Did The Captain Catch Up With The Coach Today [Esports] Chapter 30
byChapter 30
All ten heroes on both sides were locked in. The ban/pick phase ended, and they were about to enter the battlefield.
The lineups for FHM and EN in the first game were:
Blue Team – FHM: TOP – Bamboo Swordsman, MID – Cursed Blade Scissor, BOT – Thorn Whip, SUP – Soul Summoner, JGL – Phantom Assassin
Red Team – EN: TOP – Bone Queen, MID – Soul Suppressor, BOT – Dual-Gun Knight, SUP – Deep Sea Merman, JGL – Full Moon Werewolf
Taking the red side is usually meant to restrict the opponent’s picks, but EN’s operations were fierce as a tiger. After they finished their bans, everyone on the FHM side got the heroes they wanted.
Wei Xiao secured the Phantom Assassin he was determined to get. Tang Li and Lu Qing Yang stably took their first-priority picks. Zhou Miao Miao got the Assassin he had been longing for, and even Qin Jin Yao got the hero he most wanted.
While the map was loading, Qin Jin Yao couldn’t help but complain, “EN’s bans were completely useless. They didn’t even ban Bamboo Swordsman and they expect to win against us?”
“They wanted to use me as a breakthrough point, but they didn’t expect me to take an Assassin mid. Serves them right,” Zhou Miao Miao said.
“Mainly, Wei-dui’s Spider is too terrifying. If it were me, I’d ban it too,” Lu Qing Yang said. “Blade Shadow Dancer is a Meta Pick, and Luminous Knight can carry—which of those two would they dare to leave open for Wei-dui?”
Only Tang Li offered an objective assessment: “Maybe they still think they banned well. After all, just looking at the composition, our lineup doesn’t look like a normal pick.”
High emotional intelligence: Doesn’t look like a normal pick.
Low emotional intelligence: Doesn’t look like a winning pick.
Three Assassins, one melee Marksman, and one backline Mage Support—five squishy heroes.
That was them.
What about the opponents?
Their Top laner was a tank, the Support was incredibly tanky, the MID had a shield, and only the Marksman and Jungler were squishy.
However, no matter how tanky a hero is, their health won’t be too high in the early game; they rely on late-game itemization to stack up.
So, Wei Xiao looked at his three Assassins and had a bold idea: “Invade their jungle at the start, anyone in?”
“I’m in!” Zhou Miao Miao instantly replied, sounding eager for chaos.
“I was waiting for you to say that!” Qin Jin Yao said excitedly.
Both of them felt the same way about invading: they wanted to, but wouldn’t dare alone.
Therefore, as long as someone led the charge, they would invade, and invade hard!
So, as soon as the map finished loading, Wei Xiao led his Top and MID laners into the enemy’s top jungle.
“Be. care. ful. of. vi. sion,” Zhou Miao Miao whispered very quietly.
“Fol. low. me. no. pro. blem,” Wei Xiao cooperated by lowering his voice and responding syllable by syllable.
Qin Jin Yao was amused by the two, first laughing and cursing them as “crazy,” then suddenly remembering something and putting on a serious expression: “Wait, you guys know the opponents can’t hear us, right?”
“What? They can’t hear us!” Wei Xiao feigned surprise.
Zhou Miao Miao played along: “What? Are the opponents deaf!”
Qin Jin Yao: “…I can’t handle this.”
Lu Qing Yang, far away in the bottom lane, burst out laughing: “You guys are really… It’s a match, can you show some tension?”
“Alright, focus,” Wei Xiao said, arriving at the target location and suddenly adopting a serious tone.
The voice chat instantly went silent. Qin Jin Yao and Zhou Miao Miao crouched behind Wei Xiao, ready for battle.
“Jin Yao learn Q, Miao Miao learn W. Ready?” Wei Xiao asked.
Bamboo Swordsman’s first skill, “Bamboo Thorn,” is the hero’s main damage ability.
Bamboo Swordsman’s second skill is an enhancement, the third is a dash, and the ultimate is a long-range dash. Even with the ultimate, he relies on the first skill for damage, so learning Q first is definitely the right choice.
Cursed Blade Scissor’s first skill is also a damage ability, and the second skill is crowd control.
Although it’s single-target control, making it awkward for initiating team fights, it’s perfect for ganking, guaranteeing a hit every time.
Qin Jin Yao and Zhou Miao Miao put points into the skills Wei Xiao suggested, both humming in affirmation.
Then Wei Xiao threw a “Phantom Curse” into the bush in front of them.
Phantom Assassin’s first skill, “Phantom Curse,” can be thrown very far. Hitting a target in the bush exposes their vision for a period, making it excellent for poking or scouting bushes.
