Kai was matched against Nirvana in Mid Lane. How good was this guy? She couldn't tell, because the guy hadn’t left much of an impression during any of the previous games.

  At the very least, he was good enough to hold his own against Mid Laner Lars. Throughout the day, the uation in Mid was always frozen, save for the time Lars picked Trickshooter.

  So, how good was that guy, really? Hard to say. Kai had no choice but to discover things along the way. For now, the pn was to farm as effitly as possible and wait for the eo make the first move.

  Kai summoned a Magia Orb in the middle of the enemy formation, then she booted Dimensional Colpse. The orb colpsed inwards and drew all minions into it, dealing them heavy damage as they crashed into each other. It was a simple but effective farmihod that was could be performed across a very le.

  Meanwhile, the Aeromancer used Whirlwind to safely clear the ne. He summoned a small tornado that tinuously applied damage to minions.

  It allowed the Aeromao stay far in the back without advang, but he had to sacrifice his clearing speed for that advahe slow damage-over-time was no match for Sorcerer’s burst damage.

  As a result, Kai cleared the wave way before the enemy. Her minions were injured but alive, so they charged onward into eerritory.

  Kai could've pushed alongside them and she normally would. But, this time, she chose to retreat to the Turret instead.

  There was o take any necessary risks. She has already fucked up real bad during the past two games, so she won't let that happen again.

  I’ll py this slow and steady. Kai thought. I’ll establish a gradual advantage, one wave at a time.

  It was an ued approach from a normally aggressive pyer. Needless to say, it caught the enemy by surprise.

  She's not pushing? Raymond wohe Saihe upper hand in their first exge, but she didn’t press it. Maybe she's wary of a gank? But, would you normally expect a gank this early into the game? Well, not like I'm pining.

  Whatever the enemy’s pn was, it made Raymond's life easy. He didn’t have to worry about a dangerous attacker leading the minions, so he simply cleared the injured soldiers with basic attacks before they reached the Turret.

  Unfortunately, one of the bowmen stepped into Raymond's Turret area. The Turret elimihe bowman before the guy even nocked his arrow, but it was still bad. A minion dying uower meant reduced farm.

  This isn’t good. Raymond frowned. He got away almost scot-free this time, but there was no guarantee luck will be on his side again.

  If the Sorcerer pushed alongside her minions to zone Raymond out, he would have had to allow multiple minions to die uower. That would have resulted in a lot of lost gold.

  Most high-ranked Sorcerers alushed hard during this matchup. As such, Raymond often had to borrow the help of the Juo turn the one-sided uation around. He was already prepared to do the same this game, he even discussed things with Nash ahead of time.

  However, Beat turned out to be an unusual Sorcerer. For the better or the worse, she chose to not aggress against Raymoe the matchup being clearly in her favor.

  I ’t tell if that’s the right move. Raymond admitted. In his experie was a 50-50.

  Sometimes, the Sorcerer’s pushes were devastating enough to let them trol the entire her times, they overextended just a little and the Jungler destroyed them. It seemed like Beat didn’t want to take that risk.

  Even during the sed wave, Beat pyed exactly the same way. She stayed close to her tower and summoned a Magia Orb from all the way over there. Then, she unleashed Dimensional Colpse to inflict heavy damage to all minions at once. After that, she simply walked away.

  She has no i in pushing. Raymond cluded. The first time might have been a test of sorts, but the sed time firmed Beat's iions. She wasn't going to leave the tower area. Beat was like a princess imprisoned inside an unapproachable castle, except she chose to stay there of her own volition.

  Why is she pying like this? I had the impression she’s an offensive pyer. Is it because of how the st two games went? Raymond couldn’t help but wonder.

  In both games, Beat's early death sparked Taurus' unstoppable momentum. Maybe that’s why Beat, and perhaps Stratus as a whole, decided to py safer this time around. It was a reasonable decision on paper, but it might be their undoing.

  There’s such a thing as pying “too safe”. Raymond smiled wryly. He was an expert oopic, with lots of first-hand experieo boot. The way Beat ying reminded Raymond of the times he retreated into his owo mitigate all risks. More often than not, that decision turned out to be the greatest mistake of them all.

  Well, if that's how you want to py, then I have no pints. Raymond thought.

  During the wave, he advao the frontline and attacked the enemy minions with basics before they left the range of Whirlwind. This way, he was able to eliminate all the minions before they got a ce to reach his Turret. All his gold earnings were perfectly secured.

  As for Beat? She didn't budge from her spot. The entire se unfolded in front of her very eyes, but she didn't lift a fio interfere with Raymond. She practically let him get away with robbery in broad daylight.

  You won’t see me pining. Raymond shrugged. Easy farming, easy life. Though, I do think it's unfortunate when the captaihat kind of example for the team. Was he still talking about Beat? Or, was it about Raymond himself?

  The turtling oppo reminded Raymond of how he used to behave in real life. Always avoiding unnecessary flict, alying it safe, and always waiting for things to resolve themselves. Even though he had both the strength and authority to step in and make a difference, he always watched from the sidelines and hoped for the problems to fix themselves.

