So, what would it be? Move the eriao Bot? Or, split it between nes? Jaiden couldn’t make up his mind.

  “They’re still pushing Top,” Rio pointed out.

  “ht!” Jaiden excimed. There was another option all along!

  InformationBckhole a were the oasked with defending Top, and they were possibly the enemy’s weakest links. Beat was the weakest for sure, and Bckhole wasn’t impressive either as far as Jaiden could tell. In other words...!

  “The enemy’s defense is weaker in Top,” Jaiden said. “How about the three of us rotate to Top and help you take the tower?”

  “Hmm.” Raymond knotted his brows. “It’s a sound idea, but who’ll defend Bot in that case?”

  “ht, about that...” Jaiden didn’t think that far. He was just excited by the possibility of crushi once more and riding to victory on top of her corpse. But, Ray is right. This will leave Bot undefended.

  “I recall after you get here,” Zeph suggested. “I’m starting to run low anyway, so I gotta head out soon.”

  “It’s because you’re not being careful enough,” Raymond criticized.

  “Chill, man. I’m doing what I . It’s not my fault they got that obnoxious Sorcerer range on their side. I ’t approach without getting hit by something or another.”

  “Very well.” Raymond nodded. “In that case, let’s use your HP to its fullest. We’ll keep pushing until Jaiden’s group arrives, then you’ll recall and defend Bot.”

  “Works for me.” Zeph grinned dangerously. “So, we’re going all-out nht?”

  “Just make sure you don’t overdo it. If you die, it’ll ruiire pn.”

  “Don’t worry, it’ll be fihese guys don’t look like they're gonna attay time soon. They’re just turtling and poking. Cheap fuckers.”

  “Yes, they’re not very assertive,” Raymond agreed.

  The enemy Viking and Sorcerer have been defending rather passively. Even though this was a fair 2v2, the enemy didn’t dare to aggress on Raymond and Zeph. They pyed a turtly keep-out game that only stalled for time. It failed to disce Raymond and Zeph from tinuing this push, so they pressed on.

  Heh, and now ush even harder! Zeph grinned. Full speed ahead! Let’s go!

  He’ll fight to the fullest, no matter how much HP he loses in the process. After all, HP was just another resource. As long as Zeph avoids dying, he keep pushing and pushing and pushing some more, no matter how much HP it costs him.

  “Let’s go with this pn,” Raymond summarized. “Mid rotates to Top, then Zeph recalls and defends Bot.”

  “Okay!” Nash excimed. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s goooooo!”

  “Wait, I o cast the buff on you.” Rio ran after Nash, who was already all the way at the jungle.

  “ht.” Nash hit the brakes ahe others catch up. “Fot I’m too fast for ya, haha.”

  “Show-off.” Rio made a face. You just built a bunovement Speed. There’s nothing t about.

  “Nash, you should go ahead with your speed,” Jaiden suggested. “Get there first and hit them hard. We’ll be right behind you.”

  “Sounds good! I’mma get me a double kill by the time you get there!”

  “Do it, man.” Jaiden smiled.

  Rio cast Godspeed, granting a Movement Speed buff to the erio. Then, without further ado, Nash sprinted off and vanished from sight.

  I hope that reckless fool won’t get himself into unnecessary trouble. Rio thought.

  The trio wasn’t particurly discreet about their rotation pns. In fact, they did the ehing in pin sight, arming their enemies ahead of time.

  “Is it just me or they’re rotating?” Luke asked.

  “Looks like Top is their arget,” Yuel deduced. “Top, watch out! They’re rotating!”

  “Oh no! The Bermuda Triangle of Certain Doom set its eyes on us!” Vi made noise. “It’s ing to cim us!”

  “Do we retreat?” Kai asked.

  “Yes, but nht away,” Yuel said. “If you start retreating now, they’ll have enough time to cel the rotation and ge their pns. And, they’ll still be able to take the tower with the pushers they already got over there. We ’t surrehe tower like that.”

  “Then, we wait here until we die?” Kai was brimming with positivity in this game.

  “Retreat to the edge of the tower area, but tinue clearing minions as much as you . Let’s see how the situation develops for now, then decide when to fully evacuate you from the ne.”

  “What about reinforts?” Vi inquired.

  “Yes, about that...” Yuel sidered their options.

  It made seo respond to this rotation in kind and rotate the defenders from Mid to Top. Unfortunately, there was a big problem with that.

  The enemy still had ne advantage in Mid, so their minion waves had the upper hand. As such, somebody had to stay in ne and clear minions until the bance was restored in the ne.

  “Stay here and clear the ining wave,” Yuel requested from Luke. “I’ll rotate to Top.”

