Star Sea Team's clean and decisive victory was like a ladle of cold water poured into a boiling oil pot, instantly igniting the entire esports scene. Media coverage was overwhelming, no longer just focusing on the match itself, but beginning to delve into the impact and enlightenment that the "Star Sea Mode" brought to the industry. "Capital," "Professionalism," and "Systematization" became new buzzwords.
However, the Star Sea Cup train continued to speed along its predetermined track, not giving people much time to savor the moment. Immediately following, a series of brutal showdowns for the eight quarter-final spots were staged. The voices of commentators Commentator and Yaoyao grew hoarser with the intensity of the schedule, yet remained full of passion.
On the Phantom Team vs. Beichen Team match, "Greetings, Summoners, and welcome back! This is the third match day of the Star Sea Cup Round of 16! We are about to bring you the Group D leader, Phantom Team, supported by emerging capital, facing off against the traditional powerhouse Beichen Team from Jinmen!" Commentator's voice echoed through the venue via the microphone.
Yaoyao chimed in, speaking rapidly: "Phantom Team is known for its versatile tactics and powerful individual plays, especially their mid-laner 'Yue Hua,' whose champion pool is unfathomable! Beichen Team, on the other hand, inherits the stable style of Jinmen esports, with extremely cohesive team synergy, making them a very tough nut to crack!"
During the Ban/Pick phase, Phantom Team surprisingly left open a strong jungle champion that was a must-pick in the current patch, instead continuously targeting Beichen Team's bot lane duo's champion pool.
"Is Phantom letting you have it, then trying to open a breakthrough from the bot lane?" Commentator expressed his confusion.
As the match began, Phantom Team's strategy was clear. After their jungler 'Ghost' secured the patch's T1 jungler, he didn't rush to make plays. Instead, like a phantom, he dedicated almost all of his early game efforts to the bot lane. Three consecutive precise ganks, combined with 'Yue Hua's' mid-lane Twisted Fate's first Ultimate Ability flight to the bot lane, forcefully took down Beichen Team's bot lane outer turret before the ten-minute mark!
"My goodness! Phantom Team's tactical execution is so resolute! They are determined to break through the bot lane!" Yaoyao exclaimed.
However, Beichen Team displayed the depth of a veteran powerhouse. Despite being at a huge disadvantage, they decisively gave up resources like small dragons, and during the cooldown period of Twisted Fate's Ultimate Ability, their top laner 'Taishan' teleported behind to initiate a brilliant counter-attack in the mid lane, killing Phantom Team's ADC, barely stabilizing the situation.
"Beichen Team held on! They weren't completely wiped out! The match entered the operational rhythm that Beichen prefers!"
In the mid-game, both sides engaged in a five-minute standoff around the Baron vision. Just as Beichen Team was trying to force a team fight using their vision advantage, 'Yue Hua's' Twisted Fate's Ultimate Ability, Destiny, lit up again!
"Twisted Fate flew! Where did he fly this time? It's top lane! He's combining with the split-pushing top laner to catch Beichen's split-pushing top laner Taishan!"
But Beichen Team's support speed was astonishingly fast! Their support 'Lighthouse's' Tahm Kench, using Abyssal Voyage, brought his ADC to the top lane instantly, counter-encircling Phantom Team's Twisted Fate and top laner!
"Counter-encirclement! Beichen Team's support was too timely! Phantom Team is in big trouble!"
At the critical moment, Phantom Team's jungler 'Ghost' emerged from the shadows, and from an incredibly tricky angle, used his Ultimate Ability to stun Beichen Team's ADC! At the same time, although Phantom Team's ADC had died once, his equipment wasn't too far behind, and he dealt tons of damage from the flank!
"Ghost! He stepped up! He controlled the key C-position! The team fight situation instantly reversed!"
A chaotic team fight ultimately resulted in a 3-for-4 trade, with Phantom Team narrowly winning thanks to 'Ghost's' crucial control, and then taking the Baron. With the Baron Buff, Phantom Team gave Beichen Team no further chances, steadily pushing down all three high-ground turrets, and finally, around thirty-five minutes, destroyed Beichen Team's base.
"Congratulations to Phantom Team! 2:1, they difficultly defeated Beichen Team and advanced to the quarterfinals!" Commentator's voice carried a hint of fatigue, "In this match, both teams displayed extremely high tactical prowess and resilience. Phantom Team's targeted tactics and the performance of key players were crucial to their victory!"
The match between Shu Road Mountain and Misty Rain of Jiangnan was also about to begin, a dramatic confrontation between the unpredictable West and the graceful Jiangnan.
"Shu Road Mountain Team is known for its unpredictable jungle-support synergy and unique champion selections," Yaoyao introduced, "while Misty Rain of Jiangnan, like their name suggests, plays with finesse, excelling at accumulating advantages through clever lane swaps and resource exchanges."
In the first game, Shu Road Mountain Team brought out a surprise — the support Steam Golem Blitzcrank. During a seemingly random early-game roam, Blitzcrank landed a precise Rocket Grab, pulling Misty Rain of Jiangnan's jungler over a wall from their own F4 camp, and, with the arriving mid-laner, secured the kill.
"A stroke of genius! Shu Road Mountain's Blitzcrank completely disrupted Misty Rain of Jiangnan's rhythm!"
