Chapter 9: Isn’t he going to dodge this?

[5], [4], [3], [2], [1]…

[Game starting!]

Contrary to my expectations, the game began.

“Why aren’t they dodging?”

For a moment, I felt anger, but as the loading screen appeared, I soon understood why the opposing team didn’t dodge.

MAX WooChan – Nyar
yytvxxiaojin – Rek’Sai
qq7785dd55 – Cassiopeia

• Jinxus
  SY GuineaPig – Thresh

A strange mid-jungle duo.

I quickly checked their match history, and I saw an absurd win rate of 90%.

“Since their win-loss record seems similar, they must have queued as a duo from the start.”

It seemed like the account belonged to a pro gamer, and judging by the ID, they were probably from China.

“Well, doesn’t matter.”

Currently, my Prisoner account score was 1613.

It was actually harder to face opponents who weren’t pros.

• Welcome to Summoner’s Rift!

The game began, and I analyzed the invade matchups between our team and the enemy team.

[Allies / Enemies]
Top: Lee Sin / Nyar
Jungle: Kindred / Rek’Sai
Mid: Orianna / Cassiopeia
ADC: Samira / Jinxus
Support: Nautilus / Thresh

“Not bad.”

The outcome might depend on the supports’ grabs, but with this lineup, it was definitely worth trying.

I pinged the bottom bush.

[ ↓ ] [ ↓ ] [ ↓ ]

The enemy team likely knew their invade matchup was unfavorable, so they would probably play defensively.

Defensive play means spreading out to scout for vision.

When Nautilus turned his lens and entered the bottom tri-bush, the enemy ward was visible.

Our position was revealed.

But it didn’t matter.

Being in a favorable position meant we could pressure the enemy into unreasonable situations.

[ ↓] [ ↓ ] [ ↓ ]

Even though our position was spotted, I pinged again.

“The enemy ward is missing one. Since it was in the bottom bush, it was probably the support or ADC ward.”

I generally didn’t like these aggressive invades.

Level 1 fights were usually decided by small margins, and I had always been weak in those early encounters.

But not anymore.

Unlike the past, where I would back off despite a favorable matchup, now I no longer had to.

We stepped further into the bottom tri-bush, heading straight to the bottom lane bush.

“One more ward.”

With that, we cleared two of the enemy’s wards.

It was a significant advantage, but I didn’t stop there.

[ ↓ ] [ ↓ ] [ ↓ ]

I speak with my movements.

Your red, it’s mine.

If you don’t like it, try to fight me.

Of course, when you make such a claim, no matter how good-natured they are, they can’t just let it slide.

As we dug deeper into the enemy’s red jungle, a death sentence from Thresh flew at us from the line bush.

Squeak!

It would have been nice if I had avoided it, but sadly, the death sentence that suddenly came from the bush was quite sharp.

Ping!

It was Nautilus who took the hit from the death sentence.

As soon as Nautilus was hit, Thresh confidently rushed in.

By now, they probably thought we had walked into the trap they had set, but the opposite was true.

It was already 1:20 into the game.

A normal top laner would have already headed to the lane by now.

But…

Our Lee Sin hadn’t gone home yet.

Even though the invade was based on the top’s sacrifice, “Jungler’s s*ave,” or rather ‘LaLaLa,’ joined the invade without hesitation.

As Nautilus was ambushed, Lee Sin appeared magnificently with a defense, and the enemy team’s movement clearly showed signs of confusion.

What they thought would be a 4v4 teamfight was actually a 4v5.

Shiiing—

Did they feel like it was an unavoidable fight?

The enemy top, who had just shown up at the top lane, teleported using a ward in the red bush.

The top laner who had joined the invade, expecting to sacrifice their teleport, ended up gaining an advantage instead.

Noticing that the enemy top was coming, our team pinged a retreat.

Normally, after removing the enemy top’s teleport, we had already gained enough advantage, so it was okay to back off.

Our Lee Sin could teleport to the top lane, and that would create an insurmountable difference at the top.

But was it really necessary to do that?

Whether it was 4v5 or 5v5.

The result would still be the same—I was going to win.

[0][0][0]

When I pinged again, Nautilus, understanding, advanced forward.

This was the divine realm.

Whether the order was wrong or right, it was best to follow it.

Tuwung!

With the heavy sound of a hook, Thresh, closest to Nautilus, was pulled in.

As Nautilus’ grab succeeded, Samira followed up with her passive to airborn the enemy.

Then came the subsequent barrage.

• First Blood!
• Enemy slain!

With the sweet assist, my mark stacks increased.

It felt good to have placed the mark earlier.

The situation was now 4v5.

Even though we had lost a support, the enemy team didn’t retreat, thinking that our skills were also depleted.

• An ally has been slain!

In that skirmish, our Orianna was sacrificed.

Being a champion with no mobility, she died even after using Flash to escape.

Of course, the enemy was already practically in our grasp due to their reckless pursuit.

• Enemy slain!

The fierce level 1 skirmish continued.

• An ally has been slain!

In this situation, the jungler who retreats would suffer tremendous losses, so the enemy team did not back down.

However…

Rek’Sai is a champion who can do nothing at level 1 other than walk slowly.

Because of this, the originally 5v5 fight quickly turned into a 5v4, and that difference soon determined the outcome of the skirmish.

• Enemy slain!

The result was 3v2.

Looking at the number of kills, it seemed like a small advantage, but in reality, the game was almost over.

After recalling, our Lee Sin returned to the top lane with teleport and farmed all the lanes, while the enemy Nyahru had to walk to the top after dying and respawning.

Looking at the lane situation, it seemed that with the current state, there would even be a temporary 2-level gap between Lee Sin and Nyahru.

In essence, the top lane fight was already decided.

The jungle situation was just as serious.

Typically, Rek’Sai is very threatening when she clears the red and 3 camps before ganking, but in this case, Rek’Sai’s jungle route was severely delayed during the invade, leaving her with almost no options left.

From here on, this is my territory.

I read the enemy’s psychology.

I sense the enemy’s emotions.

‘They must be really angry.’

Professionals are still human.

No, because they’re professionals, when they suffer losses, their instincts make them try to recover those losses.

Generally, since I took their red, they would probably think that I’m either finishing off their jungle or heading to my blue.

But I’m not that predictable.

After taking their red, I immediately returned to base and then headed to my red.

If my assumption is correct, Rek’Sai should be at her red by now.

‘No red.’

I didn’t steal it. The timing doesn’t match for that.

‘She’s in the bush.’

Sure enough, as soon as I warded the bush, Rek’Sai appeared, hitting her red.

[Rek’Sai – Level 1]

Hello, you little rascal.

Of course, a level 1 Rek’Sai with red buff was no match for me, a level 2 Kindred.

‘No chance.’

Level 1 Smite vs. Level 2 Smite.

In the past, even if I had a favorable position, I might have lost it, but not now.

Tuwung!

With the sound of Smite ringing out, I successfully stole the red.

Rek’Sai was still level 1.

Naturally, she had no chance to retaliate.

• Enemy slain!

The thrill of the steal.

The sound of Rek’Sai’s keyboard breaking echoed in my mind.