TCWSITD – Chapter 55.3

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Chapter 55.3 – Worlds Semifinals

The next day was the semifinals between Korea and North America. Lin Jiang watched the entire match.

This year’s Korean first-seed was truly formidable, effortlessly securing two games.

In the third game, North America pulled out their trump card and mounted a swift counterattack. The fourth game dragged into the late-game, but Korea’s superior macro play ultimately secured their victory and a spot in the finals.

North America lost too quickly, and too meaninglessly. They hadn’t even managed to force Korea to reveal any hidden strategies. Everything Korea displayed had been seen before.

After watching, Li Qian was deeply concerned. He asserted, “They definitely still have a trump card saved for the finals.”

Lin Jiang had already stopped thinking about that. His focus was now on the semifinals. If they could win this, it would prove he could break the curse of his previous life, and that championship might not be out of reach after all.

Everyone was in peak condition, fully immersed in the anticipation for the match.

The day after Korea’s advancement, it was OT versus WAG.

The hype for this match had already reached its peak before it even began. Combined with the news of Korea’s qualification for the finals, the entire domestic scene was fixated on the outcome.

[Can I dream of a finals appearance?]

[Korea’s already in. LPL, don’t lose!]

[If they win, I’ll burn incense for the entire OT team.]

[We’re supposed to be the first region. At least one of us should make it to the finals.]

[Fine, you dream of finals. I’ll dream of the championship.]

Major streamers and industry insiders were also going all out in their livestreams. Some promised to wash their hair upside down, others vowed to cross-dress and dance. In short, they made all kinds of wild bets to boost OT’s chances.

Old Mao was also hounded by fans in his stream. Finally, he boldly declared, “Alright, if OT makes it to the finals, I’ll shave my head live on stream!”

A shaved head was a true test of skull shape, and Old Mao had a notoriously large, flat head. It would look hideous. Fans could tell just how much he truly adored Lin Jiang.

Domestic broadcasts started hyping the match early. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the start, and the commentators were cracking jokes left and right. Since they were broadcasting for the domestic audience, their bias was blatantly in OT’s favor. One moment claiming the weather was perfect for OT’s performance, the next joking that this exact time was when Shen Ju would be waking up, sending the audience into fits of laughter.

At last, the match was about to begin, and both teams took their seats.

Lin Jiang’s condition seemed genuinely better. The broadcast even zoomed in on him. His complexion had improved, a stark contrast to his state during the quarterfinals.

The Korean commentators also remarked, “OT looks different today, clearly well-prepared. WAG shouldn’t underestimate them.”

The match officially began. OT was in great form, but WAG wasn’t far behind. They immediately picked Blitzcrank support, completely countering OT’s bot lane.

Shen Ju couldn’t exert any pressure and had to quietly farm. The enemy jungler kept a close eye on Lin Jiang, who also didn’t dare to push too aggressively, playing more conservatively.

On the top lane, Song Zhixu was evenly matched, with neither side gaining an advantage.

In the early-game, both teams performed similarly, maintaining stability. But when it came to mid-game team fights, OT’s nightmare began.

The enemy Blitzcrank support identified A’Deng as their weakest link and specifically targeted him with hooks. His hooks were fast, precise, and even predictive. A’Deng had no way to counter them, getting hooked every time and losing dragons repeatedly.

The audience began to murmur complaints. Fortunately, the deficit wasn’t too large, and the game was still winnable. But after too many such incidents, OT’s economy was slowly whittled away.

OT couldn’t match their opponents anymore, losing in both teamfights and split-pushes. Slowly, agonizingly, they lost two lanes, and ultimately the game.

In truth, Lin Jiang and Shen Ju played exceptionally well this round. They were particularly skilled at dodging hooks, often baiting the enemy support into hooking the opposite direction.

A’Deng, however, lacked such mechanics. He seemed like OT’s biggest flaw, becoming the enemy’s breakthrough point…

The domestic live chat erupted with demands to sub A’Deng out. Yet, in the second game, A’Deng remained on the starting roster.

The audience exploded.

[The enemy found the weak link! Why isn’t the lineup changing?!]

[Oh my god, I’m seeing black.]

[Don’t you think A’Deng is OT’s bug…?]

[What’s the logic here? Why keep sending him out?]

For the second game, OT banned Blitzcrank, which meant releasing Nocturne. WAG instantly first-picked it.

The audience was furious to the point of laughter.

[Ban Blitzcrank but release the Nocturne? You guys are hilarious.]

[Is the coach okay? First time seeing a team ban Blitzcrank.]

[What are you even doing? Banning Blitzcrank?]

[What kind of draft is this?]

The consequences of releasing Nocturne were severe. WAG controlled the tempo for almost the entire game. Mid-game, Lin Jiang managed to stall, but late-game, Shen Ju was completely shut down by the nightmare, unable to deal damage.

Back and forth they fought, a grueling battle of 300 rounds, the audience’s hearts stretched to the limit.

In the end, they still lost.

This outcome was truly unacceptable. Every time Lin Jiang stepped up, they thought victory was within reach. But as Shen Ju fell in the final teamfight, followed by Lin Jiang…

Hope suddenly vanished.

In the endless darkness, it had always been them carrying the torch toward hope. The audience had always believed their sparks could start a wildfire.

But now, the spark had suddenly been extinguished.

OT’s two consecutive losses left all hopeful fans utterly disappointed.

[OT isn’t this bad, right? How could they perform like this?]

