LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

With the arrival of the entire EDG team in Atlanta, the public opinion atmosphere at home and abroad has gradually been ignited.

In particular, a Weibo post by LPL official commentator Guan Zeyuan was like a bombshell, directly causing chaos in the entire Anti-Pressure Back-Swap forum and the Hupu esports section.

Guan Zeyuan: Let's predict the quarterfinal scores. JDG 3:0 RGE, T1 3:0 RNG (although I emotionally support RNG, T1 is in such good form), Gen.G 3:2 DK. Finally, EDG 3:1 DRX. I think DRX has resilience, especially Beryl, and might be able to steal a point from EDG.

The comment section was instantly flooded with comments after the post was published.

With EDG undefeated in the group stage and Mo Shen dominating every game, predicting that EDG would lose a game is seen as utterly outrageous by netizens!
【? ? ? ? ? ? 】

[Are you out of your mind, DRX? 3:1? Tell me, how can DRX win a game?]

[You're a K-pop fanboy, huh? DRX, a team that came up from the play-in stage, thinks they can compete with Mozi?]

Are you looking down on Mozi's top lane play, or on Viper's Aphelios?

[Hilarious! If DRX wins even one game, I'll do a handstand while washing my hair! This is definitely a 3-0 game!]

[Even though you're known for your jinxed predictions, could you please stop being so toxic this time? EDG is in such good form right now, they're aiming for a perfect championship!]

The netizens' anger is not without reason.

In the original timeline, DRX was indeed a dark horse that made a remarkable comeback.

But in this world, Su Mo's presence allowed EDG to demonstrate overwhelming dominance.

In most people's eyes, this was a crushing defeat.

Atlanta, training facility near State Farm Stadium.

Su Mo was scrolling through her phone when she saw Guan Zeyuan's Weibo post, which had been criticized by tens of thousands of people, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

“The colonel does understand metaphysics.” Su Mo handed his phone to Jiejie next to him. “Look, he said we are 3:1, which means DRX does have something special.”

Jiejie curled her lip, looking disdainful: "What's so special about him? Zeka's Akali is indeed strong, but Scout's been in good form lately too. As for top lane... Kingen? To be honest, I don't remember him."

Su Mo's smile faded, and his eyes became somewhat deep.

Only he knew that in the original historical trajectory, it was this inconspicuous DRX that completed an incredible reverse sweep in the quarterfinals, sending away the defending champion EDG.

That boy named Zeka will suddenly become incredibly powerful, like he's been given a cheat code, while Kingen will evolve into a "Sword Demon Jinchuriki" in the finals.

Of course, the most terrifying one is the support Beryl, who is known as "Genshin Impact Bro".

"Don't underestimate them." Su Mo stood up, clapped his hands, and signaled everyone to gather. "Although Guan Zeyuan's prediction was criticized, he was right about one thing—Beryl is a variable. I need you all to be on your toes in this quarterfinals."

Abu also came over, holding a thick stack of documents: "That's right. According to intelligence, DRX has been practicing some strange bot lane combinations recently, such as Heimerdinger support and Ashe support. Meiko, you need to be prepared."

Meiko nodded, her expression complicated: "Don't worry, I'll be careful. I know Deft very well."

When Deft was mentioned, the atmosphere in the training room fell silent for a moment.

Kim Hyuk-kyu, the man who left behind countless legends and regrets at EDG.

This may be the last dance of his career.

Su Mo broke the silence: "There are no brothers on the field. The best way to ensure his dignity is to send him home with your strongest strength."

Everyone:...

……

The quarterfinals officially began on October 21.

Day 1: JDG vs RGE.

There is no suspense.

JDG demonstrated the absolute strength of the LPL's second seed. 369's Gragas stood like a mountain in their path, while Kanavi's Graves treated RGE's jungle like their own backyard.

3: 0.

As the sole representative from Europe, RGE was swept out of the competition before they could even force JDG to reveal all their cards.

Hope grinned from ear to ear during the post-match interview: "It felt like I didn't even put in much effort before the match was over."

Day 2: T1 vs RNG.

This was a match that broke the hearts of LPL viewers.

Despite being crushed by EDG in the group stage, T1 has shown impressive strength.

