[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 175

First to arrive was Proof, BLH's mid-laner and arguably their ace.

[BLH Proof : Just a moment, I'll be right there]

[OLZ GetBack : Yep]

Not long after, the BLH players appeared.

[BLH TPT]

[BLH SooHyun]

[BLH Proof]

[BLH Shotgun]

[BLH Tool]

BLH's full lineup.

Seeing that the IDs hadn’t even been placed yet, it seemed they came with accounts that matched their nicknames, instead of their original IDs.

Should this be called courtesy,

or a preemptive strike…?

‘On the other hand….’

[OLZ TopBeliever]

[OLZ Outlaw]

[OLZ GetBack]

[OLZ Jammin]

[ShyPerson190]

Our team hadn’t even bothered to match our nicknames, so I felt like we were already at a disadvantage before we even started.

[BLH Proof : Same side?]

[OLZ GetBack : Yeah, we'll switch next game]

[BLH Proof : Yep]

[OLZ GetBack : Are you ready to start?]

[BLH Proof : Yeah, let's go]

Since neither side had gathered to just chat, the game started right away.

Our team’s side was the bottom side.

In other words, the first pick.

[“Ah, can you hear me?”]

Seo Yeon-woo, putting on his headset in a hurry, spoke in a soft voice.

[“Yeah, I can hear you.”]

[“What do we ban?”]

Baek Seong-an said.

[“I'm thinking of letting mid and jungle picks go, what do you think?”]

“Hmm, whatever you’re comfortable with.”

[“Okay. Then the bans… is there anything to cut from top or bottom?”]

[“I'll just leave top for now.”]

[“Bottom?”]

When the turn moved to the bottom lane, there was a moment of silence.

Because neither Kim Jae-min nor Kim Ji-hoon were the type to speak up first.

[“Nothing?”]

[“I….”]

[“Hey, speak up. We don’t have much time.”]

[“Can you ban Miss Fortune and Jhin?”]

Miss Fortune and Jhin are champions who can comfortably lane in the current meta.

In other words, what Kim Jae-min was saying was clear.

[“You think you can do it?”]

[“Yes.”]

[“Then do it that way.”]

Baek Seong-an accepted Kim Jae-min's opinion much more coolly than expected, as if the past was in the past.

[“What do we ban first?”]

[“Ban Miss Fortune first.”]

[“Yep.”]

[Miss Fortune]

After that, the opponent immediately continued the bans.

[Graves]

Currently, Graves is a good pick, considered Tier 1 in both top and jungle.

It could be considered a suitable pick to go against our team, which has strong top and jungle.

[Jhin]

[Xerath]

[Ziggs]

[Viego]

All the bans were completed.

The opponent’s bans were openly directed towards the jungler, who has strong carrying abilities.

Which means I'm that threatening.

‘They know how to read people.’

[Xin Zhao]

The opponent's first pick was Xin Zhao.

It was a pick made because the jungle had already been cut a lot, and they were openly targeting me.

If the opponent acknowledges me this much, I should respond in kind.

“This is─”

[“Um… can you possibly catch Lucian Nami?”]

“Hmm?”

Kim Jae-min cut me off.

Come to think of it… Lucian Nami was still available.

It's a combination that deals explosive damage, as if it's not a bug in the current meta, so it's a combination that is quite rare these days.

[“What do you want to do? Yujin. If you want to get the jungle first, you can just get Lucian.”]

“Um, let’s just get Lucian Nami.”

[“Are you sure?”]

“Yes, because if I go down, it's better for me anyway.”

There's no reason to refuse the chance to get the second pick.

Moreover, if it's the Lucian Nami combination, it's worth picking it first.

Furthermore…

‘We have to give our ADC a chance to prove themselves.’

Kim Jae-min clearly failed to prove himself last time.

So, what about this time?

[“Alright. Let's get Lucian Nami.”]

Baek Seong-an's approval was given, and we immediately picked both Lucian and Nami.

[Lucian]

[Nami]

It could be said to be one of the hottest combinations in the bottom lane right now.

And…

The ban-pick was finally completed.

+

[Ally / Enemy]

Top: Aatrox / Camille

Jungle: Jarvan IV / Xin Zhao

Mid: Twisted Fate / LeBlanc

ADC: Lucian / Aphelios

Support: Nami / Rell

+

A typical bottom-lane game pick.

Not only our team but also the opposing team did so.

In other words, no matter who says what, the ADC is the main character of this game.

