For Julia, everything about today’s match was a mess. She promised to do her absolute best today, yet she has been putting on a crappy performance so far. Likewise, she promised herself to go on the offensive and ihird game, yet she was stuck being on the defensive as usual.

  Gilbert pys a Pyro, fod’s sake! Julia rao herself. I should be able to beat him with my range. Goddammit.

  As a Pyromancer, Gilbert had a more restricted attack rahan Julia. Therefore, if Julia goes on the offensive, she should have been able to pressure Gilbert and draw him away. The only factor pying against her was that Pyromancer had a faster ne clearing speed than Aeromancer. heless, Julia should have been able to zone Gilbert out with her range and prevent him from ing close.

  As, Julia didn’t do any of that. In her head, she uood what should be done, yet her fingers refused to move. It was ohing to figure out the right line of py and ahing to it to it. There were simply too many risks involved in that py.

  To properly zone Gilbert out, Julia had to advao the frontline and put herself in dahere was no telling when that dumbass, Taison, will decide to show up in Mid to gank her, so she couldn’t advance carelessly. Danger loomed nearby at all times.

  Not to mention, she has already suffered a horrible death st game wheried going on the offensive. In her head, Julia uood that she died back theo her indecisiveness and not because she was trying to go on the offensive. heless, she couldn’t fet the bad taste that left.

  So, that’s how it is? I’m only good at talking big? Is that it? Julia pursed her lips. In the end, she couldn’t follow up on any of her promises, not even on the promise she made to herself. She was a plete failure. A deadweight for the team.

  I ’t keep pying like this. I have to... Julia trembled. She had to... what? How should she start ging things up?

  She has already fixed the issue of spending too much gold on wards, for the most part. She still purchased a rge number of wards that some would sider too high, but it was just a part of her careful pystyle; she wasn’t ag like a paranoid.

  Buying this many wards wasn’t optimal, but having many wards around helped Julia feel at ease. She couldn’t trate on the hout being reassured that nobody was going to sneak up to her from the juherefore, this amount of wards was justified. Probably.

  Anyway, what Julia had left to adjust now was the way she farmed on the hat’s where things were getting ugly. In her head, she uood she had to go out of her way to pressure Gilbert’s Pyromancer. Yuel told her this numerous times: “A Pyromancer you don’t pressure in ne is like an S+ tier css.”

  Pyromancer was aremely powerful mage and apparently, it was totally broken upon release. Even after CssSoft bombarded it with nerfs, Pyromancer remained a strong pid could easily get out of hand if not dealt with correctly.

  So, if Julia tinues being wishy-washy, she’ll let Gilbert grow into a terrible threat for the eeam. At this rate, everybody will lose because of her! God, just make me disappear and never hear about Mancers again...

  No matter how hard her brain implored her to take a, her body refused to budge. Julia kept pying it safe from the bae and didn’t e out of her shell to seize the initiative. As a result, Gilbert strutted all over the ne like a king and Julia didn’t do anything to kick him off the high horse.

  From time to time, Gilbert even had the o leave the ne and go farm some jungle camps. While Julia was busy clearing the remaining minions, Gilbert was w on out-leveling her via extra farm. That guy didn’t even see Julia as a threat. Her tless wards captured his crimes in a, so she could easily head over there to assault him.

  But, she didn’t. The jungle was a dangerous pce. If she gets ganked by Taison...

  There he goes again. Julia sighed. Gilbert ventured into the jungle once again, most likely to farm. One of Julia’s wards captured the criminal hanging around the Griffin camp, so that robably his goal.

  The Mid Laners were normally responsible for testing Griffins, but Julia couldn't leave the ne while there were still minions here. This ehing sucked. Couldn’t just somebody go there and gank Gilbert for her? Why did Dan have to be on the opposite side of the map right now? Sigh.

