Chapter 538: A showdown half a year in the making

Both sides' players appeared quietly.

The few commentators on the venue's commentary stand were doing pre‑match analysis, but most of the audience was distracted, and the murmurs of tens of thousands of people combined into a low‑frequency hum.

On the venue's big screen, the red and blue bars representing the real‑time support rates of both sides were fluctuating,

56% to 44%...

55% to 45%...

57% to 43%...

Overall, G2's support rate maintained a slight lead, but the gap was not obvious.

This support rate also represents the mainstream prediction for the match, basically fifty‑fifty or sixty‑forty.

But if you ask which side has more fans at the venue, there's no doubt it's G2.

After all, this is the home ground of the Western team.

When the big screen suddenly switched to the players' bench, the whole screen split left and right, with Perkz's and Liang Yan's faces together filling every inch of the venue's big screens.

The venue then erupted again:

"G2!!!"

"G2!!!"

"G2!!!"

The unified shouts were like a mountain collapsing and sea overturning.

But amid this almost one‑sided support for G2, some people took off their shirts to reveal flame tattoos on their stomachs, and others held up handmade Q‑version "Firrrrrre" plushies high and shouted at the top of their lungs; although their voices couldn't penetrate the heavy soundwave, they didn't care, because they just wanted to make their own voices heard.

At the highest part of the stands, there was also a group of Chinese spectators who had crossed the ocean to attend the event; they split into two groups, one unfurling a five‑star red flag, the other each holding a huge placard with a single big character, which together read:

【I came, I saw, I conquered!】

There's no doubt these are die‑hard fans of VG.

On the big screen, both of their expressions were fairly calm; occasionally exchanging a sentence with teammates, they revealed a faint smile.

Afterwards, the camera switched to both teams' coaches.

VG's head coach Loong looked tense all over, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

G2's female coach Anna, as usual, had a blank expression, but from her deep eyes one could sense a more solemn demeanor than usual.

The venue's commentary shifted from the commentary stand to the commentary desk.

Today, the main commentator seated at the venue's commentary desk was the Europe Region's top commentator, PiraTechnics; his co‑commentator was the European poet commentator Drakos, and the guest commentator—Caps, the new mid laner of the FNC team.

"Senhorasesenhores!!"

PiraTechnics opened with a Portuguese sentence, his voice booming,

"The upcoming match needs no buildup! G2 versus VG! We will see a scene where several G2 champions clash with their former king!"

"This day, I believe everyone, like me, has been waiting a long time!"

The audience gave an enthusiastic response; the venue buzzed with noise, and whistles rose from all sides.

In the LPL livestream room, Wawa, who usually presents a hip‑hop persona, unusually refrained from joking today, his voice low and solemn: "Audience friends, this match can be said to be a showdown many have awaited for half a year; I believe there's no need for me to overhype it."

Miller suppressed his excitement and added: "Exactly, Jiao Shen, facing his old team!"

Wang Ji also spoke solemnly: "Although it's just a group stage match, this game indeed carries a different significance, because it's the first encounter after Jiao Shen won the championship and left that team; online worldwide, there have been many debates about him and that team over the past six months, and this match might shed some light on those debates—well, of course it can't be said to put a final period on them, but at least it can let everyone see a clearer direction of answer."

"Remember, the teacher summed it up well! Then let's begin this world‑watched showdown! Blue side G2, red side VG, both sides' ban/pick have already started!"

"VG is on the red side today, so be careful."

"It feels like there's still considerable pressure; look at VG's side—everyone except Jiao Shen looks quite serious."

"Jiao Shen still has a big heart; his mindset is nothing for us to worry about."

"Well, let's look at the ban/pick: G2 opens by banning the crocodile! Meanwhile VG bans a Syndra! G2 follows up by banning a top laner, Kled! VG likewise bans a mid‑lane hero, Ahri!"

"Hiss! This BP is different—both teams' ban/pick is unlike any of their previous group‑stage matches!"

"G2 keeps banning top laners, while VG keeps banning G2's mid laner… It feels like G2 is focusing on that point with Galio, whereas VG… to be honest I don't get it; VG's bans seem just aimed at Perkz."

"No problem, Perkz is now truly the European magic king!"

In the blue side's final ban of the first round, G2 finally eased the pace; the camera occasionally swept over the female coach's face, but she still showed little expression, making it impossible to discern any emotional shift from her demeanor.

On VG's side, Zhu Xiaolong stood behind Easyhoon holding a notebook, his expression as if facing a formidable enemy.

Liang Yan glanced left and right, then said:

"Everyone seems rather nervous?"

"A bit."

Easyhoon gave an honest nod.

Fu Lan Duo wiggled her hips, her smiling expression tinged with a hint of excitement and restlessness:

"I have no pressure on the top lane, but you guys in the mid‑jungle need to be careful—the enemy's mid‑jungle‑support linkage is indeed a bit tricky."

Xiao Duan became even more nervous upon hearing that.

Xiao Duan has a clear self‑assessment: he knows roaming has always been his weakness; although Liang Yan joined the team and deliberately brought him along to strengthen this area, Xiao Duan's roaming now looks competent, and in matches we often see him following Liang Yan into the jungle and mid lane to cause trouble. But in fact Xiao Duan understands that most of that rhythm is driven by Liang Yan, not his own initiative.

In terms of actively seeking roaming opportunities, Xiao Duan still has a long way to go.

At this moment, even Sima Laozei appears somewhat tense, constantly kneading a sweat‑absorbing cloth in his hand, indicating his palms are sweating—something that rarely happens normally.

However, since they are people who have won championships, the VG squad's confidence is not lacking, and nobody deep down feels inferior to the opposition; the tension at this moment mostly stems from the pressure of the opposing side's "Season 6 Champion" title.

G2's third ban was decided with only three seconds left on the clock.

"Ban Jesper!"