LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

In the commentary booth, Miller, Wawa, and Guan Zeyuan, the three gold medal commentators of LPL, were already sitting upright, their voices echoing in every corner of the venue through the amplification equipment.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Miller's voice was as passionate and penetrating as ever, "Welcome to the 2021 League of Legends Pro League Summer Split Finals! The Silver Dragon's summit is just one step away! Today, we will witness together whether EDG will continue their undefeated dynasty, or whether FPX will rise from the ashes like a phoenix and reclaim their glory!"

Wawa: "Yes! On one side is EDG, who have been undefeated in the regular season and reign supreme in the league with absolute dominance; on the other side is FPX, who have torn apart countless challengers with their unstoppable mid-jungle synergy and also fought their way out of the winners' bracket! These two teams represent the top fighting force of our LPL this year!"

Guan Zeyuan began with his signature data-driven analysis: "Data-wise, the two teams have completely different styles. EDG's average game duration and dragon control rate are both ranked first in the league, demonstrating their unparalleled operational capabilities. FPX, on the other hand, boasts the league's highest gold lead in the first fifteen minutes, first blood rate, and Rift Herald control rate. This is destined to be an ultimate clash!"

As the dazzling light show and AR special effects performance of the opening ceremony came to a close, the atmosphere at the scene reached its first climax.

Amidst thunderous cheers, both teams set up their equipment and entered the final elimination round.

In the first game of the BO5 series, FPX was on the blue side, which had the first pick, while EDG was on the red side.

The game begins from the very first second of business pairing (BP).

"Okay, we can see that FPX, as the blue side, immediately banned LeBlanc, the Deceiver, in their first pick!" Miller's voice immediately went into high gear. "Very decisive! This shows absolute respect for Scout's champion pool! Scout's LeBlanc has shown terrifying dominance in the playoffs!"

EDG, on the other hand, countered by banning Ryze, the Rune Mage.

Wawa analyzed, "EDG's response was also very clear: they wanted to limit Doinb's roaming! Ryze is one of Doinb's signature heroes, and his ultimate is a very crucial part of FPX's 'four-man gank' strategy."

FPX's second pick was to ban Lee Sin, continuing to target Jiejie's early game tempo.

EDG's second pick was to ban Galio, again targeting Doinb's support system.

FPX made their third pick, and after a moment's thought, ultimately chose Jayce, the Future Guardian, as their ban pick!
"Jayce is banned too!" Guan Zeyuan said. "FPX's fear of Mo is deeply ingrained! In their first three picks, they targeted EDG's core champions in the mid, jungle, and top positions!"

EDG then banned Xin Zhao as their last pick, completely shutting down early-game strong junglers.

With the first round of voting over, the tactical intentions of both sides have begun to emerge.

"Alright, now it's FPX's turn to pick their first champions!"

Without any hesitation, FPX locked in Jarvan IV, the Demacian prince, for their jungler Tian on the first floor!
"Prince!" Miller's eyes lit up. "Tian has secured this jungler, a top-priority engage champion in the current meta! With Doinb's roaming, FPX's offensive has begun!"

Now, the pressure is on EDG.

After a brief internal team discussion, EDG's first and second floors quickly identified two heroes.

Ezreal the Explorer, and Rakan the Phantom!
"Ezreal and Rakan!" Wawa exclaimed. "EDG's bot lane duo is incredibly smart! Viper's Ezreal has exceptional self-preservation abilities, making him a great counter to FPX's aggressive play. And Meiko's Rakan is incredibly mobile, capable of both initiating fights and providing protection!"

It was FPX's turn to choose between the second and third floors.

They decisively locked down Kai'Sa, the Daughter of the Void, and Vigus, the Cloudbringer!

"Kai'Sa and Vigus!" Guan Zeyuan analyzed. "Lwx picked his best dive-heavy marksman, while Doinb chose this mid-lane mage who isn't afraid of dives! Vigus's passive can interrupt Rakan's engage, and her ultimate can provide support from a super long distance! FPX's mid-jungle-support synergy is already halfway complete!"

The second round of election bans has begun.

EDG banned Twisted Fate as their fourth pick and Sylas as their fifth, continuing to target Doinb.

FPX banned Gwent as their fourth pick and Nightmare as their fifth, further limiting SuMo's champion pool.

