Back in base. His Jax had a purse full of gold. Lin Feng spent it all before looking around the map. Teleport was off cooldown. He could go anywhere and go for another play. âReady for battle!â he laughed. His gaze landed on top lane. On the Fiora who was last hitting minions. She was patient, refraining from pushing the lane and only attacking when the minions were on their last breath. But the wave was still pushing out and she was already fighting them next to the ruins of her outer tower.
Lin Feng started smiling. Wide. Bright. Evil. Earlier, when heâd gone through the top side jungle of Bright High to gank the Orianna in mid lane, heâd left a ward at the Red Buff Camp. From there, it was a short trip up to top lane. The Fiora was in the open. He could cut off her path of retreat. Like a fish on the chopping board. At this pace, sheâd be worth less than a cannon minion in another few minutes. He pressed down on the F key, his mouse hovering over the ward in the Red Buff Camp.
âSurprise! Iâm back,â Lin Feng muttered as his Jax appeared at Bright Highâs Red Buff Camp. He then had his Jax move up towards top lane, past the Krugs and into the brush separating top lane from the jungle. The Fiora had no wards in her jungle and no sight of the Jax. So, after killing the last few minions in top lane, sheâd started to back. Better be safe than sorry. But she was still too late. Lin Fengâs Jax came running out of the brush and struck her with his lamppost!
W-where! What! How the hell⊠Why from there? Iâ There was no time. The Fiora player knew this. His Champion was no match for the Jax. He had to get out. Now! He pressed the Q key and then the F key. His Fiora Lunged towards her inner tower, then flashed a short distance. Anything to get closer to her inner tower. Anything to get away from the Jax!
âTaste my lamppost! Haha!â Lin Feng laughed as he clicked on the Fiora and pressed on his Q key. His Jax Leap Striked onto the Fiora. A transparent mantle appeared over Jaxâs headâCounter Strike! The Fiora couldnât attack him, not that she was trying to. She was trying to get away! But he was on top of her. She had no more mobility skills. He hit her with his lamppost, then used Empower to reset the internal cooldown of auto attacks. His weapon lit up. This attack would deal bonus damage! He followed up with a third auto attack. It was strengthened by the passive of Grandmasterâs Might.
ăYou have slain an enemy!ă
The difference was too big between the two. Levels. Items. Skill. Lin Feng held the advantage in every aspect. The Fiora didnât stand a chance. Worse even, Lin Feng didnât even have to go all out. He hadnât even used the active part of his ultimate! He hadnât needed to, because the Fiora didnât attack him and she was too far away from her inner tower. So he never even got in tower range. It was all too easy.
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Lin Feng wasnât the only player on High School 13âs team who was winning his lane. Yang Fan was only Platinum. Bright Highâs Orianna was Diamond 2. But that didnât stop Yang Fan from going even in lane. And after Lin Feng had come for that gank and had killed the Orianna, Yang Fan had used that brief period of solo farm in lane to pull ahead of the Orianna. It was a small advantage, but it turned out to be enough for him. He pushed the advantage and was even starting to win his lane!
Tang Bingyao and Wei Dong were fairing even better in bot lane than Yang Fan was in mid. Theyâd become a really strong duo, especially over the last couple of days. Their lane was Lucian and Alistar versus Jinx and Blitzcrank. Jinx was as strong as ever, while Lucian had fallen off a bit after the last few patches. But even so, there was nothing in this game suggesting this. If anything, it looked like Jinx was the one whoâd been nerfed.
Tang Bingyao and Wei Dong were pushing the minion waves into Bright Highâs outer tower. Bright Highâs Lee Sin was being kept busy elsewhere on the map, so they didnât have to worry much about a possible gank. They focused entirely on poking down the Jinx and Blitzcrank. To the point where Blitzcrankâs passive skill activated. Mana Barrier gave him a temporary shield based on his mana when he dropped to low health.
The shield gave the Blitzcrank some confidence. He only had it for a little. This was the time to go in and try a play! It could turn the lane around! He Overdrived into position and then shot out his right arm, trying to grab and hook the Lucian. But Tang Bingyao was prepared. She knew heâd come. That was what Blitzcranks did. She had her Lucian dash to the side, dodging the hookâRelentless Pursuit!
The Blitzcrank had moved forward, away from his tower. The Blitzcrank had used his crowd control skills. The Blitzcrank was out of position. Wei Dong knew this was his moment to shine. He hit down on the D keyâFlash! His Alistar flashed forward, reappearing on top of the Blitzcrank. He then raised his bulky, muscular arms up and with the power of his bovine body smashed down on the groundâPulverize! The Blitzcrank was launched into the air, while the Alistar moved towards Bright Highâs tower and then turned around. He dug his hooves in the ground and pushed off, charging forward and ramming his horns into the Blitzcrank, knocking him backâHeadbutt!
Tang Bingyao had her Lucian aim his two guns and shoot a bolt of Piercing Light through the Blitzcrank! This activated his passive, Lightslinger. Whenever Lucian used an ability, his next attack would be a double-shot. The Blitzcrankâs Mana Barrier disappeared. His health dropped low. Lucian shot a missile in a star shape, marking the Blitzcrank. He followed up with another double-shot. And then another auto attack.
ăAn enemy has been slain!ă
Lin Feng heard the voice announcer and quickly panned his camera to bot lane. The Jinx was hiding under her tower, while Tang Bingyaoâs Lucian stood over the corpse of the Blitzcrank. He smiled and said, âNice job at bot! Great kill, Tang Tang!â
âThank Wei Dong. It was his Alistar play. I didnât do much there,â Tang Bingyao replied.
