Chapter 115: I will prove who is the number one mid laner!

Just before the LPL finals, all major regions had basically decided on their expedition teams.

Due to JDG's defeat in the loser's bracket semi-finals, TES rushed into the finals and secured at least the runner-up, plus the points from being the spring runner-up, which also made TES the second team after EDG to confirm their S-series spot in advance.

On the contrary, JDG, as the number one in the regular season, actually had to go to the bubble match.

And what was worth mentioning was the changes in the arena during this period.

It was very obvious that since the LPL winner's bracket semi-finals, the bubble matches in LCK, Europe, and even North America had all appeared with quite a few "Mid Gragas" figures!

You have to know, before this, for the whole summer, Mid Gragas had only been picked once or twice, and no one played it at all in the beginning of the playoff process.

It was completely a choice that suddenly became hot overnight after that match of EDG, changing and influencing quite a few BP decisions.

As everyone knows, the professional arena is the "Canyon Barometer."

Many champions and playstyles that are usually extremely unpopular, once they appear on the arena once, or have a high-light performance in a star player, will immediately become popular.

For example, the CJ top laner in S5, the S7 Ardent Censer monster, the old Aatrox's return to light before the rework, the overnight explosion of the new river Aatrox, the BotRK Crocodile considered a cult, the Galio that is only played when wanting to mix.

But in fact, professional teams and players are also constantly learning and exploring, trying and practicing the new understandings that appear at all times.

After all, the version changes of LOL are so fast, even the longest S-series version only lasts for more than a month, and no one dares to say that they have developed it to 100%.

It's not just Mid Gragas.

There are also Mid Pyke, Akshan, the bottom lane Yasuo system, etc...

Originally very unpopular things, at this moment, are all being staged in the grand finals and bubble matches of major regions around the world.

And Ye Bo didn't know that he actually had the nickname "Doctor Ye" among foreign players on the foreign internet now.

It wasn't just because he used several unpopular champions on the arena.

It was more because those "magical operations" he studied, after being spread to the foreign internet, immediately amazed foreign players, who just exclaimed "This is magic"!

As for the few days waiting for the grand finals to arrive, the EDG members were quite leisurely.

But this clearly wasn't a good thing.

Ever since the LPL reformed the double-elimination system, the winner's bracket semi-final winner's advantage had been criticized for being small.

The Resurrection Armor wasn't used, and the actual gain was almost nothing, just having an extra side-selection right.

On the contrary, their opponent TES, from losing to JDG in the semi-finals -> winning against BLG in the loser's bracket -> winning against JDG in the loser's bracket semi-finals.

In about a week's time, they played three BO5s!

By the day of the finals, EDG hadn't played a match for nearly a week, while TES's hand feel was just hot.

And it was on the eve of the finals day that the EDG group went out for a field trip to record pre-match trash talk.

They even conducted a "Opening Ceremony" rehearsal.

It was Ye Bo's first time trying a similar segment since he grew up, and it was also his first time not sitting in front of a computer screen facing the camera, and his curious mood was extremely strong.

The camera PD stood in front of him and instructed: "There will be special effects behind you on the day of the finals, you have to look at the point markers under your feet, otherwise it might affect the stage effect..."

September 1, 2022, the LPL Summer Grand Finals day has arrived!

Ten o'clock in the morning.

The LPL region official account synchronized to major platforms to launch the "2022 LPL Summer Grand Finals Pre-match Trash Talk" video to warm up for today's match.

At the beginning of the video, the relaxed and happy BGM sounded.

Ye Bo and Yu Wenbo appeared in the frame, standing in front of the door facing each other — the huge grand finals poster was exposed between the two.

Just with the appearance of the two at the beginning, the barrage was already very lively.

【Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing】

【Ye Ye Ye Ye Ye Ye Ye Ye】

【The big one is coming! I predict TES 3:2 EDG!】

【3 to 1 is considered a failure, and 3 to 2? Just wait for Ye to kick the Prefect to the side of the road!】

Ye Bo and Yu Wenbo pushed the door and entered, the other teammates were already sitting face to face inside, looking as if it were a "last meal."

The two sat down, and the waiter-dressed Guan Zeyuan and Jide handed the two a "menu" respectively.

Yu Wenbo flipped open the menu, pointed to the "Goose Egg Custard" on it and asked suspiciously: "Just this? It's been a year and it's old, can this count as a big meal?"

