23 - Destiny's Promotion Match: "Screwed—If We Lose This Teamfight, the Game's Over?"

In the nail-biting crisis where the Elder Dragon elder was on the line, the fierce teamfight seemed destined to crown the enemy team as victors.

Just like in the second promotion match, the duo picking Asteraia-Lulu got perfectly counterpicked in bans and picks, leading to a grueling 40-minute stalemate.

But in the Elder Dragon's nest, our top laner's overly aggressive initiate sparked the teamfight, and Sia had no choice but to join in.

Positioning, placement, growth—every factor favored the enemy, and the battle we could never win unfolded exactly as scripted.

The enemy had their well-farmed ADC and top-jungle duo alive, no less. Especially the ADC, who could poke our nexus down to crumbling with just a few taps—a total monster.

"Aah... I always knew we'd lose eventually, but why now..."

Of course, the Master promotion chance was still alive. It'd just cost 500,000 won in sponsorships flying away.

To say I wasn't hoping would've been a lie. With NoName, even Legend of Eternity felt within reach.

But NoName's barely surviving Asteraia leaped over the enemy jungler, charging straight into their base.

The mid lane, ripe for ending the game, was guarded by their sharp-eyed jungler, wary of Asteraia disrupting the minion wave.

But her judgment was spot-on.

"Backdoor?!"

Destroying their inhibitor would favor our siege, but it was one against three. All-in guts showdown.

"Guys! They're backdooring! What do we do? Ignore and push?"

"We're faster. Just body-block and smash the nexus."

"Asteraia's at 3 stacks attack speed! Block the house!"

"Can't end now or we lose. One guy stall for time."

"I'll block the house."

The top Baokai, with his guaranteed CC, warped home fearless against heaven-defying Asteraia.

Summoning home was the right call. With 90% possession rate, Asteraia's demolition power was insane.

Just as the jungler said, a sure-win game could've been lost to backdoor.

But even with Asteraia's mobility, she was powerless against Baokai's hard CC.

Just once—an E-Q combo could buy at least a second. More than enough.

The mid and support, who died heroically in the teamfight, caught their breath and stopped calling shots.

Asteraia circled the nexus, desperately staying out of his range.

But Baokai anticipated it, selling items on summon for three speed boots to chase her down.

The instant she entered 525 range.

Baokai charged fiercely at Asteraia.

But oddly, Asteraia—who'd maintained 99% possession by avoiding champs and minions for max attack speed—

[La Asteraia Shaleyn Ksetan]

—landed an auto on Baokai at the last second, unleashing Supernova.

Supernova isn't undodgeable or targetless. And ult damage doesn't apply to nexus.

Baokai figured it was her desperate final struggle sensing defeat.

But then—the minion wave poured from the nexus.

"Huh?"

Asteraia whipped blades at hyperspeed within Supernova's AoE.

Her faster movement let her blink via star shards, dodging Baokai's unblockable dash.

Minions in her path took full ult damage, triggering her item's built-in skill: AoE around hits.

The nexus began crumbling.

"No way? Bug?"

Asteraia's ult delayed Baokai's CC.

Kill score: 18/0/3. Level 18, items maxed.

Seeing the nexus shatter from pure AoE, Baokai despaired.

"We won...?"

The enemy jungler and ADC, poised to roar victory after the turnaround—

"Fucking bugged trash game."

They stared blankly at the nexus, one hit from doom.

"500,000 won... maybe not a dream."

Entranced, Sia changed the title again.

[OneTrueGod NoName: Master Promo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠V V _ _ _]

It was truly a tough game.

If I hadn't realized mid-game that ults could hit nexus, we'd have lost.

The enemies, ex-Grandmaster-Challengers from last season, made zero mistakes post-teamfight—pure optimal plays.

Like the jungler not pushing nexus, instead hiding to cover minion advance.

Sending Baokai—low DPS but hard CC—home immediately.

Even while screen-rotating, their ADC milked every passive for max nexus/nexus damage.

If Baokai went home first, story changes—but then no backdoor reason for me. Even trade.

Put simply: luck.

Both sides optimal; heaven sided with me.

"Wooooah NoMeNoMe!!! Winning even this? What're we gonna do?!"

"Suffocating, Sia... No time, queue next."

"Right right!"

Celestial rank queues take 10+ mins minimum.

Clock hit 5 PM; barely time for finale.

"How'd you think ult dmg there?"

"Last game enemy Asteraia dove us; noticed nexus chip if timed."

"Insane eyesight. Wouldn't cross my mind. Whoa, final stretch. Pumped."

Sia already celebrated 50-win streak and my Master like done deal.

"That flag's sus."

I don't buy fate, but some lines deflate you.

Like soldiers proposing pre-war: "Marry if I return." Or "Demon King's weak—now's our shot!"

Soldier died in flames; Demon King razed empire.

Unless you're stronger than fate, anyway.

"Take this, adventurer seeking inheritance. Pricey—mind it well."

Minotaur gatekeeper behind, into battlefield.

But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sia's face paled.

"Wait, enemy ADC Payso?! Support Sauron?!"

"Know 'em?"

"'Know'? Last year's RolldCup champs! TK Pathos, TK Sauron—ya know?"

"Pro gamers...?"

"Aigoo, worst luck on luck! Why still here, pros?!"

Sia swore she'd never pick Asteraia-Lulu knowing Payso-Sauron.

Enemy bot: timeless Luna-Mi, no nerfs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in 5 years. Brutal for A-Rul.

"Doomed... totally doomed."

"Our bot survive?"

"Top's Miro King smurf too. Queue cursed, bans wrecked."

"Swap with me."

Pre-game morale tanked. As they said: Top Calista (zero lategame carry) vs classic ranged top counter Mirocel.

Bot: A-Rul vs Luna-Mi, A-Rul bullied levels 3-11.

"Swap?"

"I'll top. You ADC with Lulu."

"Asteraia top? Insane?"

"To win, yes."

"NoMe, for real?"

"Calista struggles vs Mirocel; Asteraia 108-ganked."

Time ticking. Calista finally swapped, contracting with Lulu.

"Fuck, bot explodes? Not my prob."

"Early Kali-Lulu stronger, viable. Let's do it."

Prince-turned-scoundrel adventured with Sia; I walked lone path.

Pierce or pierced. Lonely top: Mirocel holed in turret, no show.

"What? Not top Kali? Asteraia top?!"

Spotting me, Mirocel stepped mid-lane for mind games.

"Payso and Sauron scared? But tough luck—ain't easy here."

"Mirocel can't beat Asteraia dead or alive."

"Bratty much? Etiquette lesson time."

Asteraia short range but ranged. Melee Mirocel—one ult mobility—holds till 6.

Sole variable: level 2 gank. Sia sneaks top ward for vision.

Bingo—growth jungler rushes juicy "top Asteraia" despite buffs.

Our jungler red buff; theirs blue—bot favors us, no easy trades.

I max smoke to delay; he hesitates awkward distance, bails to jungle.

Quick judge/eyes—bummer, but early crisis averted.

"How'd ya know? Ward?"

"Dunno? Kind soul warded probs."

"Close. Thought no level 2 gank."

Mirocel backs, keeps safe distance.

But still in my growing possession auto range.

Low elo? Blame range miscalc.

But flash-dodge his E-flash response.

Then Rexar bursts from behind.

"Can't land on Mirocel? One camp and I'm screwed!"

"No...!"

Miro King panics visibly.

Rexar fumes, leaves; I taunt.

"Not asking 'ward again?'"