Chapter 633
Damn it, this person is a hermaphrodite!
EDG makes a roster change.
When the words appeared on the big screen, the London audience at the scene and the live stream viewers were stunned for a moment, and then a huge wave of noise erupted.
In the commentary booth, Guan Zeyuan adjusted his glasses, his voice carrying a hint of unexpected yet reasonable teasing: "Here it comes! The classic EDG-style 'ordering'! With a 2-0 lead and match point, Mozi chose to leave the game to rest, replacing him with veteran Flandre!"
"This is a huge psychological blow to T1," Miller said with a laugh and a shake of his head. "It's like you've put in all your effort to challenge the Great Demon King, only for him to yawn and say, 'You're too weak. Let my lieutenant play with you.' Zeus's mentality is probably going to change right now."
In the lounge, Su Mo leaned back comfortably on the sofa, peeling an orange that Yu Shuang handed him.
“Brother Mozi, you’re so mean.” Rita couldn’t help but laugh as she looked at the expressions on the T1 players’ faces on the screen, which seemed to be wearing masks of pain. “Look at Zeus’s face, it’s so red, he probably feels like he’s being looked down upon.”
"This is called tactical maneuvering." Su Mo popped a segment of orange into his mouth and mumbled, "Zeus's anger level is full right now, and he definitely wants to dominate the lane. Gunner only needs to do one thing when he goes up there—make him punch cotton. Impatience is a major taboo for top laners."
The third draft phase begins.
T1 had the priority to choose sides, and they chose the blue side again this time.
Clearly, Coach Bengi also realized the problem in the top lane, banning Gragas and Quesant in the first two picks.
"Ban Gragas?" Su Mo raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you came prepared. Knowing that Gunner is good at Gragas, you're just not letting him play with it."
EDG, on the red side, banned Maokai, Annie, and Rakan.
T1 First Pick: Jayce.
"Zeus picked Jayce!" Remember shouted. "He's going all out! He's taking the carry pressure on his own shoulders. Zeus is going to dominate the lane this game!"
EDG countered by securing Jinx and Tahm Kench. Since you're targeting the top lane, I'll focus on protecting Viper's farm.
T1 second and third floors: Vi + Ahri. A classic lock-on, strong engage composition; Faker doesn't want to drag the game into the late game.
It's EDG's turn to choose their top laner.
Jayce is gone, Gragas is gone, and Quesanti is gone too.
Then, the image of a giant beast covered in rust and carrying a furnace on its back lit up.
Sion, the Undead Warrior!
"Old driver!!" Guan Zeyuan laughed. "Holy Gun Bro has made his attitude clear: You Zeus can show off all you want, I'll admit defeat if I can finish off the enemy, but don't even think about killing me."
The competition has officially begun.
Just as Su Mo had predicted, Zeus, filled with rage, played extremely aggressively online.
Jayce, taking advantage of his long range, started pushing past the minion wave to harass Sion from level one.
Saint Gun Bro didn't fight back. He just learned the W shield and honestly used Q to farm minions. If he couldn't farm minions, he would use Zombie Form to gain experience.
Three minutes later, Oner's Vi directly tower-dived.
Flandre handled the situation very skillfully. He used his Q skill to charge up and force the enemy to reposition under the tower. Although he was eventually killed by Zeus's shot and got the first blood, he used the tower to trade for Oner's Flash before dying, and used his passive zombie form to clear a large wave of minions that were entering the tower.
"Not a loss." Su Mo looked at the screen and commented calmly, "I got the minion wave and didn't fall behind in experience. Although Zeus got the kill, he didn't have Flash, so his pressure will be reduced."
Ten minutes into the game, T1, thanks to strong synergy between their mid and jungle, gained momentum in the bottom lane. Faker used Charm and Flash to engage Viper, and with Jayce's Teleport support, T1 secured a 2-for-1 trade, taking a 10 gold lead.
"T1 is really putting up a good fight this game." hope Ran grabbed Su Mo's sleeve with some concern. "Gun Bro is down 30 CS in the top lane. This Jayce is too farmed."
