The dawn of a desperate turnaround
Cheers echoed from the audience at the esports center, but they couldn't dispel the solemn atmosphere in the SG team's lounge. Lin Yu sat on a gaming chair in the corner, his back pressed against the cold wall. His phone, lit, played a slow-motion video of Su Ran's kill in the fourth round. Shiranui Mai's "Flying Dragon Flame Formation" had come from behind, catching Han Xin's movement in the gap. That 0.5-second prediction was so precise, it seemed as if every move had been calculated.
"Don't dwell on it." The coach came over with two cups of warm water, placed one next to Lin Yu, and tapped the words "Blue-collar Jungler" on the tactical board. "Su Ran has figured out your aggressive jungle style and has specifically practiced targeting your penetration rhythm. Next, let's change the strategy. You'll take Pangu, focusing on early disarming and teamfight control. Let Guan Yu set the pace, and Di Renjie will be the core damage dealer."
Lin Yu looked up, the bloodshot under his eyes clearly visible. He was silent for a few seconds, his fingertips tracing the "Replay" button on his phone screen, and finally hitting the lock screen. "I'm fine. As long as I can win, any way I play is fine." From relying on Han Xin to carry the entire city competition to being a blue-collar jungler in the professional arena, he felt a sense of loss, but at this moment, the team's victory was more important than his own individual brilliance.
When the BP screen reappeared, SG's bans were unambiguous—first, they banned Shiranui Mai, then Baili Xuance, completely cutting off Su Ran and AY's strong jungle options. AY continued with their previous strategy, banning Marco Polo and Zhou Yu to limit SG's sustained damage output.
"First floor, Pangu!" Lin Yu's voice came through the microphone. On the screen, Pangu, wielding a giant axe and wearing heavy bronze armor, replaced the nimble Han Xin. A cry of surprise echoed from the audience, and the commentator's voice echoed with surprise: "Lin Yu actually chose Pangu! This means he's going the blue-collar jungle route, abandoning early-game invasions and focusing on teamfight control!"
Team AY's second floor quickly responded—Su Ran's finger landed on Zhang Liang's portrait. Lilac runes surrounded Zhang Liang, who held a scroll. This hero, once ridiculed as "a tool with no damage," now became AY's control core. Lin Yu looked at Zhang Liang's ID on the screen, and his heart suddenly sank. Su Ran had chosen Zhang Liang, clearly hoping to rely on the powerful control of "Word Spirit Barrier" to limit Pangu's close-range attacks and Guan Yu's flanking movements.
The lineups for both teams were finalized. SG's lineup consisted of Pangu, Di Renjie, Guan Yu, Zhen Ji, and Cai Wenji, a lineup built around a "control chain + sustain" strategy. Zhen Ji's freezing, Pangu's disarming, and Guan Yu's knockback provided multiple restrictions, while Cai Wenji's healing provided the team's resilience. AY's lineup consisted of Nakroth, Zhang Liang, Bai Qi, Jia Luo, and Da Qiao. Da Qiao's teleportation provided rapid support, Nakroth's kill-snap and Jia Luo's ranged damage dealt the damage, while Zhang Liang and Bai Qi's dual control was used to counter SG's advances.
"Match Begin!" the referee announced, and Lin Yu, controlling Pangu, headed straight for his own red zone. Cai Wenji followed closely behind, activating her first ability, "Thoughtless Thought," early to provide Pangu with sustained damage. Unlike his aggressive approach in previous games, Lin Yu's jungle clearing strategy this time was remarkably steady—clearing the red zone first, then collecting the blue buff. He frequently had Cai Wenji scout the area to prevent Nakroth from counter-jungling.
"There's a chance in mid!" Mid laner Zhen Ji suddenly called out at 2:30 into the game. On the minimap, Su Ran's Zhang Liang had just finished clearing the third wave of minions and was heading towards the river, clearly intending to support bottom lane. Lin Yu's eyes glared, and he controlled Pangu, abandoning the fight against the River Spirit, circling through the river brush and heading straight for mid lane.
Zhang Liang's attention was completely focused on the bottom lane, oblivious to the danger. When Pangu's massive axe appeared in sight, Su Ran finally reacted and tried to flash to escape, but it was too late. Pangu's first skill, "Axe of Dawn," knocked Zhang Liang back, and then his second skill, "Axe of Suppression," disarmed him, instantly disabling his basic attacks. Zhen Ji's "Tears Like a Fountain" followed closely behind, and ice crystals formed at Zhang Liang's feet, freezing him in place.
