Chapter 66: Among them

It only made the opponent flinch for a moment.

Sadly, the advantage of the matchup between ranged and melee champions only applies in the first level.

After that, all that awaits me is the brutal matchup between the champions.

[Ryze – Level 2]
[Yasuo – Level 2]

Once both champions reached level 2, Yasuo, who had been silent until then, began pushing forward, last-hitting minions.

But I shouldn’t be distracted.

At this point, Yasuo hadn’t even leveled his Wind Wall yet, so he couldn’t force a trade.

‘First, a basic attack.’

I step back slightly to avoid minion aggro.

This made me lose a bit of the lane push advantage, but considering the matchup between Ryze and Yasuo, I could afford this small loss.

‘If I get too greedy, I might give him a solo kill.’

Besides, the timing was very risky now.

‘It’s a level 2 gank timing.’

Although champions have lower tiers lately, that doesn’t mean Jarvan III is a bad pick.

His level 2 mid-lane gank is one of the standard and most threatening routes.

‘5, 4, 3…’

I slowly counted down in my head, waiting for the moment Jarvan could gank.

‘It’s time.’

Of course, there was a chance Jarvan might have waited too long, but even if he did, I knew the gank would be ineffective by that point.

‘The real problem starts now.’

[Yasuo – Level 3]

This was when the moment came for Ryze to do nothing against Yasuo.

‘Why did I have to face Yasuo…?’

Of course, in blind pick mode, where bans and picks are non-existent in normal games, I had no control over my matchup.

So, my fate was determined by luck.

Even if I had chosen a more neutral champion, I never imagined I’d be facing TheOne’s Yasuo in a normal game.

‘Well, even if I picked something else, it wouldn’t have mattered.’

While musing over this, Yasuo smoothly cleared the minion wave and began trading with me.

Hmm.

Yasuo’s Q is a difficult skill to dodge, especially in close range, but it isn’t impossible.

Stay calm, stay calm.

I watch Yasuo’s movements closely and avoid his skillshots.

‘This is left.’

After dodging, I use my E-W combo to lock Yasuo down as he tries to back off with the minion wave.

The wind is coming!

As expected, TheOne, one of the best top laners in the world, naturally reacted with his Wind Wall.

Unfortunately, my E was blocked by his Wind Wall, and my W applied a slow rather than a snare.

‘With the Wind Wall up, additional damage is impossible. It’s best to fall back now.’

Thankfully, Wind Wall has a long cooldown, so I could gain some push advantage during that time.

I objectively assess my situation.

‘My Ryze skill level is average at best, and the lane matchup is terrible.’

No matter how much the opponent isn’t playing his main position, TheOne is still an experienced top laner with deep lane knowledge.

Especially as the Red Cup-winning top laner.

In a 1v1, my chances of beating Yasuo were close to zero.

‘So, what’s my advantage?’

What should I focus on?

‘No need to think twice.’

I form the lane.

I try to trade damage.

It’s okay to lose.

It’s okay to miss the wave.

In fact, I’m fine even if I take more damage.

[Current Health: 364/825]

What I’m aiming for is only one thing.

‘Just a little more.’

After a series of trades, Yasuo, intoxicated by the damage, tried to dive into me with the minion wave.

At that moment,

Yasuo crossed an invisible line.

[0]

[山 (Lee Sin) has marked SY TheOne (Yasuo)]

‘I’ve waited long enough.’

Without a doubt,

I am one of the best junglers when it comes to understanding the mid-lane.

[First Blood!]

The shield that was once unbreakable now had cracks in it.

Looking at the gray screen that appeared without warning, TheOne scratched his head.

He never thought he’d get ganked at this timing in a normal game.

“Ugh, these guys are tough.”

The best way to lift yourself up is not by putting others down.

TheOne knew this better than anyone, but unfortunately, his team didn’t seem to agree with him.

[“Ah, our mid is trolling. Report.”]
[“Agreed.”]

Look at these guys?

As his teammates continued to attack him, TheOne helplessly opened the initiation.

“Ugh, this is all because the jungler didn’t gank at level 2.”

The supporter from SY, currently playing Jarvan, Yu Sanghyun, immediately retorted.

