Since FV team was essentially playing with an open hand, completely ignoring FRY team’s split pushing and pressure, they just mindlessly prowled the jungle, devouring FRY’s jungle monsters completely clean.

You come to check, I’ll kill you along with them; you don’t come to check, I’ll go kill your side laners instead.

In FV team’s eyes, defensive towers had become obsolete because the Storm Sword Master’s damage output was too high. It didn’t matter if other utility players tanked tower damage and died; he could easily harvest anyone under the tower.

If FRY team didn’t group up, then isolated players would be chased down and hacked to death by Storm Sword Master with nowhere to run; if FRY team grouped up, then FV would avoid them and go eat up the jungle, push down towers in other lanes.

FRY team tried to engage but couldn’t even reach Storm Sword Master. Going after other members was like suicide, feeding Storm Sword Master more kills.

Under this dilemma, FRY team was still struggling desperately, warding, ganking, retreating, trading objectives…

But no matter how hard they tried, Storm Sword Master never died once and got increasingly fed, the equipment gap widening ever larger.

…

Zhao Xuming and Christian were watching from below the stage with very dark expressions.

This FRY team, getting crushed by superior strategy again!

Three games, crushed by superior tactics in all three – how could they keep playing?

Even Zhao Xuming, someone who barely played games, could tell that FRY team was facing a slow death. Though they played much more aggressively than the first game, it was useless. As long as they couldn’t kill Storm Sword Master, he’d continue his harvest.

The key was that the current situation made people despair. Not just the players on stage, even the audience with god-view perspective couldn’t figure out how to win!

Christian stood up with a darkened face: “I’m leaving first.”

Zhao Xuming opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.

Clearly, Christian had better game understanding than him, already seeing this was an unsolvable deadlock. The only suspense left was how many kills Storm Sword Master could get.

While the less understanding Zhao Xuming still hoped for a miracle, unwilling to accept this reality.

But just as Christian turned to leave, the commentator’s voice suddenly rose several octaves, becoming incredibly passionate: “FRY team seems to be making a desperate gambit!”

“They know continuing like this is slow death, the gap will only widen. So they choose to sneak Dark Elder Dragon while opponent’s Storm Sword Master is back to buy equipment, but FV team has already spotted them, Storm Sword Master is rushing over after buying items, very fast!”

“FRY team chooses to go all in, because retreating would let opponents take it and definitely end the game!”

“FRY team successfully takes Dark Elder Dragon, now let’s see how many can escape!”

“Storm Sword Master enters and starts massacring, double kill! Triple kill! The Wind Berserker is still desperately running, but it’s useless, Storm Sword Master is too fast, directly cuts him down!”

“Is there a pentakill? Pentakill!”

“Game over. Probably no one expected the match to end like this. Before Storm Sword Master, defensive towers are like paper. Obviously FV doesn’t intend to give opponents any chance, directly charging up mid lane, cutting down every obstacle in their path!”

“Let’s congratulate FV team for cleanly sweeping strong opponent FRY 3:0, ultimately winning this year’s IOI Global Finals championship!”

Under the commentator’s passionate shouts, FV team’s five members finally broke into smiles, jumping up from their seats and hugging each other tightly!

Simultaneously, confetti and golden streamers burst forth on stage, accompanied by thunderous applause and cheers throughout the venue, announcing the birth of champions!

Most of the audience present were from Europe and America, so majority naturally supported FRY team. But FV team’s perfect performance in these three finals matches conquered the audience, making them willingly side with FV team.

In these three games, some matches looked evenly matched on the surface, others seemed one-sided, but to those who truly understood, FRY team never had any chance.

Moreover, in the final game, FV team actually brought out Storm Sword Master, a hero specialized for crushing noobs, using an innovative double-support playstyle to forcibly raise Storm Sword Master into a massive boss, turning the deciding finals match into a match against bots, a crushing victory – the spectacle was simply too entertaining!

Christian originally wanted to leave early to avoid watching this heart-wrenching scene, but the timing was poor. Just as he was about to leave, FV team finished the game in one wave.

He sighed deeply and turned away.

Zhao Xuming sat in his seat, momentarily lost in confusion.

…

On the main stage, FV team’s five members had gathered before the championship trophy.