"Di Renjie output!" Lin Yu shouted.
Di Renjie immediately activated his "Six Commands to Pursue the Evildoer" skill, firing a barrage of arrows at Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang's health was visibly decreasing. Su Ran tried to use Purification to break the hold, but Cai Wenji's "Hujia Music" had already filled Pangu's health. Pangu's basic attacks, combined with Di Renjie's damage output, quickly reduced Zhang Liang's health to a meager level.
Su Ran decisively used Flash, attempting to escape back to the tower. But just then, a red figure sprinted down from the top lane—Guan Yu activated his ultimate, "Blade Cavalry," pushing Zhang Liang from the tower back into the center of the teamfight. Pangu seized the opportunity to deliver another axe, taking Zhang Liang's first blood.
"First Blood!" The system prompt sounded, and a long-lost cheer broke out from the SG team's voice chat.
"Brother Yu's flanking move was so stable!" Cai Wenji player Li Xiang shouted excitedly.
Lin Yu just said "hmm" lightly and controlled Pangu to go straight to the tyrant pit: "Don't chase, take the tyrant." He knew that this was just a small advantage at the beginning. AY's Da Qiao system had not yet taken effect. Once Da Qiao found an opportunity to teleport around, the situation could easily be reversed.
As expected, after SG took down the Tyrant, AY's Da Qiao began to shine. Five minutes into the game, Da Qiao unleashed her second ability, "Sea of Fate," in the bottom lane. Suddenly, Bai Qi activated his ultimate, "Scythe of Death," pulling Di Renjie, who had been moving forward, under the tower. Nakroth entered from the jungle, using her ultimate, "Eagle Strike," to lock onto Di Renjie. Combined with Jia Luo's ranged damage, she instantly killed him. Immediately afterwards, Da Qiao activated her ultimate, "Vortex Gate," teleporting Zhang Liang and Bai Qi to the bottom lane, effectively destroying SG's bottom lane tower.
"The bottom lane is gone." Li Xiang's voice was filled with regret.
Lin Yu's fingers paused, but he didn't panic. He stared at the small map and quickly discovered Nakoruru's pattern - every time Nakoruru finished supporting the bottom lane, she would return to the red zone to farm. This fixed route became a breakthrough point for SG's counterattack.
"Guan Yu, Nakroth will go to the red zone soon, you go around from the top lane." Lin Yu communicated with Guan Yu in the voice chat, "I will cut in from the flank, Zhen Ji and Cai Wenji will support at the red zone entrance, let's gank them."
Guan Yu immediately responded: "Got it!"
Five minutes later, Nakoruru appeared on the minimap—she was in AY's red zone, attacking the red buff, her health already down by a third. Lin Yu seized the opportunity, controlling Pangu to dash out from the flank bushes, and his second skill, "Suppression Axe," accurately hit Nakoruru. The moment the disarming effect was triggered, Nakoruru's basic attacks were disabled.
Guan Yu's "Blade Cavalry" descended immediately, pushing Nakroth against the red zone wall. Zhen Ji's ultimate, "Lotus Goddess's Descent," covered the entire red zone, freezing Nakroth in place with ice crystals. Cai Wenji activated "Hujia Music" in the back row, healing her teammates. The four SG team members coordinated well, quickly killing Nakroth.
The victory in this teamfight allowed SG to increase their economic lead to 1500 and push down AY's middle lane tower. At 15 minutes into the game, SG, relying on their economic advantage, successfully took down the Overlord and pushed forward AY's middle lane high ground with the Overlord Vanguard.
"Be steady, don't rush the tower." Lin Yu reminded his teammates in the voice chat, "Da Qiao might teleport behind the high ground."
As soon as he finished speaking, Team AY launched a sudden counterattack. Da Qiao unleashed her ultimate, "Vortex Gate," beneath the mid-lane highland tower. A golden teleportation array illuminated, and Bai Qi, Zhang Liang, Jia Luo, and Nakroth instantly emerged from it. Bai Qi's ultimate, "Scythe of Death," suddenly grabbed Zhen Ji and Cai Wenji, and Zhang Liang's "Word Spirit: Barrier" immediately suppressed them. Nakroth and Jia Luo's damage instantly followed, instantly killing both of SG's supports.
"Retreat!" Lin Yu shouted decisively, but AY had already formed a siege. Nakoruru's ultimate, "Eagle Strike," locked onto Pangu, and Jialuo's "Pure Realm" activated, using ranged damage to reduce Pangu's health to a crawl. Lin Yu tried to use Flash to escape, but Bai Qi's first skill, "Blood Echo," had already landed on him, and Pangu was ultimately killed by Nakoruru.
