Chapter 66 of 100

Chapter 66

6 min read1,565 words

〈Chapter 66〉 Among Them

* * *

The moment of making the opponent flinch was brief.

Unfortunately, the only level where the advantage of a ranged champion over a melee champion could be leveraged was at level 1.

After that, only the miserable matchup between champions awaited me.

[Raze – Level 2]

[Yasuo – Level 2]

At level 2, Yasuo, who had been silent until now, began to actively push the minion wave and move forward.

However, I must not be deceived.

In the current lane situation, Yasuo, who hasn't even placed a ward, cannot recklessly attempt a trade.

'First, one auto-attack.'

Then, to naturally avoid the minion aggro, I slightly retreated.

Because of this, I had to give up the slight lead in the lane push that I had managed to gain, but considering the matchup between Raze and Yasuo, this was a sacrifice I could afford.

'If I get greedy, I might end up getting solo-killed.'

Moreover, this is a very dangerous timing.

'The timing for a level 2 gank.'

Recently, due to the relatively low champion tier, level 2 ganks are not as common, but that doesn't mean Jarvan III is a bad champion.

Especially, Jarvan III's level 2 mid-lane gank is so threatening that it's almost considered a standard play.

'5, 4, 3......'

I slowly counted the numbers in my mind.

I was waiting for the time when Jarvan III could perform a level 2 gank.

'Alright.'

Of course, it's not impossible to wait longer, but from that point on, Jarvan would be considered dead, so it wouldn't be a bad thing.

'The real problem starts now.'

[Yasuo – Level 3]

The time when Raze can do nothing against Yasuo has finally arrived.

'Why did I have to face Yasuo......'

Of course, in a normal game where blind pick is used, there is no concept of banning or picking.

You just play the champion you want.

Therefore, in a normal game, the ban-pick is focused on one factor: luck.

In other words, I was unlucky.

Of course, one way to prevent this would be to choose a safe champion, but I never imagined that TheOne's Yasuo would come up against me.

'Well, even if I had chosen a different champion, would it have made a difference?'

While lamenting, TheOne's Yasuo smoothly pushed the minion wave and attempted a trade.

'Hmm.'

Yasuo's Q skill is one of the hardest to avoid due to its close-range nature, but it's not impossible.

Stay calm,

Stay calm.

I watched Yasuo's movements one by one and dodged the skill shot.

'This is to the left.'

After dodging the skill shot, I used the E-W combo to bind Yasuo's ankle as he tried to escape the minion wave.

Face the wind!

True to his reputation as a challenger and one of the world's best top laners, TheOne smoothly responded with a ward.

Unfortunately, the E skill was blocked by the ward, and the W skill applied a slow instead of a stun.

'The ward prevents additional damage. Now, I should retreat.'

Fortunately, the ward cooldown is quite long, so I can regain the push lead during that time.

I objectively analyzed the situation.

'My Raze skill level is just average. Moreover, the lane matchup is almost the worst.'

Even though the opponent is not a main carry, they are a top laner with a deep understanding of lane battles.

A top laner who won the Red Cup.

If we only consider the 1v1 lane battle, my chances of winning against TheOne's Yasuo are extremely low.

'Then, what is my strength?'

What should I use?

'This is a problem that doesn't require much thought.'

Form the lane.

Attempt a trade.

It's okay to take damage.

It's okay to lose the lane.

It's even okay to take more hits.

[Current Health 364/825]

I am only aiming for one thing.

'Just a little more.'

Yasuo, drunk on the thrill of consecutive trades, pushed the minion wave and charged at me.

At that moment,

Yasuo crossed an invisible line.

[ ]

[IlIIIIIllIlIll (Lissandra) has targeted SY TheOne (Yasuo)]

'I've been waiting for this.'

I can confidently say that

I am the mid laner who understands the jungle the best among existing mid laners.

First Blood!

A crack appeared in the solid shield.

* * *

"......"

Choi Won scratched his head as he stared at the sudden gray screen.

He never expected to be ganked like this in a normal game at this timing.

"Wow, these guys are fierce, huh?"

The best way to elevate yourself is not to belittle the opponent but to elevate them.

