Chapter 159

Waiting in the drafting room, the substitute support took a deep breath, nervously fidgeting. Ye Chi stood behind him and patted his arm.

“Relax.”

The substitute support nodded, but his expression remained serious.

At times like this, no matter how much others advised, nerves persisted. Ye Chi knew when to stop talking; saying too much would only add pressure.

The members of REAL looked incredibly solemn. Today’s match was almost certainly a lost cause—was there even any value in playing a match destined for defeat?

“Let’s welcome the REAL team—”

The host shouted enthusiastically.

The players trembled, fists clenched in the top lane, leading the way onto the stage.

In just a few months of the Spring Split, the REAL team had already gathered many fans. Even after their devastating 3:0 loss to KU the day before yesterday, fans were still shouting at the top of their lungs as the players entered.

The players bowed deeply upon reaching the stage and took their seats.

The audience below roared deafeningly, catching the attention of both ADT’s players and commentators.

“Don’t be nervous,” the coach paced back and forth, sounding cheerful. “Play freely today, let’s just have fun. Especially you, moka, don’t worry, everyone will try to support you as much as possible.”

“Moka, don’t perform too well, or else Sea will be out of a job when he returns,” Chen Dong joked.

The players chuckled, and even the last-minute substitute support smiled, “If I had known about today, I would have practiced jungle more often.”

“That’s not right,” Ye Chi said lazily. “You should practice every position, be an all-round substitute, ready to play anytime.”

The entire team burst into laughter.

On the stage, the commentators remarked, “REAL’s atmosphere seems good today.”

“Indeed, it seems they’ve adjusted their state of mind.”

“In this situation, all they can do is try their best, take a leap of faith.”

“ADT’s form is also good. Inside sources say ADT’s scrim results, except against DSG, have been almost all victories.”

“Then ADT seems steady today.”

“Things can’t be said for sure; REAL might just create a miracle.”

Will a miracle happen? No one was certain.

The match officially began.

ADT quickly banned three mid laners.

The commentators exclaimed on stage, “Respect Quit,” “Quit’s facing.”

“ADT’s tactics today are very clear. They aim to shut down your mid laner, coordinate mid-jungle pressure. With your jungler today, you definitely can’t compete against us. If we can suppress your mid laner, what can you do?”

On the REAL side, they responded with bans targeting three invading junglers.

The commentators couldn’t help but chuckle, “No choice, they have to do this. Let’s try to widen the gap; let’s see what route REAL prioritizes, jungle. They’ve picked a jungle first, protecting the jungle so they don’t get invaded too badly.”

“ADT immediately picks a mid-jungle duo. I wonder if REAL has any countermeasures. With several mid laners available, what will they pick?”

“Both the coach and Quit look very serious.”

“Oh? REAL has locked in their bot lane combination. Looks like they’re focusing on jungle control this game.”

The commentators on stage continued brainstorming for REAL, predicting the ban-pick phase. Not because the commentators were biased towards REAL as fans, but facing a match where the outcome clearly favored ADT, they naturally aimed to enhance the spectacle and excitement, standing with the underdog.

Regardless of how the commentators hyped up the match, the outcome of this game was already 99.9% certain.

The ban-pick phase progressed swiftly; ADT had already made their selections, leaving only Ye Chi’s mid lane pick.

“What will they choose?”

Tang Qi watched the livestream, his nerves making him mutter incessantly.

Beside him, Ding Wenquan glanced at his screen. “No more heroes left, just pick one.”

Tang Qi’s expression darkened.

In the training room, Qin Kunlun and the bot lane also watched the match. Qin Kunlun had been rendered speechless by Mo Yin’s comment “Watch Ye Chi.” Even after Mo Yin started the game, he remained lost in thought.

Today, he wanted to see who was worthy of eliciting such words from Mo Yin.

Qin Kunlun glanced back and saw Mo Yin playing the game, paying no attention to the match.

“They’ve picked—”

Excitement rang out in Tang Qi’s voice, prompting Qin Kunlun to quickly look at the computer screen.

REAL’s final champion selection box is locked in a top lane warrior hero.

The commentators and live chat exploded instantly.

“Is this champion Quit’s? It really is! My goodness, Quit has chosen a champion he’s never used before. He’s pulling out all the stops!”

— [Brother Madman is going wild, can he handle this champion?]

— [Come on, during his time in the national service, Brother Madman played every position. What hero doesn’t he know?]

— [Fun fact, knowing how to play and being able to play in a match are two different things. This champion’s mechanics are quite challenging.]

— [Anyway, they’ve already lost, just play whatever.]

The director cut to a bottom right camera angle. Ye Chi looked composed, interacting with his teammates.

“Wow, this is your signature champion,” Guan Ming remarked. “Are you planning an arrest?”

Qin Kunlun twitched at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t jinx it.”

He just found the kid annoyingly clingy, not enough to warrant targeting him. He wasn’t that petty.

“It’s not very rational to use a big move in a match we’re destined to lose.”

Guan Ming tactically commented on Ye Chi’s choice.