"Don't rush." Su Mo patted the back of her hand, his eyes calm. "If Jayce doesn't turn his advantage into a victory in the mid-game, he'll be nothing but a squishy toy in front of Sion once the game drags on."
At 18 minutes, a team fight broke out at the dragon pit.
At this point, T1 had a 3,000 gold lead, and Zeus' Jayce had a luxurious build, with Manamune and Starfall, capable of taking down half of Jinx's health with a single shot.
T1 wants to use this dragon to force a team fight.
"This is going to be tough to handle." Miller frowned. "Viper doesn't have three items yet, and he can't withstand Jayce's poke damage head-on."
However, Flandre stepped forward.
Just as the two sides were locked in a tug-of-war, a muffled horn sounded from T1's blind spot—the F6 position.
"R—Rampage!"
Flandre's Sion activated his ultimate, transforming into an out-of-control dump truck, roaring towards T1's formation from the side!
"The experienced driver is starting up!!"
T1's attention was focused on the front. Oner's Vi instinctively tried to block, but Flandre made a brilliant drift, grazing past Vi and heading straight for Jayce in the back row!
Zeus reacted quickly, switching to hammer form to try and knock Sion away.
But in the last second before the impact, Flandre manually canceled his ultimate and instantly charged up his Q skill, Brutal Strike!
This forced Zeus to use Flash!
Although no one was hit, this charge completely disrupted T1's formation. Scout's Lissandra seized the opportunity, using her E to engage, her W to stun Faker, and her ultimate to avoid damage.
Jiejie's Fryego entered the field to reap the rewards.
The two sides traded 2 for 2. Although EDG didn't win, they successfully disrupted T1's dragon rhythm.
“That’s the role of a veteran.” Su Mo nodded approvingly. “He doesn’t seek merit, but rather to stir up trouble. T1 is in a hurry right now, and the more anxious they are, the easier it is to give them an opportunity.”
The time has reached 28 minutes.
The two sides were locked in a stalemate near the Baron pit. At this point, Viper's Jinx had three core items, and her damage output was fully realized.
T1 is going all in, trying to use Oner's lock to force open Jinx's lock.
"Vi has locked in! Faker is following up!" Guan Zeyuan shouted.
Oner uses his ultimate to lock down Viper, and Faker's Ahri uses her RE to enter the fray.
At this critical moment, Meiko's Tahm Kench swallowed Jinx whole, avoiding the first burst of damage.
Meanwhile, Sion, who had been dominated by Zeus throughout the game, made the most crucial move of the entire match.
Ignoring the assassins who entered the fray, Flandre flashed over the wall and used his body to block the path of Zeus's enhanced cannon!
"boom!"
The shot was originally aimed at Jinx, who had just spat it out, but it hit Sion's thick armor squarely instead.
not dead!
"It's blocked!! Holy Gun Bro blocked the gun with his own body!!"
Viper emerges from Tahm Kench's belly, creating an excellent opportunity to deal damage.
"Get excited!"
Jinx's Guilty Pleasure Triggered!
The machine guns spat fire in the night, and the T1 players, having lost their key skills, were like lambs to the slaughter.
Faker wanted to trade kills with Jinx, but was stunned by Jiejie's Fryegor using his W.
Double Kill!
Triple Kill!
Viper's Jinx is taking off! Dominating the battlefield!
T1 suffered a crushing defeat, leaving only Zeus' Jayce standing blankly above the dragon pit, watching his teammates fall one by one.
0 for 4!
EDG takes down Baron!
"It's over." Su Mo stood up, straightened his collar, and a relaxed smile appeared on his lips. "Let's go, get ready to shake hands."
32 minutes.
EDG pushed into the high ground with the Baron buff.
Saint Gun's Sion took the lead, taunting the enemy on the T1 high ground while taking damage from the inhibitor turret.
T1 desperately tried to clear the minions, but faced with the range of a fully equipped Jinx, they couldn't even get out of the tower.
With Zeus being killed by Viper, T1's last line of defense collapsed.
"Victory!" The deafening sound of the exploding crystal rang out, and the big screen at the stadium froze on the score of 3-0.
