You've only been playing for half a year, and you've already reached the finals?

Chapter 176 Stepping Forward to Slice Through Steel
"Double kill!"

The sound of a double kill echoed throughout the stadium!

The audience cheered loudly, and the commentators exclaimed in surprise!
"Whoa!" the doll shouted, raising its arms. "A perfect four-man gank on the two! Viper scored a double kill with one shot!"

"I can only say that EDG's lineup has an ridiculously high initiation ability!" Miller laughed. "The DK bot lane duo couldn't move at all; they could only wait to die!"

"Yes! We can see that DK's mid and jungle have already come to support, but there's nothing they can do except help the bottom lane get this tower kill!"

"Besides, EDG's team is fully assembled. They don't want to leave; they still want to control the dragon!"

In the video, after successfully diving the tower, the four EDG players headed straight for the dragon pit.

Although JieJie's health was low due to tanking the tower, Diana was not hurt at all while farming the jungle, and there were three teammates waiting nearby. DK's mid and jungle didn't dare to come over at all, so this dragon was naturally a sure thing.

"The Blue Legion has slain the Ocean Dragon!"

Seeing the message pop up at the top of the screen, EDG's supporters all smiled.

A tower dive and dragon control – the gains from this wave were ridiculously huge!
Not only has the economic gap widened to nearly 1500, but it has also successfully started to gain momentum!
If both sides continue to play in this orderly manner without any major mishaps, then this momentum alone will be enough to secure the victory!

EDG's teamfight lineup is invincible once they can snowball their advantage!
EDG's strategy was very clear; after securing the dragon, they quickly returned to base.

At this point, eight minutes had passed, and the Vanguard had respawned.

From a bird's-eye view, it's clear that the DK duo, after being killed and respawning, didn't go to the bottom lane, but instead headed straight for the top side of the map.

Anyway, the mid and jungle have already taken the first wave of tower kills, so going to the bottom lane now won't get us anything.

Furthermore, after Tristana got a double kill, they couldn't lane anymore, so they might as well go to the top side of the map and control the Rift Herald first.

This lane swap was executed entirely in the dark, but in the game between professional teams, it was no different from having the cards on the table, so the EDG team naturally expected it.

However, they were not prepared to accept this wave of vanguard troops.

They've just used up their mid and jungle ultimate abilities, so they're currently in a period of weakness. It's not wise to blindly engage in a vanguard team fight right now.

Besides, being a vanguard is meaningless.

Their bot lane advantage was already significant enough. The enemy's bot lane tower had already lost two levels, and their team also had a tower-pushing specialist like Tristana, so they didn't need the Herald.

While the enemy duo is away, just push down the tower and you're done!

Back in the bottom lane, the EDG duo immediately launched an attack on the bottom lane tower.

On the other side, DK was determined to win, with several players quickly securing the dragon and then heading to the top lane, attempting to take the first tower.

The turrets are their primary target, but if Flandre's Rumble doesn't understand the situation, they wouldn't mind taking a kill as well.

Saint Gun is a seasoned veteran, so of course he wouldn't make a mistake at a time like this. He didn't even rush to leave, but instead frantically tested the waters on the edge of danger, unleashing his ultimate skill [Constant Temperature Burn] from a distance, forcibly clearing a wave of minions that were about to enter the tower!

This ultimate move certainly couldn't help EDG defend the top lane tower, but it could at least slow down DK's tower-pushing speed.

With the minion wave mostly cleared, the DK vanguard could no longer be held onto and had to be released to tank the tower.

The later you deploy the Vanguard, the better. After all, the fewer plating layers a turret has, the higher its resistances become. The Vanguard's true damage is the most suitable choice to break through the last two layers.

Now that the vanguard has been released first, it has slowed down the DK's tower push by at least five seconds!

That's enough.

At this point, the director started to experiment, switching to a split screen.

While DK used the Rift Herald to push the top lane, EDG's Tristana pushed the minion wave under the tower again and launched an attack on the bottom lane's first tower!
This scene was so familiar to countless viewers.