  Seriously, what was Julia supposed to do with this situation? She knew she had to turn mgressive in some way, but all her ideas sounded risky and uain. On top of that, if she does somehow mao draw out her aggressive side, she might lose something very important as a result. Just kill me. Julia sighed for the huh time today.

  Julia wasn't the only one having a rough time today. While she was mulling over her options, aeammate was struggling with his motivation and performance.

  Shake it off! Roi shook his head. , brain! Do a restart already. In case you haven't noticed, I'm in a serious match right now. Stop thinking about dumb stuff.

  As, the versation with Howard kept bugging him. In this match, Horetty much had his future on the line and that wasn't even exaggeration. Of course, it wasn’t like Howard won’t get into Grandview High for sure if he loses here today, but it'll definitely make things much harder for him.

  Sometimes, missing just one opportunity decided everything. As a former baseballer, Roi uood the stakes better than anybody. A single miss could be the whole differeween winning and losing a match.

  Because Roi reted so much, this situation weighed heavily on him. He should be putting his everything into this match because that’s roper sportsmanship dictated, but was that the really the right thing to do?

  If he defeats Gregory on ne and hat opens a path for the team’s victory, then Howard’s defeat will be on Roi’s hands. Roi will have to live with the fact he might have killed off Howard’s ces of pursuing his dream.

  Unlike me, Howard still aim for the top. Roi tapped with his leg. This stupid leg killed his ces of ever pying petitively, Or rather, it was Roi who killed his own ces by being stubborher way, the fact was simple: Roi couldn’t hope to py baseball seriously ever again. His dream of being a Major Leaguer was utterly crushed.

  But, Howard still had his dream and it was very much within reach. His path was clear: he had to win this seleatch, lead the first-string to nationals, join Utopia a scouted for being a pro. It was a straightforward and clear road that started right here from this very match. A mat which, unfortunately, Roi had to be a vilin who stood in the way of Howard’s ambitions.

  Damn, why it gotta be like this? Ack! Roi got unched into the air! Gregory must have been feeling himself if he thought he could advao the frontline like this without any sequences. If Roi really wanted, he’d whoory’s ass right here and now. While pying Knight, Roi’s power level was over 9000!

  But, Roi couldn’t bring himself to do it. Destroying Gregory like that might give the team too muentum and snowball into a victory. So, Roi chose to be a little x and trust the enemy will be smart enough to know when to retreat. GG, quit it while you’re still alive. Don’t stay here with such low HP. an.

  But, GG gotta be GG and keep messing with Roi. Where was Howard at right now? He’d normally instruct his teammates to py safe and all that. Howard should put GG on a leash before Roi turns this brat into a steak that’ll feed the team for days.

  While dragging out this silly situation, Roi was gradually losing HP. Gregory was down to 30% HP and Roi dropped to 50%. At this rate, Roi will fall into dangerous territory and will have to sider retreating himself. Now THAT would be an uable performance from Roi.

  So far, Roi could still kinda justify his passiveness as being “cautious” or whatever. This was an important matd going on the offensive always harbored risks, so it wasn’t toe to py a little safer than usual.

  But, ht losing the ory? Now THAT would be disgraceful. Putting aside that Yuel would nag about it to no end, there was also Roi’s pride to sider. He was the first string’s Top Laner, so he couldn't lose the o some overfident snotty brat. That just ain’t happening.

  E. ON. GG. Recall already. Roi sighed. He has already struck Gregory a few times to put the guy at 20% but Gregory STILL remained on the ne. What’s your problem, man? Take a hint already a outta here before I whoop your ass.

  This situation sucked. Roi fell down to 40% HP while trying hit that damn GG without going overboard. Seriously, it was harder to NOT kill the guy than it was to poke him while keeping him alive. This was turning into such a pain...

  All Roi wanted was to give Howard’s team the fair ce they deserved. The two teams weren’t banced in the slightest, so by dumbing himself down to GG’s, Roi actually made this game fairer. But, there was a limit to how long Roi could keep this nonsense going.

