Chapter 658
The Spirit of a Veteran
The next day at 3 PM, outside the KBS Stadium.
As EDG's bus slowly drove into the venue's passageway, deafening cheers even penetrated the soundproof windows. The streets were lined with Gen.G's signature black and gold banners, and home fans, with tiger stickers on their faces and waving light sticks, transformed the entire area around the venue into a golden sea.
"My God... this scene looks like they're going to devour us alive." Ah Chen leaned against the car window, looking out, and swallowed hard.
Su Mo, sitting in the row in front of him, simply drew the curtains to shut out the frenzied images: "Don't watch anymore, save your energy for the screen later. It's gotten colder in Seoul today, zip up your team jacket when you get off the bus, don't catch a cold before you enter the stadium."
His voice was gentle, yet it carried a reassuring quality that made people unconsciously obey. Ah Chen quickly and obediently zipped the zipper all the way up.
In the backstage lounge, the EDG team was making their final pre-match preparations.
On the TV screen on the wall, the host was showing the pre-show hype, and the live broadcast director kept switching the camera to Gen.G's mid laner Chovy and jungler Peanut, each switch eliciting screams from the audience.
Xiao Yue sat on the sofa, holding a glass of water in his hand, but the ripples on the water's surface betrayed the slight trembling of his hands.
Today, he will face off against Chovy, who is known as the "LCK's top laner" and a "CS machine." This kind of pressure is unimaginable for a rookie mid laner playing in the World Championship main event for the first time.
Suddenly, something warm touched the back of Xiao Yue's hand.
Xiao Yue was taken aback. He looked up and saw Su Mo standing in front of him, handing him a freshly torn hand warmer.
"Your hands are so cold, how are you going to use Flash later?" Su Mo smiled slightly, pulled up a chair and sat down opposite Xiao Yue. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"Brother Mo... I... I'm afraid I won't be able to push the lane in the mid lane and Chovy will take over the game." Xiao Yue stammered, holding the hand warmer and looking down.
“Chovy’s laning phase is indeed very oppressive,” Su Mo analyzed calmly, as if discussing what to have for dinner. “But he has a very stubborn habit—he values minion waves and last-hitting extremely. When a siege minion is low on health, his first priority is always last-hitting, not harassing you.”
Su Mo extended a finger and tapped the table lightly: "You don't need to think about how to solo kill him. Just remember, when he tries to use his range advantage to pressure your health, he will inevitably attract the minions' aggro. Use this to pull the minion wave and keep your health healthy. As long as you don't die, he can't invade the jungle. As for those dozen or so last hits he's giving you..."
Su Mo smiled calmly: "In team fights, I'll make up for this gold deficit of a dozen or so minions by chipping away at their top laners, one by one. You just stay calm and leave the rest to me."
These gentle yet domineering words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly piercing Xiao Yue's heart. Looking into Su Mo's clear and resolute eyes, his wildly beating heart miraculously calmed down.
"I understand, Brother Mo. I'll definitely stay firmly in the middle lane like a nail!"
At 5 p.m., the opening match of the Swiss team officially kicked off.
"Please welcome both teams to the arena!"
Accompanied by an exciting background music, the ten players from EDG and Gen.G walked towards their battle seats from the passages on both sides of the stage.
The spotlight shone on Su Mo. Unlike many esports players who make exaggerated pre-match gestures, he didn't try to look cool with a straight face. He simply put his hands in his team uniform pockets and walked steadily to his position, not even lingering for a second when passing the Summoner's Cup in the center of the stage.
But on his way to his seat, the director's camera zoomed in on his face. Su Mo keenly noticed the camera, turned his head slightly, gave the camera a gentle and reserved smile, and nodded slightly.
This simple and understated action instantly ignited a frenzy of comments in live streaming rooms across China.
[Ahhh! Mozi is killing me with laughter!!]
So composed! That's the demeanor of a true general! This is what it means to remain unmoved even when Mount Tai collapses before you!
[Gen.G's top laner Doran is covered in sweat, while our Moge looks as relaxed as if he's just taking a stroll in Seoul!]
[This is the confidence of a six-time champion! He doesn't need to put on airs; his mere presence is enough to intimidate anyone!]
In the arena, the players put on noise-canceling headphones.
Moving on to the business plan (BP) stage.
Gen.G's head coach, Score, held a notebook, his expression extremely solemn. Facing EDG, a six-time champion team, and playing on their home turf in Seoul, they were under the absolute command to win.
"The first three picks: ban Aatrox, Fiora, and Jax." Score gave the order without hesitation. "Don't test his warrior proficiency, Doran, you'll be under pressure this game."
Gen.G's top laner, Doran, swallowed hard and nodded. Facing a man who had dominated the top lane meta for six years, enduring pressure wasn't shameful.