Ye Bo also flipped open the menu, his fingers quickly pointing at the dishes: "For appetizers, let's have 'Golden Pig Trotters' first, and I remember Bobo milk tea will be given away, right? Remember to go ice-free!"

The two quickly flipped back, and simultaneously flipped to the page with the "Silver Dragon Cup" printed on it.

Two faces looked at each other diagonally, and simultaneously shouted firmly: "I want this!"

Guan Zeyuan chuckled, shook his head with his hands behind his back to express apology: "Sorry, this is a limited edition, only one copy."

Under the subtitle of the last sentence.

It was also accompanied by the translation of <>.

The screen turned, the BGM switched to be more dynamic, and after the two finished ordering, they began to face each other directly.

Yu Wenbo looked at the camera with a cup-loading coldness, his round face seemed to be full of determination: "I have already played many finals, this time it's just a normal heart, the spring northern expedition was one step away, I hope the summer can go to the end of the northern expedition and win the championship!"

The corresponding EDG voice was the very sincere Meiko: "This is already my sixth time recording grand finals trash talk, I feel I am very skilled, but... this seems to be the first time I have met TES in the finals~"

The camera turned to the bearded Left Hand, everyone was looking forward to what kind of harsh words he would say!

After all, someone had just ordered, saying they wanted to eat golden pig trotters.

As a result, Left Hand avoided the laning, just giggling and changing the topic: "Not brother #@ is it! $% not awake yet, it's dawn."

The camera shifted to Tian beside him, his statement was clearly much more violent.

"Last year's summer finals was also me playing EDG, I remember my jungle was always an advantage, Barrier was still teammates too powerful."

"But this year I also changed teammates."

"And to tell the truth, I feel our current mid laner is fiercer than the opponent, changing mid laners also depends on the opponent."

【Sky! It's dawn!】

【Golden Jade Good Fate? Too Good Fate!】

【Don't say, these two are quite a match, one was greened by the ink-haired turtle, one was greened by the friend's hand, internal digestion closed loop, hey.】

【Little Tian is worthy of being a good writer of small essays, "changing mid laners also depends on the opponent" is a double entendre!】

In the climax of the barrage, the camera turned back to Left Hand again.

"I feel Ye is just like that, if the jungler didn't come # words I wouldn't be solo-killed&*."

With the help of the subtitle, the barrage understood and filled with the evaluation of 【Cowardly】.

And the camera turned to the EDG side.

Barrier patted his chest and said: "Last year it was Brother Tian who sent us the summer championship, it just so happens that they were also runners-up in the spring this year, so let him take another runner-up, let Brother Tian become the LPL's first four-time runner-up!"

Viper scratched his head with a confused face, pointing at Left Hand: "What is he saying, I don't understand, it feels like his Chinese is not as good as mine."

Meiko beside him leaned over to make a translation gesture, and then Viper looked enlightened.

"Oh, then it's fine."

"Anyway, our mid laner has already beaten all LPL mid laners, and it's not bad for this one, just go together."

The camera focused on Ye Bo's solo screen.

He made the gesture of opening one hand and flipping four fingers back at the right time.

It seemed to be saying — <>!

The top laner part of the two sides turned the style.

The opposite Qing Tian was cosplaying Gragas human form patting his belly, Dahuang was cosplaying Lucian holding two toy guns.

Then Lucian was bumped off the chair by Gragas's belly.

Brother Shengqiang revealed his honest upper and lower teeth: "Others don't matter, but I hope the few brothers on the opposite side will send me a birthday gift, I didn't receive one two days ago, how about the Silver Dragon Cup~"

Finally, the screen returned to the two people who just entered the door.

Yu Wenbo crossed his arms, his face cold and confident: "We have been on a northern expedition for a whole year, and we have all successfully walked to the end, TES is best at losing a few games first and then winning, giving the opponent some hope!"

"I feel player Ye is still too young... just like 'debut is the peak', brother has already done it four years ago~"

"Finish playing quickly, I can't wait to see my old friends in the World Championship."

Support Mark clapped like a seal beside him, leaving Yu Wenbo with a round, cup-loading profile.

The screen came to Ye Bo.

He first faced the camera with his usual sunny smile.

"Before coming, Factory Manager said this time don't hold back, let me say whatever I want..."

"He also said that the current players are not good! One by one, they are timid when talking trash, simply don't have a fraction of his previous skill! It's meaningless!"

