However, what Team FRY’s coach didn’t know was that this scene was perfectly captured by the cameras and broadcast live to all global viewers.

On domestic streaming platforms, the chat instantly flooded the live stream room.

“What’s that paper in Team FRY’s coach’s hand?”

“I saw it! Looks like Team FV’s compositions since the quarterfinals!”

“For real? Then what did it mean when he crumpled it up and threw it away?”

“Must have given up hahaha, I just checked Team FV’s compositions. From quarterfinals until now, they’ve played 7 games and picked 26 different champions. Almost every game has a different playstyle. How could you analyze that!”

“RIP to Team FRY’s coach. He probably went bald trying to figure out how to counter them!”

“Don’t get cocky, don’t get cocky. Let’s just see how Team FRY plans to play the next game!”

…

Amid Zhao Xuming and Pei Qian’s nervous tension, the second game began.

This time Team FRY deliberately chose the red side, giving Team FV first pick priority. Obviously, after suffering tactically before, they hoped to observe first this time, letting Team FRY pick their composition before countering, at least ensuring their composition wouldn’t fall apart immediately after selection.

Both sides continued banning each other’s signature champions. Only, despite the same banning principles, they achieved vastly different results.

When Team FV banned Team FRY’s signature champions, it felt like a massive nerf to Team FRY. Yet when Team FRY banned what they considered “Team FV’s signature champions,” it seemed to have absolutely no impact on Team FV.

This was very frustrating.

The moment Team FRY finished their last ban, Old Zhou was already directing his team to instantly lock in a champion that was once perma-ban-worthy: Chaos Bane!

Instant lock, showcasing momentum.

This champion was a hotspot during group stages. Getting it basically meant winning. Overall, it was a champion quite weak early game, but once farmed up, became unstoppable in team fights.

However, when Team FV played against CEM in quarterfinals, they let this champion through, then used an off-meta top-jungle combo to tower dive and kill it at level 2, making this champion somewhat fall from grace.

Because after that game, other teams were inspired and learned how to play against Chaos Bane. Once everyone knew how to counter it, this champion wasn’t so scary anymore.

Team FRY’s coach was first surprised, then showed a pleased expression: “Excellent!”

This Chaos Bane pick was indeed beyond FRY coach’s expectations, since Team FV preferred letting opponents pick this champion to counter it themselves, rarely first-picking it.

FRY coach carefully observed that although Team FV picked Chaos Bane, none of the early-game aggressive top-jungle champions that easily counter Chaos Bane were banned!

Wasn’t this a free gift?

He immediately had his team select the off-meta top-jungle combo that Team FV used against CEM’s Chaos Bane.

Why not copy the answer key?

FRY coach speculated Team FV didn’t ban these champions partly to ban his side’s signatures, and partly due to overconfidence.

Chaos Bane, if tower-dived at levels 2-3, would definitely get obliterated. But since Team FV developed this composition, they’d surely have jungle counter-ganks to protect Chaos Bane’s farm.

Maybe considering various factors, plus insufficient ban slots, Team FV didn’t ban this top-jungle pair.

But FRY coach was confident because they specifically practiced this strategy!

Finger Company’s balance analysts concluded Chaos Bane remained a T0 pick data-wise, so Team FRY intensively trained around this champion.

Even if the opposing jungler protected Chaos Bane, Team FRY had other methods to target it, preventing its farm.

This was tactically one level above Team FV!

Both sides’ BP continued. Team FV seemingly didn’t mind FRY’s composition, still choosing a team fight system centered around Chaos Bane.

Team FRY also secured their desired composition.

They didn’t completely copy Team FV’s strategy but made some minor adjustments. However, the tactical approach remained the same: aggressive top-jungle plus roaming-capable mid, shutting down Chaos Bane early.

If Team FV’s jungler didn’t protect Chaos Bane, it would die endlessly under tower. If the jungler protected, their jungle would be invaded and compressed. With FV’s top-jungle underfed, FRY just needed one good tempo to break the deadlock. Chaos Bane would still struggle to farm.