When EN’s Jungler noticed FHM’s Top and MID weren’t in lane, he immediately called his Top and MID to help, but he didn’t want to give up the monster he was halfway through killing, so he pulled the jungle monster into a nearby bush.
Wei Xiao’s attack hit not only him but also the monster he had damaged.
With his vision exposed, EN’s Jungler immediately used his first skill on the monster, trying to use Smite to secure the kill before Wei Xiao arrived, level up to two, unlock his dash, and escape.
However, Wei Xiao shouted, “Control him!” Zhou Miao Miao immediately Flash-ed onto EN’s Jungler and locked him down with a W!
Wei Xiao rushed into the bush, used Smite to secure the monster, gained the buff, leveled up to two, unlocked his dash, and then proceeded to beat up EN’s Jungler!
Qin Jin Yao’s first skill also successfully landed. The three Assassins each landed one auto-attack, leaving the Full Moon Werewolf with only a sliver of health.
EN’s Top and MID arrived late. Wei Xiao secured the kill with an auto-attack just before they could intervene!
[System Notification] Phantom Assassin has drawn First Blood!
[System Notification] Enemy Full Moon Werewolf has been slain!
As soon as the trio invaded EN’s jungle, they attracted the attention of all the spectators, both online and offline.
The broadcast camera followed Wei Xiao, allowing the commentators and audience to clearly see the entire process of him securing First Blood.
Ri Xi: “Unfinished uses his first skill to scout the bush, successful hit!”
Yue Xia: “The Werewolf’s vision is exposed! Run, run!”
Ri Xi: “Scissor Flashes in for the control! Wow, that control is crucial! Unfinished steals the buff!”
Yue Xia: “Bamboo Swordsman’s damage is so high! The Werewolf can’t escape!”
Ri Xi: “First Blood is secured!”
Yue Xia: “Wow, FHM’s coordination is too seamless! The MID’s control was perfectly timed, and the Top/Jungle output was maximized! EN’s rotation was a bit slow.”
The two commentators witnessed the birth of the first kill of the match. They focused on praising FHM and only briefly mentioned EN’s reaction. The bullet comments, however, were not so polite.
[Are EN’s Top and MID sleepwalking?]
[Do they only know how to lane?]
[Jia Jun should have left when his vision was exposed. If Top and MID aren’t coming, he’s just giving the buff to the opponents anyway.]
[Since Wen Shi Yu retired, EN has really gone downhill.]
[Good thing I unfollowed EN after God Yu retired, or that wave would have killed me with anger.]
[Go FHM, go!]
The audience actually expected FHM to get a triple kill, but Wei Xiao secured the kill and immediately said, “Retreat.”
Dying early means a quick respawn. EN’s Top and MID weren’t easy to kill. If they couldn’t secure a triple kill before EN’s Jungler respawned and returned to the jungle, they would be dragged into a prolonged fight in the jungle and eventually die. For Wei Xiao, losing even one kill to EN would be a loss.
In short: don’t be greedy.
Thus, when EN’s Top and MID finally arrived, they couldn’t even touch the clothes of the FHM players, let alone avenge their Jungler.
EN’s Jungler, watching this scene from the fountain, was furious: “Cursed Blade Scissor has no Flash, Bone, Flash and stun him! Soul Suppressor, use your first skill to poke!”
“There are three opponents,” the Top laner said while operating his Bone Queen back to the top lane.
“Why are you scared? I’ve respawned!”
“Forget it, we missed the timing. There’s no point in chasing now,” the MID laner said. “You, on the other hand, need to play safer.”
EN’s Jungler laughed in anger.
They didn’t come when he called, and now they were blaming him for being unsafe?
If the Top and MID had rotated faster and weren’t so stingy with their Flashes, they could have at least secured one kill back.
This trash team. No wonder Wen Shi Yu left.
However, he was a Starter now, not a Substitute. He had to seize the opportunity to perform well so he could transfer teams later.
Thinking this, EN’s Jungler quickly adjusted his mindset and headed to the bottom jungle to secure the buff.
Huh? Where’s my monster?
Before he could react, a ball of purple energy smashed into his face and exploded—it was Phantom Assassin’s “Phantom Curse”!
“You—” EN’s Jungler cursed.
However, foul language might lower his character, but it wouldn’t change his fate of dying.
[System Notification] Phantom Assassin, a kill!
[System Notification] Enemy Full Moon Werewolf has been slain!
After leaving EN’s top jungle, Wei Xiao immediately moved into EN’s bottom jungle.
“I left, and now I’m back. Surprise, surprise?”
He placed a ward on the enemy Jungler’s inevitable path, caught the Full Moon Werewolf, and immediately launched a fierce attack!
The Full Moon Werewolf was already a late-game Jungler, and he was still only level 1. A level 2 Phantom Assassin could crush him as easily as stepping on an ant; it was instantaneous.
