Chapter 550: Fear

As VG secured Baron, the outcome of this match basically lost its suspense.

After a 0-for-4 team fight, G2's original several-thousand gold advantage vanished like a receding tide, and then VG, with Baron buff, surged forward like a huge wave.

VG seemed to want to reclaim all the pressure it had suffered from G2 earlier; it did not launch a overly fierce assault on G2's high ground, but took down all of G2's remaining outer towers, then again destroyed the bottom lane high ground crystal, and afterwards, using the remaining time of Baron buff, swept clean G2's jungle resources, finally retreating satisfied after leaving vision covering the entire jungle.

G2 got a breather, pushed the minion wave forward, and seeing the mess all over their own half of the map and enemy wards everywhere in the jungle, everyone's heart turned cold.

VG, however, was unwilling to end the fight easily, tormenting G2 for several more minutes until taking a second Baron, only then launching the final all-out assault on G2's high ground when the second Baron buff advance had only one minute left.

At this point, G2's morale had hit rock bottom, with no will to resist; finally, Jankos hastily initiated a team fight and was unsurprisingly wiped out by VG.

Around thirty-six minutes, G2's base exploded.

"Congratulations VG!!!"

"Congratulations VG, what a fantastic match!"

"Yes, in this world-renowned focal showdown, VG, despite an early disadvantage, relied on perfect macro to drag the game into their comfort zone, and then, as we know, executed Firrrrrre's amazing engage to pull off a stunning reversal, mercilessly shattering Perkz's god-slaying dream!"

"Congratulations VG! The Demon King is still the Demon King!"

The venue erupted with enthusiastic cheers.

But when the camera panned to Firrrrrre, who led VG to complete this comeback battle, he showed no excitement at all; instead, he seemed a bit low-spirited, his expression somewhat cold.

The expressions of the G2 members were somewhat forlorn.

After the match ended, Perkz sat dazedly in his seat for a few seconds, then pushed himself up from the table, lowered his head to tidy his peripherals, and did not communicate with anyone.

The G2 fans downstairs who had been shouting excitedly for most of the match now mostly sat silently, their faces full of bewilderment and loss; this scene formed a stark contrast to their mountain‑shouting, sea‑roaring cheers just half an hour earlier.

On major European esports platforms and forums, netizens launched a heated discussion of this match, yet amid the clamor, everyone tacitly avoided touching that topic—the debate over the S6 FMVP.

In the post‑match interview segment, when asked for his thoughts on the match, Liang Yan stood beside the forced‑smiling Sjokz, thought for a few seconds, then slowly spoke:

"If G2 continues to approach future matches in the state they showed today, I think they have no qualification to contend with VG for the championship."

An uproar filled the venue.

Sjokz was stunned for two seconds, then couldn't help but ask:

"Do you mean G2 will have team problems because of this loss?"

"No."

Liang Yan shook his head and said in a flat tone:

"I mean before this match started."

When Liang Yan uttered those words, everyone's forehead showed three black question marks.

And the G2 members who had already returned to the lounge and were watching the interview, upon hearing this, were likewise bewildered.

"What does he mean?!"

Zven jerked his head up, his voice a bit loud, carrying a hint of embarrassment-turned-anger.

"Why shout so loud?"

Perkz, sitting next to Zven and having his ears ringing from Zven's voice, picked at his ears, said somewhat impatiently, but did not answer Zven's question.

The others also remained silent.

Expect lowered his head, rubbing his fingers; Mithy crossed his arms, face grim; Jankos leaned on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Then, in this silence, Ka Lao Si suddenly spoke, his voice without much fluctuation:

"Liang Yan meant form, not strength or skill; don't you get it yet?"

At the same time, in the broadcast feed, Liang Yan added a sentence:

"I hope they can overcome fear……"

"……"

G2 members instantly understood the first layer of meaning of that sentence, and subconsciously all turned their heads toward Zven.

Under everyone's gaze, Zven's face instantly lost color.

Then it quickly turned bright red.

Zven wanted to refute, wanted to explain, but opened his mouth and couldn't utter a word.

Bang!!

Zven suddenly stood up, kicked the chair behind him over with force; in the loud crash of the chair hitting the floor, Zven, with a grim face, quickly walked out of the lounge.

Of course, even giving Zven ten guts wouldn't dare to go look for Liang Yan for a 1v1; he simply couldn't stay any longer, wanting to go to the toilet to hide and wipe his tears.

The others looked at the door that had been kicked shut, then at the innocent chair that took a kick; no one went after him, no one spoke. Only the host's voice from the TV on the wall and the wave‑like clamor from the venue remained in the lounge.

Only Tang Anna immediately understood the second layer of meaning of that sentence.

This guy, really doesn't hold back.

But he was indeed right; as of today, G2 still hasn't shaken off the shadow of losing their core—despite Perkz standing up, trying to hold up the family.

Tang Anna took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and an unrelated thought popped into her mind:

"By the way, will that guy return my hat……"

……

After this match ended, the debate over whether Perkz or Firrrrrre was the true core of last year's nearly invincible G2 has come to a tentative answer.

However, even the little flames who had previously argued fervently for Firrrrrre can't feel happy now—because Firrrrrre is no longer in Europe, at this moment he represents LPL in competition, European fans still support him, but deep down, fans' favorite is still the image of him wearing the G2 jersey.

In the evening, Liang Yan and Tang Anna still met.

Liang Yan didn't return the hat to Tang Anna, and Tang Anna didn't bring it up either; it seems both forgot their promise from last night.

They also didn't talk about the match, as if nothing had happened; Tang Anna wasn't in the mood to chat, and Liang Yan, seeing that, reduced his speech.

After a few days, the competition continued.

On the final day of the group stage, VG defeated G2 again. In the post‑match interview that day, Liang Yan's tone was somewhat resigned:

"I'm quite disappointed; it seems I really overestimated G2."