Chapter 62: Semifinals (II); Barking Dogs Don’t Bite
Unlike the previous two matches where VEX had few supporters, their online support rate for this Semifinal skyrocketed to 90%.
The remaining 10% consisted of KVG fans, H-Country people jumping the firewall, and people whose hands had slipped.
[This is bad. I accidentally clicked ‘Support KVG.’ My account is tainted!]
[Above, you really have a criminal record now.]
[Esports has no borders. We can’t treat KVG like this just because they have two Korean imports. KVG still has three Hua Country players. Besides, the league regulations allow for two imports per team. Why don’t you go attack the officials instead?]
[There are other teams with Korean imports and we don’t flame them. But only KVG’s imports have such foul characters. They should have been suspended long ago. KVG protected their ‘Korean Princes’ for results and prize money, and you won’t let people talk about it?]
[Flame all you want. In the end, esports is about skill. If KVG steps over VEX today to reach the Finals and gets that World Championship ticket, what can you do?]
[Seeing the IP address above is outside the country, everything makes sense.]
[What if… I’m saying what if… VEX really can’t beat KVG?!]
[I bought a ticket for the Semifinals and I’m already outside the venue. VEX’s car just arrived. I can only shout my lungs out for Coach Zuo and the players.]
[How does VEX look?]
[They look quite relaxed. Coach Zuo even smiled and signed an autograph for us. He’s such a nice person!]
[Quick, ask Coach Zuo how the prep is going!]
“Coach Zuo!!!”
Zuo Chi was signing a fan’s notebook when a male voice shouted from beside him. His hand shook, and the last stroke nearly slid off the paper. He looked toward the source of the voice.
The boy who shouted looked a bit embarrassed. “Coach Zuo, I wanted to ask on behalf of the netizens—how is the prep for the Semifinals going?!”
Before he could answer, a commotion broke out on the other side of the entrance. KVG’s car pulled up and stopped slowly.
the KVG players filed out. The two players in the lead shared identical faces. They both had the popular idol-style permed hair and very white foundation, almost reflecting under the camera flashes.
The Korean twins—KVG’s solo-laner and support—Rain and Wing.
The shouts of “VEX Victory!” around them grew even louder.
The Korean twins acted as if they heard nothing, walking toward the few KVG fans with smirks.
“Do we have confidence in winning today? Of course we do.” The two spoke in somewhat broken Chinese. “Come to our stream after the match. As a victory perk, we’ll carry fans for free.”
“Why don’t we go back to H-Country to play? Isn’t it great here? In recent years, H-Country has been either the champion or runner-up, at worst the Top 4. The competition is too fierce there. A second-rate player like me is much more likely to reach the World Championship here, hahaha…”
The three Hua Country players of KVG looked a bit uncomfortable upon hearing those words. They glanced at the manager nearby and urged: “…Let’s go, we should head inside.”
“What’s the rush? The VEX people over there haven’t entered either. The fans came from far away to see us; we can’t let them down, right?”
“You—”
“We’re all on the same team. What’s the arguing about? Do you not want the bonus for reaching the Finals, or do you not want to go to the World Championship?” KVG’s manager scolded. “Rain, Wing, it’s still early. You two continue interacting with the fans. Make sure you perform well today.”
“Don’t worry, Manager. Most of the things VEX is so proud of are things people in H-Country tried out long ago. They’re just stealing from H-Country. They might be able to beat those old antiques like BLUE, but against us… heh.”
“Afraid we’re being too blunt and we’ll get flamed by ignorant netizens? What’s wrong with a bit of pre-match trashtalk? It’s the truth anyway.”
They loved to mess with their opponents’ mindsets before a match.
The smile on Zuo Chi’s face didn’t change as he handed the notebook and pen back to the fan. “Thank you all for coming. As for our prep… you’ll see on the stage in a moment.”
Wu Yang walked over and rubbed Fugui’s slightly reddened face. He whispered: “Fugui, what did Coach Zuo tell us in the car? Have you forgotten already? Trashtalk is just their standard operating procedure. If they were really that confident, they wouldn’t be talking so much crap.”
As the saying goes, barking dogs don’t bite.
By opening their mouths to trashtalk, the Korean twins had already lost the battle of aura.
“Let’s go. We’ll head inside first. Everyone, check your equipment and warm up your mechanics.” Zuo Chi ushering the cubs into the player tunnel. “Fugui, adjust your emotions.”
Fugui ran to the sink and splashed cold water on his face.
