Chapter 164

Accompanied by the stagnation of Rift time.

The momentum created by tens of thousands of spectators in unison was incredibly vast, nearly blowing the roof off and shooting straight into the clouds!

"Chovy finally TP'd toward the opponent's bottom lane tier-two tower, but this kind of desperate, suicidal counterattack cannot stop EDG from shattering their Nexus!"

"This showdown between the number one seeds of the LPL and LCK! In the end, it is our LPL that has the last laugh!!"

The spotlights dispersed and converged, instantly gathering entirely on the EDG player stage.

The special effect of the crystal shattering appeared in the background, transforming into a golden emblem with wings of victory, as the mountain-shaking, sea-roaring cheers washed over them!

"After a four-season interval, EDG has returned to the stage of the finals once again!" Miller's chest heaved violently: "As the sole remaining hope of the region, they have once again become the final glimmer of dawn!"

"With a score of three to zero, they march proudly into the S12 Grand Finals!" Wawa had just shouted in an exciting tone.

But he suddenly realized something seemed to be missing.

"Guan Ge, why aren't you saying anything?"

A stunned Guan Zeyuan paused for a moment and hurriedly squeezed out a smile: "Oh my, congratulations to EDG! Successfully advancing to the finals with a three-zero!"

After finishing, he hurriedly added a piece of information he had collected before the match.

"It is worth mentioning that after this match, EDG will become the 4th 'championship team to reach the finals for two consecutive years' in history——————and also the first team in our LPL region to achieve this feat!"

"Just like when they defeated T1 to qualify first in the group stage, every step they take in this World Championship continues to create brand new historical records!"

The "Championship Curse" has always been an annual topic in the League world.

And among the previous 11 championship teams, there are only three that have been able to reach the finals for two consecutive years.

SKT, SSG, DK.

Without exception, they are all LCK teams.

Moreover, the first two teams are actually ancient memories after renaming and rebuilding; the closest one is DK from last year and the year before, only one step away from the final goal.

Now, EDG has become the fourth!

The full screen of bullet comments was all cheering and celebrating.

【About to sweep three-zero! The true King of Barbecue!】

【Master Ye's Bomb Kid in that last wave was truly handsome!】

【Indeed, this European-step 'Being Yourself in the Fire' is definitely a famous scene!】

【Chovy is purely throwing! To still be thinking about TPing to farm minions in that last wave, is he even human? Is this our legendary LCK number one genius mid laner?】

【Congratulations to Chovy! He has achieved a historical breakthrough! He has finally drawn a heavy, ink-filled stroke on his life resume——————he has obtained the first top-four finish of his life! Successfully rewriting 8888 to 88884!】

Following the director's camera to look at the EDG player stage.

Everyone's cheeks were flushed red, fully overflowing with the excitement and agitation suppressed for three games.

Even carrying a bit of long-lost relief and satisfaction!

No matter how many times one enters the World Championship, there are only so many opportunities to stand on this stage each year, and no matter how many times one enters, it still makes one's blood boil.

And because the four EDG members did not arrive at the scene for the last match, at this moment, it seemed a bit like a lifetime ago.

As if the quarter-final stage passed before was a bit "unreal."

"EDG!"

"EDG!!"

"EDG!!!"

The spectator area had already set off waves of cheers across the mountains and plains, the sound of applause echoing endlessly in Atlanta!

Everyone stood up and walked toward the opposite player stage.

"GEN is the third LCK team to fall under EDG's hands this S-series after T1 and DK... who is left next?!"

"The peak mid-jungle duo of Ye and Barrier crushed the LCK's number one seed mid-jungle head-on! Barrier helped his team senior Clearlove7 complete revenge against his nemesis Peanut."

"And Ye! This is already the third LCK mid laner he has crushed head-on!"

"He is proving with facts that even the LCK number one seed's mid laner cannot stop his aggressive footsteps within the Rift!"

"The LPL's last hope revealed its sharp blade in the semi-finals to break through the LCK's encirclement and is about to step onto that final stage!"

The on-site European and American official commentators used passionate voices to resonate through the venue.

Barrier, with an excited face, shook Ye Bo's shoulders vigorously: "Listen, listen, listen! Master Ye, they are praising us!"

"Hmm? You can understand it?" Ye Bo asked curiously.