  “Got it.” Luke gave a thumbs up.

  I hope this is the right move. Yuel felt sweat f on his forehead. He didn’t anticipate this sudden rotation to Top, but he immediately reized it as a strong move.

  Kai was underperf, whereas Vi didn’t pose much of a threat if the eakes the fight to him. In other words, the defense in Top aper-thin. Somebody had to rotate over there to help them, especially against the enemy’s infamous Triangle.

  It should be the right call to rotate me to Top over Luke. Yuel tinued questioning this move as he was running toward Top.

  With eed, Luke could rotate to Top much faster, probably even outruriaself. However, somebody had to stay and clear minions in Mid, and Luke’s Knight was far better suited for the task than Yuel’s Aquamncer.

  Therefore, even though this resulted in a much slower rotation, this was the better py overall. Hopefully.

  I’m surprised they’re still ign Lars. Yuel g the mini-map.

  Lars was already at the enemy’s Bot Golem, ready to ehe giant guardian. At this rate, the enemy will lose their Golem to a one-person split-push. Were they really fih it?

  No, of course they’re not. They’re probably going to recall somebody ohe gank begins. In that case, the situation in Top will actually be a 3v4, not a 3v5. That’s why it wasn’t necessary for both Yuel and Luke to rotate together to defend Top. Three defenders against four pushers were more than enough.

  We’ll probably still have to cede the tower in the end, but we won’t give it to them for free. The longer we stall them there, the more time Lars will get to push Bot without worry. I just have to get to Top in time before things get out of hand-

  “HERE I E!!!” Nash leaped over a jungle wall, diving straight into the tower area!

  “They’re already here!?” Vi excimed. “Such speed! Unbelievable!”

  “Shit...!” Kai heard the leap ing, but she was too slow to react. The Landed right on top of her, dealing heavy damage. , he swung his spear, sweeping right through her!

  Shit, I’m done for... Kai hung her head.

  It was over. The sweep slowed down her Movement Speed, so there was no hope of getting out of here alive. Damn, if only I dodged that stupid leap...

  But, Kai couldn’t make it. She wasn’t good enough. Once again, she was going t the eeam down with her inpete wasn’t even that long since she revived, but she was going to die again...

  “Oh, no you don’t!” Vi’s booming voice cut through the cloud of ivity. He grabbed the Lancer by the waist and tossed the io the other side of the tower area. “Beat, now is your ce! Make your escape!”

  “Ah, right!” Kai turned around and started running… slowly, very slowly. Unfortunately, no matter how much she begged her Sorcerer to pick up speed, this was the best she could muster after getting hit by Lancer’s Sweep.

  “RWAAAAAAR!!!” A roar of fury resounded from behihe Berserker entered his Berserk mode.

  The enemy was about to un all-out attack. Top Turret was done for.

  I at least get away alive? Kai gulped. No, probably not.

  Sorcerer had an amazing attack range, but zero escape tools. On top of that, the Lancer’s Sweep drastically slowed her down, so even her regur running speed was far worse than average.

  Yeah, it’s over, no matter how I look at it. Kai gave up. At least, Vince should be able to get away.

  Viking’s Axe Blitz was handy fetting out of sticky situations like this, so Vi will be able to escape without a hitch. Only Kai will die here, alongside the tower. That should’ve been the most likely sario, but...

  “I shall use everything in my power to hold them down!” Vi procimed.

  “Huh...?”

  “I’ll hold them down even if it’s the st thing I do. So, make sure you escape alive from this hell!”

  “Huh...?” Kai opened and closed her mouth. “What are you talking about? You’re the one who should get away.”

  “Nay, nay, nay! You have to make it out alive in my stead!” Vi insisted. “We shall need a mage to defend olem against the Bermuda Triangle, so your life is far more important than mine!”

  “Huh, is that so...” Kai relutly agreed. For once, Vi’s words weren’t filled with total nonsense.

  After taking Top Turret, there was a ce the enemy will extend their attack to Top Golem. In that case, whoever survives this assault will have to defend right away. And, it was always best to have somebody with fast wave-clearing speed on the defense

  Yeah, I guess it makes sense why he values me so highly. Or rather, why he values my CLASS so highly.

  “Besides, you’re the captain,” Vi added.

  “Eh?”

  “I ot allow our captain to perish like that, I? Don’t you agree, my soldiers!?” Vi activated Unstoppable Raid, summoning a brigade of warriors. They all roared in unison as if sharing Vi’s se.

  “Captain?” Kai spat a self-sg ugh. “Bullshit. It’s just a title. In practice, I haven’t done shit...”

