A life-and-death game in the deciding game
When the pick and choose screen for the final game of the Grand Finals came on, the atmosphere in the arena seemed to pause. The audience held their breath, their eyes glued to the giant screen—this wasn't just a battle of lineups, but also the ultimate battle of tactics and psychology between the two teams. ZT Team took the lead, first banning Da Qiao to disrupt AY's transmission system; then banning Sima Yi to deny Su Ran the opportunity to flank and cut into the backline. Each move was a precise strike against AY's weak spots.
"Ban Jing and Zhou Yu," the coach's voice boomed through the headset. "Restrict Aze's jungle penetration, and don't let Lao Xia play the positional mage." AY Team banned Jing and Zhou Yu without hesitation. Then, Lin Yu's voice was filled with unquestionable determination: "Pick Pei Qinhu and Wu Zetian. I'll invade early to suppress Han Xin's tempo, and you use your ultimate to support the side lanes. We'll play a fast-paced game and deny them the opportunity to split push."
Su Ran nodded and decisively targeted Wu Zetian on the second floor; Lin Yu took Pei Qinhu on the third floor, reaffirming their mid-jungle duo. The final lineups were finalized: Team AY's "Pei Qinhu (Lin Yu) + Wu Zetian (Su Ran) + Lü Bu + Gongsun Li + Taiyi Zhenren"; Team ZT's "Han Xin (Aze) + Zhang Liang (Lao Xia) + Xiang Yu + Yu Ji + Guiguzi." The commentator's voice suddenly became excited: "This AY lineup is incredibly powerful in the early game! Pei Qinhu's invasion combined with Wu Zetian's full-screen ultimate just counters ZT's Guiguzi's teamfighting system. It all depends on whether they can establish the early rhythm!"
As the game loaded, Lin Yu's fingertips repeatedly brushed against Pei Qinhu's portrait on the screen, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. Su Ran, sensing his nervousness, quietly reached under the table and gently grasped his hand. The warmth from her palm, like a current of warmth, instantly soothed their frayed nerves. Lin Yu turned to look at him, meeting the trust in his eyes. A smile finally crept into his tense lips.
"The game begins!" With the referee's order, the game officially entered the competition stage.
Without hesitation, Lin Yu piloted Pei Qinhu straight to ZT Team's red zone. Han Xin's red zone start was a consistent habit of Aze's, a fact they had repeatedly confirmed before the match. Taiyi Zhenren followed closely beside him, pre-charging his first skill, "Time and Space Bomb," and placing it in the bushes near the red buff spawn point, waiting for Han Xin to appear.
At 1 minute and 10 seconds, the red buff refreshed on time, and Aze's Han Xin arrived as expected, controlling Han Xin to attack the red buff. Lin Yu seized the opportunity, and Pei Qinhu switched to human form. His basic attacks, combined with Taiyi Zhenren's bomb, instantly reduced the red buff's health to a critical level. Han Xin attempted to use his second skill, "Last Stand," to move and seize the jungle, but was stunned by Taiyi Zhenren's prematurely detonated bomb.
"Now!" Lin Yu's voice was filled with decisiveness. Pei Qinhu switched to tiger form and used his first skill, "Tiger Roar," to pounce at Han Xin. He then used a basic attack followed by his second skill, "Tiger Leap," to instantly reduce Han Xin's health to zero. "First Blood!" The moment the system notification sounded, the orange signboards in the audience instantly lit up, and shouts of "Lin Yu" and "Su Ran" swept through the venue like a wave.
After securing first blood, Lin Yu didn't stop. He controlled Pei Qinhu to clear the small monsters in ZT's red zone, then turned and rushed back to his own blue zone, reaching level 4 in 4 minutes, two levels higher than Han Xin. Su Ran's Wu Zetian was steadily advancing in the middle lane, using her first skill "Empress's Radiance" to quickly clear the lane. Every time Zhang Liang tried to block the lane with her first skill "Word Spirit: Barrier", he would be forced back to the tower by Wu Zetian's skills, making it impossible for him to support the side lanes.
But ZT, the defending champions, quickly adjusted their strategy. At the 8-minute mark, Guiguzi suddenly burst from the river brush, his second ability, "All Things Have Spirits," precisely pulling down Gongsun Li, who was pushing the lane. Xiang Yu's "Overlord Slash" followed closely, pushing Gongsun Li back under ZT's defensive tower. Han Xin seized the opportunity to circumvent Gongsun Li from the jungle, using his first ability, "Relentless Charge," to lift her into the air. Combining basic attacks with his ultimate, "Unparalleled Patriot," he instantly killed her. ZT then secured their first Tyrant, closing the gold gap to 500.
"Don't panic." Su Ran's voice was still calm, without the slightest impatience. "My ultimate skill still has 30 seconds left. When it's ready, we'll find an opportunity to start a team fight and kill Yu Ji first." Lin Yu nodded, controlling Pei Qinhu to abandon the aggressive invasion and instead lie dormant patiently in the wild area, his eyes fixed on the minimap, closely watching Han Xin's movements - he knew that Han Xin would most likely try to split the lane next, which was ZT's best way to turn the tables.
