Everyone in IG took off their headphones, and Baolan complained: "Ning Mazi, we agreed to grab the Baron, what's wrong with you?"

Ning Wang responded: "Isn't it just bad luck? It's a 50-50 chance to get the Baron. Isn't it normal that you didn't get it?"

Fu Manduo interrupted the two and said, "Keep fighting. We agreed to have three rounds. Let's finish them first."

So IG continued to play against FNC and test different lineups.

Yuan Shen could see that everyone was not very familiar with this version, and since they hadn’t played it for a long time, their feel for it was not very good.

Of course, FNC has its own strength and we should not underestimate the enemy.

At the start of the second game, IG won this one relatively easily, and it was over in thirty minutes.

Ning Wang's rhythm was pretty good, so he started cheering: "Nice! This is the MVP, jungle MVP, take off!"

Baolan complained: "Have you forgotten how you tricked me last time? Are you getting too proud of yourself?"

Prince Ning smiled slyly: "Lululu...Are you not convinced? Princess Lan."

However, in the third game, joy turned into sorrow. Ning Wang was trying hard to catch the top lane, but was counter-ambushed by the opponent's jungler, which led to a disadvantage in the top lane.

Although Theshy was able to stabilize the laning phase, he was unable to gain an advantage.

IG's mid and bottom lanes could only develop, and their lineup was not as good as the opponent's in the late game, which turned into a slow death.

IG would not wait to die. They looked for various opportunities in the mid-game and put a lot of pressure on the opponent.

However, FNC was able to hold on until the lineup started to perform well, and finally won the victory.

After three games, IG was at a disadvantage.

FNC's style of play is obviously more reasonable.

Fu Manduo seemed not very satisfied with the result this time: "If we enter the S game in this state, we will be in danger. It seems that we need to train harder."

Baolan looked at King Ning, sighed, and seemed very disappointed.

King Ning also imitated Baolan's appearance and sighed at Baolan.

Fumanduo started reviewing the games with his teammates. For the next half month, all IG players had to do every day was review, practice, and review.

Ten days passed and the qualifying round began.

This time the qualifying round includes LCK’s third seed, GEN.

The IG team watched two of GEN's games and felt that they were not of much use as a reference because their opponent was relatively weak.

After a few days of competition, the qualifying round ended.

The draw ceremony will be held at the end of the evening.

The IG group gathered together to watch the draw ceremony. The host had already appeared and was introducing the rules.

It is simple to say. The sixteen teams are divided into four groups and four regions. The number one seeds of LPL, LLCK, LMS, and LEC are evenly distributed to each group, and each group has a number one seed.

Then the second and third seeds, as well as the teams from the wildcard regions, will be randomly assigned, while ensuring that teams from the same region avoid each other to avoid civil wars in the group stage.

Fumanduo suddenly asked, "Which teams do you think are easy to play against? We may face the second and third seeds of LCK."

Ning Wang was the first to speak: "That must be FNC. Weren't they very arrogant in the previous training matches? This is a good opportunity to give them a warning."

Baolan complained: "Ning Mazi, you don't seem to know that the opponent FNC is the number one seed, and it is impossible for them to be in the same group with us."

Ning Wang was stunned for a moment, then changed his words: "Then let's play against the second seed of LCK. It will give me some pressure after the match."

At this moment, the host invited the guests who were going to draw lots to come on stage.

Then Yuan Shen came on the scene!
Yuan Shen looked quite handsome in his suit and tie. He walked onto the stage, bowed, and then walked towards the lottery machine.

Baolan cheered, "Wow! Yuan Shen looks so handsome in this outfit."

Rouji praised him highly: "He is really handsome. He is always handsome, and now he has turned into a superstar!"

Theshy responded: "I hope I can have better luck and draw some interesting teams."

Yuan Shen drew the first lot and unfolded it.

"FW!"

The host read out.

As a result, FW was assigned to Group A.

Yuan Shen continued to prepare for the draw.

"IG!"

In this way, IG entered Group B.

next.

"KT!"

KT is in Group C.

"FNC!"

FNC is in Group D.

After the division, Yuan Shen began to draw lots for the next pool.

"AFS!"

The first team Yuan Shen drew was the heavyweight player, AFS, which means that Group A has both FW and AFS.

Ning Wang has already started laughing: "AFS is the second seed of LCK, right? Doesn't that mean FW is doomed?"

