Chapter 65: Facing Off Against OMG

February 14, Super Brand Mall.

It was packed to capacity.

"Good afternoon, viewers both in the livestream and here at the venue. Welcome to the second week of the 2017 LPL Spring Split. Today features a marquee matchup from Group A: EDG versus OMG."

"I am the caster, Chang Mao."

"I am the caster, Guan Zeyuan."

At the caster desk, Guan Zeyuan wore a smile as he began, "To be honest, I'm really looking forward to today's bot lane showdown. Smlz and Lin Ruo—one is a top-tier ADC at the forefront of the LPL, and the other is a rising rookie who has been creating a huge buzz lately. The bot lane is definitely going to be a sight to behold."

"Indeed, though there was a bit of a minor storm yesterday. I wonder how player Lin Ruo's mental state is holding up," caster Chang Mao said with a smile, immediately seizing upon the trending topic.

Guan Zeyuan waved a hand. "No need to worry about that. I think Lin Ruo's mental fortitude is stronger than anyone's, and besides, it doesn't seem like he came out on the losing end."

The two of them stopped while they were ahead, thoroughly enjoying the discussion.

Meanwhile, over at the Douyu Deyunse livestream channel.

The bald-headed Sun Ge and the chubby Xika were squeezed together in front of a computer, also following the match.

"The match is about to start, why haven't you started your stream yet? The fans are all waiting," Xika said anxiously.

Sun Ge scratched his bald head and casually lit a cigarette. "Sigh, you don't know. When I streamed last night after getting back, the chat was completely flooded and wrecked by the EDG pig-fans. I need a moment to recover."

Hearing this, Xika couldn't help gloating, "I told you not to go poking that Lin Ruo for no reason. He's playing well right now, so EDG's hardcore fans are definitely going to shield him."

"I was just trying to say a fair word for Zhu Kai and asked someone to apologize, who could have known..." Sun Ge trailed off, wearing an expression as unpleasant as if he had eaten a piece of feces.

"Cut the crap. Zhu Kai isn't even close with you; you just wanted to hitch a ride on his clout, only to find the trough empty when you got there."

"Well, he went on stream and accused me of eating duck necks, why shouldn't I say something back?" Sun Ge retorted, unconvinced.

Knowing his partner all too well, Xika said with disgust, "The rumor about you getting a female fan pregnant and just lying in bed eating duck necks without taking responsibility is already known to everyone. Honestly, how are you supposed to refute that?"

Sun Ge instantly deflated.

"Stop wasting time, hurry up and start the stream. Today's match has Brother Ma; maybe he can help you teach that Lin Ruo a lesson, and then you can wash away your past humiliation."

"That's right! If they win, we stomp on their heads; if they lose, we play dead and farm the negative traffic."

The two hatched their plan, both breaking into crafty smiles.

As soon as the stream went live, the massive army of EDG's pig-fans flooded right in.

[You attack whoever is popular, always riding the clout wave at its hottest—you two are truly something else.]

[Just two clout-chasing dogs. Is EDG really someone you have the standing to leach off of?]

[What normal person even watches Deyunse? Causing drama at the tournament without even knowing the context.]

[You two washed-up retired frauds, stop coming out to disgust people.]

Seeing so many people flaming him, the stream's viewership was at least double its usual average. With his traffic quota maxed out, Sun Ge couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth.

At the tournament venue, inside the EDG player booth, the intense and meticulous drafting process was underway.

After the first two bans, Nofe looked at his players. "Let's ban Maokai for the third. Their top laner, Xiyang, is exceptionally skilled at Maokai."

"Didn't we already practice champions to deal with Maokai? The scrim results were great, why can't we play it?" Lin Ruo questioned.

"Seriously, what are you even afraid of, Nofe?"

"Coach, I can handle Maokai," the top laner, Mouse, chimed in at that moment.

