Chapter 209.1: You guys should be called ‘the whole team cowers’!
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In this game, TPT’s support had chosen the guard shaman. This talent’s ultimate move was equivalent to teleportation. After using it, the hero would quickly arrive at a teammate’s side while giving them a short invincibility effect. It was an extremely powerful life-saving skill.
In addition, the cooldown time for the guard shaman’s ultimate move was shorter than teleportation, making it also a very practical skill.
Of course, a guard shaman didn’t have its ultimate move at level two and would only end up giving its life away if it came over.
So, who would he be sending his kill to?
Fu Li’s words were concise and to the point, “Power thief.”
The light signaling that Du Yi was teleporting shone on Zhuang Ruishi’s body.
TPT chose to give up its top-laner and support Zhuang Ruishi.
The commentator: “This is a good choice. Wei Ji’s been caught by Close, and it’ll be difficult for him to get away. On the other hand, Zhuang Ruishi might have been beaten up by Wei Xiao, but his health is still alright. Du Yi’s teleportation is ready, and his control skill should be enough for them to kill Wei Ji. Trading their top-laner for FTW’s jungler core is very cost-effective.”
These words were reasonable, but was Wei Xiao that easy to catch?
A system announcement sounded out before Du Yi could land––
FTW.Close killed TPT.JILI!
The great demon king had once again snatched up First Blood.
Each time he did so, it was faster than the previous time, and it was more direct and clean than the previous time. He didn’t stop even for the national finals!
The commentators couldn’t skip out on another round of praise. They praised him so much that even the great demon king’s fans all started sending out scrolling comments, “Hey, calm down, calm down, this is Close’s standard mode of operation.”
While FTW kicked things off in the top lane, what was the result of TPT’s jungler’s two against one?
He hadn’t hesitated when he rushed up to attack, and he didn’t look back at all when he slipped away.
Wei Xiao hid himself and was as slippery as a fish as he bailed.
Although it was a loss to lose the blue daddy, First Blood was still theirs, so they’d come out ahead overall!
But TPT really wasn’t an ordinary team. For them to be able to win all the way to now, and win over the rising RR, how could they be ordinary?
In the moment that Du Yi landed, he instantly put out a detection trap and exposed Wei Xiao’s figure.
Wei Xiao: “!”
This was the guard shaman’s first skill, a ground mine that acted like a vision trap. Players often complained about the guard shaman and called it a toolman in the canyon because its first skill and ultimate move were all enhanced versions of shared skills in the game.
This detection mine’s range was over twice that of a normal vision trap. Although there was a time limit on it, unlike the vision trap that would remain until it was pulled out, it was a really disgusting skill that could be used indiscriminately.
During BP, Wei Xiao had chosen the hidden thief first, and TPT had chosen the guard shaman afterwards, showing how much importance they placed on him.
Wei Xiao was startled. Of course, it wasn’t because of the detection trap; he’d been mentally prepared and had even shifted to a dead angle, but he hadn’t expected that Du Yi would toss his trap at the dead angle.
This was embarrassing.
Zhuang Ruishi naturally wouldn’t miss out on this chance that would only show up once every thousand years. He directly used flash to move forward and cut off Wei Xiao’s retreat, wanting to kill the hidden thief no matter what!
FTW would have earned big if Wei Xiao didn’t die, but it would be another story if Wei Xiao did die!
The commentator: “Close is rushing over. Quiet has to hold on and wait for support!”
The short distance between the top lane and the blue jungle zone meant that Lu Feng didn’t need to use teleportation. Running over directly was more cost effective, but the problem was…
System Announcement––
TPT.rock killed FTW.Quiet!
Wei Xiao died under TPT’s jungler and support’s attacks.
TPT had gotten even!
Trading their top-laner for FTW’s jungler definitely wasn’t a loss for TPT even if they’d lost First Blood.
Du Yi had maximised the guard shaman’s skills to the limit. He’d also placed a detection mine behind himself which allowed him to see Close coming from a very long distance away.
Zhuang Ruishi turned around to run. He didn’t plan to fight against the great demon king at all.
