Chapter 109: World-Class Mid-Jungle

At the 5-minute mark, the first Elemental Dragon spawned.

By this time, the enemy jungler had farmed significant resources and was already level 7. Their mid-laner and marksman had also reached level 6 and learned their ultimates.

On our side, the top laner had been killed and forced to recall once, so he hadn’t hit level 6 yet, nor had the support.

Chi Shuo’s jungler, having yielded some early economy to the marksman, was only level 5. However, our three damage dealers—Zhao Xin’an, Sean, and Xie Weiyu—had all reached level 6.

Looking at levels, we were at a disadvantage. Chi Shuo was a full two levels lower than Choi Hyuk, and his items were much worse. Plus, Chi Shuo was playing a utility role this game with no damage output, completely incomparable to the [King of Fighters] who could burst someone down in one combo.

However, Ye Shaoyang felt this team fight was winnable.

Our top laner was level 6. Zhao Xin’an’s [Vampire Duke] could heal with his ultimate. If he could coordinate with Sean to assassinate the enemy marksman, and if Ye Shaoyang protected our marksman from being instantly killed, then Xie Weiyu could deal massive damage in the team fight with his flexible positioning, compensating for Chi Shuo’s lack of jungle damage.

The roles of the supports on both sides were also different. The enemy support excelled at interfering with tower pushes, but our support could block damage with a shield, offering stronger protection for the marksman.

Whether a team fight could be taken depended on comprehensive factors. Ye Shaoyang quickly analyzed the situation in his mind and said, “We can fight this. I’ll go clear vision; everyone get ready to support.”

Zhao Xin’an said, “Okay, I’ll come right after clearing the wave!”

The enemy support had placed vision near the dragon pit. Ye Shaoyang swept through and cleared it. The enemy support was obviously preparing for the dragon fight too; the two poked and skirmished in the bushes, neither able to kill the other.

Noticing that the top and mid waves were cleared, Ye Shaoyang pinged ‘Gather’ at the dragon pit. Zhao Xin’an quickly flanked from our jungle, Chi Shuo crouched in the bush above the pit, and Xie Weiyu stood ready at the rear flank.

As world-class players, their support awareness was strong.

All 5 members from both sides arrived quickly.

Chi Shuo said calmly, “Don’t rush to engage. We’ll counter-engage.”

Ye Shaoyang thought the same. Letting the opponent start the fight and then counter-attacking would be safer. After all, Ye Shaoyang wasn’t level 6 yet and lacked his mass-control ultimate. If Little Zhao engaged, he would easily be crowd-controlled.

Sure enough, the enemy jungler was extremely confident, leaping directly onto Xie Weiyu’s face with a long-range ultimate!

Choi Hyuk knew perfectly well that the marksman had used Flash when he ganked earlier. As long as he could land a stun punch, his mid-laner Park Won-seok would follow up with a burst combo, and the squishy marksman would be instantly killed.

However, to his surprise, almost the instant he jumped onto Xie Weiyu, Chi Shuo, hiding in the bush, suddenly dashed twice and used his Q skill to interrupt Choi Hyuk’s follow-up combo!

Ye Shaoyang’s reaction was in perfect sync with Chi Shuo, instantly raising his shield.

——Spell of World Destruction!

The enemy mid-laner Park Won-seok unleashed a burst combo, sending 6 balls of black mist fiercely lunging at Xie Weiyu.

But they hit nothing but air—all of them were blocked by Ye Shaoyang’s shield!

This operation of Jungler and Support joining hands to protect the marksman was so tacit it was like their brainwaves were synchronized.

Xie Weiyu wasn’t stupid either. Seeing Shaoyang holding the shield to block the ultimate for him, he immediately activated his ‘Gale’ state, rapidly repositioning like an agile spirit to distance himself from the enemy jungler.

Basic attack, basic attack, enhanced basic attack. A marksman’s damage output was simple and brutal; green arrows from Xie Weiyu’s bow flew one after another into the enemy jungler!

Choi Hyuk had thought this surprise attack with Park Won-seok would definitely insta-kill the enemy marksman. In professional leagues, the marksmen they had insta-killed together could line up around the canyon.

He hadn’t expected the opponent to react so fast—the support predicted perfectly to block the mid-laner’s mist, and the jungler was actually hiding nearby specifically watching him to interrupt his combo?

Choi Hyuk’s face darkened. “Retreat.”

Seeing him turn to run, Ye Shaoyang immediately said, “Keep him here!”

