on Li Fan’s MVP photo.
The audience burst into laughter with a “pfft.”
Because Li Fan was side-facing, right hand making a “yea” sign, mouth skewed to the left! As funny as it gets.
No, it directly gave many people a sense of shattering.
You, a big handsome guy, how did you turn into a comedian in the blink of an eye?
“Hahaha! What is this? My eyes.”
“Unreal! Where’s your idol image? How come you don’t care about your handsome guy vibe at all?”
“Help! This photo is too hilarious! Under what circumstances was this photo taken?”
“The end of handsome guy is comedian, right?”
The EDG fans on site laughed themselves silly while frantically taking photos of the big screen with their mobiles and cameras.
Even WE fans were struggling to hold it together; seeing their main team lose didn’t feel so bad.
Mainly because this photo had such huge contrast!
Anyone who gets contrast knows how exciting this moment is.
Even the three commentators on the desk couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
After all, they have great professionalism and don’t laugh casually unless they really can’t hold it.
Wa Wa: “Hahaha! Unreal’s MVP photo…… very unique!”
“Looks like our Unreal player not only has sharp mechanics but also great mentality, very relaxed. This must be a pre-prepared Easter egg?” Miller laughed along.
“But I think fans will love this perk. Emote packs are probably coming out soon.”
Just as Su Xiao Yan predicted, after a brief 【???】 spam in the live stream room’s bullet comments, they quickly screenshotted.
Then sent to various game groups.
【《About my mid laner handsome guy suddenly turning into a comedian》】
【This title is so interesting, just the title piques my interest】
【Died laughing, thought it was a cool male god but it’s a sand sculpture!】
【New emote collected: Nailed it.jpg (image: Unreal skewed mouth yea)】
【The end of striking is embarrassing yourself, right? Dog head saves life.】
【Done for, this image can’t be undone. Now whenever I see him carry, my mind is full of this skewed mouth laugh.】
【WE fans mentality exploded: We lost to this thing?】
The brief rest time ended, both teams’ players returned to the stage.
The on-site atmosphere was still hot, but careful people could notice that the atmosphere on WE’s player bench had subtly changed.
Before the first game started, they were chatting and laughing, relaxed.
But now, from coach to players, everyone’s expressions were much more serious.
Because they knew how important the second game was. If they lost……they’d face EDG holding three match points, which was unacceptable for them.
“Welcome back. After the first game’s epic comeback, we now enter the finals’ second game showdown! Believe both sides’ players have adjusted their state during the rest.” Miller’s voice pulled the audience’s attention back to the arena.
“I think this game, WE might make some BP adjustments. In the last game, they had such a huge early advantage but couldn’t end it. Besides Unreal’s perfect Vladimir performance, their lineup might have issues with mid-game push and closing ability.”
“Right, WE’s lineup has strong poke, but closing the game isn’t that great. Pressured by the Vladimir, they forced Baron Nashor. They probably won’t play like that this time.”
“And EDG, after tasting success, will they keep giving Unreal late-game carries like this? That Vladimir was eye-catching, exaggerated…… honestly, he’s the first to give me such a deep impression with Vladimir!”
“But Vladimir probably won’t be free……better consider others.”
Just as Wa Wa predicted, in the second game’s BP phase, WE on blue side first-picked and directly banned Vladimir!
The pressure was too much. It wasn’t even Vladimir’s power spike time, yet he powered up and won.
What Vladimir? Clearly a duke!
“Straight ban! WE says I don’t want to see this hero again!” Miller laughed.
The site erupted in good-natured laughter, undoubtedly the highest respect for Li Fan’s last game performance.
Esports is like that: strength speaks. Those with strength earn respect.
Even WE fans had to concede at this moment. If they let Li Fan have Vladimir, the pressure would still be huge.
If they didn’t ban it, they’d flame Hong Mi!
What kind of shitty Korean coach doesn’t even know how to BP.
EDG coach Kuaisu Xing seemed to have anticipated this, counter-banning Kang Di’s strong Gragas from last game, 957’s proficient Kled, and the current version’s big daddy Galio.
WE’s subsequent bans were clearly more targeted at mid lane, locking out Li Fan’s standout Syndra from regular season and Clearlove’s Excavator.
In hero selection, WE first-picked and locked Lucian……
The moment Li Fan saw Lucian locked, he immediately went on alert.
WE has an Ardent Censer system. This hero, whether mid or bot, needs attention, but mid is more likely because Xi Ye has high proficiency with it. In the upcoming Mid-Season Invitational, he even solo killed Faker……
Being able to pull it out in MSI means they’ve practiced this system beforehand.
In finals, if the situation calls for it to win, the chance of being forced out isn’t low.
“They might go Ardent Censer!”
As soon as Li Fan said this, Coach Kuaisu Xing and the teammates around him immediately looked serious.