Misty Rain of Jiangnan was clearly unprepared for this unconventional playstyle, their rhythm was completely broken, and Shu Road Mountain Team snowballed, easily taking the first game.
But Misty Rain of Jiangnan quickly adjusted. In the second game, they banned Blitzcrank and picked a Poke (long-range harassment) composition that excelled at kiting. Shu Road Mountain Team's several attempts at forced engages were flexibly disengaged by their opponents, and their core C-positions were whittled down to low health before they could even reach the enemy. Misty Rain of Jiangnan successfully tied the series.
In the decisive game, both sides brought out their best. Shu Road Mountain Team opted for a strong engage composition, while Misty Rain of Jiangnan continued with Poke and kiting. The game was incredibly tense for a while. Before the crucial Baron team fight, Shu Road Mountain Team's support 'Mist' using Leona, executed an extremely risky E-Flash-Q combo, stunning Misty Rain of Jiangnan's core ADC at extreme range!
"Engaged! Leona engaged! This control is too crucial!"
Shu Road Mountain Team swarmed in, instantly melting Misty Rain of Jiangnan's ADC. Losing their main damage dealer, Misty Rain of Jiangnan collapsed like a mountain, and Shu Road Mountain Team ended the game in one push.
"Congratulations to Shu Road Mountain Team! They proved with their unique style that in Summoners Rift, unconventional strategies can also lead to victory! 2:1, Shu Road Mountain advances to the quarterfinals!"
The third match was between Veteran Team vs. Jinneng Esports Team, a direct dialogue between experience and vitality.
"Veteran Team has the highest average age in this tournament," Commentator said with respect in his voice, "but they have made it this far with their rich experience and unparalleled team synergy. Jinneng Esports, on the other hand, is a group of young players with sharp mechanics and a daring playstyle."
The match unfolded as predicted. The young men of Jinneng Esports, relying on their reaction speed, gained a considerable advantage in the early game, even pushing Veteran Team to the brink in the first game.
"Youth is truly wonderful! This play, the reaction was too fast!" Yaoyao exclaimed, watching Jinneng Esports' mid-laner execute a fluid solo kill.
However, Veteran Team, true to their name, played steadily and never rushed. They used vision control and minion wave management to slowly drag the game into the late stage. When the game time exceeded forty minutes and both teams' equipment gradually equalized, Veteran Team's rich team fight experience and crucial decision-making ability became apparent.
"Look at Veteran Team's formation! They always protect their C-positions in the safest spot! In contrast, Jinneng Esports is a bit too eager for success!"
During a critical Elder Dragon fight, Jinneng Esports' jungler was too aggressive, attempting to steal the dragon, but was cleverly blocked by Veteran Team's support and instantly killed. Losing their jungler, Jinneng Esports' formation became disjointed, and Veteran Team secured a 0-for-4 ace, directly taking the game.
"Old ginger is spicier!" Commentator sighed, "Veteran Team, with two almost textbook-perfect late-game operations, showed the young Jinneng Esports that league of legends isn't just about mechanics! 2:0, Veteran Team, proudly advances!"
Next was the match between La Fu Hotpot vs. Changan Prefecture, a regional showdown with a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere. La Fu Hotpot Team inherently had a talking point, while Changan Prefecture Team had a deep heritage.
The match proceeded unexpectedly quickly. La Fu Hotpot Team seemed unburdened by pressure, instead playing a highly entertaining offensive game. Their top laner'Sichuan Peppercorn's' aggressive champions and jungler 'Tripe's' relentless invasions caught Changan Prefecture Team somewhat off guard.
"La Fu Hotpot's playstyle is truly'spicy'! It's completely unreasonable!" Commentator chuckled.
In both games, La Fu Hotpot, relying on the huge advantages built in the early game, ended the matches before thirty-five minutes. Their ADC'Sesame Oil' even achieved the first pentakill of the tournament, igniting the entire venue.
"Pentakill! Sesame Oil got a pentakill! Let's congratulate La Fu Hotpot Team! As a dark horse, they swept Changan Prefecture 2:0 and powerfully entered the quarterfinals! This team deserves more of our anticipation!"
As each match concluded, the eight quarter-final spots were filled one by one. Forbidden City Peak, Star Sea Team, Phantom Team, Shu Road Mountain, Veteran Team, La Fu Hotpot... behind each name lay a unique style and a difficult journey.
At the commentary desk, Commentator and Yaoyao watched the constantly updating list of qualifiers, their hearts surging.
"To this point, six of the Star Sea Cup's eight quarterfinal spots have been decided!" Commentator summarized, "The remaining two spots will be determined tomorrow, from the matches between Shining Star vs. Kunlun Decisive Battle, and our grassroots miracle — Enlightenment Team, facing off against the 'Thunderous Might' team that emerged from the tie-breakers!"
"Yes," Yaoyao's voice was full of anticipation, "especially Enlightenment Team, who have come all the way from the internet cafe qualifiers, carrying the dreams of countless ordinary players. Tomorrow, can they create another miracle and make it into the quarterfinals? Let's all watch together!"
The flames of war temporarily subsided, but a greater storm was brewing over tomorrow's arena. The Star Sea Cup stage is always ready for miracles and sweat.