64. Finally won!
The fourth game was a difficult one.
Li Qian had no interest in watching the match results; he was preparing for the worst. His mind raced, visualizing the first three games and using his fastest calculation ability to create grid diagrams.
When the results were displayed, he gasped.
Because he clearly saw that HIT was conserving their strength in all their matches, including the match where they won the LCK Summer Split championship. Although it was a full five games, Li Qian could feel that HIT was still conserving their strength. They only started to really exert their strength when they got match point in the previous game.
OT is now facing a fully-powered HIT!
In the fourth game, Lin Jiang regained his form, making several high-energy plays and gaining a strong advantage during the laning phase.
The domestic commentator analyzed, "River looks to be in pretty good form this game, and he has a chance!"
The bottom laner, Chenju, still had incredibly fast hand speed, showing no signs of a recurrence of his hand injury. He played extremely aggressively in lane and retreated very decisively.
Lao Mao commented on him: "From what I can see so far, I don't think his hand injury has affected him. The fact that he dared to pick Kalista in this game fully demonstrates that his hand is fine, so everyone doesn't need to worry too much."
Although Song Zhixu was at a disadvantage in the top lane, he handled the pressure exceptionally well and remained relatively stable overall.
Zhang Mingying focused on mid-jungle synergy, and by reducing jungle trades, his movements were less predictable to the opponent.
But why can't I win the game?
Lin Jiang gained the advantage and launched several attacks on the middle lane, but he couldn't break through at all.
Even if a small-scale team fight breaks out in the mid-game and the mid-laner is forced to return to base, someone will always fill in the mid-lane and keep defending. After pushing for a full 10 minutes, Lin Jiang suddenly realized that he had fallen into a trap!
It's all thanks to HIT's network!
It's so meticulous, there's not a single flaw!
So is this HIT's true strength?
On the big screen, Lin Jiang initiated many crucial team fights and maintained an advantage in kills, but something just felt off.
Domestic commentators also noticed the problem: "Why does it feel like the economies haven't really taken off?"
Since the economy isn't widening, HIT isn't at a disadvantage, and their late-game composition means that if the game drags on, they'll only lose due to OT (over-aggression)...
Lin Jiang glanced at the data panel and immediately noticed the problem: "Their economy is not lagging behind."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt somewhat discouraged. The fact that their economy hadn't widened the gap meant that their tactics had failed in the early stages.
This can't go on. We have to find a way to save ourselves first. Zhang Mingying took the initiative to suggest, "I can go around to find an opportunity."
"No, they have figured you out completely. All the loopholes are traps they have set for you."
Lin Jiang remained calm; he could sense that he was facing five equally battle-hardened opponents who employed a hexagonal tactical approach.
Their skills may not be as good as his, and none of their players can even be among the top three in the world, but the team's overall strategy is enough to defeat any team in the world.
Lin Jiang has always been confident. He firmly believes that he can defeat anyone on this path, but what if it's a team?
He suddenly lost his confidence.
A drop of sweat fell onto the back of his hand, and Lin Jiang realized how nervous he had become. His throat tightened, and every command seemed to drain all his strength.
The situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable for them. Before the team fight even started, two of their players had already died.
Lin Jiang did not give up and unleashed a burst of maximum damage, instantly reducing the health of all three opponents to half.
Shen Ju did not give up. He used his terrifying hand speed to attack his opponents, jumping, pulling, and dodging. Countless spears pierced the hearts of the enemies. All the Chinese people shouted in response. As long as Shen Ju used his spears to kill the front row, the spears would be pushed into the enemies behind, causing the deaths of the three HITs. This is the legendary "Spear Pushing Technique", which can kill enemies instantly!
Just when all his efforts were about to pay off, the enemy top laner flashed over and took down Chenju with a single strike.
Shen Ju's hand trembled uncontrollably. It was so close, so very close. He watched in frustration as the enemy marched forward through blood, while he could do nothing about it.