“I know. Being annoyed with them is one thing, but bringing emotions to the stage will affect my decision-making—the moment I think about that World Championship ticket, I’m perfectly calm!”
Setting up peripherals, checking parameters, referee verification…
The players were ready at the match venue. After the host’s opening, the coaches entered the BP phase.
Commentator A: “The highly anticipated Spring Split Semifinal, VEX vs. KVG! Both coaches are now with the players, and we’re about to enter the BP!”
Commentator B: “In my hand is the invitation for this year’s Arena World Championship for the Hua Country region! Whichever team wins this BO5 today will take the invitation and represent our country on the world stage this summer!”
“Please shout out—which team are you supporting?!”
“VEX—!!!”
“KVG—!”
“I believe the players can feel your passion! VEX will ban first. Coach Zuo has likely studied the KVG twins; he directly banned the two heroes they are most famous for.”
“In the first game, KVG isn’t backing down either. You target my support and solo-lane? Then I’ll target Million! Three solo-lane heroes banned in one go!”
“Are they testing both solo-laners’ hero pools right from the start? KVG’s Rain has shown a deep hero pool over the years, but VEX’s Million is a rookie who just debuted this Spring Split. So far, he’s only used conventional solo-lane heroes. I wonder what his hero pool looks like.”
Zuo Chi watched KVG waste several ban slots, and when he thought of the solo-lane hero he was about to give Fugui, he almost laughed.
“Solo-lane is the last pick. Wu Yang, you pick first.”
“Understood.”
The commentators analyzed the first two heroes picked when the director suddenly pointed the camera at the audience.
In the very first row of the spectator area sat the entire BLUE team—starters and second team alike.
Commentator A: “Oh! BLUE is here to watch live. The audience today is lucky; for the price of one ticket, you get to see three teams! Haha.”
“Let’s interview BLUE’s captain, Storm—Storm, which team are you supporting today?”
Storm bent down and pulled a massive banner from the bag on the floor. He and his teammates unfurled it together.
It read: “Coach Zuo, Coach Zuo, we love you! VEX, VEX, charge into the World Championship!”
“I think it’s pretty obvious which team I’m supporting, right?”
[When did BLUE and VEX get so close? Weren’t they just eliminated by VEX?]
[It’s called mutual respect between opponents. Someone with a Korean import avatar like you wouldn’t understand.]
[Storm, why don’t you read that banner out loud yourself?]
[What kind of magic does Coach Zuo have? Not only do the VEX players look like they can’t leave him, but BLUE seems to have gone crazy too.]
[According to Storm’s stream, the new mid-laner they bought to succeed him was recommended by Coach Zuo. The tryout results were insane.]
[Coach Zuo helping BLUE pick rookies??? Does Shengxing Media know about this?]
[Shengxing Media? Gossip: After the Quarterfinals, some teams offered high prices to poach Coach Zuo, but Shengxing Media rejected them flat out. Coach Zuo’s compensation is likely among the highest in the country now.]
Zuo Chi inadvertently glanced at the audience. BLUE’s banner was far too eye-catching, and he couldn’t help but smile softly.
“Coach?” Ning Luzhao looked up.
“Look at the audience. Storm and the others are here.”
Fugui: “Then we really can’t lose. Brother Storm even gave up his holiday to practice with us these past few days.”
Wu Yang: “…What kind of banner is that? Fugui, stop laughing! It’s your turn to pick a hero!”
Zuo Chi snapped back: “Lock in the hero we decided on earlier. Remember, play your acting role well. Let’s take the first game—and today, we’re going to clean-sweep KVG.”
[Coach Zuo smiled. I knew VEX was going to pull some weird stuff again.]
[But this hero… it’s a bit too ‘Baby Bus’ (T/N: simple/for kids). You’d think we were in a Diamond-rank match.]
[“Crazy Blade”? Coach Zuo picked ‘Crazy Blade’ for Million? This hero is basically: one sword at the start, damage depends on hacking. Usually, it’s only used for split-pushing in pub matches.]
[Is Million’s hero pool that bad? KVG banned too many solo-laners, leaving him with nothing?]
[Don’t scare me. This is the Semifinals. If VEX pulls a total disaster today, I’m going to hang myself outside the VEX base!]
[If any other coach picked ‘Crazy Blade,’ I’d start flaming immediately, but this is Coach Zuo…]
[The director gave a shot of the KVG players… Rain saw VEX’s pick and is laughing his head off. Xiba!!!]
Recommended Reads
