The first match of the Star Sea Cup semifinals was a legendary battle worthy of being recorded in history
pitting the Veteran Team, with the oldest average age, against the established reigning champions, Forbidden City Peak.
Before the match, almost all predictions and analyses overwhelmingly favored Forbidden City Peak.
Whether considering raw stats, player form, or the sophistication of their tactical system, Forbidden City Peak held an absolute advantage.
For most observers, the Veteran Team reaching the semifinals was already a miracle, the absolute limit they could achieve relying on their unparalleled team chemistry and wealth of experience.
However, the charm of esports lies in the fact that it never believes in paper strength, only in performance on the field.
In the first game, Forbidden City Peak taught the Veteran Team a lesson in top-tier macro control and pressure.
Their drafting phase was highly targeted, restricting the late-game team fight compositions the Veteran Team excelled at.
Through fluid lane swaps and resource exchanges, they established an economy lead of nearly six thousand gold before the twenty-minute mark, giving the Veteran Team no chance to breathe, and easily securing the first game.
"Forbidden City Peak's tempo is too good; the Veteran Team is struggling to keep up," commented caster Commentator.
"It feels like experience is somewhat ineffective against this absolute gap in skill and pace."
In the second game, the Veteran Team adjusted their strategy and picked an extremely solid defensive counter-attack composition.
Top laner "Taishan's" ornn, jungler "Boulder's" Sejuani, and support "Lighthouse's" Tahm Kench built an iron wall of defense.
They gave up all early game resources, focusing entirely on ensuring the development of their ADC, "Falcon."
The Veteran Team stubbornly dragged the game into the deep late game.
When "Falcon's" Kog'Maw, equipped with six items, appeared on the battlefield, Forbidden City Peak realized how fragile their solid frontline was against the melting bio-barrage.
In a decisive Elder Dragon team fight, the Veteran Team, relying on perfect formation protection and "Falcon's" explosive damage, achieved a 1-for-5 exchange, completing the comeback and tying the score!
"They won! The Veteran Team won!" Yaoyao shouted excitedly.
"They used the most veteran way, the most extreme defense, to show everyone why they deserve to be here! Falcon's late-game prowess is their pillar of strength!"
The entire audience gave the Veteran Team a thunderous applause.
These veterans earned everyone's respect through their persistence.
In the third game, Forbidden City Peak dared not be complacent and brought out their strongest mid-game power composition.
Through wave after wave of fierce offense, they pulled ahead in the score once more.
With the overall score at 1:2, the Veteran Team was pushed to the brink.
In the do-or-die fourth game, the Veteran Team seemed to radiate the final brilliance of their professional careers.
They chose a completely unexpected composition, one that bore strong personal imprints.
During the laning phase, they withstood the immense pressure from Forbidden City Peak; their mid-game macro decisions were as precise as a surgeon's scalpel; and in team fights, everyone's mechanics seemed to return to their peak form.
The match was once again dragged into the late game.
Both sides engaged in a protracted vision battle and psychological warfare around the Baron for several minutes.
Finally, Forbidden City Peak couldn't hold back and chose to forcefully rush the Baron.
Just as the Baron's health bottomed out, support "Lighthouse's" Rakan activated his Ultimate Ability, The Quickness, and his W Skill, Grand Entrance, flashing through Forbidden City Peak's formation like a golden specter, knocking up three players!
"Rakan is in! He knocked up three! This is the chance!"
Simultaneously, top laner "Taishan's" Teleport flashed behind the Baron pit!
Jungler "Boulder's" Jarvan IV used his EQ combo to enter, slamming down his Cataclysm!
Mid laner "Mage's" orianna had already attached her ball to Jarvan IV, and her Ultimate Ability, Command: Shockwave, detonated violently inside Jarvan IV's Ultimate Ability circle!
"orianna pulled three! Perfect combo! Forbidden City Peak is collapsing!"
"Falcon's" Xayah activated her W Skill, Deadly Plumage, from the backline, unleashing frantic damage like a sudden storm!
Forbidden City Peak's formation instantly crumbled!
"ACE!"
Team wiped out!
"It's a comeback! Another comeback! The Veteran Team executed a perfect team fight from the jaws of defeat! They have dragged the series into a decisive game!" Commentator's voice was hoarse with excitement.