Commentator A: “In fact, they can fight. After all, TPT has two people on their side…”
No matter how fierce Close was on his own, he was still only one person, and he was still a single form death knight. If Zhuang Ruishi was a little more ambitious, he might have been able to double kill FTW’s top-jungler combo.
Commentator Brother Mouth: “What are you thinking? Take a look at Close’s face. His jungler’s been killed, and his killing intent is soaring!”
It was alright before he said it, but once he did, the director really gave a close-up of Lu Feng’s face.
In fact, Lu Feng was an iceberg all year long. Whether or not there was killing intent was all up to the audience’s interpretation.
At this moment…
The CP fans went up to heaven. “Ahhhhh, charging in a rage for the jungler king!”
“Even though my Q Cub’s dead, this sugar’s really sweet!”
“Cry and tremble. Get ready to bear the wrath of the great demon king!”
Du Yi had provided a wonderful wave of vision. Reasonably speaking, Zhuang Ruishi should have been able to escape and live another day. Unexpectedly…
Butterflies fluttered everywhere. They clearly couldn’t smell the fragrance of flowers, but they wove together in the sky as if they were amidst hundreds of flowers.
Zhuang Ruishi’s heart thudded.
The butterfly warlock’s set of moves flew over, and Zhuang Ruishi, who was under half health, died in an instant.
System Announcement––
FTW.Silvery killed TPT.rock.
“Nice!” Wei Xiao praised Little Ning fiercely, “Thanks for getting revenge for me, Brother Ning!”
Little Ning was shy. “It’s-it’s because Cptain pressured him to come this way.”
Wei Xiao’s words at this moment were just like those from a Close fan, “Sigh, that’s our captain’s standard operations. You’re the one who linked it up well.”
Little Ning’s heart was just like the butterflies in the canyon, blown up by Brother Xiao’s praise until it started dancing.
The commentators were in a frenzy over FTW’s wave of perfect cooperation, but Little Ning’s great pleasure was followed by great sadness.
He’d just gotten the kill when the other side’s demonic mage’s light beams smashed into him. All four beams landed accurately, triggering a damage stacking effect––
TPT.Auroral killed FTW.Silvery.
Stringing him up like a skewer of tanghulu, beautiful!
Little Ning: “……………………”
Wei Xiao coaxed him, “Don’t be afraid, big brother will get revenge for you!”
His words had just fallen when Close arrived at the mid lane and killed the Fu Li whose skills were all on cooldown.
Fu Li didn’t even have flash left, because he’d used flash along with his first and second skill. After a wave of beautiful plays, he’d met the great demon king who’d been just around the corner. Life was really filled with ups and downs…
Wei Xiao hurriedly changed his words when he saw the captain kill Fu Li, “That’s not your big brother, it’s Captain!”
I’m the only one who can call out big brother, you guys shouldn’t even think about it!
The informed vegetable: “……”
Continue going wild; you’ll be invited to a personal interview with Glory’s Mic Explosion King sooner or later!
This wave of killing was really an immortal level start to the match for the audience.
You kill me, I kill you, you kill me again, and I kill you once again.
This wasn’t just the mantis catching the cicada with the yellow sparrow lurking behind. There were also evil foxes and big lions behind the yellow sparrow!
A group fight with low level heroes could turn into such a lively scene, it was really worthy of being the domestic finals. How exciting!
The audience’s emotions were stirred up, and they waved their flags and shouted loudly enough that they would probably have to depend on throat lozenges to talk tomorrow.
The back rows were ringing with cheers, but the front row was quiet, especially the section where the Team of Gods were. None of them said a word.
Yuan Ze smiled like a fox, glancing at Yan Jiang out of the corner of his eye.
Xie He’s eyebrows were drawn together in a slight frown, his black eyes fathomless as he stared at the screen.
There was no need to say anything, no need for even half a word. The four of them all had similar thoughts––
Close had changed.
FTW’s lone wolf now knew how to cooperate.
This wave began with TPT invading the jungle zone, but it was obvious that Close’s killing of Wei Ji in the top lane had been the real start of the back and forth.
