Chapter 880

October 13, 1:00 PM sharp, the Group Stage C Group decider officially began.

In the first match, G2 faced EDG. EDG pulled out a miraculous Ignite Passionate Sun Girl, but misfired on the target, because G2 also had this trick, only kept as a hidden ace never used before—unexpectedly, they saw it on EDG. G2 was very surprised, but showed no mercy, knowing exactly how to play and counter Passionate Sun Girl.

EDG's bizarre trick had no positive effect, losing in under thirty minutes in a clean and crisp defeat, so much that EDG fans couldn't help but clap and praise.

Losing this match meant EDG had completely lost hope of qualifying.

Yet in the LPL live stream, the screen was full of barrage comments, not a single one expressing sympathy for EDG.

【Seems Like!】

【Congratulations EDG!】

【So awesome! Now we can take an early holiday to Hulu Island to play!】

【Take commercial orders to earn big? Now we can go back and keep taking orders—happy or not?】

【Either way it's a loss, why not keep picking Lu Xi An?】

【Looks like everyone wants to see Lu Si kneel—EDG, can you oblige? Hehe】

【Congratulations EDG on the double quarterfinals, creating history—next step, please keep pushing, keep creating new miracles—from Wuhan swimming back to Shanghai】

【I've already set up the camera by the Changjiang—when will EDG start swimming?】

A Bu completely broke down, enraged by netizen comments to the point of losing his mind, started verbally abusing in the backstage, scolded the players then VG, claiming VG was a harmful spirit, deliberately using such a trap tactic to make EDG lose the match and embarrass themselves.

Meiko and Changzhang couldn't bear to listen anymore.

Meiko didn't dare talk back to his superior, lowered his head and stayed silent.

Changzhang, however, had no such reservations, coldly laughed twice and said: "You tm, show some decency—people meant well to help, yet you speak like this—are you still human?"

A Bu's face flushed red then white, pointing at Changzhang and ranting:

"Do you have the right to speak?

"After playing like this, do you still have the nerve to say that?

"Ah?

"Look at what Jankos turned you into—others always have it when they come, what about you!

"Did you see what the audience said?

"'Ah! Miracle Walker is still jungle clearing!'

"Is your vision only on jungle monsters?!

"Don't play professionally anymore!

"Go home and raise pigs!

"EDG can't afford you anymore!!"

Ji Bu Nian, in his youth, did some very abstract things, but actually he's usually not bad—this time he truly seemed driven mad by rage, which is why he spoke without filter.

Changzhang said nothing, arms crossed, coldly stared at A Bu, then left two words and exited the rest room.

"Idiot."

……

Third match, SSG vs EDG, Changzhang didn't play, Ai Luoli came on.

But still lost.

Five consecutive kneelings—even the most "loyal" piglet couldn't take it, furious, joined with the black fans and jokesters in ranting.

Unfortunately, EDG didn't achieve six consecutive kneelings to make history; in the fifth match against IMT, they finally won one game, secured their first victory.

Eh, why say it's a shame?

……

Today's C Group decider, the most eye-catching naturally was the showdown between G2 and SSG.

This match was scheduled as the final game.

Somewhat unexpectedly, in this game G2 fell into difficulty from the start.

Jankos picked a jungle Ezreal this round, opened with double buff and speed three, seemingly aiming to gank bottom, but upon reaching bottom lane, Zven's Varus suffered a operational error and was heavily poked by the enemy.

The sensible move would be for Jankos to change strategy now—either go back to farm, or head to mid/top to seek opportunities, because bottom lane is impossible to secure a kill now, Zven and Varus have too low health, engaging risks being traded off heavily, and if SSG jungler Ambition counter-ganks him, consequences would be worse.

Yet what baffled professionals was that Jankos still went to bottom lane, didn't attempt to catch anyone, merely came to pressure SSG's duo to help G2's duo push lane and retreat.

"What is he doing?"

Easyhoon truly couldn't understand why Jankos would play like this, questioned Liang Yan worriedly, fearing his own understanding was flawed, then added: "In this situation, shouldn't we abandon helping bottom lane, let the duo self-sustain with health potions and stable last hits to develop? He's Ezreal—early game is so important, exposing himself just to help bottom push lane—is this worth it?"

"Of course not worth it." Liang Yan gave a firm reply.

Jungle Ezreal is all about early game—moreover, Jankos this round faced a spider.

Among current mainstream junglers, Spider Queen Elise can be said to be the strongest counter to Ezreal, because Ezreal is a fragile marksman, most afraid of spiders with hard crowd control, gap closers, and burst damage.

Jankos appearing in bottom lane with double buff means his opening route is completely exposed—SSG can calculate his exact jungle path from his buff and last hit status, then infer which jungle monsters remain in G2's territory.

This gives Elise the chance to invade and catch Jankos.

Even if Jankos isn't killed, SSG sneaking in to place two wards would make him extremely uncomfortable, as his every move would be exposed to SSG's scouting.

An early-game Ezreal under surveillance—even if Liang Yan played him—could at best maintain stable development, very hard to accomplish anything.

A jungle Ezreal who can't do anything is just a waste.

Easyhoon confirmed his understanding was correct, then asked: "Then why does he play like this?"

In Easyhoon's view, Jankos isn't the type to be clueless—even if his initial plan was to help bottom, he wouldn't persist in a futile course without knowing how to adapt.

Liang Yan shook his head, said nothing.

As Easyhoon kept reading, he became even more confused.

Due to the skill gap between players, even with Jankos' help granting a recall advantage, once G2's duo returned to lane, they still gradually fell back into disadvantage.

After another wave of exchanges, G2's duo health entered a dangerous threshold, their health pots were finished.

At this time, Jankos's EZ had just finished eating a round of jungle monsters and was now eating river crab.

Objectively speaking, G2's best response would be for the jungler to ignore the bottom lane, finish eating the river crab, then directly retreat to base to prepare for the next wave of attack, while the duo would directly retreat to base to recover status.

Because at this time, the firefight position of the bottom lane minion wave had just passed the river, and the next wave had already arrived in front of the second tower, and it was a cannon cart minion wave. At this moment, G2's duo only needed to be a bit more decisive and immediately retreat behind the tower to recall; even if SSG's duo immediately started a fast push, G2's duo, after recovering health and returning to lane, would at most lose only two or three frontline minions and one cannon cart. Given the current situation, this cost would be acceptable.

Therefore, when G2's duo initially moved behind the tower, everyone thought G2 would do that.

As a result, G2's duo did not recall, but instead shrank under the tower waiting for the minion wave to arrive.

At the same time, after Jankos finished eating the river crab, he immediately recalled, but mid laner Perkz, who had originally been halfway through channeling Yao Ji, canceled recall and ran to the bottom lane.

Easyhoon suddenly widened his eyes, "What on earth is G2 doing?"

"They're doing this on purpose." Liang Yan said.