Official commentators learned their lesson this time. Though still favoring FRY’s composition, they didn’t make absolute statements.

“Team FRY selected a standard anti-Chaos Bane composition, practically writing ‘Chaos Bane must die’ on their faces. Yet knowing their opponents’ intentions, Team FV made minimal compositional responses. Could this be overconfidence?”

“Team FRY currently uses tactics originally developed by Team FV. Clearly they’ve incorporated their own understanding. Will the teacher educate the student, or will the student defeat the teacher? Let’s wait and see!”

…

Meanwhile, in Jingzhou.

Pei Qian looked at both compositions, feeling he’d seen this scene before.

Wasn’t this similar to the quarterfinals?

He remembered when Chaos Bane was relentlessly bullied by Team FV, dying from start to finish.

But this time it was Team FV picking Chaos Bane.

Pei Qian vaguely felt something unusual was happening, but couldn’t guess Team FV’s intentions and could only continue watching patiently.

The answer was revealed soon enough.

Right as the match started, Team FV’s bot lane duo rushed straight to top lane!

Seeing this, Pei Qian’s heart dropped, instantly sensing trouble.

No wonder Team FV didn’t restrict the opponent’s top lane champion during selection – they’d planned to lane swap all along. The enemy top lane pick didn’t matter!

Keep in mind, currently neither IOI nor GOG had anti-lane-swap protection mechanisms. All three outer tower stats were identical – no “reduced damage for mid/top towers during first XX minutes” settings.

So lane swapping wasn’t uncommon in competitive matches. Many teams, lacking confidence in certain laners’ abilities, would lane swap to avoid pressure.

In conventional lane swaps, Chaos Bane should go bot lane solo to tank pressure. That way it’d get poked down helplessly by FRY’s bot duo, still unable to farm.

But Team FV clearly wasn’t conventionally lane swapping. Chaos Bane didn’t go bot at all, instead rushing enemy top jungle with their jungler. The bot duo and mid also joined, instantly forming a five-man group!

Team FRY’s jungler was startled and fled in terror.

Luckily he ran fast, otherwise first blood would’ve sealed this game.

Though he wasn’t too panicked, quickly composing himself. After all, level 1 cheeses were common. Since opponents so brazenly invaded his top jungle, he’d clear his own and their bot jungle instead.

Swapping jungles wouldn’t lose much.

Team FV’s level 1 invasion did buy Chaos Bane some farming time, thwarting FRY’s level 2 tower dive plans. The cost was severe damage to their own bot lane farm.

After the level 1 fight, Team FV’s bot duo returning home then back to lane would surely miss minions and experience. Bot lane would probably turtle under tower forever.

If the game developed this way, Team FRY wouldn’t mind at all. Free bot lane advantage, then after clearing bot jungle the jungler could find chances to bully Chaos Bane top.

…

Official commentators clearly thought this too, all saying Team FV’s level 1 fight was questionable.

While somewhat securing Chaos Bane’s farm, bot duo lost too much, unable to lane properly.

However, Team FV’s actions surprised everyone. After invading jungle, bot duo had no intention of returning bot – they directly took top lane!

The ADC poked FRY’s top laner silly.

What’s happening?

Shouldn’t top lane be two bruisers wrestling? How’d this long-range bully suddenly appear? With a bodyguard too?

FRY’s top was frustrated but, having played lane swaps before, quickly stabilized.

Just farming experience under tower, using abilities for some last hits would still work.

But the moment first wave reached tower, Team FV’s jungler and Chaos Bane arrived behind him.

Not even level 2 yet, already surrounded by four enemy bruisers under tower!

Clearly Team FV never planned to lane Chaos Bane bot. It just farmed jungle with their jungler!

FRY’s top was still level 1, jungler was clearing bot jungle – heaven and earth refused to help. After token resistance under tower, he was force-killed.

