The final match was once again decided by drawing lots. Under the tense gazes of the entire King team, Bai Jingyuan once again drew a familiar opponent—the Apple team.
His teammates' expressions shifted between joy and sorrow. "This is unbelievable! Is it some kind of curse? If we stop here, it'll be my fault."
Bai Jingyuan's tense nerves relaxed a bit. "If we can beat them the first time, we can beat them the second time. Cheer up!"
That's what they said, but once the match officially started, Bai Jingyuan's furrowed brows never relaxed—he was being targeted.
Everyone could see that, perhaps because of the humiliation of their previous defeat, Apple team must have conducted a thorough study of King team's tactics and strategies after returning, and discovered that the core of King team's tactics lay in Bai Jingyuan.
From the start of the game, Xiao Mian, who was laning against Bai Jingyuan, played cautiously and farmed, showing none of her previous recklessness. Meanwhile, Xiao Mian's teammates would come to support her almost every time she finished clearing a wave of minions or jungle camps.
What's worse is that they not only came to provide support, but their movements also suggest they were constantly looking for an opportunity to launch an attack.
[All]APPLE_Xiaomian: What are you hiding for? Don't you love to fight? What's with a grown man hiding inside a turret?
[All] APPLE_Xiaomian: My teammates are here, I'm not kidding. Shouldn't you stop defending this tower?
Bai Jingyuan immediately blocked all of Apple's team's comments. In his view, trash talk was the lowest level of tactical provocation and wouldn't affect him at all.
However, Apple team still found an opportunity. When King team's support was not timely, they successfully used their numerical advantage to tower dive and kill Bai Jingyuan.
King team members said indignantly, "Boss! Wait a minute, we're coming to avenge you right away!"
"Don't come here, all of you!" Large beads of sweat slid down Bai Jingyuan's cheeks. "They're all here. You guys take this opportunity to push the tower using the minion wave. Don't worry about me! Support, don't come either!"
The cheers from the fans of each team on the field gradually subsided, as they held their breath in tension, afraid that their breathing might affect the performance of the players on the field.
The huge competition venue was filled only with the clatter of keyboards and the voices of the commentators.
"Let's look at the situation. Right now, the economic gap between King and Apple is not large. It can be said that the next team fight is very important. Whichever team wins will affect the overall situation of the game."
"King's star player Bai Jingyuan was targeted terribly in this game, unable to capitalize on his advantages at all. In fact, his economy is second to last in King, only slightly higher than the support. This game is probably going to be a disaster!"
"The Apple team is getting stronger and stronger, and it's clear they did a lot of tactical research before the match. But no matter which team wins, they will represent the Chinese region. Personally, I hope the stronger team will win."
Gu Qingqiu, sitting in the audience, kept rubbing her hands nervously. Although she believed that Bai Jingyuan would eventually win, being in the arena, every cell in her body was infected by the atmosphere around her, and she became tense.
Bai Jingyuan licked his teeth with his tongue, like a wild beast preparing for a hunt. His wolf-like eyes quickly swept over the faces of the Apple team members in the opposite seats, and he lowered his head and said sternly, "Protect the mage. I'll lure him in this time. Tactic four."
Bai Jingyuan's teammates immediately understood his intention: "Okay!"
During the probing exchange between the two sides, Xiaomian quickly discovered Bai Jingyuan's "weakness" and immediately shouted, "Grab the order!"
But just as Apple started using their skills on Bai Jingyuan, they discovered that King, who had been retreating, had suddenly turned back.
Xiao Mian's eyelids twitched, and she quickly realized something was wrong. "Oh no! It's a trap! Retreat!"
However, King's mage skillful execution quickly controlled Apple's two carry players, and the support player's attempt to rescue them was thwarted by another King player.
The intense battle took a dramatic turn in just a few seconds. Apple's team, which had focused most of its skills on Bai Jingyuan, was no match for the King team, who were in top form, and was wiped out.
Xiao Mian stared at the black and white screen, angrily ripped off her headphones, and slammed her fist on the table. "What happened? How come so many people are attacking one marksman and he still hasn't died?"
Apple team quickly realized something was wrong—how could Bai Jingyuan still be alive?
The commentator was clearly very perceptive, immediately instructing the director to switch to the replay, and then exclaimed in surprise, "Let's rewatch this wave! Bai Jingyuan's retreat was positioned further back than the rest of the King team, which is illogical. But Xiaomian must have been lured in. This was indeed a great opportunity to surround and eliminate Bai Jingyuan—wait, wait! Director, replay it again! Oh my god! Bai Jingyuan's awareness and hand speed in this wave were absolutely amazing!"
With the slow-motion replay on the big screen, viewers finally saw Bai Jingyuan's actions clearly. Just a second before Apple's team's skill was about to hit him, he sold all his offensive equipment and put on full defensive tank items, and even bought a resurrection armor.
The silent stands erupted in gasps of amazement—that was incredible! They bet this move would become a classic moment for all teams to learn from after the match.
"Look! Bai Jingyuan's hand speed just now was so fast it was like there were afterimages! Is this really an effect that an ordinary human could achieve?"
"Mirror God is awesome, I'll say it a million times!"
"Go King! See you at the top of the World Championship!"
Amidst enthusiastic cheers from the audience, Team King reversed the situation and successfully won the game, securing their ticket to the World Championship for the Chinese region.
Because he was targeted in the early game, Bai Jingyuan's performance in this match was not outstanding in terms of KDA (kills, deaths, support). The system also awarded the MVP of this match to the mage. However, everyone knew that Bai Jingyuan was the key to winning this game and was the true uncrowned champion.
Because the schedules for each region are different, after the participants for the Chinese region are determined, they actually need to undergo another month of training before the official world championships begin.
So Gu Qingqiu threw a celebration banquet for the King team, letting them rest and relax, and even made an exception to allow them to drink alcohol.
They were all young men, and after getting drunk, they started playing drinking games and bragging. Only Bai Jingyuan had a slightly flushed face, but he obediently curled up on the sofa with his knees drawn up to his chest.
Gu Qingqiu noticed Bai Jingyuan's appearance and was instantly charmed. She sat down next to Bai Jingyuan and poked his soft cheek. "Jingzai, are you drunk?"
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