Chapter 55

The ongoing match is the group stage of the 2016 Mid-Season Champion Series.

The opponent is CLG, currently ranked second in the group with a record of 4-2.

This match is rated B, allowing players to exert 150% of their strength.

As usual, the big-game player marker triggers on time.

Xu Dongmen has grown accustomed to hearing that familiar "ding" before each match.

In this MSI, all group-stage matches were rated B.

150% strength boost!

"Come on, defensive formation."

Leaving home, Xu Dongmen's champion is Ekko, equipping Hunter's Talisman and a refillable potion.

At the start, they formed a long line, and both sides remained peaceful.

"I'll clear from top to bottom; the bot lane can be a bit more aggressive."

Xu Dongmen started from the upper half, but he didn't follow the usual routine of starting with the stone golem; instead, he went straight for the red buff.

While taking red, V also helped by hitting a few times.

In this game, QG's fifth pick was a troll, used for top lane.

Who says our Ekko can't swing?

They can go mid or top; we can go top or jungle!

After taking red, he walked down, waved his hand, and Ekko's Q (Timewinder) traced a trajectory in the air, landing in the Raptors' camp.

Pat—

The two-stage Q dealt full damage, and Xu Dongmen began proc'ing his passive.

Ekko's jungle clear speed isn't high, but he takes the F4 quickly.

While jungling, he also didn't forget to watch the lane situation.

Both mid and top are scaling champions; they can't fight early, so the focus is on the bot lane.

Lucian and Thresh versus skates Morgana.

After Xu Dongmen spoke, UZI and Doomsday came online and immediately started pushing hard.

If it's a normal lane, they likely can't push through; Morgana just drops a big auntie on the ground, mindlessly burning both person and minions, and few bot lanes can match that.

But the current patch differs from before; both sides ate a camp before laning, gaining half a level of experience, giving QG's bot lane an opportunity.

Not giving Morgana a chance, they seized level 2 with thunderous force and then pushed the experience zone in one go.

Biubiu~

Wuzhe unleashed a wave of E and Q poking, draining Stixxay's half health.

Next, he held up his double guns, camping before the enemy turret to deny experience.

CLG's bot lane, upon arrival, instantly lost three ranged minions!

"Tsk, is this the aggressive Wuzhe?"

Compared to the shocked commentators and audience below, Xu Dongmen was not surprised.

When you tell UZI that the bot lane can be a bit more aggressive, you should prepare mentally beforehand.

Even Caitlyn and Morgana can't withstand the frenzied assault of the Mad Dog.

"Let's eat the three wolves too; later we'll just place a ward for them."

Xu Dongmen changed his mind.

If the bot lane fights fiercely enough, he can catch a wave by three minutes.

Right now, the enemy bot lane is being beaten one-sidedly, so he doesn't need to rush over.

The one who should be anxious is CLG's jungler!

On the battlefield, Xmithie's Graves, seeing the bot lane crushed, began to think of an idea.

He temporarily changed his full clear route, after taking Gromp and the blue buff, skipping the three wolves, and went straight to the lower half to take red.

This change was caught by commentator Guan Zeyuan on the analyst desk, his voice instantly rising several decibels.

"Xmithie wants a speedy level 3 gank bot!"

"Ekko hasn't finished the three wolves yet, and Graves already has both buffs!"

"QG hasn't realized this; the bot lane is still pressing!"

From the god's-eye view, Graves went via the dragon pit, straight toward bot lane.

At this time, the game clock was 2:58, and the second round of trinket charges were still a bit short of refreshing.

At the same time, Xu Dongmen had just finished clearing the three wolves.

Both cleared three monster camps, but Graves was over ten seconds faster, even after taking both buffs.

So we still can't go against the original version!

Can XDM realize this? No, he still has to take the blue buff, huh?

Guan Zeyuan yelled hoarsely.

Bottom lane erupted in a fight, CLG initiated the attack.

However, QG was not as bad as Guan Zeyuan had feared.

First blood!

3v2, but instead it was Aphromoo's Morgana who fell first!

