[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 227

They say enemies meet on a single-log bridge, but to be precise, I wasn’t their enemy, nor was I in a similar relationship to them at all.

In fact, you could say it’s quite the opposite.

“Look at how we’re meeting like this.”

Even though we hadn’t met directly, you could say there was a subtle connection between me and GRS.

It wasn’t just because GRS had reached out to me a long time ago; we also surprisingly crossed paths often in solo rank matches.

However, one thing was different compared to the past—the jungler beside Nightmare, GRS’s mid laner, had changed.

“MaBing.”

Originally, GRS’s jungler was Haolan, who was regarded as one of the top-tier players.

But one day, a rookie jungler named MaBing appeared like a comet and boldly claimed the starting position in GRS, pushing Haolan aside.

Despite many concerns, the acquisition of MaBing was so successful that some even considered it a masterstroke.

As the season kicked off, the performance MaBing showcased was nothing short of deserving of the name “Cavalry” (马兵: MaBing).

In fact, after MaBing joined, GRS not only dominated their domestic league with overwhelming performance but also defeated SCV, the team that had come up against the reigning world champions, SY, in the MSL finals.

This rookie jungler won not only his domestic league but also showcased an overwhelming presence to win at an international tournament.

Truly, it was fitting to call it the birth of a royal loader.

By the time of the upcoming Red Cup competition months later, GRS had earned the right to carry the title of the world’s best team.

And then…

The rookie jungler of GRS and the veteran mid laner appeared before me.

Meeting such formidable opponents in a casual solo rank match felt odd, almost excessive.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was scared or anything like that.

“Hmmm.”

This could be interesting.

Battling strong teams and players always set my heart racing in anticipation, just as it always did. Especially since this wasn’t even a grand stage but just a casual solo rank match, it was more excitement than pressure, which really was the natural response.

-Welcome to Summoner’s Rift!

Lost in thoughts, the game had officially begun before I knew it.

[⬇] [⬇] [⬇]

[⨷] [⨷] [⨷]

A loud ping rang out.

[Roasted Potato Tasty(카타레나): The enemy mid-jungle duo!]

Searching for the enemy stats is a must in the upper tiers of solo rank, so our mid-laner quickly noticed that the enemy was a duo.

“Let’s just secure vision and back off.”

[❕] [❕]

[OLZ Outlaw(케안) sends a danger ping]


[OLZ Outlaw(케안) sends a danger ping]

During the early invade, we chose the safe route, securing vision and leaving.

It was due to the menacing presence of Blitzcrank, who always had first strike potential.

The king of grab champions, Blitzcrank, dominates early invade situations with an absolute authority.

Even professionals often dislike or fear facing Blitz, so the variable he introduced was not something to be taken lightly.

High risk, high reward.

Is there any champion more fitting for that description?

“Not exactly thrilled, but…”

When looking at it realistically, considering the weak early game traits of K’Sante, there was a big chance I’d be tossed around by Graves.

“Well… it’s my fault for picking K’Sante first when Graves is alive.”

It wasn’t really a pick chosen for any special reason; I just felt like picking it today.

Though it was very far from a tournament-level pick, if I practiced enough, I could use it as a joker pick.

And just as expected…

[❗] [❗]

Soon after I placed a ward and backed off, the enemy team appeared through the bottom brush.

Thankfully, since I had only put down a ward and left, there wasn’t a significant loss. However, I lost one ward worth of vision due to the enemy’s sweep.

Thinking that every snowball starts from these little things was quite a frustrating situation.

“Hmph.”

The enemy took control of the vision near our red jungle and casually retreated.

Unfortunately, no one on our team had switched their trinkets to lenses, so I was left feeling really bad as we started.

-Minions have spawned!

The real lane battle began.

[❕] [❕]

[OLZ Outlaw(케안) sends a danger ping]


[OLZ Outlaw(케안) sends a danger ping]

I pinged retreat to the bottom, who were trying to leash.

“You don’t have to leash.”

