Chapter Fourteen: Every Shot Hits the Mark

Many people might not know the details behind this switching technique. Lin Hao only mastered it after earning the skill points for the champion in the national server. Many top players in the national server execute the switch so quickly that there’s almost no post-cast delay—likely because they use this very technique: when switching positions, they make sure the puppet faces the main body. This requires a player to seize the perfect moment; at the instant of switching, you must tap the second skill, immediately rotate the joystick 180 degrees, and when recalling the puppet with the first skill, rotate again. Timing and rhythm must be just right!

Of course, for a top-tier champion player, this is basic training. Lin Hao’s swift and decisive switch knocked both Marco Polo and the Fire Dance, who tried to charge in, into the air. Then, Lin Hao frantically tapped his second skill, sending four daggers flying. Fire Dance unleashed her ultimate at this moment, rushing in with flames. But Lin Hao managed to time his cast delay perfectly; as Fire Dance reached him, his second skill was released. All four daggers hit their mark! Fire Dance, right in his face, was instantly obliterated. Marco Polo managed to cast his second skill, but was also swept by the daggers and died simultaneously.

Marco Polo was indeed tougher than Fire Dance, but he had already taken a heavy hit from Shen Mengxi’s ultimate, plus the puppet’s knock-up, slow, supreme auto-attack, and the damage from switching. Double kill! Such meticulous use of the second skill! If he had used a typical switch-and-slash, perhaps he could only have finished off the lower-health Marco Polo, or if both Marco Polo and Fire Dance had used their displacement at the same time, the system might have missed the cross slash, giving Fire Dance a chance to chain her controls and possibly take down the fragile champion with one fan toss!

Naturally, even after calculating everything in his mind, when Lin Hao completed his double kill with the second skill, he quickly unleashed three cross slashes, hitting nothing but air, while his main body retreated and was hit twice by the tower. Still, the flaws are overshadowed—after all, this champion is one who walks the tightrope under pressure, and caution never hurts.

“Damn, that was godlike!”
“I could play this game for hundreds of years and never learn moves like these!”
“Incredible, this is truly a cosmic-level champion!”
“But I think this team fight is lost—the backline is shredded.”

Lin Hao’s livestream was now flooded with viewers, all stunned by his performance. It was easy to imagine many new visitors would hit the follow button after witnessing that play. Yet the excitement wasn’t limited to Lin Hao’s side; on the other end, Ghost Valley’s side-entry, followed by a cascade of teammate skills, dealt heavy blows to Lin Hao’s allies as well.

Nakoruru dove in, only to realize something was wrong. The enemy Lan pulled out a famous blade—Nakoruru couldn’t burst him down immediately, and was instead slashed twice and healed. Then, Lan’s first skill widened the distance in an instant! Nakoruru, clearly a bit overzealous—common among assassin players—had eyes only for Lan. After a few steps, Nakoruru was chased down and stabbed repeatedly by Ma Chao, dying on the spot.

Zhang Fei finally jumped back, trying to intercept Ma Chao, but with his sprint activated, Ma Chao’s speed was unstoppable. Shen Mengxi was doomed as well, but before dying, he lobbed a grenade, killing the slowed Lan.

Both the front and back lines erupted into battle almost simultaneously. Within seconds, only four players remained on the field. On Lin Hao’s side: the champion and Zhang Fei. On the enemy’s: Ghost Valley and Ma Chao.

“Kill the champion first!” Yi Fan’s expression was charged with excitement. This was a moment of vindication! Who would have expected, after being confined on their high ground, that they’d suddenly break through the enemy backline from the flank—and succeed! Though they couldn’t push for victory yet—the enemy’s mid tower still stood, and their minion wave held the advantage—they could now push the lane out, secure vision, and reverse the tide of this crushing defeat.

As for the team fight… Yi Fan glanced sideways—he saw the champion had taken down both carries. He didn’t know how, but it also meant the champion had no puppet left! The champion now stood alone, facing a Ma Chao with two-thirds health—a mouse meeting a cat!

Both sides had lost their carries, and now faced each other. It was an unfair, head-on duel. The champion had no puppet, Ma Chao had no ultimate. But anyone could see Ma Chao held the advantage. As for Ghost Valley and Zhang Fei… both supports had expended their skills and had little health left; their only purpose now was to look cute.

Lin Hao, however, remained perfectly calm. Facing the charging, unstoppable Ma Chao, Lin Hao was unhurried—he landed an auto attack first, and locked in his cross slash. In late game, cross slash and the paper crane skill both had cooldowns of about eight seconds. With cooldown boots, Black Cutter, and Starbreaker, he hit the full 40% cooldown reduction, so the skill was ready every five seconds or so. The first skill, even with cooldown reduction, still required over ten seconds.

So Lin Hao only had the second and third skills available. To his delight, his auto attack landed a critical hit! He had gone full six-item Master’s Infinity build, with no defensive items.

Ma Chao twisted his body, perhaps trying to bait out Lin Hao’s skills, but didn’t expect Lin Hao to squeeze in another auto attack.

Now, it all came down to the details. Ma Chao had used his ultimate already; with his spear in hand, if he didn’t strike within four seconds, it would be wasted. So Lin Hao waited for the instant Ma Chao thrust, to predict his movement trajectory.

Yi Fan, stung by a free auto attack, was instantly annoyed. Why couldn’t he bait out the champion’s skills? Never mind, just go all in!

Lin Hao watched Ma Chao’s movements, and at a certain moment, his lips curled into a slight smile: now!

Cross slash activated!

Whoosh!

All hits landed!

Lin Hao predicted a tiny distance ahead for the cross slash, knowing Ma Chao would be striking right then. Ma Chao’s movement gave him the signal, but more importantly, Ma Chao’s sprinting state had a timer, and Lin Hao seized it. If Ma Chao didn’t strike, the spear would be wasted, and wouldn’t threaten Lin Hao’s champion.

With the cross slash hitting at point-blank range, Lin Hao quickly tapped his second skill, unleashing four daggers right in Ma Chao’s face!

Again, all daggers connected!

Yi Fan had just picked up the second spear at the champion’s feet, ready to thrust, but was finished off by Lin Hao’s final auto attack!

Damn!

Yi Fan almost threw his phone across the room.

This champion was finer than a needle! Only a master like him could immediately sense the precision and nuance in this champion player’s actions.

The team fight raged on, but the minion wave had reached the high ground turret.

Ghost Valley rushed over, but it was too late. Zhang Fei slowed him down, giving Lin Hao two more auto attacks on the turret. Then, as Ghost Valley tried to use his second skill to absorb minions, Lin Hao’s first skill was ready again.

First skill: knock-up!

Puppet’s third skill: slow, followed by an auto attack!

Switch positions, then fourth skill!

Finally, recall the puppet!

Ghost Valley was instantly eliminated!