Chapter 60: Playoff Round 2 (3)

“It’s a bit difficult to side lane now that Aatrox has scaled.”

“We should still be able to win once K’Sante gets his items, right?”

“No, we can’t.”

“The enemy Varus didn’t build Tear, so he’s lacking a bit in late-game scaling.”

While we thought we had gained the upper hand in the early game skirmishes, giving up three kills in a dragon fight we took too lightly brought the game back to an even state.

‘Aatrox took all the kills.’

The game would have ended long ago if it weren’t for that mistake, and now the timer was ticking past 30 minutes. I pressed tab and checked the item builds; most of the laners had three items, while Aatrox and I had four.

“Are we contesting this dragon?”

Lee Yoo-chan, who was clearing vision around the dragon pit, asked the team.

“Should we give it up and contest the next one?”

“But if we stall any longer, Orianna will get too strong.”

“Seo-ha could just wall them off and we take it.”

The team’s calls became divided as the game dragged on. It seemed like we needed to organize our strategy, so I spoke up as I recalled to base.

“Let’s fight this dragon. We’re not going to win by side laning anyway.”

“Varus and Orianna’s poke is too painful.”

“So let’s group up and push as one. Don’t worry about Aatrox flanking; just focus on pushing forward.”

“Got it.”

The enemy team, with the exception of Bon’s Aatrox, was generally behind in gold. The only threat we needed to be wary of was Aatrox. Bon also knew this, so he would likely try to initiate teamfights after his teammates had drawn out our abilities, maximizing efficiency by using his team as bait. While this was undoubtedly the best way to maximize a fed top laner’s carry potential…

“I’m going to dash! Give me E!”

Jin Yu-seong shouted urgently as he dashed forward. A Rapid Firecannon empowered auto attack followed by his ultimate ability for poke. Nautilus, the only one tanky enough to absorb some damage, tried to hold on, but at this point, even tanks melted.

“Nautilus is down!”

“Let’s push forward before Aatrox flanks!”

Since their main damage dealers, Varus and Orianna, were immobile, they couldn’t avoid our team’s engage and were swept away.

“Aatrox used his ultimate!”

“Disengage and fight!”

“Ah, sorry. I’m dead.”

However, Bon, true to his declaration of wielding the log, swiftly eliminated the remaining Nami, demonstrating his momentum.

“Should we retreat?”

“No, they have teleport, so we need to secure the dragon.”

“Focus Aatrox and then take the dragon!”

Our team’s health was relatively good, so we tried to kill Aatrox and secure the dragon, but…

“Is he insane?”

Xin Zhao, who had charged at Aatrox, was instantly killed after being hit by Aatrox’s three Qs, creating an awkward situation.

“I think we should retreat.”

“If Taliyah and Lucian die, they’ll get Baron.”

The team called for a retreat. It was a reasonable decision; even the slightest mistake could snowball into a game-losing situation. However…

“I knocked Aatrox up!”

Aatrox, positioned to completely push us away from the dragon pit, overextended slightly, and I seized the opportunity to knock him up with my W.

“Aatrox is down!”

Lucian followed up with the kill, cleanly taking down Aatrox.

“Ward Baron and prepare to take it.”

Bon may have thought he turned the game around with his impressive plays, but mistakes often happen when you think you’ve already won.

“ARK takes down Aatrox and clears vision around Baron.”

“If it weren’t for Para’s last-second Seismic Shove, it could have been a disaster for ARK.”

“Bon, you need to focus. If you pick up the log, you have to swing it, not get crushed by it.”

[Taliyah’s mechanics are insane.]

[When other players face Para, they don’t just feed; she always manages to hit her skillshots at the very edge of their range.]

[Sometimes when she streams, she opens practice tool to check ability ranges.]

[The range-whittling grandma ㄷㄷ]

[This indie company game is so broken.]

[That’s a bit much, considering Bon also uses Aatrox’s Q at the edge of its range.]

[But Para does that with every champion!]

“Nautilus moves forward to ward, but isn’t that too dangerous?”

“They sent their support, who’s expendable, to scout, but ironically, if the support dies, they have to give up Baron.”

[Observer is tasty.]

[For real, when she expects these vision plays, she turns off all vision so the enemy can’t see anything.]

[My heart is pounding just watching.]

[The support is going in alone to die ㅠㅠ Supports are so pitiful ㅠㅠ]

“Seismic Shove!”

“He tries to escape with the hook’s hitbox, but K’Sante blocks his path!”