Lin Feng wouldnât let Tang Bingyao walk away without accepting the compliment. So he said, âDoesnât matter! It was some beautiful teamplay! Thatâs what bot is all about! You guys are doing awesome together and thatâs why youâre picking up those kills! Great job to the both of you!â
Tang Bingyao tilted her head, glancing over at Lin Feng. Maybe he has a point? She took a deep breath. Maybe he does. She smiled and nodded, âMhm!â
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Zeng Rui, Support and captain of Shanghai High Schoolâs esports team, was still watching the game between High School 13 and Bright High. There was some interest. Just a smidge. He had to take all his opponents seriously. Most of all those who were performing above and beyond how everyone expected them to. That was why High School 13 was important. One of the weakest teams last year, and this year they made it all the way to the main tournament. That wasnât the difference of just one player. This could only be if the whole team had become better.
Beyond the last year, just over this last week, High School 13 had become a stronger team. This had Zeng Ruiâs full attention right now. More specifically, it was High School 13âs bot lane and then mostly the Support. That Alistar engage, the Flash into Headbutt, was done perfectly. Heâd waited for the right moment. Combined his skills accurately. Zeng Rui himself couldnât have done it any better! But it wasnât just this one play. There was something more. It was this Alistarâs entire play style that was a step up from only a week ago.
Zeng Rui looked away from the large monitor and towards the players sitting behind their computers. Towards the ad-carry and Support from High School 13. A girl and a guy. Their synergy is getting really good. Theyâve improved so much in only a week. Ah, it doesnât matter. It really didnât matter. There was nothing for him to worry about. Yes, High School 13âs Botlaners were playing a great game. They were getting better every game it looked like. But they were still a far cry from himself and his ad-carry. There was no way they could get that good anytime soon.
âThe others are good. But in the end, the biggest threat is stillâŠâ Zeng Rui shook his head, while turning towards High School 13âs Toplaner. His eyelids twitched. He bit on his lips. He didnât want to say it. Or admit it. But. â...that thundering dumbass playing Jax.â
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There was no need for Lin Feng to play too seriously. He was just having fun. His Jax was fed. No one could stop him. He pushed out the minion wave in top lane, all the way towards Bright Highâs inner tower. What heâd done so far to the Fiora still wasnât enough. Heâd make sure she wouldnât get anything! You want the minions? He grinned. Come. I wonât attack you. Promise! He started laughing. âHehehe.â I wonât attack you. Really. Just get some farm. Itâs free! âHehehe.â He leaned towards his screen, devious. Then his mouth opened into an even bigger grin. Oh oh! Yes! A few more steps! âHehehe.â Since youâre here already, how about having a taste of my lamppost!
The Fiora stepped forward. Lin Feng had his Jax Leap Strike onto her. He then whacked her with his lamppost. âOh?â Lin Feng mumbled. âSo itâs a bait. Alright.â He shrugged as he watched the Orianna walked out of the jungle, trying to cut his retreat off. But he wasnât planning on retreating. He was Jax. âCome at me together! Try! See what happens!â He laughed, then pressed on his W keyâEmpower! His Jax had just hit the Fiora for a second time. The internal cooldown for his auto attack reset. His lamppost lit up. It was the third attack, which activated the passive from his ultimate, Grandmasterâs Might. A super empowered auto attack hit the Fiora. It knocked her to the ground and she couldnât get back up.
ăDominating!ă
That was Jax's sixth kill. Zero deaths. But if it was up to Bright High, theyâd do something about that. The Orianna used her ultimate skillâCommand: Shockwave. Her Ball unleashed a shockwave, launching all enemy Champions towards it and dealing damage to them. In this case, that enemy was Jax. Lin Feng activated Counter Strike to mitigate some of the damage, but the crowd control aspect pulled him towards her. Not that he minded. Now he could kill her too. Except for the fact that at that very moment, another player from Bright High showed himself. Safeguarding out from the jungle was Lee Sin!
West Wind sat at the casterâs desk, leaning forward. Just a little closer to the large screen. âThis is exciting! It looks like Bright High is putting everything on killing the Jax! They might actually do it here!â
Silent Reed nodded and added, âThat Jax is going to have to run. Orianna and Lee Sin together is just too much damage. Heâs far ahead, but those two have everything to kill him.â
The two commentators were spot on. When Lin Feng saw the Lee Sin, he dropped his immediate plan of killing Orianna and ran back up the top lane. He stuck close to the jungle wall. The Lee Sin hit him with a Sonic Wave. One he didnât side step. His finger was on the D key, ready to press down. Ready to Flash. The Lee Sin activated the second half of his Q skillâResonating Strike! He dashed towards the Jax. Lin Feng pressed down and exclaimed, âItâs not over yet!â
The Jax flashed over the jungle wall. The Lee Sin followed after him. Then he placed a ward back on the other side. The side where the Orianna was. The Orianna who was trying to rush towards him. He Leap Striked over the wall and onto the ward, finding himself right in front of the Orianna. He followed up with an auto attack, then used Empower to reset his auto and attacked again! The next auto attack triggered the bonus damage from Grandmasterâs Might! He swung down his lamppost, knocking the last bit of health out of the Oriannaâs health bar.
ăDouble kill!ă
A stunned silence washed over the crowd. Over the shoutcasters. Even over the Orianna player. All he could do was stare at his screen. It was grey. He was dead. That Jax⊠Theyâd ganked up on him. A 3vs1! He shouldnât have gotten a single kill! They shouldâve killed him! But here they were. Two deaths. And the Jax was still alive. He stared at his screen, dazed. M-my OriannaâŠ