Chapter 55: The Opening Match, First Blood is Born!!

The data analyst overlooked a crucial factor: the foundation for steady development is equality.

When there is a vast disparity in skill between opponents, can you really expect the other side to let you farm peacefully in a professional match?

It’s the same principle as a match between a Grandmaster and a Diamond-ranked player.

"Damn, that hurts!" lWX mumbled involuntarily. "This guy is really sneaky—he last-hit three minions, and just as the fourth bullet triggered his passive, he shot me!"

That shot indeed hurt. Jhin’s passive “Whisper” deals significant damage on the fourth shot at this point in the game if it connects.

lWX thought that after this single poke, it would be over and he could continue farming comfortably. He didn’t mind being caught off guard once.

But unexpectedly, EDG suddenly launched a direct attack!

“Damn, they want to fight, huh? Damn,” he muttered, watching as the enemy’s Titan boldly crossed the minion wave, clearly looking to start a level one skirmish.

Support Liu Qingsong was also somewhat baffled by EDG’s bot lane combo—they seemed to be seriously underestimating him as a Braum.

“This guy probably wants to hook me. I’ll just push him away when the time comes!” lWX said as he continued his maneuvers.

Both ADCs were locked in a fierce fight; at level one, damage output was still low.

But because of taking Jhin’s fourth bullet earlier, lWX’s health was clearly lower than Lu Ziang’s.

Moreover, Lu Ziang was using a hybrid potion during the fight, recovering his status as he attacked.

At the commentary desk, Dolla, Miller, and Teacher Piao were all surprised by how decisively and resolutely EDG’s bot lane was fighting.

The battle only intensified with no sign of stopping. Miller felt a surge of excitement. “Looks like tonight’s Best of Three is going to be quite thrilling.”

He launched into his commentary with clear articulation and enthusiasm:

“The fight has started! Neither side has reached level two yet, but Jhin clearly has the upper hand here. lWX’s Kai’Sa passive ‘Plasma’ hasn’t yet activated!”

Dolla added, “lWX just took Jhin’s fourth bullet and is down to four-fifths health already!”

“Why not retreat? They could have paused the fight and continued farming,” Teacher Piao, less experienced in commentary, asked.

Miller explained, “There’s Braum! meikO’s Titan makes it impossible to ignore him.”

“That’s true. But now lWX’s health is under three-fifths and he still won’t retreat?” Teacher Piao’s question hung in the air.

In the observer’s view, lWX chose to disengage, but Lu Ziang had already turned his gun around.

“Liu Qingsong, push Titan away. Let’s create some distance,” lWX advised, then suddenly realized something was amiss.

Why wasn’t Jhin using his Q on him? Why hadn’t he cast a skill on lWX?!

“Back off, don’t engage Titan,” lWX barely finished speaking before Liu Qingsong pushed away the opposing Titan.

At the same time, Liu Qingsong’s positioning moved closer, thinking, “I’m Braum—are you guys really targeting me?”

Within EDG’s team voice chat, Lu Ziang’s voice was calm and composed: “meikO, kill Braum.”

Seeing Braum pushed forward, meikO understood exactly what Lu Ziang intended next.

“Got it!” he nodded with a smile.

By now, EDG’s bot lane duo had locked onto Braum, focusing their fire.

Meanwhile, lWX had already moved away, wanting to assist, but the best moment had passed.

The commentary team had also caught on to Lu Ziang’s plan:

Miller remarked, “A classic feint. From the start, Lu Ziang’s target wasn’t Lin Weixiang!”

Dolla countered, “No way! He deliberately saved the fourth bullet for Lin Weixiang.”

Miller explained, “That was a psychological ploy for Lin Weixiang. The real target was Braum. Without Braum’s W skill, Lu Ziang couldn’t kill Lin Weixiang’s ADC!”

PDD suddenly realized and analyzed further, “I get it now!”

In the observer’s view, Braum was in a perilous situation. Both the enemy ADC and support were glued to him.

He had no skills ready, while the enemy ADC and support still had theirs unused!

“Boom!” Lu Ziang’s fourth bullet, carrying the passive, slammed hard into Braum’s forehead, rapidly depleting his health.

Braum fled, with Jhin and Titan in pursuit.

“Let’s gamble. Use Flash! If you don’t, you’ll die in their hands and our bot lane will collapse,” Lin Weixiang urged.

“Damn,” Liu Qingsong knew that flashing was a gamble—betting meikO’s Titan wouldn’t hook him.

The next moment, in the observer’s view, Braum suddenly flashed, immediately followed by meikO’s Q skill, “Arcane Shove,” which firmly pulled Braum in.

What could Lin Weixiang do?

He could only watch, intuition telling him that Jhin had been deceiving him from the very start.

This guy’s entire kill plan had been meticulously laid out.

In other words, Jhin’s first-level skill was definitely W, Deadly Flourish.

At best, Jhin could only dish out some damage now, and it was already too late.

“Damn!” Liu Qingsong had just stepped behind the turret when Jhin’s W, Deadly Flourish, shattered him.

Lin Weixiang even wasted a Heal to keep Braum alive.

“First Blood!!”

With Braum down, the first kill of tonight’s opening match was secured.

The arena erupted in cheers, and Lu Ziang’s male fans roared, “Falcon, you’re awesome!!”

Countless voices echoed in agreement. From start to finish, the play had been incredibly smooth; the crowd acknowledged the skill behind it.

At the commentary desk, upon seeing Lu Ziang claim the first blood, Miller’s voice rose with excitement:

“Let’s congratulate falCOn for securing the first blood of tonight’s opener, as well as his very first kill on the LPL stage!!”

“This kill was classic. From deceiving Lin Weixiang with the fourth bullet, the death of Braum was inevitable.”

“Absolutely! Falcon’s skill, positioning, prediction—he didn’t miss a single hit during the kill. Isn’t that insane?!”

“This is the pinnacle of farming technique. An ultimate farming player, relying only on two passive bullets to put FPX’s bot lane at a disadvantage.”

Within EDG’s team voice chat, as Lu Ziang secured the first blood, everyone excitedly congratulated him:

“666666~ Ziang, well done. A strong start! A good omen.”

“Nice!”

“Wuhu, taking off now.”

“This game’s in the bag.”

After this period of scrims and synergy training, everyone knew that when Lu Ziang took first blood, the odds of winning were almost guaranteed.

…

P.S.: Fourth update, continuing!