Chapter 61: Return of the King

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin) has targeted HyeiniBbo (Veigar)]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin) has targeted HyeiniBbo (Veigar)]

Despite suffering the humiliation of getting solo-killed by a level 3 Master Yi, Lee Sin was undeterred. The moment he revived, he sprinted toward the bot lane while spamming pings.

However, the bot lane was currently pushed toward the enemy’s side.

Even if Lee Sin arrived immediately, the lane was in an awkward state for both a gank and a dive.

‘This is going to be tough.’

On top of that, the allied bot lane consisted of Ezreal and Yuumi, who weren’t particularly proactive in responding to ganks. Meanwhile, the enemy bot lane had Veigar and Blitzcrank.

This was an even worse strategy than brainless full-clearing—it was brainless ganking.

‘At least brainless full-clearing guarantees a scaling jungler, but brainless ganking just ruins even the teammates who were doing well.’

The result was as clear as day.

—Enemy slain!

—Double kill!

…However, if there was an unexpected variable, it was that rain suddenly fell from a clear sky.

‘They actually fell for that?’

Anyone could see that the bot lane situation was nowhere near ideal for a gank.

Yet, against all odds, the enemy engaged right as Lee Sin arrived.

Did they overextend because their Master Yi was on his way? Not at all.

In short, the enemy bot lane self-destructed.

I was momentarily stunned, but since it was our team that profited from the play, I had no complaints.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

Playing this game made me feel like my entire understanding of the League of Legends world was being shaken.

Then, it happened.

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): Ah]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): F***]

The entire lower jungle had been cleared out.

While Lee Sin went bot for a gank, the enemy Master Yi had opted for counter-jungling rather than a counter-gank.

‘Hmm.’

If we were to weigh the losses and gains, it was still an advantage for our team.

Not only did we secure a double kill in the bot lane, but we also shoved the wave under the enemy turret and even took turret plates.

However…

‘This won’t be the end of it.’

An enraged Lee Sin invaded the enemy’s blue side, only to find it completely empty.

Having secured early kills, Master Yi had efficiently swept through his jungle with his signature fast clear speed.

‘He should’ve just gone straight to his own blue buff. Trying to make up for the lost jungle just erased most of the advantage bot lane had gained.’

If Ezreal had secured the double kill, it would have been a different story.

Unfortunately, the kills had gone to Lee Sin.

While it’s usually ideal for a jungler to secure early kills, the problem was that the jungler who got two kills was now falling behind.

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin) has targeted 20210720 (Malphite)]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin) has targeted 20210720 (Malphite)]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin) has targeted 20210720 (Malphite)]

Having suffered significant losses in jungle pathing, Lee Sin irritably spammed mid-gank pings.

‘That’s not the right move.’

The enemy Master Yi was likely at his red buff or near the river.

Even if Lee Sin had secured kills, without purchasing items, he was no different from a zero-kill Lee Sin. Meanwhile, the enemy Master Yi had not only picked up a kill but had also bought items and likely had a level advantage.

‘Besides, it’s going to be difficult to burst down Malphite as Lee Sin and Zed.’

Even if Malphite was squishy in the early game, he was still Malphite.

If the gank was delayed even slightly, Master Yi would show up.

Despite these risks, Lee Sin fearlessly dove at Malphite.

—Flash!

Whether the gank itself was sharp or Zed’s follow-up was good, it was fortunate that Master Yi did not appear. Malphite had no choice but to burn his Flash.

‘Hmm.’

Now, this was where it got interesting.

‘Let’s see what happens next.’

Lee Sin’s position was now revealed.

Moreover, the balance between the junglers had been significantly disrupted.

If I were Lee Sin, I would have recalled or changed my pathing.

However…

‘He’s heading straight for the wolves.’

It was a foolish decision. And, unsurprisingly, just as Lee Sin approached the wolves, Master Yi emerged from the brush.

It was an obvious ambush.

—Swish!

It was inevitable that Lee Sin would be caught, given that his location had already been revealed.

—Ally slain!

Had they met on even ground, things might have been different. But Master Yi, who had been hiding in the brush, was no longer the same Master Yi people mocked as a “bug champion.”

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): Ah, f***, seriously.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): Winning purely on luck.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): This guy is such a noob.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): So damn frustrating, seriously.]

Even though it was clearly Lee Sin’s misjudgment, he genuinely seemed to believe it was just bad luck.

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin) – Hecarim survived.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin) – Hecarim survived.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): Why didn’t anyone back me up?]

Oh? Shifting the blame now?

TOJ.

In that case, let me give you a cute penguin.

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): **************]

[Horololololololo (Zed): Hahahahaha, that’s hilarious.]

One of the best ways to win an argument is to turn your opponent into a laughingstock.

Just like this.

‘Well, to be fair, it’s not like I’m completely blameless for not backing him up earlier.’

If it had been someone else, maybe, but I had already predicted that their Master Yi would be lurking around that area.

And yet, I didn’t go to help Lee Sin because of a little selfishness.

‘I can’t just let this hellish freeze go to waste.’

For some reason, I was starting to understand their mindset more and more.

‘Well, that’s not the only reason.’

No matter how strong the magic of “that lane” was, I originally had a pretty strong jungle awareness.

