My buddy is actually a Cao Cao type top laner?

Chapter 235 Only Monsters Can Defeat Monsters
With the Play-In Stage nearing its end, V5 successfully executed their pre-match decision: almost the entire team contracted the virus, but managed to weather the storm during the break in the Play-In Stage.

"Resurrected!~"

With Xiao Yan, the last one to be affected, also declared fully recovered, the entire V5 system resumed its efficient operation.

"To be honest, in the entire league, we're probably the only players who would choose to get infected during the World Championship to avoid affecting their performance." Rookie subconsciously touched his nose.

This was a suggestion from Deng in the team.

Even they, the old-timers, found it quite outrageous.

But the weird thing is.

When Luo Ji brought it up, not a single person in the team thought it was wrong; instead, they instinctively carried it out.

This kid.
When did he acquire such great personal charisma and influence?

"After all, this year is Chicken Bro and Ka Bro's last dance. Of course, I'm not saying you'll retire after this year, but if you enter the World Championship with this lineup, I believe most players might only have one chance, right?"

"That's true."

Casa nodded with a sense of understanding.

Seemingly remembering something, Luo Ji subconsciously turned to Zero and asked:

"Coach, what's the situation with the qualifying rounds right now?"

"The qualifying rounds."

Zero thought for a moment and said:

"Basically, EDG is dominating. You know, EDG's minimum result in the World Championship is usually the quarterfinals, with only one year when they reached the round of 16."

All the contestants in the room nodded in agreement.

indeed.

The qualifying rounds are essentially a culinary competition where top chefs from around the world gather. If it weren't for the unexpected rise of the original world's DRX, based on their record, none of the teams that came out of the qualifying rounds would have won the S-series championship.

That's why I'm worried.

It was because during S10, LGD stirred up the emotions of domestic viewers in the qualifying rounds that Luo Ji subconsciously asked a question.

If it weren't for LGD that year.

Given the past behavior of LPL viewers, is there even a need to watch the S-series qualifying rounds?
After waking up, it will be another round of undefeated LPL teams.

As the competition progresses...

finally.

The group stage draw has finally begun.

(The following groupings are subjective adjustments, aiming to preserve the glorious tradition of Vietnamese fermented bean curd while also ensuring that the main storyline involves as many encounters as possible with LCK teams.)
Group A: C9, T1, JDG, FNC
Group B: V5, G2, DK, EG
Group C: RGE, TES, GAM, DRX
Group D: GEN, CFO, 100T, EDG
The moment the group assignments were announced, even the majority of domestic viewers, who are known for their lightheartedness, couldn't hold back their emotions, especially JDG fans, who felt like the sky was falling when they saw the group assignments.

[Who did JDG offend? We were the runner-up in the Summer Finals, but ended up losing to the second seed and have to go to the gauntlet to fight for third place. And then we're stuck in a group of death in the group stage?]

[Just looking at this group draw, I know EDG will be guaranteed at least a quarterfinal finish this year.]

Group B is giving off a strong MSI vibe. It's already Worlds, and G2 and EG are still chasing V5.

[Group C is probably the easiest, it's all about stomping weaker teams, TES should be a sure thing to finish first in the group and advance.]

[A good draw. Why is it considered a good draw? It's simply a hope that XX will showcase their abilities and clear some obstacles for XX. Of course, winning would be even better. If XX loses but still wins the championship, then XX deserves one-third of the credit. As for the name XX, that's up to fate. I'm a fan of XX, a rational one.]

Looking at this grouping.

The four LPL teams each have their own joys and sorrows.

Of course, V5 is the calmest here. From the beginning, their goal was very clear: to win the World Championship.

With such a goal in mind, they are not afraid of any group assignments, and may even be eager to take on T1 or GENG in the first round.

Is it DK?

Fine, DK it is.
Although Show God was almost completely exhausted in S12, he could still burn a little more, unlike KT who didn't make it to the World Championship. T1's ability to maintain its form for so many years is entirely due to KT relentlessly recharging it.

No matter what.

At least in the hearts of LPL viewers.

V5's strength is so far ahead that they will definitely advance. EDG's group only has one strong player, GENG, so they should at least advance as the second-best in their group. TES is even more so; with this group, no one thinks TES has any chance of not advancing.

and so.

This is what everyone is most worried about.

In fact, it was JDG, whose luck became increasingly bad after Luo Ji traveled through time.

"Hey, who's playing top laner for DK this year? Oh right, who's DK's top laner again?"

"One is Niu Guli, and the other is Burdol, but you'll probably be matched up against Niu Guli, which is pretty good, isn't it?"

Nofe quietly watched Luo Ji in front of him.

Watching Luo Ji go from being stunned to surprised, and then to being unable to contain his excitement, he exclaimed in his heart, "Just as I thought!"

Top laners are all battle maniacs.

Even after entering the professional scene, each top laner develops a different playstyle depending on the team composition, but the "madness" inherent in top laners can never be concealed.

Especially Luo Ji.

At first, he was somewhat subservient.