Although players died one after another, the seven people who’d participated in this fight all exerted their personal strength to the fullest. This included Wei Ji, who’d been the first to die. Even though Zhuang Ruishi had been sent home by Ning Zhehan, he wouldn’t have been able to escape from the great demon king’s grasp to start with if it hadn’t been for Wei Ji’s dying struggles.
Close oppressed Wei Ji, cooperating with Wei Xiao to lower Zhuang Ruishi’s health.
Close pursued Zhuang Ruishi. Although Du Yi had revealed his approach, his positioning was very extreme and forced Zhuang Ruishi to run into the butterfly warlock’s attack range.
Ning Zhehan took Zhuang Ruishi’s life, then fell into Fu Li’s hands, but Close had already been making his way over.
Close’s cooperation had made crucial contributions to FTW’s three kills!
Fans who’d watched countless FTW games didn’t think much about it, but the Team of Gods who were very familiar with Close felt it very deeply.
The more familiar they were, the more they understood.
The more they understood, the more helpless they felt.
How could they not sigh over it when they saw this change?
How would Wei Xiao be willing to accept sending up a kill at the start of the game? He quickly finished clearing his jungle, then started setting fires everywhere.
TPT was the type of team who didn’t like to fight in the early stages. Its core concept was to ‘survive’, and it was inevitable that their team atmosphere was a bit slippery. They would avoid fighting any opportunity they could in the early stages, and the fight just now had been an unexpected surprise.
Unfortunately, Wei Xiao loved fighting. How would he let them just keep surviving? He frequently created trouble for them all over the place.
Reasonably speaking, FTW should gank their bottom lane and try their best to limit Eurostar’s bubble of survivability, but Eurostar-star was really worthy of his cowardly baby name and managed to survive several waves of ganking, making it not really worth the effort.
Wei Xiao: “Brother Cai, you and Old Yue hold on. I’ll first take down the top lane with the captain.”
If the bottom lane was a hard bone to crack, then they’d crush the top lane first. Regardless of whether they chose to switch lanes or force a fight, the initiative would be in FTW’s hands.
This round of decision making was very correct. FTW’s top-jungler linkage was one of the best in the league.
Wei Ji was miserable. “Who the hell can withstand this!”
It was enough when it was just a great demon king, but now there was a little lunatic. This crazy demon combination was really deadly!
Fu Li: “Lose the tower, but protect your life.”
That was all they could do. Even if losing the top lane’s first tower was equivalent to feeding the upper jungle one to Little Lunatic Wei, what else could be done?
If they didn’t choose to retreat, not only would they lose the tower, they would lose a life as well.
One kill was 200 gold. Wasn’t it better to remain alive? Why would they feed it to the enemy!
Wei Ji retreated while Zhuang Ruishi made a feint and attacked Ning Zhehan.
Little Ning did as he was told and used himself as bait. When the three people from TPT were attracted over, Wei Xiao teleported over and pounced on Zhuang Ruishi.
Revenge had to be taken for his death!
Zhuang Ruishi was worthy of being a TPT starter. He had really inherited the crying scrunched up face core principles and didn’t use his ground stab to gank. Instead, he used it in reverse and pulled the pouncing Little Lunatic Wei away from him.
Wei Xiao: “…………”
Ning Zhehan: “…………”
Why were they called the grimacing crying team? You guys should be called ‘the whole team cowers’!
The three people from TPT were cautious and withdrew fiercely as if the word CAREFUL was written out in capital letters.
You want to avoid fighting, right?
Then they’d just take down towers and be done with it!
Wei Xiao continued to assault the top lane while taking all the income from the top jungle zone into his pocket, growing his farm like crazy.
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Chapter 209.2: Close, was no longer alone.
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The director showed the audience their farm panel along with a chart displaying both sides’ development.
It could be seen that FTW’s farm was rising up the whole way. After all, they were going through the jungle creeps like crazy, applying pressure on the soldier lanes, and had a few more kills. It would be strange if their farm wasn’t high.