The Support [Radiant Shield]’s Q skill could raise a shield to block projectiles, and the W skill could throw the shield to a location to act as a barrier blocking the enemy’s path.

Choi Hyuk’s retreat route was tricky; he dashed directly toward the dragon pit where his teammates were waiting. But Ye Shaoyang predicted his path and threw the shield out in advance!

The result was Choi Hyuk getting blocked by the shield after just two steps.

Xie Weiyu hopped rapidly in the distance, firing another enhanced basic attack, quickly knocking Choi Hyuk’s health down by half. Simultaneously, Zhao Xin’an shouldered his sword and Flashed directly into the enemy backline—

After activating his ultimate, [Vampire Duke]’s defense lowered, and his body glowed with bloodthirsty red light. His crit rate increased, and a portion of his damage converted to health. Although he became squishier, he wasn’t easy to kill while lifestealing and fighting.

Seeing the [Vampire Duke] charging, the enemy marksman immediately turned to flee. Zhao Xin’an chased with consecutive W dashes, slashing wildly with his sword. The enemy support, out of options, released three mechanical soldiers to crowd-control him.

Zhao Xin’an was rooted in place, watching helplessly as the low-health marksman escaped.

However, Sean had been waiting on the flank for an opportunity. Seeing this, he suddenly released his ultimate “Kraken Devour”—a hideous monster opened its bloody mouth and swallowed the low-health marksman in one bite!

The root effect ended on Zhao Xin’an, and he turned back to chase the enemy mid-laner. Park Won-seok was forced to Flash and retreat. The jungler Choi Hyuk was kited to death by Xie Weiyu, who had the Red Buff!

Choi Hyuk: “…”

Inside the ATB training room, Choi Hyuk couldn’t help but curse, “Our marksman is so trash!”

Park Won-seok frowned. “I don’t know what our Top Laner is doing either. Sleepwalking?”

Choi Hyuk looked grim. “Which region’s weaklings did we match with? Zero coordination awareness.”

Domestically, the players’ live streams were flooded with “666”!

This coordination was superb. Chi Shuo and Ye Shaoyang tacitly protected Xie Weiyu, who used flexible positioning to kite and quickly kill Choi Hyuk.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xin’an flanked the rear to cripple the enemy marksman, allowing Sean to secure the kill with his ultimate.

A 0-for-2 trade, directly forcing the enemy to retreat!

Ye Shaoyang said, “They don’t have a unified shotcaller, right? Their team fight was obviously disjointed.”

Chi Shuo said, “Mn. Everyone fighting for themselves, a sheet of loose sand.”

The enemy bot lane duo was positioned a bit too far away in that last engage. Yet Choi Hyuk ignored his teammates and charged in confidently, wanting to kill our marksman, only to be beaten back by Chi Shuo and Ye Shaoyang’s coordination.

The enemy Top Laner didn’t want to not support; he was simply zoned out by Zhao Xin’an and Sean and couldn’t get over.

Although our 5 players came from different teams, with Chi Shuo’s unified command, they fought as one heart. The enemy 5 fought individually and were defeated one by one.

Zhao Xin’an shouted excitedly, “Beautiful work! Start dragon, start dragon!”

Chi Shuo started the dragon. Ye Shaoyang crouched in a bush to zone out enemy vision. Zhao Xin’an returned to top lane. Xie Weiyu helped Chi Shuo take the dragon quickly.

The Elemental Dragon increased team economy, giving everyone a bit of gold.

Xie Weiyu’s gold was several hundred higher than the enemy marksman’s. Sean took First Blood and just got another kill, putting him several hundred gold ahead of Park Won-seok. Zhao Xin’an was also richer than the enemy top laner.

Chi Shuo and Ye Shaoyang were poor.

But our three carry points were all farmed better than the opponents!

While Choi Hyuk was dead and waiting to respawn, Ye Shaoyang scouted ahead, leading Chi Shuo to steal the enemy’s Blue Buff. Xie Weiyu also took advantage of the enemy marksman being dead to rapidly attack the tower, taking the bot lane tower to half health.

Chi Shuo said, “Prepare to hard push bot.”

Sean: “Received.”

Choi Hyuk respawned quickly. Since his Blue side jungle had been cleaned out by Chi Shuo, he went to his Red side jungle near top lane to farm, deciding to gank top while he was there.

Chi Shuo pinged “Retreat” on the top lane.

