Starting with Zaozi Ge, a dream lineup

Chapter 291 A Comeback from 0-2 to 3-2! Reclaiming My Divine Power

One star represents one S-series championship!
Many fans who like SKT are familiar with SKT's team uniforms before S8, with three stars neatly arranged on the SKT T1.

SKT's team uniforms are unique, and even now, no other team has a championship culture like SKT's, not even RNG!
These three stars alone are enough to represent Skt's awe-inspiring dominance from Season 3 to Season 8.

It also represents the glory of those who witnessed the supreme dynasty of these three stars, and the highest honor in the League of Legends community.

This is a unique honor belonging only to SKT. Looking across all regions, hundreds of professional teams, and thousands of professional players, only SKT and only the players who have won these three championships deserve this honor.

Of course, only their team uniforms can be adorned with stars, just like the downed fighter jet insignia.

Since the defeat in S7, the stars on the team jersey have disappeared, but every time there is a major competition, this jersey that once accompanied Faker on the field is brought to the rest room by Kkoma.

Today, it finally came in handy.

"I I know!"

"It's good that you know. We still have a chance. Lee Sang-hyeok, you still have three games to prove yourself," Coach Koma said with a smile that was both infectious and convincing.

"Then let's play like this for the next round, starting with..."

"Welcome back to the second half of the 2018 World Championship semifinals, featuring SKT from the LCK region against Fnatic from the LMS region."

The current score is...

FNC beat SKT 2-0

After announcing the scores, ignoring the uproar in the audience, the commentators began to discuss the tactical choices and mistakes made by both sides in the previous game.

Who do you think will win the third round?

After finishing in the bathroom, Xiaoming sat back down on the sofa and started chattering away.

"That goes without saying, it's definitely FNC, SKT won't make it this year," Xiaotian laughed upon hearing this.

"That's not necessarily true. Skt is actually not weak this year. It's just that each player seems to be holding back and can't unleash their full potential," Xiaohu said.

Everyone was stunned.

“I think so too. Faker is actually in his prime right now. I don’t know why, maybe he feels he’s getting old and he doesn’t dare to take the chances. Anyway, one of Khan and Faker has to step up,” Li Luo interjected from the side.

When the RNG members heard the comments from the two veterans in the team, they all vaguely sensed something, but couldn't quite put their finger on it.

"Just wait and see. If they can get through this, SKT might still have the strength to compete with us. If they can't, this team might have to disband!" Li Luo said with a smile.

Xiao Hu and Xiang Guo both nodded.

Even though this team is SKT, they won't tolerate not winning a championship for two years. If they fall in the semifinals again this year like in S7, then a major reshuffle and rebuilding will definitely be necessary. It's just unknown whether Faker will still stay with SKT then.

Given SKT's record, while RNG members are reluctant to face them, they also don't want SKT to be eliminated in the semifinals.

Just then, the two main characters of the day took to the stage, and the third match began.

The commentators clearly knew that the third game had become the focus of public opinion, so they stopped talking about SKT's weaknesses and even started to praise the rise of the European region.

In the various predictions before the match, almost 90% of people thought that SKT could easily win the game, and it was even very likely that they would win 3-0, continuing RNG's record against Rw.

Countless LCK fans have been looking forward to Skt's perfect performance since yesterday, but unexpectedly, Skt is now going to be defeated 3-0 by FNC.

"Damn! Skt's energy and spirit have changed!"

Watching the SKT players stride out with their heads held high, Xiaoming keenly noticed the difference between this game and the previous one.

"This is getting interesting. A comeback from 0-2 down to 3-2 is something that has never happened before in the World Championship. Can SKT pull it off today? And it seems like FNC is getting a bit complacent. This underestimation of their opponent gives me a bad feeling."

Seeing FNC's jungler chatting and laughing with Caps, Xiangguo pointed at the big TV and said.

At this moment, both sides began to adjust their equipment. The camera first focused on the local team Skt, and the Skt members looked radiant and serious, not at all like a team that had suffered two defeats.

When the camera focused on FNC, the entire FNC team was in high spirits. Rekkles and the support were chatting and laughing, and Caps and the jungler were also high-fiving each other in celebration.

This stark contrast in mental state immediately alerted those who were also professional players to something amiss.

Oops!

FNC seems to have underestimated their opponents?

"Not necessarily. If FNC loses this game, they will definitely give it their all in the next one. Skt winning this game is nothing special. Winning the next one is what really matters!" Xiaoming said quietly, already focusing his attention on the draft picks on both sides.