After persisting for so long, did it still end in defeat?
No one spoke in the voice chat. As the crystal shattered, they finally understood the pressure of WAG being reverse swept 3-2. It was a mountain that could crush a person.
Domestic public opinion was also completely ignited.
Why did they lose two games in a row when they had a match point?
We clearly had the advantage in this game, so why are we always just a little short, always just a little short?
In the last game, Chenju had done his best, and it was really just a matter of being a little short, but the game was ruthless and crushed all their hopes!
The HIT players finally showed relaxed and happy smiles, having won two consecutive games and were in hot form. Their morale was higher than OT's in the next game.
As for OT, let them slowly sink into their hell.
"However, I'm still quite wary of that kid sgod. His actions and hand speed in the last wave clearly exceeded our expectations."
"Didn't they say he had a hand injury? Why isn't he reacting at all?"
"You know, when athletes make mistakes, they'll find all sorts of excuses, and a hand injury is a great one, isn't it?"
The five people looked at each other and smiled. After witnessing the true level of OT, they finally let go of their worries.
Lin Jiang is nothing special.
Even the world's best mid laner is nothing special.
South Korean netizens, seeing this, had their hopes rekindled and began praising HIT, saying that their previous two games were just a test, and the third game was the real beginning.
Domestically, the focus is on finding war criminals.
Lin Jiang performed exceptionally well, and Shen Ju also performed exceptionally well, but they still lost. So who was the culprit in the team?
Top laners, junglers, and supports were all dragged out and criticized to varying degrees, with microscopes placed over their heads, and any slight flaw was magnified infinitely.
Old Mao was still speaking well of the players: "It's really good that they can perform like this in their first World Championship. Anyway, I think OT has exceeded my expectations."
These feelings are far from enough to calm the netizens. If they were to be down 2-0 right from the start, they wouldn't feel this way.
But they clearly won two games, they clearly had the ability to win, and they were only a little bit away from winning the last game, but they still lost. Isn't this going to cause them to have a heart attack and die?
It's better not to watch this lousy match and just wait for the result!
Everyone's emotions were stirred by this match, and many people were saying that Lin Jiang was fully capable of winning the championship, and that OT couldn't keep up with him.
Public opinion drowned out all other voices, its power no less than that of the day the CCP suffered a major upset. They had already died once that day, but OT told them: there is still hope.
In the end, they carried boundless hope and faced the blade to the very end, only to discover that OT had also left them with a bad ending.
[I can't take it anymore, I'll come back to check the results in half an hour.]
[Don't use a dull knife to kill me! I'm covered in wounds!]
Why should I, at such a young age, suffer like this?
[If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have preferred not to give me any hope at all.]
[I feel so awful, I feel like throwing up.]
[Don't lose, OT!]
No...
Please!
There have been many instances of teams coming back from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 in matches, because after losing two games, the players' mental state is often damaged, which seriously affects the outcome of a do-or-die game.
Before even leaving the field, Lin Jiang noticed that Zhou Wen was acting strangely. He seemed to be very sensitive to the cold, wearing the jacket that Ryan had prepared for him, shivering from the cold while muttering to himself.
The pressure on the contestants was immense, and Zhou Wen's mental defenses were low. Muttering to himself was perhaps a way for him to relieve stress when he was pushed to his limit.
Not to mention others, even Song Zhixu was constantly standing on tiptoe and taking deep breaths. The fact that someone as shameless as him was starting to get nervous meant that the pressure was really immense.
Fortunately, Shen Ju and Zhang Mingying managed to stay calm. Lin Jiang discussed some issues with them before being stopped by Li Qian.
He was a little nervous, holding his notebook, excitedly telling them, "I've found the flaw! I've found the flaw in HIT..."
In an instant, everyone looked up at Li Qian.
The atmosphere was ignited, with the audience on both sides refusing to give way. Although the Korean commentators on stage did not show any favoritism towards either side, the corners of their mouths, which they could not hide, had already betrayed their thoughts.
