Chapter 173: Let's go fifty-fifty

The venue lights were dim, noisy chatter filled the air, the conversation of nearly ten thousand people blended into a low hum; the camera panned casually over the audience seats, everywhere were amateur cosplayers in outlandish costumes, or rather, they were just ordinary spectators, unlike the scenes at LPL and LCK events, appearing more lively and unrestrained.

On the big screen, the ban/pick phase was already halfway through for both teams.

ROX finally secured Syndra in their second pick, then locked in Jinx. Obviously, even against G2, whom they considered not particularly strong, they would not give away the bot lane combo of Jinx + Janna, which could be called the strongest in the current version.

Of course, G2 had long anticipated that ROX would snatch Jinx with their second pick.

After a brief discussion, G2 gave up on Graves, which had stronger lane‑pushing but slightly lacking teamfight damage, and opted for Lucian, whose burst damage was more ample.

In the eyes of commentators from all regions, this was a very bold pick, because Lucian has had his skill range nerfed, making mechanical demands on the player very high.

And G2's fourth pick was the jungle position's Mang Seng.

"Wow, Mang Seng! Firrrrrre is certainly not weak either; facing a world‑class jungler like Xiao Huasheng, he actually dares to pick Mang Seng, a hero that heavily tests mechanics and rhythm—looks like the two junglers are going to clash."

"Jiao Shen pairs well with a Mang Seng skilled in leg techniques; it's a good fit."

"If that's the case, I feel his champion pool likely includes Hecarim."

"Hecarim also relies on leg strength, but it's not the same type as Mang Seng; Hecarim is more about clearing, while Mang Seng tests the player's rhythm control."

"As for ROX's last two picks, I think top lane will be either Naafiri or Bo Bi; if they want more tankiness, it's Bo Bi, but if they want to be more aggressive in lane, it's Naafiri."

"Still Naafiri, and the support gets a Nautilus! Very solid, this ROX lineup!"

"Well, as the side with greater raw strength, picking such a steady lineup means ROX is determined to win this match."

"They don't want to give G2 any chance at all."

"Probably they're also afraid of a fluke; the other day ANX nearly gave them a lesson, so playing it safe is more secure."

"Come on, G2's final pick— as the team's big leg among big legs, what will Perkz choose?!"

"Actually there's not much to think about; although Kuro isn't known for lane pressure, as a ROX starter who's been with the team for two years and won the LCK summer crown this year, his laning is definitely not weak. Plus he got Syndra, a lane dominator, this game. If G2 wants to play safe, they'd pick Viktor to farm; if they want to go all‑in, they'd take the snake woman vampire— that's about it."

"But look, they're still discussing— they can't possibly pick Hu li again, can they?"

"Before level six they'd just be taking pure damage, their waveclear slower than even the vampire— too passive, not fitting their composition… huh?! Really Hu li?!"

"Not locked yet, still hesitating!"

"No way, G2! Hu li may indeed fit their engage‑oriented comp, but laning is… changed, changed, I'm scared stiff!"

The icon of Nine‑Tailed Ahri flashed for a few seconds in G2's fifth‑tier selection box.

From the big‑screen view of the player benches, G2 mid laner Perkz had a rather intense exchange with the coach; finally Perkz slowly nodded, while G2 coach Ka Lao Si let out a relieved sigh.

Thus they ultimately switched to the vampire.

As the hero swap finished, both lineups were fully locked.

ROX, Blue Side

ban: Ryze, Renekton, Sivir

top: Smeb, Naafiri

jungle: Peanut, Spider

mid: Kuro, Syndra

ADC: PraY, Jinx

support: GorillA, Nautilus

coach: Nofe

G2,

ban: Nidalee, Jayce, Karma

top: Island, Kennen

jungle: Firrrrrre, Mang Seng

mid: Perkz, Vampire

ADC: Zven, Lucian

support: Mithy, Janna

coach: ocelote

On a certain cat platform, Liu mou's livestream.

The main screen of the livestream showed the LPL broadcast of the 2016 World Championship group stage; in the lower webcam view, Liu mou half‑reclined in a chair, an electronic cigarette stick between his lips:

"Damn solid lineup, Tigers, sprouts— how are these chicken‑and‑rabbit supposed to fight? Just seeing the enemy's lineup shows they completely don't want to give any chance."

"Moreover, speaking frankly, this chicken‑and‑rabbit comp is too flimsy; although they didn't pick Hu li, the vampire is also flimsy— teamfights have some imagination but you still need to check laning; this comp, if they don't get a big lane advantage, will get steamrolled in teamfights— no damage, no tankiness."

"The players' raw strength can't match the Tigers' either; even if the bot lane combo is strong, what's the use if you can't kill anyone while pushing? Mid lane lacks advantage, jungle can't do anything."

"The enemy is just solid— solid to the point of being chic; they have damage if they want it, control if they want it, and engaging is brutally strong; the chicken‑and‑rabbit can't avoid fighting even if they try."

"I can't figure it out; all I can say is, damn it, the chicken‑and‑rabbit is indeed flimsy."

"Otherwise, maybe they think their jungler can carry; otherwise I truly don't know how else they could win. Bro, what do you think?"

"Me?"

Lu mou wei's voice sounded,

"I'm just watching seated, otherwise how would I watch? Should I lie down to watch? Like this? Damn, I can't see the screen like this. Like this? This way I can see it! But forget it, damn, after watching a whole game I'd tire out Grandpa Lu; I'll just stay seated. Or else, Ma Feifei, you hold me while I watch— that'd feel safer, because I'm afraid ROX's killing intent is so heavy it'll blast through the screen and smash Grandpa Lu. Wow! So scary! Hug me, Ma Fei, quickly hug me! I'm scared!"

In the livestream room of a certain fish platform's Lu mou wei, an anthropomorphic streamer kept adjusting his joint parameters, twisting his body into various strange poses before the camera, and then actually lunged onto his co‑streamer, sitting atop them; with his exaggerated expression and tone, the show effect was extremely explosive.

The screen was full of hahaha comments.

Although Liu mou didn't see the picture, having known each other for years, just hearing the audio he knew what was happening on the other end of the mic, which also made him laugh; as a result he got choked by the e‑cigarette and coughed wildly.

Once he finally caught his breath, the battle on screen had already begun.

"Stop the noise, watch the match, watch the match."

"Although the outcome should be no surprise, tiger‑versus‑chicken is still kinda fun— let's see how fierce this tiger is."

Lu mou wei also finished his antics, sitting upright before the webcam:

Hey, by the way, brother, this G2 mid-laner jerk is called the Europe Dharma King, right?

Yeah, the new Dharma King, the old Dharma King is Xpeke.

I know Xpeke, in S3 I got spring-pulled into a Muggle trashy noob, is the new Dharma King that awesome?

Let's go fifty-fifty with you.

Holy shit! So awesome?!