Season 2: Chapter 201: Caught You! (3)
The five vs five match began as the players gathered.
"Alright, everyone. The password has been revealed. Come on in!"
OrangeKing, Almond, and Popcorn only totaled three players. They needed seven more and recruited the viewers watching the livestream. Viewers could enter the password on a first-come, first-served basis. However, that didn't guarantee their selection.
The team leaders, OrangeKing and Popcorn, would review each of their histories before accepting them.
"Please, let's try to keep the ranks balanced," they requested.
Naturally, the ranks of both teams needed to be balanced.
One side would be significantly disadvantaged if the average difference was more than two ranks.
"Popcorn, it looks like we'll need to send you that grandmaster viewer who just joined OrangeKing's side," the host suggested.
The host typically managed these rank adjustments. It was easier for the host to oversee the situation and balance the teams like picking players for a neighborhood friendly soccer game.
"Does this balance seem right to you? How about we go with this arrangement?"
However, Popcorn noticed something odd and challenged it.
"Wait a minute, everyone. Our team's ranks are significantly lower. What's going on?"
From his perspective, his team seemed to be at a disadvantage.
The host explained, "Ah, Almond's actual rank is diamond four."
Almond was using a master rank account for the current game, but his real account as LazySoldier was only diamond four, the lowest rank in diamond.
"…?"
Popcorn was dumbfounded.
— lol How is he even Diamond 4??
— So this rule comes into play lol
— Blinking in disbelief is hilarious
Originally, this rule assessed players based on their real ranks. This was created because the master rank account for guests was typically lower than the guest’s real rank. It was meant to prevent guests from having an unfair advantage, but it was the opposite in Almond's case.
"No complaints, right?"
Popcorn responded with silence.
— He looks like he has a lot to say lol
— He really got caught off guard there lol
— Doesn't this increase Almond's win rate?
— Are you betting folks even paying attention? Wake up...
Then, the pick phase began.
OrangeKing's team completed their Caught You composition as planned. Popcorn, avoiding OrangeKing's bans, managed to put together a plausible team composition. They were all essentially strangers, but managed to draft a team like in solo queue. Decent teams emerged without any major issues.
"Let's go in!"
Subsequently, all ten contractors appeared on the battlefield.
***
"Popcorn has chosen the Supreme Celestial for the top lane. And the viewer opposing him in the top lane is a grandmaster? You've placed your best player against Popcorn? You must be wary of him!"
The commentary continued without OrangeKing, led solely by the host.
Meanwhile, Almond's team audio sounded several times busier than before.
“Ah, ah. Support, we absolutely have to play it safe in the early lane phase. Absolutely. Chronology is super weak.”
“Dragon Tamer jungling isn't really good, so I'll focus more on jungling than ganking at first.”
“Once we hit level 6, it's go time! I'll plan the path for counter-jungling then.”
All these words came from one person, OrangeKing.
— He's even commentating inside lol
— His teammates must be bleeding from their ears!
— ??? My eardrums... have burst...
Almond headed to the bottom lane while listening to OrangeKing's briefing.
“The opponent is Biker Gang, who’s equally strong in close combat. If Almond uses his rope rashly, he could end up like a beehive from that shotgun!”
Almond briefly considered the skill set of Biker Gang. His primary weapon was a shotgun, which meant the damage doubled at close range. He also had a skill called Buckshot, which tripled the damage if hit at close range. For an ADC, that was nearly a guaranteed death.
Using the rope movement skill rashly could indeed turn Almond into a beehive.
"Let's take it slow."
Following OrangeKing's advice, Almond calmly proceeded with the lane phase. However, the enemy caused quite a stir as if to disrupt him.
"The most obnoxious one is the enemy supporter, the voodoo witch doctor.
— lol
— Toad villain lol
— Why do all characters like that end up like this? lol
Like most voodoo witch doctor players, the player didn't forget to verbally harass them as well.
