Fated Queue
"Hello?"
"Hey, what's that?"
"Oh, you saw it."
"'Saw it?' What the hell happened?"
"It's nothing big. Everyone else left, and I'm the only one sticking around. That's it."
I'd called Yuseung out of worry, but surprisingly, the guy sounded perfectly calm. His nonchalant attitude made me feel like an idiot for freaking out, and it eased my mind a bit. Still, without knowing the full story, I couldn't shake the frustration.
"What are you gonna do now? Fine, the others bailed, but why are you still there?"
"Hm."
"It's basically team disbandment."
"To be straight, it's not. I'm staying, and the front office is recruiting replacements. They still want to keep going. They even posted job listings."
"No offers?"
"Like I said before, and you know this, finding a team this time of year is ridiculously hard."
Yeah, I knew that. But my reaction came from how precious Yuseung's time was. Pro gamers' careers are short.
"Overseas... probably tough."
"I still have ambitions. You think a year off changed my mind?"
...Yuseung's resolve.
We'd talked about it before.
"Don't get it twisted. The biggest humiliation of my life was that Worlds runner-up where we got swept 3-0 without a fight. Sticking with this team doesn't mean I've given up on Worlds."
Coldly put, Yuseung was in the second division now—a has-been jungler whose peak form wasn't guaranteed. His performances proved otherwise, but people saw him as washed up.
Because it wasn't first division.
Because it was second division.
Because of that wrist injury.
Yet Yuseung hadn't lost his way. He still chased that Worlds win.
I envied him for still being able to go pro, but I hadn't expected him to hold onto that dream. Realistically, a jungler with a year-plus break, a wrist injury history, on a low-tier second-division team—it wasn't easy.
Arrogant of me. Maybe jealousy.
Yuseung was still walking in the light.
That light was a bit too dazzling for me.
"Transfer after summer?"
"Probably."
The answer was obvious. Contracts are yearly, no escape now. Best to boost the team's rank in summer, leverage that for a better team—maybe first division.
But something subtle lingered in his affirmative tone. Hesitation. Not decisive.
"Anyway, you're solo now?"
"Already talking to an ADC."
"Who?"
"Phantom."
"Phantom...? That IP Holters guy? Phantom Jang Seonho?"
Reality wasn't that forgiving.
Phantom: Last year's first-division IP Holters ADC. Now IP Holters was in second division.
What that meant...
"...You're picking up the ADC who got his team relegated?"
Last year's worst first-division ADC.
Early hype for mechanics, but ego issues—missing surroundings, overcommitting. Hype faded to irrelevance.
Prime example of an ADC you'd avoid.
I knew he'd left IP Holters post-relegation for a break.
"Not in a position to be picky, and the new coach recommended him."
"Who's the coach?"
"Ive Kim So-cheol. He's coach and director."
Who...?
"Normal not to know. Ex-PP DaHard coach. Kinda crazy."
PP DaHard finished 10th in first division—relegation playoffs locked.
ADC: league's worst. Coach: 10th-place guy.
Not ideal, even filling roster. But best for an 8th-place second-division team. First-division experience, at least.
"Coach didn't push hard, just 'what about this guy?'"
"Sounds rough."
Even the recommender lacked conviction. Total reluctant pick.
"Hang in there. Rooting for you."
"Yeah, thanks."
What else could I do? He was stuck. Hope for the best.
Silence, then that. End of call.
He seemed about to say more, but didn't.
After Arang's thrilling first win against me, our 1v1 spars became daily routine. Started as her revenge bid, but it stuck.
Planned full streams, but viewer backlash limited to a few casual games.
My record: 10 wins, 39 losses.
Grim, but huge progress. Day one: 1-24. Since: 9-15. Significant.
No more explosive physicality like that 25th-game miracle. But stabilizing.
Rhythm returning.
Not just physicals. Varied picks: counterpicks, mud games forcing Arang tilts.
Strategy needs basics. Arang wasn't a brainless dino in 1v1s.
Not stable yet, but worlds better than post-TS me.
And not just 1v1s.
Master 784 LP
~100 LP to Grandmaster. Five win streak away.
Been a while since grinding solo queue this hard.
"Silver? No way if you've watched my stream properly."
I explain plenty. Grasping my tips should skyrocket tiers.
"Joking, don't be sad. Just do better. 10 hours a day? Skill comes."
Pro days I did more. Few as insane as me. Proud...?
"Pros gotta do more. And I beat Arang plenty lately."
"Just regaining my old form."
Oh right, stream growth means managing that stuff. Rules pinned—Arang handles it.
Arang post-manager: better than expected. She'd slacked before, so not worst-case.
Even "managing," her troll roots meant high threshold. Seemed she just wanted the hat.
Rules or not, I wouldn't ban that anyway.
Still friends with Crisu, half viewers watch her too.
"Yeah, best not mention other streamers. But Crisu's fine. Be careful. She on hiatus?"
"I'll ping her later. Haven't chatted in days."
"After stream, obvs."
Can't just ask on stream without knowing.
Crisu offline, Arang chats. No chat management for a reason.
Sparring blocks it, constant snipes anyway. Rarely manages even when could.
Sometimes tempts duo. Our winrate? Under 50%. Not appealing vs. my 4-1 with Crisu.
Grandmaster close, no desire for Arang duo. Crisu listened; Arang stubborn—takes 3 asks for 1 obey. Exhausting.
But her ignored orders sometimes outperform expectations. Net loss, but she sees angles I miss.
Block that, her growth stalls? Hard to push.
Fair. Crisu mid-sup good comp + luck = streak. Mid-top suboptimal.
Hesitated, but accepted. After nursing her 5-hour session, hard to refuse small asks.
"When you installing voice?"
Duo awkward sans voice. Me talking solo = poor comms. Maybe suits her playstyle.
First game: no blowup, good or bad.
Top 1v1 all day, bot/mid/jung ended it. Arang slim win, but we won anyway.
"Good first."
No ruin = win.
Points up. Key.
Smooth win kept duo alive. Next win, next, next...
"What? Lucky day?"
4-win streak? This range? With Arang? Insanely good luck.
Her no-flip bus huge. One game her top carry sealed it.
But team all solid. No trash.
Manga said five people = one trash. LoE reality.
Today? Perfect. Lines solid, calls followed, teamfights aced, carries delivered. Bizarre.
Counting Arang as the hole...?
"No no no, not that. But she holes sometimes..."
"Sorry."
Bit harsh.
"Good luck one win, bad two losses to GMaster?"
Nearly there. Heart racing for mere Grandmaster. Unimaginable before.
"Thanks to you all."
"Arang, ban that one."
Arang ignored. Expected.
Grandmaster = no more duos. Her one win to promo—maybe last. Queued.
Longer wait. 5 mins, accepted.
No guarantee of luck. Calmed excitement. Loss wouldn't end promo.
And predictably, final game luck soured.
Enemy jungler and ADC nicks appeared.
[E Revo JESUS]
[PhantomMan]
Yuseung and Phantom.