The domestic commentators weren't to be outdone. Since they weren't the organizers, they said whatever came to mind: "Isn't 2:2 a draw? We started from the same point anyway, so it's not certain who will win or lose."
These words brought Chinese netizens to their senses. Anyway, we haven't lost yet. Hmph, we're all at match point, so who's afraid of who?
[I want OT to win!!!]
[Dad won't allow you to lose! Win!]
The final decisive game has finally begun!
Lin Jiang's expression was firm, Chen Ju's eyes were piercing, and the team members followed closely behind. Because they were all so good-looking and tall, even the carefree Li Qian seemed handsome, with a mysterious and unfathomable depth.
The lineups on both sides were similar to the one before last. HIT even improved the support position, which was obviously HIT's ultimate move. The five of them looked confident in front of the camera, as if they had already won the game.
OT continued to draft Ornn for top lane, Kalista and Alistar for bot lane, and the mid laner...
The domestic commentators were full of anticipation: "What champion will River pick in the last game of the World Championship? Will he pick his LeBlanc? I think this champion is very suitable for today's lineup."
Under everyone's expectant gaze, Lin Jiang pulled out a hero he had never used in the World Championship before: the Valiant Bombardier.
That is, what is commonly known as an airplane.
This is a marksman hero who can convert a large amount of his AD damage into AP damage, making him a hybrid damage hero and a common mid-laner.
But why doesn't anyone play it?
Because its margin for error is too low, it is very easy to get caught out, and once caught out, the entire game is over.
But what if Lin Jiang chose it...?
HIT's expression suddenly changed.
Their ultimate move is ingenious because it's a subtle, stealthy strike. They silently slit their opponent's throat, watching them bleed without them even realizing it. And since their opponent lacks the ability to kill them instantly, they can only silently lose their ability to move and ultimately meet their death...
Lin Jiang can gain an advantage in the laning phase in almost every game, but this advantage cannot be expanded when faced with their ultimate move; it will slowly dissipate like cotton.
The OT player in the previous round died in the same way.
Having advantages, but not being fatal, means being repeatedly tormented and bleeding by an invisible, blunt knife.
After creating the data network, Li Qian couldn't immediately pinpoint the problem, but he firmly believed that no lineup in the world is without weaknesses, and Riot's ultimate goal is to balance the player experience.
There must be a weakness to be found...
After a thorough search, he finally found it.
He told them, "As long as you have a decisive advantage to end the game, HIT's soft attacks will become completely ineffective."
Lin Jiang frowned. "We simply cannot gain such a significant advantage over them; the difference in strength is too small."
Li Qian's eyes gleamed with barely concealed excitement: "What if it's a hero that can maximize the economy? You and Shen Ju, each of you can take one, and your combined advantages should be enough."
Everyone wants to be the hero when it comes to the biggest economy, but there's a paradox: high returns also mean high risks.
However, there are always exceptions. For example, monsters like Lin Jiang and Shen Ju can maximize the hero's survivability, which is equivalent to adding a survival buff.
"With you and Shen Ju together, you two are more than capable. I believe in you!"
Shenju continued to pick Kalista, while Lin Jiang boldly chose Corki. These two heroes have a terrifying burst potential in the mid-game, and together they can kill a tank.
Netizens were thrilled to see OT unveil something new, proving that OT wasn't sitting idly by!
Amid cheers from both sides, the competition officially began.
The opposing mid laner was still trying to play defensively and farm like before, but Lin Jiang didn't give him any face and started chasing him down, harassing him so much that the opponent didn't even dare to farm minions.
Hybrid damage heroes are too powerful, as they minimize the benefits of the opponent's dual resistances, thereby consolidating their own advantage.
Lin Jiang has reached level 3 and has W in his hand, so he can escape at any time. Therefore, he can fight his opponent without any scruples, while his opponent has to worry about whether Zhang Mingying is squatting nearby.