[“Everyone, fighting.”]

[“Fighting.”]

“Do well.”

Amid the unenthusiastic cheers…

-Welcome to Summoner's Rift!

The actual game began.

[“You know how important the bottom-lane setup is, right?”]

[“Yes!”]

[“Fighting.”]

Kim Jae-min had been thoroughly scolded by Baek Seong-an just a while ago.

He didn't seem to know Baek Seong-an would say such warm words, so he looked bewildered.

[“…Fi, fighting!”]

Lucian Nami.

vs

Aphelios Rell.

Both teams have combinations that have to play a bottom-lane game.

In other words, those two combinations could be considered the few combinations that can properly demonstrate the power of the bottom lane in the current meta.

[⬇] [⬇]

[OLZ Outlaw (Jarvan IV) is on the way]

[OLZ Outlaw (Jarvan IV) is on the way]

The direction the allies went during the invade was, as expected, the bottom lane.

It was to catch the initial bottom-lane bush vision to avoid unnecessary variables early on.

[⨷] [⨷] [⨷]

[“Let's have Art take the lead.”]

[“Yes.”]

As we entered the first one-lane bush, and finally entered the second one-lane bush…

[“They’re here.”]

With a cry of desperation, the opponent's five figures appeared from the center bush of the bottom lane.

A hair-trigger situation.

What started it was Nami's bubble.

-Pop!

As Nami's bubble hit two opponents, the opposing Camille immediately rushed into the center of our allies with an E-Flash combo.

With a sharp entry that happened in an instant, a four-person stun was applied.

Except for me, who reacted when Camille was flying in, everyone was hit by the stun.

[“Camille first!”]

With Baek Seong-an’s shout, Twisted Fate’s Gold Card struck Camille's back as she was running away shortly after the stun wore off.

It was an inevitable entry because Nami's bubble went in first, but the price for it was certain.

-First Blood!

-You have slain an enemy!

However, the opponent also didn't just sit and take it.

While our team’s focus was on Camille, LeBlanc's chain tied Twisted Fate's feet.

[“Ah.”]

Baek Seong-an’s Twisted Fate desperately tried to get away by even using Flash, but he could not avoid the opponent's focus.

-An ally has been slain!

One exchange of fights occurred, and the early invade fight ended like that.

A 1:1 trade.

Both Camille and Twisted Fate had used their Flash and died.

‘If it becomes like this….’

For now, the situation given is not bad because Lucian got the First Blood gold.

However, the problem is that Twisted Fate's Flash was used, when he was already exposed to the threat of the opposing Xin Zhao and LeBlanc combination.

‘It would have been better to not use Flash, even if he died easily.’

However, it's just a conclusion.

Of course, this would also be another meaningless conclusion if nothing happens until the Flash returns in the mid-lane…

‘The opponent won’t be that easy, though.’

BLH's mid-jungle have a certain degree of recognition.

Especially the mid-lane.

Considering that it's hard for a second-division league player to build up recognition unless they're really good, I could guess the extent of the expectations for Proof.

It's not for nothing that he's the prince of the second division league.

-Minions have spawned!

The actual lane phase began.

As the bottom-lane laning and the initiative is more important than ever, there was naturally no leash.

‘If this happens, the timing will be a step late… mid-lane 2nd-level gank will be difficult.’

If GetBack had even Flash, it would have been worth trying anyway, but unfortunately, it became impossible because of the early invade.

While I was jungling.

“Be careful mid!”

[❕] [❕] [❕]

The moment Twisted Fate moved to the top bush, Xin Zhao popped out of the top bush.

It was a red-buff 2nd-level gank.

[“He lived.”]

However, GetBack was also experienced.

Not a reaction, but a prediction.

The reason GetBack could avoid Xin Zhao's gank now was because of that.

[“If this is like this, I should go back ho─”]

The moment GetBack was about to pull back a little.

-Flash!

Xin Zhao's surprise combo.

It was a combo that launched a surprise air-born by pre-loading two Qs on the minions, then using Flash and E.

It was truly lightning fast.

If Twisted Fate had even Flash, it would have been different, but now, it wasn't even possible.

Because Flash was already used during the early invade.

In front of Twisted Fate, who was hit by Xin Zhao's air-born, LeBlanc, who used Flash, hit the chain.

One more time.

The BLH mid-jungle did it so well, what someone calls a brain-dead play.

[“…Ah.”]

A short sigh echoed, and,

-An ally has been slain!

A crack appeared in the stronghold.