Chapter 69: line with translation of chapter title

May 13, Friday.

First day of the elimination round.

The opening time is the same as the group stage, still 2 p. m.

QG members arrived on time at the venue.

One person is missing from today's team.

"This Lin Ke is really a damn genius."

After seeing the chat logs circulating online, Xu Dongmen couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn!"

The awesomeness lies in the fact that, if you ignore his identity as QG's manager, judging solely by his remarks, it's hard to tell whether he's a genuine fan or a shill.

Too pure!

Recently, everyone online has been criticizing Blank, and the calls for Bengi to play have been growing louder.

If SKT hadn't pulled back from the brink, the group stage would have ended with a five-game winning streak reversal, and Korean fans' trucks would likely have already blocked the entrance to SKT's base.

No praise, no blame: Lin Ke's remarks are simply a blatant attempt to stir up fans.

SKT fans' insults would only be even harsher than his!

However, saying this from an SKT fan's mouth versus from QG's manager's mouth are two different things.

For this, Lin Ke received a punishment from Riot.

Korean netizens complained the punishment was too light, wishing to cancel QG's participation qualification.

Domestic forums also launched a heavy counterattack, believing he had embarrassed the LPL.

As a result, the team's reputation dropped considerably; following last year's "Rainbow Team," they now also have the nickname "Fire-Stoking Team."

"It doesn't matter; more memes don't weigh me down."

Xu Dongmen didn't care.

As long as we can win the match, all negative nicknames can become terms of endearment.

Familiar Oriental Sports Center, familiar host Mo Xigantou.

"You are currently watching the 2016 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational; friends on site, let everyone feel your enthusiasm, okay?"

The audience below roared like mountains and seas, full of energy.

"First, let's welcome the NA region's champions, the CLG team!"

The five CLG members dressed in black stood in a line.

Canadian top laner Darshan

Filipino-descent jungler Xmithie

Korean support Huhi

The bot lane's Stixxay and Aphromoo are both domestic US players.

"CLG's record in the group stage is 6 wins, 5 losses, ranking fourth; whether they can advance to the finals today still depends on whether their opponents agree!"

Ren Dong shouted hoarsely, expressing his attitude with his voice: "Next, let's invite the 2016 LPL Spring Season champions, who dominated this Mid-Season Invitational, Q! G!!"

The sound waves from the audience exploded, shooting straight to the clouds.

Xu Dongmen and the other four, dressed in white, appeared on the opposite side of the stage.

At the moment the camera focused on them, the ground screen beneath their feet flashed and displayed a huge QG poster.

The real person and the poster correspond in position; the poster's size is ten times that of the person.

Even if seated on the mountaintop, one could see it crystal clear!

Although today is a weekday, thanks to QG, attendance still reached 90%.

Many fans came specially to show support.

"Alright, please have both sides' players return to their seats."

The opening ceremony ended, and both sides entered the battle area.

At this point, the staff had already helped everyone log into their accounts beforehand and set up rooms in the game client.

QG, Mor: 【Hi, guys】

Heavenly Disaster Apocalypse immediately greeted in English upon arrival.

During the S4 season, he once spent a year competing in the North American league with the LMQ team.

For Zhang Hongwei, this was a winding yet dreamlike year.

This year, he met many new friends.

At this moment, the opposing CLG's top laner, jungler, and support are all his old acquaintances.

CLG, Darshan: 【Hey buddy, I just ran into Ackerman backstage—I love this guy】

CLG, Aphromoo: 【Hey Mor, how's your good brother Vasilii? I swear he's a huge guy, his muscles far stronger than many Americans'!】

CLG, Xmithie: 【Mor, that Chinese restaurant you recommended is truly authentic—wow, I love Shanghai~】

Heavenly Disaster Apocalypse responded to each one.

Ackerman is Shenchao; his game ID is MikasaAckerman, which he used when competing in North America, and with that ID he once ranked first on the American server.

