After the Internet storm ended, Su Mo also entered the fishing time.
Because his teammates were invincible in the competition, he felt at ease fishing.
In the final stage of the next regular season, EDG's starting top lane position was firmly occupied by the holy gun brother Flandre. And this experienced veteran, after experiencing the disastrous defeat in the IG battle and Su Mo's "advice", seemed to have been opened up to the second line of Ren and Du, and completely released himself.
Against WE, his Kennen used "Sky Thunder", which shocked WE's backline in the team battle and made it impossible for them to take care of themselves.
Hunting against RA, his Jayce was hit with a thousand hits, showing the veteran top laner's deep hero pool foundation.
Against LGD, he even took out Lulu in his hand and cooperated with Viper's Jinx to create the ultimate four-guarantee-one system, which made the opponent despair.
EDG's tank, after experiencing that brief accidental rollover, restarted, and with a more unstoppable attitude, it crushed all the remaining opponents in the regular season.
When the dust settles on the last day of the regular season, the final standings for the S11 LPL Spring Split are officially released.
TES (Top Esports): 12 wins-6 losses
JDG (JD Gaming): 12 wins-6 losses
FPX (FunPlus Phoenix): 11 wins-7 losses
WE (Team WE): 11 wins-7 losses
SN (Suning): 10 wins-8 losses
RA (Rare Atom): 10 wins-8 losses
IG (Invictuing): 9 wins-9 losses
LNG (LNG Esports): 8 wins-10 losses
EDG topped the regular season list with an undisputed record of 16 wins and 2 losses, becoming the "final boss" in the eyes of all playoff teams.
Following closely behind is RNG, which has completed an incredible transformation and has been making rapid progress since Xiaohu transformed into a top laner. Two traditional strong teams, TES and JDG, have also stabilized their positions, ranking third and fourth. FPX, WE, SN, and RA were on the last train to the playoffs in a thrilling way.
What is embarrassing is that IG, who once won a hearty victory against EDG, due to the ups and downs in the follow-up state, finally ranked ninth with a record of 9 wins and 9 losses. With a narrow gap of one victory, IG was unfortunately blocked from the playoffs.
And LNG, where M1kuya is located, lost hope of promotion early.
With the end of the regular season, the air throughout the LPL has become tense. After a short offseason, the more brutal and exciting playoffs are about to begin.
This year's S11 spring playoffs adopt a new "double-defeat bubbling" competition system.
The top two teams, EDG and RNG, will be directly sent to the top four winners group, where they will sit back and watch the fight between tigers and tigers, waiting for work.
The remaining teams need to go through brutal single-elimination rounds from bottom to top to determine the two final challengers to join EDG and RNG in the top four.
SN vs WE
Lower half:
RNG (Waiting for promotion)
TES (Waiting for promotion)
FPX vs RA
According to the format, EDG’s first playoff game will be against the winner between JDG and the "winner of SN and WE". No matter who the opponent is, this is bound to be a tough battle.
One week before the official start of the playoffs, LPL officials, as usual, organized a grand "Playoff Media Day" event at the Shanghai headquarters.
All representative players and coaches of the eight teams that have advanced to the playoffs will gather together to take makeup photos, record promotional videos, and participate in the most anticipated "pre-match trash talk" session.
On this day, all EDG members appeared at the media day wearing the latest black dark pattern suits provided by sponsors. When Su Mo walked into the studio at the end of the team with his hands in his pockets and a lazy expression, all the media's cameras and the eyes of the staff at the scene were instantly focused on him as if they were attracted by a magnet.
Even though he did not play for the entire second half of the regular season, he is still the well-deserved focus of the league.
"Mo God! Take a look here!"
"Brother Mo Zi! Smile!"
Flashes of light came and went. Su Mo just nodded casually to the camera, walked straight to EDG's rest area, found the most comfortable sofa and sat down, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
The process of filming and interviewing was carried out in an orderly manner.
Finally, it’s time for the much-anticipated recording session of “Trash Talk”.