"Congratulations to EDG!!" Miller's voice was a little hoarse with excitement. "A 3-0 sweep of T1! They showed a devastating dominance! Whether it was Mozi's individual brilliance or Flandre's team effort, this EDG team was impeccable!"
The camera pans to the players' seats.
Flandre took off his headphones, grinning from ear to ear, and high-fived Viper in celebration.
Meanwhile, on T1's side, Faker sat quietly in his chair, staring at the word "defeat" on the screen, motionless for a long time. Zeus, on the other hand, was scratching his head in frustration, clearly unable to accept his fruitless performance in this series.
There was a deathly silence on the T1 players' bench.
The silence was a stark contrast to the deafening cheers inside the stadium, as if an invisible wall of air separated them from the clamor of the world. The red lettering of defeat glared at everyone's faces.
Zeus remained in the same position, his hands clasped behind his head, his fingers digging deep into his hair. The screen in front of him had gone dark, but his eyes were still fixed on the "Q" key on the keyboard, as if he was still regretting why Jayce had used Flash at that moment in the previous game, or reviewing why Fiora had so easily broken through his mental defenses in the first game.
His body was trembling slightly. The prodigy, hailed as a "strong contender for the world's best top laner," now resembled a child being punished for doing something wrong. He knew that in these three games, whether it was being taught a lesson by Su Mo's forehand and backhand techniques or failing to break through Flandre's defense in the last game, he was the "culprit."
Faker, sitting in the middle, slowly removed his glasses. He took out a cleaning cloth from his pocket and mechanically wiped the lenses. His face showed little expression, a numbness and resilience honed from countless peaks and troughs. But his eyes, usually brimming with a fighting spirit, now seemed somewhat dim. He sighed softly, his gaze sweeping over his dejected teammates beside him. He opened his mouth as if to say something comforting, but ultimately only uttered a low murmur in Korean:
"Get ready, let's go backstage."
Keria bit his lower lip, his eyes already red-rimmed. He was a sensitive player, and this feeling of helpless defeat almost brought him to tears. He roughly twisted the mouse cable, his movements somewhat crude, as if venting his frustration. Gumayusi leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the spotlight on the ceiling, as if he hadn't yet woken from the nightmare of being instantly killed in the team fight.
Coach Bengi came up, patted Zeus on the shoulder, and tried to help him up. Zeus stiffened for a moment before slowly standing up, head down, following the back of the group like a walking corpse, towards the shadowy path leading to the losers' tunnel.
……
In stark contrast to the somber atmosphere at T1's side, the entrance to EDG's rest area was filled with jubilation.
Su Mo had just finished hugging her teammates and hadn't even had a sip of water when the door to the rest room was gently knocked open.
An LPL official staff member wearing a name tag walked in with a big smile, holding a walkie-talkie. He looked at Su Mo as if he were seeing a family member.
"Brother Mozi! Congratulations! Um... they specifically asked you and Brother Flandre to go together for the English interview on the main stage."
The staff member paused, then added, "Because this rotation tactic is so brilliant, the host over there strongly requested to hear your thoughts."
"Me too?" Flandre pointed to himself. "I only played one game."
“Go ahead, that scene of blocking the gun emplacement is legendary.” Su Mo smiled and patted his back. “Perfect timing, my English isn’t very good, I need you to give me courage.”
"Your English isn't good? Who's speaking with that London accent?" Flandre muttered under his breath, but still cheerfully straightened his team uniform.
Su Mo glared at him, then immediately dropped the casual demeanor she had displayed in the lounge.
He straightened his collar, tidied his hair in front of the mirror, and instantly switched into his calm and capable mode.
"Let's go."
……
The main stage was brightly lit.
The famous European beauty presenter Sjokz, dressed in a smart evening gown, had been waiting for some time. Upon seeing Su Mo and Saint Gunner approach, she warmly greeted them.
"Welcome! Mo, Flandre!"
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers once again, with shouts of "EDG" echoing throughout the London Copperbox Arena.
Su Mo smiled politely as he took the microphone, his composed demeanor making hope Ran, who was sitting in the audience, starry-eyed.
