[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 258

The last match day of the first round of the Legend of League Challengers Korea Summer season has arrived.

This patch, and the meta.

Everything will be the last to be decorated today.

‘Still, I don't think it will change that much.’

The Legend of League tournament is a game about who finds the correct answer first after the meta changes after a patch.

Therefore, immediately after a patch is made, there isn't much difference from the previous version in terms of champion pool or gameplay direction.

It's just that as the league progresses and time passes, the answers naturally come out one by one through competition, and the process of verifying whether that is really the correct answer takes place.

‘Well, for now, I should focus on today's match.’

The patch hasn't been made yet.

The version we have to play today is the version we've been playing so far.

“Noona, what are you doing? Nervous?”

Kim Jae-min, who was always running around the waiting room, approached me.

“…Nervous, my foot.”

“No, you are. You were definitely nervous.”

“Shut up. You're getting pretty comfortable these days, aren't you?”

“Of course. Who am I? I'm the proud OLZ ADC, Jemin Kim Jae-min with a top rating of 310 points!”

“……Hmph.”

Honestly, I almost laughed.

“Please get ready, OLZ!”

“Ah, yes!”

Just in time, the staff's words were heard like a saving grace, and then our team members started to get up from their seats one by one.

Today's opponent is TEAM 5MAN.

Within Challengers Korea, they were a mid-ranked team based on last season's standards, and they are a team that is particularly strong in the upper lanes with top and mid.

‘Furthermore, I heard they've reinforced their lineup in the jungle this time.’

In fact, looking at the previous matches, they won many games with top, jungle, and mid lane carries.

They even managed to win against BLH, the team that came in first last season, making them one of the teams receiving a lot of attention this season.

‘…Of course, most of the attention is on our team.’

It's not something I should say myself, but the attention our team receives is overwhelming compared to 1st division league teams.

In a popularity vote conducted on a certain community, we even surpassed SY, so there was no need to say anything.

“Noona! Aren’t you going?”

“Ah, yeah.”

We headed to the arena.

Towards the last match of the first round.

*

-Waaaaah!!!

-Outlaw! Outlaw! Outlaw!

-One, two, three. OLZ Fighting!

As soon as we entered the arena, a thunderous cheer greeted us.

I should have gotten used to it by now, but I could never get used to those booming cheers.

If there's something a little different from before, it seems that not only me but also our team members' fans have increased considerably.

-Oppa Honor, look here!

-Kyaaaak!

-Milky-skinned Outlaw!

-Rotin hyung, tell us your exercise routine!

-Protein! Protein! Protein!

Especially in the case of Seo Yeon-woo and Kim Ji-hoon, after a few interviews, the fans seemed to have increased even more, and there were quite a few placards.

[Come to top in 3 minutes ♥Honor♥]

[This is physical. Protein Fighting!]

[Honor Noona, I'm gonna die!]

[Skill comes from muscle. Protein Kim Ji-hoon is cool!]

Watching that, Seo Yeon-woo had a somewhat awkward expression, and Kim Ji-hoon seemed to maintain his poker face as always, but he couldn't take his eyes off of it.

You guys, pretending to be indifferent, were secretly enjoying it.

“Wow, what's so good about those pretty boys? Isn't it better than me?”

Baek Seong-an said with a smile at Kim Jae-min's words.

“Should I tell you?”

“What is it?”

“Face difference.”

“……”

While having such a trivial conversation and doing various settings, the match time approached in an instant.

“OLZ, you'll start right away! Please get ready!”

The staff shouted, and soon after, the ban-pick officially began.

Our side's side is Red.

Second pick.

[Graves]

The opponent's first ban was Graves.

It was a typical ban, and a pattern, as it was a pick that our top laner used well and could also be used as a jungler.

[“What should we ban?”]

“Let's go as decided.”

[“Okay, let’s ban KENNEN.”]

We were already somewhat prepared for the opponent's first Graves ban, so there was nothing to be concerned about.

[KENNEN]

Next was the opponent's ban turn.

[Leona]

Support ban.

They seemed to be quite wary of Kim Ji-hoon's playmaking.

This was one of the changes that occurred among the teams we faced during the season.

In the early stages, it felt like the teams that faced us focused their bans on the jungle side, but as time passed and they realized that it wouldn't work, they started aiming for other lanes.

[“What should we ban?”]

[“We can cut Yumi. Let's cut Yumi first.”]

[“Yes.”]