"So, I stayed up all night and dug out all the interview recordings of Factory Manager to review ten times."

Ye Bo slowly stood up, pulled open his clothes to reveal the EDG team logo inside to the camera.

Made a movement that looked vaguely familiar.

When recording this segment, the other four people in EDG and the five people in TES laughed more than ten times.

And even in this segment of repeated re-shooting, everyone was still in a state of trying hard to hold back laughter.

Only Ye Bo looked extremely serious, and because of this, it made people think of a certain pot-lid-headed face even more.

Ye Bo didn't care about that, his eyes looked straight at the center of the camera.

"I, today will prove on this grand finals stage... who! Is the LPL number one mid laner!"

"And after today."

"Welcome to the era when the LPL is ruled by EDG."

The barrage of the previous sentence had already completely exploded.

And with the final ending, the screen gradually slowed down, presenting the 2022 <> season theme.

It instantly pushed the atmosphere to a climax.

【Holy crap, Ye!】

【So handsome, to be honest, EDG now really has the flavor of the civil war rule during the S5 S6 period!】

【Picking up Ye Wen this year is absolutely stepping on dog shit luck, MD if he went to RNG back then, our RNG would easily win the S championship this year? Uzi would have to run back happily!】

【Master Ye has inherited Factory Manager's true biography, brother likes this taste!】

【Trash talk really has to be Factory Manager, isn't the essence of trash talk loaning and the opposite side being xx, one by one afraid of being liquidated, so they are timid, afraid of losing before fighting! Coward!】

The trash talk video was released and immediately exploded in popularity on the internet!

Discussions about the match could be seen everywhere on major forums.

And among them, the most discussed was naturally the strength and weakness of the two teams.

【Rational discussion, what is the ratio of EDG and TES?】

【Seven-three, as long as Left Hand can hold Ye Wen, I feel TES's state is clearly better.】

【Stepping on a horse, the one above is really too stringy, I, a Peach fan, don't dare to speak so loudly, you are a JDG fan... no, you are a 369 fan!】

【Seven-three is indeed excessive, but five-five still has a chance, don't forget that before Ye Wen came, EDG hadn't won a single game against TES for many years~】

【I feel Ye is really future-promising, the most amazing mid laner rookie seen so far, even if he only takes the runner-up, relying on the regular season and the performance of the previous few BO5s is enough to prove himself, right?】

【I feel at most three-seven, EDG can kill JDG's pig, you TES play full 3-2 every game, this still needs to be said?】

Most of the discussion clearly favored EDG more.

This was also very normal, after all, EDG's performance in the playoffs was obvious to all, while TES seemed very bumpy.

But some people thought that the reason JDG lost so miserably was entirely because their main carry was the jungler, and the mid lane, as the third carry or even a functional position sacrificed for the jungler, becoming a breakthrough was normal.

It was a bit like being "lineup countered."

On the other hand, TES was absolutely a proper mid-bottom double carry, first of all, the team characteristics were different, and it couldn't be compared horizontally at all.

Of course, no matter how it was discussed outside the arena.

In the end, it still had to be seen on the arena!

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the crowd was already surging in front of the Magic City Hongqiao Stadium.

Because the lockdown had just been lifted, everyone was a bit stuffy at home, although because the tickets were limited, there were still quite a few people checking in and taking photos outside the arena.

Mingkai, wearing a mask, carefully led two middle-aged men and women who were also wearing masks, passed through the queuing crowd to the entrance, showed his ID, and entered directly from the staff entrance.

Hearing that Ye Bo's parents were coming to watch the match, Mingkai immediately took the initiative to offer to help receive them and take on the responsibility of a tour guide.

Ye Bo felt very embarrassed, but Mingkai said, as long as he didn't tell the master when recording trash talk...

"That uncle and aunt, this water cannot be brought in."

Mingkai signaled to the two with a smile, letting them put the mineral water bottles in their hands into the cabinet at the door.

Ye Ying couldn't help but feel suspicious after putting it down: "Why can't you bring water into the arena?"

Before Mingkai could answer, Ye Xiong beside him actually took the initiative to say in a low voice: "I remember seeing it yesterday, there was a League of Legends match before, what 'Egypt Team' won against 'Our Team', and as a result, the audience below threw mineral water bottles at the players..."