“Hiss—this Jungler’s awareness is too poor, isn’t it? How is he a Starter?” Wei Xiao complained unceremoniously.
The last time he duo-queued with Wen Shi Yu and encountered this Jungler, Wei Xiao held back both his words and his actions, thinking that since this was Wen Shi Yu’s former teammate, perhaps Wen Shi Yu only disliked EN’s coach and manager, and still held a tiny bit of affection for his former teammates?
In that match, Wei Xiao wanted to vent for Wen Shi Yu but was afraid of going too far and making Wen Shi Yu uncomfortable, so he played quite restrained, mainly suppressing the opponent in the early game and not paying much attention later.
But after that match, Wen Shi Yu stopped playing and said, “I don’t want to match with trash again.”
He called EN’s Jungler “trash.”
Wei Xiao instantly regretted it—Tsk, why did I hold back!
This time, he would not let this “trash” go again.
“With this skill, he’s Wen Ge’s substitute? He’s not even fit to carry Wen Ge’s shoes,” Wei Xiao complained, then called for backup. “My dash hasn’t refreshed yet, I’m about to be surrounded. Bot lane, save me, save me!”
“Coming, coming.” Tang Li used an acceleration shield and rushed toward Wei Xiao’s location, leaving his Marksman far behind.
Lu Qing Yang quickly followed with a short-range dash but was still left far behind.
But it didn’t matter, because the enemy bot lane, seeing FHM’s Support rushing in, were scared and immediately retreated under their tower.
If only the enemy Jungler was in their jungle, they might try to keep him there, but with an extra Support, it was uncertain who would kill whom.
Although Soul Summoner is a Support, as a backline Mage Support responsible for poking in lane and saving people in team fights, he deals significant damage early on. Not only that, he has crowd control and an acceleration shield, making his presence in lane stronger than the Marksman’s.
Tang Li’s Soul Summoner practically fought a 1v2 in lane. Lu Qing Yang complemented his control with damage, making EN’s bot lane suffer greatly from the poke.
So, when EN’s duo saw Tang Li entering the jungle, they turned and ran in fear.
They ran?
Well…
Wei Xiao secured the buff and conveniently took a nearby small jungle monster.
As he left EN’s jungle, he told Lu Qing Yang, “I’m going to the top jungle. Feel free to take the monsters in the bot jungle.”
Lu Qing Yang was moved to tears: “That’s so manly, brother. Is this what it feels like to be taken care of?”
Wei Xiao chuckled, saying nothing aloud, but thinking that if he were truly rich, he would definitely take care of Wen Ge.
But the reality was, Wen Ge was paying his salary?
Hmm… He needed to boost FHM’s reputation. With more endorsements, Wen Ge would also earn money! That way, by extension, it would be like he was taking care of Wen Ge!
Wei Xiao finished his random thoughts and headed to his own top jungle.
After clearing a full rotation of jungle camps, he successfully reached level 6 and unlocked his ultimate.
He checked Qin Jin Yao and Zhou Miao Miao’s levels; they were both one level short of 6.
He decisively used his stealth and speed boost to rush into the enemy’s top jungle, saying as he went, “Top and MID, call me when you have your ultimates.”
Qin Jin Yao and Zhou Miao Miao both replied, “Got it.”
As Wei Xiao expected, EN’s Jungler was currently farming in the top jungle.
This guy learned his lesson this time and placed a ward in the bush near the river, successfully exposing Wei Xiao’s position.
But the fact that this guy dared to pounce and ambush him before reaching level 6 left Wei Xiao puzzled.
Facing the charging Full Moon Werewolf, Wei Xiao didn’t panic at all. He used Phantom Assassin’s dash to dodge the pounce, maneuvering so the dash’s residual damage hit the opponent, then followed up with “Phantom Curse” (Q) and his ultimate, “Phantom Pierce” (R)!
The purple energy ball exploded on the Werewolf, immediately followed by the phantom girl piercing right through him!
Phantom Assassin’s ultimate is a pure damage skill, with bonus damage against targets marked with the Curse debuff.
The first skill applied the curse to the Werewolf, and the ultimate detonated the curse. With that single strike, the Full Moon Werewolf’s health bar was instantly wiped out!
[System Notification] Phantom Assassin, a kill!
[System Notification] Enemy Full Moon Werewolf has been slain!
From the start of the match until now, exactly 7 minutes had passed. Wei Xiao had secured 3 kills, all of them on EN’s Jungler, Full Moon Werewolf.
The commentators felt a little sorry for EN’s Jungler.
“What a miserable Jungler,” Ri Xi said.
“He shouldn’t have engaged,” Yue Xia, as usual, empathized with the side being abused. “Even though it was only a one-level difference, having an ultimate or not is a world of difference. How did he dare to go in?”
