Chapter 73: What an Astonishing Prediction!

In truth, Lin Hao’s solo kill was merely the icing on the cake; meanwhile, the battle in the top lane had nearly concluded. The Elder Sage was the first to fall, and Shen Mengxi and the Dark Emperor found it impossible to escape, leaving only Yao, who continued to use his skills to stall for time.

Lin Hao glanced at the mid lane minion wave; it was now perfectly positioned to push the tower.

“We got a kill in mid too? Amazing, amazing!” Han Han’s Tiger leapt fiercely from the red jungle to join the tower siege. Seeing the corpse of Hundred Miles Guard lying next to Puppet Song, he couldn’t help but marvel.

When Puppet Song is ahead, it isn’t too difficult to kill Hundred Miles Guard at this point—just use the simplest puppet rush, spin with the third skill, instantly recall, then follow up with the cross slash. That’s the 14313 combo. If the economy is high, a fourth skill rush in essentially guarantees a kill. It’s a common combo for Puppet Song once his equipment is complete and the game reaches the late stage.

After all, he’s pure offense—high attack, low health. Swapping positions or using the triple combo in the late game can easily get him evaporated by unknown enemy area damage.

But—

Lin Hao was playing support Puppet Song! As the fifth position in terms of economy, even under favorable conditions, Lin Hao’s gold wasn’t higher than Hundred Miles Guard’s. To pull off the kill, it came down to skill and attention to detail.

“Hao Ran is so meticulous—he maneuvered the puppet to dodge Hundred Miles Guard’s ultimate damage.” Yi Fan’s Ma Chao, after dying, watched from above and saw it all clearly.

“We probably need to fight another round,” Xin Ran remarked.

Top lane’s Elder Sage had already cleared the minion wave during the chaos. Mid lane had minions, but judging by the enemy’s respawn timers, they could only manage to take the high ground.

Lin Hao and his teammates gathered in mid, pushing forward and demolishing the high ground tower. At that moment, the enemy began to revive one after another.

“Let’s go. Let’s set up on the side lanes and wait for another fight,” Han Han suggested.

Although Han Han and the others were healthy and had all their skills ready, it was still four against five, and only one lane had minions. Forcing a win was clearly unrealistic.

The first enemy to revive was the Dark Emperor. He released his second skill, throwing out three magic spheres, then accelerated forward, clearly aiming to catch someone.

Xin Ran turned and pulled him back, directly grabbing the Dark Emperor.

“Pull him over!” Lin Hao’s eyes lit up; he still had his puppet and might be able to score a kill on the Dark Emperor!

Xin Ran originally intended to pull the Dark Emperor backward, but hearing Lin Hao’s directive, she swiftly dragged him toward their position. After several games together, Xin Ran knew Lin Hao’s game sense far surpassed hers—at least in terms of intuition—so she instinctively trusted his command. She also applied a second skill slow.

As she pulled the Dark Emperor in, Xin Ran remembered something crucial: the Dark Emperor still had his flash!

Last round, they all ambushed Yi Fan’s Ma Chao; the Dark Emperor saved his flash, never using it—even when they realized they were being surrounded by Han Han and the others, the Dark Emperor bravely rushed forward to buy his teammates time to escape, and still didn’t use flash.

Now, if the Dark Emperor didn’t have flash, Xi Shi could use her second skill slow to kite him, but with flash, it was a different story—he’d surely activate his ultimate on the rearmost Puppet Song!

Xin Ran hadn’t yet warned them.

But Lin Hao was already moving.

He released his first skill puppet, landing it right beside the Dark Emperor! The puppet spun rapidly, binding him.

Although Xin Ran had activated her ultimate, she cleverly refrained from pulling the second phase, because under Xi Shi’s first skill control, the enemy is forcibly moved, regardless of stun or knock-up states. Pulling the second phase would drag the enemy out of Puppet Song’s triple bind—a subtle point of synergy between Xi Shi and Puppet Song. Xin Ran, being the top Xi Shi player, would never make such a mistake.

However… Xin Ran frowned.

Would two phases of triple control be enough?

Lin Hao pressed his second skill, pulling his main body over. Instead of using the conventional 1433223 combo and throwing a dart, he immediately used his fourth skill to slip into the void!

At the same time, a “ding” sounded—the Dark Emperor flashed, forcibly escaping Puppet Song’s control!

It was a classic bait maneuver—the Dark Emperor players, especially skilled ones, often get resistance boots, and when Puppet Song does the 1433223 combo, they time the release of Puppet Song’s second skill with its long rigid animation to lock him down.

So Puppet Song isn’t actually that good against the Dark Emperor.

But in Lin Hao’s hands, it’s a different story. His preemptive fourth skill predicted the flash, breaking the control and leaving the Dark Emperor, who wanted to bite Puppet Song, looking around in confusion.

Where was Puppet Song?

In the next instant, Puppet Song reemerged from the void. Lin Hao aimed briefly and unleashed the cross slash!

Two interwoven lines blossomed above the Dark Emperor’s head, slowing him again!

Xi Shi followed up with a second control phase at just the right moment.

Lin Hao topped it off with another second skill.

Nearby, teammates Pei Tiger and Sun Shangxiang unleashed their ranged attacks, pouring massive damage onto the Dark Emperor.

Within just two seconds, the Dark Emperor collapsed!

What makes Dark Emperor players despair is when you flash in to bite the enemy carry, only to end up biting a tank or support instead!

Even more despairing is flashing in to bite the carry, but the distance is just out of reach!

That’s exactly what happened—the Dark Emperor never managed to bite anyone this round. In the first half, he was outplayed by Puppet Song, and in the second, he was focus-fired by a group of ranged heroes.

“Amazing prediction with the fourth skill!”

“That was incredible!”

“The streamer’s cheating… It's like he’s got a prophecy hack! Damn, that’s wild!”

Lin Hao’s streaming channel erupted as viewers shouted and cheered.

Even Yi Fan, observing from a god’s-eye view, couldn’t help but applaud, “So slick, Hao Ran!”

Meanwhile, the enemy revived one after another. Shen Mengxi, from the fountain, had been charging his ultimate the whole time. He lobbed a grenade, hitting Lin Hao’s Puppet Song and Xin Ran, who stood nearby!

Ahead, Elder Sage had moved to the frontline, closing in on Bag’s Sun Shangxiang.

Hundred Miles Guard aimed from the back, targeting Lin Hao, but his shot was dodged by Lin Hao with a simple sidestep.

Brother Bag began to showcase his movement, kiting Yao and Elder Sage together with Han Han.

Xin Ran stepped in to add damage, seeing Puppet Song’s health dangerously low after being hit by a cat’s grenade. She warned, “The cat still has flash. You should retreat!”

Xin Ran’s memory was sharp; Shen Mengxi hadn’t used flash in the previous round—whether it was on cooldown or saved for later, it should be ready now.

Lin Hao intended to pull back, but Shen Mengxi’s grenade, combined with the effects of Frost Staff and Meat Cleaver, applied double slow, making Puppet Song move sluggishly.

At that moment, from the edge of vision, Shen Mengxi ignited his own tail and charged directly at him!

Lin Hao frantically pulled back, but now he was slowed, while Shen Mengxi was sped up!

The gap closed rapidly!

With a “ding,” Shen Mengxi flashed instantly to Lin Hao’s side.