For our first match in the Semifinals of the Shanghai 16 School Tournament, we have Tonji Affiliated High versus Shanghai High School!

The first Shanghai 16 School Tournament Semifinal was about to begin. Both teams stepped up onto stage, while the host announced the individual players. Shouts and cheers came from a quarter of the crowd, while the rest were booing. It was a fun contest to see which school had brought with them the biggest crowd. The players from both teams sat down behind their computers, waving at the crowd and preparing for the upcoming best of five series. They were only three games from making it to the Finals!

The esports team from High School 13 was backstage, looking out onto the crowd. Ren Rou scanned over the students from High School 13 whod come to watch and smiled. Thats a nice crowd, she said. I recognize some people from our school. I think more will come after this first series is finished. There should be more room then.

Yang Fan adjusted his glasses and said, Tonji and Shanghai High School are both really strong teams. They should both be able to take this series. Im thinking this will be a very close match-up. I wonder wholl win it.

Probably Shanghai High School, Ouyang answered, almost bored. They won last year and their individual members are just better. Watch them destroy Tonji.

Wei Dong nodded and added, Yeah. Shanghai High School has Zeng Rui. A top 10 Challenger who specializes in strategies and shotcalling. Its almost unfair that hes allowed to participate. I wish I could be anywhere near as good Hed been there last year, watching the Finals between Shanghai High School and Shanghai International. More specifically, he watched the two Supports. As a Support himself, he hoped to learn a thing or two from them and improve his own game. But he wasnt prepared for what came to pass. Zeng Rui carried his team with perfect strategies and even better shotcalling. Every ward placed by him proved useful. Every play initiated by him ended in a win. Everything he did helped his team get closer to victory, until they won.

Lin Feng waved his hand dismissively and said, Oh, thats fine. BunBun is a way better strategist than that Zeng Rui! And shes also a better shotcaller! BunBun is better in every way!

Perhaps for the first time, An Xin didnt glare at Lin Feng. She didnt hit him on the head with a book or pulled him by the ear. She smiled, kindly, and brushed her hair behind her ear. Yup! Im better than whoever that guy is. Our strategy will be a lot better. You guys dont have to worry about that. Just play your best!

It all happened so fast. The crowd was stunned speechless, as were the organizers. Tonji Affiliated High versus Shanghai High School was supposed to be a thriller of a series. Both teams were highly regarded and strong rivals. But the games werent all that fun to watch for the neutral fan. Shanghai High School won easily. They showed everyone just how much better they were than their direct competition. It was a clean sweep. 3 - 0. The longest game lasted for 28 minutes, while the shortest only took 21 minutes. There was no flair to it, no amazing or beautiful skills. It was the raw skill of a master strategist. Zeng Rui had completely outplayed Tonji Affiliated High before the games even started.

The players from Tonji Affiliated High sat in their chairs, staring at the post game lobby. Three losses. They hadnt stood a chance. The players from Shanghai High School walked up to them for the customary shaking of hands at the end of a game. The crowd started cheering in the background, a painful reminder of all the students from their school whod watched them play just now. They felt numb. This wasnt how they pictured this night would go. They could hear the players from Shanghai High School laughing and joking. Those guys were happy

Shanghai High Schools team gathered at the center of the stage. The crowd was clapping and cheering for them. They recognized classmates and friends and waved in their direction. They started clapping themselves and then made a bow towards the audience, thanking them for their support. Then they walked down the stage, laughing and congratulating each other on a game well played. Except for Zeng Rui. He didnt join in with the rest of this team. Rather, he trailed behind them, calm as ever. Tonji Affiliated High was never their opponent. He knew that. This win meant nothing to him.

Chu Fang welcomed both teams backstage and congratulated Shanghai High School on their stellar performance. He said some pleasantries to them and didnt forget to add that he felt they were even better than last year. This last part was especially true. The Shanghai High School of this year looked almost unbeatable. Zeng Rui had taken that next step since last year, and was looking more and more like a real professional player. He was exactly the kind of talent that the LPL desperately needed. If this was last week, I wouldve said you guys would win Chu Fang looked at High School 13s team that sat below the stage some distance away. But with those two here He smiled and mumbled under his breath, With those two here, Im not so sure anymore.

The mood in High School 13s team had dampened some. An Xins arrival had given them the confidence that they could take on Shanghai International. This was an opponent who went toe-to-toe with Shanghai High School last year. But that was then and this was now. Theyd just watched Shanghai High School. That team was good. It was far better than theyd ever expected. That pressure that theyd escaped from came back, weighing down on them. Their confidence took a nosedive.

Chen Ze muttered, dazed, So thats Shanghai High School Damn.

Tang Bingyao nodded and said, Mhm. Their bot lane is really good. I dont think were strong enough to take them on. She wasnt talking down on herself, or lacking confidence. She knew how good she was, and shed just seen how good Zeng Rui and his ad-carry were. They were better. It was that simple. She became better every day, both individually and in her synergy with Wei Dong, but it was far from enough to beat Shanghai High School. Zeng Rui was really good.

An Xin looked in the direction of the backstage area, where Shanghai High School had just disappeared to, thinking. Then she looked at the others and said, Yup. Theyre better than I expected. Ill have to go over my strategy for the Finals again and make some changes.

Lin Feng laughed, unconcerned, and said, Its fine! Well win anyway! It doesnt matter how good their Support guy is, youre better at strategizing! Were going to win!

An Xin glared at Lin Feng, her lips curving up into that terrifying smile. You idiot, she said, raising her arm, scaring Lin Feng. Its not that simple! Then she rubbed her chin, thinking. But a few moments later she shook her head. Thats for later. Our game is starting soon. Lets get ready for that.

For our second match in the Semifinals of the Shanghai 16 School Tournament, we have High School 13 versus Shanghai International!

As if on cue, the host announced the second match. The players from High School 13 stood up from their seats and were about to walk towards the stage, when they noticed something from the corners of their eyes. Further down the row, the players from Shanghai International also got up from their seats. They looked at Ouyang and Ren Rou, recalling what happened a week ago. Theyd exchanged some banter, until Chu Fang came running over. Against all their expectations, Chu Fang didnt come for them.

Liu Zhengjie glared at the kid behind Ouyang. He couldnt even remember the name. But he did remember how Chu Fang greeted that kid. How Chu Fang pushed him aside to get to that kid. How Chu Fang had dared to ignore him! That god fucking shithead! Ill fucking strangle him! He felt the anger coming right back to him. Ill show you how shit they are! Theyre trash! Ill kick them down! He sneered at the players from High School 13, then put his finger on his neck and drew a sharp line, mouthing, Youre dead.

Ren Rou put her arm around Ouyang, holding him back before he could try anything. Which he did. He raised his fists and shouted, Let me go, Rou Rou! That fucker! We need to teach him a lesson! Last week clearly wasnt enough for him! He wants some more! Just let me punch that stupid grin off his face!

Calm down, Ouyang. Its not worth it. Lets beat him in the game, Ren Rou said, trying desperately to calm him down, but to little success.

They do seem a bit full of themselves, An Xin mumbled. Well, since thats the case She turned to the team with that same smile on her face that she had when Lin Feng said something stupid again. That smile that looked like anything but a smile. That smile that sent a shiver running up and down the spine. She said, I expect a clean sweep. Kick them down! And then kick some more! Dont let them get back up.

Yeah! Lets win this game! Its going to be super easy! Lin Feng cheered, striking his victory pose.