The thrilling Best of 3 battle between Forbidden City Peak and Steel City Will was like a powerful stimulant, pushing the excitement of the entire Star Sea Cup to new heights. Players raved about the Prince's flash of inspiration with his wall-piercing EQ and lamented the unyielding resilience of Steel City Will in their heartbreaking loss. The charm of esports was fully displayed in this showdown.
However, the schedule was tight, and the war drums continued to beat. Just one day later, the spotlight turned to another highly anticipated matchup—the Star Sea Team, assembled by real estate magnate Lin Haoming and boasting an official background halo, faced off against the Dragon Soul Team, a tough and aggressive team from a northern industrial hub.
Compared to the kingly aura of Forbidden City Peak, which had been tempered through countless internet café and city competitions, Star Sea Team was labeled with "elite" and "capital" from its very inception. Top-tier base facilities, a scientific training system, professional coaching and analyst teams, and even rumored salaries far exceeding those of ordinary professional players, made them seem like a "regular army" invading the grassroots esports world. This background garnered them a great deal of attention, but also an equal amount of scrutiny and doubt.
"Let our results speak for themselves," Lin Haoming said in the pre-match preparation room, having rarely donned a crisp Star Sea Team uniform. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable force as he addressed the players about to take the stage. "Outside voices aren't important. What's important is for everyone to see the value of our model."
The captain, Star Track, pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses as cold as ice: "Understood, Mr. Lin. We've thoroughly studied Dragon Soul's style. They will pay for their recklessness."
The jungler, Lüeyǐng, curved his lips into a confident smile: "Their jungle belongs to 'Lüeyǐng' today."
On the other side, the Dragon Soul Team's lounge was filled with an almost tragic atmosphere. The captain and top laner, a burly man with the ID "Molten Rock," spoke in a gruff voice: "Star Sea? Just a bunch of pampered brats! Today, let our mining hands teach them what real combat is! Remember this, when two brave men meet—"
"The braver one wins!" The other four players roared in unison, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.
As both teams' players took the stage introduced by the host, the atmosphere presented a stark contrast. The five members of Star Sea Team walked with composure, their uniforms neat, expressions focused and calm, like a special forces unit about to execute a precise mission. The Dragon Soul Team, on the other hand, all had solemn faces, their eyes filled with a desperate ferocity, like warriors preparing for a life-or-death struggle.
At the commentary desk, Commentator and Yaoyao naturally felt this invisible standoff.
"Welcome back! Up next is the second match of the Star Sea Cup Round of 16, featuring Star Sea Team against Dragon Soul Team!" Commentator's voice was filled with anticipation. "Yaoyao, where do you think the key lies in this clash between 'new money' and 'old guard'?"
"I believe the key is in the jungle!" Yaoyao analyzed. "Dragon Soul Team's jungler, 'Berserker,' is known for his aggressive, 'feast-or-famine' gank style, often sacrificing his own farm to create immense pressure on the lanes. Meanwhile, Star Sea Team's player, Lüeyǐng, excels at tricky strategies, counter-jungling, and map control. This is a head-on collision of two completely different jungle philosophies!"
In the VIP viewing area below, Qin Feng and Lin Haoming sat together. Around them were other club managers, coaches, and industry celebrities, their gazes occasionally glancing at these two helmsmen of Riot Games and Star Sea.
"Nervous?" Qin Feng asked with a smile.
Lin Haoming shrugged, his posture relaxed: "I have confidence in my investment. But what about you, Mr. Qin, how does it feel to see the tournament and teams you personally built competing on the same stage?"
"It feels very strange," Qin Feng's gaze swept across the packed arena, watching the fervent fans cheering for their respective teams. "It's like watching the seeds I sowed grow into a towering forest overnight. And this forest's ecosystem is even richer than I imagined."
As they talked, the Draft Phase began.
Dragon Soul Team indeed adhered to their "combat" philosophy, immediately picking the strong offensive top laner Olaf and the highly aggressive jungler Lee Sin, setting up a stance ready to fight from a level one teamfight.
Star Sea Team, under the guidance of their coach, calmly put together a seemingly stable but subtly deadly lineup: top laner "Dawn Breaker" chose the sturdy Nautilus, mid laner Star Track picked his extremely proficient assassin hero Zed, the Master of Shadows, ADC Su Xiao, the Wind Chaser, locked in the late-game carry Kog'Maw, and support Bulwark chose the highly protective Janna.
"Star Sea Team's lineup... won't it be too passive in the early game?" Some spectators whispered below. "Can they withstand Dragon Soul's dive composition?"
"Look at Star Sea's counter-pick!" Commentator keenly noticed the key. "Lüeyǐng's jungle hero—Nocturne! This choice is brilliant! Nocturne's Ultimate Ability, Paranoia, perfectly counters heroes like Lee Sin who need vision and operational space, and it also creates an excellent environment for Zed's engage!"
Qin Feng nodded slightly. Star Sea Team's Draft Phase was clearly well-prepared; this wasn't just a simple stacking of strong heroes, but a lineup full of tactical targeting and depth.
The match began!
As everyone expected, Dragon Soul Team launched a furious offensive from level one. The jungler Lee Sin, like a shark smelling blood, constantly invaded Lüeyǐng's jungle and initiated a successful gank in the top lane, helping Olaf secure First Blood!