At 12 minutes, the minimap showed the four members of Team ZT gathering near the Domination pit, with Han Xin missing. "They've split the carry!" Lin Yu immediately warned his teammates, "Lü Bu, go to the Domination pit to contain them and prevent them from taking the dragon. I'll go gank Han Xin, and you all stay focused on providing support."
Pei Qinhu went around from the red zone and ran into Han Xin who was hitting the blue buff in AY's blue zone. At this time, Han Xin had just reached level 4 and had not had time to develop. Facing the level 6 Pei Qinhu, he had no power to fight back. Lin Yu controlled Pei Qinhu to switch to tiger form, and pounced on him with his first skill "Tiger Roar". Combined with basic attacks, he instantly beat Han Xin to a low health. Han Xin hurriedly gave up Flash to escape, but was hit by Wu Zetian's ultimate skill "Life and Death" released by Su Ran in time, and was stunned on the spot. Pei Qinhu followed up with basic attacks and killed Han Xin again.
At the same time, Lü Bu suddenly unleashed his ultimate, "Demon God's Advent," in the Overlord pit, pinning all four ZT players. Gongsun Li and Taiyi Zhenren seized the opportunity to deal damage, successfully seizing the first Overlord. AY, taking advantage of the situation, pushed forward with the Overlord vanguard, widening the gold gap to 1,000 and regaining control of the game.
At the 20-minute mark, the gold gap between the two teams was only 300, with the Storm Dragon King becoming the final deciding factor in the championship. Team AY gathered first at the Dragon King's pit, with Taiyi Zhenren unleashing his ultimate, "Transfiguration," preparing both to initiate a teamfight and protect his opponent. Lü Bu roamed outside the pit, wary of Guiguzi's sudden teamfights.
Just as Pei Qinhu was about to punish the Dragon King, ZT Team's Guiguzi suddenly flashed, and his second skill "All Things Have Spirits" accurately pulled Wu Zetian; Lao Xia's Zhang Liang immediately followed up with the ultimate skill "Word Spirit·Manipulation", suppressing Wu Zetian in place and preventing her from releasing skills; Xiang Yu's "Overlord Slash" pushed Pei Qinhu and Lu Bu away at the same time, and Yu Ji activated "Dance Before the Formation", and her normal attack combined with her first skill "Chu Songs" instantly killed Wu Zetian.
"Retreat!" Lin Yu decisively called a halt, controlling Pei Qinhu to switch to human form and quickly clearing out the minions near the Dragon King Pit with basic attacks, buying time for his teammates to retreat. However, Team ZT had already formed a siege, with Guiguzi and Xiang Yu pressing hard and on the verge of annihilating Team AY in the Dragon King Pit.
At this critical moment, after Su Ran's Wu Zetian was resurrected, she immediately used her ultimate move "Life and Death" to teleport to the Dragon King Pit - a golden beam of light fell from the sky, accurately hitting ZT's Han Xin, Zhang Liang, Xiang Yu and Yu Ji, and stunned them all on the spot!
"Now!" Lin Yu's voice was tinged with excitement. Pei Qinhu switched to tiger form and used his first skill, "Tiger Roar," to pounce on Yu Ji. Taiyi Zhenren's "Space-Time Bomb" accurately hit Yu Ji, stunning her. Gongsun Li's ultimate skill, "Lonely Duck Cutting Clouds," combined with his damage output, instantly killed Yu Ji. Lü Bu then activated his ultimate skill, "Demon God Descending," trapping the remaining four members of Team ZT in the Dragon King's pit. Pei Qinhu and the resurrected Wu Zetian followed closely behind, unleashing their full power, killing Han Xin, Zhang Liang, Xiang Yu, and Guiguzi.
Without hesitation, AY team took down the Storm Dragon King and headed straight for ZT team's high ground with the Dragon King buff. At this point, ZT team had no chance of resurrection and could only watch as AY team pushed down the middle high ground tower and launched a final attack on the crystal.
The moment Pei Qinhu's tiger claws shattered the ZT team's crystal, the system prompt sounded throughout the venue: "AY team wins!" The whole audience instantly boiled over, the orange light signs flashed like a sea of stars, and the shouts of "Lin Su champion" and "AY champion" were deafening, and even the ceiling of the venue seemed to be shaking slightly.
Lin Yu took off his headphones, immediately stood up from his seat, and rushed over to Su Ran. Su Ran also hurried forward, and the two hugged each other tightly, their eyes red with excitement. Teammates gathered around them, hugging them tightly, cheers and laughter intertwined.
Fans in the audience waved their cheering signs, some even crying with excitement. Staff members wheeled the championship trophy onto the stage. Lin Yu and Su Ran stood side by side at the front of the line, raising the trophy with both hands. The cool metal felt warm inside Lin Yu—he knew this championship belonged not just to them, but to the entire AY team, to every fan who supported them, and to their years of perseverance and dreams.
Under the light, Lin Yu quietly held Su Ran's hand. The silver ring on her ring finger reflected a faint light. He lowered his head and whispered in Su Ran's ear, "We did it. Next, it's time to fulfill my promise." Su Ran smiled and nodded, her eyes full of happiness.
That night, the lights at the esports center were exceptionally bright, and the sea of orange cheers lingered for a long time. The legend of Team AY had just begun; and the story of Lin Yu and Su Ran would continue to write a new chapter in glory and passion.
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