Meanwhile, countless LCK fans have begun to close their eyes and pray that SKT can pull themselves back from the brink of disaster.

We can't afford to lose the next match... otherwise, we'll really have to play against foreign teams in Incheon.

With no LCK teams in the finals, this result is even worse than last year. At that point, the extreme Korean esports atmosphere might even lead to calls to disband League of Legends teams.

In fact, Skt has become the focus of discussion on Korean forums, topping the trending charts.

Open the homepage and you'll see posts attacking SKT everywhere. Some irrational people are even threatening to solo kill SKT's jungler after the match.

The BP ended quickly, with no particular weaknesses on either side. After a short wait, the game interface was accessed.

Sure enough, once they entered the game, SKT, whose mental state had changed drastically, was no longer chaotic in command and fighting individually. Compared to FNC's loose rhythm in the early game, SKT showed an extraordinary level of precision.

Just like the most exquisite machine tool in the world, every operation, every lane switch, every gank, every ward placement, SKT did it to the extreme in this game, which was terrifying.

FNC, having underestimated their opponent, naturally paid the price. Their jungle was surrounded by SKT's wards, and jungler Broxah repeatedly got lost, getting ganked three times by SKT who had "map-wide" vision, completely losing his way.

After securing Broxah's kill, Faker unleashed his full fighting power, not only using his economic advantage to pressure Caps in lane but also roaming up and down the map. In just twenty minutes, Ryze had 234 CS, a terrifying level of farm.

This time, after gaining an advantage, Skt did not hesitate. At 23 minutes, they forced a team fight at Baron Nashor. With Wolf's initiation and Ryze's terrifying AoE, Skt achieved their only 5-0 wipeout since the start of the World Championship.

In an exhilarating team fight, amidst the heart-wrenching roars of the LCK commentators, SKT lived up to expectations, securing Baron Nashor and pushing down the top lane inhibitor.

With a huge advantage and the LCK's unique grinding attack, it's clear that SKT doesn't want to end this game so easily.

The constant pulling and torment left the FNC players unable to recover even after losing the match; their faces were all flushed, like autistic children.

LCK's signature tactic of torturing opponents, SKT dragged out a game that should have ended in 25 minutes to 38 minutes. The pressure on all three lanes' inhibitors, the urgency of a comeback victory to secure a spot in the finals—SKT's strategy was undeniably effective. Those extra ten-plus minutes of grueling play laid the foundation for SKT's victory in the fourth game.

"The two older brothers really have good judgment," Xiao Dongbei sighed as he saw Skt's calm face after winning the third game, showing no signs of emotional fluctuation.

Xiao Hu and Li Luo were both a bit speechless.

Although the changes SKT made were thought to be able to win the game, no one expected it to actually happen.

By the fourth game, LCK viewers who had been disheartened with SKT seemed to see hope again, their confidence boosted, and they started cheering for SKT.

During the draft phase, FNC's coach was less cheeky this time and specifically limited Faker's champion pool, banning Ryze, a champion that allows him to survive in the early game and carry in the mid-to-late game, as well as Khan's signature Fiora, aiming to secure a victory against SKT in this game.

However, the saying "what you fear will come to pass" is not just a random saying.

Faker was in a winning streak, but he was also in a losing streak. Under such high pressure, when the fourth game started, Faker picked a champion that no one dared to imagine - LeBlanc, the Deceiver.

Picking this hero was a mistake. Although she was too aggressive in the early game and traded kills with Caps' Irelia, in the mid-game, thanks to LeBlanc's mobility and Wolf's synergy with Drow Ranger, Irelia clearly couldn't keep up with LeBlanc's pace.

In a team fight near the dragon pit, LeBlanc secured a triple kill by changing vision, and immediately bought her Mejai's Soulstealer after returning to base.

The advantage, within the LCK's tactical system, lies in controlling vision.

With the advantage of vision, LeBlanc became even more terrifying and elusive. In three consecutive waves, Ou Cheng was killed before he could even see LeBlanc's figure. His smiling face immediately turned into a mask of pain.

The Murder Book has 4, 8, 12, and 25 levels.

SKT is like a slippery eel. Even though FNC is as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, wanting to engage in a head-on team fight, SKT just won't take the bait and relies on LeBlanc's agility to steal kills.

