The team call buzzed to life as Titan reviewed CLG’s most recent games. The familiar names of HotshotGG, Saintvicious, bigfatlp, Chauster, and Elementz appeared on the screen.
“They’re just as good as they were last time,” Titan began, his tone even. “Better, actually. They dominated this bracket until their close series with Epik Gamer. That gives us a blueprint.”
“What’s the plan?” Hai asked, his voice laced with tension.
Titan remembered their face-off in ESL. “We need to stabilize the early game. That’s where they beat us last time."
He began to click through his notes. "First off, bigfatlp’s Twisted Fate mid is too oppressive to let through. We ban that no matter what. Saintvicious will try to get lots of ganks off with Rammus or Amumu those will be our second and third bans. HotshotGG will likely pull out Renekton to dominate top. If it becomes a big problem, we can look to cover it with a ban.”
BladeSong adjusted his mic. “And bot?”
“Chauster and Elementz are solid but not flashy,” Titan said. “They play to enable their team, not carry. That’s our opening. BladeSong, if we can protect you, you can carry the late game.”
“Say no more,” BladeSong replied. “I’ll do my job.”
Nior typed into the chat: “Focus early game. Don’t fall behind.”
“Exactly,” Titan said. “This time, we play our game.”
Game 1
The draft was a tense affair. CLG banned Tristana, Zilean, and Leona, forcing Apex off their comfort picks. Titan locked in Morgana, while Nior pivoted to Janna for disengage. BladeSong took Sivir for scaling, Hai picked Xin Zhao, and Balls grabbed Malphite.
CLG countered with a crowd-control-heavy composition: Jarvan IV, Annie, Cho’Gath, Ezreal, and Taric.
The match started cautiously, both teams trading farm and avoiding early skirmishes. However, CLG’s macro brilliance began to show at the 10-minute mark. Saintvicious’s Jarvan IV executed a flawless dive bot lane, locking down BladeSong and Nior with a Cataclysm. Bigfatlp’s Annie followed up with Tibbers, turning the play into a double kill.
“They’re choking us out,” Hai muttered, frustrated. “I can’t contest anything.”
CLG’s lead only grew from there. SaintVicious’s Jarvan helped push mid lane allowing Annie roam with him freely. Together they secured several kills across the map. By 25 minutes, CLG had an uncontested Baron and a 7,000 gold lead.
A final fight in ApeX’s base ended in disaster. HotshotGG landed a crucial Rupture on BladeSong, and CLG collapsed, wiping ApeX and ending the game decisively.
Defeat.
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Game 2
Titan took a deep breath as the draft began for game two. CLG switched their Leona ban to instead target Balls’s most reliable champion, Malphite. But this time, ApeX adapted.
Titan locked in Zilean, while Nior picked Leona for proactive engages. BladeSong returned to Tristana, and Hai grabbed Xin Zhao once more. Balls pivoted to Gangplank, giving ApeX a late-game powerhouse.
CLG ran back their Jarvan IV and other picks, but they swapped Annie for Karthus mid, opting for sustained damage in teamfights.
The game opened cautiously again, but at 12 minutes, Apex struck first. Nior roamed mid, landing a clutch Solar Flare on Karthus, allowing Titan and Hai to secure the kill.
“That’s the opening we need,” Titan said. “Let’s keep the pressure up.”
ApeX controlled the mid-game, capitalizing on Hai’s early jungle dominance. At 20 minutes, they forced a pivotal fight at dragon. Balls’s Cannon Barrage slowed CLG’s approach, while Nior’s Leona engaged with Zenith Blade, locking down Saintvicious. Titan’s Time Warp sped up BladeSong as he repositioned, shredding CLG’s frontline with Rapid Fire.
The ace was clean. ApeX transitioned to Baron and used the buff to dismantle CLG’s base methodically. A final teamfight in their base saw BladeSong secure a triple kill, tying the series.
Victory.
Game 3
The deciding game’s draft reflected the stakes. CLG banned Tristana, Gangplank, and Zilean, forcing Titan onto Morgana. BladeSong picked Sivir, while Nior took Janna for disengage. Hai switched to Nunu, and Balls returned to Malphite for his reliable teamfight presence.
CLG drafted Renekton, Jarvan IV, Annie, Corki, and Taric, sticking to their style of engage and burst.
From the first wave, it was clear both teams were playing cautiously. The gold remained even through the first 15 minutes, each team trading objectives and testing each other’s limits.
At 18 minutes, the game broke wide open. CLG forced a dragon fight, engaging with Jarvan IV’s Cataclysm and Annie’s Tibbers. But Nior’s Monsoon disrupted their dive, scattering their formation. Balls’s Unstoppable Force followed, catching Annie and Corki. Titan’s Soul Shackles rooted the front line, and BladeSong cleaned up with a double kill.
“Let’s go!” BladeSong shouted. “Keep the tempo.”
ApeX used their lead to secure map control. By 25 minutes, they set their sights on Baron. CLG contested fiercely, but Nior’s Howling Gale prevented Saintvicious's Smite contest, allowing Hai to secure the buff.
With Baron, ApeX pushed into CLG’s base. A final fight erupted at the Nexus turrets. Balls’s Unstoppable Force once again found Corki, and BladeSong shredded through the remaining defenders. Titan’s Morgana provided peel and utility, ensuring no one on ApeX fell.
The Nexus exploded, and the victory screen appeared.
Victory.
The team erupted in cheers as the post-game lobby appeared.
“We’re going to Worlds!” BladeSong shouted, his voice filled with disbelief.
Hai leaned back, exhaling deeply. “We beat CLG. Holy crap.”
Titan smiled wide. “This is what we’ve worked for. One step closer to the top.”
Later that night, Titan opened his Status screen. A notification blinked at the top:
Quest Complete:
- Make Worlds
- Reward: 1000 Template Points and Random Silver Badge.
- Top Dog
- Reward: 500 Template Points.
Titan spent the 1,500 points immediately. His overall rating climbed from 63 to 65 (+2). A second notification appeared as the silver badge unlocked:
Silver Badge: Mental Shield - Morgana
- Grants +5 to Mental Resilience when Black Shield absorbs two or more enemy spells within a single cast.
Titan stared at the badge, his determination renewed. He now had a badge for 3 signature picks: Kassadin, Zilean, and Morgana. The boosts weren't huge yet, but he knew they would only get bigger over time.
Their next opponent, Epik Gamer, was a complete unknown to his teammates, though Titan remembered them vividly as a team that could disrupt even the best. They would need every advantage they could get to battle for a higher seed.