Our bottom combo was Jhin and Jerastu.

This is a typical combo that needs to apply pressure in the early game to gain an advantage.

If they were to apply pressure carelessly, given the nature of the pick Blitz, they could face a lot of counter-gank pressure.

I started with the standard route for K’Sante, running through the raptors without a leash.

[K’Sante – Level 3]

Having smoothly completed the three camps at red, I hit level 3 and moved as planned to the upper camps.

Then, right as I started on the Blue Buff after finishing the wolves…

BAM!

As if he’d been waiting for me, Graves came charging in on his cannon.

Timing and positioning indicated that he had also done the Red three camps and rushed over immediately.

[⨷]

[OLZ Outlaw(케안) tags MaBing777(Graves)]

“Look at this!”

Of course, it isn’t strange for K’Sante, given his weak early game, to face an obnoxious invasion from Graves.

Well, to be precise, it’s more accurate to say this invasion was a necessary play Graves had to make.

But,

That’s only true if the laners going for the invasion had the upper hand.

“Let’s give it a try.”

I peered over at the top lane.

Jax vs. Gwen.

This match-up was overwhelmingly favorable for Jax, as long as he didn’t misuse his E skill, Gwen would find it hard to exchange damage.

Honestly, it was a bit puzzling to see Gwen come out against a first-picked Jax.

Especially considering that our jungle was on our side, it was obvious whose reinforcements would arrive faster.

“Still not backing off?”

I asked.

But the response I got was the same.

BAM!

Graves kept hammering at the Blue instead of fleeing.

It was a declaration of war.

[⬇] [⬇]

[FFF Ogre(Jax) is coming]


[Roasted Potato Tasty(카타레나) is coming]

Both teams’ top and mid-laners began to gather.

Of course, our laner was bound to arrive first.

Even so, Graves didn’t show signs of retreating; he seemed intent on finishing off the Blue.

It was as if he was challenging me to come over if I dared.

Our Jax, who arrived first, charged at Graves.

At this point, Blue’s health was precariously low.

It was clearly a battle for smite.

“Hmph.”

The Blue is slowly losing health.

Winning a smite fight is actually very simple.

You just have to smite faster than the opponent.

However, if you do it too quickly, the health may still be higher than your smite damage, so it requires very precise timing.

“Considering my skill damage and smite damage…”

As I aimed my skill toward Blue, Graves reflexively used his skill and smite simultaneously.

But that was exactly the situation I wanted.

I intentionally didn’t hit both hits of K’Sante’s Q skill and only hit the edge of it once.

This was to intentionally skew Graves’ damage calculations.

Despite Graves landing his smite, Blue’s health was still around 10.

I leisurely secured the kill with my smite.

『👍』

After winning the smite fight, Jax began to spin and hit Graves with his E skill.

Just before the stun was about to hit…

Graves dodged at the last moment, flashing out of the way.

If he had flashed hastily, Jax would’ve followed with his own flash stun, but he managed to avoid it by reading the situation.

While Graves bought himself time, the enemy Gwen and both mid-laners from both teams arrived, leading to a skirmish.

-First Blood!

-The enemy has been slain!

-Our team has been slain!

After the fierce skirmish…

Our mid-laner and the enemy top-laner were taken down.

It was a 1:1 exchange.

“…A trade in this situation.”

Indeed, while I had won the smite fight and got first blood, it could be said that our team gained that much benefit.

However, the problem was the even kill exchange that happened in this unnecessary clash.

This trade felt familiar.

“This feeling…”

I thought about where I had felt this before, and quickly realized what this déjà vu represented.

“The rookie days of Yoon-ki.”

I remembered the day Yoon-ki first appeared in solo rank.

One day, out of nowhere, like a storm.

Yoon-ki’s first appearance was indeed a breakthrough match that deserved such a descriptor.

But why was it?

Now, looking at MaBing, I couldn’t help but see the image of a young Yoon-ki, aptly filled with fervor.