[WAG counters OT perfectly. They’re especially good at exploiting weaknesses, and OT’s jungler happens to have vulnerabilities to exploit.]

[Bring Zhang Mingying up right now!!!]

[What’s the point of keeping two lineups if you’re not going to switch?]

[Feels like TG all over again. Hiding strategies until they buried themselves.]

[They couldn’t even win the semifinals, why are you thinking about the finals already?]

[Sub in Zhang Mingying!!!]

Domestic fans were practically going insane. They wished they could teleport to Korea immediately, grab OT by the ears, and scream, “Sub him in!!!”

Lin Jiang, who had just stepped off the stage, looked grim. He walked straight to the substitute bench and locked eyes with Zhang Mingying—both wore serious expressions. “Did you see everything clearly just now?”

Zhang Mingying nodded firmly. “I saw it clearly.”

He had seen it all, WAG’s habits, movements, tendencies—every tiny detail was etched into his mind.

A’Deng was substituted out, and Zhang Mingying took the stage.

As he adjusted his equipment, his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to yesterday when Lin Jiang had called him aside and spoken those words to him.

It had been late, well past time to rest. He hadn’t expected Lin Jiang to suddenly pull him aside and say so much.

“I’ve seen your talent. I know that given time, you’ll become an outstanding jungler. But Zhang Mingying, OT has no more chances left. Neither do I.”

Lin Jiang looked at him under the night sky, his expression complicated. “I admit you’ve grown quickly, but it’s not enough. Lack of experience is your fatal flaw. We haven’t played training matches against WAG. If you go up now, you’ll be full of holes. They’re experts at seizing opportunities, impossible to defend against. That’s why we can’t let you play the first two games.”

Zhang Mingying understood. “It’s fine. I can watch from the bench.”

“Then watch closely. Every habit, every movement, every style—you have to see it all. I’ll do everything I can to draw out their strategies. Cherish everything you observe. Don’t miss a single thing.”

Zhang Mingying nodded, then froze before suddenly looking up at him. “What do you mean?”

Lin Jiang’s gaze was darker than the night. A cigarette dangled between his fingers, his voice rough as if torn by the wind. “A’Deng will most likely lose, too. Be prepared. After he loses two games, we’ll sub you in. Use your talent to memorize every tiny detail about them, then defeat them through those details. This is our last chance.”

“I’Il also do everything I can to force out more of their strategies. The worst-case scenario is putting you in when we’re 0-2.”

“Zhang Mingying, when that time comes, you have to prove yourself. Prove that I was right to choose you.”

The noise and lights of the venue paved a path toward the summit.

Zhang Mingying put on his headphones, his eyes blazing with determination.

He had never taken a match this seriously before. Even facing overwhelming odds, he wanted to stage a comeback. To prove to everyone that Lin Jiang hadn’t made a mistake in choosing him.

When Zhang Mingying took the stage, the audience finally saw a glimmer of hope again. The domestic commentators also perked up, switching to praise mode. “Player zimy has an aggressive and versatile playstyle, but most importantly, he dares to fight. I think OT still has a great chance this time.”

As soon as Zhang Mingying entered the game, he shifted OT’s dynamics. In an instant, OT transformed from a defensive to offensive. Coincidentally, the opposing WAG team was also skilled at aggression, turning this match into a bloody and chaotic battle in the blink of an eye.

Even through their screens, the audience could feel the brutality of the game.

[Hope OT doesn’t get their jungle invaded again.]

[LOL, do you think Zhang Mingying would tolerate that?]

[Betting on a jungle swap.]

[Better to invade together than alone.]

[Let’s all party in the enemy jungle, hahaha!]

[Why am I still expecting something when it’s already 0-2?]

[Doesn’t matter, we’re making the reverse sweep happen!]

No matter what, as long as Zhang Mingying was on the field, OT had the momentum firmly in their grasp.

With Zhang Mingying in the game, the entire match became a bloodbath. Constant skirmishes erupted, blood splattered everywhere, and the scent of violence practically seeped through the screens.

WAG, facing Zhang Mingying for the first time, was visibly caught off guard. They tried invading, they tried playing safe, but they quickly realized this guy wouldn’t budge either way!

He was like an unyielding gourd, deaf and blind to everything, stubbornly sticking to his own playstyle. The real kicker? No one could predict his wildest moves.

Sometimes when he overextended, Lin Jiang would rein him in, and so far, it was working much better than with A’Deng.

And Zhang Mingying’s positioning was downright insane. The enemy team picked Blitzcrank this round, hoping to target the jungler, but they never expected Zhang Mingying to dodge three hooks like some kind of mechanical monster.

The audience didn’t know if OT could win this game, but at least the opening had them thoroughly hyped!

In a foreign land like Korea, someone suddenly shouted from the stands, “OT, win this for us!”

Soon, cheers rose one after another, filling the venue.

They didn’t care that OT had lost two rounds. They didn’t care that WAG had match point. They didn’t care about judgmental stares or potential embarrassment.

Right now, they had only one belief: to make sure OT heard their voices!

The sound pierced through the players’ headphones. Song Zhixu tensed up. “Huh? Did I mishear? Why do I hear Chinese?”

Zhou Wen chimed in, “I heard it, too.”

With the other three teams already eliminated, the remaining fans could only be here for them. A new resolve solidified in everyone’s hearts. They couldn’t let down the fans who believed in them.

Lin Jiang’s commanding voice came through the headphones: “Prepare for dragon fight.”

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