However, the second game did not go so smoothly.

ARE was now regarded as a mid-tier team by the forum users, even capable of causing higher-tier teams to flop. A clean sweep would be difficult — after all, they had been reforming for a long time, and if JK can come up with tricky strategies, there’s no reason ARE hasn’t done the same.

In the second and third games, ARE’s unconventional tactics began to surface.

The bot lanner, Yang—also known as “The Sun,” stepped up.

They started playing ARE’s signature poke-heavy strategy.

It was frustrating. The whole team kept checking on Yang’s progress in the bottom lane, as if doting on a son, while also securing vision around the area to prevent JK from pulling off a four-man bush ambush like they did in the first game.

Once again being driven out of the bush, Ling Chen remarked, “Wow, this is really annoying. Yang is like the enemy team’s golden child—untouchable!”

Yu Yue also chimed in, “You think you have it bad? I just went to check the red buff, literally just one glance, and I saw their marksman taking the blue buff. The moment I saw it, their jungler, mid-laner, and support all swarmed me! Ugh, so frustrating! I literally just looked!”

Lu Qi coldly remarked, “You didn’t just look. You also used a skill in front of them.”

Yu Yue shrank back guiltily and muttered, “It’s not a big deal. How much damage can a tank do? Even if I used all my skills, I couldn’t kill him!”

“The enemy team doesn’t care about that right now. To them, Yang is their golden child. If you even glance at him, they’ll think you’re up to no good and should have your eyes gouged out,” Da Ming said leisurely, marking a spot near the dragon pit. “The Dark Tyrant is about to spawn. Marksmen benefit a lot from the Tyrant’s damage boost, so ARE might be eyeing this dragon. Our support should keep an eye on that area, and Ling Chen, save your Smite.”

Ling Chen grunted in agreement.

ARE’s marksman is their absolute core, and right now, he’s incredibly fed. In a one-on-one fight, Ling Chen wouldn’t stand a chance, but the jungle is the jungler’s domain, and that includes contesting dragons.

Dragons are a jungler’s pride.

If they can steal this dragon, it could slow down ARE’s marksman’s snowballing.

Lu Qi opened the economy panel and frowned, “Yang’s Daybreaker^[1]equipment for marksman is halfway done.”

‧

The commentators on stage were quick to notice. As soon as they saw Yang building the Swiftstrike Lance and Pugilist’s Gauntlet, they realized what he was aiming for: “ARE is rushing Daybreaker!”

Daybreaker is the ultimate marksman item.

It offers comprehensive stats and armor penetration, making even fully equipped tanks as fragile as paper.

The only downside was its price.

—But ARE is ahead, and JK’s jungle has been repeatedly invaded. In this situation, Yang is earning gold so fast that the high price of Dawn is negligible.

Da Qing tried to find some solace: “The only comfort right now is that Yang’s marksman has no mobility.”

Lu Qi replied flatly, “Yeah.”

Indeed, Yang’s marksman has no mobility.

But the hero he’s playing, Di Renjie, has built-in crowd control immunity, and he’s taken Flash. Soon, he’ll likely have items like the Splendor or Sage’s Sanctuary for extra survivability.

That’s three lives.

Moreover, ARE was playing four protect one, with the entire team treating Yang like their golden child, shielding him from any harm.

No mobility? It doesn’t matter—no one can even get close to him.

“I’ll evaporate before I can even get in,” Ling Chen said bitterly.

“Strange,” Yu Yue, who usually stays quiet during games, suddenly spoke up, startling everyone. They quickly asked what was wrong.

Yu Yue said, “They’re not taking the dragon.”

The dragon, also known as the Tyrant.

“They’re not taking it!” Da Qing was also puzzled. “Are they waiting in ambush, ready to wipe us out if we go for it?”

It didn’t make sense. Why wouldn’t they take it?

Yu Yue circled around their buff bush, deliberately revealing herself to bait out any impatient enemies—if ARE was indeed setting up an ambush, their goal would be to pick off a member of JK to create a numbers advantage.

Even if they only caught the support, it would still be worth it.

But the map remained eerily quiet.

Da Ming couldn’t help but say, “They’re being way too patient!”

“Something’s off,” Yu Yue suddenly dived into the mid-lane bush. “I think they’re trying to misdirect us—they’re probably taking the Lord instead! Ling Chen, get ready to contest!”

Lu Qi didn’t object, and Ling Chen immediately chose a hidden path to approach the Lord pit as quickly as possible.

This sudden, coordinated rotation surprised everyone, including the commentators and the audience, who marveled in awe.

Commentator A: “Unbelievable! JK just realized they’ve been tricked! Their reaction was incredibly quick!”

“I thought ARE’s misdirection would stall JK!” Commentator B was also excited. “But I didn’t expect JK to catch on so fast. I wonder who noticed it—was it Qi Ge? In an instant, they all converged on the Lord’s pit!”

“ARE has their marksman! They can take the Lord quickly! Can JK make it in time?”

“Di Renjie is fully equipped! He’s fearless! He’s the biggest threat on the map right now!” If it weren’t for professional decorum, Commentator A would probably be shaking with excitement. “They won’t make it! They really won’t! The Lord is down to one-third health!”