Black brother flashed Q Dark Binding to lock down Lucian, but he himself got hooked by Thresh and died first.

Morgana learned W at level 1, Q at level 2, and still hadn't learned the Black Shield that can block crowd control.

Too overbearing!

Not to mention, this wave's bottom lane minion line is still an overwhelming advantage for QG.

When CLG engaged, only two minions were left, while beside UZI there were nine minions, including a siege cannon at 80% health.

No, they dare to go in with that many minions?

Xu Dongmen stared in disbelief; he never imagined the enemy would dare to do that.

The enemy jungler did a speed-3 gank bot, but before he even got past the minion wave, his support was already dead.

This is so annoying!

Xu Dongmen didn't really want to go down this wave; even if UZI couldn't get away, a 1-for-1 trade would still be a gain for them.

Though he considered it, seeing the bot lane ganked, he instantly abandoned taking blue and rushed to assist.

His support was worth its weight in gold!

At the moment Graves and Lucian went toe-to-toe, the sole remaining CLG minion lit up with a teleport beacon.

Poppy teleported!

V's voice came through, and a QG teleport beam swiftly lit up.

Not only were bot lane and jungler outwitting each other, but this wave the two top laners were also matching wits.

CLG's top laner, the Mountain, dared not trade Teleport in front of the ogre, pulling far back.

V also waited until the enemy showed Teleport, then he used his own.

This wave's top lane minion line is pushed; he uses Teleport first, causing the wave to crash.

Hahaha~

With the top laner joining in, bot lane instantly turned chaotic.

Pull a bit, pull a bit, I'll be there right away.

Graves! Graves!

I'm here, I'm here, run to my force field.

Nice, the AD didn't flash, the AD didn't flash!

He's dead, can Poppy kill him?

Can kill, can kill, the hook's cooldown is two seconds.

Hooked… it's fine, I'll trade with him!

Nice!

After the big bot lane brawl, they ended up trading 2 for 4.

QG's bot lane duo was slain, and CLG's top laner, jungler, and support were all killed.

Has the enemy lost their mind, daring to go in like this?

Xu Dongmen grinned so wide his mouth twisted; upon arriving, he saw everyone low on health and casually flung a few skills to claim two kills and an assist.

Bagging this kill feels kinda sweet!

He did nothing, yet ended up 2-0-1.

I feel a bit shortchanged.

V wore a bitter face; this wave he lost minions from using Teleport, contributed the most, yet gained only assists.

Don't worry, I'll come help you gank shortly.

Xu Dongmen returned to the jungle, devouring the blue buff and the reborn Murk Wolf.

Returning to base with 1500 gold, he forged the tier‑2 Stalker's Blade (blue).

Besides that, he also had a Dark Seal, and his Refillable Potion upgraded to Hunter's Potion.

Both are new items debuted in Season 6.

I'm feeling a bit fed!

Leaving base for the upper half of the map, he cleared the F4 and the Stone Golem; at that moment Xu Dongmen needed only a little more experience to hit level 5.

The river's speedy crab was still up, but he didn't hurry to take it, instead heading first to top lane.

At that point V had already shoved the top lane wave across the river; Xu Dongmen came from the lane and lurked in the brush beside the ogre for a counter‑gank.

I didn't use Flash this wave, so the enemy jungler will definitely come.

As a somewhat defensive blue‑collar top laner, V always has excellent anti‑gank awareness.

If Xu Dongmen doesn't come to counter‑gank this wave, he won't push this lane.

Hard to say.

Xu Dongmen glanced at the scoreboard: Graves's stats were 1‑1‑1, with 7 jungle monsters cleared.

That was the data from two minutes prior.

After that intense bot lane clash, that guy still hasn't appeared.

In the midst of the chat, a shaft of light descended, and Xu Dongmen barely reached level 5.

Move!

At the same moment, Poppy bellowed and surged forward.

V unleashed his Iceborn Gauntlet, and set Darshan up for a wall‑bang.

Battering the ogre against its pillar is a move every Poppy adores.

The Mountain fell for it!

When Xu Dongmen's Ekko showed up, the NA top laner was scared stiff.