"FPX has already banned three top laners!" Miller's voice was tinged with surprise. "They've made it clear that they absolutely won't let Mo get any champion that can dominate the lane today!"

Now, all eyes are on the remaining options for both sides.

FPX, positioned on the fourth floor, chose Deep Sea Titan for their support Crisp.

On the fourth floor of EDG, Viktor, the Mechanic, was chosen for mid laner Scout.

Now, only the top laners for both sides and EDG's final pick remain.

Amidst the anticipation of everyone, FPX's fifth floor player locked in Gragas for their champion top laner Nuguri!

"Gragas!" said Wawa. "A very solid choice! Nuguri's Gragas is tanky and deals damage, has sustain and wave clear, and his ultimate can disrupt formations. It's a versatile pick. Now, all the pressure is on EDG, especially on Mo. What kind of champion will he choose to counter FPX's aggressive engage composition?"

In EDG's team voice chat, Abu's calm voice rang out: "Brother Mozi, they banned several of your heroes. This game... what do you want to play?"

Su Mo's lips curled into a playful smile as he lazily said, "Since they're so afraid of me gaining an advantage online, then... I'll choose something they'll never expect."

Amidst the anticipation of everyone, on the fifth floor of EDG's map, the hero icons began to flash rapidly.

Finally, the picture freezes.

A short Yordle wearing goggles, with bushy white hair, appeared on the big screen.

The great inventor—Heimerdinger!
Big head!

"Om-"

The moment the hero was locked on, the scene fell into a deathly silence for three seconds, followed by a violent uproar!

"What is that?!" Miller exclaimed in the commentary booth, his eyes wide. "A big head? In the top lane! On the LPL finals stage! Player Mo pulled out... a big head!"

Wawa exclaimed, "What kind of interpretation is this?! My God! I've been commentating on matches for so many years, and apart from Mozi, I've never seen anyone dare to pick this hero in the top lane. Is he declaring to everyone that his hero pool is meaningless to him?!"

Guan Zeyuan forced himself to calm down and tried to analyze the situation from a tactical perspective: "But... if you think about it carefully, this choice seems... to make some sense! What is FPX's core strategy? It's to abandon the top lane and have the mid, jungle, and support coordinate to gank the bottom lane! And Heimerdinger doesn't need teammates at all! He just needs to place three turrets under his own tower to create an absolutely safe zone! He also has the ability to push towers quickly!"

This choice instantly sparked heated discussions!

The barrage comments on major live streaming platforms have been completely flooded with question marks and "outrageous".

On the FPX stand, Nuguri looked at the bouncing Yordle opposite him, his brows furrowed tightly.

He had imagined countless possibilities for the laning phase, but he never thought that he would be facing such an unreasonable lane bully.

The final lineup is confirmed:
Blue side FPX:

Top Lane: Gragas (Nuguri) Jungle: Jarvan IV (Tian)

Mid Lane: Vigus (Doinb), the Messenger of Sorrow

Marksman: Kai'Sa, the Daughter of the Void (Lwx)

Support: Nautilus (Crisp), the Deep Sea Titan

Red team EDG:

Top Lane: Heimerdinger, the Great Inventor

Jungle: Evelynn, the Embrace of Pain
Mid Lane: Viktor, the Mechanical Herald
Marksman: Ezreal, the Explorer

Support: Phantom Feather - Luo
"The lineups for both sides are now finalized!" Miller concluded. "An unprecedented showdown! FPX has brought out their most familiar and proficient mid-jungle-support aggressive engage composition, targeting EDG's bot lane! EDG, on the other hand, has built an unbreakable top lane fortress with an unheard-of top laner, Heimerdinger, and opted for a late-game composition focused on three cores! The key to this match lies in whether FPX's spear can shatter EDG's shield before it fully materializes!"

As the system's female voice announced "Welcome to Summoner's Rift," the first game of this highly anticipated finals officially began!

"The match has begun!" Miller's voice suddenly rose. "We can see that FPX's five players didn't choose a conventional start! They grouped up and directly invaded EDG's blue side bottom jungle! They're going to fight at level one!"

In FPX's team voice chat, Doinb's voice was full of passion and fervor: "Charge! Charge! Fight them at level one! Don't give them a chance to farm safely! Tian, ​​you go first!"

Tian's Prince took the lead, followed closely by Crisp's Titan. The five of them, like a well-trained army, charged aggressively towards EDG's Blue Buff area.

