Magic City, Star Sea Cup Round of 16 Main Venue.
The stadium, capable of holding thousands of people, was packed, and the air was filled with excitement and tension. A giant circular screen hung in the center of the venue, clearly displaying the competition stage and the players' first-person perspectives. Lights focused on the competitive areas on both sides of the stage, where ten players were already in position. The faint tapping sounds of keyboards and mice, amplified by high-quality microphones, echoed through the stadium like ominous drumbeats before a battle.
"Greetings, Summoners! Welcome to the Star Sea Cup Round of 16 elimination match! I'm commentator Commentator!"
"And I'm commentator Yaoyao!"
The passionate voices of the two official ace commentators spread throughout the venue through the speakers, instantly igniting the audience's enthusiasm. Cheers and applause, like a roaring tsunami, almost lifted the roof.
"Finally! We've reached the brutal single-elimination stage!" Commentator's voice was high-pitched, "It's a BO3 format, with no retreat. One loss means saying goodbye to this year's Star Sea Cup! Every match will be a fight to the death!"
"Exactly!" Yaoyao interjected, her tone equally full of anticipation, "And today, kicking off the elimination rounds for us, are the first-place team from Group A, possessing the aura of champions—the Forbidden City Peak Team! And from Group C, having fought their way through a bloody struggle and known for their tenacious resilience—the Steel City Will Team!"
The large screen promptly displayed the teams' official photos and core statistics. The five members of the Forbidden City Peak Team looked stern, exuding the confidence and pressure of a strong team; while the members of the Steel City Will Team had resolute gazes, like tempered steel, revealing an unyielding will.
"This showdown can be described as the ultimate clash of spear and shield!" Commentator analyzed, "The Forbidden City Peak is renowned for their fluid team coordination and powerful individual abilities; their mid-jungle rhythm is often the key to breaking open the game. And the Steel City Will, true to their name, possesses top-tier defensive capabilities and late-game teamfight resilience in the league. They excel at finding opportunities from disadvantages, wearing down opponents with their solid defense!"
"Will the sharp spear of the Forbidden City Peak pierce through the steel defense, or will the sturdy shield of the Steel City Will withstand the champion's assault? Let's wait and see! The match is about to begin, entering the BP phase!"
Behind the stage, in the exclusive spectator room, Qin Feng, Lin Haoming, and other members of teams like the Star Sea Team and Qiming Team, who had not yet played, gathered here, watching this focal match on a giant screen. For them, this was both an excellent opportunity to observe potential opponents and a valuable learning experience.
"The Steel City Will is a tough opponent," Lin Haoming said, stroking his chin, "Their team execution is very strong, and they rarely give opportunities."
Qin Feng nodded, his gaze deep: "Let's see how the Forbidden City Peak breaks through. A truly strong team must be able to adapt to various styles of challenges."
During the BP phase, both coaches had already begun their first round of strategizing. The Forbidden City Peak specifically banned several of the Steel City Will's Skilled late-game carries and protective supports, while the Steel City Will unceremoniously banned two of the Forbidden City Peak's signature mid-jungle champions, aiming to cut off their early-game engine.
The final lineups were locked:
Blue Side - Forbidden City Peak:
Top: Renekton, the Butcher of the Sands (Furious Heart)
Jungle: Jarvan IV, the Exemplar of Demacia
Mid: Syndra, the Dark Sovereign
ADC: Ezreal, the Prodigal Explorer
Support: Braum, the Heart of the Freljord
Red Side - Steel City Will:
Top: Shen, the Eye of Twilight
Jungle: Sejuani, the Winter's Wrath
Mid: Viktor, the Machine Herald
ADC: Varus, the Arrow of Retribution
Support: Bard, the Wandering Caretaker
"Looking at the lineup, the Forbidden City Peak is a typical early-to-mid-game power-spike composition!" Commentator spoke rapidly, "The Jarvan IV and Syndra mid-jungle combination has extremely high early burst damage. They must establish an advantage in the laning phase, utilizing Ezreal's strong phase and Braum's crowd control to quickly snowball!"