For REAL, it seemed like their Spring Split would end here. If they lost, they lost. The Summer Split was more important. In this situation, saving such unexpected tactics for the Summer Split would undoubtedly be more advantageous.

Ye Chi had discussed this with the coach.

The coach’s opinion was to watch Ye Chi.

He had spent so much time practicing this champion on his smurf account, originally intending to bring it out during the critical moments of the playoffs. He hadn’t anticipated the Spring Split playoffs to take this turn.

To use it or not was the question.

“Let’s use it,” Ye Chi said. “After all the practice, I need to see how effective it can be, and I always want to win every game.”

Even if the hope was so faint…

The hero, clad in metallic armor, landed with a heavy special effect at the spawn point, scattering invisible shards of light. Fingers moved swiftly, controlling the warrior to lift his head, bearing a heavy sword as he charged into battle.

… He still wanted to win!

“Cool, help moka with blue.”

“Got it.”

Ye Chi maneuvered the cumbersome warrior to face ADT’s mid laner, Fachi.

Both champions were close-range fighters, exchanging blows fiercely, blood flying as they clashed.

Just one minute into the game, the mid lane matchup was already intense, and the commentators were excited. The live audience and online chat were all focused on the warrior champion Ye Chi was using today.

In previous patches, mid laners often used warrior champions. With subsequent game version changes, assassins and mages had dominated the mid lane for at least two seasons. The tall, wild-looking warrior, however, displayed extremely refined mechanics, not falling behind against the agile, multi-dash assassin.

“Quit’s proficiency is impressive.”

“Indeed, very impressive. His timing and angles for skill casts are precise, leaving kiki a bit flustered.”

“If this continues, once Quit hits level 6 and starts healing, kiki will have even more trouble in lane.”

“The jungle area is secure too. Supercool is like a jungle bodyguard now. Losing a couple of creeps won’t matter; you can’t invade our blue area.”

“Wasabi went down to the bot lane. Hey, you’re the jungle bodyguard in the top lane, so you’re under pressure in the bot lane.”

“Winter senses it and retreats to the tower, giving up this wave of minions. Just focus on gaining experience.”

“With both lanes losing for REAL, the jungle area barely holding up. As for Quit in the mid lane, whether he can turn this lane advantage into a broader strategic advantage remains to be seen.”

The substitute support who came to jungle was almost silent, too nervous to say a word. The task Ye Chi assigned to him was simple—jungle.

It was all about pure jungle farming, ensuring he kept his jungle monsters safe from the enemy’s theft. Even completing this task made him feel incredibly lucky. He wouldn’t be scolded by teammates for “only knowing how to jungle.”

However, even such a straightforward task was nerve-wracking for the substitute support. Unlike normal ranked games, professional jungle play involved its own style and planning for pathing, timing, and jungle routes. He had no idea how to jungle; it was like playing dumb, but when he returned to his blue area after clearing his red area again, he found the enemy jungler stealing his red. He rushed over for punishment, but the enemy jungler still stole it. He was half a minute faster than the enemy without knowing it, and he got another group of wild animals.

“moka.”

Ye Chi’s voice brought back some of his rationality.

“Prepare for a team fight.”

“Ah?”

Moka stuttered nervously, “I-I can’t contest his Smite.”

“You don’t need to contest his Smite.”

The warrior wielded his heavy sword and recalled behind the tower.

ADT’s mid laner immediately alerted his teammates, “He recalled to buy items, get ready for a team fight!”

“Their jungle, who doesn’t have Smite, dares to team fight?” Dreaming chuckled. “Brother Madman is truly crazy, let’s go!”

Both sides gathered their full teams towards the vanguard.

The audience, who had been watching days of one-sided games, also got excited.

“They’re about to team fight,” the commentator’s voice filled with excitement. “It looks like REAL is going all out. Both sides’ skills are almost maxed out, their economies are about even, Quit’s items are good now, and Quit just hit level 6—”

The warrior charged into the fray, suddenly unleashing his ultimate, aiming the heavy sword at the enemy jungle.

“Kill the jungle,” Ye Chi said coldly.

REAL’s players rushed in, with the warrior from the mid lane taking the brunt of the attacks. As he fell heavily, he took down the enemy jungle with him.

“Damn—”

Dreaming cursed loudly.

The remaining players brawled chaotically, the substitute jungle player hesitated, dodging left and right until, unexpectedly, he was the only one left alive.

“Moka, take the vanguard,” Ye Chi commanded.

The substitute jungle player finally understood what Ye Chi meant by not needing to contest Smite, immediately taking down the vanguard.

“REAL actually took down the vanguard!”

The commentator said, “This… how do we even describe this?”

“How do we describe this? Sometimes a lucky punch knocks out a master.”

ADT clearly hadn’t expected Ye Chi to pick this long-dormant champion in the mid lane, nor did they expect REAL to fight so fiercely, sweeping away their downturn from facing KU. They seemed to be fighting to win!

To win against them with a jungle player who only knows “jungling”?

That would be a real humiliation.