Just like in the previous game, Zhang Mingying didn't follow the enemy's jungle rhythm at all. He just ganked relentlessly, ganking bot lane at level two and mid lane at level three, while leaving the top lane to fend for itself.
Lin Jiang and Shen Ju were quickly fed by him. Although Zhang Mingying was behind in both economy and level, he was playing Blind Man in this game, and whether or not he picked up this hero didn't make a big difference in economy.
HIT quickly felt the strain and organized two small-scale team fights, but without exception, they could not withstand the damage from OT's two carries and had to give up the dragon.
Fifteen minutes into the game, there were still no kills between the two sides, but OT had already gained a three thousand gold lead.
Don't be fooled by the mere 3,000 damage; Lin Jiang's plane deals mixed damage, making it very painful to hit, while Chen Ju's Kalista has a piercing effect, resulting in very realistic damage. Their current output is actually nearly 5,000 higher than the opponent's.
HIT's expression turned grim, and he lost all the confidence he had before the match.
They only used an incomplete ultimate lineup against the other side, how could they have cracked it so quickly?
Li Qian, his hands clenched in the lounge, watched this battle that would determine his career. The pressure was so great that he began to mutter to himself, "My decision won't be wrong, great, just keep going like this..."
While OT was making great strides, HIT went into overdrive, stubbornly holding onto the economy with its operations, preventing OT from pulling ahead for a full 10 minutes.
This is a very bad sign, because that's how we lost the last OT game!
Old Mao nervously wiped away his sweat. "OT! Keep attacking! Don't stop! Don't repeat the mistakes of the last game!"
Lin Jiang knew better than anyone that if they didn't break the deadlock, they would lose everything.
Huff... Huff...
The more tense you are, the calmer you need to be. It is often those who lose their composure in these situations who lose the game.
Lin Jiang rushed to Xiaolongkeng, where the ten people from both sides gathered, ready to settle their differences.
HIT took the initiative, but Lin Jiang reacted very quickly. Instead of escaping with a W, he lunged in the back row of their team!
The commentators on stage were stunned: "What! River initiated the team fight with his bare hands! Who initiates a team fight with their own bare hands?!"
After the plane picks up the explosive charge, W's flight distance will double, which also gives Lin Jiang the ability to reach the enemy's back row.
Lin Jiang left a trail of intense heat as he pounced on the enemy AD carry, unleashing all his damage in one second and reducing all three backline heroes of HIT to near-death!
Without hesitation, Zhang Mingying flashed down and used W to kick three people into the air. Lin Jiang fired a cannon shot, taking down the AD carry, and then fired another cannon shot, taking down the support.
Although Lin Jiang flew the plane very well, unfortunately the plane's survivability was still too low. Lin Jiang only managed to deal damage for 2.5 seconds before being killed by the enemy.
...That's enough, he's done all he could!
Under Zhou Wen's protection, Shen Ju rolled around continuously. His basic attack triggered a movement mechanism, allowing him to nimbly dodge the opponent's skills and drag them down relentlessly. No one could kill him, and no one could escape!
Any enemy that gets stuck with Kalista, either kill her or you're in for a world of hurt!
HIT knew very well that if Shenju didn't die, they would be the ones to die. They charged at Shenju like madmen, but they were just a little short, just a little short, just like Shenju in the last game, always just a little short of winning!
Blood flowed freely, and blades gleamed.
The final spear pierced the enemy's heart, and all the pent-up emotions were released at that moment.
The domestic commentators went wild on stage: "agod is still holding on, he's not dead yet, his spear killed the last HIT member, he got a triple kill, and wiped out the opponent! My God, OT's two carries have never lost to anyone!"
I've never lost to anyone!
This is the confidence hidden in the blood of the LPL!
OT lost some matches in this World Championship, but their two carries never lost to anyone!
Blood stained his fingers, but Shenju's eyes burned with rage. He secured the third dragon, pushed down the mid-lane high ground, and officially widened the economic gap to 6000.