[“You’re not going? I waited there for 30 seconds and didn’t get a single response, just wasted my time.”]

He was right.

In fact, Jarvan had tried to gank mid at level 2, abandoning his jungle, but the enemy’s swift response had neutralized the attempt.

But sometimes, emotions are needed more than reason.

“Jungle difference.”

At those words, I could see YunGi flinch slightly, but at that moment, the jungler wasn’t YunGi, it was Yu Sanghyun.

[“Really?”]

Yu Sanghyun, with a strange look on his face, immediately headed toward mid.

[!][!][!]

[SY TheOne (Yasuo) signals retreat]
[SY TheOne (Yasuo) signals retreat]
[SY TheOne (Yasuo) signals retreat]

[!][!][!]

[SY TheOne (Yasuo) signals danger]
[SY TheOne (Yasuo) signals danger]
[SY TheOne (Yasuo) signals danger]

Seeing this, ChoiWon felt an ominous sensation and rapidly pinged, but Jarvan did not stop.

“…What are you doing right now? Hey! No, I don’t know what you’re planning, but stop!”

[“Gank fee.”]

With a quiet voice, Jarvan’s smite hit the cannon minion’s head.

This was the kind of action that only came out in emotional fights—something close to a taboo for junglers.

“Aagh! You ruined the wave!”

[“You asked for the gank.”]

“Ugh, seriously!”

[“Want me to go again?”]

“……”

ChoiWon couldn’t speak anymore.

In situations like this, the advantage usually lies with the jungler.

Of course, there was also the option to invade the enemy jungle, but that was a mutual destruction waiting to happen with a clearly set outcome.

Ultimately, ChoiWon, having read the situation in a split second, had no choice but to step back.

“My lane…”

Even though he had moved his lane to mid, for ChoiWon, managing the lane was as important as his life.

Yet, for someone as reckless as this, daring to smack the cannon minion with his smite, it was something he couldn’t accept.

‘I’ll get my revenge.’

Of course, there was nothing that couldn’t be forgiven, but the real problem was something else.

‘…It’s over.’

Not only had he been ganked by Ryze, but the wave he had barely managed to pull had now been pushed back due to the smite.

It was a combination of bad and worse.

‘I can’t even trade now.’

Yasuo’s laning phase is strong.

But despite this, Yasuo is often called “science” by many users, mostly due to his exposed vulnerability to ganks.

The way Yasuo trades is by weaving in and out with the minion waves.

Naturally, with his body always pushed forward, when Yasuo pushes the wave, he becomes very vulnerable to ganks.

It’s only a matter of time before the “science” moment happens.

In the end, ChoiWon, having realized how exposed he was, called out for help from what he believed to be the easiest target.

“Mayday, Mayday, need help!”

[“Really?”]

However, hearing the sly voice of Yu Sanghyun, ChoiWon had no choice but to retract his earlier distress signal.

“…Never mind. I’ll handle this myself.”

[“Good thinking. I need to take this.”]

“Enjoy your meal.”

Damn.

…Let’s just let it be.

ChoiWon gave up on thinking, half-resigned.

Of course, contrary to ChoiWon’s mindset, the actual game was going very favorably for his team.

[3:1]

The kill score was now 3:1.

His team had 3 kills.

A double kill in the bottom lane, and a solo kill at the top earlier.

Considering that the enemy top was also a pro player known to ChoiWon, it was quite an encouraging situation.

“Wow, our archer’s doing well.”

[“This is physicality.”]

With this momentum, the game seemed destined for an easy win, but the first variable appeared from the jungle.

[“Huh? Why is Ryze here?! Wait, someone save me!”]

Had Ryze used his ultimate?

Suddenly, Ryze and Lee Sin appeared from the enemy red bush and surrounded Jarvan, making the jungler desperately call for help.

ChoiWon assessed the situation.

‘Hmm, he’s dead.’

Looking at it coldly, there was little chance for Jarvan to survive.

It wasn’t that ChoiWon didn’t want to help, but his judgment was based purely on the situation.

‘Then…’

With a calm decision, ChoiWon figured now was the time to push the lane.

It was a sweet opportunity.