However, EDG's response was equally flawless!

"Meiko's Rakan placed a trinket ward at the entrance of the river bush right at level one!" Wawa said. "That ward placement was crucial! EDG saw through FPX's invasion intentions perfectly!"

In EDG's team voice chat, Meiko's voice rang out: "They're here, five of them! Jiejie, don't go over there, switch to the jungle! Mozi, watch out!"

Su Mo smiled and said, "If they want to fight, then fight with them. Jiejie, lure them over here. I've prepared some good stuff for them at Triangle Grass."

Just as the five FPX players were about to step into the river, SuMo's Heimerdinger had already set up three turrets in a triangular pattern in the triangular bush near the blue team's turret!

Tian and Crisp, who were walking at the very front, had just stepped into the triangular grass!

"Buzz!"

The three turrets were activated instantly, and the blue laser beams, like three deadly scalpels, precisely cut into the prince and the titan!
"Attack! Attack! Attack!" Seeing the situation was dire, Doinb not only did not retreat, but instead issued an even more aggressive command!

Crisp's Titan swung its hook and accurately hit Meiko, who came to provide support!

The level 1 team fight erupted instantly!
Jiejie's Evelynn used her Q skill, and Viper's Ezreal kept using his Q skill to kite her from behind!
The battlefield instantly descended into the most chaotic and fierce fighting!

However, everyone in FPX overlooked those three turrets that were firing wildly in the corner!

Their damage is ridiculously high at level 1!

Tian's prince's health dropped rapidly, forcing him to use Flash to retreat!

Doinb's Vigus, because she positioned herself slightly forward, was focused down by the turrets and other players, and her health instantly dropped to almost zero, forcing her to use Flash.

First blood, taken by Scout's Viktor!

"We won! EDG pulled off a perfect 0-for-1 exchange!" Miller exclaimed. "Mozi's Heimerdinger was incredibly effective in the level 1 team fight! He used three turrets to perfectly divide the battlefield and deal tons of damage! FPX's level 1 team fight invasion has backfired!"

FPX's team voice chat was completely silent.

Doinb stared at his gray screen, his face filled with disbelief.

With the help of his teammates, Su Mo's Heimerdinger took down FPX's Blue Buff with a clear conscience, and then hummed a little tune as he swayed towards the top lane.

Just one minute into the game, the script of the match began to unfold in a crazy direction that no one had anticipated.

The unexpected defeat in the level 1 team fight was like a heavy blow to FPX.

Doinb's death not only gave up the first blood, but also forced him to use his precious Flash, while Tian's Jarvan IV was also forced to use Flash to escape.

On EDG's side, Su Mo's head was not only unharmed, but he also managed to steal FPX's Blue Buff.

With this shift in balance, when the top laners of both teams officially met online, the scales had already visibly tipped.

Just as Miller said, when Nuguri's barrel clumsily twisted its fat body and cautiously walked to the line, it was met with the artillery array that Su Mo had already set up.

Su Mo calmly controlled the Heimerdinger, placing three Hextech Mini Cannons in a perfect equilateral triangle at the edge of the bush near his turret and in the center of the minion wave intersection.

These three turrets formed an absolute firepower coverage area, firmly controlling half of the minion wave.

Nuguri felt a little unwell.

If he wanted to finish off the enemy, he would have to get into the firing range of the emplacement.

He tried to use his Q ability, Rolling Barrel, to destroy the turret, but Heimerdinger's turret had a lot of health, and one barrel wasn't enough to take it down...

This is a dead end.

"Nuguri is having such a tough time right now!" Wawa exclaimed, looking at the suffocating laning scene on the screen. "Mo has him completely blocked by Mo's three turrets. He can't even risk entering the experience zone, let alone last-hitting minions. Mo doesn't even have to do anything; just standing there is enough to make Nuguri feel hopeless."

Su Mo's face remained expressionless.

He didn't actively try to whittle down Nuguri's health; instead, he stood quietly in the center of his turret position, using basic attacks to precisely finish off every low-health minion.

While last-hitting minions, he also moved forward to pressure the enemy, interfering with Gragas's last-hitting.

Su Mo quickly leveled up to level two and decisively used his E skill.

If Gragas dares to come closer, he can use his E to stun him and deal some damage. (End of Chapter)