"2:2! Who would have thought the Veteran Team could push Forbidden City Peak this far!"
The entire arena erupted!
All the spectators, regardless of which team they supported, spontaneously stood up to offer their highest respect to these unyielding veterans.
Their resilience, their tenacity, and their thirst for victory transcended the boundaries of age, deeply moving everyone present.
In the VIP viewing area, Qin Feng couldn't help but applaud vigorously.
He witnessed the purest form of the esports spirit.
However, competitive sports are cruel, especially in the final game of a physically and mentally demanding Best-of-Five series.
In the deciding game, the Veteran Team still played exceptionally well early on, even securing a two-kill starting advantage through a clever jungle setup.
However, as the game progressed, the mental exhaustion brought on by the high-intensity confrontation began to show.
Small mistakes started to creep in: slightly too aggressive positioning, skill combos delayed by fractions of a second, or map pings not noticed immediately...
These errors, which might have been harmless earlier, were fatal in a top-tier showdown.
Forbidden City Peak seized these fleeting opportunities.
In a crucial mid-game skirmish for the Dragon, they used faster reactions and more precise skill casting to achieve a 1-for-3 exchange, reversing the economy lead.
Subsequently, Forbidden City Peak gave the Veteran Team no further chances.
They utilized their composition's mobility and strong snowballing ability to continuously restrict the Veteran Team's space.
The Veteran Team attempted to resist, but subtle mechanical differences and a lack of stamina caused them to fall short in several crucial team fights.
Finally, after a grueling forty-three minutes, Forbidden City Peak destroyed the Veteran Team's base.
"Victory!"
The purple victory sign reflected on the relieved faces of the Forbidden City Peak players.
Meanwhile, in the Veteran Team's booths, the five veterans sat silently, no one immediately removing their headphones.
Top laner "Taishan" tilted his head back, staring at the lights on the arena ceiling, trying hard not to let anything fall.
ADC "Falcon" covered his face with his hands, his shoulders subtly shaking.
"The match is over!" Commentator's voice carried deep regret and respect.
"Congratulations to Forbidden City Peak, who defeated the Veteran Team 3:2 in an extremely difficult series to become the first team to advance to the Star Sea Cup Grand Finals! But let us give the loudest applause and the highest respect to the Veteran Team!"
"Yes," Yaoyao's voice was slightly choked up.
"They fought until the very last moment, they gave their all, forcing the kingly Forbidden City Peak into desperation!
They may have lost the match, but they won everyone's hearts! Just like that famous quote
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."
"Their professional careers may gradually be coming to an end, but their presence on this stage tonight, the unyielding will and esports spirit they displayed, will forever be etched into the history of the Star Sea Cup and in the hearts of all of us watching!"
The entire venue was filled with prolonged, thunderous applause.
This applause was for the victorious Forbidden City Peak, but even more so for the Veteran Team, who lost with honor.
After the match, official tournament media immediately published a lengthy report titled, "Salute to the Veterans! Lost with Honor, Legends Immortal."
The article detailed the Veteran Team's arduous journey from formation to reaching the semifinals, highly praised the tenacious fighting spirit and superb skill they displayed in the semifinals, and included a photo of the five players bowing to the audience after the series.
The article concluded: "They defined persistence and passion through their actions.
The stage of the Star Sea Cup is more complete and more moving because of them.
Thank you, Veteran Team, for offering us such a brilliant and touching series! The legend continues, the spirit never dies!"
Countless players left comments on the official post, expressing their respect and well wishes for the Veteran Team.
"I cried watching this.
Salute to the veterans!"
"You are the best!"
"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away... Wishing you all the best in the future!"
After composing themselves, the Veteran Team players updated their social media, thanking their fans for the support and stating that although they felt regret, they were proud of their achievement.
For them, standing on the semifinal stage and fighting the strongest opponent until the last moment was already without regret.
Their story became the warmest, yet most tragic, chapter of the Star Sea Cup.
As for Forbidden City Peak, after enduring this purgatorial baptism, they became even more composed and formidable.
They knew that their opponent in the Grand Finals, whether Star Sea or Mirage, would certainly not be any easier to deal with than the Veteran Team had been today.
The contest for the throne entered its final countdown.