  Damn, man. At this point, I got no choice, right? Roi sighed. He has been dragging this for way too long. Gregory had plenty of ces to fall bad Howard had all the time in the world to order a retreat, yet nothing happened. Welp, sorry but this is no longer my fault. You gon rekt, GG.

  First, Shield Bash. Roi charged forward and smmed his shield intory. Normally, this the impact would cause a pushback but the big guy didn’t budge. Of course he didn’t, because Vanguard's passive, Immovable Objeegated any form of soft CC that moved the Vanguard around. As a result, the stun part of Shield Bash didn’t ki either because it was directly tied to the success of the pushback CC. The pushback had no effect, therefore no stun.

  But, that's fine. Roi didn't expey CC outta this anyway. His main goal was to get close and follow up with Bde Swing!

  Kek, gotcha. Gregory activated Provoke.

  “e at me, bro!” The Vanguard shouted. This meme voice pack for Vanguard was worth every penny, kek.

  Tch, this sucks. Roi frowned. Instead of sshing the Vanguard with Bde Swing, he was forced to use basic attacks due to that damn taunt effect. But, no matter. Gregory was already down to 15% HP, so this will be over soon- wha!? A ring of fire formed under Roi's feet!

  When the hell did Gil get here!? Roi turned aside to firm the identity of the aggressor: it was Gilbert! He rotated from Mid to Top at some point! Where was the missing call!? Damn!

  It incher! Gregory from the front and Gilbert from behind! This was hel bad news. Roi had to get outta here! I 't die here, dang it!

  All Roi wanted was to make this match a bit fairer. By not utterly destroying Gregory, he was giving the enemy a ce to settle everything during the team-fighting phase. However, dying here wasn't part of the pn! Dammit, now it gonna look like he’s really throwing the game! Shit!

  How these tnning to wreck me? Roi shifted his eyes between the Vanguard and the Pyromancer. So, GG gonna CC me and Gil gonna hit me with his ult. Something like that? In that case...! Roi rolled the heck outta there!

  Shit! Gregory excimed. His Vanguard has already raised his foot and was gonna stomp on the ground with all his strength. The idea was to knock Roi up so he bees an easy target filbert, but Roi slipped outta range!

  The most annoying thing was that Vanguard’s Heavy Stomp couldn't be celed. Sory had to gh with the stomp he started even though it ointless. What a waste of skill, MP and time.

  Okay, that's one. Roi recovered from the roll and broke into a dash. With Gregory not longer posing any CC threats, Roi had a good ce to flee the se. At least, that's what he hoped. Unfortunately, his Knight was moving at a snail's pace.

  Ah, shit. The slowdown. Roi clicked his tohe Pilr of Fire, which Gilbert used to open this attack, applied multiple ticks of slowdowo the s of Infinity in his build.

  Damn, I won’t be able to get away on foot. Better bring out the horse... ah. Roi paused. He didn’t have enough MP, so he couldn't cast eed. Daaaaaaaamn! When did he burn so much MP? Or rather, why wasn’t he more careful about maintaining enough MP for an emergency like happens!? Damn! I'm an idiot!

  Damn, there was no time to mull over his mistake. Honna turn this around? Esg seemed unlikely. Running away at a turtle’s paly gonna make him a perfect target filbert's Bze of Inferno. So, in that case...!

  They say offense is the best defense! Roi dashed straight at Gilbert! The guy had 40% HP left and he was a squishy mage, so Roi might get this kill!

  Frontal attack!? Gilbert jumped. That wasn't part of the pn! The simple elegant gank he envisiourned into a plete mess.

  So, I'll have to kill him in a straight fight. Gilbert shook his head to recollect his thoughts. The situation was a mess, but that didn’t give him an excuse to just stand there and whine. He had to aow.

  Gilbert started drawing a line for Bze of Inferno around the approag foe. Even though Roi was a moving target, the guy was moving like a snail thanks to Gilbert’s slowdowns. Therefore, it was a no-braio hit Roi with every tick of Bze of-

  You ain't casting that! Roi burned what little MP he had on Honorable Duel, Knight’s aggro ability.