"Can't understand it! But judging by the tone and ID, they should be praising us; didn't you hear they even read the Factory Manager's name~~"

"Hey Barrier, that's not right; if they hadn't read the Factory Manager's name, they might really be praising us, but since they read the Factory Manager's name, it's hard to say."

"O. O It seems, it really is!"

When the EDG group walked to the opposite player stage with laughter.

The director's camera finally deigned to switch, including the losers.

The desolation of the five disappointed people was even more intense than DK in the quarter-finals!

After all, although DK bore the title of last year's runner-up, everyone knew that this year's DK, with a changed bottom lane and a declining top lane, was far from their own peak state, otherwise they wouldn't just be a third seed.

By comparison, GEN, as the pride of the LCK region that had been anticipated for a whole year, was absolutely the expectation of everyone before the match!

And the more expectations one carries, the more backlash one will receive when facing failure.

Ruler's eyes were full of unwillingness.

As the SVP of the losing side in this match, he resolutely chose the off-meta signature Xayah in the last game; his performance was not only commendable but could even be said to have nearly found a glimmer of opportunity for the team.

But he didn't expect that that wave of opportunity would, in a flash, become the bayonet that completely tore open the gap for his opponent!

"Shibal."

Ruler was truly a bit unconvinced.

This was completely inconsistent with his expectations for himself this year!

In fact, Ruler, who had stepped into his 7th year of his professional career, had only just harvested the first league championship of his life this year.

He originally also thought that this year, with the league civil war king mid laner Chovy sitting in command, and joining forces with this mid laner teammate who could be considered the most powerful in his career, this GEN should be able to surpass the peak of SSG!

For this, Ruler was also full of confidence, wanting to show off his skills in this World Championship, sprint for the second Summoner's Cup of his career, and rank among the best in history at his position!

But the result.

Outsiders might think that the most miserable of these three games was the jungler, but those in the game knew very well——————this semi-final was dragged down by the mid laner who was entrusted with high hopes!

Frankly speaking, Ruler's mentality was a bit broken.

Don't look at him as a veteran within the GEN team, his status among the members was very high.

But from the relationship with the coach in the background before, one could actually see that esports players had no privileges in LCK teams, and to put it bluntly, they were simply "tools."

Never mind what veteran you are, and don't say you are a one-time champion AD.

Even if you are a two-time or three-time champion, if they tell you to go to the bench, you have to go to the bench tomorrow!

Ruler had always heard that the club's second team had been raising a rookie ADC, being cultivated as his "successor."

And the "deeds" of the opposite mid laner Ye also became the source of Ruler's greatest sense of urgency.

Just because, the opposite mid laner had already proven with facts... rookies, are terrifying!

Compared to Ruler's unwillingness and urgency.

What Chovy showed was more of panic and helplessness.

He was still enduring the white noise filling his headphones, not wanting to take off the noise-canceling headphones————because he didn't want to hear the surging applause and screams outside.

He knew that had nothing to do with him.

The audience will only cheer for the winner!

And at this moment, he was still clicking the mouse in front of the computer screen, still staring at the performance panel with some "unacceptability"——————the minion kill count between himself and the opposing mid laner!

【194 minions】 and 【196 minions】.

Although he had tried his best, could even be said to have poured all his heart into chasing, and successfully opened up a minion gap in several waves when the Ziggs went to push towers in the three lanes in the mid game... but in the end, he still fell short!!

When everything in the Rift settled.

Chovy naturally also knew how terrible his performance in the last game was.

At this moment, he only desperately wanted to escape from this stage.

This place seemed to have become his nightmare land; every second he stayed here was an extra second of nightmare!

For this, Chovy didn't even look at his old teammate Viper.

When facing Ye Bo's fist bump, it was as if he suddenly changed from a "right-hander" to a "left-hander," shrinking his fist into his sleeve and extending his left fist to touch lightly...

And Doran and Lehends, looking at Viper, this former old teammate, had extremely complicated expressions.

They were clearly on the same path at the beginning.

But now they were already on completely different life dividing lines, and it could even be said that they were no longer people from the same world.

To put it bluntly, the three of them didn't even have the qualifications to be mentioned in the same breath now!

Relatively speaking, Peanut looked okay.

Maybe he was used to losing?

