The invasion of Korean players onto the Ionia server was technically Lin Fengâs fault. But the more accurate statement was CNâ˘HOOK2âs fault. Because there were very few people who knew that Lin Feng was, in fact, CNâ˘HOOK2.
The reason for this invasion started two days ago, when Lin Feng used the CNâ˘HOOK2 to climb up the Korean Challenger Ladder. He eventually managed to climb into the Top 5 after a final game victory over Orion, one of the top Korean pro players. As far as China was concerned, CNâ˘HOOK2âs climb was a huge source of pride. But on the flip side, it was a mark of shame and humiliation for the Korean players. Many of whom could not let such an insult go unanswered, especially not when Chinese players proudly boasted about how things were finally turning around and that there was now someone who could break Korean domination in League of Legends.
The Korean League of Legends players had a completely different perspective on CNâ˘HOOK2âs climb. As they saw it, the entire climb was dishonest and CNâ˘HOOK2 deserved none of the accolades heâd been receiving from the League community. From their point of view, CNâ˘HOOK2 only managed to get into the Top 5 through a combination of luck and cheap tricks. It all boiled down to when the climb started, which was hours before the ranked ladder reset. By that time, the Season 5 ranked rewards had already been given out and most players on the Korean server were not paying attention to the rankings anymore. Most of the top Challengers didnât even log on that night, because there was simply no point in doing so. And that meant that CNâ˘HOOK2 never faced the true Challengers of the Korean server on his climb into the Top 5.
There was also the matter of CNâ˘HOOK2âs victory over Orion to consider. There was no doubt that Orion was a truly skilled player and one of the best currently active in the Korea region. But the fact that someone completely unknown came into the server from China and beat him in a game, that was something that many Korean players could not believe happened without some mitigating circumstances at play. And what they believed was that Orion was only beaten because he was careless and not taking the fight against CNâ˘HOOK2 seriously. Orionâs lack of focus and a bit of luck managed to put CNâ˘HOOK2 in a position where he won that game. Therefore, no one on the Korean server considered it to be a legitimate victory. Because, as far as they were concerned, it was completely based on luck! On any other day, they saw no possibility of CNâ˘HOOK2 getting into the Top 5 on their server. Nor did they think he could win against Orion, a King, in a rematch.
But all that justification and analysis could not change the fact that the Korean players had to see CNâ˘HOOK2âs name on their Challenger leaderboard. Just sitting there in 4th place. It infuriated and incensed them just looking at it, and every time it got mentioned was further salt in the wound. Something had to be done, their anger needed an outlet. So they decided to band together and avenge this insult to their honor!
The plan started out simple. Many of the top Korean players had accounts on the Chinese server, just like many of the top Chinese players had accounts on the Korean server. Initially, they wanted to go in and find CNâ˘HOOK2, show him what it really meant to fight against Korean Challengers. So they jumped into the Ionia server, ready to hunt down CNâ˘HOOK2. Unfortunately, very few of them had accounts on the Chinese server that were in Master or Challenger. They spent more time playing on their Korean accounts than their alt accounts on Ionia. That was where the plan started to go a little sideways. But more than enough of the Korean players who invaded the Ionia server had accounts that theyâd gotten to Platinum and Diamond. So they decided they would vent their fury on any and all Chinese players they could find!
All of this led up to the moment where Lin Feng bumped into so many oddly named players who were significantly better than what their rank suggested while he was playing on Su Xueâs account today. There were more than a few viewers who started investigating the disturbance long before Lin Feng even brought it up, and theyâd pieced together the chain of events from various sources. The chat collectively explained the situation to Lin Feng and he said, âOoooh! So thatâs whatâs going on here?â Then he looked at his screen pensively for a couple of seconds before breaking out into a beaming smile. He exclaimed, âWell, this sounds like a lot of fun!â
Lin Feng wasnât just playing up the situation for the viewers on the stream. He genuinely did not care that it was happening at all, and he wasnât even slightly bothered by it. Hah! I was playing and winning against Korean Challengers just the other night. I spent the whole night doing that. Now that Iâm rested and ready to go⌠this is nothing! Actually⌠this is a pretty good surprise now that I think about it. I can get in more practice against Korean players while Iâve got a good ping! If fate is going to throw a bunch of Koreans right at me, then Iâm going to make the most of it! Time to show them that Iâm really good, too!
