Chapter 115: My Sky Has Fallen!
In the RNG lounge, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
Uzi walked silently to his seat, grabbed a water bottle and chugged several mouthfuls, then slammed the bottle on the table with a bang, crossed his arms, face darkened, staring straight ahead.
Although he didn’t speak, anyone could feel the suppressed rage, and the target was obvious: Xiao Hu sitting in the corner, head down, not daring to look at anyone.
After all, bot lane started off okay, but after mid lane was ganked and killed, bot lane forcefully tower dived and killed to help Lucian get two kills.
With mid lane pushed, how was bot lane supposed to play?
The enemy mid laner could come whenever they wanted, what’s the use of a big bot lane advantage? No wonder Xiao Hu didn’t even have the courage to lift his head back in the lounge.
Xiang Guo and Xiao Ming were also silent; that failed bot lane tower dive was the turning point of the match, they both shared responsibility, and neither dared to speak much now.
Afraid of touching the puppy’s sore spot…
Because at this stage, he really would point at your nose and curse.
Coach Feng Ge looked at the players, especially Uzi who practically had “unhappy” carved on his forehead, and Xiao Hu whose head was nearly buried in his knees, sighing inwardly.
The puppy was too dominant in the team.
Even Captain Mala Xiang Guo had no status in front of him.
But there was no way around it; recently, these young players couldn’t match Uzi in either popularity or status in the club.
The whole club was a bit sick; if it continued like this, it would be hard to achieve results.
He didn’t dare think too much, clapped his hands to break the suffocating silence.
“Alright, alright, everyone lift your heads! It’s just one loss, the sky won’t fall. The problem from the last game: our lineup didn’t get a big enough advantage early, so mid game was tough. Their Orianna handled it well, we didn’t apply enough pressure.”
“Forget the last game, what we need to think about now is how to play the next one. Problem identified, just solve it.”
“How to solve it? Mid lane got four ban slots, plus Viktor and Lucian taken, that’s six mid laners removed, so much tactical tilt, and this is the result.”
The puppy didn’t name anyone directly, but it was straight at Xiao Hu.
Xiao Hu’s shoulders shrank, head drooping even lower.
Feng Ge immediately interrupted: “Puppy! Calm down, it’s a team game, wins and losses are everyone’s business. Last game’s bot lane tower dive mistake, jungle invaded, all chain reactions. Now’s not the time to blame!”
After saying that, he couldn’t help thinking of what Li Fan often said in interviews: winning the match is everyone’s credit… as for losing, EDG hasn’t lost yet.
But anyone who can say that is great without needing words.
The puppy’s only flaw is this; if he could change it, they’d have at least one league champion by now, right?
“Next game, let’s change mid lane’s laning idea. Xiao Hu, you use Karma to push the wave and provide vision, just protect the puppy.
Xiang Guo, take more care of bot lane early, we need to maximize bot lane’s advantage and end the game from mid game, got it?”
Hearing this, the puppy’s expression finally improved a bit.
Using a functional mid laner to stabilize, betting everything on bot lane—this was RNG’s tried-and-true tactic in adversity, and the most direct way to break the deadlock right now.
Meanwhile, EDG’s lounge was full of cheers.
“Awesome! Fan Ge, that teleport, that ultimate skill, it got me hyped!” meiko laughed and punched Li Fan’s shoulder.
“Played well, rhythm’s in our hands. Next game they’ll probably change up, target mid or hard protect bot.”
“If they let mid pick a farming hero again, we keep doing this. If they switch strategy, we counter accordingly.”
“RNG will definitely counter next, especially Uzi, he won’t accept it. We’ll have huge bot pressure, but as long as we hold and wait for mid-jungle rhythm, we can take the win.”
The short break ended, staff knocked on both lounges’ doors again.
Both teams’ players returned to their seats.
This time, sides were swapped.
EDG on blue side banned Miss Fortune, Rengar, Caitlyn.
Miss Fortune was actually to counter Xiao Ming’s support pick.
Thunder Miss Fortune support has strong dominance, even after the nerf, picking her is still fine.
RNG continued banning Syndra, LeBlanc, but third ban was Galio.
Galio is indeed OP, on red side they had no intention of letting him through.
As for the standout Orianna last game, honestly no need to ban this hero.
After all, in their view, Orianna tests basics; last game’s super development was mostly them giving opportunities.
If careful and no opportunities given, Orianna without that economy and super gear couldn’t comeback.
Overall tactics were fine: don’t let enemy get aggressive mid heroes, very correct.
EDG first floor directly snatched Shen.
After all, post-rework Maokai’s ultimate is really useless, doesn’t fit EDG’s tactics; Shen is better, ultimate for support and resilient laning.
RNG first two picks locked Excavator and Karma.
Because on red side, Feng Ge deliberately took Karma first—his nickname is Wind Sway—forcing EDG to wonder if Karma was mid or support.
To create some BP trouble.
But EDG didn’t care, or rather Kuaisu Xing really trusted Li Fan’s laning ability.
They directly pulled out Ashe and Lulu combo.
Anyway, let zet take Ashe; laning disadvantage but not that painful.
“EDG ignores it and takes bot duo first.”
“Ashe is indeed zet’s signature hero. EDG wants bot to be more comfortable, and with Caitlyn banned first, bot is very comfy now.”
You could say Ashe pokes weakly, but laning is comfy, ultimate has functionality, fits EDG perfectly.
That’s why everyone says EDG signing zet for 500k for one season was a steal.