Just like the first game, FNC's massive army pressed in and was locked in a stalemate in front of SKT's tower. This time, however, it wasn't Caps' Ekko who flew out from behind, but Faker's LeBlanc.

Ekko needs to use three passive skills to kill someone, LeBlanc only needs one RQE to kill someone, and Rekkles' Tristana disappears from the map in almost a second.

Without their ADC, FNC hurriedly tried to retreat, but Hanzi immediately teleported behind them and scored a beautiful 1-for-4 trade.

In the fourth game, FNC suffered another team wipe under immense pressure, also losing a Baron Nashor and the second mid-lane turret.

Without the second turret, FNC had even more difficulty establishing vision. SKT, relying on their vision advantage, launched wave after wave of attrition warfare, showcasing the painful LCK playstyle once again.

This time, FNC collapsed even faster than in the previous game. In just 31 minutes, SKT wanted to rush down the second dragon, but unexpectedly, Caps lost his mind and, together with the jungler, launched a deadly attack.

After taking down two opponents, SKT didn't even bother with Baron Nashor and pushed down FNC's high ground in one fell swoop.

They successfully pulled their feet back from the edge of the cliff!
At this moment, the South Korean esports scene erupted in excitement! The LCK commentators were even moved to tears, passionately encouraging their team from the interview booth.

The entire Skt team breathed a sigh of relief.

Historically, no team has ever won consecutive championships, but Skt has done it.

Historically, no team has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 in the World Championship, but the SKT team firmly believes that they can do it today!

Bo5 is going to be a full-fledged series!

To come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a full best-of-five series, especially with two consecutive grueling LCK-style matches, one can only imagine the mental state of the FNC players.

When the fifth match began, not only did the LCK region reach its peak in terms of attention, but even on Weibo and Zhihu in China, the question of whether SKT could complete a reverse sweep also topped the list.

The odds of winning or losing the fifth game of a best-of-five series have begun to be discussed in countless places around the world.

Under these circumstances, the final battle begins!
After a series of draft picks, FNC ultimately handed over the power to Caps in this do-or-die game that would determine their fate.

Just like Caps's firm insistence on picking mid-lane Vayne to lead the team to victory in the match point game during the league, Rekkles also seemed to have forgotten his previous words and habitually placed all his hopes on Caps.

SKT, on the other hand, seems to have figured out the trick to playing against FNC through the first two games. Just like IG played against FNC in the past, SKT picked heroes with strong early-game pressure across the board, such as Aatrox, Irelia, and Taliyah.

"It's the fifth game of the best-of-five series! Whether either side can win depends on whose mentality is better in this game!" When the commentators got to the fifth game, after the two sides were tied, surprisingly, everyone's mentality calmed down and they waited for the result of the fifth game.

In the video, Faker, just like S7, lies back down in his chair and closes his eyes.

No one knows what he's thinking, nor does anyone know what kind of pressure this man is under.

Lee Sang-hyeok

"Faker is reclaiming his divine power!"

"Brother Li closed his eyes, holy crap, I got goosebumps all over!"

"The blood of kings must end with the sword."

At this moment, seeing Faker in this state, even Li Luo felt a powerful aura and...
A determination to win.

As expected, the three violent heroes unleashed a devastating attack right from the start.

Even if Caps' Viktor is strong, he can't withstand Irelia's attacks in the early game. Just three minutes into the game, Caps was caught out by Wolf's Alistar's clever roam.

Bad news has struck: Faker's Irelia secured First Blood against Caps!

Furthermore, the Irelia, who was in good condition, cooperated with Alistar to help Taliyah steal FNC's red buff, causing FNC's jungler Lee Sin to lose the right to gank.

First blood lost, FNC's top and jungle are gone, and the European and American fans are wailing throughout the game.

But this was just the beginning. In the next ten minutes, FNC's mid lane was repeatedly targeted. After Caps made a mistake in the first wave, his mentality seemed to be off, and he was even solo killed by Faker's Irelia.

As the absolute core of FNC, his solo kill signaled the imminent demise of FNC.

In a best-of-five series, once the team's star player loses their composure in the fifth game, the game is essentially over. After all, SKT has already proven in the third and fourth games that once they gain an advantage, they won't give anyone a chance to turn the tide.

So until FNC's Nexus exploded, all LCK viewers were still in a state of confusion and ecstasy.

Skt actually pulled off an unprecedented comeback, coming back from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2?

Is the final match between RNG and SKT?

A fateful showdown?

(End of this chapter)