Choi Won knew this virtue better than anyone, but unfortunately, his teammates didn't seem to agree.

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

[“Agreed.”]

Look at these guys?

Faced with the relentless attacks from his teammates, Choi Won had no choice but to open the init.

"Well, this is all because the jungler didn't come for a level 2 gank."

Ginipig, SY's support and now playing Jarvan, immediately flared up and countered.

[“Bullshit. I waited there for 30 seconds, but no one responded, so I just wasted time.”]

He's right.

In reality, Jarvan had abandoned jungling at level 2 to gank mid, but the opponent's quick response made it a no-go.

But sometimes, emotion is more important than reason.

"Jungle difference."

At those words, Yoon Gi, who was standing next to him, flinched, but the current jungler was Ginipig, not Yoon Gi.

[“Really?”]

Ginipig, Yoon Seong-hyun, seemed to be building some strange momentum and headed straight for mid.

[ ] [ ] [ ]

[SY TheOne (Yasuo) sends a retreat signal]

[ ] [ ] [ ]

[SY TheOne (Yasuo) sends a danger signal]

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Choi Won sent a ping to retreat, but Jarvan didn't stop.

"…What are you doing? Hey! No! I don't know what you're trying to do, but stop!"

[“Gank value.”]

A critical strike was placed on the head of a cannon minion with a low voice.

This was a behavior that is almost taboo among junglers, usually only seen when emotions are running high.

"Aah! You ruined the lane!"

[“Asked for a gank.”]

"Ah, really!"

[“Can you do it one more time?”]

"......"

Choi Won couldn't say anything more.

In such a situation, the initiative usually lies with the jungler.

Of course, there was a way to completely ruin the allied jungler, but that would be a mutually assured destruction with a predetermined outcome.

In the end, Choi Won, who quickly read the situation, had no choice but to step back.

"My lane……"

Even if he immediately moved the lane to mid, for Choi Won, a top laner, lane management was as important as life.

But to have a jungler, who should be managing the lane with his life, place a critical strike on the head of a cannon minion?

It was unacceptable.

'I will take revenge.'

Of course, there's nothing that can't be tolerated, but the immediate problem was different.

'...I'm in trouble.'

Not only did he get ganked by Lissandra, but the lane he was trying to push was now being pushed back due to the critical strike.

It was a combination of disaster and misfortune.

'I can't even trade in this lane.'

Yasuo's lane phase is strong.

However, the reason Yasuo is often called "science" and despised by many users is due to his high exposure to ganks despite his strong lane phase.

Yasuo's trading style involves repeatedly entering and exiting the minion wave.

Mechanically, this means his body is always moving forward, making him very vulnerable to ganks when he pushes the lane.

It was a sign that science class was about to begin.

In the end, Choi Won, as a laner, could only cry out for the jungler, who is often considered the easiest to deal with.

"Mayday, mayday, I need help!"

[“Really?”]

However, Choi Won had to retract his distress signal when he heard Yoon Seong-hyun's sinister voice.

"…No. I'll try it myself."

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

"Enjoy it."

Damn.

'...Let it be.'

Choi Won, half resigned, gave up on thinking.

Of course, contrary to Choi Won's mindset, the game was actually going very well for the allied side.

[3:1]

The kill score was 3:1.

The allies had 3 kills.

A double kill at the bottom and a solo kill at the top a little while ago.

Considering that the enemy top was a pro player known to Choi Won, it was a very encouraging development.

"Ooh, our marksman is doing well?"

[“This is what physical damage is.”]

In a situation where a smooth victory was predicted, the first variable appeared on the jungle side.

[“What? Why is Raze here?! Wait, save me!”]

Did he use an ultimate?

When Raze and Lissandra suddenly appeared in the allied red bush and surrounded Jarvan, the jungler desperately called for help.

Choi Won assessed the situation.

'Hmm, he's dead.'

Objectively, it seemed unlikely that Jarvan would survive.

It's not that he refused to back him up due to personal feelings.

'Then......'

With a cold judgment, Choi Won pushed the lane, thinking this was the moment.

It was a sweet lane.

* * *