Chapter 79

### Chapter 79: Gatekeeper (3)

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If someone were to ask which lane in League of Legends is the most important, one of the first answers that would come to mind is the bottom lane.

Of course, some might argue that mid lane is the obvious choice, but here, a simple arithmetic calculation comes into play.

Why is the bottom lane important?

Because there are two people there.

Leaving aside the need for debate, the importance of the bottom lane is something everyone can agree on.

When a bottom lane fight breaks out, it means a significant impact on the game.

In fact, it's fair to say that the game is half over.

'At this point, I thought one of the ADC or support would have given up... but it doesn't seem so.'

Typically, when the bottom lane loses a fight, even if they don't show it outwardly, people's minds tend to split into two major camps.

Blaming each other,

or blaming the jungler.

In this case, it seems the latter is more likely.

'Nadali must feel wronged.'

While we were breaking the bottom lane, Nadali, as if on cue, successfully dove the top lane.

The necessary exchanges were made.

However, considering that the top lane minimized their losses with a Teleport and the importance of the bottom lane, it was also true that our team had a significant advantage.

The enemy bottom lane might complain about the jungler, but the laners need to understand.

Nadali isn't avoiding the bottom lane because he doesn't want to go there.

I had already taken control of the bottom lane's vision and firmly held the initiative, so even if he wanted to go, he couldn't.

In other words, he was driven away.

Of course, that doesn't mean I have any intention of defending the enemy jungler, YukgogiJanggejang.

While my feelings towards YukgogiJanggejang have largely dissipated, at the time, I genuinely harbored anger towards him.

'Still, it's a bit sad to see someone who beat me three times in a row end up like this.'

Even if my condition wasn't good back then and I wasn't as skilled at League of Legends as I am now, match history is forever.

If someone were to say that 'YukgogiJanggejang' beat 'Prisoner' three times, would anyone believe it?

'Well, that's a different matter.'

I had no intention of watching.

After fully mining the turret shield and completing the first recall, the game's pace started to pick up.

The balance on the bottom lane had already completely collapsed, so Shen Zhou easily secured the first dragon.

- The blue team has slain the dragon!

It was a Hextech Dragon.

As the dragon kill message appeared, the enemy bottom lane naturally began to feel the pressure again.

They reluctantly abandoned the first turret under the continued dive pressure.

The influence of the bottom lane began to spread.

The first to be affected was the mid lane.

The mid lane was already struggling due to Nadali's forced movements, and the synergy between Renekton and Nadali wasn't being utilized.

Even though Renekton has a favorable matchup against Syndra, the skill gap wasn't significant enough for a solo kill, so the mid lane was in a balanced farming state.

When the bottom lane moved to the mid lane, Renekton must have felt like he was hit by a random poop.

The mid lane jungler composition was Shen Zhou/Syndra and Nadali/Renekton.

This was a combination that needed to show results on the latter side.

With that failing, the pick's meaning was lost, and the bottom lane's influence quickly reached the mid lane.

Syndra, understanding without needing to be told, headed to the bottom lane.

A natural lane swap occurred.

To keep up with this pace, the enemy bottom lane also needed to move to the mid lane, but they were inevitably a step behind.

During the continued mid lane pressure, Renekton used his ultimate for line clear and survival.

With Renekton's ultimate gone,

this naturally led to control of the Rift Herald.

[Jason (13pyeong) requests help]

[Jason (13pyeong) requests help]

With no other choice left, Nadali started to apply dive pressure to the top lane again.

However, this was a foolish choice.

Our team's vision had long dominated the upper river, and diving the top lane in this situation was not a wise decision.

'He must have been desperate.'

If nothing is done, the game is lost.

YukgogiJanggejang, as a gatekeeper with considerable experience, knew this well and took a risky move despite knowing it was a desperate move.

'But it's too late.'

Nadali's movements showed hesitation, sensing the danger.

Is this dive okay?

It doesn't seem right...