Faker, in particular, was in amazing form, taking turns teaching Akali and Ryze.

Although Zeus had been trained by Su Mo, he still handled Breathe with ease, using Yone to dominate the entire field.

The most desperate situation is in the bottom lane, where the combination of Gumayusi and Keria thrives in the meta dominated by big carries.

0: 3.

RNG suffered a crushing defeat, ending their run in the quarterfinals.

LPL viewers are in despair. Even the most optimistic fans can't help but worry for the remaining teams after seeing T1 in this state.

Of course, except for EDG.

Day 3: Gen.G vs DK.

LCK internal battle, a clash of gods.

Canyon brought out his carry, Kayn, and almost single-handedly turned the tide. But Gen.G's two carries—Chovy and Ruler—were just too solid.

In the end, Gen.G narrowly defeated DK 3-2.

The image of Showmaker slumped in his chair has once again become a classic moment in the World Championship.

Su Mo felt a little sorry for him, after all, Showmaker seemed to admire him quite a bit.

But what's done is done, and there's no point in saying anything more.

Finally, the day arrived at October 24th.

The final match of the quarterfinals.

EDG vs DRX.

The State Farm Arena in Atlanta is brightly lit.

On the giant battle screen, one side displayed the logo of the defending champion, the undefeated demon king EDG, while the other side featured the fourth seed from LCK, the challenger DRX, who had fought their way up through a bumpy road.

In the back-end channel.

Su Mo was organizing his peripheral bag.

Meiko stared blankly ahead, where the DRX players were standing.

Deft had his back to them, and his thin figure looked somewhat frail.

"What? Have you softened your heart?" Su Mo walked to Meiko's side and asked in a low voice.

Meiko shook her head and took a deep breath: "No. I just feel... time flies by."

Su Mo patted him on the shoulder: "Go on, get on stage. Don't forget, we're the villains. In their script, we're supposed to be the big bad devils who destroy dreams. Hehehe..."

Meiko's lips twitched: "I have to say, Brother Mozi, you're really good at playing villains."

…………

"Welcome to the quarterfinals of the S12 World Championship!"

Guan Zeyuan, Jide, and Cat were already in the commentary booth.

Guan Zeyuan wore a black suit today and looked serious: "Although everyone online is criticizing my prediction of 3:1, I still have to say that DRX is a resilient team and they don't have any mental burden. Although EDG is strong, we must not let our guard down."

Remember nodded: "That's right. Deft's 'Last Dance' buff shouldn't be underestimated. And Kingen and Zeka have been on fire lately."

The players from both sides take the stage.

When Deft walked out, the crowd erupted in cheers. This veteran's perseverance earned him the respect of the world.

But then, when Su Mo led the five-man EDG team to the stage, the cheers instantly turned into a menacing roar.

"EDG! EDG!"

That was a homage to the king.

Su Mo sat in the leftmost seat, adjusted the mouse, and looked calmly at the screen.

He knew that in the original timeline, EDG had crashed and burned here.

For example, that famous crystal resurrection, or the backline that was decimated by the Aatrox.

“But this time,” Su Mo said with a slight smile, his fingers tapping lightly on the keyboard, “I’ll revise the script.”

BP officially begins.

In the first game, EDG had the first choice of side, the blue side.

DRX was very targeted from the start, banning Riven, Jayce, and Gangplank.

"Still the same old three things," Su Mo chuckled. "Kingen is still so afraid of dying."

EDG's first three bans: Heimerdinger, Ashe, and Caitlyn.

"Block Beryl!" Guan Zeyuan's eyes lit up. "EDG did the right thing! That's exactly what I was worried about. Beryl's research ability is too strong. We must shut down his strange support!"

Selection stage.

EDG first pick:
Sword Demon!

"I'll take it!" Remember shouted. "Since you banned three of my heroes, I'll just steal your signature hero! Kingen has been playing Aatrox really well lately, so Mozi will just take it!"

DRX reverses its selection:

Sylas + Sejuani.

Zeka's signature Sylas, and utility jungler.

EDG second and third floors:
Graves + Akali.

Jiejie played Graves as a jungle carry, while Scout picked Akali to go head-to-head with Zeka.

DRX third and fourth floor supplement:
Camille + Varus.

