[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 242

Ugh…….

I don't know why our team's schedule has us meeting the 1st and 2nd place teams back-to-back, but I wasn't too upset because we would eventually face all the teams anyway.

"But what kind of team is FFF?"

"I'll explain now."

Baek Seong-an began to explain about FFF, our opponents.

"What kind of team is FFF is…."

According to Baek Seong-an, FFF is a team that has climbed the rankings in the exact opposite way of BLH, which aims for textbook plays.

Wildness and ferocity.

Super plays and throwing.

If BLH is a solid team, to put it nicely, and a lower-tier version of a first-division team, FFF is a team that makes bold plays as a team, far from stability.

That's why some experts and fans even pick FFF instead of BLH as the team more likely to move up to the first division in the promotion match.

Although BLH's head-to-head record was actually better, FFF has the sharp spearhead that only FFF possesses.

"So, aren't they just kids who throw games and somehow win?"

"...If it were just that, they wouldn't have made it to 2nd place. I don't think we'll lose, but we can't let our guard down."

"Yes, yes."

"And about the picks they mainly use…."

Baek Seong-an displayed a list of picks that FFF players mainly use on the large monitor in the feedback room.

"Huh?"

"Oh…."

"Do they really use those picks in the tournament?"

"Yeah."

At the same time, different reactions arose on the faces of the team members.

The picks that FFF mainly uses were quite something.

Yone, Yasuo, Veann…….

In addition, picks like Aurelion Sol, Fiora, Zed, Elise, Nidalee, and Pyke.

It was almost strange that there were no so-called ‘real’ picks like Taric or Master Yi.

"That's about it."

It's not that we haven't scrimmed with FFF.

However, at that time, what should I say… It ended so easily that it was almost anticlimactic, so to speak? I didn't even have a chance to think about FFF.

Anyway, that was it.

"So, who's our scrim partner today?"

Baek Seong-an lightly smiled at Kim Jae-min's question.

"I found a team that's just about similar."

It was a smile that gave off a strange sense of foreboding.

The scrim partner Baek Seong-an found was MAX.

A traditional powerhouse team that advanced to the Red Cup last year and has a reputation for not losing to SY or SCV in terms of lane matchup.

It was a team that had players like Woochan and KingGodEmperor, who I'd faced quite often.

"...Crossing the line."

Kim Jae-min made a disgusted face.

Well, tomorrow is the match, and it was a strange choice in many ways to take on a strong team like MAX as a scrim partner, not just a first-division team.

"I asked them to use the picks that FFF uses often. Instead, we have to accommodate their request next time."

"Yes, well. That's about it."

That's not a difficult request.

Since MAX and we aren't even competitors right now, we should help and assist each other when needed, shouldn't we?

"Is everyone okay?"

"Yes, yes."

The scrim began in earnest.

*

When playing a match, there are cases where you deliberately choose a relatively weak team as a scrim partner to gain confidence.

However, our coach, Baek Seong-an, didn't seem to have that intention, and he brought in MAX, a strong team that wasn't just a first-division team but also one of the teams that advanced to the Red Cup last year, as our opponent.

A world-class team.

A team befitting that name appeared as a practice opponent just before an important match.

"Wow… no joke."

The scrim result was a 2:0 victory for us, but if MAX hadn't used picks like Yasuo and Yone, which they don't usually use, as we requested, we wouldn't have gained the upper hand so easily.

Above all, even though it was a victory that forced the pick on the opponent, the process wasn't smooth.

"Jae-min, don't be too discouraged. You did well."

"...No. I was really bad."

Despite Kim Ji-hoon's struggles, the allied bottom lane was dominated by the opposing bottom lane throughout the two games.

Even though the support does the bottom lane, the gap between the ADCs was that big.

In fact, MAX's KingGodEmperor was a promising prospect who had been the subject of much attention since his recruitment.

For now, there was bound to be a difference with Kim Jae-min, a master with a long record of ranking in the bottom tier.

In fact, the reason we won the game was also because we prevented the gap from widening more than a certain amount in the bottom lane.

Even though they lost, they fought well?

If I were to add words of comfort, it could be summarized roughly like that.

"I was bad too."

Then, unexpectedly, Kim Ji-hoon stepped in to comfort him.