"And the Steel City Will has set up a standard iron curtain!" Yaoyao added, "Shen and Sejuani provide a solid frontline and crowd control, Viktor and Varus ensure late-game output, and Bard offers infinite mobility and the possibility of creating miracles! They just want to stall, stall until their dual carries get their items!"
The match began!
In the first few minutes, the Forbidden City Peak indeed demonstrated powerful lane dominance. Mid laner Syndra, relying on her range and precise skills, continuously chipped away at Viktor's health. Top laner Renekton also used his early-game strength to push Shen under his tower. Jarvan IV was even more aggressive, directly invading Sejuani's jungle, stealing a camp of F4, and gaining the upper hand in terms of momentum.
However, the Steel City Will's resilience lived up to its reputation. Their CS was not significantly behind, and their vision was meticulously placed. Whenever Jarvan IV attempted a gank, it was always thwarted by early vision. There were no kills in the early game, and the gold difference consistently remained within a few hundred.
"The Steel City Will's defense is too good!" In the spectator room, Star Sea Team's jungler Lüeyǐng couldn't help but exclaim, "It's like punching cotton."
The turning point occurred when the first small dragon spawned. The Forbidden City Peak, utilizing their mid and bot lane priority, first secured vision of the dragon pit, attempting to take this Infernal Dragon.
"They're trying to take the dragon! Is the Forbidden City Peak's tempo about to begin?" Commentator's voice grew tense.
But the Steel City Will clearly didn't want to give up easily. Shen used his Ultimate Ability's global presence to directly fly behind the dragon pit, forming a pincer with the arriving Sejuani and Bard!
"Shen has landed! Bard's Q Skill! He stunned Braum! The dragon pit entrance is blocked! The Forbidden City Peak's formation is a bit chaotic!"
Just at this critical moment, in the Forbidden City Peak's team voice chat, the commander's voice was unusually calm and swift:
"Forget the dragon! Kill Viktor! Jarvan IV, watch Viktor's position!"
Almost at the instant the command was given, Jarvan IV, who had been hidden in the shadows of the dragon pit vision, made an astonishing impromptu decision! He did not follow the conventional approach of restricting the enemy frontline or stealing the dragon, but instead, with a fierce EQ combo, he didn't charge towards the dragon pit entrance, but at extreme range, passed through the narrow opening above the dragon pit wall!
"Demacia!"
Accompanied by Jarvan IV's roar, the giant golden dragon's impact trajectory drew a bizarre arc, precisely knocking up Viktor, who was observing from the upper edge of the dragon pit, attempting to poke with skills!
"What?! Jarvan IV's EQ over the wall! He found Viktor! That angle is too tricky!" Commentator's commentary instantly turned into a shout!
Syndra reacted incredibly fast, almost at the same time Jarvan IV knocked up Viktor, she flashed over the wall, unleashing all her skills! Dark Sphere, Unleashed Power (R)! Viktor's health plummeted like an avalanche!
"Syndra followed up! Full damage! Viktor is instantly killed! He didn't even have time to use Flash! The Forbidden City Peak completed a brilliant surprise decapitation in a desperate situation!"
The entire venue erupted! This impromptu decision and Jarvan IV's incredible EQ angle completely broke the stalemate! The Steel City Will, having lost their mid laner, fell into disarray and was forced to retreat. The Forbidden City Peak not only successfully secured the small dragon but also achieved a 0-for-1 small high point.
"Beautiful!" In the spectator room, Qiming Team's coach Chen Mo couldn't help but cheer, "This command and execution, truly worthy of the Forbidden City Peak!"
With the advantage established from this play, the Forbidden City Peak began to steadily push, utilizing vision control and Jarvan IV and Renekton's strong engage capabilities to continuously chip away at the Steel City Will's jungle and turrets. Although the Steel City Will barely held on, relying on Shen's split push and Bard's intelligent roaming, and even managed to secure a few kills to catch up, the overall tempo remained firmly controlled by the Forbidden City Peak.