It's just that the jungle explosion for three consecutive games, especially the misery of the last game, made Peanut also become a "Face-Stealer," putting on the mask he once personally gave to his dear Langxing...

Compared to the joyful team atmosphere of the opposite side, the GEN side was simply sad to the extreme.

The Roaring Emperor on the LCK commentary desk, although feeling very disappointed with the result of this match.

But seeing this scene, he hurriedly adjusted his emotions and shouted the conclusion again: "Ji~ Ji~ Simida~"

"It's a pity that GEN, who we had high hopes for, stopped at the semi-finals."

"But let's congratulate EDG; they are a powerful opponent, having experienced many setbacks along the way but able to quickly adjust back to their full state. Just this point shows that the many efforts and preparations the whole team made off-stage allowed them to form a precise strike against our number one seed in all aspects today!"

"Especially the mid laner Ye"

The Roaring Emperor paused slightly, changing the subject.

His tone suddenly became serious: "In my personal opinion! He is definitely the 'most aggressive' local mid laner since the establishment of the LPL region, and he did indeed defeat the opponent head-on in the first duel with Chovy today."

"We should have enough high regard for this new generation top-tier mid laner——————he is completely different from the stereotypes of previous CN mid laners!"

Although this sounded coarse, the logic hit the root.

According to the S-series performance of the past ten years, foreign players easily developed some "stereotypes" about LPL's domestic mid laners.

After all, in the other four positions, all had local players who won the S-series championship.

Only the mid lane!

Three S-series championships and not a single local player; just this point alone was enough to give everyone a feeling that "CN domestic mid laners are not good."

The facts seemed to be just like that.

Until now.

Ye Bo's appearance seemed to be breaking this stereotype, punch by punch!

An-jangmen also nodded seriously, his voice low: "This Ye, not only compared to the current LPL mid laners, but even those legendary players from the early days don't have a template that can be compared to him; he really needs to attract the attention of all teams."

"If you really want to talk about a similar template..."

In An-jangmen's mind, he could only think of a figure from 2013.

That was the figure who personally drove An-jangmen, who was still playing the mid lane position when he debuted, to the jungle position.

Ye Bo didn't know that his opponents were giving him such high praise at this moment.

The EDG group walked back to the center of the stage, bowed to the audience, and packed up their peripherals to head to the backstage.

But just as they walked into the backstage, the interview task blocked them.

Entering the semi-finals, every match was already the focus of everyone's attention in the true sense.

Everyone couldn't be idle after the match and had to go to various regions to accept interviews.

And generally speaking, the most popular ones were the interviews at the match site, as well as the local-style interviews, or otherwise the wildcard region interviews that one could be lazy with...

But Ye Bo thought that the brothers didn't "personally" accept interviews in the quarter-finals last week.

So he took the initiative to take the hardest bone to chew.

"Do you really not need me to go?" Viper asked kindly: "If you go to the LCK interview, you might be asked some strange questions"

Because the two regions were known to be in a "hostile" relationship, and they had just had such a big victory.

Undoubtedly, the post-match interview would inevitably be asked some sharp questions.

But in fact, Viper wouldn't get any good results if he went.

Don't think that just because you are one of them you can be spared; the Korean audience is currently in a fit of anger, and you, a foreign aid, beat up their own team, so you might even be scolded more miserably!

"It's okay, it's okay~" Ye Bo walked while turning back to pat his chest boldly.

"Don't forget that I have received the true teachings of the Factory Manager!"

"Interview matters, the advantage is with me!"

Because this was Ye Bo's first World Championship, and it was also his first time coming to a Korean interview room.

Listening to the "Hangu-rumala-xida" gibberish around him, Ye Bo was like a curious baby, observing and looking around.

Soon, a female host who was obviously evolved by Hextech, stepped on thin high heels and clattered toward him.

After translation communication, the interview started quickly.

"Okay, dear LCK audience, today's post-match interview invites EDG team's mid laner Ye to accept the interview; let's say hello to everyone first"

"Hello everyone!"