RNG hesitated, third pick still took Jinx.
Mouse and Kog’Maw are too late game, less proactive than Jinx; Feng Ge feared Li Fan taking over mid-late.
After all, Karma: you could say strong laning dominance, but solo kill… almost impossible.
Unless enemy at 100 health won’t leave, standing there for your RQ.
Especially since EDG hasn’t picked mid yet, unknown what mid will be.
Second round BP still banned mid heroes: Lucian, Jayce.
EDG banned Nautilus, Camille.
“Croc? Fourth pick croc doesn’t make sense.”
This patch, croc you only win lane, not game.
And not guaranteed to win vs Shen; post-rework Shen damage is high, plus sword array to block auto attacks, hard for auto attackers to suppress.
Croc’s key red fury W easily blocked.
“Nah? Cho’Gath better?”
“Fizz? Fizz works too, RNG wants more aggression.”
【No, what makes a trash like letme take Fizz? Can he even play Fizz? Last game’s Jayce had zero advantage, does he understand Fizz?】
【Ridiculous, can’t they just four protect one? Gotta pick Fizz top, no idea what Feng Ge is thinking.】
Live stream room audience, seeing Fizz locked, couldn’t help cursing.
EDG locked Taliyah and Jarvan IV.
RNG last pick took Braum, lineups set.
Blue side EDG: Top Shen, Jungle Jarvan IV, Mid Taliyah, Bot duo Ashe and Lulu.
Red side RNG: Top Fizz, Jungle Excavator, Mid Karma, Bot duo Jinx and Braum.
Both coaches shook hands again, match entered loading screen.
Facing Li Fan’s Taliyah, Xiao Hu breathed a sigh of relief; his Karma should be fine mid.
Just keep using skills to clear minion wave.
As long as not in attack range, she can’t do much.
Li Fan glanced at enemy lineup while reading map.
Suddenly had an idea.
“Brother Kai, let’s fake a jungle swap, take their bottom jungle…”
In the back lounge, Abu and Kuaisu Xing’s eyes lit up hearing Li Fan’s call; if successful, it’d crush RNG.
And it really had a good chance!
Because RNG is all-in on bot; they wouldn’t expect it.
Both sides bought gear from spring right away.
God view shows EDG four-man invading bottom jungle.
Xiang Guo’s Excavator prepping red open top side.
Seeing minimap, he asked: “They planning to swap jungle?”
“Possible, your bottom jungle gone, hard to gank bot, can’t pressure them much, and their Jarvan is bottom jungle.” Xiao Ming said.
“Clearly to restrict puppy’s farm.”
“Grab it back?” Xiang Guo mainly asked puppy; as jungler, top jungle fine.
After all, top is Fizz, could tower dive top if possible.
Depends on Shen’s health; if healthy, tough.
“Nah, just farm for now.” Taliyah strong in jungle, skirmishes risky.
Puppy held back; enemy jungler in bottom jungle? At most till 4:30, bot still winnable.
Thus, Clearlove opened blue in red side bottom jungle.
“EDG’s play is great, jungle swap success… RNG bot can’t play aggressive now.”
“EDG bot duo playing proactive, yeah with jungler bottom, gives bot duo confidence.”
“Huh? Clearlove only ate one camp and stops?”
Without swap, one camp is pure loss?
Li Fan mid successfully took line priority from Karma.
2:39.
Taliyah vanished mid…
Xiao Hu started spamming signals on minimap like last game.
Had to; Taliyah could really gank bot.
Especially passive speed boost…
And enemy jungler still bottom.
letme not too worried, has Excavator protection.
RNG bot duo retreated fast…
Xiang Guo glanced minimap, felt off.
Because… Shen off top lane, huge wave about to enter tower.
Where could Shen go?
Only jungle!
Seeing his blue buff, no hesitation, Excavator tried to run.
But too late.
Shen, Taliyah, Jarvan in position!
Shen first dashed in to stick, deliberately E waiting for Xiang Guo flash.
How could Xiang Guo fall for it?
Got taunted by Shen… no escape now.
Jarvan EQ flash follow-up, procing passive; Excavator health dropped visibly.
Li Fan easily followed with EWQ combo, Thunder to take the kill!
First Blood and red buff secured.
Xiang Guo lost big; Excavator has flash knock-up, but red buff sticky raises success rate.
But now… gone!
River crab uncontestable later.
Level behind, rhythm behind, real headache.
“Ambushed! They never planned swap, target was me…”
Everyone thought EDG targeting bot, never expected jungler Excavator first.
Shen lost half wave, level ok, economy covered by assist.
Li Fan pushed line over, pure profit.
Clearlove got a blue.
That blue fully to Li Fan.
“A Guang, help smack blue, give this blue straight to Fan Ge.”
Li Fan surprised at Clearlove’s words.
But as mid getting a blue early, why refuse?
“My god! What are they doing? What is EDG doing!”
Ji De shouted!
On-site audience gasped.
Because Taliyah Q took blue buff…
Red blue buff Taliyah? How does Xiao Hu lane?
In back lounge, Kuaisu Xing and Abu very satisfied with advantage.
Li Fan’s flashes of genius calling are brilliant.
Only Scout fidgeted.
He felt like heading to water dispenser, just like subbing for Faker back then.
No one noticing him by the water dispenser…
Xiao Hu saw Taliyah back mid with fragrant red buff.
Recalled Feng Ge’s lounge words: just one loss, sky won’t fall.
So… second game unknown, but facing red blue buff Taliyah, his sky was falling!