Finally, when the second Baron Nashor spawned, the Forbidden City Peak, through a perfect kite and engage, killed the Steel City Will's jungler Sejuani and then secured Baron. With the Baron Buff, the Forbidden City Peak pushed aggressively, broke through the Steel City Will's high-ground crystal, and claimed victory in the first game!
"Congratulations to the Forbidden City Peak! They take the first game!" Yaoyao announced loudly, "They showed us a top-tier team's ability to adapt on the fly and snowball!"
After a short break, the second game began.
Pushed to the brink, the Steel City Will demonstrated in the second game why they deserved to be on the Round of 16 stage. They adjusted their BP strategy, picking a lineup that leaned more towards counter-engages and protection, and their jungler Sejuani changed tactics, no longer purely defensive, but instead launching continuous assaults on the Forbidden City Peak's somewhat aggressive top lane.
The Forbidden City Peak seemed to have underestimated their opponent's adjusted resilience; several of their proactive attacks were thwarted by the Steel City Will's perfect formation and skill synergy. In a crucial mid-game small dragon teamfight, the Steel City Will's ADC Varus found a perfect output position, dealing explosive damage without interference and securing a triple kill!
"Varus! He's cleaning up! The Steel City Will won this teamfight! They've stabilized! They withstood the Forbidden City Peak's assault!" Commentator's voice was filled with admiration for the underdog.
The situation was reversed. The Steel City Will played with increasing confidence; their 'iron curtain' became incredibly solid after gaining a gold lead. Finally, after nearly forty minutes of intense fighting, the Steel City Will, relying on their more solid teamfight composition and tenacious will, evened the score!
"Congratulations to the Steel City Will! They've forced the match into a decisive game! This is the charm of esports! There are no absolute strong teams, only hearts that never give up!" Yaoyao's voice was filled with excitement.
The total score became 1:1! The match entered the final BO3 decisive game!
The atmosphere in the stadium reached its peak. Fans supporting the Forbidden City Peak cheered loudly, encouraging their team; while spectators supporting the Steel City Will saw hope for a miracle, and their cheers were equally fervent.
In the decisive game's BP, the air seemed to be filled with gunpowder smoke. Both sides brought out their trump cards, with lineup choices being more cautious and also more extreme.
The Forbidden City Peak chose a lineup with immense early-game offensive pressure, and their top laner even picked the rare aggressive champion Irelia, the Blade Dancer. The Steel City Will continued to stick to their 'iron curtain' strategy, with their top laner once again picking Shen and their mid laner choosing the scaling champion orianna.
"A do-or-die game! Both sides are holding nothing back! The Forbidden City Peak must end the game in the early to mid-game, while for the Steel City Will, as long as they drag it past thirty minutes, the scales of victory will tip in their favor!" Commentator's voice was grave.
The game began, and the Forbidden City Peak displayed their determination to fight to the death. Jungler Jarvan IV was like a mad dog, living in the mid and bot lanes, launching continuous ganks. Although he couldn't secure kills, he greatly disrupted the development of the Steel City Will's dual carries.
However, the Steel City Will's defense remained impenetrable. They sacrificed some resources to fully ensure the development of their carries. Time passed minute by minute, and soon it was twenty minutes, with the gold difference still not widened.
"The Forbidden City Peak is in a hurry! They must find an opportunity to break the stalemate! But the Steel City Will is like sticky candy, impossible to shake off or chew through!"
At a critical moment, it was another on-the-fly decision!
In the Forbidden City Peak's team voice chat, the commander's voice carried a desperate resolve:
"Their Shen has no T (Teleport), we'll force Baron! Force them to take a teamfight! Everyone, watch my position!"
The five members of the Forbidden City Peak suddenly gathered, utilizing vision advantage, and began to quickly rush the newly spawned Baron Nashor!