"Ah!? There is such a thing?" Ye Ying widened her eyes, first feeling very surprised.

But suddenly she felt something was wrong: "Wait, why would you search for this thing?"

Ye Xiong answered as a matter of course: "Watching this kind of match for the first time, how can I understand it without checking some information?"

"There is me, I will explain it to you."

Mingkai, who was watching the bickering of the two, was a bit embarrassed for a while.

This can also open to me?

But he couldn't say that when he was thrown, he was standing on the stage, and almost had the fat guy on the opposite side throw a snake back...

Mingkai hurriedly explained: "Ah, no, uncle and aunt, that is an internet rumor!"

"I don't know the specific reason, but it definitely wasn't because of this. The management system of the match was indeed not perfect back then, and such things as throwing mineral water bottles at the stage will never happen again!"

Mingkai took the initiative to come and be a guide for the two today, naturally because of Ye Bo.

Ye Bo was now the treasure in the hands of EDG's top management, and the Factory Manager naturally liked this team member just as much, and as a manager, he naturally wanted to have a better relationship with the other party.

And he had also heard the other party mention about his father not supporting him playing professionally.

If this left a bad impression, and he really thought this match was still the kind of grass-roots team from the ancient times, it wouldn't be very good.

Mingkai acted as a well-behaved guide all the way, introducing the various arrangements of the League Arena to the two, trying his best to highlight the professionalism and weight of today's grand finals venue.

Mingkai, born in 1993, was already 30 years old this year, and dealing with elders was quite mature and comfortable.

He was also still efficiently exerting the tactical thought of protecting the mid lane.

"Wow! Auntie, you are still a Gold player, then it's very amazing to be able to reach Gold at your age!" Mingkai felt sincere admiration when he heard the chat.

"This Gold was reached by myself, Ye Bo's Ahri was taught by me!" Ye Ying didn't look like a person in her forties or fifties at all when talking about this: "I have been practicing that, that, hey, what's it called recently."

"It's the one Ye Bo plays best, my memory is not good now, what's it called."

The Factory Manager smiled and wanted to give the other party a hint.

But on second thought, Ye Bo knew too much now, even if it was the so-called best, it seemed there were already many.

Ye Ying frowned and tried hard to recall, then a name popped into her mind.

"Li Bai!"

Mingkai, who was walking well, suddenly stumbled.

Wocao!

Fortunately, EDG also had a Honor of Kings branch, and Mingkai had more or less come into contact with some, vaguely guessing something.

"I understand, Auntie, it should be Akali or LeBlanc, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes! It's these two!"

"Auntie is really amazing, such heroes are in your hero pool, no wonder you can give birth to such a talented player like Ye Bo."

Mingkai and the two chatted all the way to their seats, while Ye Xiong had been frowning and sliding his phone, not knowing what he was looking at.

Six o'clock in the evening.

The League Arena was already crowded, and even though only one-third of the seats were open, the atmosphere was still incomparably enthusiastic.

"Uncle and Aunt, the opening ceremony is about to start, our opening ceremony this time has spent a lot of money..."

Mingkai introduced in a low voice, confident that this opening ceremony would definitely leave a good impression on the two and present a high-end performance.

After all, he had heard that this opening ceremony spent millions in special effects fees, and it should be very spectacular.

The lights went out, and the grand music of the grand finals opening ceremony sounded.

The ground emerged with a giant screen projection of VR vision, ten clear screens stood up, as if corresponding to the ten battle positions of Summoner's Rift.

But just at this moment.

The center of those ten giant screens — actually condensed into a huge "Three-Pronged Star Emblem"!

Then, each giant screen appeared a car body fragment with smooth lines, and finally condensed into a sedan driving forward, breaking the bridge of reality with a handsome drift posture and penetrating to the scene.

"..."

Mingkai looked at the cool opening that was like a car show advertisement, and stole a glance at the next door in embarrassment.

Fortunately, the two next door seemed to be watching with great interest, as if they were indeed shocked by that stunning special effect.

The lights switched, and they began to enter the main topic.

The giant image of Ornn appeared vividly, waving the rock hammer in his hand and smashing it towards the screen, the sound of shattering and the vibrating screen gathered together, as if it were really like smashing the barrier between reality and virtuality.

With every strike of Ornn.

The screen also presented the team logos of the previous summer grand finals champions.

From PE to EDG, from LGD to EDG, then RNG, FPX, TES...