AY team took advantage of the situation to push down SG's middle high ground and took the Storm Dragon King. The situation was reversed instantly, and SG's economic gap was not only recovered, but also fell behind by 500.
Lin Yu took off his headphones and rubbed his swollen temples. He looked in the direction of Team AY. Su Ran was talking to his teammates, his fingers swiping across his phone, seemingly adjusting his tactics. The cheers of the AY fans in the audience were deafening, weighing down his chest.
"Don't panic," the coach's voice came from the headset. "Da Qiao's system has a low tolerance for error in the late game. Their teleportation takes time. As long as we hold the high ground and wait for their skill gap, we can counterattack."
Lin Yu took a deep breath and put his headphones back on. He controlled Pangu to defend beneath the highland tower, closely monitoring AY's movements on the minimap. Twenty minutes into the game, AY, aided by the Storm Dragon King, pushed forward again on the mid-lane high ground. Da Qiao unleashed her second ability, "Sea of Fate," beneath the highland tower, ready to teleport her teammates home for health—a common tactic in the Da Qiao system. If she couldn't win a teamfight, she would use her second ability to send her teammates home, then use her ultimate to send them back and continue the advance.
"Now!" Lin Yu suddenly shouted, "Guan Yu goes around, Zhen Ji's ultimate blocks the way, Di Renjie uses the Sun Chaser Bow!"
Guan Yu, already on standby on the flank, immediately activated his ultimate, "Blade Cavalry," upon receiving the signal. He galloped towards AY's rear and pushed all five of them together. Zhen Ji's ultimate, "Lotus Goddess's Descent," instantly unleashed ice crystals covering the entire battlefield, freezing all five of them in place.
Lin Yu controlled Pangu to activate his ultimate skill, "Creation of Heaven and Earth." The giant axe split open a golden crack, reducing AY's frontline player, Bai Qi, to a low health. Di Renjie activated the Sun Chaser Bow, expanding his attack range. Combined with the passive of "Dynasty Secret Order," his basic attack damage increased significantly, and he quickly killed Bai Qi.
Su Ran's Zhang Liang attempted to use his ultimate, "Word Spirit: Barrier," to suppress Pangu, but Cai Wenji's "Hujia Music" had already healed Pangu to full health. Pangu countered with his first skill, "Axe of Dawn," knocking Zhang Liang back. Di Renjie followed with a basic attack, instantly killing him. Without their core control, Team AY was instantly defeated. Nakroth and Jialuo were surrounded by Guan Yu and Zhen Ji, and ultimately killed as well.
"Team wipe! SG team wiped out AY team!" the commentator shouted excitedly, "They can push down the crystal in one wave!"
Lin Yu controlled Pangu and led his teammates, following the line of troops and charging towards AY's crystal. As the crystal exploded, the system notification sounded: "SG Team wins! The score is 2:3!"
The SG team's rest area erupted in cheers, with teammates high-fiving each other in celebration. Lin Yu, however, simply breathed a sigh of relief. He looked in the direction of Team AY. Su Ran, head bowed, tapping lightly on her phone screen. A replay of the previous teamfight was playing, clearly reviewing a mistake. Lin Yu suddenly felt a surge of mixed emotions—the joy of winning the game, yet also the pity of seeing Su Ran's disappointment.
Back in the lounge, his teammates were still excitedly discussing the teamfight, but Lin Yu walked alone to the window. The rain had stopped outside, and moonlight streamed through the glass, falling on his phone screen. He opened WeChat and scrolled to the familiar profile picture—the same one from last year's city championship. The chat history stopped at "Don't contact me again." His finger hovered over the input box for a long time before he finally closed WeChat.
Now was not the time to dwell on these things. The score was 2:3, and there was only one final game left. He had to adjust his condition, for the sake of the team and for his own pride.
In the AY team's lounge, Su Ran placed his tactical board on the table and pointed at the words "Zhang Liang's ultimate timing." "I should have used my ultimate earlier and not waited for Bai Qi to pull in the enemy." His teammates nodded, but no one mentioned that the teamfight loss was largely due to Guan Yu's sudden flanking move. Su Ran looked up toward the SG lounge, thinking to himself, "Lin Yu, next round, let's have a good fight."
The lights at the esports center came on again, and the decision-making process for the final round was about to begin. The cheers from the audience were even louder than before. Everyone knew that the next match would determine the final champion and witness the ultimate showdown between the "old rivals" Lin Yu and Su Ran.
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