The representative players of the eight teams walked onto the stage one after another, formed a circle, and under the sweet guidance of the host Yu Shuang, began to give "friendly" greetings before the game.
iBoy of RA was the first to fire: "SN, I heard that you are in poor condition recently, I hope you can hold on longer and don't let us play too fast, otherwise it will appear that we do not respect our predecessors."
SN's Angel immediately countered: "We are just saving big moves for the playoffs. But you, are you comfortable on the last train of the regular season? Don't take a one-day trip to the playoffs."
FPX's Doinb shouted in his signature exaggerated tone: "I don't care which one of you comes up! We will send you home one by one! Then, go challenge the highest mountain!" He said, pointing in the direction of EDG off the stage.
When it was RNG's Xiaohu's turn, he pushed up his glasses, with the confidence of returning to the "Spring Tiger Emperor" on his face: "We beat EDG in the regular season, so... I think everyone knows who is the real number one. We will wait for any challenger in the finals."
The smell of gunpowder is getting stronger.
Finally, with everyone watching, the one who spoke on behalf of EDG was not captain Meiko, nor Brother Holy Spear, who performed well in the regular season, but Su Mo, who had been sitting in the audience, as if he was about to fall asleep.
He was pushed by Meiko, and then he reluctantly stood up, walked slowly onto the stage, and took the microphone from Yu Shuang's hand.
The whole place fell silent instantly.
All players and all media are waiting for this "god" to speak.
Su Mo glanced around the enthusiastic opponents on the stage, yawned, then put the microphone to his mouth, and said slowly in a calm tone:
"The regular season is over, everyone seems to be in good spirits, not bad."
He paused, as if he was organizing his words, but actually he was thinking about what to eat for lunch.
A few seconds later, he spoke again, but his eyes became a little sharper, like an unsheathed sword, instantly piercing through all the noise at the scene.
"I don't have anything to say, so I will inform everyone of one thing in advance."
Hi His eyes swept over the faces of each opponent, and finally settled on the glittering replica of the LPL Silver Dragon Cup in the center of the stage.
"We have already booked this trophy in advance. Your next competition is just to compete for a runner-up spot and...the qualification to challenge us and then be sent home by us."
"So, come on, everyone. I hope you can play well and don't make the finals too boring."
After saying that, he returned the microphone to Yu Shuang, nodded politely to everyone, then turned around and walked off the stage in the deathly silence of the audience.
A few seconds later, the scene erupted into exclamations and commotion like a landslide and tsunami!
"Crazy! So crazy!"
"This is no longer trash talk, this is a sentence!"
"You are so stupid! Just tell everyone that you are only here to compete for runner-up!"
The faces of the other players on the stage became extremely exciting. There is anger and unwillingness, but more importantly, it is a kind of huge pressure that arises spontaneously when being looked down upon by an absolutely powerful person.
They knew that Su Mo was not joking.
And this war that belongs exclusively to spring was completely ignited by this rubbish that can be called the "Declaration of God"!
Su Mo's declaration of "Let the finals not be too boring" was like dropping a depth charge on a calm lake.
When the LPL official released the edited video of the "trash talk" session to major platforms, public opinion in the entire e-sports circle was instantly pushed to the top.
The comment area of the video has become a battlefield for fans from all walks of life to carnival and debate.
"Holy shit! What Brother Mo Zi said is too outrageous! Just open the whole map to ridicule!"
"This is the domineering spirit that the number one player in the league should have! Others are arrogant when they say this, but Brother Mo Zi said, that is to state the facts!"
"RNG fans are dissatisfied! We defeated EDG twice in the regular season, and Tiger Emperor of Spring specializes in dealing with all kinds of dissatisfaction!"
"Doinb has set Brother Mozi's words as a wake-up alarm. Hearing them once every day gives him full motivation!"
"Hahaha, the whole league has become EDG's sparring partner, right? Waiting for a playoff overturn, the program will be full of effects!"