Then, jungler and Chaos Bane dove straight back into FRY’s jungle to farm. Team FV’s bot lane started ruthlessly pushing top turret.

Official commentators were all shocked.

“Team FV… completely abandoned bot lane? They’re not taking bot?”

“Team FRY’s bot is already pushing tower, clearly faster than Team FV’s top push.”

“Team FV did spend time killing their top laner after all.”

“In that case… Team FRY’s bot is extremely comfortable, farming without pressure, not worried about ganks. FRY’s jungler, after clearing their bot jungle, can swap to enemy jungle without losing anything.”

“Then who loses?”

“FRY’s top loses most. Dead once, nowhere to go now! Can’t go top, can only tag along with jungler or bot.”

“If both sides explode, Team FRY can accept that.”

“No, FRY can’t accept it, because Team FV is clearly farming up Chaos Bane!”

Team FV’s bot kept pushing turret. After jungler and Chaos Bane cleared jungle, jungler returned to his top side. But Chaos Bane didn’t follow – it came to FRY’s low-HP top turret.

Team FV’s bot brought the tower to one HP, then immediately recalled home, leaving Chaos Bane alone top. After silently waiting for the tower to clear all allied minions, it leisurely destroyed the turret, then recalled.

All tower gold went exclusively to Chaos Bane!

After buying items, Team FV’s bot duo immediately rushed mid. Jungler and mid entered bot jungle to apply pressure. Chaos Bane comfortably reached their own second bottom turret, securely catching a huge wave.

After pushing tower, Team FRY’s bot duo was still full health, but immediately rushing enemy second turret this early seemed excessive. They also needed items, so after quickly destroying the tower, they immediately recalled.

But they didn’t fully clear this wave, ultimately benefiting Chaos Bane.

In contrast, FRY’s top lost their tower, but the turret cleared all minions before dying, so waves still met at river.

Top dared not approach, lacking a defensive tower. An underfed top laner farming alone would be a walking ATM.

Team FRY was dumbfounded – their top had nowhere to go!

Top had no tower – dangerous. Bot wave was frozen at enemy tier 2 – can’t farm. He couldn’t take mid farm, right?

What would mid and bot play then?

The kill score was 1:0, only FRY’s top died once. Economy wasn’t even spread.

But the situation dramatically changed. FRY’s tactical plans completely shattered – unplayable!

…

In domestic live chat, the comments exploded.

“Seven-injury fist? Kill 1000 enemies, damage 800 self?”

“I’ve seen lane swaps before, but never this kind! Just completely abandoning bot lane!”

“But looking at results, Team FV totally won! Chaos Bane got farmed up!”

“Team FRY picked early-game dominant top-jungle to bully Chaos Bane, but unexpectedly their own top got bullied instead! Early-game champion immediately collapsed, can’t farm anymore. What’s the difference from a regular minion?”

“I can already imagine Team FV’s mindset: Bro, I’m waiting for Chaos Bane to emerge. What are you waiting for?”

“LOL, Team FRY got IQ-crushed again! How will they teamfight now? Chaos Bane solo took tower gold and such a huge wave, out-farming the enemy top completely. Once it gets fed, it’ll easily 1v5!”

At this point, even viewers could see Team FRY was in trouble.

This composition was originally early-game focused, meant to shut down Chaos Bane. Instead, they couldn’t catch him, and their own top collapsed!

Although the other four players farmed normally, FRY’s composition wasn’t a teamfight composition to begin with. With an underfed top laner severely lacking front line, team fights would instantly crumble.

How could they even play?

Team FRY’s players looked grave, questioning reality.

They felt deep confusion: Was this still the IOI we’ve been playing?

How did it feel… like a completely different game?

Suddenly couldn’t understand anything!

This feeling was like thinking you’re playing go, doing fine, then suddenly the opponent connects five stones in a row and wins!