TCWSITD – Chapter 38.1

Chapter 38 has 3 parts; 38.2 and 38.3 will be uploaded tonight at 20:00 and 21:00 EST.

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Chapter 38.1 – I Won’t Let You Lose

As the storm of public opinion swirled around them, the match swiftly moved into the second game.

This was WG’s strongest push yet. Lin Jiang didn’t hesitate either—he picked Azir, battling their way deep into the late-game.

In the end, Lin Jiang and Shen Ju’s superior damage output secured them a narrow victory.

At this point, WG was starting to feel uneasy.

“Lin Jiang’s Lucian in the first game completely threw off our strategy.”

Their original plan was to drag the match to a third game, exhausting OT until they cracked. But Lin Jiang’s Lucian pick not only won them the first game but also conserved their energy.

“If we go to the third game like this, we’ll have no advantage.”

“Plus the next game is their side selection and match point.”

Under this overwhelming pressure, the coach made a heavy decision: “Let’s launch our ultimate lineup.”

WG gasped in shock.

That lineup was reserved for YIG!

If they used it now, it would definitely get countered later.

The coach knew this too, but he still made the difficult choice. “Do you still think OT is weak? I don’t think so. In fact, I think they might be even stronger than KUG was back then.”

He clasped his hands together and said solemnly, “Think carefully about Song Zhixu’s performance in the later part of the regular season. Who has ever solo-killed him in the top lane? Sometimes even three people diving him under the tower might not be enough to take him down. Yes, his laning skills may not be as strong as others, but if you compare his stats, you’ll see his improvement is more terrifying than any other player.”

He had no idea who was mentoring Song Zhixu behind the scenes to achieve such incredible growth.

But one thing was clear—Song Zhixu had the raw talent, or he wouldn’t have improved this fast.

“And what about their jungler? Doesn’t it feel like he’s a completely different person now? In the regular season, he was hesitant and indecisive in team fights, making countless mistakes every game. Now think about the last game. How many team fights did he initiate? He pulled off six flawless R-Flashes, and not a single one missed.”

In a high-level competition where every player is exceptional, executing six flawless R-Flashes is something half the junglers in the LPL couldn’t achieve.

“Maybe he just got lucky?”

“Lucky? Have you forgotten what A’Deng used to be called? He was the ‘Unlucky Jungler.’”

“And their bot lane? That’s even more undeniable. I’m willing to bet that except for TG’s bot lane duo, no other bot lane can touch them.”

“Now, do you still think they’re the same OT from the regular season?”

They had no idea what OT had gone through during that short break, or why they had suddenly become so strong.

The coach inhaled deeply, then sighed, “We can’t afford to fall here—after a whole year’s hard work, we can’t let it all go to waste. This year, with KUG finally out of the picture, we have a shot at the World Championship. We absolutely cannot give up.”

Making it to Worlds was every player’s dream, and they wouldn’t let this hard-earned opportunity slip away.

The third game began.

Lin Jiang was already on guard. “WG is going to pull out their trump card.”

They didn’t know what WG’s trump card was, but with three match points and two chances to make mistakes, their odds of winning were still high.

Both teams entered the ban-pick phase, with bans largely mirroring the last game.

This time, OT had the side selection and chose blue, immediately locking in Kai’Sa.

The commentators analyzed, “Kai’Sa is a versatile pick. If played well, she can fit into many team compositions, so first-picking her is fine. How will WG respond?”

WG simultaneously picked Gangplank and Maokai.

The audience was left scratching their heads.

What does this mean?

The commentators were also puzzled. “Is Gangplank going mid? Maokai top? No, Gangplank should be top, so Maokai must be the support.”

Maokai, the Twisted Treant, isn’t just a tanky champion but also has an abundance of crowd control, making him usable as a support.

But isn’t this too clunky? With so many support options available, why pick Maokai as support?

Lin Jiang shook his head. “No, he’s not support.”

This pick was not for the support role. This champion could only be played as support under the most desperate circumstances. There was no way they’d pull it out this early.

Fang Luxing suddenly remarked, “”LCK once picked Maokai for jungle, but the results were pretty mediocre.”

This comment suddenly enlightened Lin Jiang. Indeed, Maokai jungle alone was mediocre, but paired with a champion like Gangplank, its power couldn’t be underestimated!

After both reached level six, Maokai could use his ultimate to lock down enemies while Gangplank provided full-map support with his own.

Once they survive the early-game and Gangplank develops, the late-game would become OT’s nightmare.

