Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Ping Feng, you might not be able to get the blue buff now.” Xie Lianda, more commonly known as Number One, said.
Ping Feng controlled his Jungler, Vi, and walked toward the blue buff, getting frustrated even before he got there.
He did not need to check it anymore as the blue buff had definitely been taken by the enemy team. This was because he could see Team Skycrown’s Top, Rengar, appear in the bottom lane with the blue buff, and he had also reached Level 2.
Da Luo’s Rengar appeared very late in the lane and it was clear that the buff he had was not from Team Beijing’s side of the map but from his own. This was due to Zhou Yan going for the enemy’s blue buff at the start of the game.
Just as Zhou Yan’s Lee Sin was in the midst of taking Team Beijing’s blue buff, Da Luo’s Rengar had had to deal with the enemy’s two bottom laners. He had then decided to solo the blue buff on his part of the map and subsequently go back to their base while reaching Level 2 before heading back to his own lane. As long as he timed it nicely, he would be right on time to clear a wave of minions and successfully reach Level 3.
Team Beijing had initially thought that Team Skycrown would have used the conventional strategy which was the five-man defense method, never expecting that Team Skycrown would steal their blue buff! The one thing that Team Beijing’s Jungler, Ping Feng, did not understand, was how had they gotten past the ward that he had placed at the river without being seen?
With three buffs to start the game and good ganking techniques, Team Skycrown had gotten the advantage for the early-game.
It went without saying that without a buff, Vi would be one level below Lee Sin, and if they were to meet in the jungle, Vi would have a hard time dealing with him.
Not only that, if both team’s Top was pressured, Rengar, which held the blue buff, would have it easier. His level and last hits would not be lacking behind either.
A small advantage in the early-game could cause a big effect on the late-game as it enabled a team to snowball through the game. These small details could lead to a kill or two which could alter the whole game! Of course, Team Beijing would not overlook this.
“After reaching Level 6, they might dominate the lane. If that is the case, history will repeat itself, just like what happened in their second game. Both players in the top lane would have a disadvantage in levels as well as their gold, and once that happens, we will lose our top lane.” Number One voiced out his estimation.
It was very obvious that the switching-lane tactic was used against Team Revelation before.
Team Revelation’s bottom laners were strong, and in the second game, Luocheng had not gone head to head with Bai Feng, instead choosing to use the switching-lane tactic to let both the top laners fight against each other.
In terms of strength, Da Luo had had an immense amount of training for this. His gold and levels would not be dragged down too much. Instead, Team Revelation which had to deal with three enemies attacking their bottom lane couldn’t handle it, and when their lane was dominated, it was the same Top but he was no longer their opponent. Also, with Da Luo’s strength, they could uphold the advantage and take the win.
With three buffs to start the game, Da Luo’s farm was not bad in the bottom lane. If they were to take the lane, there was a high chance that Shyvana might die again.
“Alright, I’ve got it.” Ping Feng, the Jungler said.
Ping Feng looked at the lane and realized that there were two waves of minions attacking the tower. It was obvious that Shyvana was having a hard time defending.
As a Jungler, Ping Feng had great intuition. He knew that he needed to help defend the tower because if the enemy Jungler were to join in, killing Shyvana would be a piece of cake.
Ping Feng played very carefully and placed a ward in the tribush.
It was very obvious that Ping Feng was playing very cautiously because he would definitely be one level lower than Lee Sin after losing that buff in the early-game. If he were to meet Lee Sin, he would be damaged with a combo of skills and have to return to base with very little health, causing his gold income to be affected once again.
Vi entered the top lane to help Shyvana while also gaining some experience.
Suddenly, Ping Feng saw that Lee Sin had appeared in the middle lane!
Ping Feng immediately looked over at the mid lane and saw that Number One had gotten hit by an Ignite and was running toward the tower with a small sliver of health.
Luckily, Number One had used a health potion in time, so he did not die.
“Is your Flash still unused?” Ping Feng asked in a panicked voice.
Number One nodded his head.
He still had his Flash but the situation just now had indeed been very dangerous. If he had not remained cautious and had continued to go in to pressure the enemy Mid, he would have died right then and there.
***
Although Zhou Yan’s gank had not succeeded, in a competitive view, you didn’t have to kill the opponent every time. As long as the enemy was forced to go back to base and you got the opportunity to help your teammate push the tower, denying the enemy from getting more experience would also help your teammate to gain the upper hand.
Number One controlled his Draven and guided back onto the lane.
As of that moment, his Draven had a Doran’s Blade. Even though he had had to go back to base after getting injured severely, his experience would not be lagging behind too much as he had done quite well in the lane.
As he was going back to the mid lane, Number One realized that the enemy Lee Sin had not gone away but instead remained there to continue pushing the tower. Also, he was leeching off of his Mid’s experience which made Number One rather suspicious.