"You're getting really good treatment, Lao Su," Meiko joked in the voice chat. "It's the first game on their home turf, and they're giving you a three-ban package right off the bat."
“As expected.” Su Mo was carefully wiping the keyboard with a wet wipe, his tone still gentle. “Mingjiao, since they’re focusing their defense on the top lane, we’ll give Xiao Yue a carry this game. Azir or Orianna, let him farm against Chovy.”
Mingkai stood behind the group and nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, Xiao Yue, take the clockwork. Ah Chen, take the prince, and force the attack."
It's the fifth counter position for the red side.
"Mozi, what do you want to play?" Mingkai asked. "There are also Crocodiles and Gnar outside."
Su Mo looked at the top laner Ornn locked by Gen.G and pondered for a moment.
If it were the same aggressive player he used to be, he would have undoubtedly picked a highly lethal lightly armored warrior to cut down the enemy from start to finish. But now, facing a somewhat nervous rookie jungler and mid laner, the team needs someone who can provide cover in the front line.
"Get me Quesanti," Su Mo said casually, uttering a name.
"Nakshma, leave it to me!"
Accompanied by the hero's rugged lines, the new generation of "top lane wheelchair" and heavy warrior - Nazuman Glory Quesanti - was finally locked in by EDG!
"Wow! Mozi actually picked Quesant!" Guan Zeyuan exclaimed in surprise from the commentary booth. "Although Quesant is strong in lane against Doran's Ornn, he's still a team-oriented frontliner! Is Mozi going to leave the carry responsibility to his teammates?"
"That's where Mozi's maturity shines!" Miller exclaimed. "He doesn't fixate on individual highlight matchups; whenever the team needs him, he can become the strongest shield. And never underestimate Mozi's Quesanti; in his hands, this hero can be played like an assassin!"
Game loading.
A gentle breeze blows through Summoner's Rift.
Su Mo's Quesanti bought a Doran's Shield and walked steadily towards the top lane.
"Chen, stick to the plan and play your rhythm." Su Mo gave his final instructions in the voice chat, his voice as warm as a cup of water, soothing the hearts of every teammate. "This time, I'll be the front line. You guys just focus on dealing damage, I guarantee that no one from Gen.G can get past my defense."
The crisp sound of keyboard typing rang out.
The competition has officially begun.
A gentle breeze swept through Summoner's Rift, while overhead, the dazzling spotlights shone from the KBS Arena in Seoul.
The director frequently focused the camera on the road from the very beginning.
Everyone is eagerly anticipating what kind of sparks will fly when Su Mo, who dominated the Asian Games, gets his hands on the cumbersome "tank" Quesanti and clashes with Doran's Ornn.
However, the first five minutes of the scene were surprisingly calm.
There were no fierce battles, no explosive solo kills. Su Mo's Quesanti was like a precisely programmed machine. He didn't even actively cross the river to suppress Doran, but instead positioned himself at a delicate distance in front of his own turret, steadily last-hitting every low-health minion.
"Mozi's playing this game... is so gentle." In the commentary booth, Miller pushed up his glasses and looked at the CS panel. "But look, although the game looks peaceful, Doran's CS is already eight behind!"
Guan Zeyuan, a die-hard Gen.G fan, saw through the trick and frowned slightly: "This is top-tier minion wave management. Mozi uses Quesant's short Q cooldown to always keep the minion wave in a position that Ornn finds very difficult to handle. If Doran wants to last-hit, he has to move forward; as soon as he moves forward, Mozi uses Q to scratch him and trigger Grasp of the Undying. It seems gentle, but it's actually like cutting flesh with a dull knife!"
On the battle table, Doran's forehead was indeed covered in fine beads of sweat.
He had mentally prepared himself for Su Mo's warrior heroes to relentlessly tower dive him, but this "lukewarm" torment was making him even more uncomfortable. He felt like a frog being slowly boiled in water, caught in a dilemma.
“Peanut, we can’t gank top lane.” Doran said somewhat hoarsely in the voice chat, “His defensive warding is impeccable, and he’s controlling the minion wave.”
"Got it, I'll go look for an opportunity in the mid lane." Peanut, controlling Maokai, turned his attention to the mid lane.
At this moment in the mid lane, Xiaoyue's Orianna was facing Chovy's Azir.
In the past, facing a mid-laner of this caliber, Xiao Yue would have been so nervous that his positioning would have been completely off. But at this moment, the warmth of the hand warmer that Su Mo had given him still seemed to linger on the back of his right hand.
"Watch out for his sand soldier positions, Xiao Yue."
