, Part 1: Let's see if you can still laugh then.

EDG lounge.

The moment the door was opened, Abu's signature high-decibel laughter rang out.

"Well done, Lin! That counter-gank in the mid lane, wow, my heart was in my throat, but then you stabbed me with your javelin, and all my plans were wiped out!"

Abu excitedly patted Lin Xiu on the back, then turned and gave Faker a thumbs up.

"And Xiao Li, the timing and position of Cassiopeia's ground-binding were too good. Kid is probably still pressing Flash right now."

"Those two waves of deliberate selling, I thought it was just your carelessness, it was too clever!"

The factory manager gave Lin Xiu's shoulder a firm squeeze:

"Kobayashi, you're really something! You're even more aggressive in the main tournament than in practice matches. Even a veteran like Kid can't withstand that kind of pressure."

Mouse, Meiko, and Zet also joined the praise campaign:

"I haven't done anything and I'm already 6,000 gold ahead, ready to push high ground. Feeling good?"

Nofe then pulled a few people aside to start discussing the draft picks for the next game.

Incongruous with the harmonious atmosphere at the moment was Scout in the corner.

Scout sat on a folding chair, holding a hand warmer in his arms. His knuckles were slightly white from the exertion.

His gaze was fixed on Faker, who was eating a banana to replenish his energy, his eyes filled with a terrifyingly gloomy expression.

You want to eat a banana? You'll choke to death!

Scout hadn't taken this substitution seriously.

In his mind, this rookie fellow countryman named Faker was just there to make an appearance, and then he would be beaten up by his skilled fellow countryman Rookie and lose the game.

This will not only dispel all doubts about Scout, but also further highlight his importance to EDG.

Scout can almost picture the comments from netizens back then.

EDG got thrashed by RNG, and it's not Scout's fault. It's not that Scout wasn't good enough, it's that his teammates were terrible!

But after the first game, he sensed a crisis.

Can I really do that kind of suffocating lane dominance, that kind of seamless synergy with the jungler?

Scout wanted to say something, like, "The enemy LeBlanc made a mistake," or "Actually, I could have won if I had played that role."

But seeing Abu and his teammates' expressions, Scout simply pursed his lips, remaining silent, silently cheering for Rookie in his heart.

Let's see if you can still laugh next time!

......

IG lounge.

Compared to the vibrant atmosphere at EDG, the atmosphere here was so oppressive it was suffocating.

The screen replayed the scene of Kid going berserk.

IG coach Mafa had a dark expression on his face and kept tapping the table with his notebook.

"Kid, what were you thinking? LeBlanc had already gone back to base, why did you feed?"

The voice of IG manager Su Xiaoluo, standing to the side, was shrill.

"Do you realize that once you died that wave, our mid-lane tower fell, and we were completely out of the game?"

Rookie sat in his seat, rubbing his temples in frustration, but he still managed to offer some words of comfort:

"Actually, you can't entirely blame Kid. Cassiopeia's health was indeed very tempting at that moment. The main problem was that the rookie mid laner on the other side was too focused and his mechanics were too good."

"I'm fine!"

Kid suddenly raised his head, his previously vacant eyes instantly turning violent.

Like an old lion cornered, he stubbornly retorted:

"If Cassiopeia hadn't turned around and created an isolated situation, I definitely could have killed her!"

"And the jungle! You guys aren't giving vision to the top lane, and the mid lane keeps getting pushed. Is anyone going to help me defend the jungle? That Lin Xiu is just a farmer; he only managed to counter-gank because he got lucky!"

"Luck?" Su Xiaoluo laughed in exasperation. "Someone who's three levels ahead of you, is that luck?"

"That's a champion counter! How could Kha'Zix possibly out-farm Nidalee?"

"Am I fucking weaker than him? Give me a champion that farms fast in the early game, and I'll smash his head in the jungle!"

Kid slammed his hand on the sofa armrest, his face flushed and his neck bulging as he shouted.

"Next game, pick Graves for me. If I don't crush this newbie, I'm retiring!"

Rookie sighed softly as he watched Kid's emotions nearly spiral out of control.

He knew that this veteran player's mentality was on the verge of collapse.

This stubbornness driven by pride is actually a manifestation of extreme inner panic.

Alright, good luck in the next game.

Rookie patted Kid on the shoulder and gestured to Su Xiaoluo to stop talking.

After calming his teammates down, Rookie's gaze fell on the Cassiopeia in the replay, where she had almost perfectly kited and unleashed her abilities, and a faint sense of unease rose in his heart.

Is this terrifying skill and awareness really just from a newbie?

......

On the commentary stage, Guan Zeyuan glanced down at the data panel sent by the director, and his voice instantly rose several octaves:

"Faker's Cassiopeia won the MVP of this match."

"38%! Cassiopeia achieved a 38% damage share throughout the game, leading her lane opponent by 4,000 gold! Undoubtedly, it was a dominant performance."

I remember looking at Faker's official photo with his arms crossed over his chest on the big screen and sincerely sighing:

"He doesn't seem like a rookie at all. Just looking at his basic last-hitting skills, he's one of the top mid laners in the LPL."

"But to be honest, I think it would be well-deserved to give the MVP to Lin Xiu's Nidalee."

Guan Zeyuan changed the subject, his tone becoming serious:

"Although Lin Xiu's Nidalee's damage output percentage is not as high as Cassiopeia's, his near 100% participation rate and his dominant performance against his opponent are extremely impressive."

Remember nodded, then looked at IG's seats:

"We just received news from backstage that IG has proactively chosen the red side for the next game. This is clearly to reserve a counter pick for Rookie and show respect to EDG's rookie mid laner."

"Actually, G1's loss was more due to the collapse of the early game rhythm. The main reason was that IG's mid and jungle combination was caught off guard. After improving their focus, I am optimistic that IG will win the next game."

"That's right. As long as IG can stabilize the jungle in the early game and not give Lin Xiu the opportunity to counter-jungle, Rookie's individual skill and Kid's rich experience will definitely be able to take over the game in the mid-game."

The commentators' predictions were relatively conservative, but the comments in the official live stream were anything but:

[38% damage output, a LeBlanc solo kills Rookie! Is this a rookie?]

[The kid's face turned green when he left the game. If he doesn't regain his dignity in the second match, he might as well retire on the spot.]

[Scout, love lolis, teammate safety, take your time returning!]

Although I'm a fan of the factory manager, I have to say, Lin Xiu's playstyle is so exhilarating to watch! It's so damn aggressive, I love it!

IG is going all out in the next game; EDG's two rookies are probably in trouble.

[I'll give you a timeframe, one hour from now. In one hour, IG will beat EDG 2-1.]

[What's there to predict? If you can control the temperature in this game, the next two will definitely be massacres by IG.]

As the buzz from the first game continued to build, viewers' attention was focused on the mid-jungle duo that had been temporarily substituted in.

Is it a flash in the pan, or the strongest newcomer?

After a short break, both teams returned to the field.

"Game 2, draft phase begins!"