[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 373

Leaving behind the awkward encouragement from Rainbow, I took a step forward.

My first opponent was Andro.

He was the Mid Laner of SU5, the European powerhouse, and along with Rainbow, one of the strong contenders for this 1v1 Tournament.

“Hmm… a 1v1, huh.”

The most important thing in a 1v1 tournament would surely be which Champion one chooses.

In the game known as Legends of League, the disparity between Champion matchups rarely reaches extreme variations like 7:3. However, Ban/Pick remains one of the core elements of the game.

“But simply being strong in the laning phase isn’t enough.”

Logically, it would make sense to pick a strong AD Carry Champion for a 1v1 laning scenario.

Generally speaking, AD Carry Champions are quite powerful in terms of pure laning.

However, this 1v1 Tournament wouldn’t hinge on such a simple pick.

The reason? The special rule of Sudden Death activated during the 1v1 match.

When Sudden Death activates and the map shrinks, it becomes a time where we have to fight head-on rather than poke from a distance.

Champions with strong kill potential or those that can create variables during Sudden Death would have the advantage.

“So, I have to choose whether to go for a strong laning phase, aim for kills, or rely on variables during Sudden Death.”

Or a Champion that can do all of that.

“Common sense says such Champions are pretty rare…”

Yet, there were indeed such Champions.

One that isn’t weak in the 1v1 match-up, has decent sustain, and more importantly, can create variables when Sudden Death starts.

In reality, this pick has been banned quite often in previous matches, so you could say it was prepared specifically for this 1v1 Tournament.

“Plus, my mastery of it isn’t too shabby.”

It’s no wonder since the Champion has been used as a Jungler quite frequently for a long time.

“The only problem is, what will they ban?”

The Ban/Pick officially started.

“If I think about Andro’s main picks, it makes sense to ban an AP Mage Champion…”

But that doesn’t mean Andro can’t use picks like Yasuon or Yune.

Of course, using Yasuon or Yune in this 1v1 Tournament would indeed be a bit tricky.

[Sandrah]

[Irelia]

[Cassiopeia]

An expected choice for my bans.

Then, Andro’s bans were soon revealed.

[Lee Sin]

[Jarvan III]

[Kassadin]

With Lee Sin and Jarvan III, I could see the reasoning since I’m a Jungler, but banning Kassadin was truly unexpected.

“Is he cautious of my skill shots?”

Thinking that he recognizes me to that extent wasn’t a bad feeling.

No matter what anyone says, Andro is one of the top Mid Laners in the world and a strong contender for this 1v1 Tournament.

“Then… facing him seriously is the least I can do.”

While it’s wise to hide my ultimate until the last moment, considering who he is, I wouldn’t hold back my trump pick either.

[Gragas]

A melee Champion, but able to poke from a distance.

Strong lane clearing ability.

And let’s not forget, his E skill holds a positional advantage over almost every skill in Legends of League.

Among so many advantages, Gragas’s strongest trait is his incredible lane sustain.

Until the first recall, the mana pressure keeps that sustain from shining, but once he gets some items, he can create an advantage in trades based on that sustain.

This alone was enough reason to pick him, but Gragas had even more to offer.

He could also create variables during Sudden Death.

If I found myself in a tough spot after making a mistake and falling behind with a kill, Gragas’s E skill and ultimate would be sufficient to generate variables during Sudden Death.

A trump pick worthy of the name.

Is that why?

As soon as I picked Gragas, the ground began to shake from the cheers beyond the booth.

I guess it was the roar of fans from around the world gathered here.

“… Ah.”

Only then did I realize where I was.

Thump, thump…

My heart raced wildly.

Though I had been on the pro stage before, this was my first time on such a grand stage.

Of course, there were plenty of spectators when I was in the second division, but welcoming an audience so huge it echoed through the booth was a first for me.

“… This is where it truly begins.”

I wanted to become a Professional Gamer.

I had gone through a lot to get here.

I’m confident.

Today is the day I truly step into the world of professionals.

“Whew…”

After taking a deep breath, the countdown ended, and the match officially began.