In contrast, TPT had been on a downturn the whole way. The difference in farm only grew bigger and bigger, and their share of the resources was pitifully small.
So, did this mean that TPT was done for in this first match?
Of course, it wasn’t convenient for the commentators to predict such things. Even if they could see the situation clearly, they wouldn’t point it out due to their professionalism.
Those at the scene who understood weren’t only limited to the commentators. There was also Chen Feng who was off-stage, TPT’s coaching team, and 3U, RR, and the Team of Gods who were in the audience. They could all see the situation clearly.
Eurostar was the biggest bright spot on this farm panel.
The farm of the whole team was low, and the whole team was in a much worse situation than FTW. Only Eurostar had the same number of gold coins as Wei Xiao!
At this time, Wei Xiao had 6,000 gold and three full pieces of equipment.
Eurostar now had 5,900 gold and was about to make his third completed piece of equipment.
What did that mean?
TPT would be completely different in the mid and late stages of the game!
Wasn’t FTW aware of this danger? They knew it very clearly.
No one was staring at Eurostar more closely than they were, but this was TPT’s endurance and their ability to drag the rhythm of the whole team forward. Once Eurostar was all stacked up, then he would be an existence that challenged the heavens and the earth!
What kind of early stage did they need? They would be the real daddies in the late stage.
Eurostar had never let his teammates down.
In the middle stage of the game, TPT’s top and middle outer towers had fallen, and most of their jungle zones had been completely occupied. Only the bottom lane was still being defended solidly.
When Eurostar’s three full pieces of equipment were in place, TPT began a strong counterattack!
Zhuang Ruishi went to the bottom lane. Wei Xiao notified them, “I can’t see Brother Stone.” Brother Stone was Zhuang Ruishi’s nickname. It was also because his ID translated into ‘stone’.
Brother Cai: “Got it!”
Yue Wenle had developed pretty well and wasn’t as cowardly. He and Eurostar were old opponents, and there were hints that he wanted to go toe to toe against him.
There could only be one number one ADC in the China competition zone.
It was Yue Wenle last year, and this year, Eurostar-star had his eye on the position.
When it came to the issue of titles, they definitely had to fight to the end.
Bai Cai placed a vision trap and probed Zhuang Ruishi’s position. “Be careful, Old Yue.”
Yue Wenle: “Mm.”
The two of them began to retreat. Unexpectedly, Du Yi, who’d always been conservative, suddenly ‘went crazy’ and used his second skill’s acceleration in addition to their support’s team acceleration equipment to rush up along with Zhuang Ruishi and Eurostar like a gust of wind.
Brother Cai: “!”
As the team support, it was necessary for him to sacrifice himself at critical moments. Brother Cai made a quick decision to cover Yue Wenle’s retreat.
He might be dead, but for better or worse, Yue Wenle would be able to live on.
Yue Wenle didn’t act recklessly at this moment, either. If he still charged ahead in this kind of situation, it wouldn’t just be reckless but simply, seeking death.
Unexpectedly, Zhuang Ruishi didn’t intend to stop at all. He went under the tower without any soldiers present and forcibly ensured that Yue Wenle couldn’t leave.
Was this trading his life for his opponent’s?
No…
Zhuang Ruishi wasn’t going to die!
Eurostar had already opened up his extension skill and the range of his ice arrows had doubled. The cold arrows shot out, and Yue Wenle died under a critical hit.
Bai Cai’s heart stuttered. His giant shaman with thick skin and high health had actually ended up as fragile as a glass person.
One arrow, two arrows, three arrows.
It only took four arrows for the giant shaman to die.
What was more fatal was that Zhuang Ruishi, who’d taken three hits from the tower, should’ve died. But Du Yi’s ultimate move landed on his head, providing him with a shield that made him invincible for 0.5 seconds, perfectly protecting Zhuang Ruishi from death.
Everything happened just right. This level of cooperation was godly!
The audience broke out in shrill screams, giving TPT a round of enthusiastic applause for the way they’d boldly turned the tables!