  “Let us fight honorably!” The Knight shouted. The taunt interrupted Gilbert's casting and forced Gilbert to use basic attacks. So, instead of a hellish firestorm, a single fireball flew Roi.

  Ez parry! Roi swung his bde in the middle of running and sliced the fireball into two. He won’t die here! He wasn’t allowed to!

  This euation was Roi’s fault. Fring the fight against Gregory and up to not keeping mana for eed 0 everything was on Roi. Therefore, he had to up his own mess by winning this fight!

  Roi swung his bde at the enemy and it strue. Gilbert’s Pyromancer was still trolled by the taunt, so he had no trol over his movements; dodging attacks was impossible.

  However, the taunt was short-lived. Now, things will get iing.

  How Gil gonna move? Roi eyed his prey like a predator. I bet he gonna start by creating some space.

  First, I have to create some distaween us. Gilbert rolled aside to get as far aossible from Roi's reach. Alright, now to- Wha!? He's already here!?

  Lololol, I k! Roi sshed through Gilbert again! Too predictable, man!

  Retreating toward the jungle was the natural instinct when a pyer was caught in a sticky situation on the enemy’s side of the herefore, Roi ran toward the jungle as soon as Gilbert started the roll and caught up in no time! Worst case, if my guess had been wrong, I could have escaped through the jungle myself from that position. 200 IQ py!

  There's no choice, Gilbert frowned. I have to take him head-on. He unleashed Fme Wave right at Roi’s face. With how wide the burst of fire was, there was no dodging the attack from this range.

  Welp, nothing I do about this one. Roi ate the fire damage in the face like a man. Instead of wasting time trying to dodge the Impossible, he sshed Gilbert again without wasting any time.

  It was almost ilbert only had about 25% HP left. Just three more sshes and Roi will redeem himself!

  So, the first swing! Ez homerun! As, the attack didn't deal as much damage as Roi hoped. Damn, GG is still here? Go home already, kid!

  Gregory, the absolute mad d, approached the battlefield and booted his ultimate: “Hold the Line!” It spread a big aura around him which extended all the way to Gilbert. The aura ed some of the damage dealt to Gil by transferring a portion of the damage tory.

  Damn, what a pain in the ass. Roi clicked his tongue. Because of this shit, it gonna take like twice the time to kill Gilbert, This ain't good! Roi had to win this fight no matter what! Maybe I should switch to killing GG first? No, then Gil will run all over me off from behind. What a damn situation. REEEEEEEEEEEEE!

  Everything was Roi’s own damn fault. If he hadn't messed around with GG and took this seriously from the start, GG would have been dead by now. But, because Roi has been taking it slow like an indecisive scrub, he found himself in this gank.

  Was there even a “missing” call from Mid about Gilbert’s rotation? Damn, it felt like everything was out to get him right now. This situation royally sucked in every ossible!

  Roi tried his best to score at least one kill in this desperate situation, but Gregory and Gilbert ganged on him from both sides. Roi simply didn’t have enough damage to get a fast kill here. GG was tanky as heck, sing him down required some time. Oher hand, Gilbert was squishy but any damage Roi dealt him was almost halved by Gregory's ult.

  Thus, it was impossible to quickly kill any of these guys. And, esg wasn’t an optioher with all these slowdowns stacked on Roi...

  You have been killed!

  Fuck. That's all Roi had to say oter. From start to end, he has been fug shit up. This wasn't how this game was supposed to go. All Roi wanted was to even out the odds of this game a little, not to get wrecked like a pleb and give the enemy an easy lead.

  He wasn't supposed to be throwing the game! He wasn't doing it! He just...

  Together with Yuel's earlier death, the team was losing 0-2 while the game was transitioning into the mid-game. Will they be able to recover from this? Dammit, I gotta make up for this shit somehow...