Screaming to prepare for the upcoming large-scale patch.
The results were not great at 2 wins and 5 losses.
The reason was the newly introduced objective this season: the Void Larva.
Appearing at the Baron nest from the 6-minute mark of the game, three at a time.
With a respawn time of 4 minutes, it was possible to hunt up to a maximum of 6 at once.
The effects were such that attacking a turret with up to 3 larva added fixed damage, while with 4 and 6 larva, attacking a turret summoned a Void Mite monster.
The problem with the larva was that in professional matches, give-and-take exchanges were a common practice.
For example, if the opponent put emphasis on bot lane, one might give up the bot turret and destroy the top turret instead.
However, the speed at which the side that had consumed the larva could push was so fast that exchanges failed to materialize.
As a result, the opposing team had to forcibly initiate fights to prevent tower destruction.
Even more, games often ended prematurely due to larva advantages despite minor time differences.
“This feels like we should be eating the larva.”
“Yeah, but we push too fast.”
“When they take the larva, exchanges don’t happen.”
Additionally, our team was relatively weak in the top lane, where not much ban/pick investment went into it.
This issue showed up in the early larva fights, often leading to the opponents taking the larva.
Thus, our scrims had no way of ending in victory.
‘I can only do so much with mid lane power.’
The mid AD champions I like performed well in larva fights.
Still, when a Renekton or Udyr came down from the top lane, the fight was simply impossible.
‘Eventually, the larva will be nerfed.’
However, aiming for international tournaments, it was important to manage early-season points.
To do so, we needed to dominate the larva fights early in the season.
The conclusion was…
“We should probably pull out Gwen in top.”
Top lane needed to secure some level of control.
“Indeed, there’s quite a noticeable difference between using and not using Gwen.”
The available top lane options for this season included Udyr, K’Sante, and Aatrox.
With a bit more detail, Gwen was a choice that could potentially beat all three champions.
‘She does have the ability to endure well.’
However, enduring well also meant conceding ground to the opposing top laner by default.
“For today, let’s just call it here.”
With the practice ending from the unsatisfactory atmosphere, the coach clapped his hands.
After the team members went up to their dorm rooms on the third floor, as I was about to head home…
“Do you have a moment?”
It turned out to be Park Jinhwan who stayed behind to review replays and called me over.
Was he planning to confess or something now that we were alone?
Curious, I asked cautiously.
“Why…?”
“Do you know how to play top lane?”
Surprisingly, what came out of Park Jinhwan’s mouth was different from my expectations.
“Top lane?”
Though I didn’t know everything perfectly like the top-tier top-laners, I had a basic grasp.
With that response…
“Then… can you show me?”
The unexpected line of questions left me a bit surprised.
‘Isn’t this the first time?’
In my previous life, Park Jinhwan and I had been together for three years.
I considered us close, but I had never been asked something like this before.
Park Jinhwan wasn’t the type to ask others for help in the first place.
“I can’t show you everything perfectly, but is that alright?”
“Actually, thinking honestly, you’d make a better top laner than our spread.”
Spread was the Chinese top laner from VXG who won Worlds this time.
Even though he thought I was better, it felt like he was over-complimenting me.
However, seeing Park Jinhwan’s serious expression, it didn’t seem to be just flattery.
“Why are you asking me? There should be closer top players, and you’re not the type to ask people normally.”
“That’s…”
Park Jinhwan hesitated for a moment before answering.
“I remember when you helped Yuseong when his mentality broke during the last qualifiers. I thought your skills suddenly improved after that.”
So that was the reason.
“Is this too much to ask?”
Park Jinhwan was fidgeting anxiously, waiting for my reply.
Seeing his earnestness, there was nothing to think about.
“I don’t talk softly like the coach or Dojin-oppa.”
“It’s okay.”
“Really?”
“It’s natural when you’re teaching.”
…
‘Is this the same person…?’
Park Jinhwan glanced cautiously to the side.
The face was the same, unchanged.
A doll-like appearance that anyone would glance back at.
However, the usually gentle and amiable person was gone.
“Are you checking the side right now? Are you calculating how many seconds are left on the opponent’s Art skills? That’s why you’re always getting solo kills from the top lane.”