  Why was he always so passive? It was mostly cowardice, but not the type many people experienced in such situations.

  His clubmates might have assumed he was scared of Brud the gang, but that wasn’t true. If push came to shove, Raymond was fident in his ability to subdue that entire group of hooligans. After all, that giant body of his has never betrayed him before in a fight.

  And, that’s precisely why he was scared. He wasn’t scared of his oppos, but of his own strength.

  His big body wasn't the result of obesity. His dad was a tall big man, and a bodybuilding addict to boot. As such, Raymond grew up with intense workouts being a natural part of his schedule.

  On top of that, he ied his dad’s big geics, and he was also visited by an early growth spurt. With all of that bined, he ended up with a big bulky body that didn't belong to a middle schooler. In terms of raw strength, it robably even above most high schoolers.

  As such, Raymond never feared the bullies or hooligans his age. If anything, it was the opposite. Everybody could only be gangsta until Raymond arrived. Instead of fronting this oversized boy, they usually awkwardly retreated. A single gre was enough to scare them away.

  Truly, this big body was ve for peacefully resolving flicts. However, it was uling as well. The same way his big body instilled fear in others, it made Raymond nervous as well.

  No, that utting it lightly. Raymond was terrified by his own strength. One unfortunate i seeded a sense of dread in him. It was the first and st time he got serious about fighting anybody.

  A boy in his css became the victim of bullying. A group of older kids ganged up on the poor boy, and they were careless enough to it the crime right in front of Raymond.

  Naturally, Raymond couldn’t stand still. He had to act!

  That was the unfortunate decision that triggered everything. He charged at the bullies and tackled them, separating them from the victim.

  When faced with Raymond, anybody from the school would immediately give up. Everybody ko not mess with the “Golem”.

  However, these hooligans didn’t get the memo. They were apparently from a different school, so they knew nothing about Raymond.

  In fact, these boys looked a few years older, possibly middle-schoolers. Raymond was just a grade-schooler at the time, so it made sehey’ve never heard of him.

  "Watcha doing, kid!?" One of the bullies thurst his fist and drove it into Raymond's jaw!

  "Eh...?" Raymond staggered backward. It took him a moment tister what just happened.

  Did that boy just hit him? Why? Fighting was no good. They shouldn't be doing that.

  It hurts. Raymond massaged his . The sense of pain lingered for a while. It hurt wheried opening his mouth.

  It hurt. They weren’t pying hese kids crossed the line.

  Who do you think you are? Raymond ched his fists. Blood rushed to his head at that moment. Who gave you the right the just hit others like this!?

  Raymond wasn’t thinking straight. No, he probably wasn’t thinking at all. His arms moved on their won before he could sort anything out.

  He struck, holding nothing back. A swift punch, straight iomach.

  "Gaaaaah!" The hooliga over and coughed violently.

  "You fatass! What did ya do to my-" BAM! A punch rammed into his face. His nose made a funny sound. "A-Aaaaaghh!" The boy wailed as he held his nose. Blood was dripping from it.

  "Y-You! My nose! Aaaaaah!" The injured boy charged at Raymond.

  What are you doing? Raymond couldn’t help but questioility of this a. Don’t you uand you ’t win?

  The boy was ag like a ered prey who chose to strike the predator in a desperate attempt to survive. But, why? This wasn’t some life-ah situation. Fighting was so unnecessary.

  You should pipe down as everybody does. Raymond lightly pushed the attacker away. At least, it was inteo be a light push.

  However, the push was a little to. The boy wasn’t firmly rooted in the ground while chagrin forward, so the push sent him flying all the way to the nearby wall.

  THUMP. The sound of something hitting the wall. It was the boy’s head. Thinking ba it, it was a dangerous situation that could result ih if not addressed immediately.

  But, at the time Raymond didn't pay any attention to that. He simply shifted his focus to the third and st bully. Uhe others, this one was quaking in his boots. It didn't seem the guy had any ce to strike after witnessing his friends’ crushi.

  That's more like it. Raymond nodded in satisfa. You see? If you don't fight, I don't o hurt you.

  "Get lost," Raymond said coldly.

  "E-Eeep!" the boy squeaked and made a run for it.

  "That settles it. Raymond approached the bullied boy. "It's okay now."

  "Ah, t-thanks..." The boy took a few steps back.

  "Hm? What's wrong?"

  "N- Nothing. I go now?"

  "Sure."

  "T-Then, bye!" The boy ran away in terror as if fleeing from a monster. But, why? It didn't make any sense. Raymond has just saved the kid, so what's with that treatment? It's almost as if the boy was more scared of Raymond than the bullies.

  Did I do something wrong? Raymond looked around him. The two bullies he injured were still there. One was crawling on the ground holding his stomach, while the other was lying on the floor with a bleeding nose, barely scious.

  That's when it finally hit Raymond. Who created this bloody se? He did, with his own two hands. Raymond reduced these kids to such a miserable state of his own volition.

