Chapter 48: Advancing to the Top Eight! Team-Wide Interview
The players from WIN had already chased Wall and Fugui back to the crystal with their minion wave.
“Now WIN’s retreat has been cut off, and their marksman has been picked off! They must take a final stand under VEX’s crystal to see if they can push it down in one go—”
“VEX must also defend the crystal. Let’s see if they can win this team fight and move directly into their composition’s power spike!”
“VEX’s top and support have very low health; they’ve chosen to return to the fountain to replenish. Two minions have entered the crystal’s range! WIN is crazily hitting the crystal! Can they take it down—”
“Land has pushed the minions out! WIN has turned to focus on the players, and Land is drawing all the fire! Beyond’s output position is excellent! Land didn’t survive the focused fire, but he cleared the wave! VEX’s top and support have finished replenishing in the fountain!”
“WIN wants to retreat, but Beyond’s Masked Fiend chain has landed again! WIN’s mid laner is also dead, and the remaining damage isn’t enough—the Masked Fiend has a Life Steal item, and WIN can’t seem to scratch him. In a 2-for-2 exchange, WIN can no longer deal with the Masked Fiend!”
“2-for-5! VEX won this team fight under their own crystal! The top lane minion wave is excellent; they can take it and try to end the game!”
“The high ground is breached, a comeback from a deficit! Let us congratulate VEX on taking a 2:0 lead and reaching match point!!!”
In the arena, the VEX fans, who made up less than one-fifth of the audience, erupted in a roar of cheers that shook the venue.
As the “2:0” appeared on the big screen, the commentator’s voice rang out: “It’s truly hard to give out the MVP for this game. VEX’s five-man team coordination looks absolutely nothing like a team that has been together for less than a season.”
The other commentator laughed: “Is it that hard to give the MVP? I don’t think so. Between the lane-swap opening and the Masked Fiend BP, this MVP should go to VEX’s Coach Zuo Chi!”
“Hahahaha, unfortunately, our league’s MVP can’t be given to a coach—but I believe that in the hearts of many VEX fans and esports lovers, Coach Zuo Chi is worthy of this MVP!”
“Indeed. From the Abyss Fire in the group stages to the Masked Fiend in today’s Round of 16, Coach Zuo Chi’s BP is always unexpected yet manages to snatch victory through surprise!”
“VEX has a 2:0 advantage, and now the pressure is on WIN. As an established strong team, I’m sure they aren’t willing to stop at the Top 16.” The commentator’s tone shifted. “We can see the WIN players’ expressions are quite grave. For the third game, they must bring out some of their trump cards; they can’t keep being led by the nose by VEX.”
“Looking forward to the next brilliant showdown between VEX and WIN!”
During the halftime break, from the official livestream to Weibo and various short video platforms, the popularity of this match was already rivaling the Autumn Split Grand Finals.
Last year was essentially a solo show for ZAP, and there hadn’t been many changes among the other Top 4 teams. The Arena Professional League hadn’t seen a “dark horse” capable of filling matches with suspense for a long time.
The league officials naturally wouldn’t miss such heaven-sent traffic, pushing hot searches up relentlessly.
[VEX Double Bruiser Composition]
[Masked Fiend in the Marksman Position]
[The MVP of this match should go to Coach Zuo Chi]
[VEX players all swarm around Coach Zuo Chi during the mid-game break]
Past eleven o’clock at night, the opening match of the Round of 16 concluded.
VEX defeated WIN with a score of 3:1, advancing to the Top Eight.
For the post-match interview, everyone originally intended for Beyond, who got a Penta-kill today, to go. However, the league official came directly to the VEX lounge and invited the whole team to the stage for the interview.
Previously, only teams that won the semifinals and reached the Grand Finals received the treatment of an all-team interview.
Manager Li’s grin stretched from ear to ear, yet he was somewhat worried: “A team-wide interview? This… isn’t this a bit against the league’s usual conventions?”
“Our league has no written rule stating that a team-wide interview cannot be conducted after a match—truth be told, VEX played so brilliantly today that tens of millions of viewers in the livestream are waiting!” The official saw at a glance that everyone in VEX was looking at Zuo Chi for his opinion and immediately walked up to him. “Coach Zuo, what do you think…”
“How about letting the players have a drink of water and rest for a bit before going up for the interview?”
The official beamed: “Of course! Of course! The interview is scheduled for ten minutes from now. Once WIN’s loser interview is over, Coach Zuo, you can bring the players up. Rest assured, they are all standard interview questions; it won’t be awkward at all!”
The official left. Zuo Chi looked at the cubs pacing back and forth in the lounge, felt dizzy watching them, and waved his hand for them to sit down.
Manager Li: “Coach Zuo, why did you agree to the team-wide interview? Isn’t it a bit too high-profile? After all, we just made it to the Top Eight…”
“The league officials proactively asked; there’s nothing wrong with being a bit high-profile. In esports, you shouldn’t fear being high-profile; what you should fear is being bad. Besides, I believe the players know their limits, right?”