Andro’s pick was Akshan.

He was a Champion known for being very strong in the laning phase, coupled with powerful roaming and gank avoidance traits, often referred to as a ‘freebie’ Champion.

“Um…”

To be honest, I hadn’t had much of a chance to play Gragas against Akshan directly.

I rarely went Mid in Solo Queue, and Gragas hadn’t been used much in Mid until recently when he started showing up again.

“But I’m still going to win.”

Though I had rambled for a while, losing was never part of my plan.

Making a move to Mid before the minions arrived wouldn’t have been wise, so I waited patiently under the turret for the minions.

At that moment.

[SU5 Andro(Akshan): Hi :)]

Andro greeted me.

I pondered a bit on how to respond before I replied lightly.

[OLZ Outlaw(Gragas): hi]

[SU5 Andro(Akshan): good game]

[OLZ Outlaw(Gragas): good game]

[SU5 Andro(Akshan): :)]

A somewhat awkward conversation went by with my first foreign pro gamer, and as our minions arrived at the lane, the match officially began.

“Now… it’s starting.”

Then Akshan blatantly began to pressure me, passing by the minions to prevent me from gaining experience.

It was a classic deny situation when a melee faces off against a ranged opponent.

Specifically, it was a play that must be done when using a strong ranged Champion like Akshan in the early laning phase.

“Ah, as expected.”

Though it was a very normal play, the fact that it was being executed by Andro made it feel quite different.

If I pushed too hard to snag some minion experience, I’d get crushed in trade.

“Usually it’s standard to take some experience loss…”

But this was Andro.

If I allowed too much of that loss, I would surely be snowballed right out of the game due to a level disadvantage.

However, to move forward recklessly could lead to a loss.

I was stuck in a situation where I couldn’t do anything.

“But… just sitting here isn’t in my nature.”

There was a time I endured unreasonable situations, waiting quietly for my moment.

Back then, that was the best choice.

But now, I refuse to tolerate it anymore.

Those annoying injustices? I’m fed up with them.

“Let’s give it a try.”

It’s not without a basis.

After all, the fact that Akshan was pressuring me meant our minions were backing him up.

“Let’s make it our minions’ target.”

The important thing here is that if I get hit too much by Akshan, I would take more damage than my minions would deal.

Just one basic attack.

That’s all I needed to take while slightly retreating, ensuring Akshan keeps taking hits from the minions.

But Andro wouldn’t just let me sit easy.

He aggressively positioned himself to avoid my minions’ aggro.

From here on, it was my move.

“Let’s do this.”

Akshan stepped forward.

I stepped forward too.

Just barely pulling in range for a basic attack, enticing him to cast a skill.

But he was Andro.

He wouldn’t throw out skills foolishly unless he had a clear angle.

There was no need for him to risk casting a skill since I couldn’t move forward anyway without losing experience.

“Now is the time that matters.”

With fine adjustments, I let Akshan hit me with just a basic attack as I dodged his incoming Q skill.

Once the enemy minions aggro shifted to him, I threw my Q at Akshan, applying slow and damage.

The calculations were done.

All that was left was to act.

As I started moving forward, Akshan naturally approached to keep me in check.

The basic attack followed by the Q skill.

It was a fluid combo, but because it was so smooth, it was also predictable.

Since Akshan’s Q skill missed, the minion aggro shifted to him from my basic attack.

And I immediately followed up with my Q skill to prevent him from easily escaping my minion aggro.

Akshan tried to dodge my skill shot as best he could, but in situations like this, dodging Gragas’s Q skill was quite a tall order.

And, just like that,

With my Q skill and the accumulated minion damage, Akshan lost 1/5 of his health in an instant.

Of course, with the Quick Feet rune, he would recover quickly, but pushing the pressure on him became too much now.

Moreover, as my minions attacked Akshan, the enemy minions were hitting mine, naturally pulling the lane.

Akshan could no longer put pressure on me forcibly.

It was clear what this meant.

“Got it.”

The first stepping stone towards victory had been established.