He activated Steadfast Presence to speed up and flee, but was slowed by a Deep Chill Punishment.

After the blue punishment came Ekko's two‑stage Q.

The ogre also unleashed Glacial Prison, baring fangs and claws, and went on a frenzied bite at the yordle.

"Take the head."

Xu Dongmen let the head go, the giant demon is a top laner that needs development; since we picked him, we must nurture him.

V earned 300!

It's worth mentioning that just as Xu Dongmen turned back first, the river bush vision a thousand units away captured the male gunner's silhouette.

V's guess was correct; the enemy jungler was indeed nearby.

In the OB footage, after Xmithie ate the river crab, he silently retreated to his own jungle.

Xu Dongmen walked over and took a look; at this point he could completely take the Rift Herald, but he didn't want to waste time, so he went all the way to the lower jungle to farm monsters.

After clearing from bottom to top, the red buff has now respawned.

The clear wasn't fast, but his condition was kept very good.

This is thanks to the Hunter's Potion in the item slot; like the Corrosive Potion, this is another form after upgrading the reusable potion.

As a jungle charger, this item is prepared specifically for junglers lacking healing ability.

It has five charges; each charge restores 60 health and 35 mana, and each kill of a large monster provides one charge.

Xu Dongmen's charge count stayed at three or more throughout.

Not to mention Ekko, many Leopard Woman players build this item.

With it, there's no worry about lacking condition.

"I'll swing by, wait for me in bottom lane."

Xu Dongmen was always paying attention to the bot lane matchup.

After UZI and Tian Zai Mo Ri gained an advantage in this bot lane matchup, they trashed-talked CLG's bot lane mercilessly, venting the bad feeling from the opening match.

What's the big deal about playing Caitlyn to bully people? My buddies can make you unable to play the game even without playing Caitlyn!

55 kills vs 30 kills!

After more than 7 minutes, the stain rushed toward Ruozi's famous saying.

"Steady, steady, keep your condition."

In the fountain, Xu Dongmen put on a pair of straw sandals while also purchasing an Insight Stone.

Since he didn't build the green jungle knife, he inevitably had to build the Vision Stone.

For a jungler, vision is life!

"Right away, finish this and hit level 6."

Leaving home, Xu Dongmen began fighting the swamp frogs; the blue buff still had one minute until respawn.

After hitting level 6, he headed straight for the bot lane.

First he cleared the vision in the tri-bush, then continued deeper, placing a ward in the grass near the Sentinel's Camp.

At the same time, UZI and Tian Zai Mo Ri pushed the minion wave under the tower.

Among the four in the bot lane matchup, at this point only Lucian had reached level 6, while the other three were still far behind.

"I'll go first!"

Xu Dongmen waved his hand, summoning a time field to block movement.

CLG's bot lane duo were not only one level 5 and one level 4, but neither had Flash.

Clang—

Ekko stepped onto the time field, gaining a shield, and a phase dash hit the Spear of Vengeance's face with a crisp crack.

While cutting someone, he also sidestepped to dodge Morgana's Q.

As the turret's third shot blasted out, about to hit, Xu Dongmen unleashed his ultimate.

"Time reversal!"

Ekko broke the turret's aggro and delivered a returning strike.

At this point, he still had 2/3 health.

White Handsome Stixxay fell first, then Black Rough Aphromoo quickly followed, stepping onto the Bridge of Helplessness.

Xu Dongmen turned into a menace, smashing the North American lovebirds.

"CLG's bot lane was brutal this game!"

"When this bot lane kill happened, Xmithie was actually right nearby taking the red buff."

"But there's nothing we can do, really nothing we can do; the male gunner is still only level 5, even if he came it wouldn't help!"

"Ekko is too fed; even after tower diving he still has half health."

"On the other side, top lane also got a solo kill!"

"Guigu, what a big stick!"

"Nice, V!!"

"QG is flourishing both top and bottom, the pressure has come to Goldgu's side!"

"What pressure is Doinb talking about? I'm lying back playing the game and you talk to me about pressure, but the pressure is clearly on the enemy Emperor's side, right!"

"Huhi: ……"