Chapter 202: The LCK is just like that

During the post-match interview segment, Sjokz asked SSG's mid laner Crown for his thoughts on the League of Legends Top 20 rankings, and Crown replied as follows:

"It has some reference value, but I think that no matter how accurate and timely a ranking's data is, it becomes outdated the moment it's released, because players are constantly improving."

"So I don't pay much attention to that ranking, because it's about the past me, and I just need to keep looking forward."

(PS: Although Sjokz is a European host, she is also an official League host, so for any world tournament hosted in English-speaking regions, she is the main stage host.)

During the interview, Liang Yan received a WeChat message from Fu Lan Duo.

Another six points.

Liang Yan thought for a moment and replied:

【Since I've given my all, there's no need to feel regret regardless of win or loss.】

……

At the LPL commentary desk, the commentators were still reviewing the match.

When Snake took the match point with a 2-0 lead, everyone thought they'd make the semifinals, but instead there was a stunning reversal—allowing a 2-3 comeback that shattered all Snake fans' hopes.

The commentators' voices were full of regret.

Yet the chat in the livestream was lighthearted, even joyful.

【They were studied to death, and after their trump cards were played they got crushed outright.】

【I've said it before—relying on tricks won't get you far; in the end it's all about raw strength.】

【Raw strength? If Samsung had raw strength to crush, they wouldn't have lost two straight to Snake—it's just that Snake's flaws are too big.】

【Samsung is just like that; barring surprises, ROX will crush them in the semifinals.】

【The LCK doesn't seem that strong either—EDG has a chance!】

【Forget it, ROX isn't Samsung's style; top laner Smeb just crushed the tank, leaving EDG with no chance.】

【Better to look at RNG instead.】

【Go RNG!】

……

The Snake players returned to the hotel and were greeted with a post-match group interview.

A domestic esports media reporter asked Snake manager Zuowu:

"Manager Zuo, Snake has been eliminated now; as a sister team, do you have anything you'd like to say to the LPL teams still fighting?"

Zuowu pondered for a few seconds, leaned slightly forward into the microphone, and said:

"I think… everyone, just keep pushing."

"If I had to give a reminder, it's mainly to not underestimate the opponent, and then…"

"Just don't lose in an ugly way."

That was both heartfelt and deliberate.

Honestly, the online comments after the match pissed Zuowu off.

What does "SSG is just this" even mean?

Is the LCK no good?

Go have your main team try it then!

Of course, after saying that, Zuowu was prepared for the outcome.

As expected, Snake's official Weibo got flooded—this time a joint raid by pigs and dogs, all resenting Zuowu for boosting others' morale while killing his own, with the comment section full of congratulations to SSG.

But Zuowu didn't respond; anyway Snake's season is over, so it's just a long vacation— as for the year-end DE Cup, they'll just play around to get by, since there's hardly any prize money or prestige anyway.

So Zuowu just played dead.

No matter if the outside world is flooding, I'm fine as long as I'm satisfied. Besides, these people will shut up in a couple of days, because reality will inevitably unfold as Zuowu predicted.

Whether it's RNG or EDG.

……

Late night.

Luxuanjun had already packed his bags, preparing to fly back home the next day.

The suitcase sat beside him; Luxuanjun stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of the room, the glow from his phone screen reflected on the glass, overlapping with the foreign city nightscape outside, also illuminating his face.

On the screen was exactly the reply Liang Yan had sent him on WeChat.

No matter win or loss, there's no need to feel regret……

Luxuanjun looked at it over and over, still unable to let go of his feelings.

A sense of grievance kept welling up from his heart.

With a pat, a crystal-clear droplet fell onto the phone screen.

……

The next day.

S6 Quarterfinal Match 2.

ROX vs. EDG.

This best-of-five is worthy of being called a timeless classic.

In the first game, around seven and a half minutes, Xiao Huasheng's Blind Monk teamed with Smeb's Jayce to gank and kill koro1's Braum in top lane; EDG immediately responded with a 4-man dive on the bot lane against ROX's duo, Scout's Ryze snared Pray's Caitlyn, and Changzhang's level-six Olaf, without ulting, got caught in a tower dive and was swapped out by Caitlyn—if Scout's Ryze hadn't turned the tide and taken two kills, EDG would have already blown up.

Forgot to add the picture……

The G2 crew watched the match live in the training room; although Liang Yan had long known Changzhang would face this ordeal, when he actually saw it unfold in the livestream, he immediately recalled another match where A Bu shouted from the lounge, "Why not ult?" and couldn't help but laugh.

"Why didn't he ult?"

Perkz, sitting next to Liang Yan, asked with a clueless face.

"He might think that not ulting lets him last a bit longer, since ulting reduces both resistances."

Liang Yan used the later generations' whitewashing comments of Changzhang to help the current Changzhang regain face.

"What?"

Perkz had a black person question mark face.

"Well, anyway he probably thinks like that."

Liang Yan struggled to hold back his laughter and spoke seriously.

Lao Zhang, however, burst out laughing:

"Holy shit, low health using ultimate to get hit by the policewoman's headshot is too detailed hahaha! Pray didn't even think to flash and try to last hit, didn't think Changzhang would die outright hahahaha!!"

This play is truly classic; every mistake of Changzhang is detailed to perfection, so the comedic effect is extremely strong.

Perkz then asked Liang Yan:

"Liang, if you were this Olaf, what would you do?"

I would first use ultimate to step on the trap, then walk and pull at the edge of the turret attack, creating a better output environment for teammates, and retreat immediately when low on health, just like Scout and Meiko did.

Instead of foolishly standing there as a sandbag eating the policewoman's skill, waiting for the trap's control to wear off before using ultimate to try to run, ending up reducing his own magic resist and armor and taking full damage from the policewoman's headshot...

Of course, even without this detail mistake, Changzhang was surely doomed, because the third turret attack was already incoming and Kuro's Dragon King was about to arrive.

This play was purely because Scout playing Ryze was awesome; after Changzhang's death he still, via extreme pulling, killed the ROX duo.

Otherwise, relying on this huge mistake by Changzhang, EDG would have been blown straight through this play.

Another detail is that Scout originally planned to first use his passive to go tank the turret, but he didn't expect Changzhang to rush ahead first.

Scout was probably also confused.

Although the Dragon King arriving also took Meiko's head, adding the top lane Rumble's death, EDG this play was a three-for-two trade, still a loss.