“Their Top, Shen is missing!” The Jungler, Ping Feng, reminded him.
Number One’s heart started beating extremely quickly, he knew something was off.
Suddenly, Shen appeared out of nowhere!
Whoosh!
Shadow Dash!
Luocheng’s Shen had suddenly come out of the jungle in between the first and the second tower, immediately using a Shadow Dash to taunt Number One to stay under the tower!
“Whoa! Where did Fighting Hawk come from? He came out from the jungle in between the two towers!” Miracle shouted in awe.
Number One had already tried to use his Flash but Luocheng’s gank was too strong and unexpected. Number One had only hesitated for a moment, but because of that slight hesitation, he had been taunted under the tower.
The problem was, Number One’s Draven had not been inside the tower range. He had been between both the towers but yet, he was still successfully taunted by Shen!
The moment he was taunted, Number One already knew that he was not going to survive. With one Q-skill from Lee Sin and another Flash followed up by an E and Q-skill, Number One was killed from his full health in between the two towers.
FIRST BLOOD!
The first kill had happened!
The audience forgot to cheer after watching that spectacular execution while the professional players had widened their horizons.
Who had ever seen this kind of kill!?
Seizing the chance of when the enemy Mid was coming back to the lane to go to the wall near the first and second tower of the middle lane and waiting for the assassin to go back in and taunt after using his Flash. The cooperation between the two players was breathtaking!
There were many ways of ganking in LOL, but even this kind of ganking had never been seen before!
It was clear to the mid laners who were watching the match that this scene gave them a sense of insecurity. They knew that getting ambushed at the space between the two towers would spell demise for them. You would die almost every time unless, of course, you were a God or you got really lucky…
However, the biggest problem was that everyone would usually prepare to be ganked when pushing a lane, always looking at other lanes to make sure that the enemies were not missing so that they could avoid getting ganked. Who knew that he would get killed at this point of time!
“The tower will be taken.” Number One said with a sour face.
The three-man gank had not occurred at the top lane but instead, at the middle lane. After the Mid died and a wave of minions came, the tower would definitely be destroyed. Even if the Jungler, Vi, came to help, she would not be brave enough to defend the tower alone as it would be too risky.
It was still early in the game and the mid lane tower had been taken. This was still the new season tower which had extra health, but too bad that the tower would not hold against a team that was famous for their crazy tactics!
***
After helping the mid lane gank once, Luocheng went back to the top lane to help Lin Dong.
Lin Dong’s CS was coming up nicely and he had his B. F. sword in about eight minutes.
Luocheng’s level was not lagging behind, successfully reaching Level 6 before nine minutes.
Once he had gotten to Level 6, Team Beijing’s members started to get nervous.
There was a disgusting part about Shen. When he had reached Level 6, the enemy had to fight Shen whenever he wanted to fight, and in this kind of situation, unless you had more than two people, ganking would not be possible.
At the nine-minute mark, Luocheng and Lin Dong walked toward Baron’s position and it seemed as though they had every intention of going into the jungle.
For the enemy to come into the jungle at this time, they must want to get the blue buff that had just respawned!
“They want to get the blue buff!” Ping Feng said.
You stole our blue buff once and now you want to take it again, do you think that the jungle is your house?
Ping Feng used this chance to call his teammate from the top lane. Even if the Draven did not need the blue buff, it would not be a wise decision to let the enemy have it.
The three of them got into place for an ambush.
At this time, Number One noticed that Team Skycrown’s Jungler, Lee Sin, had appeared in the bottom lane river.
“That was extremely smart, Team Skycrown has really made such a smart move. They actually used this time to watch the Dragon and the Blue Buff!” Miracle praised them from the bottom of his heart.
“That’s right, they put on a show to pretend that they wanted to take the Blue Buff, baiting the enemy Jungler and Mid to go to the buff to defend. With that, Lee Sin could use his skill to go to the bottom lane. Rengar and Gragas are both already in position, and once Shen uses his Ultimate to go to them, they can take on the Dragon with four people!”
After faking trying to take the blue buff, Luocheng’s Shen indeed used his Ultimate skill to go to Lee Sin, and all Team Beijing’s two bottom laners could do was to watch from the side without being able to do anything.
The blue buff and the Dragon, choose one.
If you were to go to the bottom lane to defend, the two of us will take your blue buff. But if you want to defend the blue buff, then thank you for the Dragon…
Team Beijing had not expected them to fake trying to take the blue buff, and thus, the Dragon was taken from them right in front of their eyes.
It was a complete outplay done by Team Skycrown, and it was at that moment that Team Beijing finally understood the reason behind them choosing Shen as a Support.
This Shen was like a thorn in their side. At the start, getting killed by him had already made them angry. Now that he was Level 6, it didn’t matter how Team Beijing played, Shen would always be one step ahead of them!
