Chapter 29

### Chapter 29: It Will Work Out Somehow

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As I mentioned earlier, it's not that the 3-minute Tower of Honor can't play any role.

However, due to its unique tower power sometimes messing up the game, it was somewhat difficult for me, as a mid laner who needs to stabilize the game, to trust it.

[Me: Just in case... you're not here to assassinate the first place, right?]

[3-minute Tower of Honor: It depends on you.]

It's a way of saying, "Shut up and get a jungler."

‘It will work out somehow.’

Given that we were just one step away from first place, if the lane got twisted, I would normally dodge, but since we were doing a duo, I couldn't do that.

‘The lane isn't that twisted anyway.’

As I mentioned before, a top laner can usually go to the mid lane without much issue, and an ADC can often double as a support.

Even if our team's strength isn't 100%, it's not a game we can't play.

Amidst the various commotions...

The ban and pick phase began.

[Ban List]

Sylas / Ezreal

Cassiopeia

Senna / Gwen

Tresh / Acolyte

Shaco / Lissandra

Our team's side is the top side.

In other words, we have the last pick.

—Picking in progress...

—Picking in progress...

Now it's our team's turn to pick the 1st and 2nd picks.

[Karma]

[Ziggs]

For the 2nd pick, SY Longbow, it's understandable, but the 3-minute Tower of Honor picked without hesitation.

‘A bit unexpected.’

Given that we were doing a duo, I thought he would whine and ask for a lane swap, but it seems he thought it didn't matter much since he was mid.

‘Well, that’s true.’

Karma usually appears in the top lane.

In the past, she often went to the jungle or mid, but due to continuous nerfs, she became unusable in the jungle, and while she can still be used in mid, it's not a common choice.

Still, since she can swap between top and mid, he picked her without hesitation.

As I mentioned before, champions who can swap between multiple positions can bring the effect of having two or more last picks.

The ban and pick phase continued.

Now it's the opponent's turn to pick the 2nd and 3rd picks.

[Elise]

[Rengar]

Rengar Elise.

This pick was made because our top lane was Karma, which I was half-expecting.

No, even if Karma went to another lane, I had already experienced her destructive power in previous matches.

‘They’re planning to completely shut down Karma.’

If the 3-minute Tower of Honor was in the top lane, he would have dodged without hesitation.

Of course, it's not yet time to completely relax.

If they realize Karma is going to mid, Rengar could also follow to mid.

[MAX WooChan: Hmm...]

[MAX WooChan: The enemy jungler is Elise. Is it possible to swap?]

[MAX WooChan: I don't know where Rengar is yet...]

Sure enough, the 3-minute Tower of Honor, who was quiet, showed his last pick instinct from the other side.

Since Elise was already picked, there was no need to refuse, so I agreed readily.

[Prisoner: OK, wait a moment.]

[MAX WooChan: Sure.]

Hmm, let's see...

The enemy ADC is Senna, and the jungler is Elise. This is fixed unless there's a troll on the enemy team.

The problem is Rengar...

‘He might have picked top for now, but if he realizes Karma is going to mid, he could follow.’

The damage balance is also an issue.

We already have Karma and Ziggs on our team.

Regardless of what our top lane picks, it would be good to pick an AP champion for damage balance.

‘Cassiopeia is banned, so... the remaining options are...’

Excluding champions like Lillia, who are practically unusable due to nerfs, the remaining options are Nidalee, Ekko, Rumble, Riven, and Diana.

Excluding Ekko and Riven, who are weak in the early game...

‘I should pick from Nidalee, Rumble, and Diana.’

Statistically, among these three, Diana has the highest win rate against Elise.

Given the picks so far, a chaotic fight is expected in the top lane, so a strong fighter like Diana would be a good choice.

[Prisoner: Diana, please.]

[Diana]

The support was also picked soon after.

[Alistar]

Our support picked Alistar.

Since he's less dependent on skill level compared to non-targeting champions, it was a good choice.