Su Mowen's calm voice rang out in the voice channel at the right time. Although he was controlling the minion wave in the top lane, he kept an eye on the situation in the mid lane. "He deliberately missed a melee minion just now. This is Chovy's habit. He's going to push forward. Chen, you counter-camp in the F6 bush. Don't show yourself."
"Received, Brother Mo!" Prince Chen immediately stopped shooting birds and quietly crouched in the shadows.
Sure enough, the next second, Chovy's Azir suddenly launched an attack, using the WEQ combo to try and force Orianna's Flash.
But Xiao Yue was prepared. With a calm step back, he barely dodged the Tsar's drifting knock-up, then cast his E skill shield on himself. He then issued the QW command, and the puppet slammed into the Tsar, taking away one bar of his health!
"Well done, keep it up." Su Mo praised casually, then clicked the mouse and collected a cannon.
Xiao Yue's tense lips couldn't help but curl into a slight smile. With Su Mo backing him up, the fear of facing top players on the world stage seemed to have been completely dispelled.
The game has reached 11 minutes and 20 seconds.
The first dragon was secured by A-Chen, and Gen.G then set their sights on the soon-to-spawn Rift Herald.
"Should we engage?" Meiko's Nautilus had already set up vision in the river. "The enemy team's early game is very strong, and Doran has his ultimate."
"Receive," Su Mo said calmly.
He controlled Quesanti, returned to the city and retrieved the small item [Ice Vein Gauntlets], along with a pair of straw sandals, and headed directly towards the upper part of the river.
"Xiao Yue, hang the ball on me. Ah Chen, you keep an eye on the Tsar's position."
At the river crossing, the golden Gen.G logo gleamed above the opposing team's head. Even through noise-canceling headphones, the cheers of the home crowd could still be faintly heard, a deep, rumbling roar.
Peanut's Treant Protector was the first to occupy the Vanguard pit, with Doran's Ornn at the very front.
"Look at Ornn! Look at Ornn!" Chovy shouted in the voice chat, and the Sand Soldiers stood ready for battle.
Just as the two were grappling, Su Mo made a move.
Instead of going around to the back, he walked confidently into the center of Gen.G's field of vision with his hands in his pockets.
Upon seeing this, Doran unleashed his ultimate move without hesitation!
"Sheep, come here!!"
A colossal lava ram descended from the sky, heading straight for Su Mo's Quesanti and the clockwork behind him.
"The enemy team has initiated a team fight! Ornn's ultimate is perfectly positioned!" Miller exclaimed.
But the next second, all the South Korean audience members stared wide-eyed.
Faced with the giant sheep that came crashing in two stages, Su Mo didn't even use Flash, but calmly pressed W.
Charge up, unleash your power!
"Boom!"
Ornn's ultimate ability hit Quesant, but it was like hitting a sponge; all the crowd control effects were completely negated.
Almost the instant the invincibility ended, Su Mo released the W key, and Quesanti charged forward, not only negating the control effect but also closing the distance with Gen.G's formation!
Q3, Knockback!
Su Mo precisely knocked Peanut's tree into the air.
“Now, pull!” Su Mo’s calm voice boomed in the voice chat.
Xiao Yue pressed the R key without hesitation!
Clockwork's ultimate ability, Command: Shockwave, centered on Quesanti, annihilates him with a deafening roar!
Because Su Mo's entry timing was too perfect, this ultimate move not only swept up the tree, but also pulled Chovy, who was trying to deal damage, into the fray!
"Clockwork's ultimate has pulled two enemies!!" Guan Zeyuan roared.
But Gen.G is a strong team after all, and Peyz's Aphelios was dealing massive damage on the flanks in an attempt to turn the tide of the game.
"Leave AD to me."
Su Mo's eyes narrowed.
In the midst of the chaotic battle, he precisely clicked on Aphelios, who was hiding at the back and dealing damage.
Ultimate move, [Full Throttle] (R)!
Quesanti roared and slammed into Aphelios, carrying him straight through the thick river wall to a remote island in the wilderness, far from the main battlefield!
"Kidnapping!! Brother Mozi kidnapped Peyz over the wall!!" Miller jumped up from his chair in excitement.
Abandoned from the protection of their team, the ADC is like a lamb to the slaughter when facing Quesanti, who has activated his ultimate and transformed into an assassin.
Su Mo's expression remained completely unchanged.
Basic attack, Q, reset basic attack, use E skill to dash and dodge Aphelios's fatal control, then follow up with a basic attack!
A smooth, seamless combo.
"EDG.Mo has killed Gen.G.Peyz!"
The system's cold female voice echoed throughout the venue.
Without their ADC, Gen.G's frontline forces crumbled, caught in a chain of crowd control from Chen's Jarvan IV and Meiko's Nautilus, while Xiaoyue's Orianna secured a double kill!
0 for 3!
EDG achieves a resounding victory! (End of Chapter)