Isn't this the scene from the last game of last year's finals?
At that time, JDG's strategy of having their support reach level 6 first to participate in the Rift Herald team fight was countered by Beryl, resulting in a lack of ability to contest the Rift Herald. Therefore, the bot lane duo chose to take two Demolisher items to forcefully take the first tower.

They succeeded in the end.

When countless people later reviewed the final match, they all said that the double detonation was the key to victory.

Without the economy from the first tower, Jinx might not be able to dominate the game in the Dragon Soul team fight.

Bringing our thoughts back to the present, the race to push towers between the two sides will undoubtedly end in victory for EDG.

Yasuo and Diana's subsequent support to the bottom lane became the key to deciding the outcome of the game.

Whether it's Yasuo with attack speed boots or Diana with her passive ability, they are both excellent at pushing towers.

When EDG's top turret had only one plating layer left, Diana in the bottom lane landed a passive slash on the turret, taking it down with the extra magic damage.

After securing the first tower's worth of gold, Viper, who was already ahead of the rest of the team in development, went even further, having already completed a Mythic item by the time he recalled to base.

Moreover, Viper didn't even plan to build Hurricane in this game.

The AD carry Tristana doesn't need to take on split-pushing responsibilities; Flash and W are enough to keep her alive for a long time. Therefore, the Kraken, who can provide explosive damage, is a better choice.

At this stage, the Siren Cannon is fully capable of supporting the situation.

Viper also took the opportunity to become the core of the team at this time. With Tristana in the mid lane, he put pressure on DK's push by constantly controlling the mid lane, while also giving Meiko room to roam.

At this point, Ming Jing had nothing to do, and he was happy to relax, developing steadily in the bottom lane while constantly observing the situation and not missing any battles.

However, it can only be said that DK is, after all, a team from the Korean region. Even if their style is different from other Korean teams, their operational ability is not bad.

If they are determined not to take on the fight, it will indeed be difficult for EDG to find a suitable opportunity.

Their current advantages are not enough for them to recklessly force their way in.

"However, the initiative is still in our hands!"

In the commentary booth, Wawa nodded in satisfaction as he watched the economic gap slowly widen. "Just keep pushing towers and controlling the dragon. When the dragon soul team fight comes, the other side will have no choice but to engage!"

"Yes!" Colonel Guan nodded in agreement. "What EDG needs to pay attention to now is to group up as much as possible! They absolutely cannot be caught out! Especially Flandre needs to be watched out for, after all, he's Rumble, and that champion is just too easy to catch, making him a potential weak point!"

It can only be said that sometimes you have no choice but to believe in some strange things.

The time quickly reached 13 minutes, and the second dragon spawned.

EDG didn't rush to control the dragon. Instead, they grouped up in the mid lane and waited until the 14-minute mark when the turret protection disappeared before quickly pushing down the mid lane tower and heading towards the dragon pit.

With Diana and Ryle, two excellent initiators, DK had absolutely no desire to engage in team fights and could only watch helplessly from the back.

With JieJie securing the second Earth Dragon, EDG now has two dragons in hand, giving them an even greater advantage!
But soon, something unexpected happened.

The camera then cuts to the top lane, where we see Irelia, who has already built Blade of the Ruined King, using a wave of minions that walk up from behind Rumble to continuously Q the minions forward!
During the Q skill animation, two E [Double Blades] were unleashed, placing Flandre's Rumble within the skill's range!
Rumble is a champion who is particularly clumsy; if Irelia lands her E skill accurately, Rumble will have a hard time escaping.

Saint Gun's first reaction was to activate W to reposition, but after realizing that he couldn't get out, he had no choice but to forcefully use Flash to create distance!

But Nuguri's movements were incredibly fast, and Irelia decisively followed up with an R-flash!
R-Flash successfully hits Rumble, slowing him down and applying a mark to him.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Irelia quickly charged forward, unleashing a barrage of auto-attacks with her passive fully charged!

Knowing he couldn't escape, Flandre simply used his ultimate, then used QE to enter the red zone and stand and fight Irelia, trying to win with numbers!
However, it can only be said that Rumble with Night Harvester is indeed a bit inferior to Blade of the Ruined King Irelia, especially since Irelia had already taken a tower and had a better economy to begin with.

