Chapter 93: MSI Finals (10)

Just a few seconds. In that short span of time, I considered the countless variables that could arise from using Teleport. But perhaps due to my depleted focus after five intense games, I couldn’t easily decide on the right answer.

‘Think… quickly.’

I tried to clear the minions in front of me, but my Q sliced through empty air. Yone’s Q is a skill shot, but it’s usually easy to land on stationary targets. I glanced down at my right hand. My thumb, which controlled the mouse and rested on the left mouse button, was trembling slightly.

Physical limitations. Becoming Yoon Seo-ha had enhanced my reflexes and overall physical abilities, but my stamina wasn’t what it used to be. Two weeks of non-stop competition had taken their toll. There had been signs – lingering fatigue after waking up – but I hadn’t expected it to hit me now.

“…”

I bit my lip and tightened my grip on the mouse. Managing my physical condition was also part of being a professional. I couldn’t let my team down because of my mistakes.

I refocused and assessed the situation.

‘Their burst isn’t fast.’

The enemy team wasn’t using all their abilities to rush Baron. This meant they were either not serious about taking it or were planning to force a fight.

“They’re still doing it.”

“What should we do?”

“Seo-ha, want to Teleport?”

My teammates, caught in a tense standoff in front of the Baron pit, seemed too panicked to notice that the enemy was holding back their abilities.

“They’re not using their skills!”

My louder-than-usual call finally snapped my teammates to attention. They observed the enemy’s actions.

“Oh, you’re right! They might not be serious! We need to make the right call!”

“Yeah! So, Seo-ha, want to just keep pushing?”

“Can you guys just hold them off?”

“We’ll try!”

But those words were quickly proven hollow.

“I’m engaged!”

Braum and Pantheon jumped on Caster’s K’Sante, who was checking the bush above the Baron pit.

As my left hand darted to press Teleport…

“Don’t Teleport!”

Park Jin-hwan yelled urgently.

“I can survive! If you waste Teleport, we can’t contest the next dragon fight!”

I hesitated, about to resume attacking the turret, when…

[VXG is taking Baron!]

A scene flashed through my mind. The VOD I’d reviewed after our defeat in the finals, having barely composed myself. The opponent was the same VXG roster. Our team was also identical.

[Para needs to make a decision quickly. Will she join the fight or continue to push?]

Similar to now. The enemy team taking Baron, baiting us, my teammates gathered to contest, and me pushing the side lane.

[The moment Para hesitates to Teleport, VXG engages a lightning-fast fight and wipes them out! There’s no stopping the LPL predator!]

The result was an ace. And a crushing defeat.

[Para is all alone! There’s nothing she can do by herself!]

Why was I remembering this now? Should I Teleport, learning from the past? Or should I trust my teammates, believing this time is different?

‘What is the right answer…?’

I wanted to rip off my headset and run away. But I couldn’t.

‘Because I’m a pro.’

As long as I was on stage, getting paid to play, I had to see the game through to the end, victory or defeat.

In the end, my choice was…

[Ah… it looks like the game is about to end here!]
[It appears this team will be the one to challenge for the Golden Road this year!]

“Ah…”

Seino, who had been holding back tears, finally began to cry. This meant…

[ARK, the team that rose from Challengers Korea, their spring split miracle… VXG is about to put an end to their run]

This was the outcome everyone had expected. Even with their upset victory in one game, VXG was a team that had maintained a consistent roster and strong performance for years. ARK, despite winning the LCK, had been playing in Challengers Korea just six months prior.

But…

‘Seo-ha…’

Yoon Seo-ha’s eyes on the screen weren’t their usual bright, shining selves. They were dull, lifeless, like the eyes of the teams she had defeated in the past.

[Ah, that was truly a fantastic match]
[I agree. With TXG out of the tournament, many LJL fans, including myself, didn’t have high expectations.]
[Honestly, I felt the same way.]
[But for everyone who came to watch the game live, you are incredibly lucky. You don’t get to see a match like this every day!]
[It was truly entertaining. A fierce back-and-forth battle that went to five games, culminating in a brilliant Elder Dragon control play after forcing Teleports. It was a perfect showcase of modern League of Legends.]
[Of course, ARK fought valiantly, and Para proved to everyone just how monstrously skilled she is. But… it seems it was too much for one player to carry a team game.]
[That’s true, but I wonder what would have happened if she had trusted her team a bit more and saved Teleport at the end.]
[I agree. In a Game 5 situation, perhaps she should have trusted her teammates to contest Baron, believed in her own ability to carry, purchased Guardian Angel, and secured vision control around the dragon.]

“…Bullshit.”

The empty plastic coffee bottle in Choi Eun-seo’s hand crumpled.

A game lost because of Yoon Seo-ha’s misplay? That she shouldn’t have Teleported at the end?

That’s something only someone watching from outside the Rift could say.

‘Did they really think VXG would just let them have Baron if she saved Teleport?’

Every decision in Game 5 carried significant risk. VXG simply played the game more effectively as a team and secured the win. It wasn’t that ARK played poorly.

[With the destruction of ARK’s Nexus, the MSI champions are VXG!]
[Avengeing last year’s defeat, they are now the only team eligible to challenge for the Golden Road. I wonder how far they will go!]

As ARK’s Nexus exploded, almost every spectator rose to their feet, applauding. An international final, a five-game thriller filled with incredible plays. Under normal circumstances, they would have readily applauded out of respect for the victors. But now, all Choi Eun-seo could think about was Yoon Seo-ha’s confidence.

‘…It’s not over.’

In League of Legends, unlike other sports, the prestige of different tournaments varied dramatically. Though the MSI runner-up finish was a bitter pill to swallow…

‘Worlds.’

Worlds, the most prestigious tournament of the year, the culmination of a year’s worth of competition. If they could get their revenge there, everything that came before would be just a stepping stone.

‘They have enough points.’

And since VXG was also aiming for the Golden Road, they would undoubtedly be at Worlds.

‘Revenge on home soil.’

This year’s Worlds was being held in Korea. If ARK and VXG clashed again, they would have a significant home-field advantage. So please…

‘Don’t give up.’

Shame. I wasn’t disgusted by my choice or the resulting defeat. But the reason I felt so ashamed that I never wanted to set foot on stage again was…

‘It wasn’t my decision.’

In the end, I used Teleport. I couldn’t argue if someone said I didn’t trust my teammates. But the bigger reason was…

‘…What would HUN do?’

What choice would the player on the opposing team, the one who had blocked my path countless times, have made? Ultimately, I moved my fingers according to that thought.

The only consolation was the silence in the waiting room after the post-game interview. No one mentioned my mistake. I sat on the sofa, hugging my knees, head buried, replaying the game in my mind. What choice would have led to the best outcome, to victory? As frustration mounted from the lack of a clear answer…

“Alright… everyone, listen up!”

Coach Kim, returning from additional interviews with reporters, clapped his hands to get our attention.

“We lost today, but we still have a lot of games ahead of us, right?”

He was right. In terms of the number of matches, the end of MSI meant that only about 40% of the year was over.

“We have enough Worlds points from MSI. If we perform decently in the Summer Split, we’ll qualify for Worlds directly without having to play in the Regional Finals.”

As he said, we only needed to reach at least the second round of playoffs to secure a spot at Worlds. Having already won the LCK Spring Split, it should be achievable. It had to be.

[Suffering another defeat, ARK is now headed to the Regional Qualifiers.]

Back in the LCK, our team no longer displayed the same dominant form.