Though Yun Seohwa wasn’t yelling or getting upset,
Just pointing out Park Jinhwan’s mistakes in seconds, with an air of irritation.
Still, Park Jinhwan was listening quietly.
‘All of this is correct.’
Every real-time feedback had no inaccuracies.
Even though it was season 2, with professional experience, Park Jinhwan thought he had built up enough theory and basic knowledge.
Especially after winning promotions battle, his confidence soared.
But now, every bit of what he previously acquired seemed to be invalidated.
“Do you know why this doesn’t make sense? Morphing suffered a nerf, so I brought Ignite, but I keep losing to Art.”
“That’s because of the opponent’s jungler…”
“No, if I just dodge the last bit of Art’s Q with W, I can win even at a level difference.”
“Wouldn’t you need the opponent to make a mistake for that?”
“No, pre-load the 4th stack of Q and move forward to engage the opponent, then leverage the psychological advantage from there.”
“What if the opponent doesn’t fight back?”
“Just shove them out. The cooldown on Q alone shows what a difference there is.”
Yoon Seoha’s words were like saying that if you study the textbooks daily, you’ll get into Seoul National University.
While any student saying this might seem unrealistic, when someone who actually went to Seoul National University says it, it sounds true.
In Park Jinhwan’s eyes, Yoon Seohwa wasn’t saying anything wrong.
“Just not physically good, is it?”
When evaluating Yoon Seoha, most players, including Park Jinhwan, highlighted her unreasonable deal exchange and team fighting due to superior physicality.
But after learning from her, Park Jinhwan understood.
The unreasonable deal exchange happened due to a 0.1-second skill cooldown difference.
For guaranteed team fights, how much preparation goes into it beforehand.
As the saying goes, “You see as much as you know.” The more Park Jinhwan learned, the farther away he realized how far Yoon Seoha was from him.
“I should go now.”
“Ah, that’s right. Sorry to make you late for home.”
“It’s fine. But review what I taught you today while doing solo ranked.”
Watching Yoon Seohwa leave the practice room, Park Jinhwan finally understood a conversation the team members had a while ago.
While he had a girlfriend, other team members without romantic partners seemed to fancy Yoon Seoha.
However, the team members all firmly rejected such notions.
‘…She’s just an object of respect, right?’
Now, Park Jinhwan realized this as he began another solo ranked game.
…
“Wow, did you really dismantle Gwen and Art in a week, Brother?”
“This is success.”
“Good job, Jin-hwan.”
“Wow, you accomplished in a week what you couldn’t in two years.”
The coach and the team members were not sparing compliments towards Park Jinhwan.
After all, all three scrim games he played today began and ended in the top lane.
‘All this is thanks to the overtime I did for her.’
It was because I gave up my time to teach him, which I would usually spend watching reels and shorts.
It’s only fair that I get some satisfaction from teaching him.
‘Even in the future, he performs well.’
In any case, Park Jinhwan would eventually become one of the representative top laners of the LCK.
As a late bloomer, he struggled for a few years after joining the first division, but ultimately became one of the top-tier players.
In the end, the only question was when he would pick up the right champion set, and I had just accelerated that slightly.
“Thanks to you, my skills have soared. Thank you.”
Being satisfied with Park Jinhwan’s rapid improvement, the boy approached me to express his gratitude.
“It’s because you worked so hard, Oppa.”
“No, it’s because of your good teaching.”
“Some people can’t keep up, you know.”
…
*
By mid-December, under the lead of Park Jinhwan armed with the right champion set, our team was racking up good results in scrims.
Victory screens had become routine, and the coach announced.
“Do you remember what day this is? Everyone, get ready.”
With just three weeks to go until the LCK opening, today was the day for professional profile and LCK opening shoots.
We boarded the car with uniforms in hand.
“Since other teams will be there too, try not to make too flashy actions.”
The coach was tense too, being new to LCK.
But aren’t all the directors already familiar with each other since the Starcraft era?
It took a bit longer to get to the Riot Park than the CK arena.
“Did they shoot the opening for this season at the Riot Park?”
It was common to rent a set for such shoots.
However, occasionally, they did it at the Riot Park, so it wasn’t unusual.
…
“Except for Player Para, we will only be filming Player Lesser.”
“Huh?”
