Chapter 91: MSI Finals (8)

“Honestly, there’s nothing to say about Game 4.”

Coach Kim Han-seong addressed the team as they returned to the waiting room, his fists clenched.

“Seriously…”

He continued, barely suppressing his anger.

“How can Jaa get three critical strikes in a row with a 25% chance? And with Kraken Slayer? Sweeping up everything with just one Essence Reaver? Is it a bug? It has to be a bug!”

His frustration stemmed from the early Game 4 incident where Jaa, with a 25% critical strike chance, landed three consecutive critical hits.

‘It was bug-like.’

Even I had to admit it was an improbable occurrence.

‘But compared to last year’s Worlds…’

Last year, during the Worlds quarterfinals, an ADC with a 75% critical strike chance missed three critical strikes in a row, costing their team the fight.

Compared to that, this wasn’t entirely unbelievable. Still, experiencing it firsthand was infuriating.

However, it was in the past. A professional player publicly accusing the game developers of bugs would have significant repercussions.

All I could do was sigh and slump onto the sofa behind me.

“Winning Game 5 is all that matters. Why the long faces?”

Kim Do-jin spoke to me, the sound of a can of energy drink opening with a hiss.

But despite his words…

‘His hands are shaking too much.’

He tried to hide it, but having known him from my past life, I could tell.

While he had significantly outperformed the enemy jungler in Game 3, he’d been utterly crushed in Game 4. His mental state seemed fragile.

“You shouldn’t drink too much of that.”

“I need this to focus.”

The other team members were in a similar state. Like Game 3, they’d dominated the top lane K’Sante versus Jax matchup in Game 4. However, a crucial teleport by K’Sante being interrupted led to a backdoor defeat. The bottom lane had exploded early in 3v3 skirmishes due to Do-jin’s struggles in the jungle.

They were probably all blaming themselves for the loss.

And…

‘If only I’d played a little better.’

I wasn’t much different. Had recent successes made me complacent? Or had I underestimated the opponent? The fact that the match had gone to a Game 5 was frustrating.

“Everyone, heads up!”

Coach Kim’s clap echoed loudly in the tense waiting room.

“We’ve come this far. Win or lose, let’s have fun.”

To boost morale, Coach went around, patting each team member on the back.

“Didn’t you all become pros because it was fun? Have fun. If we lose, it’s my fault for the bad draft, so don’t worry.”

I wasn’t an exception. He usually kept his distance from me, even refraining from casual touches. But now, my back stung from the force of his pat.

“Right, we’ve come this far, we have to win.”

“I’m going for the atonement carry in the last game.”

“Honestly, if the support plays well, I can carry.”

“Time to make some game-winning engages in Game 5 and grab that Finals MVP.”

Inspired by the coach’s words, the team members rose, their resolve seemingly solidified.

I stood up too, but…

‘What if…’

What if, in Game 5, I was the reason we lost? What if I could only watch helplessly as the enemy mid laner carried their team to victory?

‘What would everyone say to me?’

The anxiety I’d buried beneath recent successes resurfaced, refusing to be dismissed.

“A familiar song is echoing through the venue.”

“It’s been a while since an LCK team has played this song!”

“Indeed! The LCK team that used to lose every time they picked Corki in Game 2 has made it this far! They can do it!”

[😎😎😎😎😎😎😎]
[I’ll shave my head and post proof if we win]
[If we win, I’ll cosplay Para instead of Ahri and eat samgyeopsal in Hongdae]
[Chicken just arrived, let’s go 5-0 ㅅㅅㅅㅅ]
[Let’s go~]

“ARK is undoubtedly a great and strong team, but this is the cold, hard world of professional competition. In the end, it’s the number one team that’s remembered!”

“Many are hoping and praying that ARK will reclaim the international trophy, a long-standing aspiration of the LCK.”

“Now, let’s begin the Game 5 draft!”

[Banning Corki first <<< I applaud this]
[They have to ban that]
[But ARK has blue side, so they have the ban advantage]

“They’ve banned Corki right away.”

“That’s the right call. No reason to give the opponent their comfort pick in Game 5.”

“They need to utilize the blue side advantage!”

“VXG absolutely has to ban Jinx or Lucian, champions they don’t want to give ARK first pick. ARK needs to exploit that.”

“ARK is leaving Camille open and banning Jax?”

“He was scary. It makes sense to just ban him. VXG is banning Azir instead of Yone?”

“So how are they planning to deal with Camille?”

“ARK’s first pick is K’Sante!”

