Chapter 41: line with translation of chapter title

Brothers, wake up, it's our turn to go on stage!

Less than an hour after the match against SKT ended, the next match is about to start.

Today's schedule is relatively tight, so Xu Dongmen and the others didn't eat between matches.

QG vs G2!

The opponent is the new king from Europe, dubbed by domestic fans as the "Ya'er" team's rising dark horse.

If we say QG is the new aristocracy of our LPL region, then G2 in the European region is even newer than QG.

During the pre-match preparation, Guan Zeyuan popularized: "G2 was founded in 2014, and in the spring season of the 2015 European secondary league they placed fourth, missing out on the top league, until the summer season they finally secured an LCS European region spot."

This spring season is their first season in the top league!

Yes, and they won the championship right away, wiping out a bunch of veteran teams. Joker speaks more directly.

It's absurd, you say our QG at least got a runner-up as a warm-up, only winning the championship in the second season, but G2 really doesn't play around—they went straight to the top league and won the championship, defeated FNC in the semifinals, lost to OG in the finals, and within half a year climbed from the secondary league all the way to MSI.

Guan Zeyuan gave a vigorous explanation.

The live audience also listened attentively; anyone who watched last year's Worlds knows that FNC and OG were both S5 semifinalists, and both teams have deep ties with LPL teams.

One led to IG's National Day surrender, a 4-0 loss to EDG; the other handed the old godfather his first Worlds defeat.

They both created some not-so-pleasant memories for LPL viewers!

Before this MSI kicked off, the European region was generally considered the second region, second only to LCK.

Not only did they benefit from their Worlds performance, but IEM10 two months ago also served as proof.

The two LPL teams that competed were QG and RNG, who were the top two in the regular season at that time, and they were successively defeated by the European king FNC in the knockout stage, missing out on the championship finals.

The IEM10 final was the Europe-Korea showdown between FNC and SKT.

In this MSI, the opening day schedule had QG play against North America and the wild card, which also followed Riot's principle of taking care of the host.

Europe and Korea are strong opponents, so they naturally couldn't be scheduled on the opening day.

In the playoffs, two 3-1 sweeps sent FNC and OG packing.

Everyone thought G2 was fierce, but no one expected them to suffer a three-game losing streak right at the start of this MSI!

First they fought a 45-minute battle and lost to Flash Wolves, then were swept by SKT in 24 minutes, and in today's first match, the Europe-America showdown, they were crushed by CLG with a large score.

As far as I know, the overseas net is already spamming NA > EU!

Guan Zeyuan retold it with relish.

Compared to his liking for storytelling, his partner Joker was more straightforward: "To be honest, I think this G2 team isn't that strong; I've always wondered how they managed to take down FNC and OG to get here."

One thing counters another, after all; maybe they're just new here and haven't adjusted their state, right?

Guan Zeyuan, despite his youth, grasped the key points of official commentary: "I believe that as long as they return to their playoff form, this G2 team is still very competitive."

OK, the match has started!

Come, let's look at both teams' BP.

QG is on the blue side, G2 on the red side.

QG bans: Ryze, Bard, Braum.

G2 bans: Nidalee, Sion, Maokai.

On the BP interface, one side shows a 3-0 red dragon, the other side a 0-3 purple wolf pack.

In this MSI, Riot defines the European region as a wolf pack, implying fierce internal competition and that they can always topple colossal foes through division of labor and cooperation within the pack.

No doubt, it's the LPL from a year ago, whipped like a corpse.

LGD, EDG, IG

Each one counts, they're all European captives!

The European region is a wolf pack, and G2 is this season's alpha wolf.

This is the original G2, before Mao Huang.

In front of the screen, Xu Dongmen glanced at the opposing ID.

Top laner Kikis

Jungler Trick

Mid laner Perkz

Bot laner Emperor

Support Hybrid

Besides mid laner AP, to be honest I'm not really familiar with the rest.

Players can be unfamiliar, but the coaching staff can't go into a battle unprepared.

As soon as he went on stage, Pu Longyun told everyone: "This G2 team focuses on mid and jungle; their jungler and AD are Korean imports, and in the league they mainly rely on mid-jungle to set the pace."

Hmm, take it.

Xu Dongmen instantly snatched Kennen.

In this game, the only jungle champion banned was Nidalee, and Kennen has higher priority than the male gun.

G2 locked in Trundle and Ekko.

Coach Cui Jiaolian had full confidence: "Trundle is the champion Kikis used most in the playoffs; I anticipated they'd pick it. As for Ekko, it's likely mid lane, possibly jungle."

Xu Dongmen nodded; Ekko jungle is viable in the current patch.

QG second and third picks: Lulu and Thresh.

Hehe, we've got this, brothers!

Doinb got his signature Lulu for the first time, and he was excitedly waving his arms and legs.

G2's third and fourth picks were two marksmen: Miss Fortune and Lucian.

Expected picks.

QG still hasn't decided on the top laner and AD carry.

QG still hasn't decided on the top laner and AD carry.

I'll just play Poppy, no problem. V is very confident.

Interpretation: "I'll just play Poppy, no problem." V is very confident. "V" likely a player name (maybe "V"). Keep as V. So: "I'll just play Poppy, no problem." V is very confident.