After Zuo Chi spoke, seeing that none of the cubs raised any objections, he took out his phone and opened the official livestream.
The livestream was currently showing WIN’s loser interview. The ones being interviewed were Ma Song and WIN’s coach.
Host: “It’s a pity WIN didn’t secure a spot in the Top Eight today. Coach P, what do you think was the reason for the loss at the start today?”
“We did indeed underestimate our opponent before the match, and our preparations weren’t sufficient. Furthermore, VEX is a very strong team. Whether it’s their BP or team synergy, their marksman Beyond was particularly brilliant; that Penta-kill was beautifully executed… We will review thoroughly and adjust well, striving for revenge in the Summer Split!” After WIN’s coach finished, the host handed the microphone to Ma Song.
“What does Pine think?”
Ma Song’s face was as dark as if he had just come out of a coal mine. After taking the microphone, he remained silent for a long time until the coach beside him nudged him with an elbow. Only then did he manage a forced response: “My state wasn’t good today. I’m sorry.”
[The worst player today—oh wait, the worst in WIN has always been you. Who the hell are you showing that sour face to?]
[Who was it that got gapped by Beyond in the lane? I won’t say.]
[Both came from the Haishi Youth Training Camp, yet the difference is so huge. WIN should hurry up and sell Pine in the next transfer window; it would be best if they could buy Beyond.]
[What are you dreaming about? VEX is not what it used to be. They’ve made it to the Top Eight and are about to change to a new owner. Would the new owner let go of such a promising marksman?]
[But isn’t the Haishi Youth Training Camp partially owned by WIN? WIN, you didn’t pick Beyond for your team back then; why don’t you give us fans an explanation? I spent over a thousand on front-row tickets and over three thousand on flights and hotels just to watch you get stomped 3:1. And this trash Pine—I’m too lazy to even flame him!]
[I already feel bad just thinking about how such a Carry marksman like Beyond should have been ours in WIN!]
[Forget it, forget it. Even when Beyond went to ZAP later, wasn’t he also in the second team? It was Coach Zuo Chi who bought him and gave him a starting spot… Beyond might not have played as well as he does now if he were in WIN.]
[If you’re all fighting over Beyond, then Coach Zuo Chi belongs to our team! You know, our team’s players are all good; it’s just the coach’s BP that’s always a pile of hot garbage. We need Coach Zuo Chi so much!]
Zuo Chi looked at the bullet chat. Some netizens truly had sharp and poisonous tongues. He couldn’t help but lower his head and chuckle softly as he read.
He had only chuckled twice when he was surrounded by cubs on both sides and from behind.
“That kid Ma Song is actually doing an interview? Yo, look at that sour face. He was whipped like a spinning top by our Beyond; he’s finally acting honest now?” Fugui chuckled. “Sigh… if it weren’t for the fact that winners have to show grace and act cool, I’d definitely mention him a couple of times during our interview later.”
“He’s not even on the same level as Beyond; there’s nothing to talk about,” Wu Yang chimed in.
Wall reminded them: “There’s nothing wrong with the WIN team as a whole. I saw their coach’s interview was quite humble and they didn’t act like sore losers. Everyone should still show some respect to the other members of WIN on stage.”
“Understood. One thing is one thing; WIN probably didn’t know about the crap Ma Song pulled on Beyond back then.”
WIN’s loser interview ended quickly because Ma Song only answered one or two sentences for every question. His expression grew increasingly ugly, and his tone became gradually impatient. If the interview had continued, not only would WIN’s coach have gone into “red-temp” mode, but the organizers would also have been too embarrassed to finish the segment.
The host exhausted all words of comfort before inviting Ma Song off the stage, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
“Next, let us welcome the first team to advance to the Top Eight this Spring Split: VEX’s five starters and Coach Zuo Chi, to the stage for an interview!”
[An all-team interview? VEX has such a grand presence?]
[If the team you follow was the dark horse of the Spring Split, you’d get this treatment too.]
[Who could have guessed VEX would win today? I bet even VEX fans didn’t dare to dream of it.]
[Some people are still questioning life, while I’ve already become a fan of VEX on the spot.]
[Three reasons to follow VEX:
- High visuals. I don’t need to say more about Coach Zuo and Land’s looks.
- High expectations. From first in the group stages to the Top Eight, no one knows where their ceiling is. Maybe they’ll even be champions?
- About to become a powerhouse team. It’s common knowledge that VEX’s new boss is loaded. If you don’t join now while they’re still grass-roots, and wait until the ugly duckling becomes a swan, you won’t be an ‘old fan’!]
[Damn, that’s actually quite logical. I’m a bit tempted.]
Translator’s Note: “Red-temp” (红温 – hóngwēn) is popular LPL slang. It literally means “red temperature,” describing a player whose face turns red from anger or stress during a match. Also, the term “One thing is one thing” (一码归一码 – yī mǎ guī yī mǎ) basically means to keep separate issues separate.
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