The noise from the outside world is like the strong wind before the storm, indicating that an unprecedented playoff storm is about to land.
The various teams at the center of the storm have entered the final and most intense closed preparation period.
It is completely different from the atmosphere imagined by the outside world as "the championship is in sight and everyone is relaxed". The training room at the EDG base is very busy.
On the huge tactical screen, JDG regular season game videos are being played repeatedly. Coach Abramovich and the factory director, with their team of analysts, are analyzing their potential first opponent frame by frame.
“JDG’s toughness is very strong,” Abramovich circled the movements of JDG jungler Kanavi with a laser pen. “Kanavi’s map control ability is top-notch. He is very good at using his vision advantage to invade and counter-crouch. Jiejie, your jungle will be under great pressure in the playoffs. We must limit him in BP and at the same time do a good job of defensive vision at the entrance to the jungle. "
The director pointed at the top laner Zoom on the screen: "Zoom has a very strange hero pool. He can play warriors, but he can also play pure tanks like Dashu and Ornn. Brother Holy Gun, your line pressure is not small. He may choose some heroes to cooperate with Kanavi for top and jungle linkage. We must be prepared for 2V2."
The team members listened attentively and recorded key points in their notebooks from time to time.
As for Su Mo, he is still the one with the most unique style of painting.
He did not participate in the intense tactical discussion. Instead, he moved a chair and sat behind Brother Holy Gun, reading a novel leisurely and listening to everyone's discussion.
…
In the afternoon, Brother Holy Spear was customizing the top single with the second team, practicing the details of the Crocodile's matchup with Gnar.
After more than ten minutes of playing, although Holy Spear took the lead, he always felt that he could not gain much advantage in exchanging blood. On several occasions, he was defrauded of key skills by Gnar's pull, which made him seem a little impatient.
“Brother Gun, your E skill is too casual.”
Behind him, Su Mo's lazy voice suddenly sounded.
The holy gun brother was stunned, and stopped the operation and turned back: "What do you say?"
"Nar, a hero, is most afraid of being hit from close range. Your two E's are what he is most afraid of." Su Mo put down the phone, walked to him, pointed at the screen, "Look, every time he wants to come up and hit you, he will subconsciously keep a safe distance where the E skill can jump away. Don't always think about going up to hit him with E, that's his rhythm. What you have to do is to press forward and force him to hand E. As long as he hands E, he will only be beaten for the next ten seconds." He paused and added. Sentence: "Also, the timing of your Red Fury W is wrong. Don't always think that it will be over after you stun him. Sometimes, the deterrent effect of that W is much greater than your actual use. If you hold the Red Fury W and move forward, will he dare to come up and finish it?"
With these words, Brother Holy Spear suddenly became enlightened.
He played the game again according to Su Mo's idea, and sure enough, the pressure on the line instantly increased to a higher level. Gnar, who was originally difficult to deal with, became timid and full of flaws in front of him.
At the other end of the training room, Abu and the factory director saw this scene and smiled at each other.
This is the value of Su Mo’s existence.
He may not need high-intensity mechanical training like other players, but his deep-rooted understanding of the game and his insight into the situation and people's hearts are the most valuable assets of the entire EDG.
He is like a needle that stabilizes the sea. As long as he is there, the team's mind will not be confused.
Of course, not only EDG, but the entire LPL has entered the final sprint stage.
The RNG base is brightly lit. As the second seed, they have only one goal - to regain their former glory.
Xiaohu, who is in hot form after transitioning to top lane, is frantically practicing long-handed heroes such as Jace and Kennen to make up for the shortcomings of his hero pool.
Jungle Wei and auxiliary Ming are almost inseparable. The two of them are in the high-level double queue in the Korean server, honing their tacit understanding of the wild auxiliary linkage. They know very well that EDG is their biggest enemy on the road to winning the championship, and Su Mo is the mountain that must be climbed.
FPX’s training room is a completely different scene.
