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

In the backstage lounge of the Guangzhou Gymnasium, the air seemed to solidify into lead, making it hard to breathe.

In EDG's rest room, the big screen was still frozen on the scene of the previous game's crystal shattering. iBoy had his head down, his hands tightly clasped together, his knuckles white from the force.

Scout stared blankly at the match statistics panel. Meanwhile, Clearlove, the soul of the LPL, leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, his rapid breathing unusually clear in the quiet room.

That last dragon fight was like a heavy hammer, shattering not only their advantage but also their confidence. Xiao Yan's flash hook was like a ghostly hand reaching out from hell, dragging them back from the brink of victory.

"I... I should have used my big one first in that wave," iBoy murmured, his voice trembling slightly.

"It's not your fault." Meiko sighed, wanting to offer some words of comfort, but found her voice was also terribly hoarse. "It's that Xiao Yan... he calculated it too accurately. The timing of his entry was exactly during the vacuum period when our skills were being switched."

Dead silence. Still dead silence.

This kind of deathly silence is more terrifying than losing the game; it represents a sense of powerlessness, a despair when facing a strong opponent and realizing that no matter how hard you try, you cannot overcome the gap.

"Bang!"

Coach Abu slammed his hand on the table, the loud noise startling everyone, who all looked up.

Abu looked around, his face ashen, but his eyes burned with an almost insane flame.

"What's wrong? You're already dead?" Abu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a piercing power. "Look at me! All of you, look at me!"

The factory director opened his eyes and looked at his old comrade-in-arms who had been with him for many years.

"0-2, do you feel like the sky is falling? Do you think SKT is invincible? Do you think that Xiao Yan is a monster?" Abu sneered. "Yes, they are very strong, outrageously strong. But who are you? You are EDG! The number one seed of the LPL! The last line of defense guarding your home stadium in Guangzhou!"

"Do you want this to end here?" Abu stepped forward, walking into the crowd. "To be swept 3-0 in your own backyard, in front of tens of thousands of spectators, and then slink away like stray dogs? Are you willing to accept that?"

"I'm not reconciled..." Mouse muttered softly.

"Speak louder! Haven't you eaten?" Abu roared.

"We're not reconciled!" the five shouted in unison.

"Alright! If you're not satisfied, then stand up!" Abu pointed to the door. "The match isn't over yet! A comeback from 0-2 down to win 3-2, others can pull off this kind of play, but we, EDG, can't? The Bird's Nest in S7, that's every professional player's dream! Do you want to go to the Bird's Nest? Do you want to lift the trophy in that golden rain?"

The factory manager slowly stood up, the confusion in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a resolute determination. It was the last stubbornness of an old general, the murderous intent of a desperate battle.

"Coach, I understand." The factory manager straightened his team uniform, his voice becoming unusually firm. "This time, I want to take the one I'm most confident in. Even if we lose, I'll fight to the death."

"Me too." Scout looked up, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Alright." Abu nodded emphatically. "In that case, let's go all out! Bring out all your trump cards! We'll show SKT that no one can easily take victory on LPL turf!"

When the five EDG players walked out of the player tunnel again, the audience was stunned for a moment, and then burst into applause like a tsunami.

"EDG! Go for it!"

"EDG! Go for it!"

The shouts were so loud that the roof of the stadium trembled slightly.

In the commentary booth, Miller and Doll also sensed this unusual atmosphere.

"Welcome back, viewers. This is the third game of the S7 World Championship quarterfinals, EDG vs. SKT. SKT is currently leading 2-0." Miller's voice was slightly hoarse. "But I have to say, looking at the expressions on the EDG players' faces, they haven't been defeated. That look... I've only ever seen it when they won championships."

"That's right, it's a do-or-die situation," Wawa added. "And everyone should note that EDG is on the blue side this game, so they'll have more options in the draft phase."

The large screen then switched to the BP interface.

"SKT will definitely ban Kalista on the red side; they can't let her through," Miller analyzed. "Look at EDG's first ban... Oh? They banned Rakan! That's to prevent Xiao Yan and Wolf from getting the Xayah-Rakan combo."

The bans were very quick. SKT banned Sejuani, Jarvan IV, and Galio. EDG banned Rakan, Ryze, and Jayce.

"What should EDG pick first? In the Ardent Censer meta, Janna or Lulu?"

"It's locked! It's... Lee Sin!" the doll exclaimed. "Clearlove! It's Clearlove's Lee Sin! In this patch where Ardent Censer monsters are rampant, when everyone is picking tanky junglers to protect the backline, Clearlove has brought out his signature Lee Sin!"

The audience erupted in cheers.

In SKT's seat, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

"Lee Sin? Interesting." Xiao Yan's slender fingers tapped lightly on the keyboard. "Looks like they're really desperate. Coach KkOma, since they want to play early game, let's play along."

SKT countered by picking Tristana and Braum.

SKT countered by picking Tristana and Braum.

Immediately afterwards, the lineups of both sides gradually took shape.

EDG: Top lane Maokai (Mouse), Jungle Lee Sin (Clearlove), Mid lane Syndra (Scout), Bot lane Xayah (iBoy), Support Janna (Meiko).

SKT: Top lane Gnar (Huni), Jungle Gragas (Peanut), Mid lane Orianna (Faker), Bot lane Tristana (Xiao Yan), Support Braum (Wolf).

"EDG's lineup is all about playing fast and slow in the early to mid-game. Syndra and Lee Sin's jungle synergy is crucial." Miller stared intently at the screen. "On SKT's side, Xiao Yan got Tristana. This champion's tower-pushing speed and late-game cleanup ability are equally terrifying."

The competition has officially begun.

As soon as they entered the game, the five players from EDG displayed completely different auras.

"First-level regiment, move out!" the factory manager commanded decisively over the voice chat.

The five players grouped up and directly invaded SKT's red buff jungle. This aggressive playstyle completely caught SKT off guard.

"Xiao Yan, they're coming," Wolf warned.

"Give up, give them the red buff, I'll switch jungle." Peanut was very calm; SKT's style has always been to avoid direct confrontation.

But the factory manager had no intention of just taking one red buff. Lee Sin had learned the Q skill, and after stealing the red buff, he directly led Scout in the mid lane to forcefully flank SKT's F6 camp.

"Faker" Oops! The factory manager played really aggressively this game!

Three minutes later, after securing both buffs, the factory manager didn't choose to farm the jungle as usual, but instead went straight to the mid lane.

"Scout, push the lane, I'm flanking!"

The factory manager, playing Lee Sin, landed a precise Q skill on a low-health minion behind the F6 wall, followed by a second Q to fly over, and the instant he landed, he placed a ward and used W, perfectly setting the angle for a roundhouse kick.

Although he hasn't reached level six yet, the factory manager's intention is very clear: to force him to use Flash!

Faker reacted extremely quickly, flashing back to the tower the instant Lee Sin appeared.

"Forced the Demon King to use Flash! Clearlove's momentum is taking off!"