Until the S11 summer season, it turned around and returned to EDG's control!

With the last heavy hammer smashed down, the blank 2022 at the end was waiting for its position.

The scene also instantly came to the volcanic lava land of Ornn, the Mountain-Hidden Flame.

A resounding sheep call echoed, Ornn carried a heavy hammer and smashed it towards the series of champion team logos, and threw them into the furnace!

With a crisp sound of "Clang," a divine weapon waiting to be forged flew out first!

It was the long-handled sickle blade used by ninjas, the camera focused on it, and the ignored background sound also switched inadvertently.

"Ye lures the enemy into the urn! Ye charges into the battlefield! R3 draws four 777s! He wants to pierce the opponent's heart with his own strength!" Jide's voice shouted wantonly: "This is player Ye's Akali! The Akali that cannot be released!"

The screen turned back to Ornn, and when the heavy hammer smashed down again, the forged divine weapon turned into a green-light firearm blooming with electricity.

"JKL over-limit flash flips the mountain and enters the field! His electric light burst damage is extremely explosive! He wants to force the JDG formation to disperse, this team fight might overturn the ending!" Guan Zeyuan shouted hoarsely: "92,000 damage! This Zeri broke the record!"

The divine weapon forged by Ornn, who was in the center of the lava, constantly changed its style.

Finally, it turned into the famous scenes that the ten players in the grand finals had played in this summer season, and brought the audience to review the strong enemies they had defeated along the way.

The realistic and exquisite picture, combined with the exciting and magnificent background music.

Although the effect seen on the scene and the live broadcast screen was slightly different, the perfect combination of direct sound effects and pictures also made Ye's father and mother in the first row feel surprised in their hearts. 【115-

They had never imagined that the opening ceremony of a single match could have such an effect.

Shouldn't it just be ten computers set up face-to-face for gaming?

Even though Ye Xiong did not fully understand the meaning of the imagery, just feeling the atmosphere alone was enough to make his blood boil.

Finally, Ornn pulled out a horn, blew it, and pushed ten divine artifacts into the furnace.

When the molten flames dissipated, all the special effects vanished.

Only the gleaming Silver Dragon Cup remained, appearing in the center of the stage!

The passionate voice of host Liu Hang rang out at the perfect moment: "After a month of intense fighting across 11 best-of-fives, only two teams have emerged from the double-elimination bracket!"

"They are Top Esports and Edward Gaming!"

"In the top lane, Wayward Huang Renxing and Flandre Li Xuanjun; in the jungle position..."

Liu Hang waved his hand, and the director used a split-screen technique to provide close-ups of the players' matchups, introducing them one by one.

"Next is the mid lane, Knight Zhuo Ding and Ye Ye Bo!"

Seeing her son appear, Ye Ying in the front row of the audience immediately clapped excitedly, dutifully playing the role of the fan club.

Ye Xiong looked at Ye Bo, who was bathed in the spotlight and radiating an aura of confidence, and at the slight commotion his presence triggered in the venue.

At this moment, he felt something different.

He had never seen Ye Bo in this state anywhere else before.

"Today, let us see if TES continues to write their 2020 glory and lifts the Silver Dragon Cup once more, or if EDG defends their honor to reclaim the Silver Dragon Cup and reforge their golden body!"

"Let us wait and see together!"

The simple opening ceremony ended, and the match broadcast room was packed.

【The opening ceremony was pretty good, but what's with the 'B' start? I'm thinking, why not give Ornn a Mercedes skin? Use the ultimate to drive a Mercedes and crash into the opponents!】

【This opening ceremony isn't good enough? Be content; it's not bad that they didn't pull a divine artifact—a Mercedes—out of Ornn's furnace for you!】

【Welcome to the 12th QQ Speed Summer Finals. The first mid-laner to appear is—Mercedes-Benz!】

【EDG, go, go, go!】

【Can TES show some effort? Don't let the match be less exciting than this opening ceremony. The Sailor Galaxy Battleship that's been hyped for a year needs to do something!】

【Lol, to use my Master Ye's words: with him here, welcome back to the era where the LPL is ruled by EDG!】

Tens of thousands of netizens flooded in, wanting to watch the dialogue between the LPL's strongest teams.

The commentary desk screen appeared.

And with a crisp sound, the pick-and-ban screen was presented!

The final battle of the LPL Summer Finals had begun!

(End of chapter)