Poppy has no pressure against Garen in the laning phase, but she definitely can't push the lane in the mid‑late game; still, he trusts his teammates.

Interpretation: Poppy vs Giant in lane has no pressure early, but in mid-late game pushing lane she definitely can't push, but he trusts his teammates. So: "Poppy has no lane pressure against Giant early on, but she definitely can't push the lane in the mid‑late game; still, he trusts his teammates."

Is it Wheel Mom? Wheel Mom will be violently crushed by Lucian in lane.

Is it Wheel Mom? Wheel Mom's lane will be violently crushed by Lucian.

Uzi is a bit reluctant to take it, but to win he's willing to follow the coaches' arrangement: "Let Wheel Mom be Wheel Mom, just farm early in bot lane, no fighting."

Interpretation: UZI inwardly doesn't really want to take it, but to win he's willing to follow the coach's arrangement: "Just let Wheel Mom be Wheel Mom, develop early in bot lane, no fighting." So: "UZI inwardly didn't really want to take it, but to win he was willing to follow the coach's arrangement: 'Just let Wheel Mom be Wheel Mom, develop early in bot lane, no fighting.'"

Who would have thought, G2 picked Lulu as their fifth pick.

Interpretation: "Who would have thought, G2's fifth pick was Lulu." So: "Who would have thought, G2's fifth pick was Lulu."

The first two picks were Garen as support and Ekko as top laner.

Interpretation: "The first two picks were: Giant as support, Ekko as top laner." So: "The first two picks were Giant as support and Ekko as top laner."

G2 are shaking!

G2 are shaking!

Ah P the Enchantress, staining Wheel Mom, even the support is Thresh...

Ah P the Enchantress, staining Wheel Mom, even the support is Thresh.

Xu Dongmen was reminded of some memories of the dead.

Interpretation: Xu Dongmen had some old memories stirred up. So: "Xu Dongmen had some old memories stirred up."

All elements maxed!

All elements maxed!

The opening was peaceful; both sides used standard tactics, with no overstepping.

At 2:30, the river crab respawned, and the first Thousand Spears Mark appeared in the bottom half.

G2 jungler Trick arrived first and began taking the sun crab.

Xu Dongmen followed closely; both had cleared three monster camps in the top half, their routes identical, and both had their second Smite ready.

"Let's go all-in on Smite!"

"Both are level 3, and Smite damage is exactly the same."

Thud~

A Smite light fell, and a +70 gold number popped up on Thousand Spears.

Xu Dongmen successfully snatched the river crab, gaining the first layer of the mark.

"But he used his Q, so he'll be chased by the male gunner."

"Thousand Spears can't fight this wave; the enemy has red buff and we can't win!"

"Run!"

Guan Zeyuan Joker said in unison.

Xu Dongmen did the same; after grabbing the river crab, he turned and left.

Old thief's move—got the loot and ran!

If it were just a couple of shots to vent anger, that would be fine—after all, you made them work—but the enemy male gunner wouldn't let up, stubbornly waiting for his quick-draw cooldown to finish before rushing in with E.

"You've crossed the line."

Xu Dongmen activated Wolf Spirit Frenzy, carving out a territory centered on the small dragon brush.

The male gunner peered into the brush, and the Wolf Spirit lunged onto his face.

That bite from the Wolf Spirit woke Trick; he didn't even need mid laner Perkz to call a miss—his vision already showed Doinb's Lulu rushing to assist.

Lulu can go mid; besides her excellent shielding, her strong wave push is also key.

Few champions can push Lulu's lane early, and Lulu herself certainly can't.

Pfft~

As the male gunner turned his head, a white arc shot from Thousand Spears' hand and pierced into him.

Horror arises, crippling slow!

Xu Dongmen rolled forward with a Dancing Arrow, launching a counterattack.

They both fired a single shot at each other!

The Triple Rings passive triggered, greatly reducing the male gunner's health.

Likewise, Thousand Spears had less than half health left.

After all, lacking the enemy's red buff, he'd lost a lot of health from being chased all the way.

"Damn it, die!"

Trick, fueled by rage, flashed to reposition and unleashed his Q, Desperate Strike.

Boom!

The gunpowder scroll struck the outer wall of the dragon's nest, triggering an explosion; Thousand Spears was left with just a sliver of health.

A commotion arose in the audience stands.

Xu Dongmen had Flash available but didn't use it to dodge the male gunner's Q Flash.

Was he too slow to react?

Of course not!

At this moment, Thousand Spears' passive Hunter's Breath had stacked to 100.

A basic attack healed 40 HP, raising his health to nearly two bars.

The male gunner fired both buckshot rounds, but the damage still wasn't enough.

"Run fast~"

The wind‑walking sprite witch arrived, attaching the little sprite Pixie to Thousand Spears to grant a shield while also firing piercing missiles from it as the origin point.

The gleaming lance struck true, slowing the male gunner!

Hum~

Xu Dongmen, with Pixie in tow, launched the pursuit.

The male gunner waited for his next quick‑draw cooldown, but couldn't escape Thousand Spears flashing Q to unleash a rain of arrows that claimed his head and the mark.

Before the gray‑white screen, Trick grabbed a water cup.