Both top laners stood still and fought head-on, but Irelia ultimately prevailed, surviving with 200 health!

"DK Nuguri has killed EDG Flandre!"

The news of Irelia's solo kill resounded throughout the arena! This news was like a shot of adrenaline, piercing the hearts of DK supporters!

A small group of audience members created quite a stir, rushing towards the stage in waves. The "Roaring Emperor" in the commentary booth was extremely excited, exclaiming that the opportunity had arrived!

Backstage at DK, kkoma looked at the scene before him and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

This solo kill was truly a lifesaver.

After all, EDG's lineup was flawless, but it also had its Achilles' heel: the top laner Rumble, who was picked first due to the flexibility of the situation.

Rumble is easy to kill, and he's not the main tactical focus now. If DK wants to win the game, they will inevitably need to break through Rumble's defenses.

But Flandre handled the pressure so well that he hadn't been given a chance before, which made Kkoma extremely anxious.

Fortunately, Nuguri solved the problem with his individual skills and secured a solo kill!

If Irelia can break through in the side lanes and force EDG to send someone to guard her, then EDG's team fight system will collapse on its own!
That's when DK's chance comes!

"."

At this moment, in EDG's voice chat, Flandre, who had just been solo-killed, looked somewhat ashamed and scratched his head sheepishly, saying, "There's nothing I can do; I simply can't win against him in this matchup."

"It's nothing." The EDG members didn't seem to be under any pressure and were telling Flandre to relax.

This wasn't a lie told to appease his teammates; they genuinely believed it.

After all, this solo kill was pretty dry; it didn't result in any loss of resources or towers, and it only cost 300 gold, which was negligible.

Moreover, everyone can understand, after all, Rumble playing Irelia does indeed lead to some serious trouble, as he gets beaten up in the mid-game.

As for Irelia's impact on the game...
It's not a big problem.

Ming Jing will make a move.

"Go bot lane and farm, just don't get killed by Zoe," Mingjing said. "I'll go fight Irelia."

"Alright!" Flandre chuckled a few times, then said, "Be careful, Irelia's a bit fierce!"

Ming Jing didn't take it to heart. "Don't worry."

Who is stronger, Yasuo or Irelia? This is probably a matter of opinion.

But for Mingjing, Yasuo has an absolute advantage!

What's more, Irelia even used Flash to kill Rumble.

After Mingjing returned to the city, he immediately filled the top lane position.

In the LCK commentary booth, the three Korean commentators felt a sudden tightness in their chests when they saw Yasuo head to the top lane. They all knew that this could very well be the crucial matchup that would decide the course of the game!

If Yasuo wins, the game will be completely under EDG's control.

If Irelia wins, then Death Knight will gain the space to maneuver as expected!

Admittedly, the advantage does lie with Yasuo, after all, Yasuo has multiple flashes, and his equipment is not actually lagging behind, currently having tier 2 boots and one and a half items.

But star players need to step up their game at this time, and now is the time to believe in Nuguri!
Amidst the anticipation of countless viewers, Yasuo and Irelia quickly faced off.

Nuguri played very steadily from the start and didn't rush to engage Yasuo.

It's not that he's a coward, but rather that he doesn't have a trump card.

Nuguri knew that now was the time to decide the outcome of the match, and of course he couldn't back down!
However, even if a final battle is to be fought, it must wait until the ultimate move is ready.

As a result, Yasuo's move to the top lane had an immediate effect.

At 14 minutes and 30 seconds, the second vanguard refreshed the score.

At this moment, Viper and Mingjing firmly controlled the lanes in the mid and top lanes, and the result was self-evident: EDG secured the second vanguard!

However, JieJie, who obtained the Herald, did not rush to release it, but returned to the jungle to continue farming.

He was waiting for an opportunity.

And soon, the opportunity came.

16 minutes later, on the road.

With her passive fully active, Irelia pushed the minion wave to the ruins of EDG's top tower, where she engaged a new wave of minions.

