Chapter 42 : Curry Hunter

A scrim was just a practice match, but that didn’t mean we could slack off. Whether it was a practice match or not, having named the team “Curry Breaker,” we had to win to avoid being ridiculed.

But was winning the only way to “break”? I busied myself with trying to uphold the team’s reputation while aiming for victory.

[Enemy slain.]

After successfully executing a risky turret dive at level 6 and recalling from a dangerous spot, I gambled since we didn’t know the enemy jungler’s location, and my gamble paid off.

Having survived a situation where I could have died, I didn’t head back to mid but directly moved to top.

In the dominant tank meta, Curry had to set aside his favored aggressive champions.

Latte also set aside his aggressive champions, leading to a stalemate at the top lane with no significant damage dealt to each other.

“Jericho, let’s gank top once.”

“I’m timing the counter-gank for bot…”

“Jericho, you entrusted me with the main calls, didn’t you? Let’s play safe in the bot lane this turn.”

“If it’s your call, I’ll follow it.”

Sigh…”

Jericho sighed at Coolddog’s response, who was always quick to follow my orders.

Jericho had no choice but to follow me to the top lane after choosing to avoid a bot lane confrontation. It was an unexpected dive timing.

From the moment I gave the order, Latte’s Ornn started aggressively pressuring Curry’s Maokai to set up the dive.

When the big wave pushed under the tower, Jericho and I emerged from the bush. The second most hated situation for any top laner: a three-man dive with no backup.

No matter how strong their mentality, facing a three-man dive even once can leave their head spinning.

Whether it was due to nervousness from the dive or lack of practice, Maokai used his most annoying skill, W, on Ornn. With his untargetable (invulnerable) state gone, we devoured the opportunity set before us.

[Enemy Slain.]

After a smooth kill on Maokai, I returned to the mid lane.

[Ally Slain.]

During my absence from mid, the wandering swordsman’s Zed wasn’t idle. As Jericho mentioned, the enemy jungler was aiming for a bot dive.

As soon as the wandering swordsman saw me top, he rushed bot. Despite Coolddog and Antenna handling the dive well, they were caught off guard by the late-arriving Zed and gave up a kill.

With only Antenna dying, they held up well considering it was a 4-man dive.

[Enemy Team Slain Dragon!] [Ally Team Slain Rift Herald!]

The enemy team played a strong bottom-focused game.

We focused our game on the top side to take down Curry. As the game progressed, the value of the Dragon increased, but to defeat, or rather break, Curry, we needed the Rift Herald more than the Dragon.

The enemy took the Dragon, and we successfully secured the Rift Herald. After taking the Dragon, the enemy team aimed for another four-man dive.

Of course, our team had no backup, and I once again took Jericho to the top lane.

[Summoned the Rift Herald!]

The top laner’s most hated situation as ranked by Phobos: a three-man dive with the Rift Herald when turret plates are still up.

It was practically a death sentence. Naturally, Curry’s Maokai couldn’t put up any resistance and met a cold end.

[Destroyed the First Turret!]

The first turret in the top lane collapsed, its crumbling debris resembling Curry’s shattered mentality. Since we couldn’t watch Curry’s stream during the scrim, we couldn’t confirm his reaction.

I made a mental note to rewatch his stream later. Stream snipers love to revisit streamers’ reactions they missed while focusing on their gameplay.

For gamers, it’s like revisiting highlights to feel a sense of accomplishment, similar to “highlight fishing.”

Even without watching the replay, I could already imagine Curry’s desperate expression, which made me smile.

An infamous stream sniper who had harassed him for years had debuted as a streamer and was now sniping him in a scrim before an official tournament.

I quietly laughed at the absurdity of the situation, wondering if there could be anyone else as crazy as me.

Not enough yet. Just a bit more.

“Let’s start contesting the Dragon and aim for the fourth one.”

Just as my desire was about to overwhelm my reason, Jericho’s voice brought me back. The excitement that had been boiling over instantly cooled, and I regained my composure.

The situation had been so stimulating that I couldn’t think straight for a moment. Thanks to Jericho’s timely intervention, my thoughts returned to normal.

Right. No matter how many times we kill them, we need to win the game to see the reaction I want.

Convincing myself, I canceled the move command I had set for Maokai farming at the top second tower.

I headed to the bot lane, cleared the incoming minion wave, and joined the team gathering at the top.

As the respawn time for the third Dragon approached, both teams began to converge at the river near the Dragon’s nest.

The standoff was intense, and the enemy team started attacking the Dragon first. Aphelios, who had grown significantly, quickly melted the Dragon’s health.

“I’ll go in first and draw their attention.”

If we delayed any longer, we would lose the Dragon. After making an urgent call, I used Flash and my ultimate to dive into the middle of the enemy team.

Immediately, I used my shroud to hide and started the teamfight. While in the shroud, I distracted the enemy and divided their focus.

Amidst the chaos, I looked for an opportunity to assassinate Aphelios. However, Nian’s ironclad support and flawless skillshots delayed me, costing precious time.