Whenever Almond stepped forward to farm the minions…
"Kwaaack!"
He would summon toads with that sound.
Rumble...
Toads emerged from the sticky swamp, spewing unknown substances from their mouths.
Pshh!
Getting hit not only slowed one’s movement speed, but also dealt damage over time. Almond had plenty of experience dealing with the Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamps and could dodge them without much issue.
"Ugh...! Blech!"
The problem was his support. Chronology was naturally slow before using any skills and struggled with dodging.
[First Blood!]
To make matters worse…
[Popcorn → YoYoFace]
"A kill this early!? It’s a solo kill by Popcorn! Wow, he totally dominated the level two fight!"
Popcorn had already reached level two while solo farming in the top lane. Intense exchanges occurred when leveling up at this time and Popcorn secured a kill.
— lol Classic Popcorn
— Bettors, are you paying attention?! Bettors?!
— 2222
— Shout for number 2!!!
"The viewers are loving this! Most of them bet on Popcorn winning!"
“It's okay. It's okay. Iron Ball can die. He's just a meat shield,” OrangeKing reassured his team even though everyone knew an early kill like that wasn't good news.
"Ah. But the person who got the kill was Popcorn, right? He's top-class among pros! A small difference to him can become a huge gap later! He's worth two kills compared to an average player!"
The issue was who secured the kill. Some players threw games even after getting ten kills while others could turn the game around with just one kill. Popcorn definitely belonged to the latter category.
'We need to do something in the bottom lane.'
Thanks to his training with Tako, Almond automatically thought this. When an incident occurred in the top lane, an event of equal magnitude had to occur in the bottom lane to balance things out.
'OrangeKing needs to watch the top.'
OrangeKing was planning his route around the bottom lane, intending to give it his attention. However, he wouldn't need to worry about it if they got a kill there. It would be better to spend his time invading the enemy jungle, stealing monsters, and getting kills to starve the enemy jungler while he grew stronger. This would give him enough leeway to attempt a top-lane gank.
[Level Up!]
Just then, someone leveled up.
"!"
It was the enemy who leveled up. As with all lane phases, the side that leveled up first had the advantage.
In a two vs two fight in the bottom lane, that advantage was significantly magnified. In other lanes, it would be a player at level one vs. a player at level two. In the bottom lane, it would be a level two vs a level four. A level difference of two was double and led to an overwhelming power disparity.
"Ah. They got to level two first. Let's completely back off," Chronology gave the standard order.
The enemy provocatively taunted them even more.
"You miserable cowards! Dru..."
'They've gone too far.'
That was the moment. Almond tapped Chronology and quickly conveyed a message.
"Now!?"
Chronology had no time to respond.
Bang!
In the blink of an eye, Sori's arrows began to fly.
"Ah! Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp! You've given me the range, haven't you?"
The enemy had miscalculated Sori's range. It was a rookie mistake. Such an error could be attributed to an unfamiliarity with the newly released champion. However, the time the Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp spent within Almond's range was incredibly short. It wasn’t even 0.5 seconds.
Most players would fail to react in this span, but Almond seized the moment.
— Wow, he caught that immediately
— Insane reaction
— Was that the angle?
Thump!
An arrow skewered the Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp's mouth.
"Blegh!"
[Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp - Cuifan]
[HP: 82%]
The shot dealt significant damage for a single arrow. Such was the characteristic of Sori.
The Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp's eyes widened and he attempted to flee.
Thump!
Thump thump!
More arrows quickly pierced his face.
— Wow
— So refreshing!
— That face went boom!
The third arrow had already hit.
Wooong...!
Almond was already aiming with an elemental arrow.
[Frost Arrow]
A blue arrow flew straight into the center of the enemy’s face.
Bang!
The ice spread and froze the Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp's movements. He would be trapped in this state for the next second.
[Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp - Cuifan]
[HP: 21%]
Although the enemy's health was significantly low, Sori's arrows were still reloading. It would take two seconds.