[Yumi]

The opponent's third ban turn.

It was no exaggeration to say that the direction of this game's ban-pick was completely revealed depending on what the opponent banned here.

A moment of silence.

It meant that the opponent was pondering quite deeply.

And,

[Renata Glasc]

The opponent banned Renata Glasc.

It was a good feeling to be recognized after a long time, so it wasn't a bad feeling.

Now, our third ban turn.

[“Shall we cut Lucian or Nami? Or is there anything else to ban?”]

[“You can just give Nami and Lucian. I’m gonna be the main carry. Why? Because I'm Kim Jae-min with 310 points in Master.”]

“Jae-min, shut up.”

[“Yes.”]

[Lucian]

The ban-pick proceeded in a regular manner.

Perhaps because the meta itself is in its final stages, the ban-pick itself felt somewhat standardized.

Now, the opponent's first pick turn.

[Miss Fortune]

It was definitely a standard pick, but since it's a champion that we haven't seen often on the live server lately, it felt unfamiliar.

[“Let's bring this from mid. Pick up Ryze.”]

[“Yes.”]

[Ryze]

Baek Seong-an said, leading the ban-pick as always.

[“How will you do the next pick? It wouldn't be bad to bring a jungler.”]

“Um. Then I'll pick Xin Zhao.”

Somehow, it was a day when I wanted to play Xin Zhao.

[Xin Zhao]

It was a smooth start.

Soon, it was the opponent's 2nd and 3rd pick turns.

The opponent seemed to be considering for quite a while before finishing the pick.

[Rakan]

[Jarvan IV]

As expected, it was standard picks.

[“What do you want to do? The opponent's bottom lane is all out, so it would be good to pick a bottom lane.”]

Kim Jae-min said confidently at Baek Seong-an's words.

[“Of course, Jinx─”]

[“I'll take Jhin.”]

Of course, it was impossible for it to be accepted.

[“……”]

The picks so far are as follows.

+

[TEAM 5MAN / OLZ]

Top: ─ / ─

Jungle: Jarvan IV / Xin Zhao

Mid: ─ / Ryze

ADC: Miss Fortune / Jhin

Support: Rakan / ─

+

[“Um, in this case, it would be good to target the opponent's mid lane.”]

“What should we ban?”

[“The opponent's mid laner, Syndra, plays well. Let's ban Syndra.”]

“Let's do that.”

[Syndra]

The opponent's 4th ban turn.

[Thresh]

Since the top lanes of both teams haven't picked yet, it seems they are thinking of banning the support rather than the top.

“I think it would be good to ban the mid lane again, Orianna? Or Leblanc or TF?”

[“Umm, I think it's better to ban TF.”]

“Okay.”

[Twisted Fate]

The opponent brought out the last ban.

[Morgana]

It was a support ban.

[“Since we're second pick, let's have the top lane go down. What will you pick for support? Ji-hoon.”]

[“Um, Sona, I’ll play Sona.”]

[“…Sona?”]

[“Yes.”]

[“Um, okay, then.”]

It couldn't be said that Sona support was an incredibly good pick in the current meta, but since Kim Ji-hoon doesn't usually talk nonsense, I didn't feel like stopping him.

[Sona]

Now it was the opponent's pick turn.

[Leblanc]

[Jayce]

Since they already picked Jarvan IV as a jungler, the opponent took a strong upper lane pick from the lane phase.

[“Jayce came out, what will you play in top lane?”]

“Give me Viktor.”

Huh?

“Are you sure?”

[“Yes.”]

Seo Yeon-woo's answer was confident.

Of course, Viktor itself isn't a bad pick against Jayce, but the problem is that the current version is a version that hasn't been patched yet.

‘Umm…….’

There are cases like that.

Because they are too familiar with new metas, including the live server, and the champion pool itself has become accustomed to the new champions.

Whether it's that case now, or whether he really thinks Viktor is a pick worth picking against Jayce, no matter what, the water has already been spilled.

[Viktor]

Finally, the ban-pick was completed.

+

[TEAM 5MAN / OLZ]

Top: Jayce / Viktor

Jungle: Jarvan IV / Xin Zhao

Mid: Leblanc / Ryze

ADC: Miss Fortune / Jhin

Support: Rakan / Sona

+

“Everyone, fighting.”

[“Fighting.”]

[“Let’s do well.”]

[“I'll carry.”]

[“Fighting.”]

The team members' cheers echoed briefly, and the game officially began.