Chapter 496

Mouse Platform.

Lao Zhang was analyzing the lineups of both sides.

"VG is obviously a four‑protect‑one system; Kled is a particularly bright pick, maintaining the integrity of the four‑protect‑one while forming a double‑speed combo with Karma. This makes their teamfight impact very strong when they have an advantage. If EDG's Gragas doesn't get going, they'll easily be run over."

"On EDG's side, it looks like a composition that can bloom in multiple places, but essentially it still hinges on Jinx. The top‑mid‑jungle is meant to sustain early‑mid fight power, to avoid collapsing early‑mid and smoothly hand the baton to Jinx, which feels a bit like wanting both ways. Of course, if EDG's top‑mid‑jungle can perform, there's actually no problem, but the blind monk's…… hahaha."

"Overall, this game mainly hinges on the bottom lane, but there are many options in the early‑mid game; anything is possible. Early on, not looking at IDs, I favor EDG, possibly giving them a slight edge, because the Green God's localized combat ability is indeed mediocre……"

Lao Zhang's opinion represents the view of most professionals and high‑rank streamers:

VG has the edge in lineup integrity and mid‑to‑late game teamfights; EDG, to withstand VG's strong early‑game push, was forced to boost the combat power of its top‑mid‑jungle, making its lineup look a bit loose and lacking coordination in big teamfights.

In terms of overall win rate, the mainstream opinion gives a 7‑3 split.

The real‑time support ratio in the LPL official livestream is a bit exaggerated, because the statistics here include not only LPL viewers' votes but also the support rate of the English stream; and as everyone knows, audience votes are decided by loyalty—fans blindly vote for the team they like. Although EDG has far more international‑stage appearances than VG, and Changzhang also has a certain number of fans worldwide, the EDG that Changzhang led in the previous year and last year was simply too weak, especially last year…… In contrast, although VG has never made it to the World Championship, VG has Firrrrrre…… Therefore, a rather counterintuitive fact is that VG's overseas fanbase is actually larger than EDG's, and not just by a little—it's a crushing lead.

Just before entering Summoner's Rift, the real‑time support ratio was displayed on the big screen, a sight that could be described as shocking:

95% to 5%

Such a support ratio made A Bu, who was supervising the battle backstage, feel angry and unreasonable, and he on the spot clenched his throat and screamed:

"What the hell is this, a 10‑0 score?! Are these people voting with their feet?! This makes no sense! Someone must be stuffing the ballots; if this continues I'll file a complaint!"

Meanwhile, in the audience stands, VG's big boss Ding Jun burst out laughing.

Look, what does it mean to be the people's choice?

VG's coronation as king happens today!

"Welcome to Summoner's Rift!"

A solemn female voice suddenly echoed across the venue, and everyone instantly focused their minds.

The first match of the S7 LPL Spring Finals officially began.

Level one, no combat yet; both sides began laning normally.

The Green God's jungle‑opening route has many options, but in order to easily take a river crab, one usually heads toward the stronger allied lane. Liang Yan's opening route in this game, however, looked a bit confusing from the viewers' perspective: he first seeded the three wolves, then seeded the blue buff, after that turned and headed straight for the lower half of the map, used Smite to take the red buff, then turned back upward.

Miller couldn't help but tease:

"Jiao Shen's jungle‑clear path this game has a hint of the Wild King about it."

EDG fans felt secretly pleased, and a ripple of suppressed laughter spread through the venue.

The Green God didn't linger in the lower half, so the bottom lane inevitably came under pressure. Although Big Mouth is Sima Laozei's signature champion, the combo with Thresh has relatively weak combat power, and the laning matchup of Lulu plus Jinx certainly lacks any advantage.

Sima Laozei wasn't rushed or anxious, steadily last‑hitting his own minions.

Around two and a half minutes, the Verdant God planted grass at the Magic Swamp Frog camp.

At 2:40, he entered the river and planted grass on the river crab.

Then he came to Zhong Lu, showed his face, applying some pressure to Scout's Hu li, letting Easyhoon push the lane better; afterwards he went to take the already matured F6, then after that he again crossed Zhong Lu, returned to Shang Ban Qu, and sequentially took the river crab and the Magic Swamp Frog.

Thus, the Verdant God's first wave of jungle monsters was basically cleared, leaving only a group of Stone Armor Beetles untouched.

His progress was actually about the same as Changzhang's Mang Seng, even a few seconds earlier, though the route looked messy, indeed having a bit of a Wild King vibe.

Also feeling confused were the rest of EDG.

What the hell is this guy doing?

I can't understand...

Just from watching last hits, I only know he didn't eat the Stone Armor Beetle.

What was he doing crossing Zhong Lu twice?

Don't understand...

Mingkai, how is he clearing his second wave of jungle monsters?

Are you asking me?

I'm asking you.

Then you asked the wrong person; if I knew, I'd be the World's No. 1 Jungler.

Haha, aren't you?

Meiko still had the mood to joke.

Changzhang, however, curled his lips, looking a bit displeased.

Before EDG's elimination in the S5 World Championships, saying that was fine; Changzhang would own up to it, but anyone who still says that after being 4-0'd by FNC is just mocking him!

I'm going home.

Changzhang muttered, simultaneously marking the bottom lane with a signal,

He'll probably run into the Stone Armor Beetle when he goes out later; be careful in the bottom lane, don't press too hard.

Got it.

Changzhang's this is an instinctive judgment; after all, the blue side's upper jungle is empty, the lower jungle still has a group of Stone Armor Beetles, the small dragon (earth dragon) is also there, and the Verdant God isn't a hero strong at catching people, so there's no reason for him to go to the upper jungle now.

Mouse was killed precisely by this kind of inertial thinking.

Liang Yan's movement route in this game mainly emphasized randomness, as if he had played with a Wild King mod.

At over 8 minutes, Kled pushed the lane into the tower then retreated into the brush, appearing to recall. Mouse let his guard down, came out from under the tower to collect minions, Kled unleashed his ultimate, bringing the Verdant God out of the brush to kill him; Mouse knew using flash would be useless, and was slain by the two without breaking a sweat.

Mouse instinctively muttered: "Wasn't I supposed to go down?"

Changzhang stubbornly replied: "I was talking about just now; a few minutes have passed, you're impossible, can this even be blamed on me?"

Mouse: "Not blaming you……my fault."

Seeing the two above start to take down towers, Changzhang also knew he had to do something, and greeted Scout:

Lee Woori-chan, don't go top, just teleport down, we'll kill them bottom!