LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

hope Ran took the card, looked at Su Mo's handsome face that appeared somewhat aloof under the light, and couldn't help but whisper, "That move you made at the Baron pit just now... was so cool. The domestic commentary booth was almost blown up by that one strike. Didn't you see the comments section just now, everyone was spamming 'God descended'?"

Su Mo raised his eyes, looked at hope Ran's bright eyes, and a very slight smile appeared on his lips: "It's just basic stuff. Ask the questions quickly during the interview, I'm a little hungry."

hope Ran chuckled at his nonchalant reply, her initial nervousness instantly vanishing. She nodded, "Okay, I promise I'll let you get off work early and have a late-night snack."

at the same time.

The atmosphere in the T1 lounge, separated by only a wall, was so oppressive it seemed like water could drip from it.

Coach Bengi stood in the center of the room, his brow furrowed, staring intently at the tactical board in his hands.

Zeus sat in his gaming chair, his hands covering his face, his body trembling slightly. The Tryndamere from the first game had left him with a deep psychological scar. His pride and joy in kiting and poking seemed like a joke against that unreasonable Tryndamere who just charged in with his Sprint.

“I’m sorry…” Zeus’s voice was trembling with tears. “I couldn’t hold on. I really didn’t expect him to do so much damage when he tower-dived at level four… I used both summoner spells but still got killed by him. I’m sorry, Sang-hyeok, coach, I’m the one who dragged everyone down.”

Faker walked over to Zeus, patted his young shoulder, his tone still calm, but his eyes revealed an extremely rare seriousness: "It's not your fault, Choi Woo-gi. It's a counter to the hero's mechanics, and... he won the psychological battle against you."

Faker's heart still skips a beat when he recalls the Baron pit incident, where Tryndamere used the momentum from his Azir's ultimate to slide towards Gumayusi. That ability to make incredibly precise and insane decisions in milliseconds sends a chill down his spine, even for a veteran like Faker with ten years of experience.

“He was too calm.” Faker pushed up his glasses. “He was as calm as a machine. He knew he couldn’t get in without Flash or Ghost, so he used the minion wave to deceive our vision and then cut in at the perfect moment.”

Oner also looked bitter: "His Quicksilver Sash was too fast. Keria's Q had barely touched him before he cleared it. I didn't even have time to use my ultimate before Gumayusi was killed by him in two hits."

Bengi took a deep breath and clapped his hands vigorously to bring the team members' attention back.

"Alright! The first game is over, forget about that Tryndamere!" Bengi's voice was deep and powerful. "We're on the blue side for the second game. We can't let him lead us by the nose anymore! Doesn't he like to pick those unreasonable heroes? Then we'll pick the most extreme engage composition! We won't give him any space to kite or split push!"

Bengi turned to Zeus: "Zeus, next game, I'm not asking you to gain an advantage. Just get a tank! The toughest tank! As long as you don't die in lane and hold him off, we can tear EDG's defenses apart in the mid and bottom half of the map!"

Zeus raised his head, his eyes red, and nodded heavily: "I understand, Coach. This time, I absolutely won't let him solo kill me again!"

Halftime break passed in the blink of an eye.

"Welcome back to the S13 World Championship, to the second game of the finals!"

As the rousing background music started playing again, the director's camera cut back to the commentary booth. Guan Zeyuan, Miller, and Jide still had undisguised excitement on their faces.

"After the shock of the first game, we are about to face the crucial second game!" Guan Zeyuan shouted. "T1 was caught off guard by Mozi's unexpected Tryndamere pick in the first game, and in this second game, they have chosen the blue side. EDG, on the other hand, has secured the counter pick on the red side!"

"Yes, the draft is crucial for T1. Will they continue to target Mozi's top lane champion pool? Or will they change their strategy and target EDG's bottom lane?" Miller pushed up his glasses, his eyes fixed on the big screen.

On the big screen, the image switched to the BP interface.

"Alright! The draft and ban phases for both sides shall now begin!"

The director's camera focused on close-ups of the two teams' booths.

The T1 players looked serious and were on high alert. Meanwhile, Su Mo from EDG remained as relaxed as ever, even adjusting his blue light blocking glasses.

"Blue side T1, first ban, first pick! First pick..." Guan Zeyuan spoke rapidly, "Without hesitation! Banned the Barbarian King who dominated the first game!"

The entire audience burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! T1 must be traumatized by these nerfs!" Remember said with a laugh. "Even a hero like Tryndamere has to take up a precious ban slot. Mozi's treatment is truly something else!"

On EDG's side, Mingkai still banned Maokai.

