The Bot Lane Breakdown
The trial kicked off with the bottom lane clash. Honestly, I had zero confidence defending this part. But the opponent seemed to see it differently.
Isungyu was the first to pivot the conversation.
"First off, DoReMiFa claims the bottom lane loss wasn't the ADC's fault. You're not seriously saying the ADC bears zero blame, right? More like, since the enemy mid used their ultimate for a long-range gank, our mid failed to control them, so that's the bigger issue?"
"Yeah, well, I do have a conscience, so I'm not saying it's zero percent my fault. Up until the enemy mid hit level 6, we were even, but then the Engineer dropped their first ult on bot. I think that's when the positioning fell apart."
Ha, this guy with a "conscience" typing that crap? The Engineer's global ultimate, Satellite Strike, isn't some easy-to-land skill just because it's global. The second they hit 6, I pinged it immediately to warn bot that enemy ult support was incoming. Even if I hadn't, bot should've played safer on their own.
"Is that so? Let's rewind to that moment and check it out."
Isungyu pulled up the replay, fast-forwarding to the enemy mid hitting 6 and firing off their support ult.
Bot hadn't done anything blatantly stupid. They pinged level 6 and played defensively, which I could buy.
"Whoa, but right here, the Arcanist initiates?"
But the enemy wasn't dumb. The moment their mid started moving botward, they angled for it, and the enemy support Arcanist flashed forward to bite the Ranger. The Ranger tried to react but got caught in the tail end of the CC, then ate a full combo from the responding Outlaw and lost a chunk of HP.
Our support Forest Warden wasn't idle—they peeled for the Ranger while targeting the overextended Arcanist. That's when the Engineer's ult dropped.
If the ult timing had been a hair faster, the Ranger would've died for sure, but it was off just enough—only shaved them over half HP, no kill. Still, momentum shifted hard. The bloodied Ranger needed to back, letting Outlaw and Arcanist feast on the lane during that window.
But
This wasn't the Engineer.
"Nah. Without that ult, we had counter-engage angles. Check the XP— all four of us were right before 6. If I'd just eaten two minions, I'd ult and counter. Outlaw blew all their skills on us, so they couldn't hit 6 right away. I'd be the only one with ult, land it, and even if we didn't kill, we could've reset to even. But the Engineer ult blocked that."
"Where's that written? If no one ever bites, why pick Arcanist? Getting bit is unavoidable sometimes, but the Engineer blocked our best counter angle—that's the problem."
Damn, this guy's quick on the draw.
"Without the Engineer, we wouldn't have folded that hard. Our mid was already behind in CS and levels—that's why we lost."
"That jungle gank for 2 Monk kills? Meaningful? Enemy comp is 2 ADCs and 1 mage—Monk just marks incoming enemies, nothing else."
"Even if you stopped it, leaving mid empty let them pressure, so CS and levels fell behind. That's why they hit 6 first and ult-ganked bot."
"If mid had pressured Engineer properly in lane, Outlaw never grows that fat."
"All because the early mid ult gank snowballed."
"Calling that a duo kill now is bullshit. Without it, they get no lane priority, fall behind gold, miss items, no damage for angles."
Words weren't landing. They didn't even get a kill off that first ult—it wasn't a huge lead, but taking a kill with Forest Warden up? That's on you.
Before I could keep typing, this asshole kept yapping, cherry-picking his wins and jumping topics.
"Ultimately, that Taoist play sealed the loss. Can't shield flopping at the end?"
"Poke advantage was good. But slowly pushing for Dragon gives a shot—Ranger needs time to scale, but you dove? Then whiffed skills? Full teamwipe, game over."
"How's that not your fault?"
Obviously, I never dreamed of losing this trial.
Clear as day. My final dive was do-or-die—if we didn't crack there, we'd wither away slowly. Had to try something.
But surprisingly, Isungyu's viewers were split.
"So even giving Dragon is just 2—far from 4. Yeah, we're behind, Outlaw's fed, but time favors range diff; Ranger closes gap later."
Argh, real clueless low-rank idiots.
Fuck, why are these stream viewers like this? Core issue was attempt right/wrong—focusing my whiff pissed me off.
My stream wasn't much better. Everyone except Aranggaiger scratching or trolling... wait, viewer count up a bit.
A few from Isungyu's stream migrated. Whoa, over 10 viewers now.
Anyway, with the trial point not narrowing, Tsukaan finally spoke.
"I get both sides."
"Yeah?"
How the fuck do both sides make sense, Tsukaan you asshole? Even Isungyu went "Yeah?" in confusion.
"Not respecting the Engineer ult from the start is fair. But Masters can't always play that sharp. Ping hit, but ult didn't drop instantly—room to relax, that tiny gap leads to bites understandably."
What bullshit is this?
"Point is, Challengers dodge that easy, but expecting Master-level precision is tough."
...What the hell? This guy's Master, so his play's invalid—I'm wrong?
Stream screen showed even Isungyu looking baffled. Opponent seemed annoyed but clapped along since Tsukaan backed him.
"R-right? Expecting Challenger plays from a Master is weird. He's Master himself."
"Can't say ADC sense lacking, but Engineer peaks hard there. Not a gank, just ult shattering bot setup—tricky."
"Exactly. Mid gap so huge it hit bot—can't blame ADC. Mid's fault bigger?"
"Mid pick diff impacted bot undeniable."
"Yeah! If mid didn't ditch lane for dumb jungle dive, no issue."
"Nah, what to hear? Challenger ex-pro Tsukaan says I'm right."
"Who the hell are you?"
"Nobody keeps preaching he's right."
"Yeah, mid diff in the end?"
"Not quite that far..."
"Prep your 500k. Don't ghost."
Tsukaan mumbled something mid-way, but rage-deaf I missed it. Probably nonsense.
Fine, no way I lose. But Tsukaan spewing crap siding enemy? Couldn't stay sane.
"DoReMiFa, PudgeDice—haven't heard my full take yet, listen more."
Irritated from start. Typing chat 'cause no voice mood, but my one line got drowned by his three loud ones. Text disadvantage? Viewers seemed biased his way.
"So far mixed in some ADC sense..."
Typing let me finish, but sheer volume gap. Tsukaan bullshitting for enemy. Holding rage wasn't easy.
Finally, last resort.
"Fuck off, asshole."
Voice on.
"Typing chat 'cause no mic, so you spew bullshit thinking you won? What? Dipping? 500k? Bullshit. You ignore me typing while yapping instantly, chatting among yourselves? Joke? Tsukaan? Messing with me? Why's his trash play my fault? ADC sense? You said he lost 'cause Master—why pin on me? Makes no sense."
And like clockwork, Isungyu's chat exploded with hooks.
My stream too.
Seeing the chat, I realized what I'd done.
...Ah, fuck.