"They're taking Baron! The Forbidden City Peak is going all-in! The Steel City Will has spotted them! They're rushing towards the Baron pit! Shen is still split-pushing in the bot lane, but he has his Ultimate Ability to support!"
Inside the Baron pit, Baron Nashor's health rapidly decreased. Four members of the Steel City Will arrived at the Baron pit entrance, continuously poking and chipping away with skills.
Just as Baron's health entered the execute range, the Forbidden City Peak's support Braum suddenly flashed out of the Baron pit, unleashing his Ultimate Ability, "Glacial Fissure," which slammed down onto the ground! The massive path of ice precisely knocked up the Steel City Will's ADC Varus and support Bard!
"Braum flashed his Ultimate Ability! He knocked up two! An opportunity!"
Almost simultaneously, the Forbidden City Peak's ADC Ezreal Arcane Shifted (E) out of the Baron pit, aiming all his skills at the knocked-up Varus! And mid laner Syndra also unleashed her Dark Spheres!
But the Steel City Will's reaction was equally swift! Shen's Ultimate Ability shield was timely applied to Varus, and orianna's Ultimate Ability, "Command: Shockwave," pulled in the Forbidden City Peak's backline!
A chaotic teamfight erupted instantly!
In this flash of lightning, the Forbidden City Peak's top laner Irelia made a play that determined the outcome of the game! She didn't choose to dive the backline, but like a phantom, used her Q Skill, "Bladesurge," to dash between minions and champions, instantly stacking her passive, and then, like a true dancer, charged towards orianna, who was channeling her Ultimate Ability!
"Irelia is in! Who is her target? It's Orianna! She interrupted Orianna's Ultimate Ability! My god! What perfect timing for that engage!"
Irelia's burst damage was extremely high; combined with Ignite, she instantly brought Orianna to critical health! Orianna was forced to use her Zhonya's Hourglass for safety! And without Orianna's most crucial Ultimate Ability crowd control, the Steel City Will's formation instantly fell apart!
Inside the Baron pit, Jarvan IV secured Baron with a steady Smite! All members of the Forbidden City Peak were bathed in the glow of the Baron Buff!
"Baron goes to the Forbidden City Peak! They won the teamfight! Orianna is just waiting to die in her Zhonya's, and Varus is also picked off by Ezreal! The Steel City Will has collapsed! Irelia's on-the-fly target switch was too crucial! She killed the opponent's most critical teamfight engine!"
Accompanied by the commentators' passionate shouts, the Forbidden City Peak pressed their advantage, securing a perfect 1-for-4 teamfight! Afterwards, carrying the Baron Buff, the Forbidden City Peak pushed straight down mid, with no further obstacles. The Steel City Will could only watch helplessly as their base crystal exploded under a torrent of attacks!
"Victory!"
The stirring female system voice sounded, announcing the ultimate victor of this nearly three-hour BO3!
"It's over! Congratulations to the Forbidden City Peak! After three hard-fought games, they finally defeated the tenacious Steel City Will Team with a score of 2:1, successfully advancing to the Star Sea Cup Quarterfinals!" Commentator's voice was hoarse and excited.
"Let's also give our applause to the Steel City Will!" Yaoyao said emotionally, "They fought until the very last moment, and they are glorious in defeat! They demonstrated the most precious spirit of resilience in esports!"
On the stage, the five members of the Forbidden City Peak Team let out long breaths of relief, high-fiving each other with tired but relieved smiles on their faces. And the members of the Steel City Will Team, although their eyes were filled with disappointment and unwillingness, still stood up, saluted their opponents, and bowed to the audience.
When rivals meet on a narrow path, the contest between the brave and the resilient, ultimately, the champions, with their superior on-the-fly decision-making and decisive action at critical moments, had the last laugh.
The first owner of a Star Sea Cup Quarterfinals spot has arrived—the Forbidden City Peak!