The bottom lane is one, something like that?

"No, I was worse."

"That's true."

"……."

It was a bit confusing whether it was comfort or blaming others, but it was certain that Kim Jae-min's condition had improved thanks to that.

"I'll carry next time. Really."

"Okay."

And…….

Finally, the day of the match arrived.

Maybe it's because I've been to the stadium once before, but it's not familiar at all…….

"Waaaah!"

Resounding cheers.

Even though I'd experienced it before, I couldn't help but feel goosebumps.

‘…What, what, why are there so many people?’

Last time, there was the symbolism of the opening ceremony, but this time, there wasn't really anything like that, but the audience seats were as full as last time.

"What are you doing? Let's go."

"Ah, yes."

At the voices of the team members urging me on, I took a trembling step and headed into the stadium in earnest.

It was time to go for the second match.

* * *

『“Yes, finally the day has come. OLZ vs FFF, FFF vs OLZ! A big match that everyone has been waiting for!”』

『“It might be a bit of a burden for OLZ to face strong teams in a row, but… judging from the players' faces, it doesn't seem that way, does it?”』

『“Yes! Rather, when we saw the performance OLZ showed last time, we could say, aren't you guys the ones who should be afraid of us?”』

『“That's right! The rumors about OLZ have been really huge since before the season started! They actually showed some of their true colors in the last match against BLH!”』

『“We’ll have to see if FFF can stop the advance of OLZ, who is currently on a winning streak as the mainstay of Challengers Korea today… the outcome is drawing attention!”』

Excitement was evident in the voices of the commentators.

They couldn't help it.

OLZ, which is already drawing attention. Following BLH, the 1st place team from last season, it was a match against FFF, the 2nd place team with performance that rivals BLH's, so there was no way they wouldn't be interested.

-Who set up the matchups? Facing the 1st and 2nd place teams in a row.

-Lmao, the 1st and 2nd place teams are pitiful.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Lmao

-Just looking at it, it's clear OLZ will crush them 2-0.

-But FFF, if the dice rolls right, you never know... We'll have to see?

-Do you think a team that got 2nd place with dice rolls is a joke?

The opinions of the viewers also mostly predicted OLZ's victory, but there were also many opinions that said we have to see it.

Unlike BLH, which always showed a stable performance, FFF sometimes achieved results beyond their abilities due to their unique aggressiveness.

Of course, there were also many times they stumbled because of that.

-Dgdgdg

-When is the ban/pick?

-Hurry up

-Am I the only one nervous? It's more nerve-wracking than the Red Cup final lol

-The Red Cup final was such a bore.

-Ugh.

『“Alright, let's begin the ban/pick in earnest now!”』

『“It's bound to be exciting because both OLZ and FFF are teams that have brought out interesting picks in the ban/pick!”』

『“Yes! That's right!”』

『“At this moment! The first ban is……”』

The ban/pick was completed.

+

[OLZ / FFF]

Top: Jax / Fiora

Jungle: Tal Rakan / Elise

Mid: Galio / Yone

ADC: Aphelios / Xayah

Support: Leona / Pyke

+

『“What should I say about the ban/pick… it's really interesting, right? Both teams.”』

『“That's right! The real showdown in the top lane is one thing, but Yone has appeared from FFF! We can't help but look forward to seeing what kind of plays Eos's Yone will show!”』

『“That's right. Although this game seems to be focused on the top lane… when champions like Yone or Yasuo appear, those champions usually become the protagonists. In a good or bad way.”』

『“And Pyke has appeared! FFF's Noodious often uses Pyke, but I didn't expect him to pick it today. Isn't it actually a bit difficult against Leona?”』

『“That's right! Above all, Protin... I think he came up with a good nickname... That's not important, and anyway, considering the activity Protin's Leona has shown so far, he seems to be doing well against Noodious's Pyke… I'm looking forward to seeing what plays Noodious will show.”』

-How can a pro gamer's nickname be Protein lol

-Bro... I'm really dying...

-Noodious will probably die right away if Protein attacks first, right?

-Lmao ㅋㅋ

-They were supposed to have a match, but they're trying to spar, lol.

-That match is that match... Ahh...!

Commentators and viewers.

Fans and fans.

The first match between OLZ and FFF began in earnest as they watched.