With two kills recorded into his accounts, Eurostar, whose farm had already been equal to Wei Xiao’s, instantly surpassed him.
TPT’s big rhythm started up.
Despite how badly they’d been suppressed in the early stages, or how their mid and top lane towers had fallen, or how miserable Zhuang Ruishi was, as long as Eurostar didn’t fall, TPT could turn the tables from the brink of defeat at any minute!
Eurostar left the bottom lane and started wandering around the canyon. There were at least two bodyguards around him at all times.
Zhuang Ruishi would feel out the way, while Du Yi threw out detection mines. Coupled with Fu Li’s support, FTW was miserable wherever the ice arrows flew.
Bai Cai: “Damn it, we have to try the guard shaman and frost hunter in the future.” This was a demonic combination that was really suffocating.
Wei Xiao: “In that case, I’ll have to use the power thief.” The bottom jungler linkage was very important for this combo.
One sentence was enough to choke Brother Cai.
Line-ups that TPT could use, couldn’t necessarily be used by FTW.
Their direction was different, and their choices were different. Moreover, the game wasn’t over, and it was uncertain if this was a good or bad combination.
FTW’s fans fell silent. Their small hearts couldn’t take it, and they were praying silently.
It had been such a good start to the match. If TPT turned the tables, it would affect the players’ mentalities too much!
Don’t lose! Although it was only the first match, they really didn’t want to see them lose!
The frost hunter in the canyon went against the heavens and the earth, and the audience also began to discuss how to help FTW find a breakthrough in low voices.
On the Team of Gods’ side, Yuan Ze tilted his head and looked at Kim Sung-hyun. “Your apprentice?”
Those who were familiar with it would be able to see at a glance that Eurostar’s play style was very similar to Kim Sung-hyun’s. When he stood up in the later stages, he was just like a proud Daddy Kim.
In particular, this guard shaman, frost hunter, and power thief combination was one that Pro used often.
Kim Sung-hyun stared at the projection of the canyon. “The credit goes to his team’s demonic mage.”
Pro and TPT’s interactions were limited to the most recent training match.
There were others who’d really made an impact.
The demonic mage was Fu Li. Kim Sung-hyun’s sentence showed his great recognition of him.
The laymen watched the excitement, while the experts looked at the details.
The audience only felt that Eurostar could take down one little friend with each arrow and was very badass, but they didn’t think about why he could do it.
Repetition could create talent, too. The most terrible thing about Fu Li was that he could help his teammates achieve this effect.
Pro’s routine was publicly known, but it took some ability to learn the essence of it.
It was obvious that Fu Li had this ability.
Using this routine against FTW was very suitable.
Yuan Ze continued, “They’re still a bit tender.”
He was talking about the current FTW.
Don’t judge based on how this line-up restrained FTW. In fact, if they wanted to break through this routine, it also required a team like FTW.
It was like L&P against Pro.
A fierce top-jungler linkage was a nightmare for Kim Sung-hyun.
Even if Gary couldn’t kill God Kim, Yuan Ze could make up for the missing damage and kill him off.
Once Kim Sung-hyun fell, Pro would lose half of its DPS output. Even if there were only three people left alive in L&P, it would be enough to kill the four in Pro.
Why couldn’t FTW do it?
It wasn’t that Quiet and Close couldn’t do it, but that the other three couldn’t.
Killing off their core in a two against one meant that it would be three against four.
Although L&P centered around their top-jungler combo, their mid-laner, bottom lane, and support were all peak level masters who were enough to take advantage of the gap left by their top-laner and jungler and tear their enemy apart.
Could the three little ones from FTW do the same?
Maybe they could, but did Quiet and Close dare to trust them with it?
Could they trust their teammates like that?
Yuan Ze leaned back in his seat, looking forward to the showdown in the canyon.
In FTW’s team chat.
Bai Cai was a little anxious. “What should we do? If this drags on for any longer, we won’t be able to hold on!”
Wei Xiao had tried several times, wanting to ambush Eurostar. Unfortunately, this brat was good at surviving, and the guard shaman’s detection mines meant that he couldn’t get close.