Zhao Xin’an sensed the danger and immediately retreated after clearing the wave.

Our Mid, Jungle, Marksman, and Support—4 people—grouped up to hard push bot.

By now, both Chi Shuo and Ye Shaoyang were level 6. Chi Shuo said, “Engage.”

Ye Shaoyang Flashed directly under the enemy tower, used his ultimate, and smashed his shield down from the sky, stunning the enemy marksman! The enemy marksman, being a high-level player from the European region, instantly used Cleanse to run. But Chi Shuo dove the tower to chase him, pursuing him between the inner and outer towers.

Sean followed up with his ultimate; the ugly monster opened its bloody mouth again and ate the low-health marksman!

Ye Shaoyang tanked the tower shots while Xie Weiyu fired madly from a distance. The enemy support couldn’t withstand the continuous barrage and died under the arrows of the Wind Spirit!

——[SN333 (Kraken of the North Sea) killed Romain (Machine Gun Hunter)!]

——[Rain001 (Wind Spirit) killed Kyrian (Mechanical Expert)!]

——Our team destroyed an enemy turret.

This 4v2 dive in the bot lane was a numbers crush, sending 2 enemies back to base (dead) and taking the outer tower!

Meanwhile, top lane: because Zhao Xin’an retreated immediately after clearing the wave, the enemy Mid, Jungle, and Top gank failed to kill him, and they only took our tower to half health.

Netizens watched with growing excitement. This was the difference between having a shotcaller and not having one!

Chi Shuo stealing the Blue earlier was actually forcing the enemy jungler to go to his Red side top jungle. Then, he could seize the opportunity to mobilize his teammates for a numbers-advantage flank in the bot lane.

Even the strongest world-class players couldn’t win a 2v4; getting killed was normal.

Ultimately, this play was about exploiting a timing window.

Choi Hyuk saw bot lane die again, and a trace of impatience rose in his heart. “What’s wrong with these two? I pinged retreat, and they didn’t know to leave? Had to feed!”

He and Park Won-seok were World Champion Mid-Jungle. If they couldn’t establish an advantage by ganking, it must be because their teammates had poor awareness and couldn’t keep up with their thinking.

Park Won-seok said, “Let bot go. Let’s invade their jungle.”

Choi Hyuk said, “Go, invade Blue.”

Chi Shuo had been helping push bot, so his top-side jungle hadn’t been cleared. Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok grouped to steal a Blue and clear the top-side resources, barely salvaging the situation a bit.

Chi Shuo looked at the map and said, “Swap lanes. Push top tower.”

Zhao Xin’an decisively headed bot. Xie Weiyu and Ye Shaoyang went top to push. Chi Shuo rushed over too.

Seeing Zhao Xin’an appear alone in bot lane, the enemy jungler immediately changed strategy to dive him. A 4v1 bot lane dive meant even Zhao Xin’an couldn’t survive; Choi Hyuk took the kill.

But in the top lane, our 4v1 sent the enemy Top Laner back to base, and Xie Weiyu got the kill.

Chi Shuo immediately started the Tyrant (big objective). Ye Shaoyang zoned the mid-lane approach. Xie Weiyu and Sean helped DPS. The enemy 4 couldn’t arrive in time, and the notification “Enemy has slain the Ancient Tyrant” popped up on the screen.

In this exchange, although Choi Hyuk killed Zhao Xin’an and took the bot outer tower…

We took the top outer tower and the Tyrant. It was a massive loss for them no matter how you looked at it!

After getting the Tyrant Buff, Chi Shuo said, “Push all three lanes. Pay attention to syncing the minion waves.”

Everyone was a pro player; of course, they knew how to sync waves. Zhao Xin’an split push top, Xie Weiyu went bot, Sean went mid. The three timed the waves so the Tyrant Vanguard captains pushed simultaneously in all three lanes.

Grouping 5 mid for a hard push, they quickly took down the mid tower as well.

By this time, Choi Hyuk clearly sensed something was wrong. “The opponents have a professional shotcaller.”

Park Won-seok said, “At this time, could it be a Chinese pro team training on the international server?”

“Possible.” Choi Hyuk chuckled lightly. “Chinese teams are all our defeated opponents. No rush. Stabilize and defend towers first, then look for a chance to counter.”

In last year’s S9 World Championship, the Chinese region won zero trophies. The Korean region, with ATB taking Champion and TAC taking Bronze, was infinitely glorious and even secured an extra slot for the next World Championship.