"I guess FW has already started to curse people, and Yuan Shen is about to be cursed into pieces."

Yuan Shen continued to draw lots.

The second one to be drawn was GEN.

King Ning was stunned and muttered, "Does this mean that GEN is in the same group as us?"

Baolan teased, "You're not scared, are you, Prince Ning?"

Prince Ning laughed: "Would I be afraid? Are you too full?"

"I just think GEN is too weak, just a third seed. I want to play against the second seed Afreeca Freecs."

"MAD!"

Yuan Shen continued to draw lots.

Soon, all sixteen teams were selected by Yuan Shen.

The situation of Group B is confirmed: RNG, GEN, VIT and C9.

Fu Manduo greeted: "Now that the opponent has been determined, the next thing we need to do is to train. We must hurry up and train. Although from the perspective of hard power, our team cannot put too much pressure on us."

"However, we must think long-term and use the group stage to practice the lineup and playing style we want."

Everyone nodded.

"Okay, let's get started."

The IG team started training again.

The next day, the group stage began!

The opening match of this group stage is IG vs. GEN!

This is a long-standing tradition. When a competition is held in LCK, the opening game must be between an LCK team and the most popular team. The most popular team is IG, and the LCK team in IG's group is GEN, so the opening game will be between the two of them.

However, because it is the opening match, all sixteen teams will make their debut, at least to let the audience know which teams are in the group stage this time.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Yuan Shen received a group message.

Fu Manduo: "Everyone from LPL, are you all ready? Let's go to the game together."

RNG, Letme: "Let's do it!"

EDG, Clearlove7: "Let's go!"

IG, Ning: “Take off!”

So everyone came out of the room, counted the number of people, and when everyone was there, they went downstairs together. In order to be faster, they didn't have to wait for the elevator, so they went down the stairs directly, which was more convenient. When they came to the lobby on the first floor, Yuan Shen found that in addition to their LPL, teams from other regions were also preparing to set off, and there were many people in the lobby.

Many of them are acquaintances.

The three LPL teams walked out of the hotel gate, got on the bus and headed straight to the game venue. Each team had its own bus, which was more convenient. Players and coaches could communicate on the bus and even make tactical arrangements.

On the way, Yuan Shen saw a lot of advertisements related to the S game. It felt that LCK took this S game very seriously and had made sufficient preparations in all aspects.

If you think about it carefully, the LCK region hasn't won the championship for so long, they must attach great importance to this game at home.

Arriving at the competition site, after the car stopped, Fu Manduo greeted: "Okay, we are here, let's get off together."

So everyone from IG got off the bus together, and Yuan Shen found that there were already a lot of similar buses parked around, each with its own team logo on it.

After entering the competition venue, the IG members went straight to the lounge, put down their backpacks, sat on the sofa and started playing with their phones.

Yuan Shen entered the forum and took a look. Sure enough, everyone was analyzing this S game.

“I heard that KT is very strong now, is it true?”

"Strong? What a joke. If they meet IG, they will break into pieces at the first touch."

"These small teams should stop trying to mess with IG."

"I feel like the biggest threat to IG is still their own team."

Fans now have more confidence and like to give the LPL teams a higher rating.

I can only say it’s not a bad thing.

Of course, there are also many people who support LCK. In their opinion, LCK will make rapid progress. Over such a long period of time, it may have made great progress and can pose a substantial threat to IG.

In Yuan Shen's opinion, nothing can be said for sure before the fight, so we cannot easily draw conclusions now.

After a while, the time was almost up, and Fu Manduo called out: "Let's go, it's our turn to go on stage!"

So everyone in IG stood up and left the lounge.

The corridor outside also became lively, and people from RNG and EDG came out from the lounge next door.

The factory manager said, "IG must win the opening match. You are the face of our region now. We all rely on you."

UZI came over and said, "MingKai, can you please show some promise and stand up for yourself?"

The factory manager retorted, "It makes you seem like you are standing up. Can you stand up for me?"

The three teams walked forward together and soon attracted the attention of others around them.

The EDG and RNG players immediately became alert; it was different having someone watching them. They could no longer be lazy or quarrel.

Everyone began to whisper:
"The team sent by LPL this year is quite luxurious."

"It feels so hard to beat, my hands are shaking now."

"IG! It's still IG. The threat is too great."