  Even though his dad always told him to not raise a hand on the weaker. Even though Raymond always tried to resolve everything peacefully. Somehow, this happened.

  "I-I'll call for help!" Raymond broke into a run. Who should I call in this situation? ht, the nurse!

  Luckily, the nurse resent this time. He brought her to the se and then... he left. He snuck away, without telling anybody he was responsible for all of this.

  It’s just a bad dream. It has to be. Raymond tried to vince himself as he ran away. I’d never do such a thing in real life.

  It was a nightmare. He didn't do it. It wasn't his fault. He was just trying to save a bullied kid.

  But, of course, the kids reported who beat them up. The school called up Raymond and his parents for a lecture. His dad was furious to learn about this act of violence.

  Fortunately, the bullied boy testified in Raymond’s favor. In the end, the i passed without Raymond being punished. However, the sequences of his as will ruly disappear.

  "I'm proud of you for stepping in to help a bullied kid,” his dad said. “But, you have to remember to hold back. I told you many times: you're bigger and strohan most kids ye. So, you must avoid fights unless it's an emergency. Did you really have to beat them so badly? Answer me."

  "No, I, didn't..." Raymond hung his head. He overdid it big time. The two kids he attacked were sent to the hospital. One of them even had a light nose fracture, and it was all Raymond’s fault.

  From that day onward, Raymond has been avoiding fights as much as possible. Not just physical fights, but any kind of quarrel that had a ake him snap. It’s not like he had any special anger ma issues, but better safe than sorry.

  That one bloody se he caused burself into his mind. Every time he sidered stepping into an argument, the bloody sight fshed in front of him. It made him question himself over and over. "Is it really worth taking the risk? I might hurt somebody again." A voice whispered thus.

  “I better ig.” Raymond always chied out. He was undoubtedly a coward, one who feared her than himself.

  That's why he let Bruce get away with so many things. Instead of stepping in as a captain should, Raymond just watched from the sidelines. He was scared of hurting somebody again and sending them to the hospital.

  But, there was such a thing as overpensating and Raymond definitely crossed into that territory. He was too nid toiving. There was a big logical leap between "not hurting people" and "letting bullies get away scot-free".

  It took him a long time to realize he was overpensating for that one i. He was too passive, way too passive. In the process of avoiding flicts, he hurt his clubmates more than his fist ever could. Some even quit the club due to the unpleasant enviro, one which Raymoted to exist with his passiveness.

  It took Raymond so many months to finally wake up. Today's i with Bruce finally spped him wide awake. As the captain, he had to take the reins over this club.

  Raymond itted a grave mistake as a child, but he has grown sihen. It was time to move on. Living in stant fear of hurting others won't get him anywhere.

  That's why Raymond had to ge. And, today was the beginning.

  He has already taken the first step toward a new future wheopped Bruce. But, it was just the beginning. He still hasn't bee the team’s captain iruest sense.

  Perhaps, no amount of hard work will ever make up for all the damage he has caused with his passiveness. But, there was no reason to give up before putting on a fight. And, today will bee a fresh new page in his story!

  And, since I’ve already decided to ge, Raymond thought. I should ge my pystyle accly.

  People often cimed that Raymond could dominate oppos if he pyed more assertively, but he ook that advice to heart. However, here and now, he finally started feeling it. If he put his mind to it, he could achieve anything!

  Normally, his pystyle was focused on defense. He patiently waited for his oppos to aggress, then he terattacked them. It only seemed fair. If the oppo was the first to strike, Raymond was allowed to retaliate in an act of self-defense.

  Initiating attacks was something Raymond has almost never do simply wasn't in his nature. It always felt unnatural, the same way he avoided getting involved with arguments in real life. Perhaps, his cowardice exteo his pystyle as well.

  Even now, with the Pyromancer pying defensively, the idea of aggressing on her didn’t cross Raymond’s mind for a while. He was satisfied with pying defense in response and maintaining a status quo. There was o rush things.

  But, was that really alright? Should he keep pying like this? His oppo was showing obvious signs of cautio wasn’t fortable with pursuing offense against Raymond.

  So, shouldn't Raymond push? It was a great opportunity to gain ne advantage and build up the team’s momentum.

  I 't let the younger pyers do all the work. Raymond thought ba the past two games. Both times, it was the juniors who created strong momentum for the team.

  Shouldn't the captaihe oo initiate such things? Besides, what captain-like things have Raymond aplished today in general? Noting, really. And, if he keeps ag like a scaredy-cat, he won't get anything dohis game either.

  I'll just do it. Raymond decided. Today was a day of big ges. Slowly but surely, he was crawling out of the co he buried himself in. He won't run away from challenges anymore. The captain shouldn't be ag weak like that.

  This game will bee a small, yet big, step for him. He'll evolve his pystyle to new heights, here and now! Against a cautious oppo who was scared of itting mistakes, Raymond will respond with relentless offense!

  DarkestCymore