Chapter 678: Malaxiangguo, cool!

Historically, in the LPL region, Malaxiangguo can be said to be the originator and promoter of the fasting-flow jungler playstyle in S7, but if you look worldwide, Malaxiangguo is not the first person to develop this playstyle; he also learned it from others.

In fact, as early as the spring split, Liang Yan had already used this playstyle; the first victim was precisely team IM, which represented the turtle-flow tactic that this playstyle counters. Later, when facing RNG, Liang Yan used it again, beating RNG badly. After that match, Malaxiangguo realized the strength of this playstyle, feeling it was fierce, required no brainpower, and was extremely satisfying, so he researched it.

Now, the fasting-flow playstyle that Malaxiangguo learned from Liang Yan has been mastered to perfection; he not only fully inherited his master's true teachings, but has even established his own school.

Because Malaxiangguo is not merely imitating Liang Yan, but has added his own understanding, forming a unique personal style.

Dragon Pearl was dazed by this never-before-seen playstyle.

Cuzz couldn't do anything in the mid lane and started sleepwalking.

And once Cuzz went silent, in the early game Khan, who had been actively trying to trade with Letme, also gradually went quiet in lane.

Thus the audience surprisingly discovered:

Holy cow, Letme actually got mixed up!

Although his CS was behind by a few, compared to the past when a strong top laner would explode in a 1v1, today this lane can practically be called an advantage.

As for the other lanes, mid lane had two Earthbound Spirits trading blows, neither able to do anything to the other; bot lane saw RNG's combo having the edge, with Y4 leading the enemy in CS by about ten, although not as eye-catching as yesterday's LMS match, but considering the opponents are the famous Xuanming Two Elders, the rookie Y4's performance in the first few minutes of this game was absolutely terrible.

All in all, if we ignore the CS difference in the jungle matchup, RNG's early game in this match actually had an advantage start.

And after Shen on top lane built the key wave-clearing item Tiamat, confirming that Letme could hold his lane on his own, Malaxiangguo immediately changed his strategic goal, shifting from defense to a fierce offense!

"Here it comes, Malaxiangguo is finally about to launch his first wave of offense properly, targeting the just-spawned BDD!"

"What?! Instead of taking buffs, he chose to soak up mid lane minion experience to hit level six! Perfectly avoiding the Dragon Pearl ward in his own buff camp!"

"Got you!!"

Guan Zeyuan suddenly shouted,

"Malaxiangguo, the moment he caught BDD coming over to place a ward, flashed his R from the river, kicked BDD's Chronobreak right into Xiaohu's face, then smoothly followed up with a Heavenly Sound Wave!"

"Xiaohu threw a Phosphorus Bomb, spun up his Gatling Gun, fired a basic attack with a Luminous effect, then launched a Rocket Blast that hit BDD's face, instantly blowing off half of his health!"

"Malaxiangguo blocked BDD's escape route and didn't rush to use his second kick!"

"Cuzz, after finishing his red buff, hurried over here, still about two thousand yards away!"

"Too late! When Malaxiangguo's second Q came in, BDD still flashed but couldn't avoid the damage!"

"Chronobreak is already low on health!"

"Xiaohu flashed and landed a basic attack to secure this kill!!"

"First blood secured! Malaxiangguo! Cool!"

The camera cut to the RNG players' bench; at the moment Xiaohu took BDD's head, Malaxiangguo excitedly raised both hands and roared, and from his mouth shape he seemed to be saying 'nice'.

For comparison, the camera of the slain BDD also cut in, his expression looking completely bewildered and confused.

No, dude, you cleared both buffs in your second round—shouldn't you have gone to eat the buff right away?!

Why did you come running to grab me?!!

Cuzz came to mid lane, tearily taking the minion wave that BDD couldn't collect after his death, while comforting his own mid laner in the team voice channel: 'It's fine, Puchen brother, he didn't flash; after you go out, I'll come over right away to help you catch him, and then we'll go take his blue buff for you to eat!'

After securing the kill, the Mang Seng helped push the lane and then headed up the river; it's obvious he was going to eat the river crab, then likely clear the red buff and the two monster groups in the upper half area, afterwards proceed to the lower half area to coordinate with the mid laner who, after recalling following the first blood, pushed out a wave and took blue, thus maintaining strong lane pressure.

At the same time, a Dragon Pearl ward was placed in RNG's blue buff camp; through its vision, one could also verify whether Cuzz's judgment was accurate.

Cuzz's plan was precisely to intercept the moment the mid laner recalled, left base, and pushed the first wave, because at that time the mid laner, in order to coordinate with the Mang Seng to take blue, would definitely be speed-pushing, and his vigilance wouldn't be high either, since he left base at full health and has a built-in mobility skill, making him not seem easy to catch.

But Cuzz knows that a mid laner without flash is actually easy to catch; as long as our mid laner's Chronobreak uses his ultimate Shockwave to force out the mid laner's W, Cuzz's Spider can directly flash in for a cocoon; even though Chronobreak no longer has its ultimate, Cuzz's development is very good—a full burst combo from the Spider plus a basic skill set from Chronobreak, with just a couple of basic attacks added, can instantly kill!

Cuzz carefully calculated the timing; after collecting a wave of minions in mid lane, he immediately retreated to base, swapped his trinket for a Scanner, and exited together with the resurrected BDD.

Cuzz came to the left side of the river in mid lane, carefully scanning areas where enemy wards might be, then placed his own stealth ward he brought out, confirming there was no RNG vision, and then began to lie in wait silently in the brush.

The Cuzz+BDD mid-jungle duo is later regarded as one of the most classic mid-jungle combos in LCK history, even more famous than Faker+Bengi; whenever these two are on the same team, they always produce good chemistry, helping their team achieve better results—later KT was like that, and this LZ team is like that. Although this year is their first collaboration, they indeed have some mysterious synergy.

And before BDD returned to lane, Xiaohu's mid laner had already stepped back into lane first, and indeed began speed-pushing.

BDD trusted Cuzz, using the opportunity of a forward basic attack to last hit to close the distance, then suddenly dragged the ball onto the mid laner's feet, pulling out his ultimate Shockwave directly.

A comedic scene occurred.

Good news: the mid laner indeed without hesitation released his only mobility skill 'Valkyrie Descent' to dodge BDD's ultimate.

Bad news: the enemy came straight at BDD's face.