Kingen chose Camille to counter Aatrox, hoping to control him through split pushing.

The last two hands.

EDG has added a new bot lane duo: Lucian and Nami. DRX's support Beryl, at the last moment, locked in an unexpected champion.

Lenata.

The lineup is finalized.

Blue side EDG: Top laner Aatrox, jungler Graves, mid laner Akali, AD carry Lucian, support Nami.

Red team DRX: Top lane Camille, Jungle Sejuani, Mid lane Sylas, AD Varus, Support Lena.

"This game is interesting." Su Mo looked at the opposing team's lineup. "Kingen picked Camille against Aatrox? Has he forgotten that I'm also familiar with Camille?"

The game has finished loading.

Su Mo controlled the Sword Demon, bought a Doran's Shield, and headed to the top lane.

This time, instead of ambushing in the level 1 bushes, he stood directly in the middle of the minion wave.

That posture was like a declaration:

This time, I'm going to clear the top lane.

"Army attack!"

As the system notification sounded, the final match of the S12 quarterfinals officially began.

Meanwhile, in the far East, countless viewers in front of their screens are holding their breath in anticipation.

In this battle, will the Demon King continue his reign, or will the dark horse create a miracle?
Su Mo glanced at Jiejie's location on the minimap and said softly:
"Jiejie, let's go straight to level three."

"I want to show Kingen what the true value of being called the 'world's best top laner' really means."

At 1 minute and 30 seconds, the entire army launched an attack.

The air in Atlanta was thick with the tense smell of gunpowder.

Su Mo, controlling the Sword Demon, did not choose the conventional bush positioning, but instead swaggered across the minion wave and stood right in front of the DRX ranged minion.

This is an extremely aggressive stance.

Kingen's Camille learned W [Tactical Sweep] at level 1, attempting to use the outer edge of the skill to scratch Aatrox and finish him off.

The moment the Steel Shadow raised her leg, Su Mo moved.

A Q-segment [Darkin Blade]!
The greatsword in Aatrox's hand slammed down, not towards the person, but towards the fan-shaped edge of Camille's W skill.

At the same time, Su Mo made a small step to the side and front, just inside Camille's W circle—avoiding the high damage and slow from the outer circle, and allowing his Q1 sword strike to accurately knock up Kingen!

"Such precise positioning!" the commentator exclaimed. "It's already level one? Kingen tried to farm some minions, but got completely wiped out?"

Kingen's heart skipped a beat. A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

This sense of distance instantly brought back unpleasant memories for him.

Fortunately, Aatrox didn't have much of a suppressive force in the early game.

The score remained unchanged until 3 minutes and 10 seconds had elapsed.

Su Mo controlled the top lane minion wave tightly, forcing Kingen to cower in front of the tower and miss out on the experience of an entire wave of minions.

"Jiejie, have we arrived?" Su Mo asked indifferently, glancing at the mini-map.

"Get in position."

After clearing the red buff, Jiejie's Graves bypassed the river vision and reached the tri-bush behind DRX's top lane turret.

This was an extremely daring flanking gank, betting that Pyosik's Sejuani would protect Deft in the bottom half of the map.

Su Mo smiled slightly and led a large wave of minions into the tower.

The moment the minion wave reached the tower, Graves suddenly appeared from behind!
"They're flanking! Level 3 tower dive!" Guan Zeyuan shouted. "EDG is playing too aggressively! Kingen still has Flash and his E skill, can he even make a play?"

Kingen reacted quickly, using his E to shoot a hook at the wall, intending to use the second part of his E to stun Graves and then escape using the dash.

If you manage to kick Graves, combined with the turret damage, you might even be able to turn the tables and get a kill!

However, Su Mo had already seen through everything.

Just as the steel shadow slammed against the wall and its body launched out,

W connects to Q2!

This attack did not strike the spot where Camille was hanging on the wall, but rather anticipated her aerial path during her second E flight!
"Intercept in mid-air!!!"

There was a muffled thud.

The steel shadow, flying in mid-air, was slammed down from the sky by Aatrox's Q2!

Knocked away!

The Flame Chains are activated, pull back!
Jiejie's Graves followed up with AQE, and Su Mo added the third Q.