Hesitation leads to delay and prevents the necessary play.

He missed the only timing.

Meanwhile, Shen Zhou and I crossed the river.

What is the most annoying position for a top laner when they come to your lane?

Many might say the jungler, but this is because junglers are the most common visitors to the top lane. The answer is surprisingly simple.

The answer is all of them.

From a top laner's perspective, every opposing laner visiting the top lane is annoying.

And the most annoying of all is someone who shouldn't be there in the first place.

For example... a support.

- Why is he here?

Sett's movements showed a surprisingly honest reaction.

But the shock was brief.

Even though I had him cornered, Sett charged at me.

'He's trying to use his ultimate to escape.'

I read his move.

At the same time, Sett used his ultimate on me, but instead of escaping, he was pulled in.

The panicked Sett tried to pull away, but with no ultimate and caught by Kha'Zix's ultimate, he had no way to escape.

- Enemy slain!

- Ally slain!

Sett's death, followed by Nadali's Flash combo, caught Jason off guard and killed him.

This happened because Jason was caught in a gank while his health was low from the previous dive pressure.

- Enemy slain!

- Double kill!

- On a killing spree!

Although Jason was killed by Nadali's efforts, Shen Zhou and Kha'Zix quickly took him down.

[Sett: You read this;;]

The enemy top lane seemed quite impressed by the predicted play I had made.

The game was effectively over.

When the situation gets this tangled, the solutions for the enemy are surprisingly simple.

Cut down the overconfident enemy,

or overcome with a soulful team fight,

or grit your teeth and endure.

But the enemy didn't choose any of these options.

Instead, they took the easiest route.

[Noah (Nautilus): Open]

[Noah (Nautilus): Jungle difference gg]

[Nadali (YukgogiJanggejang): ?]

[Nadali (YukgogiJanggejang): Sigh gg]

In the past, this would have led to a barrage of insults and curses, but it seems YukgogiJanggejang has aged.

'Or maybe he's spamming team chat.'

Considering YukgogiJanggejang's fiery temper, that was quite possible.

But that wasn't my concern.

And...

Even as the Rift Herald pushed the enemy's first and second turrets, the surrender didn't come.

[Verus: Guys, why aren't you surrendering?]

[Renekton: Someone keeps opposing it]

[Noah (Nautilus): It must be Nadali lol, his conscience is kicking in]

I thought someone would resist the surrender, but it turned out to be Nadali who held us off until the end.

'Surprising.'

In the past, he would have given up long ago.

'Not because of Prisoner...'

Even if we were once bitter rivals in the game, it was just a phase.

The games were so memorable that YukgogiJanggejang might remember them, but it would be an overreaction.

'I need to be more restrained.'

Maybe I've been too confident lately, having been stuck at 2000 points for a while.

'If I keep this up, I'll end up kicking the sheets.'

I already have enough issues; I don't want to add more.

'Maybe he finally wants to climb the ranks.'

It was a bit strange that someone who had been a gatekeeper for several seasons suddenly had this thought.

[Victory]

Despite Nadali's efforts to hold us off, it was impossible to stop a landslide.

The game ended anticlimactically.

[Noah: Sigh]

[Noah: Might as well surrender, it's a waste of time]

As we entered the game lobby, the enemy team members started blaming the jungler.

[Renekton: I don't get why Nadali and Renekton aren't coming to mid]

[Sett: Don't be so harsh, Nadali did well]

Nadali couldn't utilize the Renekton-Nidalee synergy because of the bottom lane control.

If Kha'Zix and Shen Zhou had ganked mid while out of vision, the game would have been over.

'No need to defend him.'

Surprisingly, I wasn't particularly happy.

Of course, winning felt good, but it was uncomfortable to see an old rival being cursed by his own team.

"Tsk."

I left the lobby.

A piece of the past passed me by.

*

It was Monday.

I had reached 98 points in Master.

"Ugh..."

Maybe it's because I didn't sleep well.

Somehow, my condition isn't good.

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