Even as the lingering emotional resonance of the Veteran Team versus Forbidden City Peak's heart-stirring BO5 had yet to fully dissipate, and all spectators were still immersed in feelings of tragedy and admiration, the other semi-final of the Star Sea Cup had already begun with great urgency.
The Star Sea Team, built by capital and a professional system, was set to face the Phantom Team, known for its tactical flexibility and frequent surprising strategies.
If the clash between the Veteran Team and Forbidden City Peak was a legendary epic between "remnants of the old era" and "the king of the current era," then the collision between Star Sea Team and Phantom Team felt more like a future conflict between the "sharp sword of the new order" and the "representative of chaotic innovation." Before the match, although more people favored the Star Sea Team, whose overall strength was more balanced and whose players had superior individual abilities, the Phantom Team's unpredictable draft (BP) and bizarre jungle-support synergy still led many to believe they had a chance to cause trouble.
However, the match unfolded in a manner that was both unexpected and almost cruel, presenting a completely one-sided situation.
Game One: Absolute System Crushing
During the draft phase (BP), the Phantom Team tried its old trick, attempting to make a statement in the support position by bringing out a rarely seen champion, Zyra, the Rise of the Thorns, intending to create extreme pressure during the laning phase and disrupt the farming of Star Sea Team's bottom lane core, Su Xiao.
But the Star Sea Team's coaching staff had clearly done their homework.
"The Star Sea Team's response..." Commentator Commentator looked at the final compositions, his tone filled with surprise. "They were not led astray by the Phantom Team's surprising pick at all! Top laner Pòxiǎo picked ornn to secure the frontline control, jungler Lüeyǐng chose the tempo-setting jungler Lee Sin, mid laner Star Track locked in the roaming support champion Galio, and the bottom lane featured Su Xiao's Xayah and Bulwark's Rakan! This is an extremely practiced and currently meta 'do-as-you-please' combination!"
"That's right," Yaoyao chimed in. "The Xayah-Rakan duo has strong laning presence and self-sustain, so they aren't too afraid of Zyra's poke. And the Galio-Lee Sin mid-jungle combo boasts extremely fast early combat power and roaming speed! The Star Sea Team is taking a steady approach, using their most proficient system to crush the Phantom Team's unconventional strategy!"
After the game began, the Phantom Team's Zyra support indeed gained some early poke advantage. However, the Star Sea Team displayed breathtaking discipline. Their bottom lane duo farmed steadily, never taking unnecessary risks in trades. Meanwhile, Lüeyǐng, the Lee Sin, dedicated all his energy to the mid and top lanes.
At five minutes, Lüeyǐng's Lee Sin executed his first gank mid, using Star Track's Galio taunt to force out the flash of Phantom Team's mid laner, "Yuèhuá."
At seven minutes, Lüeyǐng visited the mid lane again, and the flash-less "Yuèhuá" reluctantly gave up first blood.
Almost simultaneously, top laner Pòxiǎo, utilizing ornn's champion characteristics, completed a solo kill in his lane!
"It's collapsing! Phantom Team's mid and top lanes are blooming for the enemy almost at the same time!" Commentator exclaimed. "The Star Sea Team's offensive tempo is too fast! They completely ignored the small advantage you had bottom and tore through your defenses straight from the mid and top lanes!"
Having gained the advantage, the Star Sea Team quickly snowballed. The synergy between Galio and the Lee Sin was ubiquitous, and the Phantom Team's jungle was completely overrun. In just twenty-one minutes, the Star Sea Team pushed down the Phantom Team's Nexus, leveraging a massive gold advantage and flawless team fight coordination.
"Clean and decisive! The Star Sea Team took Game One in what was practically a masterclass!" Yaoyao summarized. "They used absolute strength and a rigorous system to show Phantom Team that against superior inherent strength, the effectiveness of surprising picks is limited."
Game Two: Extreme Display of Individual Ability
Severely beaten, the Phantom Team adjusted their strategy in Game Two, selecting a composition with extremely high early combat power, attempting to fight the Star Sea Team to the death early on.
However, they underestimated the individual ability of the Star Sea Team players, especially when they were relaxed and in top form.
