Chapter 29: It will work out somehow.

As mentioned earlier, 3-minute top church honor member is not bad at top.

However, his peculiar fanaticism for top sometimes ruins the game, so as a mid-laner, who needs to keep the game in balance, it was hard to trust him.

[Me: Just asking, but you’re not an assassin trying to stop my #1 spot, right?]

[3-minute top church honor member: It’s up to you.]

That’s basically telling me to shut up and just gank.

‘It’ll work out somehow.’

Since there was only one step left to reach #1, normally I would dodge when the lanes get tangled, but since we’re duo, I couldn’t do that.

‘The lanes aren’t tangled that badly anyway.’

As I mentioned before, top laners usually don’t mind going mid, and ADCs can often play as support.

Even if our team’s strength isn’t 100%, it doesn’t mean we can’t win this game.

Amidst all the noise…

The ban-pick phase began.

[Ban List]
Sylas / Ezreal
/ Suss
Senya / Gwen
Thresh / Wukong
Shaco / Lee Sin

Our team’s position is the upper side.
So, we’re the last pick.

-Selecting…

The opposing first pick banned Ezreal.

It’s common to think that since I’m the ADC, they banned Ezreal, but there’s also a chance of a lane swap, and since Ezreal is such a strong champion, it wasn’t really a meaningful assumption.

[Samira]
It’s a safe pick.
Along with Ezreal, Samirais considered a top-tier champion among ADCs, so it’s no problem to first pick her.

-Selecting…
-Selecting…

Now, it’s our team’s 1st and 2nd pick.

[Karma]
[Jinx]

Although SY Longbow, the 2nd pick, was fine with it, the 1st pick, Top Church Honor Member, picked without hesitation.

‘That’s a bit surprising.’

Since we’re duo, I thought he would ask for a swap, but since it’s mid, he probably thought it wouldn’t matter.

‘Well.’

Usually, Karma is primarily used in the top lane.

In the past, he was often used in jungle and mid, but due to continuous nerfs, he’s now unplayable in jungle and while he can still be used mid, it’s not commonly done.

Nonetheless, since Karma is a champion that can be swapped between top and mid, he picked it without hesitation.

As I’ve said before, champions that can swap positions generally have the effect of allowing you to pick twice or more.

The ban-pick phase continued.

Now, it was time for the enemy team’s 2nd and 3rd picks.

[Elise]
[Renekton]

Renekton and Elise.

Since our top was Karma, I was half-expecting this pick.

Even if Karma went to a different lane, I had already experienced the destructive power of Renekton in the previous match.

‘They’re definitely trying to crush Karma.’

If 3-minute top church honor member had been playing top, I would’ve dodged without hesitation.

Of course, that didn’t mean I could relax yet.

If I noticed that Karma had gone mid, Renekton could easily follow him to mid.

[MAX WooChan: Hmm…]
[MAX WooChan: The enemy jungler is out, can you swap?]
[MAX WooChan: I’m not sure where Renekton is yet…]

Could there really be a top fanaticism preservation rule? 3-minute top church honor member was quiet, but his after-pick instinct flared up.

Well, since Elisehad already been picked, there was no need to refuse, so I accepted the swap.

[Prisoner: ᄋᄏ One moment]
[MAX WooChan: Sure]

Hmm, let me think…

The enemy ADC is Samira, and their jungler is Elise. Up to this point, unless there’s a huge troll on their team, these are fixed picks.

The problem is Renekton…

‘They might have picked him for top now, but if I confirm Karma went mid, he might follow.’

The damage balance is also a concern.

Right now, Karma and Jinx are already picked on our team.

I don’t know what our top will pick, but it would be better to pick an AP champion for damage balance.

‘Kassadin is banned, so excluding him… the remaining options are…’

Excluding champions like Lillia, who got nerfed into uselessness, the remaining choices are Nidalee, Ekko, Rumble, LeBlanc, and Diana.

Excluding Ekko and LeBlanc, who are weak early on…

‘It’s best to pick between Nidalee, Rumble, or Diana.’

Statistically, Diana has a higher win rate against Elise out of those three.

Considering the picks that have been made so far, it seems there will be a lot of fighting in the upper lanes, so Diana, who excels in fights, doesn’t seem like a bad choice.

