Chapter 234. Challenging Game (1)
ForeverAlone shouted in bewilderment, "Mid Ran?!"
Ran approached him in the mid-lane.
"WTF. What's going on? Guys, what is this?"
ForeverAlone frequently streamed and subconsciously looked for the chat window. However, there weren’t any viewers there to explain the situation.
According to tournament rules, players could only watch through the official channel and were not allowed to see the chat.
Therefore, ForeverAlone had to think about it by himself.
"...I guess the picks could change."
First, he thought about Miho's Aqua. Aqua could be played as a supporter with her helpful and unique control skills.
Tako's Hammer Warrior could also play as the jungler. In fact, Tako often used Hammer Warrior in the jungle.
StrawberryShooter's Poison Dart Rabbit could definitely play as ADC. ForeverAlone recalled that StrawberryShotter was originally an ADC.
'How did I fall for this?'
ForeverAlone felt more surprised that he completely overlooked these possibilities.
'Was it because of Ran?'
Unlike other champions, players rarely used Ran in the mid-lane. However, it wasn't impossible.
Ran had ranked in the first and second tier of champions before. The developers nerfed him after a few patches, but anyone who frequently played LIL knew that trends came and went.
'I didn't even consider Ran for the mid-lane. That was why I didn't expect any of this... On top of that, they went all out with this crazy Swimming Pool Party theme.'
How much hardship and embarrassment did ForeverAlone endure after helplessly losing to Miho? He felt disgusted just looking at the Swimming Pool Party skins.
"Screw you guys! I’m never gonna go to the beach ever again!"
Yes, it was all because of the Pool Party skins... That was what ForeverAlone believed, but Tako had meticulously manipulated the practice data.
Balloon Stars had been practicing with Almond as their main mid-laner.
Almost all the champions Almond practiced with could also play in different positions, making it difficult for the other teams to figure out their strategies.
Even ForeverAlone never thought that Almond would play Ran in the mid-lane.
"Shit, this is going to be bad."
ForeverAlone started to panic as minions approached.
First, all his efforts in looking at Miho's photoshoots went to waste. Second, his choice of using Explosion Madness against Aqua became pointless. Even worse, he felt that Ran countered his champion.
Explosion Madness had the advantage in range early on, but Ran's range would surpass his as the game continued.
'I have to make it count between Level 1 and 3.'
Explosion Madness was comparatively stronger until Level 3. After that, Ran became a lot stronger.
ForeverAlone decided to settle things before level three.
***
'He didn't seem to expect any of this.'
Almond felt amazed at Tako's perfect strategies. He thought it was a bit much when Tako wanted to manipulate their practice data, but seeing ForeverAlone panicking like that made it all worth it.
“Why did they suddenly dress like that…?”
'That’s what I want to ask,' Almond wondered the same thing as ForeverAlone.
Almond barely managed to cover up by choosing the skin with the aloha shirt among the Pool Party theme, but he was still practically half-naked.
Moreover, the tournament only allowed players to use their original avatar. Almond chose a skin that could distract the opponent, but it almost distracted him even more.
'It's fortunate that everyone else is wearing the Pool Party theme with me.'
It felt much better with their entire team also wearing the Pool Party skins. Almond felt thankful and quickly focused on the opponent before him.
The minions started swarming in.
Almond closed his eyes and began to use his skills.
Swoooooosh...
Instead of mana, blue water droplets gathered in his hands. The design looked more like a water gun than a pistol.
"... It looks quite weak."
Either way, the power should be the same.
The minions approaching were almost within range.
Almond aimed and shot a charged Crystal of Purity.
Swoosh!
Plop!
"?"
Ran launched massive water droplets toward the minions. The attack sounded faint, but it still made an impact.
Almond’s hair and shirt fluttered in the wind as the water gun recoiled.
Splat!
A crashing wave could be heard as minions collapsed due to the stream of water.
— Wow!!
— OMGG!!
— Almond! Almond! Almond!