During the laning phase, top laner Pòxiǎo's Jayce displayed terrifying pressure against the Phantom Team's top laner's Renekton. Every Shock Blast (QE) combo in cannon form landed precisely, and the timing of his switch to hammer form was absolutely perfect, resulting in two solo kills on the Renekton without any jungle intervention!
"Oh my god! Pòxiǎo's Jayce! His hands are burning hot today! This is purely an individual performance!" Commentator watched, dumbfounded.
At the same time, good news came from the bottom lane. Su Xiao, the Wind Chaser, playing Ezreal under the protection of support Bulwark, not only steadily out-farmed the aggressive Phantom Team duo but also utilized Arcane Shift (E) to dodge crucial crowd control during an enemy jungle gank, immediately counter-attacking with a sequence of abilities, and, with the help of the arriving Lüeyǐng, secured a 1-for-2 trade!
"Wind Chaser Su Xiao! That reaction speed! That counter-fighting ability! It's unbelievable!" Yaoyao exclaimed in admiration.
Although Star Track chose the scaling champion Viktor in the mid lane this game, his farming and laning details were still flawless, locking "Yuèhuá" firmly in the middle.
Three lanes were blooming, and the advantage was across the board! The Phantom Team's renowned early aggression smashed head-on into the iron wall of the Star Sea Team's individual skill. The match once again became one-sided. The Star Sea Team gave them no opportunities, and at twenty-five minutes, with a gold lead exceeding ten thousand, they steamrolled to victory again, taking Game Two!
Total score 2:0! The Star Sea Team held three match points!
Game Three: Suffocating, Desperate Macro Play
The consecutive crushing defeats clearly affected the morale of the Phantom Team players. Their mechanics started to falter, and their decision-making became hesitant. For Game Three, they chose a composition theoretically strong in the late game, attempting to stall and find an opportunity.
But the Star Sea Team showed them what top-tier, suffocating macro play truly meant.
Starting at level one, the Star Sea Team used vision and champion strength to invade the jungle, successfully stealing the Phantom Team's buff. Subsequently, the entire map seemed to be monitored by the Star Sea Team. Lüeyǐng's vision control was absolute; the movements of everyone on the Phantom Team were practically known to the Star Sea Team.
The Star Sea Team was in no hurry. They exploited their vision advantage, constantly plundering jungle resources and controlling map objectives, slowly but surely shrinking the Phantom Team's space to operate. The Phantom Team was like an insect caught in a spiderweb; every struggle seemed futile and powerless.
The gold difference silently expanded to eight thousand, then ten thousand... The Phantom Team couldn't even initiate a proper team fight; their jungle was pitch black, and minion waves were constantly pushed under their towers.
"This is so suffocating..." Commentator murmured, watching the nearly stagnant gold curve and the completely one-sided vision score. "Is this what absolute strength crushing looks like? The Phantom Team can't find any breakthrough, they are being choked to death by the Star Sea Team's purest, coldest macro play."
By twenty-eight minutes, the Star Sea Team, relying purely on vision control and lane management without a single kill breaking out, secured the first and only Baron of the game. Then, carrying the Baron Buff, they surged onto the Phantom Team's high ground like a tidal wave.
The desperate Phantom Team was forced to fight, but against the massive item disparity and perfect formation, their resistance was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot. After a 0-for-5 team wipe, the Star Sea Team easily pushed down the Nexus.
"Victory!"
"It's over!" Yaoyao announced loudly. "3:0! The Star Sea Team swept the Phantom Team in a near-perfect display, powerfully advancing to the Star Sea Cup Grand Final! They showed us what true dominance means! From individual ability to team coordination, and tactical macro play, they are virtually flawless!"
The Star Sea Team players calmly took off their headphones and high-fived each other, wearing confident but modest smiles. For them, this victory seemed inevitable. With three victories, each distinct yet equally powerful, they announced the official launch of the "Star Sea Battleship," pointing their swords directly toward the final throne!
Meanwhile, the Phantom Team exited the stage dejectedly. Their surprising strategies and unconventional compositions ultimately failed to create a miracle against the absolute Bulwark of strength.
The final matchup was finally decided: Forbidden City Peak versus Star Sea Team!
The ultimate showdown between the old and new kings is about to begin!