[Prisoner: I’ll take Diana]
[Diana]

Soon after, the support was picked.

[Alistar]

Our team’s support picked Alistar.

It’s not a bad choice, as it requires less mastery compared to non-targeting champions.

Now, it’s time for the enemy team to make their 4th and 5th picks.

That means I can make my pick after seeing all of their combinations.

‘This is the advantage of the red team’s last pick.’

It’s often said that the red team’s highlight is the last pick, while the blue team’s highlight is the first pick.

This shows how important the red team’s last pick and blue team’s first pick are.

‘Technically, this isn’t even my pick.’

Since we were picking after the enemy jungler anyway, it wasn’t particularly meaningful except for composing the overall team composition.

Soon, the enemy team completed their 4th and 5th picks.

[Zoe]
[Nautilus]

These are all standard and safe picks.

But for some reason, when I saw Zoe, an inexplicable sense of déjà vu hit me.

‘Could it be?’

Instinctively, I checked my friends list.

I remembered that Rainbow had logged in while I was talking to 3-minute top church honor member earlier.

[SY Rainbow]
Champion selection in progress.
+

The queue caught at the same time, in the same segment.

What are the chances that this is just a coincidence?

The meaning of this is clear.

‘It’s him.’

Rainbow is on the enemy team.

…Should I just dodge?’

Our mid is 3-minute top church honor member, and their mid is a two-time Red Cup champion?

Oh, shoot.

As much as I don’t like blaming my team, the gap between a Red Cup champion and a top fanatic, who isn’t even their main position, is shockingly large.

I quickly messaged 3-minute top church honor member.

[Me: Hey.]
[Me: I think Rainbow is on the enemy team.]

I was thinking maybe 3-minute top church honor member would dodge instead of me.

[3-minute top church honor member: So what?]
[3-minute top church honor member: It’s actually good, I’ll win. Hehe.]

Yeah, I knew you’d say that.

While we were having this meaningless conversation, it was soon my turn to pick.

[Prisoner: What should I pick?]

[MAX WooChan: Hmm…]
[MAX WooChan: Wait a sec.]
[MAX WooChan: I’ll take KUN.]

KUN.

A traditional Renekton counter.

…At least if we’re talking about a 1v1 situation.

Even though KUN’s skillset counters Renekton, he can’t counter Elise.

Moreover, KUN isn’t the best champion for team fights, so unless I can completely crush Renekton, to be honest, he’s not a great pick.

‘This… should I say typical, or should I just believe in myself?’

Whatever the case, it was a pick that screamed “top fanatic.”

‘They must think losing the top lane means losing the game.’

I don’t really understand why they think that way, but…

If you’re curious, just go to top and try playing a game yourself.

It will be understood immediately.

And…

Finally, the ban/pick phase was completed.

[Our team / Enemy team]

Top: KUN / Renekton

Jungle: Diana / Elise

Mid: Karma / Zoe

ADC: Jinkus / Samira

Support: Alistar / Nautilus

‘By the way, 1AP… this is going to be heavy.’

When the damage balance leans heavily toward one side like this, the champion with 1AP or 1AD needs to grow well.

Of course, I’m not lacking in confidence.

On the contrary, since I have to carry, I just need to focus a little more.

Soon, the loading screen appeared.

SCV KING – Renekton

yytvxxiaojin – Elise

SY Rainbow – Zoe

SCV WhiteCat – Samira

MAX Lineover – Nautilus

As expected, the enemy mid laner’s nickname was not only familiar but also striking.

‘Rainbow’

It’s not the first time I’ve faced Rainbow as an enemy.

Rainbow was considered an old gamer in a way, and naturally, we had crossed paths countless times in solo queue.

As an enemy, as well as an ally.

And every time, I felt a huge wall.

YunGi also felt a massive wall, but in the end, he found a way and managed to keep his win rate.

However, it wasn’t like that with Rainbow.

A completed mid laner.

There are no strategies, no weaknesses.

The only way to defeat Rainbow is one thing.

Win in a fair fight, power against power.

‘But our mid is…’

[3-minute top church honor member – Karma]

…Well, it’ll work out somehow.

I kind of understood why optimists come into being.