If Lee Sin had been a decent person, I would’ve backed him up without hesitation.

But this was his own karma.

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): I’m done. I can’t play with these trash-tier players.]

[Horololololololo (Zed): ;;]

[Horololololololo (Zed): Our top lane is scaling well, so just take it slow.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): Didn’t you see earlier? No one backed me up. The only reason we’re winning is because the enemy is trash.]

Such high praise?

Of course, there was no need to respond to every little compliment, so I stayed silent.

And then…

After Lee Sin recorded yet another death, Master Yi’s growth skyrocketed.

To the point where we could no longer stop him.

If this had been a game at a higher tier, then the fact that our team had more evenly distributed growth would have still given us a slight advantage.

‘Well, let’s see how it plays out.’

When Master Yi, who had been silent for a long time, finally made his move, the level gap between the junglers had already widened to two.

[Master Yi – Level 8]

[Lee Sin – Level 6]

Master Yi’s chosen battlefield was the bottom lane.

It was a wise decision, considering that I, the strongest on our team, was stuck in top lane without Teleport.

– An ally has been slain!

– Enemy double kill!

– Enemy triple kill!

–

Unstoppable!

In the end, our ADC, who had just been massacred by Master Yi in an instant, finally spoke up.

[IAmKimSuho (Ezreal): The jungle gap is insane lmao.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): ? How is this a jungle gap? It’s a top gap.]

[SmurfingKick (Lee Sin): This all happened because our top didn’t back me up earlier, lmao. If you don’t know, just stay quiet.]

[What kind of nonsense is that? Top lane is dominating right now. Can’t you see the game turned into a disaster because of just one bad jungle?] – IAmKimSuho (Ezreal)

[yop3i53fgk (Nami): Ezreal’s right.]

Ah, I get it.

From the jungler’s perspective, it might feel like they got screwed over by the team.

But unfortunately, the results make it clear that it was the jungle’s fault.

‘In the past, I would’ve helped him…’

But I don’t feel like it this time.

Not because of personal feelings.

Really.

‘Anyway, I think I’ve got all the information I need. Should I stop messing around now?’

While playing alone in top lane, I had already secured both Rift Heralds, effectively turning my lane into a highway.

Normally, after breaking the first turret, the best move would be to rotate to the bot lane.

But since I didn’t have Teleport anyway, I didn’t feel like bothering with textbook strategies.

‘I also kind of wanted to see Lee Sin getting stomped a bit more.’

But now that I’d seen everything I wanted to see, it was time to descend from my mountain.

‘I can’t let this drag on any longer.’

At this point, Master Yi had grown so strong that he could probably 1v4 my teammates, as long as he dodged a few key abilities.

‘Of course, things change if I step in.’

I knew that the moment had finally arrived.

As soon as Master Yi revealed himself near the Raptors, I dashed toward him without hesitation.

By now, the top side of the map—along with the upper jungle—was practically my territory.

“Hello.”

There was a time when full-clear junglers could grow even faster than laners.

But that was a thing of the past.

In the current patch, under normal circumstances, junglers can’t keep up with a laner’s growth.

Especially when that laner has taken every turret plate and completely crushed the enemy top laner.

Naturally, no matter how well Master Yi had grown, he wasn’t on my level.

— Ghost, Heal.

When a top laner finally descends from their lane, they often say something like this.

— Enemy slain!

— Shutdown!

The late game has arrived.

— Enemy slain!

Pentakill!

— Legendary!

After that, everything was simple.

There were a few team fights, and as the most fed player, I kept Master Yi in check.

The enemy collapsed easily.

[VICTORY]

The game was over.

Although it had been an easy win for me, my teammates seemed to feel differently as the chat exploded.

[YanghakYongBuKaeImKick: Carried]

[YanghakYongBuKaeImKick: Hard carrying these unranked players is exhausting]

[IAmKimSuho: ?]

[20210720: LOL, Tmon says he’s Diamond, that’s hilarious]

[20210720: If it weren’t for top, we would’ve been stomped]

[20210720: And Lee Sin is acting like he carried after getting destroyed by Master Yi]

[YanghakYongBuKaeImKick: I don’t talk to unranked noobs]

— YanghakYongBuKaeImKick has left the lobby.

[Horororororollolol: That guy was legendary trash]

[Horororororollolol: But Hecarim, what’s your rank? I’m Platinum, and you were amazing]

[PlayWell4148: Haha, thanks]

The outcome was predictable.

But since this was only my first game, I immediately queued up for the next one.

‘What should I play this time…?’

I pondered happily for a moment.

A week passed before I knew it.

During that time, I played various positions, just casually enjoying the game.

[VICTORY]

[VICTORY]

[VICTORY]

[VICTORY]

[PlayWell4148]

[Level 21]

Solo Queue – Unranked

Normal Games – 51 Wins, 0 Losses

Win Rate: 100%

Thanks to my steady gameplay, I had already reached Level 21.

(P1)

(Level 28)

(D4)

(D2)

(Level 26)

“Hmm.”

Was it because of my win streak?

Even though I hadn’t unlocked ranked games yet, I was already facing Diamond-tier opponents more frequently.

‘At this rate, I might start matching against Masters soon.’

It was a sign that the League of Legends I knew was finally starting to resemble its true form.

The summit was within reach.

To be continued.