The synergy between the former professional bot lane duo, Ras and Nian, was impressive and their teamwork was solid.

However, they weren’t impenetrable. I seized a moment of opportunity and unleashed all my skills on Aphelios. In an instant, his health dropped below 300, and I was the only target he could attack.

In a situation where I could die at any moment, I alternated between using Zhonya’s Hourglass and Stopwatch. As a result, Aphelios couldn’t deal any damage for a crucial five seconds.

In this meta dominated by tanks, Latte’s Ornn had reached 2 core items due to constant attention. Ornn had even reached level 13, where his mythic item upgrades to a masterwork item.

Even if Aphelios dealt heavy damage for 5 seconds, it was doubtful he could kill Ornn. Since I caused a 5-second delay in his damage, no one could bring down Ornn. With the enemy ADC unable to deal damage, the well-fed Ornn was nearly invincible.

[Triple Kill!] [Ace!]

“Nice shot, Latte hyung! Trust you!”

“Go straight for Brand.”

Latte’s Ornn achieved a triple kill, leading to a decisive teamfight victory.

[Slain Brand Nashor!]

Following the teamfight victory, we successfully secured Brand. Checking my gold, I had around 3000 gold.

I bought a core item outright and completed my 4th core item, roaming the Rift leisurely. I noticed Curry’s Maokai through a ward planted in the bush beside the blue buff.

Maokai was struggling to hunt the Gromp, looking pitiful due to his poor growth. I wanted to help, so I initiated with my ultimate. Startled by Akali’s sudden appearance, Maokai fiercely resisted.

Desperately trying to escape from me, Maokai couldn’t dash over walls without a target. His health rapidly dwindled from one combo, and he soon vanished, buried in the ground.

[Master of the Battlefield!]

It would be better for Maokai to rest peacefully in death rather than struggle to kill the Gromp. At least that’s what I thought, and I made Curry comfortable in that way.

As the flow of the game fully shifted in our favor, I leisurely pressed Tab to check Maokai’s KDA.

KDA : 1/9/5

Was this really the kill-death ratio of someone participating in a scrim? Curry’s KDA was so abysmal it made me wonder.

What had happened for him to experience more deaths than kill participation? To mess up a KDA that badly, someone must have been relentlessly targeting him.

Who could have harassed Maokai so severely, I wondered. Of course, that curiosity quickly vanished from my mind.

“Hnn~”

“…I’m really glad to be on the same team as you, sis.”

“For once, I agree with you.”

Feeling cheerful, I couldn’t help but let out a contented sigh. Coolddog expressed his fear out loud, and even Jericho, who often clashed with Coolddog, agreed.

“Let’s wrap this up. Latte, please join us in the bot lane.”

“Got it.”

Although Ornn had Teleport, there was no reason for him to split push when he was so fed. Split pushing as a tank was close to trolling.

It was better for him to stay nearby and help our damage dealers position comfortably.

[Destroyed the Inhibitor!]

With both the mid and bot inhibitors down, we pressured the enemy with Brand-buffed super minions.

The health of the twin towers guarding the Nexus was gradually whittled down. Realizing they had no time left, the enemy Braum initiated a teamfight with a Flash ultimate.

With no other effective initiator besides the underfed Maokai, this was their desperate choice.

This decision made it easier for me to target Aphelios. Although Maokai beside Aphelios tried his best to block my approach, it was in vain.

[Double Kill!]

With my second ultimate, I took out both Aphelios and Maokai simultaneously. Taking down the crucial ADC and the main, albeit subpar, tank caused the enemy team’s balance to collapse rapidly.

In truth, the game was already tipping in our favor even if I hadn’t managed to take down both targets solo.

“Good game, everyone.”

“GG, easy.”

“Well done, everyone.”

“Glad we won.”

As the Nexus was destroyed, each team member chimed in. Living up to the name “Curry Breaker” brought immense satisfaction.

“Carried the game.”

Despite feeling thrilled, I nonchalantly remarked. Moving to the results screen, one thing caught my eye immediately. It was Curry’s Maokai, who had achieved a staggering 10 deaths this game.

[Laugh Suppression Level 999]

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Pfft!”

I failed to suppress my laughter, and the mic was still on.

“Why did you suddenly laugh, sis… Oh, no way.”

“Am I the only one who didn’t get it?”

“I didn’t get it either.”

“…Seeing Curry’s Maokai’s deaths might help you understand.”

-Haha! -Hehe!

With Antenna’s speculative remark, sounds of suppressed laughter came from all around. It wasn’t strange at all that I was laughing openly.

Breaking Curry, who had abandoned me. Or rather, I broke him.

Although it wasn’t a crushing defeat in an official tournament yet, this was a significant accomplishment.

Having achieved the goal of this scrim, I logged onto Curry’s stream. The broadcast was showing a game from three minutes ago.

I eagerly awaited what felt like the longest three minutes of my life.