Doinb's live broadcast room is still open, but he has no time to interact with the barrage. There were three monitors in front of him, one showing EDG's game video, one showing his own first-person perspective, and the other densely recording various data and tactical ideas.
He sometimes frowned, sometimes he slapped the table excitedly, and murmured: "Ryze... Sword Demon... Wanhao... How can this person know how to play everything?! No, we must find a way to come up with black technology..."
TES's players turned the shame of being double-killed by EDG in the regular season into motivation for crazy training.
Knight and Jackeylove, a pair of double Cs, almost live and eat in the training room. Their Korean server Rank records are densely packed, and they train for more than 16 hours every day. They will use the most extreme operations to wash away their losses in the regular season.
In addition to the high-intensity training within the team, the "training appointments" between the teams are also in full swing.
In order to simulate the most intense confrontation, EDG and RNG, the two top two teams in the regular season, have become each other's most regular training partners for the first time.
On the first day, Holy Spear Brother started. EDG and RNG played for five full games. Both sides had a win or loss. The score was 3:2, with EDG having the upper hand.
Tabe, the coach of RNG, said during the review: "EDG's operation is still very strong, but we still have a chance to break through with Brother Holy Gun. Xiaohu, keep putting pressure on him!"
· The next day, when the training match reached the last game, on EDG's side, Su Mo yawned, stretched, and said to Brother Holy Gun, "Let me stretch my wrist."
RNG had no idea about this.
When they saw the ID of the opponent's top laner changed from "Flandre" to "Mo", everyone was stunned for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, Su Mo locked up a hero on the fifth floor of the blue square that made the entire RNG team take a breath -
Blade dancer, Irelia!
"Sword Girl?!" Xiaohu's voice changed in RNG's voice, "This person...does he still do this in training matches?"
Everyone knows that this hero is one of Su Mo's talented heroes. Every time he takes it out, it is basically a ruthless massacre...
No surprise, that training match turned into a one-sided massacre.
Su Mo's Sword Girl completed three solo kills on Xiaohu Nuer during the laning phase.
After level 6, a shocking wave of "one versus two" counter-killing of RNG's upper jungle was performed.
In the middle of the game, his sword girl was like a ghost, moving freely in team battles. RNG's back row was simply unable to handle this monster that was too advanced in development.
At 18 minutes, RNG’s base crystal was shattered under Su Mo’s sword blade.
There was dead silence in RNG's voice channel.
After a long time, Xiaohu smiled bitterly and said: "Brothers... I seem to know that people didn't take the two games we won in the regular season seriously at all."
There were only three days left until the start of the playoffs.
The intense preparations have also come to an end, and all major teams have begun to give players half a day off to make final mental and physical adjustments.
Su Mo rarely stayed at the base, but came to the Huangpu River alone.
He did not go to the noisy tourist area, but found a secluded riverside trail, blowing the cool river breeze, watching the passing ships and the bright lights on the other side.
The phone vibrated, it was a message from Rita.
"Brother Mo Zi, I heard that the playoffs will be played tomorrow, are you nervous? Do you want this commentator to give you some pre-game psychological counseling? (/naughty)"
Su Mo looked at the news, smiled, and replied: "Fortunately, I was thinking about crayfish or barbecue for supper tonight."
< br/> "...You, can't you look like a professional player!" Rita sent an angry emoji, "Everyone is nervously preparing for the game, but you are just like a normal person!"
"When playing games, mentality is the most important thing, and it's not like you don't know that I usually don't play," Su Mo replied.
"Humph, that's ridiculous." Rita was silent for a while, and then sent another message, her tone becoming much more serious, "Seriously, come on. Whether you play or not, I hope you can win."
Su Mo responded with a kissing expression.
He put away his cell phone, put his hands in his pockets, looked at the lights of the city reflected on the river, and took a deep breath.
There is a hint of humid warmth of late spring and early summer in the air.
The sixteen wins in the regular season, the rhetoric on the media day, the crushing training matches...all of them are gone in the past.
Starting from tomorrow is the real war.
I hope you won’t be slapped in the face by then...