“Taiyi Zhenren activated Guardian-Howl to give his team a speed boost, and his own skills also provide speed. Combined with his Boots of Deftness, Taiyi is practically flying!——Wait, when did Eden get Boots of Deftness???” Commentator B was briefly confused before realizing that JK still had a chance to steal the Lord, depending on whether Yu Yue could land a stun.

Yu Yue’s eyes were fixed on the Lord.

The gold difference between the two teams was already significant. ARE had given up the Tyrant’s buff to go for the Lord, likely planning to use the Lord’s minions to push for the win—they knew JK’s wave clearing wasn’t particularly strong, and if they could stall JK at the minion wave, they could easily secure the victory.

Right now, no one could withstand Di Renjie’s damage.

The Lord was crucial. If they could steal it, JK might still have a chance to turn things around.

If they couldn’t, the game was basically over.

Unless ARE made a massive mistake, giving JK an opportunity to come back.

—But Yu Yue didn’t like relying on “ifs.”

As the Lord’s health bar dwindled, the commentators grew more excited: “The distance is too far! By the time Taiyi gets there, ARE will have already secured the Lord! Is JK about to lose?!”

The fans in the audience sat up straight.

Some viewers in the live chat were already reaching for their emergency heart medication:

[Are we going to lose? Are we going to lose?]

[It’s okay, really. ARE is still a mid-tier team. Just holding on this long is impressive, and they almost pulled off a backdoor win a few times.]

[Don’t lose, please!! My heart can’t take it!]

[This is such a rollercoaster, so intense…]

[I can’t keep supporting this team.]

[Losing to ARE isn’t that bad… at least it’s not embarrassing. ARE has gotten a lot stronger since their reformation, no exaggeration.]

[I want JK to win too, but at this distance, even with Taiyi’s second skill, it’s not enough to close the gap. They won’t make it…]

[Next time, maybe?]

The commentators seemed to have already written off JK’s chances, lamenting, “Better luck next time, JK?”

“Honestly, it’s just one game. If they play well in the next one, they still have a chance. No need to be so pessimistic,” Commentator B tried to console the JK fans in the audience.

Taiyi Zhenren isn’t like Ling Chen’s Han Xin, who’s a jumping machine with multiple dashes.

It’s understandable that Taiyi couldn’t make it in time.

Just as everyone was preparing for JK’s defeat, they suddenly saw Eden Flash into range, using her second skill to pull off an ultra-long-range dash and stun multiple enemies!

Yes, the second skill alone wasn’t enough.

But what if you added Flash to it?

The explosion from her first skill pulled the Lord out of combat, causing it to start regenerating health. ARE failed to secure the Lord at the last moment!

At the same time, Ling Chen’s Han Xin jumped out of the bushes, taking advantage of Yu Yue’s stun to suppress ARE’s players. Ling Chen quickly lowered the Lord’s health and used Smite—

[Han Xin] has slain the [Lord]

—They stole it!

“Incredible!!” The commentators’ eyes widened as they shouted, “JK stole the Lord!”

The audience erupted in cheers.

How well did this support, with no mobility, understand every possible speed boost available to her, to pull off such a clutch steal?

Guardian-Howl, Boots of Deftness, Flash, skill’s speed boosts, second skill——

Combined, they allowed Yu Yue to create a new miracle!

Who said I couldn’t make it? I can.

From the Tyrant pit to the Lord pit, such a long distance, but I knew I could make it.

After a brief moment of panic, ARE quickly focused on the isolated Taiyi Zhenren, unleashing a barrage of attacks.

The scene was chaotic, and the commentators could barely keep up, “They lost the Lord, and they can’t catch Han Xin. ARE is furious! They’ve got Eden now, but this Taiyi is tanky! She’s holding on for a long time, but she probably won’t escape! Is Eden going to sacrifice herself for the Lord?”

“Trading a support for the Lord is worth it,” Commentator B said. “It’s a small win for JK.”

“Eden used her ultimate to revive! But ARE’s damage is overwhelming. Ling Chen doesn’t dare dive in to assassinate the carry. Are they still waiting? Can Eden hold on?”

[She’s held on for so long, it’s enough…]

[Am sobbing, Missy, you’re a miracle worker]

[How did she know Flash plus the second skill would be enough?]

[Wow, this Taiyi is so tanky! She’s absorbed so many skills! …… Full tank Taiyi, forgive my insolence]

But even the tankiest hero has limits. She couldn’t survive forever.

As the annoying Taiyi finally fell, ARE’s “The Sun” let out a sigh of relief.

But before he could even smile, an unexpected attack from Shangguan Wan’er interrupted him.

[Shangguan Wan’er] has slain [Di Renjie]

At the same time, Da Qing and Da Ming finally arrived, using their skills to lock down the remaining enemies, ensuring no one escaped.

When the “Penta Kill” announcement echoed through the King’s Gorge, the entire arena fell silent.

Or at least, JK’s side fell silent.

After a moment, Da Ming said, “Qi Ge! You’re a legend!”

Lu Qi calmly acknowledged, “End it.”

From being behind to stealing the Lord, securing a Penta Kill, pushing for the win, and completing the comeback——it all happened in one seamless sequence.

JK fans experienced an emotional rollercoaster, and when “Victory” appeared on the big screen, they collectively died of happiness, their emergency heart medication rendered useless.