"First Blood!"
"Dragon Soul Team gets off to a strong start! Their offense is like a surging tide! Can Star Sea Team withstand it?"
Fans supporting Dragon Soul erupted in enthusiastic cheers. However, Star Sea Team's response showed a discipline far beyond ordinary teams.
"Stay steady, stick to the plan." Star Track's voice in the team's comms was completely calm.
Olaf, having secured First Blood, tried to extend his advantage, constantly pushing the lane to harass or even solo kill Nautilus. But "Dawn Breaker"'s Nautilus displayed top-tier resilience, with careful positioning and steady last-hitting, like a true deep-sea bedrock, unmoving despite the wind and waves.
In the bot lane, Su Xiao's Kog'Maw farmed safely under Janna's protection, even slightly out-farming the opponent.
The most crucial area was the jungle. Facing Lee Sin's aggressive early invasion, Lüeyǐng's Nocturne chose not to fight head-on. Instead, using efficient jungle routes and precise vision control, he perfectly avoided Lee Sin's Sharp Edge. At the same time, he seized the opportunity when Lee Sin showed up for ganks, stealing two of the opponent's jungle camps, and at the first dragon spawn, he used his level advantage to secure it steadily.
"Star Sea Team's defense is impenetrable!" Yaoyao exclaimed. "They're like a precise machine; everyone knows what they should be doing at what time. Dragon Soul's punches feel like they're hitting cotton!"
Time reached level six. Nocturne and Zed, with their Ultimate Abilities, were like drawn blades!
"Lüeyǐng is level six! Star Track is also level six! Is Star Sea Team's power spike coming?"
Just as Dragon Soul Team's jungler Lee Sin attempted to gank the bot lane again, Lüeyǐng's Nocturne activated his Ultimate Ability—Paranoia!
"The lights are out!"
In an instant, all of Dragon Soul Team's screens plunged into darkness! The Lee Sin, without vision, missed his Q Skill, Sonic Wave! And at the same time, Zed from mid lane, using his Ultimate Ability "Death Mark," transformed into a shadow of death, directly rushing Dragon Soul Team's mid laner!
"Zed is in! Who is the target? It's Viktor! Is there enough damage? He's instantly killed! Viktor is gone! He didn't even use flash!"
In the darkness, Dragon Soul Team's formation was completely disrupted! Olaf from the bot lane teleported to assist, but upon landing, he found his mid laner already down. At the same time, Star Sea Team's Nautilus also teleported in, and his massive anchor precisely hooked Olaf!
"Olaf is also caught! Star Sea Team pulls off a perfect 0-for-2 trade!"
This play completely reversed the early game disadvantage. Star Sea Team took the opportunity to secure the Rift Herald and the first tower, instantly overtaking Dragon Soul in gold and widening the gap.
The rest of the game completely fell into Star Sea Team's rhythm. Lüeyǐng's Nocturne was like the Sword of Damocles hanging over Dragon Soul Team's head; each "lights out" was accompanied by Dragon Soul Team losing members or critical resources. Star Track's Zed appeared and disappeared like a ghost, posing a devastating threat to Dragon Soul's backline. And Su Xiao's Kog'Maw, under the layered protection of Janna and Nautilus, rapidly completed his item build, dishing out damage in teamfights like a mobile artillery cannon, destroying everything in his path.
Dragon Soul Team tried to launch a few desperate counterattacks with their fighting spirit, but they appeared futile and tragic against Star Sea Team's disciplined formation and skill coordination.
Ultimately, the game ended at twenty-eight minutes. Star Sea Team, with their immense economic advantage and perfect teamfight coordination, pushed down Dragon Soul Team's base in one decisive wave.
"Victory!"
The golden victory sign appeared on the big screen. Star Sea Team's players calmly took off their headphones, gently high-fived each other, without excessive euphoria on their faces, as if everything was under control.
2:0! Clean and decisive! Star Sea Team, powerfully advanced to the quarterfinals!
"Congratulations to Star Sea Team!" Commentator loudly concluded. "They announced their strength with a nearly perfect victory! From the Draft Phase's mind games, to early-game resilience, and then to mid-to-late game macro and teamfight execution, they showed us what modern, systematic professional esports is all about! This team is undoubtedly a strong contender for this year's Star Sea Cup championship!"
Below, Lin Haoming applauded contentedly, then turned to Qin Feng and said, "It seems my investment vision isn't bad."
Qin Feng looked at the five young and confident players on stage, at the Star Sea Logo behind them symbolizing the fusion of capital and professionalism, and slowly said, "This is not just a victory for capital, Haoming. This is the victory of professionalization and systematization over traditional brute-force methods. Star Sea Team has set a new benchmark for all who follow."
He paused, his gaze distant: "Our league needs traditional kings like Forbidden City Peak, and it also needs rising forces like Star Sea. Only with a sufficiently diverse ecosystem and fierce competition can this esports fertile ground we've personally cultivated give birth to truly towering world trees."
Star Sea's debut battle was a resounding success. The power of capital, through the purest form of achievement, issued its strongest declaration in this burgeoning field. And Qin Feng's blueprint for an esports empire was thereby enriched with a significant stroke.