T1's second and third bans were for Fiora and Jax.

"Still three bans on top lane!" Miller exclaimed. "T1's fear of Mozi is ingrained in their bones. But this means there are just too many strong heroes available!"

EDG's second and third picks removed Orianna and Neeko, further limiting Faker's champion pool.

"Now it's T1's turn to pick first!" Guan Zeyuan stared intently at the screen. "What will they pick? The jungler, Jarvan IV, is still out there. Should we pick first?"

However, T1's first-floor icon flashed a few times and finally locked onto a hero that no one expected!

"As solid as a rock!"

The Lava Giant – Malphite!

locking!!
"A stone man?!?"

The three commentators widened their eyes simultaneously and exclaimed in unison.

"T1 is on the first floor, and they actually picked the Malphite?!" Guan Zeyuan exclaimed incredulously. "Zeus isn't playing micro-management anymore?! He just openly picked the purest tank build on the first floor?!"

"They're really determined to withstand the pressure!" Miller gasped. "Malphite's passive shield, combined with his E skill's slow and W's armor bonus, allows him to lane extremely comfortably against any physical damage top laner. And his ultimate, Unstoppable Force, is one of the top initiation abilities in League of Legends! T1 is definitely going for an ultimate engage composition!"

"That's too extreme!" Remember shook his head repeatedly. "From Jayce to Malphite, Zeus has been completely defeated by Mozi, abandoning his dignity as a top LCK top laner and willingly becoming a tool player only responsible for initiating team fights!"

Not only the commentators, but the live stream chat also exploded instantly:

[Hahahaha! Zeus: Coach, I don't want to work anymore, just give me the Stone Golem.]

[The Dignity of LCK's Number One Top Laner - Malphite, Activate!]

[T1 coaching staff: Top lane, you just need to stay alive. In team fights, pressing your ultimate (R) counts as a success.]

[Mozi's domineering presence completely overwhelmed the new generation of mechanically skilled players, turning them into mere rock-dwelling monsters. It's outrageous!]

When T1 instantly locked in the first floor to lock in the Malphite, the atmosphere in EDG's booth was slightly taken aback.

"Hey, is the other team just tackling?" Ah Chen chuckled. "With Malphite picked first, isn't the top lane just going to be stuck in jail this game?"

Mingkai frowned slightly: "Don't be careless. Although Malphite is weak in lane, his ability to gank with the jungler is extremely strong, and if he hits a key carry in a team fight, he can easily melt them instantly. JackeyLove, Tianye, you guys pick Xayah and Rakan first to ensure the bot lane's self-preservation and initiation."

"understand!"

EDG quickly locked down Xayah and Rakan on the first and second floors.

On the second and third floors of Terminal 1, without any hesitation, they declared, "The glory of Demacia be with me!"

"A true master always has the heart of a student!"

Prince Jarvan IV of Demacia, Master Yi! Locked on!!
"A prince plus a swordsman?!"

The audience erupted in uproar once again!

"What an incredibly retro combination?!" Guan Zeyuan exclaimed in shock. "Oner picked Jarvan IV, which is normal. But Faker picked Master Yi in the mid lane?! Mid lane Master Yi?! Is he going to recreate the AP Master Yi from Season 2 and Season 3?! No, Master Yi is built AD now, is Faker going to play an assassin style in the mid lane?!"

"T1's lineup is too extreme!" Miller's voice trembled. "Malphite uses his ultimate to knock up the enemy, Jarvan IV uses his ultimate to cover them, and then Master Yi uses his ultimate to enter the fray and clean up! Once these three's ultimates synergize, EDG's backline simply won't survive!"

On the third floor of EDG, Xiao Yue took a deep breath and locked down Syndra to push the ball and counter the enemy's advance.

The second round of business matching (BP) has begun.

EDG targeted the bot lane, banning Gumayusi's Caitlyn and Varus.

T1 then gave their last two bans to Vi and Lee Sin, limiting Achen's ability to initiate team fights.

"We've reached the final selection stage!" Remember to shout it out.

On the fourth floor of EDG, A-Chen picked Sejuani to ensure the team's front-line tankiness and control.

T1's fourth and fifth floors locked down the bot lane duo of Kai'Sa and Nautilus.

"T1's lineup is completely complete!" Guan Zeyuan analyzed. "Malphite, Jarvan IV, Master Yi, Kai'Sa, Nautilus! All five of them are aggressive, face-charging heroes! No poke, no kiting! They just smash through your defenses! The impact of this lineup is simply devastating!"

Now, all eyes are once again focused on the fifth floor of the red team, EDG.