"Fine, then we won't ban it." Accepting their input, Nofe changed the third ban to Zyra.

The draft entered the first round of picks, and Guan Zeyuan was already full of anticipation. "The first three bans from both sides are a bit unusual today. Leblanc, Rengar, and other powerful champions have all been let through. Should both teams grab one?"

Right as he finished speaking, EDG locked in Rengar on the first pick.

It immediately shifted to the red side, OMG, for their selection.

Over at the Deyunse livestream, Sun Ge grew excited. "OMG, hurry up and grab Leblanc! Leblanc is amazing at instantly assassinating ADCs, and icon plays her pretty well too."

Xika nodded. "Leblanc and Maokai—Xiyang is the Maokai King, those in the know understand."

OMG locked in Maokai on the first pick, but unexpectedly locked in Ashe on the second.

Sun Ge's expression instantly darkened. "Wait, did the OMG coach get bribed or something? Why not pick Leblanc? How can you possibly pass up on her when she's meta-op?"

Seeing this, Xika immediately stepped in, terrified that his partner would continue running his mouth unchecked. "Actually, Maokai and Ashe works too. It's OMG's signature engagement composition; this lineup specializes in being steady."

"Right, right, the familiar composition is better," Sun Ge muttered, backing down as he realized he had gotten a bit too carried away.

"The Maokai King is here. If you don't ban him, I'll take him. OMG is sticking to their classic playbook."

Guan Zeyuan joked from the caster desk, "We often joke that EDG's top laner mainly plays Maokai, but actually, looking at the data from the 2016 Summer Split, OMG picked Maokai thirteen times—they are the real experts."

Chang Mao continued, "Indeed. Since OMG snatched up Ashe, EDG smoothly counters by pairing Leblanc with Rengar, a very powerful mid-jungle duo."

"And then they pick Varus. Looking at it this way, EDG's first three picks are fantastic. It feels like they've already won half the game," Guan Zeyuan activated his prophet attribute once again.

Chang Mao hastily cast a spell to interrupt him. "Don't, don't, don't. We still have to see the subsequent choices."

"Won half the game my foot! What's wrong with this Guan Zeyuan, starting already?" Seeing the casters leaning slightly toward EDG, Sun Ge immediately grew unhappy.

"Casters are supposed to be fair and impartial, don't you understand?"

"Oh, the caster was just joking, stop getting so worked up as if you're overheating."

Xika couldn't watch anymore. It seemed yesterday's pig-fan onslaught had truly left his partner thoroughly triggered; otherwise, where on earth was all this anger coming from?

As OMG locked in Ryze, the second phase of bans began.

Both sides simultaneously targeted the support pool.

Miss Fortune, Lulu, and Nami all ended up on the ban list.

"Playing it like this, does it mean the bot lane is going to hard-match engage supports?" Guan Zeyuan analyzed, just as OMG locked in Graves on the fourth pick.

"They're starting to farm. It looks like OMG wants to play somewhat defensively in the mid-jungle department. Against Leblanc and Rengar, they really have no choice; picking Kha'zix would make them too easily exploited."

Chang Mao stared at the big screen. "Let's see EDG's final two picks."

In the fourth-pick slot, Lin Ruo locked in Tahm Kench and immediately said, "Just take Singed, top lane won't lose."

A hesitant Meiko still couldn't help asking, "Can our top laner play that? If not, just take Poppy."

Mouse confidently slammed his fist down. "Definitely works! Singed absolutely bullies tanks. I'll just proxy waves like crazy; Maokai won't be able to deal with me at all. I'm going to make his life miserable, just lock it in for me."

Meiko pressed the confirm button, and EDG locked in Singed as their final pick.

Gasps of surprise rippled through the live audience.

Guan Zeyuan said excitedly, "They locked it! EDG pulls out Singed. They've done their homework—playing Singed top against Maokai feels so good."

"In that case, OMG's bot lane will have to make a corresponding counter-draft."