Chapter Twenty-One: When One-on-One Fights Fail, Team Battles Also Falter

“IG manager Su Xiaoluo messaged me, saying their club is experiencing network fluctuations and can’t play for now. We’ll reschedule another day.”

Abu entered the training room and delivered the news.

Typically, training matches were best of three, but due to the unexpected issue, they hadn’t booked other teams, so today’s session ended here.

Was IG still using RNG’s base network?

Lin Ruo stretched out in his chair, relieved not to play. After a full game, his throat felt nearly hoarse and dry like a sponge.

All because that damn Ai Loli insisted on giving him endless pointers on how to recall properly, trying to make him act like a normal person.

He urgently needed a cup of hot water to relieve the pressure.

Just then, steaming hot water was handed to him at the perfect moment. Ai Loli looked at him with a mix of flattery and seriousness. “Ahem, I have to admit, your commanding skills aren’t bad.”

“From now on, I’ll reluctantly listen to your advice more often.”

What a ‘reluctantly’—he was clearly hanging on every word.

Lin Ruo took the cup and set it on the table, glaring at Ai Loli with utmost seriousness. “Do you think I can’t pour my own water? Mind your own business.”

“The team composition I picked was pretty good; look how fierce the team fights were.” This game had almost no mistakes, so much so that Nofe, who wanted to review the match, never got the chance and ended up bragging to himself with his notebook.

Xiao Tie seemed a little embarrassed to relay these words.

Was the lineup really good?

If the bottom lane hadn’t managed to push back through individual skill, they might have been invaded five or six times within twenty minutes.

“You, I never thought you could handle commanding,” Abu grew more and more delighted, almost ready to give Lin Ruo a big hug, ignoring Ai Loli.

Having a capable commander was almost as valuable as having a top-tier player.

Mechanics were fundamental; command set the team’s floor.

A clear-headed commander kept the team’s overall strength stable, avoiding arrogance and recklessness, controlling the game and preventing inexplicable collapses.

Especially when holding an advantage, losing due to a moment’s poor decision happened all too often. Winning a game convincingly was never easy.

Some team with the surname Tao would know this all too well in the future.

“Of course, the AD position really isn’t suited for commanding. If you feel pressured, you don’t have to command,” Abu said seriously.

One game was fine, but commanding through a full best-of-five series while being the primary damage dealer as AD could be dizzying.

Lin Ruo tilted his head.

We’re all just workers here—you think I’m just responsible?

Mainly, I’m afraid someone will mess up and just roam around the map aimlessly.

There was no choice—ever since Ai Loli started spamming that formula, Lin Ruo felt an inexplicable pressure that drove him to speak up.

There were some things one simply couldn’t keep silent about.

...

Compared to the cheerful atmosphere in the EDG training room, the IG training room by the Huangpu River was somber.

Silence reigned tonight.

IG manager Su Xiaoluo sat on the sofa, tugging nervously at his patchy stubble.

Since the new season began, he’d worked hard to recruit the champion top laner Duke, aiming to significantly strengthen the team.

But after a series of training matches, it still looked as bad as before.

Wasn’t this just forcing him to buy more players for the summer split?

That would almost break Principal Wang’s back—no matter how rich he was, he couldn’t afford reckless spending.

Finally, Su Xiaoluo slammed his fist on the table in frustration and stared at the bottom lane duo with bitter disappointment.

“You two can’t win lane, can’t win teamfights, and besides throwing up your hands after the game, what else can you do?”

Blue Princess couldn’t bear the pressure and silently shed tears of pain.

Su Xiaoluo’s pupils dilated as he continued his criticism, glaring at everyone.

“I really don’t know what we’ve been practicing. As soon as bottom lane loses the advantage, we get pushed all the way in. How can we play like this?”

Captain A Shui of the water dispenser squad leaned against the wall, hands behind his back, and said sensibly, “Manager, this composition is purely built around the bottom lane. If they don’t have lane advantage...”

“Do I need you to tell me that?” Su Xiaoluo snapped angrily.

Daring to interrupt—if it weren’t for the fact that you’re a genius AD...

Just wait, when you get older and can’t perform well, they’ll sell you off after S10.

Seeing this, Rookie stepped forward to ease the tension.

“This loss has many causes. Honestly, in terms of mindset, experience, and gameplay, we weren’t as good as the other side.”

Su Xiaoluo surprisingly nodded.

“See? If you all had even half of Rookie’s awareness, we wouldn’t have lost this.”

After a few more words, Su Xiaoluo reluctantly stood and looked to the side at head coach Mafa.

“Coach, you say a few words.”

The young Korean coach Mafa looked confused.

“You’ve already said my lines. What else can I say?”

He cleared his throat strategically before saying in broken Chinese, “That’s it. I think that’s all. Teamfighting is important, but laning is fundamental... you know what I mean.”

At this point, it was best to eat first.

After the conversation, everyone’s grievances melted away. Su Xiaoluo led the team out for dinner.

IG’s assistant coach Chris stayed behind to close the door.

...

“Let’s eat, no dawdling.”

In the EDG training room, everyone stood up together, ready to eat.

Lin Ruo waved them off.

“You guys go ahead; I’ll play one more.”

“Damn, did you change genders or something? You want to play another game?” A Guang was incredulous.

“Let him. He’ll know when he’s hungry,” someone said.

Tian Ye, holding Scout and playfully wrestling, had already left the training room.

A Guang hurried to follow.

Ai Loli lingered at the door, turning back repeatedly as if facing a monumental decision.

In the end, she let go.

Once everyone left, Lin Ruo quickly launched Overwatch, preparing for a quick ten-minute ranked match.

With the nutritional meals in the EDG cafeteria, who wouldn’t want to rush to eat?

Lin Ruo decided to wait patiently and conserve energy, lying in wait for Abu.

Following players to eat was one thing, but following the boss was another matter entirely.

Twenty minutes later, sparse footsteps and the sounds of conversation between Abu and Xiao Tie came from outside the door.

Lin Ruo closed the game and rushed out to greet them.

“What a coincidence, Xiao Bu.”

“Why haven’t you gone to eat yet?”

“Ah, I just played one more ranked game.”

“Perfect, we’ll eat together.”

Abu gave a thumbs-up as he walked.

“Such a dedicated player. If anyone says you lack professionalism in the future, I’ll be the first to disagree.”

Half an hour later, Lin Ruo returned to the training room, stomach full, and settled comfortably into his chair.

“The cafeteria food smells really good. Finally, I’m full.”

Ai Loli next to him was shocked.

“What flavor are you? You really described cafeteria food as smelling good?”

“Oh no, could the food be poisoned? Are you having problems?”