Why was the audience cheering already?
***
"Wow, the atmosphere feels incredible!"
"That's right! Cheers erupt every time Almond shoots!"
"Could it be because his shirt flutters every time he shoots?" OrangeKing said with a bit of awe. "When I was a professional, I needed at least a penta-kill to bring out cheers like that."
"Of course, because there are so many differences between you and Almond!" the caster replied as if it were obvious.
— Haha, yeah, there are a lot of differences.
— Each facial feature is completely different...
— Hell, yeah.
— Are you comparing an orange and an almond?
"Ahem, anyway! It's impressive that team Balloon Stars managed to win the mind games and started with an advantage!"
"Exactly! We didn't see this coming either. Who would've thought to send Ran to the mid-lane? Does Almond's handsome appearance also work on ForeverAlone?"
Everyone laughed at how seriously the analyst asked the question.
— He didn't even change his expression and asked that nonsense question.
— LMAO
— That's impossible, hahahaha.
"Excuse me? I don't think so. I've watched ForeverAlone's stream several times. He's just a healthy young man! What were you thinking of ForeverAlone?!"
— TMI: OrangeKing mocked ForeverAlone the most.
— ??? I’m gonna beat him up
— Are you asking yourself?
"We saw Miho with the Swimming Pool Party skin… but why she isn't going for ForeverAlone?"
"Maybe she thinks ForeverAlone has gotten over her? Or maybe Balloon Stars is preparing something for a later match."
"A later match?"
"Yes. There will be another match against High Protein, right? The gap between them was too big when they met before."
"Ah-ha~"
"So they're practicing with Almond as the main mid-laner to prepare for that. That's why they surprised everyone with Ran in the mid-lane this time."
— Wow, this is the true OrangeKing!
— Rapper OrangeKing.
— That was on another level.
"Ah, that’s definitely a possibility. So Almond is trying to level up by countering ForeverAlone, right? If that's the case, choosing Ran for the mid-lane makes sense since he's used to it."
"But Almond hasn't really faced a player like ForeverAlone in the mid-lane before... Will this be okay?"
***
The mid-lane skirmish in the early game was relatively uneventful.
Even Almond, who generally preferred combat, was playing cautiously this time.
'It's too much for Ran to handle everything without a supporter in the early game.'
Ran wasn't a champion capable of taking down opponents alone in the early game without a supporter. That was why players rarely used Ran as a mid-laner these days. Due to his unique playstyle of charging and releasing attacks, his early game DPS was quite low.
Almond only focused on attacking minions because Ran’s attack speed was so bad.
Shoot... Boom!
Swish... Boooom!
Swoosh...
He gathered mana again at his fingertips and aimed.
"Chikicha!"
At that moment, ForeverAlone started to make a strange sound.
Swoosh.
A dark shadow cast over Almond's face. ForeverAlone had thrown a bomb over.
'Is it starting?'
Almond leaped to the side.
Boom!!
Thick smoke billowed from where he had been standing.
[HP 96%]
Almond thought he completely dodged it, but still slightly took some damage.
The bomb did explosive damage, which caused splash damage even if players were farther away.
"Chikicha!" ForeverAlone made another strange sound.
Almond quickly looked around to see where the bomb was coming from.
However, the bomb headed in a different direction. ForeverAlone had thrown it toward the minions.
Bo-boom!
Three allied minions instantly died.
"...I fell for it."
Almond had twitched trying to dodge it and felt foolish.
'Is he trying to play mind games with me?'
Laning against ForeverAlone... was quite difficult. He was certainly different from the mid-laners Almond faced in solo queue.
Besides the mind games, ForeverAlone used his skills significantly better than others. Almond still received some damage no matter where he dodged.
Almond felt that this was worth learning from.
"Chikicha!" Again, ForeverAlone made a strange sound with exaggerated movements.
This time, he actually threw the bomb at Almond.
Bang!!
Almond dodged again, but frowned this time.
'This is so annoying.'