Now it's the opponent's turn to pick the 4th and 5th picks.

In other words, I can see all their combinations before picking.

‘That’s the advantage of being the last pick in the red team.’

It's often said that the red team's strength is in the last pick, and the blue team's strength is in the first pick.

That's how important the red team's last pick and the blue team's first pick are.

‘Strictly speaking, it’s not my pick, but...’

Since I had the last pick compared to the enemy jungler, it wasn't a significant advantage except for the overall composition.

Soon, the opponent's 4th and 5th picks were completed.

[Cho'Gath]

[Nautilus]

Both are standard and safe picks.

However, for some reason...

The moment I saw Cho'Gath, a strange sense of déjà vu hit me.

‘Could it be...’

Instinctively, I checked my friend list.

I remembered that Rainbow had logged in when I was talking to the 3-minute Tower of Honor.

+

[SY Rainbow]

Champion selection in progress.

+

The same time, the same queue.

How likely is it that this is a coincidence?

This is clear.

‘There is.’

Rainbow is on the enemy team.

‘...Should I just dodge?’

Our mid is the 3-minute Tower of Honor, and the enemy mid is a two-time Red Cup champion?

Oh, man.

No matter how much I dislike blaming the team, the gap between a Red Cup champion and a tower power holder is astonishing.

I hurriedly initiated a 1:1 chat with the 3-minute Tower of Honor.

[Me: Sir.]

[Me: It seems Rainbow is on the enemy team.]

I wondered if he might dodge instead of me.

[3-minute Tower of Honor: So what?]

[3-minute Tower of Honor: It’s actually good, I’ll win. gg]

Yeah, I knew you would say that.

While having this meaningless conversation, it was my turn to pick.

[Prisoner: What would you like?]

[MAX WooChan: Hmm...]

[MAX WooChan: Wait a moment.]

[MAX WooChan: Kha'Zix, please.]

Kha'Zix.

A traditional counter to Rengar.

...At least in a 1v1 situation.

No matter how good Kha'Zix's skill set is for countering Rengar, it doesn't counter Elise.

Moreover, Kha'Zix isn't a champion with great team fight contribution, so if he can't completely shut down Rengar, he's not a particularly good champion.

‘This is... should I say it’s typical of a tower power holder, or that he trusts me?’

Whatever it is, it's a very tower power holder-like choice.

‘Losing in the top lane means losing the game, I guess.’

I understand why they have this mindset, but...

If you're curious, try playing top lane yourself.

You'll understand immediately.

And...

Finally, the ban and pick phase was complete.

[Our Team / Enemy Team]

Top: Kha'Zix / Rengar

Jungle: Diana / Elise

Mid: Karma / Cho'Gath

ADC: Ziggs / Senna

Support: Alistar / Nautilus

‘With only one AP... the pressure is on.’

In such a situation where the damage balance is skewed to one side, the champion on the 1AP or 1AD side needs to perform well.

Of course, I'm not lacking in confidence.

Rather, I feel the need to focus more since I need to carry the game.

Soon, the loading screen appeared.

───────────────

SCV KING - Rengar

yytvxxiaojin - Elise

SY Rainbow - Cho'Gath

SCV WhiteCat - Senna

MAX Lineover - Nautilus

───────────────

As expected, the enemy mid lane nickname is familiar, even striking.

‘Rainbow.’

This isn't the first time I've faced Rainbow as an enemy.

Rainbow is an old gamer and has naturally crossed paths with me countless times in solo queue.

As both an enemy and an ally.

Each time, I felt a massive wall.

Yoon also felt a massive wall but eventually found a way to maintain a decent win rate.

However, it wasn’t the case with Rainbow.

‘A perfect mid laner.’

No strategy, no weakness.

The only way to beat Rainbow is to win a fair, head-to-head fight.

‘But our mid...’

[3-minute Tower of Honor - Karma]

...Well, it will work out somehow.

I can understand why optimists exist.

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