The stage of the Star Sea Cup Grand Finals was ablaze with lights, the atmosphere so fervent it almost ignited the entire venue.
On the giant screen, the steady purple-gold of Forbidden City Peak alternated with the sharp star-blue of Star Sea Team.
The ultimate showdown between the old and new kings tugged at the hearts of countless spectators.
Would Forbidden City Peak extend its undefeated legend and establish a dynasty? Or would Star Sea Team ascend as the new king and usher in a new era?
All answers would be revealed in this grueling BO5 battle.
In the commentary booth, Commentator and Yaoyao's voices trembled slightly with excitement.
"Greetings, Summoners, and welcome to the Star Sea Cup Grand Finals! I'm your commentator, Commentator!"
"And I'm your commentator, Yaoyao! After months of fierce competition, the teams standing on this stage are Forbidden City Peak, representing absolute heritage and strength, and Star Sea Team, symbolizing new power and a new system!"
"Indeed, this match is not just a fight for the championship; it's a clash of two different esports philosophies! Without further ado, let's dive straight into the Draft Pick phase of Game One!"
Draft Pick Battle, Undercurrents Surging
Forbidden City Peak was on the blue side, Star Sea Team on the red side.
Forbidden City Peak immediately demonstrated their in-depth research into Star Sea Team, with their first ban directly targeting Lee Sin, who Lüeyǐng had been hot with in the semifinals, and Galio, a support champion Star Track was exceptionally good at.
The third ban went to one of Su Xiao's signature champions, Xayah.
"Very targeted! Forbidden City Peak is looking to firmly shut down Star Sea Team's mid, bot, and jungle tempo engines!" Commentator analyzed.
Star Sea Team, on the other hand, appeared more composed, banning several carry champions frequently used by Forbidden City Peak's top laner, as well as hard-engage supports that their opponent's support excelled at.
In the first round of picks, Forbidden City Peak unhesitatingly snatched up the meta-strong ADC, ezreal.
Star Sea Team countered by picking Sejuani for the jungle, and secured another late-game hyper-carry for Su Xiao—Kog'Maw, the Mouth of the Abyss.
"Kog'Maw! Star Sea Team still opted for their most trusted late-game insurance!" Yaoyao said.
In the subsequent Draft Pick, both sides countered each other's moves.
Forbidden City Peak secured ornn for top lane, Jarvan IV for jungle, orianna for mid lane, paired with ezreal and braum support, forming a classic, incredibly solid lineup with unbeatable teamfights.
And Star Sea Team, in their final counter-pick slot, revealed Star Track's confident choice for mid lane—Zed, the Master of Shadows!
"Zed! Locked in!" Commentator's voice suddenly rose, "Star Track is going to use Zed against orianna! This is a clash between the ultimate assassin and the ultimate teamfight mage! Star Sea Team has abandoned caution, choosing to tear through Forbidden City Peak's ironclad defense with extreme aggression!"
Final Lineups:
Blue Side - Forbidden City Peak: ornn, Jarvan IV, orianna, ezreal, braum
Red Side - Star Sea Team: Gnar, Sejuani, Zed, Kog'Maw, Janna
Early Game Even, Danger Lurking
As the game began, both teams played with extreme caution.
Lüeyǐng's Sejuani made several gank attempts, all of which were thwarted by Forbidden City Peak's perfect vision control.
Although Star Track's Zed had a slight lead in lane against orianna, Forbidden City Peak's orianna player was experienced, farming steadily and never giving an opportunity for a solo kill.
The first Dragon and Rift Herald were mutually exchanged, with the gold lead remaining tight.
"Both sides are waiting, waiting for the opponent to make a mistake, waiting for their own team compositions to scale," Yaoyao commented, "Forbidden City Peak is waiting for orianna and ezreal's items to come online, while Star Sea Team is waiting for Zed's assassination opportunities and Kog'Maw's late game."
Mid-Game Battle, Zed's Shadow Flashes
Twenty-two minutes into the game, the third Dragon spawned.
Star Track's Zed finally found an opening! From the shadowed side, he used his W Skill, Living Shadow, to approach, then flashed and used his Ultimate Ability, Death Mark, directly on Forbidden City Peak's ADC, ezreal!
"Zed makes his move! Targeting ezreal! Can he burst him down?"
ezreal reacted incredibly fast, using Arcane Shift (E) to blink backward, while braum raised his shield in front of him!
Zed's burst damage hit braum's shield, significantly reducing its effectiveness!
Forbidden City Peak's counter-engage was swift and deadly, as Jarvan IV and ornn's Ultimate Abilities instantly landed!
"He can't kill him! Zed himself is in danger! He's trapped! Star Sea Team is going to blow up this fight!"
Zed's aggressive assassination failed, causing Star Sea Team's formation to break, resulting in a 1-for-3 trade, and Forbidden City Peak seized the opportunity to take Baron!
