LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

The atmosphere in RNG's team voice chat seemed somewhat subdued.

Everyone's heart was in their throat.

"We can't let this little dragon go," Ming said. He knew that once EDG got the Infernal Dragon Soul, there would be virtually no hope of turning the game around.

"How do we fight?" Wei looked at the dark river. "We have no vision; charging in would just be suicide."

“I’ll use my ultimate to scout ahead,” Cryin’s Ryze walked to the wall behind the dragon pit. “If we can force them out of their positions, we’ll decide what to do next. Xiaohu, you apply pressure from the side. Gala, you stay at the back and don’t get caught out first.”

"understand!"

"Roger that!"

The RNG team quickly reached a consensus.

They had no choice but to gamble their fate on this final gamble.

Meanwhile, on the LPL's official commentary desk, the three commentators were speaking at an extremely fast pace.

"RNG has made their move! They haven't given up! They're going to engage in this Dragon Soul team fight!" Miller's voice was filled with tension. "This is their last chance of the game! If they lose this team fight, then congratulations to EDG!"

“But their vision disadvantage is too great,” Wawa frowned. “The five EDG players are like they’ve vanished, all lurking in the darkness. RNG is walking a tightrope every step of the way!”

Guan Zeyuan stared intently at the screen: "RNG's only chance of winning lies in whether Ming's Leona can find a miraculous angle to use her ultimate to initiate on Viper's Miss Fortune! As long as they can kill Viper instantly, they will have a chance!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"coming."

In EDG's team voice chat, Meiko said something.

He had a clear view of RNG's movements through the wards he had placed deep in RNG's jungle.

"They're probably going to use Ryze's ultimate to flank from behind. Jiejie, keep an eye on the area behind the dragon pit and don't let them in. Scout, stand in front. If their Jarvan IV dares to EQ in, fear him immediately."

“Brother Mozi,” Meiko’s gaze shifted to Kennen, who was quietly lurking on the flank on the minimap, “it’s up to you.”

"Ah."

Su Mo simply responded with a faint sound, his finger already lightly resting on the shortcut key for teleportation.

On the screen, RNG's move has begun!

Cryin's Ryze activated his ultimate, and a huge portal lit up behind the dragon pit!
But just as the portal was about to take shape, Jiejie's Xin Zhao had already positioned himself at the landing point, his spear pointing straight ahead.

Seeing this, the RNG players had no choice but to abandon their idea of ​​flanking, and Wei's Prince even canceled his teleportation.

"RNG's flanking maneuver failed!" Miller exclaimed. "Jiejie's defensive awareness is too good!"

On the front lines, Ming's Leona seized an opportunity, using her E skill [Zenith Blade] from a tricky angle to target Meiko, who was positioned further forward.

But Meiko reacted even faster!
Almost the instant Leona made her move, he swallowed Viper whole, simultaneously activating his W ability [Thick Skin] to withstand Leona's subsequent control and damage!
Just when RNG was in a dilemma, the lightning bolt they feared most finally lit up!

"It's now!"

A glint of light flashed in Su Mo's eyes!
He suddenly burst out from the flank and rear of RNG's formation, from a spot where their vision had been missed!
flash!

Kennen's figure instantly traversed hundreds of yards, appearing right in front of Gala and Cryin in RNG's backline!
E Skill [Ultimate! Thunder Armor] activated!
Ultimate move – [Secret Technique! Thunderous Prison Summoning]!
"boom--!!!"

A thunderstorm even more devastating than the last one has struck again!
"Another thunderbolt!!! Brother Mozi has once again found a god-like entry opportunity!!" Guan Zeyuan's voice cracked with excitement!
RNG's backline carries had their health bars instantly emptied in that deadly lightning strike!
"Double Kill!"

Su Mo's Kennen secured a double kill!

Wei's Prince desperately used EQ to land a ultimate, trying to take down one of EDG's players, but Scout's Vigus simply used W to terrify him once again.

Viper's Miss Fortune was spat out of Tahm Kench's mouth unharmed. He didn't even bother to activate his ultimate, simply using his Q skill and basic attacks to easily reap the battlefield.

The team battle was decided in an instant.

RNG suffered a crushing defeat.

"ACE!!!"