Faced with such a huge economic gap, all tactics seem pathetic.
HIT held on desperately, but eventually couldn't withstand the arrival of the OT Dragon Soul and were forced into another team fight, resulting in three deaths and the beginnings of defeat.
In the live stream, Lao Mao raised his arms and exclaimed, "Holy crap, this is too strong! Lin Jiang and Shen Ju are too strong, how can these two be on the same team? Together they are invincible!"
[Haha, that's hilarious! You were previously criticizing Shenju as a troll.]
[Back when Lin Jiang first joined OT, you were quite the madman in the livestream.]
[Great, great, it feels like the bride's family has finally accepted the son-in-law.]
[To be honest, the most surprising person in OT for me was Shen Ju. He's incredibly talented, and given time, he'll definitely surpass Lin Jiang's achievements.]
[But I still think Lin Jiang's team fight initiation is better, hahaha. He initiated the team fight with his bare hands, seriously, if I changed my ID, I would have roasted him to death...]
Although fans verbally criticized Lin Jiang for being too reckless in starting the group, they felt both heartache and pride for him. Their Lin Jiang will always be the pillar of the team.
After securing the Dragon Soul, HIT was clearly no longer able to compete with OT. At this time, Baron Nashor spawned, and the economic gap reached 12,000. Even with HIT's strong macro play, it was impossible to break through such a gap, and they could only drag the game out.
Lin Jiang did not hesitate and led his teammates to advance triumphantly. He wanted to take advantage of their weakness and leave them no chance to turn the tide.
Lin Jiang still had the explosive pack on him this time, and he also had a resurrection item. He once again initiated a team fight with his bare hands, killing two people before falling to the ground and waiting to respawn.
Shen Ju unleashed a barrage of attacks. When Lin Jiang revived and got up, he saw that Shen Ju had reduced the enemy team to just one mid-laner. He couldn't help but laugh, and then fired a cannonball that hit its mark precisely, wiping out the enemy team once again.
With a resurrection time of up to 50 seconds, Lin Jiang and his team only need a dozen seconds to destroy the crystal.
HIT has already lost!
This caused South Korean netizens who had been waiting for a miracle to collapse on the spot. They were going to lose sooner or later, so it was better not to win those two games!
The domestic broadcast was filled with "Congratulations OT!" The screen was covered, and the domestic commentators had tears in their eyes as they announced: "Let us congratulate OT on winning the World Championship Finals after a difficult journey!"
As the final sound faded, the crystal exploded, reflecting on the ashen faces of the five HIT members, while OT members took off their headphones, jumped up, and hugged each other.
Everyone in front of the screen was so excited that tears welled up in their eyes. They couldn't describe the feeling; they just felt a profound shock to their souls.
Lin Jiang felt gratified, pleased that he had risen from the mud and returned to his peak.
Some OT members were happy that, in their worst year, they had finally met Lin Jiang, who led them down a path they had never imagined.
There were also those who felt deeply moved by LPL's defeat. After TG's shocking loss and everyone exclaiming "the game is dead, the league is dead," amidst the disheartened hearts of many and the data of countless uninstalls, Lin Jiang led OT to rekindle its dying embers!
At this moment, Lin Jiang was a god in their hearts, and OT also held an unshakeable position!
[Aaaaaah! I'll kowtow to all five of them right now!]
[Holy crap, I'm a 185cm tall man, and I actually cried from being moved...]
[As long as Lin Jiang and Shen Ju are alive, I believe they won't lose. In my heart, they've already been deified.]
[The entire OT team is a god in my heart! I declare that OT is my favorite team, bar none!]
[How strange, I felt unwell all over just now, with chest tightness, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat, but after winning the overtime, all my ailments disappeared!]
[Hahaha, I'm laughing so hard I wake up in the middle of the night from my dreams...]
I wanted to finish writing about the competition, but I ended up writing too much QAQ
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