In Choi Hyuk’s view, Chinese players who hadn’t won a championship in so many years were nothing to fear. Even Chi Shuo, once touted as the world’s best jungler, had declined over the last two years. As a rising star, Choi Hyuk’s popularity and skill had long replaced the S6 Chi Shuo.

In the last two team fights, the opponents had a shotcaller, and our marksman got caught out of position, letting them get lucky. Now, Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok had nearly finished their items. Park Won-seok could insta-kill a squishy with one ult!

As long as they killed the enemy marksman, things would be much easier.

Defend high ground, then counter-attack.

With their ability to seize opportunities, what was a disadvantageous game? They could still win.

The match quickly proceeded to 22 minutes.

We charged the high ground twice but failed to take the inhibitor tower because the minion waves were cleared.

Ye Shaoyang opened the scoreboard. The enemy jungler and mid-laner had great items. Korean players were exceptionally good at snowballing economy; even if you killed them a few times early on, they could scour resources from all over the map—

Clearly, Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok had visited top and bot lanes multiple times to leech minion waves, eating some of their teammates’ gold. So, the two of them were fat, while the other three were very poor.

The enemy Top Laner [Black Dragon Knight] hadn’t finished his key defensive items and couldn’t tank in team fights. The enemy marksman lacked penetration items; hitting a tank was like scratching an itch. Ye Shaoyang’s thick-skinned support could completely tank his damage.

On our side, the Top, Mid, and Marksman—three core damage dealers—all had high gold. Xie Weiyu’s marksman had maxed out attack speed items and completed his key crit item.

Ye Shaoyang asked Chi Shuo, “Force high ground, or wait for the next Baron/Tyrant?”

The big objective wouldn’t spawn for a few minutes. If they dragged it out until everyone had 6 items, they might not win the team fight. Chi Shuo thought for a moment and said, “Quick fight. Force high ground.”

Hearing this, everyone perked up. They pushed lanes and collected resources.

Jungle resources were cleared, and minion waves in all three lanes were pushed up.

Park Won-seok’s [World-Ending Mage] was a hero with strong wave clear and defense.

One ultimate aimed at a squishy could make the enemy marksman evaporate instantly!

Chi Shuo led his teammates to the bot lane high ground. As expected, the enemy came to defend bot, using skills to clear the wave. Chi Shuo immediately rotated to mid. Ye Shaoyang protected the front while Xie Weiyu rapidly attacked the tower from behind.

Just then, Choi Hyuk caught an opportunity—

The marksman [Wind Spirit], perhaps to hit the tower quickly, had positioned himself too far forward.

His eyes lit up. “Kill the marksman!”

As soon as the words fell, he punched Xie Weiyu in the face. One had to admit, the world-class jungler had skills; the stun was accurate. Xie Weiyu was instantly stunned, his health dropping by half.

In the next moment, Park Won-seok used his ultimate. The [World-Ending Mage]’s black magic ball shot from his hand instantly. Just as it was about to smash into Xie Weiyu, Xie Weiyu suddenly used a Soul Flash…

Actually Flashing right into his face!

The World-Ending Mage’s ultimate was a long-range attack. Dodging away might still get you hit. But dodging in the opposite direction (towards the caster) might avoid the projectile’s flight path.

Flashing forward with Xie Weiyu were Ye Shaoyang and Zhao Xin’an.

Ye Shaoyang used his ultimate, smashing the shield down from the sky to stun Park Won-seok directly!

Zhao Xin’an slashed, reducing the squishy mage to critical health. Park Won-seok had to flee for his life. But by now, Xie Weiyu, carrying Red Buff, charged under the tower and rapid-fired. Even though Park Won-seok turned and Flashed to run, Xie Weiyu could still reach him—Xie Weiyu had followed his teammates in a reverse Flash specifically to kill.

Basic attack, basic attack, enhanced crit!

A marksman’s damage depended on hand speed. Xie Weiyu shot Park Won-seok dead with two arrows.

Choi Hyuk was dumbfounded—The three of them flashed toward the crystal in unison? Suicidal playstyle? He looked back and saw the jungler [Fighter], who had built tank items, helping tank the tower shots.

Zhao Xin’an flashed into the backline, fierce as hell, his sword hacking and slashing like cutting melons and vegetables. After cutting down the mid-laner, he aimed at the enemy marksman. [Vampire Duke] could lifesteal after ulting. So, he wasn’t afraid of tower diving; he could heal back the damage.