Kingen didn't even have time to use Flash before he was instantly killed by the chain of crowd control.

"First Blood!"

First blood secured!

"My God! What kind of prediction is that?!" Cat gasped on the commentary stage. "To knock Camille down during her E, that requires not only fast hands but also perfect distance control! Kingen is stunned!"

Su Mo secured the first blood but didn't rush to leave. Instead, he tanked two hits from the tower to help Jiejie share the damage before calmly leaving the tower.

"Is this the fourth seed from LCK?" Su Mo said softly. "It's not good enough."

……

Game time is 8 minutes.

The snowball on the road has already turned into an avalanche.

Su Mo returned home and crafted the Serrated Dagger and Caulfield's Warhammer, putting him one level ahead of Kingen.

Kingen's Camille was now only equipped with a Sheen and straw sandals, looking utterly pathetic.

“Help me this once, Pyosik,” Kingen said in the voice chat. “He’s pushing too far into the lane, he doesn’t have Flash, we can kill him.”

Pyosik's Sejuani had just finished clearing the Rift Herald and glanced at the top lane. Indeed, Aatrox was pressing in front of the tower, which looked like an opportunity.

“Zeka, you come too.” Pyosik cautiously called on Sylas, who had just reached level 6 in the mid lane.

DRX's top, mid, and jungle players assemble, determined to take down this arrogant Sword Demon.

"This is going to be bad! DRX has used three abilities!" Guan Zeyuan exclaimed nervously. "Mozi didn't use Flash, he's too far in! Zeka stole Graves' ultimate, his burst damage is huge!"

Su Mo looked at Sejuani and Sylas flanking from the river, his eyes showing no panic, but rather a bloodthirsty excitement.

"Three? Perfect, saves me the trouble of looking for them one by one."

"Jiejie, don't come here. Go to the bottom lane and take the dragon. I can handle this."

Su Mo faced a massive army all alone.

Pyosik's Sejuani took the initiative, using Q-flash to unleash the Frost Prison!
The ultimate move was unleashed, aimed directly at the Sword Demon.

Su Mo's eyes narrowed, and he took a small step backward with his E. Although he was still slowed down by the edge of Sejuani's ultimate, he avoided the center of the stun effect!
R [Great Annihilation] activated!
The enormous wings of the Darkin demon unfurled, and crimson blood energy instantly enveloped the entire top lane.

"Take this as a warning!!!"

Instead of retreating, Su Mo advanced, using Q1 to directly attack the charging Sejuani and Sylas.

Zeka used Sylas's E skill to pull in and unleashed a burst of damage on Aatrox.

The Sword Demon's health dropped by half instantly.

"Die!" Kingen's Camille also rushed up the wall, and the Hextech ultimatum was cast!

Three people ganged up on him!

It seems like a desperate situation!

But Su Mo's face only showed a cold smile.

"In this field, I am God!"

He pressed Q2 immediately!

Adjust the angle to knock Sejuani and Camille into the air at the same time!
The passively granted death sword energy struck the most vulnerable Blue Steel Shadow.

He immediately regained a large amount of blood.

Kingen was devastated to discover that his Camille, who was at full health, had lost two-thirds of her health in one strike plus Q2!

Because Su Mo was wearing armor!
"Destroy it!"

Q3!

Instead of smashing the weakened Blue Steel Shadow, Su Mo slammed down hard on Sylas's position!
The moment he slammed down, he flashed to the face of Camille.

Center hit!

He then took down Camille with a single slash.

The Great Annihilation Refresh!

Movement speed skyrockets!
Su Mo turned around and chased after Sejuani and Sylas, who had no skills left, and attacked them.

Sejuani, with her thick skin, withstood two hits, but Sylas, without any abilities, clearly couldn't withstand the attacks.

Finally, Scout, controlling Akali, arrived.

With Akali's help, Su Mo retrieved Sylas's head.

Double Kill!

In the end, only Pig Girl managed to escape.

Su Mo did not give chase, but stood amidst the corpses scattered on the ground and returned to the city.

At this moment, the whole place was silent.

"God! This is God!" the North American commentator shouted, clutching his head. "This isn't a match, it's a massacre! DRX's top half of the map looks like it's about to be destroyed by one person!"

...(End of chapter)