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

The arrow pierced precisely through the gaps in the front-line tanks and struck the AFs mid-lane mage squarely on the heart.

The withered quiver exploded, and with Luden's Echo, the mage at full health instantly lost two-thirds of his health!

"Damn it! I don't understand this damage!"

Immediately afterwards, the ultimate move, [Chains of Corruption], spread through the crowd like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, instantly immobilizing three people.

"Nice!" Faker's eyes lit up, and he immediately flashed in to reap the rewards.

ACE!

Destroy the group!

The moment the base crystal exploded, Xiao Yan's score was frozen at 8-0-6. He won the game and also reaped the enemy ADC's armor penetration bonus, but only a few attribute points; unlike Ruler, he didn't directly unleash his signature hero.

This time, when the director's camera focused on Xiao Yan, the boos from the audience were almost inaudible. Instead, a series of hesitant yet uncontrollable gasps of amazement gradually rose.

In the commentary booth, the "Roaring Emperor" Jeon Yong-jun excitedly shouted:

"Last game was Caitlyn's tower-pushing show, this game is Varus's sniping show! This rookie... just how deep is his champion pool?! SKT has found their second weapon! A deadly purple longbow!"

In the lounge, looking at Xiao Yan's terrifying damage conversion rate on the screen, Bang silently took a sip of water, his smile growing even wider.

This newcomer is ridiculously strong.

As the LCK Summer Split regular season progresses, SKT's "dual AD rotation system" has gradually transformed from initial skepticism into a unique phenomenon.

That arrogant newcomer who was once criticized on the Inven forum has silenced his haters with solid data, one after another.

Although Xiao Yan didn't manage to bring his opponents to "red temperature and break defense" in every match like he did in his debut, thus obtaining god-level rewards, the attribute points he had accumulated before—the enhancement of his [Constitution] gave him unlimited energy, and the slight improvement in [Reaction Speed] and [Hand Speed] allowed him to make zero mistakes in his operations—even if he couldn't get Caitlyn and Varus, he could still maintain the level of a top-tier AD carry.

However, there are no secrets in professional esports.

The coaching staff of each team quickly figured out Xiao Yan's true strengths and weaknesses.

"Targeting Xiao Yan is simple," KT's coach drew two heavy circles on the whiteboard, "Ban Caitlyn, pick Varus. As long as you shut down those two heroes, he'll go from 'god' to 'human'."

As a result, Xiao Yan faced unprecedented targeting in the following matches.

During the ban/pick phase, Caitlyn is almost always banned, while Varus is either banned or picked.

Unable to get his signature champion, Xiao Yan could only pick out common AD champions like Ezreal, Ashe, and Jhin.

Although his high stats still allow him to farm perfectly and his teamfight positioning remains sharp, the terrifying dominance that once made him feel like he was playing against bots is gone. He can farm steadily and deal the expected damage, but he can no longer single-handedly clear the bottom lane within ten minutes like before.

SKT consequently lost some games. The fluctuating performance of the top and jungle laners, coupled with Xiao Yan's inability to carry the team when targeted, led to the team's defeat.

This time, there was no backlash from public opinion.

That's because it's obvious to anyone with eyes that in the losing games, Xiao Yan was never the "war criminal".

Conversely, when Faker is relentlessly targeted and Huni in the top lane is daring to gank and die, it is often Xiao Yan who finds a way to deal damage in this adverse situation and tries his best to turn the tide.

"This kid, while he's not quite as freakish anymore, is definitely a top-tier AD carry."

"Yeah, I used to think he was just a mad dog who could only bully weak opponents, but now I see that he handles losing situations very calmly."

"And his synergy with Faker is getting better and better, it's really nice to watch."

Gradually, a group of die-hard fans emerged within SKT's fanbase, holding up signs that read "Xiao Yan." They no longer missed Bang's dominance but began to enjoy the tactical battles brought about by this rotation.

Bang, the person involved, was surprisingly... serene at this moment.

In the lounge.

Bang, with his legs crossed and a hamburger in his hand, looked at Xiao Yan, who was intently operating the screen, with a kind, fatherly smile on his face.

"Bang, you don't seem to feel any pressure at all about being replaced by newcomers?" Coach Kkoma said with a smile. SKT's current record is very good. As long as they maintain it, they will definitely make it to the playoffs and get a comfortable ranking.

"What kind of pressure? Are you uncomfortable sitting here?" Bang took a bite of his hamburger and mumbled, "Before, when I played matches, all the pressure was on me. I had to be stable and carry, and I was so tired I felt like throwing up. Now it's better, I don't have as much pressure."

Bang was telling the truth.

This rotation system, ironically, spurred a resurgence in his career. With rest periods, he could better observe his opponents' habits, and his physical condition and focus recovered. Each time he played, his performance and form remained consistently high, with very few erratic plays.

However, Xiao Yan himself was not satisfied.

Late at night, in the training room.

His teammates had all gone to rest, but Xiao Yan was still staring blankly at the screen.

The armor penetration system, like other systems, has a task panel, but it's very bot-like, with only cold, impersonal data.

On his panel, all his attributes were slowly increasing as the opponent broke through his defenses. Only in the "Hero Proficiency" field, apart from Caitlyn and Varus who were shining with a "100% (God-level)", the other heroes were stuck in the "85-90 (Pro-level)" range.

"Tsk, my opponents lately have been too complacent..." Xiao Yan rubbed his sore wrist and sighed helplessly.

Most of his regular season opponents had already been defeated by him, or because of the targeted draft picks, they didn't give him a chance to dominate in lane. Without "red temperature defense breakdown" and "mental collapse," the system can't generate new hero proficiency.

"These two heroes are enough to get by in the regular season. But in the playoffs, or even the World Championship, they'll make things very difficult for me."

Xiao Yan stared at the grayed-out list of heroes on the screen, his eyes gradually sharpening.

"We need to figure out a way to break a few more people's morale in the upcoming high-stakes matches..."

Just then, Coach Kouma pushed open the door and walked in, holding a schedule in his hand.

"Still not asleep?" Kouma looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes full of relief. "Get some rest, the next battle is going to be tough."

"Who should I hit?" Xiao Yan closed the custom room.

Koma's expression turned serious, and he uttered a name:

"KT".

"Galactic battleship KT, and... Deft."

Upon hearing this name, Xiao Yan's eyebrows shot up sharply.

Deft, Kim Hyuk-kyu.

That genius AD carry, known for his dominance in lane and maximum damage output in team fights.

"Deft, huh..." Xiao Yan's lips slowly curled up, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a hunter spotting his prey.

If we can break this "alpaca's" mentality...

The rewards that were leaked should be hero proficiency, right?

"Coach," Xiao Yan stood up, grabbed his jacket and draped it over his shoulders, "I want to start in the next game against KT."