Wei Xiao and Lu Feng looked at the farm panel at almost the same time.
Eurostar was now number one in farm across the whole canyon, but TPT had fallen too far behind in the early stages, and the whole team’s overall farm was still lower than FTW.
In terms of equipment, other than Eurostar, the four players in TPT were all inferior to FTW. This included Fu Li.
As long as they could kill Eurostar, TPT wouldn’t be able to hold up against FTW’s attacks.
But…
How would they get to him?
Bai Cai’s game awareness was still there. “Their farm is still poor right now. When Fu Li’s demonic mage rises up, we really won’t be able to fight!”
Time was fleeting. When the farm of everyone in TPT caught up with that of FTW, they would really have no way to win.
Wei Xiao inhaled lightly. “Captain.”
Lu Feng: “Alright.”
It was a simple dialogue, but they’d communicated everything that had to be said.
The hand Wei Xiao had on his mouse tightened slightly, and his tone was heavy, “Old Bai, we’re handing things over to you.”
As his voice dropped, he seized the opportunity and rushed at the Eurostar, who was surrounded by layers of protection.
Brother Cai’s heart leapt up, and his goosebumps broke out all over his skin. “Are you just going off on your own!”
This scene was really a bit like that.
The hidden thief rushed up and avoided the power thief’s ground stab, but failed to escape Du Yi’s control.
Eurostar was calm and collected as he shot his ice arrows at the hidden thief’s face.
Wei Xiao’s health bar plummeted, but he didn’t intend to retreat at all. He went straight at Eurostar like a deadly wolf that had vowed to tear out a bloody path.
Eurostar was stabbed by the hidden blade. The light flickered, indicating a critical hit, and half of his health was gone.
A system announcement rang out at the same time: TPT.Star killed FTW.Quiet!
Wei Xiao fell.
Eurostar breathed a sigh of relief, but the death knight’s three headed dog came rushing over.
Du Yi blocked in front of him and took part of the damage, but the death knight connected his skills very quickly, a heavy blade sending Du Yi flying. His sanctions landed, his soul cry demonizing Fu Li, who was attempting to use his skills, and he was finally able to stab Eurostar.
There was no way for Eurostar to retreat. He couldn’t hide, and could only grit his teeth. “I’ll trade myself for him!”
One arrow, two arrows. When he died, the death knight fell to the ground alongside him!
It took both Quiet and Close’s efforts to kill TPT’s Star.
Brother Cai sucked in a breath. “Go!”
Yue Wenle and Ning Zhehan: “Yes!”
The butterfly warlock’s butterflies covered the canyon, and the gun launcher’s gunfire swept across the four from TPT.
Three against five.
FTW’s most immature three little ones faced up against TPT’s four experienced players!
System Announcement––
FTW.Le killed TPT.Du.
TPT.Auroral killed FTW.White.
FTW.Le killed TPT.Rock.
FTW.Silvery killed TPT.Jili.
There were only three people left in the canyon. Ning Zhehan, who was seriously injured, Yue Wenle, who had a third of his health, and Fu Li, who was on the verge of serious injury.
Fu Li used flash and tried to escape.
Ning Zhehan flew over with his butterflies regardless of his own life or death.
Magic beams hit the butterfly warlock.
Butterflies landed on the demonic mage’s shoulder!
They both toppled at the same time!
Only FTW’s marksman, Yue Wenle, was left in the canyon.
The commentator’s voice was excited. “Is there enough time? Is there enough time in their resurrection countdowns?”
“The fastest resurrection time for TPT is 28 seconds. It’s enough for the gun launcher to push all the way to the crystal!”
The canyon collapsed, the sound exploding through their headsets.
Bai Cai and Ning Zhehan wished they could snatch up their keyboards and mice to help him click on the tower.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1!
The TPT crystal exploded the moment Eurostar resurrected.
FTW won the first match!
The venue filled with 30,000 people exploded with excitement!
“Amazing, FTW!”
Finally, it wasn’t just Close who was amazing. The audience was cheering for the whole team.
Close, was no longer alone.