"Oh no! Star Track was too eager!" Commentator lamented, "This failed assassination gave Forbidden City Peak a huge advantage!"
With the Baron Buff, Forbidden City Peak began a steady push, breaking two of Star Sea Team's outer towers, extending their gold lead to over five thousand.
The situation seemed to be tilting towards Forbidden City Peak.
Late Game Grind, Kog'Maw Shines
However, Star Sea Team's resilience was beyond imagination.
They stubbornly defended their high ground, utilizing Janna's protection and Gnar and Sejuani's crowd control.
Su Xiao's Kog'Maw, under the desperate protection of his teammates, slowly caught up in items.
The game dragged into the super late game, past forty minutes.
Both teams gradually reached full build, and any teamfight could decide the outcome.
Forbidden City Peak tried to whittle down Star Sea Team's health with orianna and ezreal's poke, but Janna's shield and Kog'Maw's range made the effect minimal.
At forty-seven minutes, the Elder Dragon spawned.
Both teams gathered in the mid-river for the final vision contest.
Just then, Po Xiao's Gnar, with perfectly managed rage, suddenly flashed forward, and his Mega Gnar form slammed Jarvan IV and braum of Forbidden City Peak against the wall!
"Gnar! A beautiful Divine Palm! He caught two! Star Sea Team has an opportunity!"
Su Xiao's Kog'Maw activated his W, Bio-Arcane Barrage, and under Janna's protection, unleashed Crazy output (crazy damage output)!
Forbidden City Peak's frontline instantly melted! orianna and ezreal were forced to retreat.
"They won! Star Sea Team won this crucial teamfight! They can take the Elder Dragon! Are they going to make a comeback?"
Star Sea Team secured a 1-for-4 trade, successfully took the Elder Dragon, and then turned to claim the recently respawned Baron!
"Double Buff! Oh my god! Star Sea Team got the Double Buff! They're going to make a comeback!" Yaoyao shouted excitedly.
Carrying the Double Buff, Star Sea Team advanced with unstoppable momentum, breaking Forbidden City Peak's mid and bot inhib towers, pushing straight for the nexus turrets!
The scales of victory seemed to have completely tipped towards Star Sea Team!
Desperate Counterattack, Hammer Blow Decides
However, Forbidden City Peak did not give up.
Their wave clear was extremely strong, and they stubbornly defended their final nexus turrets.
The Double Buff duration ended, and Star Sea Team failed to end the game in one push.
The game dragged on to fifty-five minutes!
Everyone was full build, and respawn timers were extremely long.
The final decisive battle unfolded on Forbidden City Peak's high ground.
Star Sea Team attempted to forcibly destroy the last nexus turrets.
Forbidden City Peak's orianna, with her ball hidden behind the low-health nexus turret, unleashed her devastating Ultimate Ability, Command: Shockwave, the moment Star Sea Team gathered to hit the turret!
"orianna pulled her Ultimate Ability! That position! She caught three! Including Kog'Maw!"
Su Xiao's Kog'Maw was instantly reduced to critical health, forced to flash away!
But Forbidden City Peak's Jarvan IV didn't hesitate, EQ flash into Cataclysm, trapping Star Sea Team's backline! ornn simultaneously summoned his Ram, knocking them up a second time!
Star Sea Team's formation instantly collapsed! Without Kog'Maw's sustained damage, they fell like a house of cards!
"ACE!"
Team wiped!
"Oh my god! Forbidden City Peak! They pulled off a perfect teamfight in their desperation! They held on! And they can counter-push for the win!" Commentator's voice was already hoarse.
The three surviving members of Forbidden City Peak, accompanied by their minion wave, charged forward, directly destroying Star Sea Team's nexus!
"Victory!"
As the purple victory emblem finally solidified, the entire venue fell into a brief silence, then erupted into a tsunami of cheers and exclamations!
Fifty-five minutes! A heaven-shaking comeback!
"Congratulations to Forbidden City Peak!" Commentator shouted with all his might, "In this epic confrontation lasting over an hour, they withstood the immense pressure of the Double Buff and seized a fleeting opportunity at the very last moment to achieve an incredible comeback! 1-0! They take the first game!"
Star Sea Team's players stared blankly at the screen, seemingly unable to believe what they were seeing.
A huge advantage, the Double Buff, yet ultimately, it all came to naught.
Su Xiao frustratingly ran his hand through his hair, and Star Track's eyes were filled with unwillingness.
Meanwhile, Forbidden City Peak's players, after the release of immense pressure, embraced each other excitedly.
The first game of the Grand Finals, in such a dramatic and cruel manner, set a tragic tone for this ultimate showdown.
Forbidden City Peak, with their kingly resilience, delivered a heavy blow to the surging Star Sea battleship!