And the most crucial point, Maokai’s ultimate countered Kai’Sa perfectly!

Kai’Sa’s strongest point was the short-term invisibility from her evolved E ability which helped her reposition in fights. Once locked down by Maokai, she’d have no room to deal damage.

This draft pick was unexpectedly strong, far beyond Lin Jiang’s expectations.

In the break room, Li Qian also recognized the predicament OT now faced. Narrowing his eyes, he couldn’t help but mutter, “What a formidable lineup.”

Zheng Yu stared at the three champions already selected on screen, confused. “But WG has only locked in two picks so far?”

“No, they’ve already completed their draft.”

Li Qian’s pupils contracted as he focused intently on the match. “Lin Jiang must have realized their plan. To break their synergy, OT needs a jungler that can heavily engaged. A’Deng has no choice but to pick Lee Sin, the champion he performed exceptionally well with last game.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lee Sin was indeed locked in on screen.

“That’s not enough. Their top laner needs a tank with crowd control. Song Zhixu has to pick K’Sante.”

Sure enough, K’Sante appeared on the screen next.

Zheng Yu gasped. “Consultant Li, you’re amazing!”

“But this means OT is completely being led by WG.” Li Qian stared at the screen, unusually serious. “WG is forcing this game into the late stage, which means their mid laner…”

At the same time, up on the stage, Lin Jiang finished Li Qian’s sentence “…will definitely pick Galio.”

As soon as Lin Jiang finished speaking, WG slammed down their final card—Galio.

The trio was complete: Gangplank, Maokai, and Galio. Together, their ultimates could flatten half the map. Wherever they landed, the whole Rift would quake.

No matter what early-game composition OT drafted now, they wouldn’t be able to break through this defensive setup.

A chill ran down Lin Jiang’s spine as he admitted, “We lost the draft.”

“How have we lost?” Zheng Yu still didn’t understand, turning to Li Qian’s solemn expression. “Can’t we just fight them in the late-game?”

“Fight them in the late-game?” Li Qian smirked derisively. “WG still has Xayah-Rakan, Sivir, and Aphelios available for their bot lane. OT can’t ban them all. There’s no way to win in the late-game.”

True enough, after OT banned Aphelios and Xayah, WG immediately pulled out Sivir and Yuumi.

At this point, nine players on the field had already locked in their champions—only Lin Jiang had yet to choose.

The countdown on the screen blinked ominously—he had seconds left.

Li Qian narrowed his eyes. “What will you choose, river?”

Lin Jiang’s fingers trembled slightly over the keyboard. Logically, he knew they’d already lost at the draft phase.

But deep in his heart, a voice kept urging him—to lead OT to the World Championship stage.

Li Qian had been right about one thing—only by defeating WG could they qualify for Worlds.

Just getting this far wasn’t enough.

Inhale—exhale—

His consciousness focused, his breathing slowed down.

Lin Jiang always had one answer when doubt crept in—one champion who turned hopelessness into possibility.

LeBlanc, the Deceiver.

With her mask, LeBlanc leaped onto the screen, her exaggerated grin stretching wide as she gazed at the audience with eerie affection. “Consider your next move very carefully.”

It was common knowledge that LeBlanc was an AP damage-dealer, and Galio was specifically designed to counter AP champions.[mfn]AD champions build items that enhance their auto-attacks and physical damage, while AP champions build items that boost their spell damage.[/mfn]

Everyone was puzzled. Why would Lin Jiang pick LeBlanc?

On camera, Lin Jiang remained composed, fully aware of what he was doing. He calmly directed his teammates, “If we want to beat them, we have to stall their rotations early. Mid lane is mine. Top lane is yours, Song Zhixu.”

For the first time, Song Zhixu felt truly needed by Lin Jiang. Without hesitation, he nodded. “Leave the top lane to me!”

“And A’Deng, you can’t stay silent anymore. Find a way to invade. I’ll cover you. Before Level 6, you need to do more than Maokai.”

A’Deng nodded firmly. Though he had never tried an aggressive and invasive playstyle before, he was determined to step up for the team. “Got it.”

“If, unfortunately, they drag this into the late-game, I’ll do whatever it takes to assassinate their Sivir. The rest will be up to you, Shen Ju.”

Lin Jiang suddenly turned to Shen Ju, and something in his gaze struck a chord. Shen Ju could tell, Lin Jiang truly wanted to win.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered in return.

I won’t let you lose.

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