Chapter 11

### Chapter 11: Proof

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The content of the post consisted of GIFs and their descriptions.

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(Initial invade explosion scene.GIF)

(Red dying due to greed in the invade.GIF)

(Gang pretending to go for a ward and then invading.GIF)

(Rexai suffering in the invade.GIF)

(Top laners having a good time.GIF)

(Rexai's mental breaking and opening up.GIF)

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"Hmm."

I had a feeling, but sure enough, it was a collection of GIFs from the game I played a little while ago. The fact that such GIFs were already circulating so soon after the game ended suggested that someone had been watching it in real-time. I wondered if the game was really that noteworthy, but I soon shrugged it off.

'Well, of course.'

While it was still unconfirmed, the title suggested that it was a duo with an impressive 35-game winning streak. And not just any duo, but one in the Challenger tier. If that were all, it would be something a decent Challenger duo could achieve, but the real issue was their identity.

'The Red Cup runner-up duo.'

I knew who the Red Cup runner-up team was. In fact, it was impossible not to know.

GRS.

A team that had won their domestic league in China after a fierce battle and had nearly dethroned the Red Cup champions, SY. Of course, the general consensus was that GRS's success in the Red Cup was solely due to their bottom lane, but that was a misjudgment. A team with only one strong lane could never have made it to the runner-up position in a tournament filled with top-tier players. Indeed, GRS's mid-jungle duo had proven their strength with this 35-game winning streak. In other words, there were only a handful of mid-jungle duos in the world who could match them.

'Of course, I just exposed them a little while ago.'

It felt like I was praising myself, but it was the truth.

After a moment of idle thoughts, I scrolled down to the comments.

── This is almost a one-sided game, isn't it?

── When I saw who the opponent was, it was Prisoner lol. Even a World Cup runner-up can't beat a troll in solo queue lol.

── Wow, seeing all the movements read, if I were Rexai, I would have fled immediately during the invade.

── Can a jungler recover a mid lane that gets solo-killed? Can a jungler recover a mid lane that gets solo-killed? Can a jungler recover a mid lane that gets solo-killed? Can a jungler recover a mid lane that gets solo-killed?

── It's not uncommon for amateurs to beat pros in solo queue, but is this really something to make such a fuss over?

The community's reaction, however, suggested otherwise.

── Of course, it's the jungle that Rainbow picked.

── No, Prisoner is on fire these days. He might even beat Yunji in solo queue.

── Does the Red Cup-winning jungler look like a joke?? He's just boasting about his achievements before he's even debuted lol.

── You're saying "in solo queue" as if you don't understand the context. You don't get the premise?

── But isn't Prisoner an invade one-trick? Most of his recent wins have been from successful invades.

The community, as always, seemed to be heading towards an argument.

"What's got you all so riled up?"

I couldn't understand why people were expressing their anger in such meaningless places, but I was also wasting time reading these comments, so I had no right to judge. As I read through the various comments, the queue was finally found.

[Game found!]

[Accept / Decline]

Of course, I accepted.

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MAX WooChan has joined the lobby.

Prisoner has joined the lobby.

Jungler's Slave has joined the lobby.

SCV BlackDog has joined the lobby.

BamYaBamYaBamYa has joined the lobby.

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Hmm.

Not good.

The problem was that the positions were overlapping. Two top laners, two ADCs. This was relatively better than having two junglers and two supports, which would have been a guaranteed dodge.

[Jungler's Slave: Can you give up top?]

[MAX WooChan: No]

Even if they agreed, there was still an issue. A subtle battle of nerves began between the two top laners who had faced each other in the previous game.

[Jungler's Slave: Can you give up top?]

[MAX WooChan: No]

[Jungler's Slave: Can you give up top?]

[MAX WooChan: No]

[Jungler's Slave: Can you give up top?]

[MAX WooChan: No]

The result was a stalemate. The ban-pick phase began.

[Ban List]

Lissandra / Sylas

Shaco / Thresh

Singed / Lissandra

Talon / Kindred

Kaisa / Kaisa

'Kindred ban?'

It felt a bit strange...

Of course, Kindred isn't a bad pick, but among the many OP champions, was it really necessary to ban him?

'Was it that duo from earlier?'

Since I had queued up immediately after the last game, the probability was high.

'Let's see how it goes.'

Our team was the blue side, so I was the first pick for top lane, a position known as the most difficult in the blue side.

[MAX WooChan: Anyone willing to first pick?]

There was no response. Eventually, he picked a champion when there were only 3 seconds left.

[Sion]

Indeed, a sturdy tank is the best for a first pick.

As soon as the blue side's picks were done, familiar portraits appeared from the enemy side.

Nidalee, Renekton.

The strongest snowballing top-jungle champions in League of Legends. Renekton, in particular, could even swap to mid lane, making this a well-thought-out ban-pick from the enemy.

'Seems like they're going for it.'

It might just be a feeling, but the ban-pick felt emotionally charged.

When the enemy team's picks were done, it was my turn to pick second.

'Hmm.'

Our top lane champion was Sion. Even a tank like Sion would struggle if Nidalee and Renekton focused on him. Therefore, I needed to pick a champion who could cover for that.

'And I need to consider the possibility of Renekton going mid.'

One option was to pick a champion in our mid lane who had a good matchup against Renekton.

[Prisoner: Mid AD? AP?]

[Jungler's Slave: Hmm...]

After a moment of thought, he picked Sett.

'Not bad.'

Sett is a champion that can be used in the top lane, so his mastery should be decent. Even if Renekton goes mid, he would have an advantage, making it a good overall choice.

'So, the remaining option is AP.'

With both our top and mid laners picking AD champions, my already limited choices became even narrower.

'Probably... Elise and Ekko.'

Both are currently strong AP jungle champions, but there's a significant difference.

Elise is a pick that supports the laners, while Ekko grows based on the sacrifices of the laners.

'I'll go with this.'

[Ekko]

Under normal circumstances, I would have picked Elise without hesitation. The early game power and the risk of picking Ekko against Nidalee were significant.

Perhaps the comments I saw earlier in the community influenced this decision.

── "But isn't Prisoner an invade one-trick? Most of his recent wins have been from successful invades."

What a joke.

In the past, I always avoided fights unless I had a clear advantage. My early game fighting skills were, at best, below average in the top tier. Now, to be called an invade one-trick who focuses on early game fights...

The world has changed a lot.

'I don't need to prove anything, but...'

I've already made up my mind.

In the remaining three months, I will reach the highest point as Prisoner.

Therefore, I will prove it.

Where I can go from here.

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