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

Soon, the break ended, and the third game began.

As a crucial battle for supremacy, this game could very well determine the outcome of this BO5 series.

The only good news is that EDG is back on the blue side this game, which reduces the pressure of the draft phase.

With the ban slots remaining unchanged, EDG proactively picked Aatrox in the first pick, essentially using a pick as a substitute for a ban.

In this version, Aatrox is a complete all-rounder. He can protect himself even when he is at a disadvantage in the laning phase, and he is even more powerful when he is at an advantage. No matter what the game is, picking Aatrox in the top lane is always a good idea.

This is the fundamental reason why Aatrox can maintain a 100% ban/pick rate despite a low ban rate.

But it was in this game that DRX finally stopped pretending and revealed their true colors.

Every year when the World Championship reaches the BO5 stage, it's time to reveal all our secrets.

Each team will showcase their unique understanding of the current version.

While DRX's hero selection this time was unexpected, it was also reasonable.

The Great Inventor's Assistance.

This is a hero that was somewhat popular in the LCK during the Summer Split. It focuses on lane control and has unparalleled wave clear efficiency.

Because of Deft's presence, DRX already has a very high priority for the bottom lane.

However, the LCK Summer Split is purely an arms race, with not only Heimerdinger support, but also Ashe support, Caitlyn support, and even Kalista support.

DRX lost out in this wave of intense laning phases focused on support, and ultimately withdrew from the arms race altogether, shifting its focus to late-game dominance.

In this environment, choosing a top laner is the best option!

And this large head did indeed have a remarkable effect.

Because they picked Aatrox, the team naturally lost control of Poppy. DRX was clearly prepared and picked Poppy directly, setting the tone for this game.

Once the match started, DRX executed their opening plan perfectly.

First, use the big head's turret to take the lane. After pushing three waves of minions into the tower, while the EDG duo is only level two, Poppy arrives on time, wall-slams and grenades to continue the control chain. Deft's Draven simply follows up with a few auto attacks and sends Viper back to the fountain in front of JieJie and Meiko!

After the kill, Poppy used Phase Rush to Flash out of the tower, and EDG's jungler and support couldn't stop her at all!
There is no doubt that a breakthrough has emerged.

Viper's condition deteriorated further and he was completely unable to withstand this level of gank in the bottom lane. Now he has lost a lot of minions due to tower diving, which is almost a devastating blow in the current environment where dragons are common!

This game ended much faster than the last one.

Almost exactly twenty minutes in, DRX already had the Water Dragon Soul and began to control Baron Nashor by utilizing the Water Dragon's endless regeneration.

This kind of suffocatingly fast pace is usually what EDG does, but this time EDG became the victim.

Knowing they had no hope of winning, EDG decided to make a desperate attempt at Baron Nashor.

JieJie continued his steady performance today. Foygo flashed in from behind the dragon pit and used his ultimate and Smite to steal the dragon.

However, the team fight did not go well; all five players were wiped out in the Baron pit, with only two players being traded for the kill.

After winning the team fight, DRX destroyed two of EDG's high ground towers and then returned to base to replenish their supplies.

At 25 minutes, DRX accelerated their pace with two lanes of super minions and ended the game.

"With a score of 1 to 2, EDG is already on the brink of elimination."

Wang Duoduo had lost the joy he felt at the end of the first game, and his tone was heavy: "It seems that the excellent performance in the first game was just a flash in the pan. As the game progresses, the two centers, who are suffering from high fever and infection, will only get worse and worse."

"The current five members of EDG are undergoing what may be the most severe test in the team's history." The three commentators in the LPL commentary booth had even given up much hope of victory.

There was nothing they could do; over these three games, the three of them watched as Viper's performance got worse and worse.

From being pressured but not collapsing in the first game, to a slight collapse in the second game, and then a complete collapse in the third game, his performance became visibly chaotic and stiff.

With Viper in this state, none of the three dared to imagine how badly he would collapse in the fourth game.

Even if they barely win the fourth game, what about the final fifth game?
Fei Shen did not show any signs of weakness in the first three games, which amazed everyone, but is his remaining energy enough to support him to play all five games?

"But no matter what, the game is not over yet."

Miller's voice held a hint of hope, "I hope the EDG players can bring us unexpected surprises in the upcoming matches."

The live stream camera followed the three EDG members as they returned to the backstage lounge.

Abu looked worried and was in a great hurry to start the video call.

Although Viper's collapse had its reasons, it's still hard not to feel bad about losing two games in a row. Abu would like to offer a few more words of advice.

But as the door to the lounge was knocked on, Abu received some truly shocking news from the Riot Games staff.

Three hours have passed since the start of the match, and the effects of the ibuprofen I took before the match have gradually worn off.

After being examined by Riot Games staff, Park Do-hyun's temperature, which was already high, rose further, once approaching 40 degrees Celsius.

"Forty degrees!?" Abu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon hearing this!

All the words I had prepared beforehand have now become meaningless.

With a fever this high, forget about playing a game; even being able to navigate using a mouse would be a testament to sheer willpower!

At this stage, even if EDG still wants to continue the competition, Riot Games is unlikely to agree!
After all, players are the league's most valuable asset and also affect the image of the event. Riot Games doesn't want to be labeled as "inhumane."

With the intervention of Riot Games' tournament organizers, EDG now faces only three paths.

First, the loss is declared.

In League of Legends matches, there have been instances where a team was declared the loser due to having fewer players than others; EDG was one such team to have experienced this.

In the 2016 LPL Spring Playoffs, QG lost the match against EDG because their starting mid laner, Doinb, was absent and their substitute mid laner had not completed the required registration for the tournament. EDG was the beneficiary of this.

This was historically known as the one-minute best-of-five series.

Secondly, the match was postponed for a few hours to allow Viper to make some adjustments.

However, as the S-series is a globally broadcast event with millions of viewers, a delay of several hours would be considered a disastrous broadcasting incident and would generally not be used.

Moreover, given Viper's current condition, even several hours of intravenous treatment may not guarantee a full recovery.

Third, and this is also recommended by Riot Games, is to use a substitute.

Abu listened to the explanation from the Riot Games staff and shook his head helplessly: "Where would we get a substitute?"

EDG only has Zeka as a substitute, and it's not a good idea to have Zeka, the mid laner, fill in as the AD carry.
After thinking about it, Abu decided to make a video call and discuss it with Mingjing first.

But to everyone's surprise, Ming Jing immediately came up with an idea when he heard about the situation.

"actually."

In the video, Ming Jing says, "I can go for AD (Attack Damage Carry)." (End of Chapter)