At this very moment, Shenchao is serving as a guest commentator on the commentary desk.

As for Vasilii, he was Heavenly Disaster Apocalypse's bot lane partner during the LMQ era.

The original Warlord, Death Sentence.

A true manly man!

"Mo'er, your English is really good." Xu Dongmen said with an envious look.

He was a carefree slacker in school, never went abroad, and only knew a bit of construction-site English.

"No problem."

Apocalypse laughed and said, "If you go abroad to play in a foreign league for a year, you'll definitely speak better than I do."

He was modest; Shenchao likewise spent a year in North America, and his English improvement was quite limited.

The key is to dare to speak up and actively seek out foreigners to communicate with.

"OK, how do you say 'I will blast you' in English?"

"Iwillkickyourass!"

"OK, shouldn't there be another line before that, oh, my old buddy~"

Xu Dongmen's extroverted personality flared up; classic, I want to kick your ass hard with my boots.

The CLG members also gave him face, each using pinyin Chinese to communicate with Xu Dongmen.

What trash, fuck, awesome, little goat, ……

In the past ten days on the domestic server, we've also reaped a bountiful harvest.

The room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere, a chorus of laughter and joy.

Seeing this scene, the commentators from all the major leagues were extremely curious about what these people on stage were chatting about, each laughing until they bent forward and backward, like madmen.

Until the referee ordered the start.

Only then did both sides put away their joking and quarreling, and begin to get serious.

Game one, QG was on the blue side.

As the first-place team in the group stage, they had the priority to choose sides.

QG banned: Dragon King, Soraka, and Treant.

CLG banned: Lulu, Bull Head, and Cougaress.

"Although the Cougaress lost to SKT in a game last time, CLG still dare not let XDM's Cougaress loose!"

"Just because SKT can withstand it doesn't mean they can too."

"Generally speaking, both sides mainly ban the opponents' strong champions, but this time CLG released the Sheriff."

On the commentator's desk, Wawa Miller held the commentary.

【Time, it's not about how much you have, but how you use it】

QG first picked Ekko.

If that pick was expected, then CLG's two picks were somewhat unexpected.

Lucian + Thresh

"Thresh is easy to understand; this is the jungler with the highest win rate on MSI."

Wawa brought up the data.

After 32 group-stage matches, the three T1 junglers appeared in over 20 games each, and the least appeared in over 10 games.

The win rates of Marksman and Cougaress are both below 50%, only Thresh is above.

"We all understand taking Thresh; Xmithie's Thresh achieved an impressive 4–1 record in the group stage."

Miller's tone shifted: 'What we didn't expect was that Stixxay first picked Lucian, not the Sheriff.'

The commentators didn't understand, but Xu Dongmen and the others on stage were as clear as a mirror.

The reason is simple: Lucian is the AD top dog; in almost all situations, the Sheriff's priority cannot surpass his.

CLG picked Lucian first because they knew UZI's Lucian is very strong, and Stixxay's is also not bad.

Picking Lucian is just to force you to take Ezreal or the Wheel Mom.

"Let's go investigate!"

Xu Dongmen helped lock in the bot lane champion, Piltover Sheriff Caitlyn.

Stain wore a full-face smile, looking a bit shy, yet not lacking the confidence of a top-tier AD.

Next, Doinb from the third floor also helped Apocalypse pick Braum.

Just like that, both sides' lineups were set.

QG (Blue) vs CLG (Red)

Top lane: Ekko vs Poppy

Jungle: Marksman vs Thresh

Mid lane: Viktor vs Ryze

Bot lane: Sheriff vs Lucian

Support: Braum vs Bard

Xu Dongmen finished allocating his talent points, then closed his eyes in front of the camera.

The big‑match player marker arrived as scheduled.

【The match currently underway is the 2016 Mid-Season Invitational semifinal】

【Opponent CLG, ranked fourth in the group, with a record of 6–5】

【This match is rated A; players can unleash 200% of their strength】

………