prynovel Chapter 242 Adaptation, Counterattack
Chapter 242 Adaptation, Counterattack
Chapter 242 Adaptation, Counterattack
Six minutes into the game, the air in Summoner's Rift seemed to freeze.
"It's suffocating!" Miller exclaimed from the commentary booth, his brow furrowed. "WB's early game tempo is simply breathless." SofM
Zhao Xin already has three kills, and he hasn't even gone to his own bottom jungle; he's already camped in KT's top jungle!
On the big screen, TheShy's Sion was once again forced out of the experience zone. Bin's Renekton controlled the minion wave, like an insurmountable mountain. Faker's Lissandra in the mid lane was also having a very difficult time, as Angel's Syndra, with her long range advantage and Xin Zhao's intimidating presence, relentlessly pushed the minion wave under SKT's mid lane tower.
On the economy panel, in just six minutes, WB had already gained a lead of nearly 1,000 gold. For an early-game lineup, this was an absolutely perfect start.
"KT is completely stunned right now." Guan Zeyuan shook his head. "Peanut's Gragas doesn't even dare to enter the jungle now, he can only tremble under the tower. If this continues, once WB controls the first dragon and Rift Herald, SKT's turrets will be taken down one by one, and they won't be able to hold out until Xiao Yan's Sivir is fully developed."
The LPL fans at the scene erupted in cheers, while the LCK fan section was completely silent.
The atmosphere in SKT's team voice chat was also extremely tense.
"Damn it, I shouldn't have fought for that crab in the first place." Peanut bit his lip in frustration, his voice tinged with self-reproach.
"The enemy jungler's route is too weird, I can't play top lane anymore," TheShy said in broken Chinese. His Sion was only farming pitifully, and he had to be careful even when farming under the tower.
Just when morale was wavering, a calm and composed voice rang out in the voice channel.
"Don't panic, take a deep breath."
While controlling Sivir to steadily farm minions in the bottom lane, Xiao Yan switched screens to observe the overall situation. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and his brain worked at lightning speed, dissecting the positioning, blind spots, and possible tactical intentions of every member of WB.
"This lineup can only dominate the early game; the longer it drags on, the more anxious they'll become." Xiao Yan's voice seemed to possess a magical power, instantly calming his teammates' agitation. "Xiang He, place your trinket ward in the alley next to F6, don't go to the river to ward. Wang Hu, abandon the top half of the map now and come directly to the bottom half to farm, warding the bottom half. TheShy, your job this game is to sniff out experience; as long as you don't die, you'll be a mountain in the late game."
"But Zhao Xin—" Little Peanut hesitated.
"Zhao Xin is definitely taking his red buff right now," Xiao Yan said confidently. "He's been starving himself to gank for the past six minutes, so his level is already behind the timeline. He needs to catch up now, otherwise he'll be just a super minion in the mid-game. After he finishes his red buff, he'll most likely take the river crab and then gank bot lane."
As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, Fker, who had placed a ward in the F6 corridor, indeed caught Zhao Xin's fleeting figure.
"He's going down!" Faker immediately warned.
"Wo|f, leave the security door open, we'll back up and lay the cable into the tower." Xiao Yan directed methodically.
At seven and a half minutes, SofM's Xin Zhao indeed appeared in the bottom lane river with the red buff. At the same time, Angel's Syndra finished pushing the mid lane and disappeared into the fog of war.
"Four-man gank on the bot lane! WB is going to make a move on the bot lane!" Wawa shouted. "If this wave of minions pushes into the tower and SKT's bot lane duo gets dove, then this game is really over!"
"Retreat! Retreat directly to the second tower!" Xiao Yan glanced at the minimap and decisively gave the order.
He and Wof's Braum didn't hesitate to abandon a large wave of minions pushing towards the tower and retreated directly to the self-contained bush near the bottom lane's second tower.
The four members of WB gathered in front of the bottom lane's first tower. Looking at the empty tower, SofM and Angel exchanged bewildered glances.
"How could they retreat so decisively?" Angel frowned.
"Push the tower, take the dragon." SofM gritted his teeth. Since they couldn't catch anyone, they would take the resources.
"SKT's decision was so smart!" Miller couldn't help but exclaim. "Although they lost a wave of minions and tower health, they saved their lives! If they had been killed in this wave, not only would they have lost the tower and the dragon, but their bottom jungle would have been completely overrun!"
Xiao Yan's avoidance of battle was like a stabilizing force thrown into a storm, restoring SKT's shaky formation.
Eleven minutes into the game, the first Rift Herald spawned.
With a huge early advantage, WB gathered all five players in the upper half of the map, ready to take the vanguard.
"We can't let them have this Rift Herald, otherwise the mid tower will definitely fall, and our vision will be completely compressed." Xiao Yan glanced at his equipment bar; he had already completed half of his Essence Reaver, and his combat power was beginning to take shape. "Let's engage! TheShy, you drive straight into the dragon pit, Wanghu, get ready to steal the dragon, Sanghyeok, find a position to enter the fray!"
"SKT is going to engage in a team fight?!" Guan Zeyuan's eyes widened. "The gold difference has reached 3,500. It's extremely unwise for SKT to engage in a team fight at this point!"
However, SKT's execution speed was astonishing.
With a deafening roar, TheShyl's Sion activated his ultimate ability, "Rampage," transforming into a heavy vehicle and charging directly from the upper river bushes towards the Herald pit!
"Sion's on his way! His target is Xin Zhao in the Dragon Pit!"
SoM reacted extremely quickly, using his ultimate ability, Crescent Guardian, to sweep away Sion, but Sion's impact still disrupted WB's formation.
Just then, Peanut's Gragas used an E-Flash from above the Dragon Pit, precisely stunning Lucian who was dealing damage to the Rift Herald, and then his ultimate [Explosive Gragas] exploded!
"Bang!"
Lucian and Rakan were blasted backwards, and Vanguard's health was almost gone!
"Punishment! Peanut got the Vanguard's Eye!" the doll shouted excitedly.
But WB's counterattack was equally fierce. Bin's Renekton activated his ultimate, entering the fray with full power, charging towards SKT's backline like a god of war. Angel's Syndra seized the opportunity, using a QE combo to stun Faker's Lissandra, and then instantly killed her with her ultimate, Unleash Power!
"Faker is down! Renekton is in! SKT managed to secure the Rift Herald, but it seems they can't win the team fight!"
"Move closer to me!" Xiao Yan's calm voice rang out in the voice chat.
His Sivir activated her ultimate skill, [Hunting], instantly granting the entire team a speed boost. Facing the ferocious crocodile pouncing on like a wolf, Xiao Yan remained completely calm.
Walk, auto-attack, Q skill [Whirling Blade] scrapes across the crocodile's body, then follow up with an auto-attack!
Bin's crocodile used Flash, attempting to use his Enraged W to bite Sivir.
The moment the crocodile raised its hand, a blue magical shield appeared on Sivir!
E Skill: Spell Shield!
"He blocked it! Xiao Yan's reaction was too fast! He used his E skill to block the Crocodile's Red Fury W!" Miller exclaimed.
Without his crowd control abilities, the crocodile's health plummeted under the combined fire of Sivir and Braum. Wo|f's Braum applied his passive, and Xiao Yan stunned him with a basic attack, followed by several precise kiting attacks, instantly depleting the crocodile's health bar!