“ARK takes down Nautilus and starts Baron! Can they finish it?”

“Their other damage dealers and Aatrox are still alive. Will they really go through with it?”

[They’re really taking it?]

[If it gets stolen, it’s GG.]

[Aatrox doesn’t have flash.]

“It seems they’re committed.”

“How will…Para uses Weaver’s Wall!”

“Aatrox can jump over the wall, but the rest are immobile and can’t!”

“ARK says, ‘We’ll gladly take this.’”

[They took it so cleanly.]

[It’s over now.]

[GG]

“ARK regroups and heads towards top lane after taking Baron.”

“Caster is pushing the bottom lane all the way to the tower.”

“DH needs to make a decision here. 6 Rift Heralds and a Baron is too much, too fast.”

“Wow, even Lucian’s poke with Rapid Firecannon hurts a lot.”

“Is Bon about to make a big decision!?”

“Nautilus flanks wide!”

[A desperate gamble.]

[Is there such a thing as a gamble in a game that’s already over?]

[If they can just kill Lucian, Aatrox can clean up.]

“But Para’s Seismic Shove is insane today! She knocks up Orianna and Aatrox, a game-changing play!”

“She waited behind the wall and used it while they were between the tier 2 tower and the wall.”

“I also liked Lee Sin’s Sonic Wave, which removed Aatrox’s Edge of Night shield beforehand.”

“I agree. Lesser hasn’t made any flashy plays this game, but he’s still making impactful ones.”

[GG]

[This is going to be a stomp.]

[GG]

“Can DH defend without their main damage dealers?”

“Ah, they’re just pushing forward. And Plea dashes forward! Securing another kill!”

“Can Varus clear the minion wave with his abilities alone?”

“He’s playing poke Varus, but… I wonder.”

“Para flashes, followed by another Seismic Shove!”

“They ace DH and take Game 1!”

[Bon played well, but it’s a shame.]

[Such a close game.]

[Everyone except Bon was just too bad.]

[DH’s mid and jungle were disappointing.]

[Para just carried lol.]

[Killing Aatrox at the dragon was the turning point.]

“Let’s either pick or ban Aatrox.”

The coach said, clutching his head, as soon as we returned to the waiting room. Giving up Aatrox to DH, a team that heavily relied on their top laner, was clearly not a good choice.

“But Bon isn’t bad at K’Sante either.”

“Should we ban him then?”

“If we ban K’Sante in the first phase, Aphelios or Jinx will be open, and that will be difficult.”

“What do you think, Jin-hwan? Which is more comfortable for you, Aatrox or K’Sante?”

“If they pick K’Sante, I can pick Gwen and win. But it’ll be tough if I play against Aatrox.”

“Do you fall behind a lot in the early game?”

“Since Bon isn’t bad at K’Sante, I think we’ll lose a lot of momentum at Rift Herald.”

“What should we do…”

I raised my hand and addressed the coach, who was deep in thought.

“Let’s play it as a flex pick.”

“A flex pick?”

“Yes, wouldn’t it be easier for me to play it and then have our top laner counter-pick based on what they choose?”

“You mean playing K’Sante in mid?”

“That’s also possible.”

“Also?”

The best draft strategy was always to be flexible and adapt to the situation. In my previous life, it was somewhat masked by my physical limitations, but I prided myself on being able to play more champions than most mid laners.

“Are you okay with flexing Aatrox mid too?”

“I don’t mind.”

“But we haven’t even tried it in scrims…”

“There’s a saying that real matches are the best practice.”

“Still…”

Perhaps due to DH’s unexpectedly strong performance, the coach was hesitant to make a decision.

‘That’s the role of a coach, though.’

Since League coaches couldn’t directly influence the game in real-time, their most important task was the draft phase. And in esports, where the barrier between coaches and players wasn’t high, it wasn’t uncommon for players to have more say than the coach. Teams where the players dictated the draft always crumbled under pressure in crucial moments.

“Let’s try it this game and change it if it doesn’t work.”

“Then let’s leave both Aatrox and K’Sante open and flex depending on what they pick.”

Since the losing team in the LCK got to choose their side, the opponent would naturally choose the blue side to secure the first pick. Teams whose ace was their top laner usually chose the red side for the last pick, but DH couldn’t do that because of their weaker other lanes.

‘If Aatrox is open… it’s been a while.’

One of my nicknames in my previous life was “The Best Swordsman of Joseon.” Usually, that title in League was given to players who excelled at Yasuo or Yone. But I earned that nickname thanks to Aatrox.