"First of all, congratulations to EDG for defeating the formidable T1 3-0 and advancing to the winners' bracket finals!" Sjokz's voice was full of passion. "Mo, everyone says you are the best top laner in the world right now, but when you had match point, you chose to let Flandre play. This decision surprised everyone. Can you tell us why?"
Su Mo picked up the microphone, but unlike before the match, he didn't make any harsh remarks, nor did he tease Zeus as he had in the locker room. At this moment, he appeared exceptionally humble and peaceful.
"Actually, it's not as complicated as everyone thinks." Su Mo's voice was heard throughout the venue through the translator. "T1 is a very respectable team, and Zeus put a lot of pressure on me in the laning phase. After playing two high-intensity matches in a row, my physical strength and energy were actually greatly depleted."
At this point, Su Mo turned to look at Holy Gunner beside him, his eyes sincere:
"Moreover, League of Legends is a five-player game, and even more so a team game. Every player on EDG is capable of starting. Flandre is a very experienced veteran, and in those crucial games, I believe his consistency can bring a different kind of chemistry to the team. As it turns out, he played Sion better than me."
These words were met with thunderous applause from the audience.
Sjokz smiled approvingly and then asked, "Flandre, that last play in the third game where you used your body to block Jayce's enhanced cannon was brilliant. What were you thinking at the time?"
Saint Gun scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "I didn't think too much about it at the time. I just thought Viper was doing very well, and as long as he was alive, we could win. I'm tough and won't die. It's a top laner's duty to block skills for the AD carry."
"You two are too modest," Sjokz remarked. "One last question for Mo. You've made it to the finals, and will most likely face either T1 or JDG again. Is there anything you'd like to say to your opponents in the upcoming finals?"
Su Mo simply smiled faintly, his eyes calm as still water.
"Whether it's JDG or T1 who make it back, any team that makes it to the finals is not to be underestimated. We will use these few days of rest to review the game and correct any mistakes that occurred in today's match."
He paused, looked at the camera, and spoke with a firm tone:
"We will remain respectful and give it our all. We hope to bring a fantastic final to LPL viewers in London, leaving no regrets."
This time, he didn't make any grand pronouncements or engage in any arrogant provocations.
But this master's composure in victory and defeat is more compelling than any harsh words.
In the backstage lounge.
Looking at Su Mo calmly answering questions on the screen, Abu nodded in satisfaction: "This kid is becoming more and more of a leader. He used to be very sharp, but now he knows how to keep his sharpness hidden."
The factory manager laughed too: "Yes, knowing how to save face for the opponent and how to give teammates a way out. That's the most terrifying thing."
Meanwhile, in the lounge of T1.
Zeus looked up at the man on the screen who was saying, "Zeus put a lot of pressure on me," and his eyes reddened again.
This is even more upsetting than being directly insulted!
What the hell are you doing, talking nonsense?!
"Next time... I definitely won't lose to you next time."
Zeus clenched his fist.
……
The interview is over.
Su Mo and Saint Gun Bro walked off the stage.
The moment he entered the passage, his "masterful demeanor" vanished instantly.
Su Mo loosened his tie and let out a long sigh: "Phew—I'm exhausted. I have to pretend to be tired to give Zeus an out, it's so hard for me."
"I almost believed what you just said," Flandre chuckled. "You said my Sion is better than yours? I don't believe your Sion can't pull off that play."
“That’s a given, I, Sion, can solo kill them.” Su Mo raised an eyebrow. “However, it’s always good to leave room for maneuver, so you can meet again in the future. After all, we still have to survive in this industry, and we can’t afford to offend everyone.”
The two chatted and laughed as they returned to the lounge.
As soon as I pushed open the door, several cannon salutes were fired.
"Bang! Bang!"
Colorful ribbons fell.
Rita, Luo Xin, Xiao Yu, hope Ran, and Yu Shuang stood in a row and cheered in unison:
"Congratulations EDG!"
"Let's have a celebration party tonight!"
Looking at the smiling faces in front of him, Su Mo felt all the fatigue from the competition vanish instantly.
He opened his arms and greeted her with a smile:
"Let's go! We're not leaving until we're drunk tonight!" (End of Chapter)