Chapter 12: Open fire!

Everyone entered the training match wearing the EU-exclusive match uniforms; the accounts used by the players were all given by Riot, and the accounts had unlimited gold and points from the start, allowing items like runes and skins to be bought freely.

It is worth noting that the uniforms used in training matches are usually on a different server from those used in official matches, and the accounts are not interchangeable.

Are you going to change it to your professional ID?

Watching Liang Yan enter the game store to buy a name-change card, Ka Lao Si asked curiously.

Professional ID?

Liang Yan froze for a moment.

Only then did he realize he had not yet considered a professional ID.

He should really think about it seriously.

Liang Yan nodded.

That's right, my professional ID.

After purchasing the name-change card, in the rename interface, Liang Yan's mind flashed with many thoughts—nostalgia for the past (including his previous life), and more so, anticipation for the future.

Finally, he made a decision.

He placed both hands on the keyboard and clacked out a string of letters.

Under everyone's gaze, a new ID was born.

The game system popped up a confirmation window.

Liang Yan clicked confirm.

The game system popped up a name-change success prompt:

【Name change successful, you will use the following ID as your new ID.】

【Firrrrrre】

Liang Yan closed the pop-up, returned to the room, and said, "Let's begin."

The team channel fell quiet again.

Everyone carefully contemplated the meaning of Liang Yan's ID.

"Fire..."

Ka Lao Si murmured softly, gazing thoughtfully at Liang Yan's screen.

Anyone could see that Liang Yan's ID is a variant of the English word "Fire", and at a glance one can feel its extremely strong aggressive desire.

The second game's ban/pick phase began.

AP, as G2's soul figure and the team's actual big thigh, still wanted to save face; after being invisible the whole map in the first game, perhaps feeling a bit guilty, this game he honestly picked a Yellow Chick (Desert Emperor Azir).

Of course, the enemy mid laner's first pick of the assassin Zed actually did nothing; an assassin that didn't get early kills becomes useless late game, so this time he learned and picked an easy laning Death Singer (Death Singer Karthus).

Xiao Yu Ren, however, went to the enemy top lane; likely he intends to run the tank disgusting person strategy, while G2's top laner Kikis later picked a troll to counter.

Bottom lane AD remained unchanged, still Lu Xi An versus Ezreal; both sides swapped supports, with S04's support taking Fan Mom and Yudie switching to Bard.

In Liang Yan's impression, Europe's trolls play decently, so he thought this top lane should be stable and not need much attention.

Moreover, although the opponents might not have been serious in the previous game, even if they were just playing casually, their skill level appeared about the same.

So Liang Yan's positioning for this game is——

Just kill and it's done.

Finally he gave himself an Excavator (Void Burrower Beast Rek'Sai).

He was matched against the current meta's strong jungler, the Centaur.

Ka Lao Si still did not interfere with ban/pick, but this game both sides' lineups looked much more normal than the first game.

S04, Blue Side

Top lane: Steve, Xiao Yu Ren

Jungle: Gilius, Centaur

Mid lane: Fox, Death Song

Bottom lane: MrRalleZ, Ezreal

Support: sprattel, Fan Mom

G2, Red Side

Top lane: Kikis, Troll

Jungle: Firrrrrre, Rek'Sai

Mid lane: Perkz, Shah

Bottom lane: Begta, Lu Xi An

Support: Yudie, Bard

In the loading screen, Liang Yan quickly organized his thoughts.

In this game, if the top lane doesn't collapse, there's no need to worry about it; the troll is merely a tool, helping isn't very meaningful, and without a good opportunity, the top lane can be ignored.

However, for his own development, if there is a chance to snag a kill in top lane, he can casually take it.

The mid lane lane also won't have much pressure, but if the enemy Death Song develops, it will become a big trouble, so he still needs to actively seek opportunities to counter it.

The greatest pressure is in the bottom lane.

Ezreal and Lu Xi An are both current meta hot picks, with Lu Xi An being the strongest; if subsequent patches don't change much, he feels it will become a 'must-pick, non-ban' staple on the stage.

But it also depends on the composition and who is playing.

After observing the previous game, Begta's Lu Xi An is actually playable; aside from occasionally being overly reckless, his mechanics and playstyle are fine, and this recklessness would not be reckless if paired with a support like Nami—Lu Xi An ought to be played that way. So the issue actually lies with the support.

Yudie probably won't play Nami.

Lu Xi An paired with Bard against Ezreal plus Fan Mom is theoretically a clear disadvantage.

But it still depends on the enemy Fan Mom's skill accuracy.

First, in the early stage, focus on taking care of the bottom lane.

Having made a preliminary plan in mind, just as map reading finished, Liang Yan swiftly bought his starting gear—a jungle knife and a reusable potion—then casually placed a signal on our Stone Armor Beetle, not expecting a response from teammates, but whether to do it or not is his own business.

Surprisingly, possibly because of Liang Yan's excellent performance in the previous match, this time his signal received a response from teammates.

AP asked:

"Should we start jungling from above?"

"Yes."

"Then the bottom lane can't help you."

Liang Yan originally wanted to say it's fine, but the top laner Kikis voluntarily offered:

"Let me help you jungle."

If someone helps with the jungle, the early game pace will be much smoother; Liang Yan certainly wouldn't refuse, so he said thanks.

He also signaled the two entrances of our side's lower jungle area, spoke in the team voice channel asking the bottom lane to keep an eye out, and if anyone comes, just run.

Yudie eagerly agreed:

"Received!"

Although Begta didn't speak, after leaving the base he silently ran toward the signal location.

The team owner and coach Ka Lao Si sat in the back watching the harmonious scene among the members, nodding satisfied, and suddenly a thought arose in his mind: feeling that such a G2 isn't bad.

Of course, just thinking about it.

But if he knew the situation of the first match, he would definitely be very surprised by the current team's atmosphere.

Actually, this is what normal team communication should be like.

If the goal is to advance toward S6, this level of communication is still insufficient.

But we have to take it slow.

Liang Yan didn't regard this issue as too serious.

In esports, strength is king; Liang Yan knows that as long as he demonstrates sufficient strength, no matter how unruly a person is, they will eventually submit.

Now we have a good start.

At 1:25, Liang Yan controlled Rek'Sai to leave the current sentry position and ran toward the Stone Armor Beetle camp.

Kikis's troll was already standing there, waiting to help with the jungle.