EDG once again achieved a perfect team wipe with a 0-for-5 exchange!
In front of RNG's base crystal, Gala leaned back weakly in his gaming chair, his eyes glazed over.

He didn't even have time to unleash a single effective basic attack before he fell into the purple lightning.

That feeling of powerlessness was even more despairing than the previous wave of team wipes.

"It's over, completely over." Miller let out a long sigh of relief. "EDG showed the world why they are the number one seed in the LPL with two team fights that were nothing short of works of art. Their defensive counter-attack system was on full display in this match."

Wawa nodded and said, "Yes, RNG played very tenaciously. They stuck to their best playstyle, but EDG's draft and on-the-spot response were just too perfect. Especially Mo's Kennen, his two key entries completely determined the course of the game. This MVP should be a foregone conclusion."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The live stream chat was now completely flooded with "666".

Is this the overwhelming power of the world's best? RNG has done everything they could, but they still couldn't stop them!

Two waves of lightning bolts completely stunned RNG; it was too cruel!

[My poor Gou Dan, Gala did his best, but there's really no way to improve this lineup.]

[Stop talking, EDG was aiming for the championship, RNG's loss was not undeserved.]

[Champagne's already popping! EDG sweeps the court 3-0! Who will they face next?]

Don't jinx it! This is only the first game! Believe in RNG! Never give up!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After wiping out the opponent, the five EDG players didn't even bother with the dragon that was already within their grasp.

"One wave! One wave!" Meiko shouted in the voice chat.

They marched in with the mid-lane minions, making a grand entrance onto RNG's high ground.

The RNG players watched helplessly as the countdown ended in the fountain, their base turrets being destroyed one by one.

Finally, the main crystal exploded under the combined fire of the five people!
【VICTORY】

A huge victory emblem slowly appeared in the center of the screens of the five EDG players.

In the first game, EDG dominated and took the lead.

"Nice!"

Jiejie excitedly took off her headphones, while the other team members seemed much calmer, simply giving each other a high five in celebration.

On the other side of the stage, at RNG's booth, the atmosphere was deathly silent.

Xiao Hu rubbed his sore eyes, while Wei gripped his hair tightly. Everyone's face was filled with confusion.

The team members forced themselves to stay focused, their faces betraying their disappointment. The passageway leading to the players' lounge seemed exceptionally long and cold at that moment.

The only sounds here were the heavy footsteps and deep breathing of the five of them.

No one spoke; in the deathly silence, an atmosphere of defeat permeated the air.

Back in the lounge, Wei ran his hands through his hair, looking distressed.

“My…my problem…” he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, “Ryze was driving, I shouldn’t have followed him down…I was overcome with fear the moment I landed, and I evaporated without doing anything…”

“It’s not your fault.” Ming walked to his side and gently patted his back. “It’s all our fault. They tricked our BP; that Vigust was too effective against us. And… that Kennen…”

The image of those two purple lightning bolts, descending from the sky like divine punishment, resurfaced in everyone's minds once again.

That was an inescapable despair, a despair that one could only watch helplessly as their screen turned gray.

“I should have thought of that,” Xiaohu leaned against the wall, his face full of bitter self-mockery. “Three bans on top laners didn’t work… He always manages to pick a hero that you never expect, but just happens to be able to end the game. That guy… is a monster.”

They did countless mental preparations before the match and anticipated that they might lose, or even be swept 3-0.

They knew EDG was very strong, and they knew Su Mo was an insurmountable obstacle.

However, rational understanding and the overwhelming sense of powerlessness experienced firsthand are two completely different feelings.

That sense of resentment, like vines, entwined around everyone's hearts, making it hard for them to breathe.

At this moment, RNG's head coach Tabe finally spoke:

"Cheer up, everyone."

His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed an irresistible power.

The team members instinctively straightened their backs.

“We lost, and I know you’re upset. I’m upset too.” Tabe looked around. “In the first game, we were completely outmatched by them in every aspect, from the draft to the gameplay. There’s no denying that. EDG is very strong, and Mo is an unreasonable player.”

He paused, then changed the subject: "But this is only the first game of a best-of-five series! What's with all of you hanging your heads? Have you forgotten how we fought our way out of the group stage?"

"Our strongest weapon is our resilience!" Tabe's voice gradually rose. "They have their operations, their defense and counter-attacks, but we also have what we are most proud of! That is fighting! It's rhythm! It's never giving up on offense!"