【Ya-ixi, why isn't it Piper today? Tell him he'd better never come back in his life! Otherwise, wait for a truck to serve him!】

【Ye God! World's number one mid laner! Universe's number one mid laner! Killing this Shibal Chovy so well!】

【This is our Lao-CK, Lao-CK always loves to mock others for only relying on our mid laner, now there is just one Ye, directly beating your Lao-CK's three generations of mid laners! It's really funny】

【The people licking Ye here are really disgusting, actually not supporting their own region's team? Each and every one of them is definitely a Han traitor! They should all be sent to the North! All dog Han traitors get out of the Republic of Korea!】

【The face of the tadpoles, still scolding others in the group stage, letting others wait to come to the BO5 to kill, and as a result, after sending his GEN daddy away, he immediately started turning around to recognize a new daddy!】

【Hehehe, that's still better than being three-zeroed by someone; T1 has never been three-zeroed by an LPL team since this game existed! It's simply a great shame for the LCK!】

Ye Bo probably wouldn't have thought that he just said hello, and it had already caused a commotion in the live broadcast room.

However, on the bullet comments... there were actually quite a few of his supporters!

No matter which region, obviously there was no shortage of fanatics and trolls, but likewise, there would be no lack of normal players who truly just liked watching the match.

And these people, as long as they watched the match, very naturally became his fans!

Not only that, because of T1's failure in the group stage before, fans of other teams led by GEN had not stopped stepping on T1 fans during this period.

So at this moment, when GEN was ugly three-zeroed and sent away, immediately many people temporarily "recognized a thief as a father."

The pre-swing of a few simple routine questions ended.

The host swallowed her saliva and officially entered the real question session.

"Then the next question."

"We know that EDG's performance today was quite perfect, it can be said that they suppressed GEN with a crushing momentum, so I want to ask player Ye."

"Do you personally feel that your team was under more pressure when facing T1 in the group stage, or when facing GEN in the semi-finals?"

【Shibal! Can you even ask questions like this?!】

【This host is also a Shibal tadpole! Clearly targeting my GEN!】

【Don't, Ye God! Don't answer! Don't answer! This is a trap!】

This question was indeed obviously a bit biased.

No matter which one you answer, it seems like you are saying the other team is a "noob."

But if you put aside objective factors and only look at the match results.

It was very obvious that the GEN in today's match was the one that died more miserably——————after all, 3 to 0 plus one more 0, and each game was shorter than the last!

However, Ye Bo thought about it very seriously.

Only then did he answer sincerely: "I don't think this question can be answered simply, because the situations the two teams faced were very different; T1 was in the group stage where everyone was still exploring, and the difference between BO1 and BO5 is very large, as for GEN, actually we were studying potential semi-final opponents quite early..."

Ye Bo came with a long analysis like Tang Monk chanting scriptures, making the translator brother beside him sweat a bit.

"If there must be a conclusion, then I think the pressure is about the same~"

The host was dumbfounded.

You said such a long string of analysis, and the result is about the same!?

Ye Bo gave his true inner thoughts anyway.

But the bullet comments didn't think so.

【Ye God: Pressure? Anyway, it's all X to zero, there's really no difference~】

【Arrogant! Too Shibal arrogant!!】

【This is the confidence given to them by the two noobs GEN and DK! Look at them, did they dare to talk like this before the quarter-finals! Because they all know that once it reaches the BO5 stage, T1 is invincible!】

【So invincible, how come you are already eating kimchi in Korea, duck?】

The host didn't get a satisfactory answer, obviously a bit unwilling, and continued to pursue this question.

"Then you just mentioned research and preparation, so actually, the fact that you were able to achieve such a huge advantage today is because you had more sufficient preparation and research, right?"

This time Ye Bo nodded vigorously as a matter of course.

"That's for sure!"

"Because our fan friends, whether in front of the screen or at the scene, I think they definitely want to see us EDG win comfortably."

"So in order to meet the expectations of the audience friends, we must work harder, spend more time preparing and researching before the match, so that we can achieve all this on the field!"

"We have an old saying in China, 'one minute on stage, ten years of work off stage,' right... host, don't you think that's the truth!"

【Damn, he warmed me, I cried!】

【EDG fans who just came in heard this passage, tears in my eyes, family members T. T】

【Can only say that old National Power fans have really made it out; the fans of this National Power are simply enjoying it, the match is exciting! Teammates are reassuring! Pure enjoyment!】

【To be honest, this is very real; just seeing three-zero, you really think GEN is noob? You didn't think about how much energy and thought they spent behind the scenes! True 'ten years of work on stage'!】

【Master Ye still wants to share the credit; anyone with eyes can see that he has to be the mid laner, the coach, and the brain, how many jobs is he holding! He is really working hard for the fans to see a comfortable win!】

The translator brother barely conveyed the core meaning of the words.