Facing T1's completely unreasonable and extremely frenzied charge lineup.

Facing that Malphite in the top lane who's clearly just trying to farm with you and only uses his ultimate (R) once in team fights.

What will Su Mo choose?
Mingkai stood behind Su Mo, looking at T1's extremely extreme lineup, his brows furrowed into a knot.

"Mozi, the enemy team's lineup is too aggressive. If we pick a regular warrior, we'll easily get controlled to death by Malphite and Jarvan IV in team fights, and then melted by Master Yi and Kai'Sa." Mingkai quickly analyzed the situation. "How about picking Ornn or Sion? We can counter-attack, using our front line to withstand their first wave of attacks, while JackeyLove and Xiaoyue deal damage from behind."

"Choose a tank?"

Su Mo leaned back in his gaming chair and gently shook his head.

His deep eyes, peering through the lenses of his blue-light blocking glasses, were fixed on the five hero icons of T1 on the screen. A rare, cold, even arrogant smile played at the corners of his lips.

"They chose this lineup because they wanted to use the most mindless team fight coordination to make up for the gap in individual skill in the top lane."

Su Mo's voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling, sharp edge.

"Trying to get in my face, huh?"

"Then let them charge."

He turned to look at Meiko sitting next to him, his eyes flashing with extreme confidence and murderous intent.

"Tianye, get me that."

Meiko followed Su Mo's gaze and gasped the moment she saw the hero.

"Brother Mo... are you sure?! Once this hero gets controlled, he won't survive even a second! The enemy team has five strong charging units!"

"Lock." Su Mo uttered only one word.

Meiko swallowed hard, then, without further hesitation, swiped the mouse rapidly.

next second.

A piercing roar, filled with endless resentment and a thirst for slaughter, resounded throughout the entire sound system of the giant egg in the sky!
Embrace the shadows!!!

Evelyn, the Widowmaker!!!

locking!!!

"boom--!!!"

After a brief period of deathly silence, the entire venue instantly erupted into an unprecedented frenzy of excitement!
"Widow?!?" Guan Zeyuan clutched his head, leaping from his chair, his voice utterly hoarse. "In the second game of the finals!! Facing T1's extremely aggressive, all-in lineup!! Mozi, on the fifth floor, picked a top lane Widow?!?"

"What an incredibly outrageous choice!!!" Miller was trembling with excitement. "Top lane Evelynn against Malphite?! This isn't just about champion counters; it's completely abandoning the conventional top lane matchup and turning the entire Summoner's Rift into a cat-and-mouse game!!"

"That's insane!! Mozi is practically dancing on the edge of a knife!!" Remember shouted hoarsely, "You T1 want to fight head-on in team battles? You want to use your ultimate abilities to crush us? Fine! I'll pick an assassin you can't even see or touch! If you try to attack my teammates, I'll tear your backline to shreds one by one in the dark!!"

Welcome to Summoner's Rift!

With a solemn female voice announcing the arrival of light, ten beams of light descended into the spring.

Su Mo bought the [Doran's Ring] and two red potions, and controlled the alluring widow maker, walking gracefully towards the upper path.

"This champion pick is truly crushing T1's morale." In the commentary booth, Guan Zeyuan, watching the screen, still couldn't hide his shock. "Top lane Evelynn is almost extinct in professional matches. Is Mozi going to perform a true assassin's way for the world on the finals stage?"

Miller adjusted his glasses, his brow furrowing slightly: "However, Evelynn's laning phase is very weak in the early game. She has a hard time gaining an advantage against Malphite's Q skill poke and passive shield. Moreover, Evelynn's real power spike comes after she reaches level six and gains permanent invisibility from her passive [Demon Disguise]. Before that, she's just a squishy mage without any mobility or hard crowd control."

“That’s right, Mozi’s top lane will definitely be a tough battle in the early game.” Ji De also chimed in, “Moreover, Oner’s Jarvan IV will definitely be focused on the top lane this game. As long as he gets killed once, Evelynn’s rhythm will be disrupted.”

However, Su Mo's expression was frighteningly calm in EDG's match booth.

Unlike other players who nervously switch screens or frantically click the mouse at the start of the game, he picked up his thermos, took a sip of warm water, and then, controlling Widowmaker, walked very naturally into the bush near the T1 turret in the top lane.

At 1 minute and 30 seconds, the lanes meet.

Zeus's Malphite bought a Corrupting Potion. Unlike his aggressive play as Jayce in the first game, he cautiously positioned himself near the ranged minions, preparing to use his Q skill, Earthquake Shrapnel, to harass Evelynn or last-hit minions. (End of Chapter)