Every time ForeverAlone threw a bomb, he made that sound, and Almond kept flinching at it.
Almond wanted to fight back.
[Charging… 32% progress....]
Ran's slow attacks were impractical, especially in the early game. His attack efficiency simply wasn't good enough.
'Let's just reach Level 4 first.'
Almond decided to wait until Level 4. At that point, he could deal significant damage with his skills.
He held the urge back for now and aimed at the minions.
However, the opponent wouldn’t just let him do that.
***
"Wow, a fierce battle is taking place in the bottom lane!"
"And the top lane as well! They're exchanging blows! Iron Ball's momentum seems stronger than last time?!"
The observer's camera busily moved here and there.
As expected from teams with similar strength, several skirmishes occurred even at Levels 1-3.
"Oh, no! Miho has been taken down!"
[First Blood]
[Maekju -> Miho]
"It seems like the SojuBeer combination is more effective than Miho?"
"Of course! They've been working together for so long!"
"Wow, Tako is still making progress in the top lane!"
[Balloon Stars has killed an enemy!]
[Tako -> Pollock]
Tako took down the enemy jungler, Pollock, in a 2 vs. 2 fight between the jungle and top lane.
However, Bubblegum died right afterward.
[Solo Is Back has killed an enemy!]
[RiceWine -> Bubblegum]
"Everyone is on tippy toes right now!"
"Wow, a revenge kill right away!"
"But I don't think there’s anything special going on in the mid-lane."
"Other than Almond falling slightly behind in minion kills, there's not much happening."
[LazySoilder]
[Minion Kills: 89]
[ForeverAlone]
[Minion Kills: 97]
"Honestly, it's hard to say that Almond is falling behind right now. Ran tends to miss a few minions. His charging and shooting style required a lot of support from the team since last year's patch."
"Ah-ha! That's why it feels like something is missing between the members?"
"Yes, you're right. Ran tends to play defensively until Level 4 or 5. Actually, ForeverAlone should attack aggressively at this point. It seems like he's unable to break through though. "
"Oh, is that so? Ran is being defensive? Didn't you say that would be beneficial against Explosion Madness?
"That's true until Ran reaches Level 4 and above. That's when Ran's Pure Sniper damage goes up like crazy. His attacks become stronger the farther they travel!"
Ran's entire strategy relied on two abilities, Charge and Discharge. As a result, these two skills automatically upgraded as his level increased.
At Level 2, the range of Discharge increased. At Level 4, the damage of his attacks increased proportionally to the distance traveled, up to a maximum of 250%.
In short, Ran could deal significant damage from a distance. The farther the shot, the greater the damage inflicted.
"Ran will truly shine as a mid-laner at Level 4 or above."
As the casters summarized, Ran would become much more effective and stronger as a mid-laner later. He could shave off nearly 30% of the opponent's health after landing just one shot from maximum range.
As soon as the caster finished talking…
[An enemy has been slain]
[RiceWine -> Bubblegum]
"What? The Bubblegum?!"
Another solo kill occurred in the top lane.
"Bubblegum! Have you regained your memories?"
It wasn't only that.
[Maekju -> Miho]
Miho also died again.
"Oh... Is this where Balloon Stars stumbles?"
"If this continues, the game will become very difficult!"
"Solo Is Back is taking all the cost-effective monsters in the jungle! This isn't fair! Balloon Stars, you need to do something about it!"
"Right now, the only one holding on is Almond. He'll be Level 4 soon, but what can he do at this point?"
Was it because it was the playoffs? Maybe they hadn’t prepared enough? Balloon Stars had been struggling since the beginning.
Then, Almond finally reached Level 4.
"Almond has finally reached Level 4! Show us your skills!"
"Um… He’s transforming again."
Swoosh.
Was there a plan? Almond discarded the pistol he was using and used a slightly different transformation than usual. He wrapped his two hands together and created a bow with a stream of water.
"It's been a while since we last saw a bow!"
Almond was no longer aiming at the minions.
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