âAlright, letâs do this!â Lin Feng declared to the stream as he cracked his knuckles. Before long, he found a game and entered Champion Select. He was on the Red Team, and waiting to select his Champion. He glanced at the two teams and noticed the name of the player on the Blue Team who locked in on Yasuo. It was KRâ˘COFF. Before Lin Feng could say anything about this, the viewers flooded the chat with their own analysis.
ăAnother Korean player!ă
ăNo shit! Even an idiot can tell with the KR In his name!ă
ăheâs playing Yasuo! Hook2 used Yasuo against Orion the other day!ă
ălil bro! Kick his ass! Teach him a lesson!ă
Lin Fengâs eyes lit up as he read the chat, and the smile on his face grew wider. Now this is what I call luck! I canât believe we bumped into one so fast. The viewers are right. Iâm 90% sure that this⌠COFF picked Yasuo in an attempt to bait out CNâ˘HOOK2. Or make a point about his Yasuo. Who knows? But I cannot believe I found the exact kind of player I was looking for in the first game! This is going to be so goodâŚ
Without any hesitation, Lin Feng locked in his Champion for the Mid Lane. Alistar, the Minotaur!
The viewers in Su Xueâs chat were dumbstruck.
ăAlistar!?ă
ăAli into yasuo!?! What!?ă
ălil bro, are you trolling!?ă
Lin Feng brushed the concerns off with a smile. âItâs fine! Iâm really good at Alistar too!â
In the dorms of an ordinary university in Seoul, Korea, a young man was shocked when he saw the opposing teamâs Midlaner lock in Alistar.
âWhat!? No way, Mid Alistar, really!?âCoff muttered. Then his lips curved into a mocking smile. âI heard Chinaâs best players were all on the Ionia server, but I guess you can still find a few noobs here too, huh? Only an idiot would pick Alistar against Yasuo. Like what can you even do!?â
Coffâs rank in the Korean server wasnât high. He had ended Season 5 at Platinum 3. But on the Ionia server, things were very different. Heâd already managed to climb as high as Platinum 1. And at the rate he was going, he didnât think it would take him very long to get into Diamond. If he won this game, heâd be in the Promotion Series to go up to Diamond.
âThis guy has to be trolling. Welp, thanks for the free win!â Coff said as Champion Select ended, and the two teams entered the loading screen.
Coff had no idea what he was walking into, nor did he realize how painfully his eyes would be opened.
âWatch me stomp him!â Lin Feng declared in the loading screen. Then the game started.
Despite Lin Fengâs unshakeable confidence, the first few minutes of the game did not appear to be going well for his Alistar. There were too many things acting against him. Alistar was a melee champion, but one who didnât exert a lot of lane pressure in the Mid Lane. Compounding this issue was the fact that Alistar had no significant early game options to poke or duel against a highly mobile champion like Yasuo. The final impediment Lin Feng had to deal with was that Alistar had a very low attack speed during the early game. This made it very difficult to last hit minions and get gold from them.
The biggest obstacle that made all the viewers worry though, was that there was no way Alistar could outduel Yasuo at Level 1. Lin Feng had no option except to play cautiously and let Coffâs Yasuo zone him out of the lane. And thatâs exactly what KRâ˘COFF was doing with his Yasuo. Heâd decided on an extremely aggressive and oppressive play style, constantly poking at Alistar with Steel Tempest every single chance he could get.
Before long, the constant barrage of Steel Tempest managed to whittle away half of Alistarâs health. Lin Feng remained unfazed. He had his Alistar drink a health potion while he glanced at his CS. The second minion wave was about to enter the lane, and heâd only gotten 4 CS from the first wave of the game.
Lin Feng grimaced and muttered, âTch! Not enough CSâŚâ
Right as Lin Feng looked back at the center of his screen, KRâ˘COFFâs Yasuo hit Level 2 and learned Sweeping Blade. With that skill, Yasuoâs aggression increased exponentially. He used Sweeping Blade to dash through red minions to get in range of Alistar, and poked with Steel Tempest constantly.
Coffâs lips curved into a smile. âWhat a shitter! Just a few more pokes, and heâll be dead if he doesnât recall back to base!â
At the same time, Lin Feng declared to the viewers on his stream. âItâs fine! That Yasuo will be dead soon. Just watch.â