Ming Jing was standing with Xiao Bing at that moment.

Seeing this, Nuguri didn't hesitate and launched an attack. Irelia used minions as stepping stones to move forward continuously!

Ming Jing wasn't intimidated at all; he simply used Q on a minion to trigger Swiftness and build up a stack of Q.

What Mingjing didn't know was that in the blue buff area nearby, there was a Nidalee who was using her W to jump over the thin wall of the jungle, bypassing the vision of the jungle area, and crouching in the tri-bush.

It's not far from Yasuo.

"Hey! DK's playing a bit too aggressively this time!" In the commentary booth, Wawa started yelling, "This is a two-on-one situation! Xiaofei can't take this hit!"

But these words obviously couldn't reach Ming Jing's ears. Yasuo had already gotten right up close with Irelia and they had exchanged a basic attack!
Nuguri didn't even bother to prepare his skills; he simply unleashed his E skill, "Twin Blades," centered on Yasuo.

His E skill has some clever design, specifically including himself in the range to prevent Yasuo from using him as a stepping stone to dodge skills with [Step Slash].

But this thing was clearly no challenge for Ming Jing.

Fun fact: Yasuo's Wind Wall can block the closing of [Twin Blades], directly disrupting this crucial control skill at its source.

But Mingjing didn't even bother to use Wind Wall; instead, he simply moved laterally to bring the minions into the range of [Step Forward Slash].

Just before the double blades closed, Yasuo used a minion as a stepping stone to move out of the skill's range.

After using his E skill to dash, Mingjing adjusted his position and dashed back using another minion. He then used his EQ combo to unleash a circular sword strike, successfully hitting Irelia while simultaneously building up a gust of wind!

Nuguri frowned slightly, but at this point he had no other choice but to unleash a close-range ultimate attack.

However, Mingjing reacted exceptionally well, seeing the ultimate move clearly. He decisively pressed W, and [Wind Barrier] appeared from Yasuo's body, perfectly catching the ultimate move!

Mingjing's extraordinary reflexes allowed him to reliably dodge Irelia's E and R, which is the source of Mingjing's confidence in facing Irelia!

Nuguri was also feeling a bit down.

Fortunately, he was in a passive position and there were people behind him, so he didn't retreat. He just used a basic attack to hit Yasuo.

At this moment, Canyon saw that his teammates had used up all their skills, and he knew he couldn't stay in the bushes any longer, so he quickly rushed out of the bushes to help.

Nidalee heals Irelia, and Nidalee's heal also grants attack speed, which is a huge boost for Irelia!

Ming Jing looked at the girl with the sword emerging from the grass, somewhat surprised, but not panicked.

A mere leopard girl, trying to get involved in a fight between two warriors?

Mingjing slashed at the Blade Girl with his sword, and then quickly used his Q to attack!

A tornado roared out, blowing the swordswoman's face away.

But Mingjing's target wasn't Irelia. Tornado continued forward and locked onto Nidalee in the distance!

Canyon dared not take the wind, but found that he couldn't dodge it by moving around. He had no choice but to press R to switch forms and use W to dive and dodge the skill.

But this diving move also brought him closer to Yasuo.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Mingjing used the Irelia as a stepping stone to dash directly to Nidalee's face and slashed at her!

At this moment, Yasuo, with his shield bow and critical strike cape, has a 90% critical strike chance and deals considerable damage. His blade cuts deep into Nidalee's body, revealing bone!
With three hits from AQA, Nidalee lost 40% of her health in a single exchange!

Canyon was so terrified by the attacks that he didn't even dare to turn his head. He could only use his Red Smite on the minions to kill them and reduce the cooldown of his W [Pounce] to 2.5 seconds.

But taking advantage of this opportunity, Yasuo used another Q to stab him, reducing his health to half!
With the added speed from their swift movements, Canyon had a hard time even creating distance!

Fortunately, he finally got his second W. He quickly pressed W to create distance and then pressed R in mid-air to switch forms.