In the blink of an eye, the enemy marksman was beaten to critical health by his combo.

With a teammate tanking the tower, Xie Weiyu hopped rapidly under the tower, supplementing damage from range, and shot the enemy marksman dead with one arrow.

Choi Hyuk wanted to turn back to kill him, but Chi Shuo landed a perfectly timed stun, pinning Choi Hyuk under the tower.

Sean released a Kraken Devour ultimate, biting Choi Hyuk to a sliver of health. Xie Weiyu turned and fired a crit shot, taking the last hit on Choi Hyuk!

——[Rain001 (Wind Spirit) killed XIXI (World-Ending Mage)!]

——[Rain001 (Wind Spirit) killed Romain (Machine Gun Hunter)!]

——[Rain001 (Wind Spirit) killed KING (King of Fighters)!]

——Triple Kill!

With his teammates’ coordination, Xie Weiyu flashed and tower-dived, exploding with hand speed to secure a triple kill on the high ground!

Sean praised, “Nice!”

Zhao Xin’an: “Xiao Yu 6666!”

Ye Shaoyang’s voice was also excited: “Xiao Yu, quick! Hit the tower, hit the tower, hit the tower!”

The high ground tower was down. Zhao Xin’an chased the enemy support, and Chi Shuo blocked the enemy Top Laner, preventing them from clearing minions. We had one last minion left.

Xie Weiyu took this sole surviving minion and rapidly attacked the crystal.

Until the crystal exploded in front of them.

——Victory!

Golden victory text popped up. Domestically, the players’ live streams were plastered with white bullet screens.

Especially in Xie Weiyu’s stream, countless fans popped up to speak for him.

[Who said Xiao Yu was trash? Is this trash?]

[Some people look down on others. Xiao Yu may not have won a World Championship, but at least he took Yaoguang to a league runner-up finish, right? The faces of those who turn around and flame their former captain are disgusting.]

[People are cold when the tea cools. Xiao Yu was right to leave Yaoguang. A team with no human warmth and fans with no brains aren’t worth your dedication!]

Seeing these comments, Xie Weiyu’s eyes grew hot, and he didn’t know what to say.

In that last triple kill, he only did what a marksman should do: dodge key skills and auto-attack madly to deal damage. In reality, Ye Shaoyang engaged perfectly, stunning the enemy mid-laner; Chi Shuo kept eyes on the enemy jungler to prevent him from hitting Xie Weiyu; Zhao Xin’an cut the backline cleanly; and Sean’s ultimate was timely.

Gods’ War was a team game.

This triple kill while forcing the high ground was the result of their joint coordination.

Although the 5 of them came from different teams, in today’s ranked game, they had only one thought.

——They wanted to win.

To fight for the pride of the Chinese region’s players!

Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok clearly looked down on them, thinking a mid-jungle duo could carry the rhythm and crush them. They could feel that condescending attitude.

But facts proved: so what if you are the world’s number one Mid Laner and Jungle?

Ignore your teammates, disjoint your team fights, and you’ll still die on the high ground!

This ranked game was satisfying, but rational netizens knew the key to winning was the opponent’s lack of a unified shotcaller and disjointed team fights. Meanwhile, we had Chi Shuo, a commander with strong macro sense, and everyone was willing to listen to his orders.

This was just a random ranked match.

When will a Chinese team truly defeat ATB in the World Championship?

Many people couldn’t help but have this thought.

When ATB’s five members stand on the stage with perfect synergy, can we still win?

In Ye Shaoyang’s stream, rational fans began to analyze—

[We won this game because we had a shotcaller and voice chat, while the opponent had no unified command and was prone to disjointed play. But everyone, don’t forget, this game our Yangyang played Support, and Captain Chi played a utility role!]

[Right, right. Our Tianhuan’s Mid-Jungle synergy hasn’t even been used yet.]

[Tianhuan’s Sun-Moon Mid-Jungle synergy facing them head-on? Absolutely nothing to fear.]

[Looking forward to you guys destroying the Korean team in the World Championship!]

Ye Shaoyang watched these comments, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Of course. Tianhuan’s goal is also the World Championship, and we will inevitably face Korean teams.

Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok, World’s #1 Mid and Jungle? Have you asked players from other countries? Boasted by Korean media for a while, and you two started floating?

Today was just a chance encounter in ranked, a simple spar.

In the S10 World Championship, we’ll let you see what a true Mid-Jungle Demon King Duo looks like