Tabe's words rekindled the flames that had been extinguished in the team members' eyes.

Yes, it's just one game lost, the match isn't over yet!
---

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in EDG's rest room was relaxed.

"Great!" Abu smiled and handed each player a bottle of water. "We showed our momentum in the first game! The draft was excellent, and we didn't give them any chances in the game. Let's keep this up and play steadily."

The factory manager nodded in agreement: "RNG is definitely in a hurry now. In the next game, they will definitely choose an even earlier lineup to fight us to the death. We just need to..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a lazy voice.

"Let's let Flandre play next." Su Mo leaned back in his chair and stretched. "I'm a little tired, I'm going to take a break and relax."

"Pfft!" Jiejie almost spat out the mouthful of water she had just drunk. "No way, Mozi? Not again? This is the quarterfinals of the World Championship! Wouldn't it be better to just go home with a 3-0 victory? Can you please curb your slacking off habit a little!"

Scout and Viper also cast helpless glances, clearly unfazed by this situation.

Abu and the factory manager exchanged a glance, both seeing a familiar headache in each other's eyes.

"Abu thought for a moment and said, 'If it's the quarterfinals, shouldn't we take the match point first before slacking off?'"

"Hey, Sister Bu," Su Mo waved his hand, "RNG's mentality must be affected right now. Let Flandre step in for the next game, it'll be a good opportunity to see what tactics they'll use when they're pushed to the brink. Besides, I believe in Flandre's skill, beating RNG is a piece of cake, right?"

Saint Gun, listening intently, was filled with excitement and immediately stood up: "Coach, I can do it! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

Abu could only sigh helplessly in the end: "Fine, fine, whatever! But it's a deal, if we lose this round, you have to come up for the third round!"

"Don't worry, no problem." Su Mo gave an "OK" sign and slumped back into his chair with a sense of relief.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As the halftime break ended and the commentators and audience eagerly prepared for the second game, a sudden message stunned everyone.

"We just received a message from the director!" Miller said helplessly, "EDG has made a roster change in the second game! Top laner Mo will be temporarily benched and replaced by substitute top laner Flandre!"

Guan Zeyuan adjusted his glasses and fell into a brief silence: "All I can say is that only Brother Mozi would do something like this—choosing to substitute someone when things are going so well for him..."

The chat room exploded with comments after a second of silence.

【? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 】

[Did I hear that right? Mozi has been substituted?]

[EDG has gone mad??? This is the World Championship quarterfinals! Not the Demacia Cup! Why are they making roster changes here?]

[Classic! Mozi's classic slacking off! I knew it! This guy definitely thinks leaving get off work at 3:0 is too early!]

[Although I'm used to it, this is a match against RNG! This is disrespectful to our opponents!]

[Don't get excited, upstairs. What if Brother Mozi just went to the bathroom? (doge)]

This news reached RNG's rest area immediately.

A staff member rushed in, panting, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Coach! EDG has made a substitution! Mo can't play! They've brought in Flandre!"

"what?!"

"real or fake?!"

The entire lounge erupted in chaos.

The tense atmosphere was instantly dispelled by a surge of ecstatic joy!

Xiao Hu jumped up from his chair and repeatedly asked, "Are you sure? Is the source reliable?"

"Absolutely true! The official list has been submitted!"

"Hahahaha!!" Xiao Hu could no longer contain his joy. He plopped back down in his chair, let out a long sigh of relief, and felt as if the mountain that had been weighing on his heart had been lifted away in an instant.

He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Although Saint Gun Bro is also very strong, compared to Su Mo, who the hell would want to fight Su Mo!
"An opportunity! The opportunity has arrived!" Tabe's eyes gleamed, and he slammed his hand on the tactical board. "This is the opportunity they gave us! Everyone listen up, keep the same tactics, even more aggressive! Although Flandre is strong, his dominance is nowhere near Mo's level! Xiaohu, this game, make the top lane your breakthrough point and crush him! Wei, you stay in the top lane! Our chance has come!"

"clear!!!"

Inside RNG's rest room, morale instantly soared to its peak.

Everyone seemed to be injected with adrenaline, their eyes rekindling their desire for victory.

They knew this might be their only lifeline in this brutal best-of-five series! (End of Chapter)