ADT’s players became serious, “Focus up. If we lose to the handicapped REAL today, it’ll be too shameful for us.”

Tensions rose, team fights erupted frequently, and after dying a few times, even Moka, encouraged by his teammates, let loose, thinking to himself, damn it, might as well be useful before dying again!

“Captain, I’m going in!” Moka shouted urgently, “I’ve locked down their AD! I’m done for!”

Laughter filled the microphone.

“Their AD is down! Protect the mid lane, be careful, be careful—”

The support buffed the heavy sword warrior before dying, instantly enlarging his figure. With his blade slashing through everyone, he chased after three opponents.

The audience erupted.

The screen filled with “???” and “666” in the barrage.

If this was a game destined to lose, would you still give it your all?

Perhaps earlier, Ye Chi would have hesitated, considered.

But now.

“Watch Ye Chi.”

He was Ye Chi, who could sway the game. Regardless of the game, even if the outcome was set, he would never admit defeat!

[REAL] vs [ADT]

1:0.

In the lounge, Sun Yuanyang was hooked up to an IV drip, video chatting with everyone, his eyes red from crying. He gave a thumbs up to the screen, “Brothers, awesome, moka, awesome.”

Moka wiped his eyes, grinned, “Bro Yang, you’ve got three success points in you.”

They encouraged each other, discussing tactics.

The coach patted Ye Chi’s shoulder, “You probably won’t be able to use that champion in the next game.”

Even if he did, the opponent would have a counter. A clever trick doesn’t work twice.

“Then let’s play normally,” Ye Chi said, “Until the very end, we’re not necessarily going to lose.”

The second game unfolded as predicted in the lounge. ADT indeed made adjustments. They didn’t ban Ye Chi’s warrior, instead banning the three signature mages from the previous game and snatching the jungle picked by the substitute support in the last game.

The substitute support had been practicing this jungle intensely since yesterday.

ADT saw through it.

“What now?” the substitute support asked.

“It’s okay,” the coach reassured quickly, “Pick something simple and easy to operate. Just play like you did last game.”

It turned out that 4.5v5 might still have a chance, but 4v5 was just a fundamental gap.

Second game, REAL tried hard to protect their jungle, but ADT seemed to have completely figured out REAL’s tactics, relentlessly attacking REAL’s jungle, rendering their jungle player completely ineffective.

[REAL] vs [ADT]

1:1.

Third game, sides swapped, ADT changed their ban-pick strategy, releasing all mid lane champions, banning several easy-to-play jungle champions from REAL. Once again, they shut down REAL’s jungle through strategic maneuvering, leading to REAL’s defeat.

1:2.

Fourth game, sides swapped again, ADT had the first pick and after banning the only viable jungle champion for REAL, the microphone at REAL’s ban-pick phase was eerily quiet.

Moka lowered his head, ready to listen to the coach’s instructions.

The coach asked, “Moka, what do you want to play?”

Moka said, “I can play… anything,” even though he couldn’t.

“Use a support champion for jungle,” Ye Chi suddenly said.

There was a moment of silence over the microphone.

“Can I?” Moka asked eagerly.

“I think you can. Coach, what do you think?” Ye Chi asked.

“… “

At this point, it didn’t matter what they picked. The coach said, “Alright, Moka, just pick your best jungle champion!”

“Alright… then, Star?”

“No problem,” the real support Zhang Hanyu smiled, “You play your game, I’ll play mine.”

After the ban-pick phase, the commentators were surprised again, “Wow, REAL is using a support champion for jungle, what a bold decision. This support champion’s jungle clear is slow.”

“I don’t understand, maybe there’s another trick up their sleeve.”

As the commentators and barrage were analyzing what strategy this support jungle might have, the REAL’s microphone was clean, with all the players listening to Ye Chi.

“Whether we win or lose today’s game, I don’t feel regretful. How about you?” Ye Chi asked.

“I don’t feel regretful either,” Chen Dong said, “At least we won one game against them!”

“Exactly.”

Zhang Hanyu chuckled, “As long as we enjoy the game!”

Lian Cheng from the top lane said, “I got a solo kill, feels great.”

After everyone spoke, Moka finally said, “Winning one game in the jungle against ADT is enough for me to brag about for a year.”

Laughter filled the microphone.

The game interface was loading.

The laughter gradually faded.

Everyone’s expression turned serious.

“Let’s do our best,” Ye Chi said calmly, like every other game.

The players felt a mix of emotions, a complex feeling surged within them, knowing that this game was destined to change them.

“Let’s go!!!”

In a moment of silence, Chen Dong suddenly shouted, startling the front-row audience and commentators.

The players laughed.

“Damn, my ears are deaf.”

“Are you trying to kill us by yelling into the microphone?”

After the laughter subsided, there was another brief silence, then suddenly.

“Let’s go!!!”

It was Zhang Hanyu’s shout, as if he was deliberately retaliating against Chen Dong.

However, after the laughter, several voices chimed in, deafening.

“Let’s go!!!”

“Let’s go!!!”

“Let’s go!!!”

Roaring with all their might, marching towards the path, even if it meant losing!