Nuguri's Irelia was chasing Yasuo and hacking away. Yasuo's health wasn't good either. Nuguri turned around and hit Yasuo with a Q, then transformed into a cougar and used an EQ combo. It was hard to say who would die in that situation!
Of course, this is on the premise that he can dodge Yasuo's second gust of wind.

A gentle breeze swirled around Yasuo, who then charged towards him with his E ability.

EQ combo?

Canyon didn't think twice and decisively flashed away!

biu!

biu!

Two golden lights flashed one after the other!

Yasuo and Nidalee flashed almost simultaneously, and their relative positions did not change at all!

Mingjing perfectly anticipated Nidalee's attempt to dodge her Q and counter-attack, predicting it with an EQ flash combo, and sure enough, it hit her!

Upon seeing this, Canyon felt a chill run down her spine, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

A tornado blew Nidalee high into the air. Mingjing landed a basic attack on Nidalee, then used EQ on a nearby minion, followed by his ultimate.

EQR, with a mechanism similar to EQ Flash, is commonly known as Double Wind.

Besides bringing the Q to the target of the ultimate, it also has another key effect: it allows you to land with a stack of Q.

After the ultimate skill lands, Mingjing performs a basic attack, followed by a Q!

[Steel Slash] landed precisely, and a gentle breeze once again swirled around Yasuo's side. Nidalee couldn't withstand these critical hits at all, and her health bar was instantly emptied!
At this moment, Irelia used her Q to rush in and reduce Yasuo's health bar to one-third.

But at this moment, Yasuo's shield bow was triggered, and a thick shield instantly pulled Yasuo's health bar back to more than half!
Furthermore, the shield bow not only provides a shield, but also an additional 15% life steal.

In addition, the ultimate ability provides an additional 50% armor penetration after its release.

Yasuo is currently at his absolute peak!
Although Irelia had more health at this moment, and her combat power was off the charts with full passive and Conqueror, Mingjing knew that he was bound to win. He chased after Irelia and slashed her twice, then used his Q to knock her away.

After using the knock-up to land two free hits, Mingjing's white shield was almost completely whittled down by Irelia. He immediately used E on a minion to create distance and used the minion to stack Q and lifesteal.

Irelia has already lost her Q ability and has no way to deal with this agile Yasuo.

Once the Q minions have built up some wind, Mingjing will come back again and knock Irelia into the air with an EQ combo!
With two slashes, the Blade Maiden followed closely behind the Nidalee and returned to the fountain!

"Double kill!"

The sound of double kills echoed heavily in the arena, but mixed with the powerful cheers, it created a deafening commotion!

Upon seeing this, the entire JDG team stood up, their faces filled with excitement.

"Holy crap, EQ flash!"

"Wow, this guy can take on two at once?"

"That predicted EQ flash was pretty cool, wasn't it?"

"Indeed, if that EQ flash misses, Nidalee will kill you!"

From the perspective of the JDG team, this 1v2 situation was indeed a well-thought-out strategy.

It's important to know that Mingjing's Yasuo didn't have an economic lead.

On the contrary, Yasuo hasn't gotten a single kill so far, and he's even behind Irelia in terms of gold.

Under these circumstances, how did Yasuo manage to kill both the top laner and the jungler?

It can only be said that he won by using a skillful maneuver. Yasuo used various dashes and wind walls to dodge almost all of his opponent's skills!

In the LPL commentary booth, the EDG voice channel, and backstage, everyone had a similar reaction to the JDG members, all praising Mingjing's greatness!
Jie Jie was shouting the loudest at this moment because this was exactly the moment he had been waiting for!
Diana, along with her teammates and the Herald, quickly rushed to the top lane!
If we say that Nuguri's solo kill in the last wave was just a dry, painless kill...

Ming Jing's kill was quite impressive.

Because EDG has a vanguard!
Relying on the numerical advantage created by Mingjing, the EDG team grouped up tightly and used the Herald to push straight in, taking down the top lane's first and second towers in succession!

At this moment, it is clear that the economic gap between the two sides has exceeded four thousand!
Backstage at DK, Kkoma surveyed the situation, slumped into a chair, and let out a long sigh.

He knew that the game was completely over.

(End of this chapter)