However, as one's personal strength continues to grow.

at the moment.

He already exudes a certain level of pressure from top-tier top laners, and top-tier top laners love nothing more than clashing with other top-tier top laners.

I won't go into detail about Niu Guli.

The man who almost succeeded TheShy back then, if he hadn't been bought by FPX and then ruined through a power struggle, they wouldn't have dared to send him back to LCK.

As for the other Burdol, he is the ultimate god.

He debuted as a prodigy at 16, working as a water dispenser at T1; the following year, he transferred to GENG and continued working as a water dispenser; then in 22, he went to DK and still worked as a water dispenser.

This template.

This is most likely the standard identity of the protagonist in a fanfiction about esports from a few years ago. All that's missing is a 0/2 scoreline to awaken a system, defy fate, and embark on a professional gaming career with an unparalleled ability to dodge skills.
"With Niu Guli, Sanshu, and Xiushen, DK's roster on paper is indeed impressive." "That's right, but compared to their top, mid, and jungle, their bot lane is quite mediocre. The Deokdam + Kellin combination is somewhat similar to Nanfeng + Puff in our region, albeit a higher-spec version."

"Got it, Xiao Yan and Hanging God from the Spring Season."

Luo Ji spoke up subconsciously.

Xiao Yan, PPGOD: ?
Are you polite?

With the group stage draw completed, the journey for each group begins.

V5's first match wasn't against DK, but against EG. However, in their first match against EG, Luo Ji and the others barely had time to exert themselves before EG was already defeated.

no way.

The gap is too big.

LPL's number one seed playing against EG, a team that's practically on the sidelines of the World Championship.

That scene was equivalent to:

This is your general, Guan Yu, whose might shook the land.

This is my military commander, a relatively unknown female character, Cao Ying.

Then, in the next round, it was instantly defeated.

[A completely uneventful match—this is what our LPL's number one seed looks like! All I saw throughout was intensity, dominance, and exhilaration!]

[Starting the game with Irelia, who's been nerfed terribly in the World Championship patch, this is definitely a game where I dream of getting a new skin.]

[I was worried about V5's condition when all their players got infected, but now I should be worried about the other teams.]

[The same team, where the bot lane was trading blows with the opponent at MSI, but at Worlds it's evolved into the bot lane completely dominating the opponent. The difference is truly obvious.]

Throughout the entire competition.

The most puzzled were actually the bottom lane duo of Xiao Yan and PPGOD.

Before the game.

Because they had faced off against the opposing bot lane duo at MSI, they had always considered EG's bot lane a formidable opponent.

Even if the game felt easy to play during practice matches, the assumption was that no one was playing at their full strength in practice matches, and the opponent might be feigning weakness.

结果
You've really become a roadside slob?

In contrast to V5's self-doubt, off-screen, DK, who will face V5 in the next round, are also intently watching the screen with serious expressions.

Without him.

Because it's too popular.

During scrims, V5, who were evenly matched with EG, completely dominated them in the group stage.

EG has also arranged scrimmages.

Although they can win easily, they are definitely not as relaxed as V5 in winning the game.

"As expected, I knew they were cheating!"

Xu Xiu scratched his head frantically.

Despite possessing such terrifying strength, V5 deliberately held back in practice matches to deliberately undermine them. This is truly despicable.

They completely ignored the fact that they were also intentionally throwing the game against FNC in their own scrims.

no way.

People are all hypocritical.

Facing a team like FNC that dominates in scrims and thinks they can dominate in the main tournament, various teams, well-versed in Machiavellian tactics, shamelessly played along and threw a game against them. This has almost become a highlight of FNC's World Championship journey.

They dominate training matches every year, only to be eliminated in the main competition every year.

"Don't rush, I actually think it's a good thing to face V5. Of the four LPL teams, this is the only one I don't understand."

aside.

Danny patted Xu Xiu on the shoulder, his tone gentle.

correct.

S12's DK is actually a hidden boss. Besides the top, mid, and jungle trio, DK's strength also lies in its terrifying coaching team.

In this year.

Klose is the general manager of DK's League of Legends division, and Danny is the head coach of DK. Looking at the entire league, this can already be considered a super team.

“V5’s mid-jungle synergy is their core engine, which is the same as our team. Rookie and Karsa are also familiar faces, but I believe that you and Canyon should be able to handle them easily, since they are both players who are nearing the end of their careers.”

Than midfield.

DK really doesn't think he'll lose.

Their S12 team was built around their mid and jungle, so they naturally had great confidence in their mid and jungle players.

The bot lane duo of Deokdam and Kellin remained silent.

Besides the senior-jungle system, LCK also values ​​the individual skill of its players. They are well aware that their talent is worlds apart from that of the top, mid, and jungle players.

That's it.

Just focus on your own little corner of the world.

"As for the monster they encountered on their journey..."

talking.

Danny instinctively glanced towards the corner of the lounge.

there.

A slightly thin figure was staring intently at the scene on the screen.

"Leave it to me."

"Let's deal with the other monster."

(End of this chapter)