Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Talent
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Snowball.
The word that sums up just how well you can roll the advantages gained from laning phase.
Generally speaking, the higher the tier, the better the team, the more effectively they roll that snowball to execute their path to victory.
And one key benchmark for doing this well is operational flexibility.
"Not only is her laning phase crushing it, but her macro play is on point too?"
The first game had been such a stomp from laning that they secured the win before the enemy could even surrender properly.
It was like the opponent had a bomb necklace around their neck and exploded before the snowball could even start rolling.
But the second game, with Challenger promotion on the line, felt completely different from the start.
Phillydog.
The mid laner for Milky Way, one of ST's biggest rivals in the current LOCK—Rock Korea's first division league.
In short, he was a current pro, practically invincible in amateur solo queue.
"True, can you win this?"
"I have to. Can't you see my hoodie?"
"Oh."
A hoodie that was purely, unadulterated red, with no other colors to save it.
It was such a design disaster that ST fans seriously debated if there were any die-hard fans—black sheep, rather—willing to buy it.
But she was one of those black sheep who'd bought it with her pocket money without hesitation. To Eun-seol, ST was life itself.
It had only gotten worse after her pro gaming days, never better.
Anyway, as a rival, Milky Way was naturally a team she had to beat.
"Sorry, but for this game, no talking to me until it's over. You two can chat with viewers all you want."
"Of course. We'll help you focus."
"Win and promote!"
And so, unintentionally, a match pitting team pride on the line was set.
Of course, for Eun-seol, it was all upside and no downside—a one-sided beatdown waiting to happen. But pros don't always get to pick their games.
You had to know how to take them too.
Ban/pick was over, and the game had been going for over 30 minutes already.
"This is so even."
"Both mids are popping off. Look at that right now."
He'd watched her VODs before, but only to check the smurf suspicions, not for in-depth analysis. Now, he was purely impressed by her macro.
"Whoa. She slows the tempo just a bit and waits... and enemies pop out of the bushes in droves."
She ignored enemy setups, gave her teammates breathing room, and kept her own growth on track.
Early game, from 10 to 15 minutes, some teammates ignored her calls. But now in the late game, they followed her pings like it was solo queue discipline personified.
The stalemate dragged on.
Then, the enemy overextended into the bush-filled Twisted Forest between lanes for vision.
The limit of solo queue—not pro play—and an opportunity for True's team.
—Boom!
Late game, the support's items couldn't tank focused DPS.
—Push!!!
—Keep going!
—Win
—Con
—di
—tions!
—End it don't drag!
—Challenger??
The enemy tried to defend from their base, but lack of vision meant they gave up buffs and watched towers crumble in seconds.
Or just die.
The game was won, practically.
"Huh...?"
But then, at the final defensive line, enemy mid Phillydog opened with a sudden engage, unleashing insane damage.
True's team took most of the enemy despite the advantage, but 1v1 with Phillydog felt bad.
"Wait? Wait! It's not over yet!"
Super minions were chipping the Nexus—destroy it to lose—so victory was still possible, but much slimmer.
But now wasn't the time to think that.
'...Right side first.'
Dodge the laser skill naturally, hide in smoke to break targeting.
Then, right in front of the kiting enemy, fire skill darts, smash enhanced autos.
Cool on dart skill returns—again.
"Got... huh?"
Distance should've been impossible to dodge with movement, but he sidestepped.
'As expected of a pro.'
He had that extra something normals lacked.
Enemy cools and unloads skills, but couldn't bridge mage vs. bruiser damage gap.
Dodge stun zone CC with ult, land darts point-blank this time.
"What the hell was that?! I have no idea!"
"Teamfights are fun, but that last exchange... what?"
The streamers finally chimed in.
That fight decided the winner.
Sure enough.
Enemy support respawns in under 10 seconds, but Nexus was wrecked.
A few autos later...
"Told you. We'd win."
Victory screen fades, black screen shows Grandmaster emblem shifting.
—Clank!
A brilliant silver Challenger emblem fills the screen.
"Change the title, please."
I'm Challenger now.
Among Rock streamers, top names Multi-nampy and Durant naturally had Phillydog's contact.
"What? Middle schooler?"
"For real."
"No way. Where's a kid like that come from?"
I angled my phone camera to show my face on the video call.
"Hi?"
"...It's real?"
He blinked repeatedly, processing, then spoke again.
"What do you think of Milky Way Academy? I can support you fully."
This was real talent.
One game facing her head-on told him that.
From laning to teamfights.
No aspiring pro moves like that.
Maybe an overwhelming gem that could surpass him was right there.
"Bro, suddenly scouting her here?"
"Could happen."
"Can't you see the red ST hoodie?"
"I know. But if she wants pro, any academy works."
Her beaming smile vanished.
"Sorry, I've already decided."
I showed them the fresh ST official SNS post.
It had been settled before she even came here.
The team on my uniform is, and always will be, just one.