Everyone looked toward the team’s jungler. After all, in the final game, he had selected his signature Storm Sword Master, going godlike with a pentakill – definitely MVP-level performance.

But the jungler looked at their support captain Pan Ying: “You should do it.”

He clearly knew that his stellar performance was mainly due to tactics, shotcalling, and teammates’ help. Without teammates sacrificing themselves, willingly acting as utility players for him, it would be impossible to rack up these stats with Storm Sword Master.

Smiling Pan Ying with squinting eyes said: “Let everyone do it together – this championship belongs to all of us! Coach Zhou, you come too!”

Together they lifted the championship trophy. Countless camera flashes captured this historic moment.

After jointly raising the trophy, everyone began passing around this massive prize, letting each person experience it up close.

Though Pan Ying looked rather thin, he’d actually been working out for some time. While the trophy felt heavy on his shoulders, he could barely manage it.

“Strange, this trophy feels lighter than I expected.” Pan Ying muttered quietly.

He then passed the trophy to Coach Zhou Pengyuan.

Old Zhou reached out to receive it: “Hm? Really? Oh, it does feel a bit light. Though it looks bigger than GOG’s finals trophy, the weight is still less.”

As he spoke, he lifted the trophy single-handedly, even showing off a bit with it easily.

Earlier when Huang Wang and his team had won GOG’s trophy, Old Zhou had also gone to feel its weight. He never expected IOI’s trophy, looking a size larger, would actually be lighter than GOG’s.

The big screen displayed this scene to all live spectators, immediately eliciting surprised exclamations from the audience.

Since Zhou Pengyuan wasn’t particularly tall and winter clothes made him look bulky, live audience hadn’t expected him to effortlessly handle such a large trophy.

But domestic viewers weren’t surprised at all.

Anyone who watched GOG matches knew that Old Zhou’s identity wasn’t just coach – he was one of the original DGE second team members!

Back when Huang Wang was second team’s captain, doing the most extra training, Old Zhou trained second most frequently.

Since DGE’s two teams were formed, Old Zhou never stopped working out. He was now a well-defined muscle man, lifting this trophy with ease.

“Indeed a bit light, but the craftsmanship is decent.”

After Old Zhou spoke, he continued passing the trophy to others.

The host had come on stage, followed by top executives from Finger Company and Dayak Group – all Boss-level figures.

Though Christian was in charge of Greater China region, his rank wasn’t high enough for the awards ceremony.

Yet these executives’ expressions weren’t particularly natural.

Because they didn’t want to give this trophy to FV team!

FV was Tenda’s team. GOG and IOI were direct competitors. Previously Tenda’s moves had cost Dayak Group big money. These things were crystal clear to Dayak Group’s leadership.

Especially when Tenda had replied with that “fxxk off,” both sides’ hostility maxed out.

Yet Tenda formed a team, won IOI finals championship, took away the trophy, and massive prize money too!

Utterly frustrating!

But they had no recourse. What could they do in this situation? Only force smiles while presenting awards to FV team.

Next, the executives from Dayak Group and Finger Company presented medals and championship rings to players and coach.

These medals and rings were pre-made, very exquisite, limited editions with each costing considerable money.

Championship trophy needed returning after a year, but medals and rings could be kept permanently – lifetime honors.

Now these lavishly funded, time-consuming medals and rings all benefited FV team.

After putting medals on all players and handing over rings, the executives from Dayak Group and Finger Company posed with team members for final photo, each forcing smiles.

Amid sounds of clicking shutters, this moment was permanently commemorated.

At center stage was the massive championship trophy. FV team’s entire roster, including players, coaching staff, and owner Wu Yue, all gathered around the championship trophy, wearing medals, holding FV team’s flag and national flag.

Golden streamers rained down from above, enveloping everyone.

Meanwhile, executives from Dayak Group and Finger Company responsible for presenting awards could only stand aside, forcing stiff smiles toward cameras.

From below, seeing this scene, Zhao Xuming couldn’t help sighing deeply.

Somehow, this scene seemed to show him the epitome of GOG and IOI’s fates.

GOG was like FV members at center stage, basking in glory, while IOI could only be like Dayak Group and Finger Company executives standing alongside – no matter how much they invested, only making wedding dresses for opponents…

Thinking this, Zhao Xuming involuntarily shivered.

Could it be… was all this arranged by Mr. Pei?