[ARK’s K’Sante isn’t for top lane ㅇㅇ]
[The fact that they can flex him to mid is an insane advantage]
[If they lose the draft after Para does that, it’s seriously game over]

“VXG…picks Ashe and Braum, the same as Game 1. Even though they lost that game, are they saying their composition is perfect?”

“Ashe-Braum’s early-game pressure seems appealing to VXG.”

“ARK goes with Aphelios and Rakan!”

“At this point, it’s better to give them their comfort picks even if the lane phase is a little tough. While Lulu would make the laning phase easier, it would hinder their engage and vision control.”

[After all that, it’s Ashe-Braum vs. Aphelios again]
[K’Sante wins again]

“Gwyn is a bit tricky, but we have to trust Caster’s K’Sante.”

“Caster’s form has been skyrocketing in Games 3 and 4. Now with his signature champion K’Sante, we believe he’ll deliver.”

[Caster’s K’Sante is a god]
[Maybe that long thing of his is the god?]

“The next bans… they’re targeting each other’s unpicked junglers and mid laners.”

“Lesser’s Lillia and Para’s Sylas are banned.”

“With Ashe and Camille already picked, Sylas is probably too risky. But it’s interesting that they’re leaving Yone completely open.”

“I wonder what VXG is planning…”

“VXG’s jungle pick is Xin Zhao!”

“Xin Zhao and Camille… their 2v2 skirmishes will be incredibly strong once they get their first item.”

“ARK… goes with Taliyah and Yone! Taliyah provides AP damage and can disrupt champions with dashes. And Para’s Yone? What more can be said?”

[Para on Yone is a god]
[Yeah, and they lost Game 2]
[That’s because the team int’ed]
[Triple Yone ㄷㄷ]
[Para has to carry]
[Did they leave Yone open and prepare a counter pick for last?]
[HUN’s 5th pick is terrifying too]

“Pantheon!?”

“They’re picking Pantheon mid in the fifth game of the finals!?”

“Pantheon should win the laning phase, but…”

“The moment Pantheon is locked in against Yone, VXG has put a time bomb around their own necks. If the game drags on, they lose.”

“Xin Zhao’s powerful mid-game skirmishes, Pantheon’s roams, and Ashe-Braum’s strong laning phase in the bottom lane… they’re declaring they’ll snowball the game.”

[They’re showing us how to snowball]
[They’re saying you can’t keep up with our tempo ㄷㄷ]
[Pantheon?]
[FYI: In the LPL finals two years ago, HUN solo killed the enemy mid laner three games in a row with Pantheon and got the Finals MVP.]
[Does Pantheon beat Yone?]
[Absolutely destroys him]

“We have to be wary of HUN’s Pantheon.”

“They’re basically saying, ‘We know you’re good in lane, but what are you going to do against Pantheon?’ It’s a direct challenge.”

“With his global ultimate, Pantheon can significantly contribute to VXG’s unconventional playstyle. It’s a justifiable pick for the fifth game of the finals.”

“This is what you call a rivalry!”

“I agree. From the draft phase alone, this is a breathtaking match, a true spectacle for everyone watching.”

“Let’s begin the game!”

[ARK]

TOP: K’Sante
JG: Taliyah
MID: Yone
AD: Aphelios
SUP: Rakan

vs

[VXG]

TOP: Gwen
JG: Xin Zhao
MID: Pantheon
AD: Ashe
SUP: Braum

“Be careful of their Pantheon.”

“I’ll play safe in the early game.”

“Yeah, let’s do that. Seo-ha, no need to force anything this game.”

The enemy team’s composition was focused on early-to-mid-game skirmishes, led by Pantheon and Xin Zhao. With Yone and Aphelios on our side, we could still contest even if the game went late.

We waited near the blue buff, anticipating a possible early invade or counter-jungle, when…

“They’re here!”

The enemy top, jungle, and mid laner charged towards me the moment they saw me. Gwen and Pantheon hadn’t taken any unusual skills for the sake of laning, so they couldn’t lock me down.

However, Xin Zhao, who had taken his E at level 1, immediately used it to slow me.

“Ah… I used Flash.”

“It’s okay, you survived. Let’s play it slow.”

I had no choice but to use Flash.

Then, as soon as we hit level 2…

The enemy Pantheon flashed forward, while Xin Zhao emerged from the nearby bush. I was certain I would die the moment I was hit by Pantheon’s point-and-click W stun, but…

[Soul Unbound!]

I had anticipated it.