[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 199

Time passes for everyone.

No matter how much I'm in trouble, and how much I need time, it comes at me cruelly without the slightest hesitation.

"OLZ, please get ready!"

Finally, the match to decide the final team to advance from Group A had arrived.

Our opponent for the Group A advancement match was PCS JJ (ParkChulSoo JonJal).

Reading it as is, it becomes Park Chul-soo, Jonjal.

"…Why did they name their team like that?"

Naturally, Kim Jae-min, who always has no filters, made a comment about the strange team name.

"They probably just wanted to give it a try."

"Umm."

The team, which seemed to have been created by friends to create some memories, shockingly advanced to first place in the group, breaking through the competition of some extremely skilled competitors.

Although their record was just 1 win and 1 loss, barely making it through, the important thing was that they were our competitors.

"Don't let your guard down. Even though they look like this, two of them are Challengers, and the rest are all Masters or higher."

That was what Baek Seong-an said.

Even though it could be said that it was just a preliminary round for a promotion/relegation match that would take them up to the second league at best, the lineup of the opposing team was not easy.

For now, I couldn't tell who they were because they changed their nicknames, but they must be the ones I faced in solo queue.

"The front is OLZ, and the back is PCS JJ. The front is a picture, and the back is a number. Is it confirmed?"

"Yes."

"Yep."

"Then I'll throw it."

The coin landed on the number.

In other words, the back.

"It's the back. The PCS JJ players can choose their side."

Unfortunately, we didn't get the side selection.

But it didn't matter.

Unlike the single-elimination format where everything is decided in the first match, in a best-of-three series, even if the opponent took the side selection, it wasn't as fatal as in the single-elimination format.

To be precise, there was too much stuff that was immediately cluttering my head to care about whether I was lucky or not.

'…This is so nerve-wracking.'

Is this what it means to have your mind in the fields?

Even though there was an important match that was no exaggeration to say that my life was on the line, other thoughts kept creeping in.

'…Focus, focus.'

Thinking about it won't change anything.

We can either discuss it more after today's match, or deny it.

So, for now, let's just focus on the match.

'I should do that…'

I'm going crazy because I keep thinking about Seo Yeon-woo, who is sitting next to me.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, yes?"

"I asked if you're ready. What's wrong?"

"Ah, nothing."

Baek Seong-an's eyes narrowed slightly.

It was a clear look of suspicion.

"Have you, you know, talked it out?"

He was asking if I had a good conversation with Seo Yeon-woo.

"Yes, well…"

It's ruined.

Not just ruined, but completely ruined.

"Really?"

Perhaps because I'm the kind of person whose emotions are clearly visible on my face, Baek Seong-an didn't seem to believe me easily.

"Then, for now, let's focus on the match, and we can talk about the rest at the dorm."

“…Yeah, yeah.”

Nevertheless, Baek Seong-an didn't say anything more and turned his gaze away.

Since we had to think about the ban/pick from now on, there was no time to relax.

'Ugh.'

I should help too…

It's hard for the words to come out.

"Then let's begin."

In the meantime, the match had begun in earnest.

Park Chul-soo, Jonjal, chose red side.

Considering that most teams choose the blue side when given the side selection in the current meta, it was quite surprising.

["They seem to have something prepared?"]

["There don't seem to be any special picks based on recent records. They'll probably practice in private."]

Kim Ji-hoon chimed in for some reason.

Since Baek Seong-an was leading the ban/pick, he seemed to have stepped in out of patience.

["That's right. Then let's go with the basics for now."]

And…

Having lost myself halfway, the ban/pick was completed.

+

[OLZ / PCS JJ]

Top: Arelia / Jace

Jungle: Jarvan IV / Nidalee

Mid: Galio / Zoe

AD Carry: Ezreal / Jhin

Support: Leona / Seraphine

+

Perhaps there was a certain intention, PCS JJ took an extreme poke composition led by Jace, Zoe, and Nidalee.

On the other hand, we built a ban/pick that countered their composition.

In other words, the opponent took the pick they designed, and we responded with a ban/pick.

A battle of whether to hit, or get hit.