In this one week, Li Fan had mentioned the Ardent Censer system.
After EDG’s internal research, they’d confirmed its terrifying late-game power.
Kuaisu Xing believed Li Fan could keenly notice it. As a top team, WE couldn’t have missed it……especially since Ardent Censer buffs had been through so many patches.
In this situation, they had to be careful.
They knew exactly how broken Ardent Censer was.
If this Lucian is bot with Ardent Censer support, early-mid dominance is maxed, and late game is secure.
If mid, jungle will definitely pick one to serve mid.
In that case, Ardent Censer comes out very fast.
Kuaisu Xing’s brain raced, and he quickly decided: “First take Ivern. Mid without Lucian, how about Ashe?”
The last sentence was to Li Fan.
Li Fan nodded. He was focused on Lucian; actually, they should also cover Tristana.
But taking Ivern works well too.
Opponent’s Lucian-Ivern system can’t come out.
Then with Ivern, they could pick Talon this game.
Just that pre-level six pressure would be a bit high; after six, it could easily turn the situation.
“Then what for mid?” Kuaisu Xing asked.
“Talon……this game Talon works.”
“Talon?” Kuaisu Xing frowned instinctively at the choice.
Another non-meta hero in the current patch, facing a potentially dominant early Lucian. Talon early levels would be very tough in lane.
And fault tolerance isn’t high……
But if Li Fan says it works, they pick it.
Trust mid; so far, he hasn’t disappointed.
“Okay, but we don’t reveal yet. See their second and third picks, confirm if it’s mid Lucian.” Kuaisu Xing said steadily, choosing a safer approach.
The on-site audience saw Ivern picked and couldn’t help but be puzzled.
Ivern?
Jungle Ivern hasn’t been buffed or anything?
They can pick this? What is EDG doing?
The three commentators were also puzzled.
“EDG second game going straight for the kill pick, even pulling Ivern!”
“Looks like EDG prepared fully for today’s match.” Su Xiao Yan was surprised too. Clearlove on functional heroes is fine, but Ivern was unexpected.
“Looking forward to the mid-jungle combo. What hero will EDG mid pull out.”
WE here saw Ivern gone……hearts skipped a beat, especially Hong Mi.
“Did they research this, or coincidence?”
If researched, today’s match would be very tough.
Their ace they planned for MSI, but opponent researched it.
That would be trouble.
But thinking opponent might have mid Lucian, high chance they researched Ardent Censer.
But now it’s do or die. With opponent having Ashe, if they swing Lucian bot, opponent counters with Karma, and bot can’t lane.
So Lucian has to go mid……
Jungle choices suddenly limited.
EDG previously likes Jarvan IV synergy.
So now just take Jarvan IV.
Counter-pick Cho’Gath, top-mid-jungle strength is out.
But this confirms EDG knows WE mid is Lucian. Third pick locks Karma, bot Ashe-Karma strong combo out.
Second ban round, Li Fan directly suggested banning Lulu and Janna.
They already had two Ardent Censers here.
No matter what opponent thinks or if they’ve developed it, since they took Ivern, no need to hide.
Ivern is for functionality; otherwise, useless.
On hero practice speed, Li Fan believed no one was faster.
Hacked and still scared? Then the hack is wasted.
Hong Mi saw Janna and Lulu banned; no luck left.
Without these two best heroes, his bot options weren’t comfortable.
Thought a bit, finally picked Soraka and Jhin.
BP restricted, bot can only go functional.
This self-inflicted wound was harsh; BP was a mess.
Hong Mi honestly felt rushed picking these heroes now.
Lineup sucks……really sucks! EDG prepared too well!
Seeing fifth floor lock Talon, heart in chaos.
Once Talon scales, his double carry has no play space.
When did Kuaisu Xing get this good at BP?
“My god, Unreal pulled another hero! How deep is his champion pool!” Wa Wa’s excited exclamation echoed on site, full of disbelief.
“And WE confirms mid Lucian……Lucian vs Talon mid matchup sounds great just thinking about it.”
“But Lucian’s range and burst will suffocate Talon……”
Talon is an assassin, but not a traditional laner.
Miller, though never seen mid Lucian vs Talon on stage, judged reasonably with his Diamond 1 gatekeeper level.
Both sides’ lineups were thus set.
Blue side WE: Top Cho’Gath, Jungle Jarvan IV, Mid Lucian, Bot duo Jhin and Soraka.
Red side EDG: Top Nautilus, Jungle Ivern, Mid Talon, Bot duo Ashe and Karma.
Both coaches came to stage center to shake hands.
The two coaches’ hands clasped. Hong Mi looked at Kuaisu Xing and said lowly: “Your BP won this one……but I believe my players can win it back on stage.”
Kuaisu Xing smiled wider, confidently replying: “Then I’ll wait for this farce to end.”
Handshake over, both coaches returned backstage, handing the stage to the players.
