LPL didn't want me? I joined SKT instead!

The factory manager had large hands, with knuckles that were somewhat rough from years of training, but the pressure he placed on iBoy's shoulder was extremely gentle, carrying the calm and steadiness characteristic of an older brother.

"Don't underestimate yourself. Your talent is undeniable; you are a genius." The factory manager's voice was deep, yet it sounded exceptionally clear in the eerily quiet rest room. "The reason we collapsed so quickly this game was due to tactical errors, not entirely your fault. As the jungler, I failed to apply enough counter-ganking pressure during the enemy's level six power spike. We definitely underestimated Xiao Yan's aggressiveness."

iBoy looked up, forcing back the tears that were still welling up in his eyes. He looked at the factory manager's face, which wasn't exactly handsome and even looked a little haggard from staying up all night, and the suffocating feeling that was almost drowning him finally eased a little.

"Ming-ge..." iBoy's voice was hoarse.

"Brother Zhao, don't think about it anymore, it's just the first game." Meiko also came over and handed over a bottle of mineral water that had been unscrewed. "That Xiao Yan on the other side is really weird, his R-flash prediction at that distance is freakish. Let's target him in the next game and get our rhythm back. You are our EDG's sharpest weapon, if you break down, our quarterfinals are really over."

Scout sat to the side, and although he was usually not very talkative, he spoke softly in broken Chinese: "Next game, I'll help the bot lane more in the mid lane, and we can win."

Mouse chuckled sheepishly and patted his chest: "Brother Zhao, next game I'll pick a tanky champion and protect you to the death. As long as you're alive, we can deal damage."

Looking at the concerned faces of his teammates, iBoy took a deep breath, took the water, and gulped down a large mouthful.

The cold liquid flowed down his throat, finally clearing his confused mind somewhat. He wiped his face, and the confusion in his eyes was gradually replaced by a stubbornness that bordered on desperation.

"I understand." iBoy stood up. Although he was still thin, the sharpness of a prodigy was slowly returning. "Next game, I won't be greedy. I'll play more steadily than anyone else."

Coach Abu clapped his hands, signaling everyone to gather: "Alright, we'll review the replay of the first game later. Right now, the most important thing is our mentality. In the second game, we'll specifically ban his Tristana and stick with the Ardent Censer strategy. Remember, this is Guangzhou, our home turf. Tens of thousands of people are chanting EDG outside; don't let them down!"

"EDG, keep fighting!"

Five hands were stacked together, pressed down heavily, and then suddenly lifted up.

……

When the five EDG players returned to the arena, the cheers in the Guangzhou Gymnasium nearly lifted the roof off. Despite their crushing defeat in the first game, LPL fans continued to cheer them on with their utmost enthusiasm.

On the big screen, the ban/pick phase for the second game has begun.

"Alright, welcome back! This is the second game of the 2017 World Championship quarterfinals between EDG and SKT!"

Miller's voice was still high-pitched, but with a hint of barely perceptible tension. "We can see that EDG, on the blue side, immediately banned Xiao Yan's Tristana, who had dominated the game in the previous match! This was a very wise choice."

"Yes, the way Xiao Yan plays Tristana is terrifying in terms of her jumping rhythm," Wawa added. "SKT banned Kog'Maw and Janna, still targeting the Ardent Censer system. Oh? EDG banned Galio as their second pick! Faker's Galio was also a pillar of strength in the last dragon fight."

The two sides engaged in fierce competition, and the final lineups were determined:

EDG: Top lane Maokai (Mouse), Jungle Jarvan IV (Clearlove7), Mid lane Orianna (Scout), ADC Varus (iBoy), Support Lulu (Meiko).

SKT: Top laner Gnar (Huni), Jungler Sejuani (Peanut), Mid laner Ryze (Faker), ADC Xayah (XiaoYan), Support Rakan (Wolf).

"iBoy picked Varus. Although this hero has no mobility, he has a long range and an ultimate for self-protection. Paired with Lulu, the laning phase will be very stable," Miller analyzed. "Xiao Yan picked Xayah, which is a hero that requires excellent positioning and kiting, and is also one of his signature heroes."

Game start.

iBoy seemed like a completely different person in this game.

He no longer tried to cross the minion wave to harass as frequently as in the first game, but instead stuck to the maximum distance for last-hitting minions.

Whenever XiaoYan's Xayah raises her hand to try and harass, iBoy always manages to dodge with a stiff but extremely effective movement.

"Stay calm! iBoy played very calmly this game!" Wawa exclaimed. "He would rather miss a ranged minion than give Xiao Yan a chance to use E-Flash to pull back the feather."

The factory manager also demonstrated his dominance as a top jungler in the LPL in this game.

At level four, the factory manager's Prince accurately spotted Peanut's Sejuani's jungle path and completed a textbook counter-jungle at the red buff, not only stealing the red buff but also securing first blood for Sejuani with the help of Scout who came to support!

"First Blood!"

The entire venue erupted in cheers!

"Factory Manager! This is Factory Manager!" Miller shouted excitedly. "EDG's early game tempo was excellent, with a lead in all three lanes, and their gold lead has already reached 2,000!"

Eight minutes later, the factory manager came to the top lane again and, together with Maokai, managed to kill Gnar.

EDG's momentum was unstoppable, as if they wanted to vent all the frustration from the first game.

At this moment, Xiao Yan, despite having a ten-creep lead over iBoy in the bottom lane, was unable to find a breakthrough. iBoy was like a stubborn rock sunk to the bottom of the water, unmoved by the wind and waves.

"Xiao, the other side is playing very steadily. We need to find an opportunity," Wolf reminded them in the voice chat.

Xiao Yan stared at the screen, a playful smile playing on his lips: "Stability? In the face of absolute rhythm, stability is just slow suicide. Waiting for the dragon for ten minutes is their Achilles' heel."

Ten minutes later, the first fire dragon spawned.

The attributes of the Fire Dragon are an irresistible temptation for any team.

"We need to make this play," the factory manager calmly ordered in the voice chat. "We have a lead now, Orianna has her ultimate, and Jarvan IV has his ultimate. As long as we trap two of them, the Infernal Dragon is ours, and we can also push down the tower."

EDG quickly cleared vision around the dragon pit and the five players regrouped.

"EDG wants to take this fire dragon! SKT is also moving this way, this team fight is about to break out!" Miller's voice was tense.

Inside the dragon pit, the fire dragon's health is decreasing. 3000, 2000...

"Now!"

Just as the dragon's health dropped to 1500, Wolf, who had been hovering above the dragon pit, suddenly launched an attack!

Luo's figure was like a phantom, R-Flash-W!

"Fleeting as a glimpse!"

This team fight was extremely abrupt, targeting EDG's backline. Meiko reacted incredibly quickly, Lulu instantly using Polymorph on Rakan, but Rakan's ultimate had already hit Varus and Orianna!

"Watch me!" Xiao Yan's voice rang out in SKT's voice chat.

Xayah, who was originally roaming on the edge of the flank, activated her W "Deadly Feather Robe" in that instant, and flashed into the fray like lightning!

But the position he flashed to wasn't to kill anyone; it was to adjust the angle of his feathers!

"Barb!"