"I was expecting a LPL team to beat IG, but now it seems that I thought too much. IG got the No. 1 seed. This time, LCK will be difficult."

The IG members walked through the crowd and stood behind the exit of the passage.

RNG and EDG stood next to IG like two goal gods.

At the competition venue, the audience seats were already packed.

Fans from all over the world gathered together, holding all kinds of cheering signs in their hands.

There are ones for every region. Of course, if you want to see which region has the most cheering cards, it is naturally IG!

Among them, Yuan Shen’s cheering card occupies a large part of elegance.

At the S game, in the LPL region commentary booth, Wawa, Miller, and Colonel Guan were ready.

Wawa explained: "Hello, audience friends, welcome to the 2018 League of Legends World Finals!"

Miller continued, "It's the group stage of the S League now. The opening match is between the No. 1 seed IG from the LPL region and the No. 3 seed GEN from the LCK region!"

Colonel Guan commented: "This is the first time the two divisions have met in this S-League, which helps us understand the current situation of the two divisions."

Wawa has a different opinion: "I think this is a bit exaggerated. If we look at the situation in the LPL region from the perspective of IG, I think it would be a bit optimistic."

Miller agreed: "I agree with this. IG is the No. 1 seed of LPL and the strongest team. It can only represent the strongest, but it is hard to say what level other teams are at."

"Before the game starts, there will be a simple debut ceremony. All 16 teams participating in the group stage will make their debut, including three representative teams from the LPL region, IG, RNG and EDG."

The host of the competition, Zhao Enjing, appeared on the scene, and the atmosphere became lively.

After a brief opening speech, Zhao Enjing said: "Now let us welcome the 16 teams participating in the S League group stage. First, the No. 1 seed from the LPL region, IG!"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere on the scene reached a climax:
"IG! IG! IG!"

The cheers from the scene drowned out everything.

Yuan Shen appeared on the stage with the IG members, and the director gave a close-up.

The final photos of the five IG players appeared on the big screen, along with their historical honors and various data from the summer season.

In the official live broadcast room, the comments were all:

"Champion! Champion! Champion!"

"I declare that the champion of this S-League is IG!"

"IG, the pride of our LPL!"

"Brothers, shout for me!"

The IG members stood in the middle of the stage, and the momentum was immediately there.

"Next is the second seed from the LPL region, RNG!"

It's RNG's turn to take the stage.

There were many people cheering for RNG at the scene, and the RNG players walked over and stood next to IG.

"The third seed from the LPL region, EDG!"

The order is based on the division. As last year's championship division, they can be given priority today to highlight their status.

After the EDG members came on the stage, they stood on the other side of IG and sandwiched IG in the middle with RNG.

Then it’s the LCK region’s turn.

"The No. 1 seed from the LCK region, KT!"

The scene erupted in warm cheers again, after all, this is the home court of LCK.

After the three teams from the LCK region took their turns to appear, it was LES's turn, followed by LMS and the wild card team.

All sixteen teams appeared on the stage, and the LPL region was surrounded like the moon surrounded by stars.

Suddenly, the lights on the stage dimmed, and the promotional video for this S game began to play. The filming of this promotional video started more than half a month ago.

Representative teams from each region have a share. Of course, the number of appearances and time are different for different regions, different teams, and different players on the same team.

In this S-League promotional video, the first person to appear was none other than Yuan Shen.

Yuan Shen’s ID appeared on the screen, and there were screams from the audience: “Ahhhhh! Yuan Shen!”

Then all the IG members showed up together, and the lineup was full!
At the same time, on the stage, fourteen of the sixteen teams were about to leave, leaving only IG and GEN to play the opening game.

Before leaving, the factory manager did not forget to say: "Master Yuan, I will cheer you on from below depending on your performance."

UZI also said: "Believe in Yuan Shen, believe in IG! I wish IG a triumphant return!"

Yuan Shen glanced towards GEN and found that they seemed a little lonely. KT and AFS left without saying anything, and seemed to have no expectations for GEN.

This is normal. KT and AFS are stronger than GEN, so they naturally don't expect GEN to beat IG.

If GEN can beat IG, then what is the point of them? I am not that naive.

After a while, the promotional video ended and the lights on the stage came on again. Everyone found that there were only two teams left: IG and GEN.

The opening battle is about to begin! (End of this chapter)