Of course, strictly speaking, we weren't completely defenseless against their poke since we have Ezreal, but it's only possible, not winnable.

'There's a difference from the start in sustain.'

Nidalee and Seraphine.

Both are champions who especially shine from the mid-game onwards.

In other words, if they fail in a one-shot fight, there's a possibility that they will be pushed back in the sustain battle and lose the team fight.

["Everyone, fighting."]

["Fighting!"]

"…Fighting."

Amid the hollow cheers that didn't feel the slightest bit of fighting spirit…

The game began.

-Welcome to Summoner's Rift!

[⬇] [⬇] [⬇]

As always, the ping goes off.

["Hmm, where do you want to go?"]

"...Bot─"

The opposing bot lane combination is Jhin, Seraphine.

Both are clumsy combinations with weak survival skills.

So, if we're planning to get results from an invade, it's good to invest in the bot lane.

But why is it?

「“…I don't want you to go anywhere without saying anything anymore.”」

「“You did go. …Before.”」

「“No. Not that. Before… you just left without saying anything. Without saying a word to me.”」

The conversations I had with Seo Yeon-woo were swirling around in my head.

"...Just, defend."

["Okay? Understood."]

Our choice was to defend against the invade.

I don't know if Seo Yeon-woo's words affected my decision or not.

I may have just thought it would be safer since the opposing composition wasn't easy either.

'…I don't know.'

The route I chose was a standard red side start.

"You don't need to leash bot."

["Yes."]

Usually, in professional matches, the bot lane rarely leashes the jungle, but in our team, I often had to leash because I had to carry the role.

Of course, that's that, and this game felt like bot lane dominance was more important than my growth, so I didn't get a leash.

The moment I started to hit the red.

[❕] [❕] [❕]

The opposing four members appeared, and a loud retreat ping went off.

It was a late invade.

["Oh no."]

"I'll just back off."

The opponent had already given up all the early push dominance of the mid and bot lane and invested their numbers by sticking together.

In this situation, there's no point in stubbornly holding out even if they try to fight for the Smite battle, only taking away my time.

It's much better to give up what you have to give up and quickly change your route.

I immediately ran to my blue.

Since the friendly red area was completely taken by the opponent, you won't lose out if you at least split it evenly.

After eating the blue, I immediately ran towards the opponent's red.

'Hmm.'

I don't know where Nidalee is right now.

Common sense would dictate that it's correct to just get the rest of my jungle and split it evenly, but it's questionable whether the opponent who even attempted a late invade will just split it evenly.

'Currently, both top and mid are giving the opponent a bit of dominance.'

The reason the opponent's Zoe didn't hard push was because she lost a turn on the lane push due to the early late invade.

Even so, if Nidalee comes to defend the red in this situation, I'm likely to be ruined.

If that's the case…

"Can we pressure bot lane hard?"

League of Legends is a team game.

If I can't do it, the teammates can force the opponent's jungle's movements depending on how I do it.

["Yes."]

With Kim Ji-hoon's reliable answer, the friendly bot lane began to openly pressure the opposing bot lane.

Of course, the opponent's bot lane was composed of stronger picks in the lane phase, but they couldn't help but flinch if the friendly bot lane openly pressured them due to the pick characteristics.

Because even if they catch a telekinesis angle by mistake, it can lead to a kill.

Having passed through the Baron nest with the spear, I started hitting the red in the opponent's red area.

I don't know where Nidalee is right now.

However, there's no particular movement from the opponent's top and mid to join.

'Did it work?'

The health of the opponent's red is gradually decreasing.

200…

At that moment, Zoe, who had finished pushing the lane, disappeared from sight.

A little anxiety is felt.

100…

I save the skill and prepare to get out at any time.

Eventually, the health of the red is completely reduced.

0.

'I ate it.'

In the midst of the tension I always experience, I got past a dangerous hurdle.

[Jarvan IV – Level 2]

I used up too much time because I was forced to follow a buff-buff route.

The opponent also didn't come away unscathed, but I also need to focus on growing.

The moment I was about to throw the spear at the opponent's golems and focus on jungling.

["Can you come top right now?"]

A whisper that was hard to refuse came.