Cuifan thought he had survived, but he was mistaken.
[Time Freeze]
[Cast a time-freezing spell on a desired area. After about 1 second, time freeze will activate. Deal minor damage and freeze time in that area for 1.5 seconds.]
Thud—
A time-freeze spell had already been cast.
[Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp - Cuifan]
[HP: 11%]
The precise CC combination was possible because Almond had signaled Chronology in advance.
"Ah! Such artistic synergy!"
— For real
— Chaos level CC combination
— So that's why he used the ice shot
Biker Gang realized the situation was serious and tried to counter with a smoke bomb.
"Ah. Why would you give up the distance!?"
Boom!
With increased movement speed, Almond easily dodged the smoke bomb and shotgun fire.
[HP: 97%]
The buckshot missed almost entirely and did hardly any damage. Almond even blocked the Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp's retreat.
Clink!
His quiver was replenished with arrows.
Only when the time freeze finally lifted did Cuifan desperately summon a toad, hoping it would take the hit for him as toads sometimes did for ADCs.
Bang!
Such tricks were futile against Almond. His arrow elegantly curved around the toad, piercing the enemy’s head through his ear.
Thump!
[You have slain an enemy!]
The Sorcerer of the Sulfur Swamp ultimately fell, but it wasn't over yet. Almond still had three arrows left.
[Level Up!]
He had now reached level two.
"Let's go again!"
He aimed at Biker Gang and shouted, "Even if we can't eat, let’s go!"
The support excitedly echoed the chant and moved forward. He had also reached level two and cast the Fast Forward skill on Almond.
[Movement Speed Has Increased!]
[Attack Speed Has Increased!]
With all aspects of his speed boosted, Almond extended his hand toward a minion next to Biker Gang.
[Rope Movement]
Zeeeeeek!
"Almond! He’s moving to a tricky spot where the Biker Gang can't shoot properly!"
Flying toward Biker Gang would result in massive damage from the shotgun, but moving to a nearby ambiguous point was different.
"So what! It's all in the open!"
Biker Gang wasn’t a fool and aimed his shotgun at the predicted path of the rope movement.
[Buckshot]
He fired a scattershot at the expected path. Well, he attempted to.
[Frost Arrow]
The frost arrow flew simultaneously as Almond activated the Rope Movement skill, preventing the enemy from shooting.
Bang!
[Biker Gang - Paul]
[HP: 79%]
"Wow! Almond hit the enemy right as he activated the rope!"
Indeed, he hadn’t used the rope as a mobility skill. Instead, he used it to secure an elemental arrow.
— His skill utilization is something else
— Wow lol
— Whoa
— But to hit while flying, that's crazy
Meanwhile, Almond fired his remaining arrows.
Thump!
[Biker Gang - Paul]
[HP: 43%]
One was a regular arrow, and the last was an elemental arrow again.
[Frost Arrow]
Almond chose to use another frost arrow.
"Ah! Another frost arrow!"
Bang!
Biker Gang froze again for one second.
[Biker Gang - Paul]
[HP: 10%]
— damn, those ice shots are on point
— Wow
— Isn't this OP???
— Why is the damage like that?
"Paul froze again! And here comes Chronology's time freeze combo!"
Chronology used time freeze again and Paul stopped once more.
"It's like there's a lag or something! Even the damage has increased significantly! The attack speed buff translates into damage being multiplied!!"
— That's a real bug
— Chronology fits so well with this lol
— Whoa lol
While Paul was frozen, Almond received new arrows. Paul managed to reduce Almond's health by half with his buckshot, but eventually died.
[Double Kill!]
The chat went crazy again.
— No!!!
— 11111
— Those who chose 2 just got wrecked lol
— Bettors, are you awake?! Bettors, are you?!
— Ah…
— Now, who are the real bettors?
— Isn't this combo a bug?
— Popcorn! Grow up to be Almond? Popcorn! Grow up to be Almond? Popcorn! Grow up to be Almond?