The Hextech host was obviously a bit stunned by what was said.

Ah, not brother?

Is it me interviewing you, or you interviewing me!

"Ah yes, ah yes, then let's enter the next question!"

The host pulled back to restore some mana and attacked again.

"Just now on the commentary desk, our LCK commentator Jeon Yong-jun (Roaring Emperor) called you a unique mid laner in the LPL, and also called you the 'most aggressive' mid laner"

"But the DRX mid laner Zeka, who has already entered the finals, has also fought in two regions, and he also said in an interview that he thinks LPL mid laners are less skilled at laning, only wanting to push the lane quickly, and then go to the side lanes to tower dive or invade the jungle... so how do you view these two statements?"

The first half sounded like it was still flattering Ye Bo.

But in the second half, the dagger was suddenly revealed!

Zeka's remarks at the time could be said to have made Korean fans have a good climax.

They determined that what this "international student" who had just personally experienced it said must be right.

And at that time, this interview also made LPL audiences extremely angry, but to some extent, they were helpless—————who let LPL's local mid laners really not live up to expectations!

"Aggressive? Actually, I think I quite like farming."

Ye Bo scratched the back of his head and continued to say with a smile: "As for that question, I didn't have the right to speak at the time because I hadn't played against players from other regions, so I couldn't be sure if what he said was true."

"But now, I should be able to express some personal opinions."

"The so-called LPL prefers pushing lanes and fighting, and LCK prefers operating and farming, these should all be based on team needs; if a player only knows one style, it will instead bring trouble to the team... in the end, style should not become the judgment of strength."

"Anyway, from my personal experience, I feel that the players in both regions are really about the same~"

Very obviously, this was once again successfully "translated" by the bullet comments.

【Ye God! So domineering Simida!】

【Term analysis 'I like farming': Catch and kill all of you, then I can farm on the whole map!】

【"About the same"? ————"All are noobs"!】

【This Shibal really has no temper; the heads of mid laners from both regions have almost been collected by him, what can be more convincing than him?】

【Don't blacken him, Chovy is still quite strong, I can only say he is the only mid laner in the World Championship so far who hasn't been solo-killed by Master Ye——————the gold content is close to Little Cream!!】

【Indeed, 88884 is only worthy of propping up a table leg; I can only say Chovy's greatest achievement in this life should be the 'Not Solo-Killed by Master Ye Award'!】

Due to the delay in the interview time, a large number of LPL audiences had already begun to flood into the LCK live broadcast room, starting to occupy and support.

And the host, after hearing the translator's relay, just smiled awkwardly on the spot.

The already stiff apple muscles were like two large weights.

Digging one pit after another, this person didn't jump into a single one... and why does he seem to always want me to jump!?

No, why are you so skilled!

"Okay... then let's have the last question."

"Regarding the final opponent DRX, what are your expectations and views on this final?"

Listening to this most routine ending question.

Ye Bo smiled mysteriously: "Then everyone must know that DRX has our old friends from EDG for many years, and both sides can be considered to have some understanding; this will be a duel that can be called destiny"

"Hey, host, then let me test you! Do you know what this means?"

The host shook her head blankly.

Ye Bo raised the microphone again and coughed twice.

"This means that in a sense————actually, from a long time ago, we have already been studying our opponents for the Grand Finals!"

"Still the same sentence, I will definitely work hard to guard everything of EDG!"

"As for our team, actually, from the moment we stepped onto this stage, no matter which opponent we are facing, or what accidents we encounter, there has always been only one."

"Never wavered."

The LCK post-match live broadcast room had never been so hot.

The entire live broadcast room's bullet comments were stuck together in a ball, analyzing, arguing, and debating endlessly

Ye Bo finally faced the camera, made a confident inverted-seven pose with his thumb and index finger spread out under his chin, as the ending screen.

Returned to the backstage after finishing the interview.

But what he didn't expect was.

He obviously underestimated the popularity of this BO5 far too much.

At the very moment this crushing semi-final ended, the entire League circle had already shocked the four corners!

(End of chapter)