“It feels like EN’s Jungler is getting a bit desperate,” Ri Xi said. “Especially at times like this, it’s crucial to maintain composure. Mindset is very important in competitive play.”
No sooner had he spoken than FHM’s Top laner, Bamboo Swordsman, reached level 6, unlocked his ultimate, and immediately used it to dash toward the mid lane!
Shortly after Wei Xiao solo-killed the Jungler, he heard Qin Jin Yao’s voice: “I have my ultimate.”
“Use it! Dash to mid!” Wei Xiao responded while rushing toward the mid lane.
EN’s Jungler was dead; wasn’t the mid laner an easy target?
Qin Jin Yao said “Okay” and pressed R to use Bamboo Swordsman’s ultimate, “Bamboo Forest Shuttle,” flying directly from the top lane to the mid lane.
The moment he flew over, Zhou Miao Miao also reached level 6, quickly unlocking Cursed Blade Scissor’s ultimate, “Death Curse,” and said, “Just help me break his shield, I can get the kill!”
“Good grief, if he doesn’t have a shield, which one of us can’t kill him?”
Though he said that, Wei Xiao was indeed there to help Zhou Miao Miao deal with the shield.
Although FHM revolved around him, in terms of hero abilities, Cursed Blade Scissor’s ultimate was indeed the most suitable for the final execution.
In an instant, Qin Jin Yao’s Bamboo Swordsman arrived, hitting EN’s MID laner, Soul Suppressor, with a Q, followed immediately by an E.
Bamboo Swordsman’s third skill, “Bamboo Forest Pursuit,” instantly refreshes if the first skill hits.
This is a dash skill, so Qin Jin Yao dealt his damage and immediately dashed out of the tower’s range, taking one tower shot for his teammates.
During the time Qin Jin Yao tanked the tower, Wei Xiao also hit the Soul Suppressor with a Q.
Soul Suppressor had activated his shield when Bamboo Swordsman dashed in. He threw his crowd control toward Wei Xiao, because in his view, the most oppressive of the three was the Phantom Assassin who had secured three kills.
However, Wei Xiao used his dash to follow Qin Jin Yao out of the tower after landing his Q, causing Soul Suppressor’s control to miss.
The shield was forcefully broken by the two of them. Zhou Miao Miao seized the opportunity and executed the EWQR combo.
E: Third skill, “Curse Stealth.” Stealth dash, applying a curse to the scissor.
W: Second skill, “Curse Lock.” Single-target control.
Q: First skill, “Curse Scissor.” A straight-line area of effect damage in front. If the scissor was pre-cursed, the curse would be applied to the first target hit.
R: Ultimate, “Death Curse.” Usable when a cursed target is within range, detonating the curse on the target for massive damage.
How massive was this damage?
After being attacked by Qin Jin Yao and Wei Xiao, Soul Suppressor’s health bar was still full.
After being clipped by Zhou Miao Miao’s scissor, he lost a quarter of his health, leaving three-quarters.
But when Cursed Blade Scissor activated his ultimate, the remaining three-quarters of his health vanished instantly!
Zhou Miao Miao used EWQ and then turned his back to Soul Suppressor before activating his ultimate, just so he could deliver the boastful line: “True heroes never look back at the explosion!”
[System Notification] Cursed Blade Scissor, a kill!
[System Notification] Enemy Soul Suppressor has been slain!
At this point in the match, all doubts about FHM’s lineup completely disappeared.
EN is hard to gank? Three Assassins can’t fight?
That’s in a 3v3 scenario. What about 3v1?
Wei Xiao and Zhou Miao Miao instantly killed when their ultimates were up, and Qin Jin Yao flew in when his ultimate was ready.
The three Assassins not only had high damage and fast rotations, but they also pushed towers quickly.
After Soul Suppressor died, Wei Xiao immediately returned to the tower to push. The trio worked together to destroy EN’s mid-lane Tier 1 tower.
For EN, there was one piece of good news and two pieces of bad news.
Good news: The three Assassins, who were fiercer than the Werewolf, currently had their ultimates on cooldown.
Bad news: Their MID and Jungler were both dead. During the time the trio didn’t have their ultimates, no one could stop them.
Worse news: The trio’s ultimates would cool down very quickly.
Wen Shi Yu admitted that he was thoroughly enjoying this match.
Although he knew the players he scouted wouldn’t disappoint him, he hadn’t expected them to control the game to this extent.
Especially Wei Xiao. All four jungle quadrants belonged to him. He entered any of them as if they were his own home, completely crushing EN’s Jungler with raw skill.
“Well done,” Wen Shi Yu praised softly.
It seemed that for the match against EN, he really just needed to sit back and watch them execute their plan.