  “The st two games were big blowups, I uand,” Vi said. “But even so, we must push onward! Did we e here today to lose? Nay, I say! We came to seize victory! No matter how many times they beat us down, we shall rise from the ashes like a phoenix! No matter how frustrating it is, no matter how much we screw up - we must rise and fight once more!”

  Is he quoting one of his ese cartoons or something? Kai found the speech a tad cheesy, but Vi was right. The team definitely didn’t e here today to lose. They didn’t struggle so hard the entire day just to walk away defeated.

  This was the petitive stage, not some Ranked match she could throw at any time because she wasn’t feeling it. On this stage, at the pinnacle of the petition, quitting wasn’t tolerated. No matter how many times the team screws up, they had to keep fighting until the bitter end. This was no time to drown in self-pity.

  “Alright, I’ll get away,” Kai reassured. “So, make sure you also get out afterwards.”

  “But of course.” Vi smiled wryly. “Such was my pn from the start. I’ll definitely get away tool. I’ll be right behind you!”

  But, it was a lie. As Vi was throwing his empty promise into the air, his eyes id on the axe he tossed a few moments ago.

  This axe was supposed to be his ticket out of this mess. He po front the enemy uower for a while, then blink into the jungle and make a break for it.

  As, their oppos were too good. DragonMaster read that iion from a mile away. As soon as he turned Berserk, he leaped over Vi’s head to block off the path to the jungle. What’s worse, it was happening right as Vi released the axe from his hand...

  The result was nothing short of ical. Instead of sending his axe all the way to the juhe axe firmly pself in DragonMaster’s shoulder. It traveled less than a meter. Instead of being a key to Vi’s survival, it became an invitation to death.

  I’ll perish here. Vi was vinced of that.

  DragonMaster, StormMonster, and Nirvana. All three of them focused their attacks on Vi uhe tower. Even with his faithful army of warriors, Vi couldn’t stand up to this overwhelming force.

  Not to mention, two more enemies were on their way to gank the ne as well. It was the grand finale. Vi’s tale of heroism came to an end.

  But, it was all worth it. Vi smiled. As long as Beat gets away, we still hold onto hope even in these dark times. If it’s to save the captain’s life, I shall throw away my life without a sed thought!

  Beat’s tale was not dohe captain always maintained a fident front, but she was actually very vulnerable. A few unfortunate mistakes were enough to shatter her spirit and reduce her to her current sorry state.

  But, in truth, she was strohan most. Yes, she truly was. Unlike Vi and his mediocre skill, Kai was a real fighter. In terms of raw strength, she was sed only to the almighty Gunz. As, she was struggling to awaken her full power on this grand stage today.

  Pressure, ay, and ahis chaotic mixture was ing her down, preventing her real strength from ing to the surface.

  heless, I believe she’ll overe it all. Vi smiled fidently. Like a chick busting out of its egg, Kai will tear apart the s binding her. She’ll show the world what she was truly capable of! Ohat happens, nobody will dare to question the legitimacy of her position as the captain.

  I’m nothing more than a humble servant. You’re the queen of this show, Kai. Vi closed his eyes and exhaled. Then, he opehem dramatically! Therefore, I shall fight! To the bitter end! To death! Even if all I do is buy you a couple of seds, I shall restrain these enemies with everything I’ve got!

  And so, Vi challehe three overwhelming forces.

  Thankfully, he wasn’t alone. A brigade of strong vikings stood by his side, all sharing his will. And, there was the Turret too, tributing with its high damage output. Together, they were going to make their st stand here!

  Vi swung his axe at the rampaging Berserker. His loyal army also ganged on this one rampaging foe.

  Swing. Swing. Swing!

  Even though Vi knew death was nigh, he tinued swinging to no end. Every swing regnant with the desire to strike down the powerful barbarian.

  If I smite down at least one of them, my death shall pay for its own cost and my tribution to this game would be immortalized! This wasn’t just aion to stall the enemy, Vi had every iion to get a kill as well!

  Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Even though Vi had the numerical advah his viking squad, a raging tornado struck all of them at onirvana unleashed his ultimate, turning the entire area into a disaster zone for Vi’s squad.

  The tornado sucked them in and tore rent them asuhe viking warriors fell one by one. Vi remained all alone.

  At the very least, I made him spend his ult. Vi smiled.

  Yes, in the face of these depressing odds, he was smiling. His death has long since been prophesied, it was recorded in the Akashic Records. There was no escape from this certain demise.

  As such, there was only ohing he could do in this situation: make the enemy’s life as hard as possible! He shall not go down without a fight!

  “Aeromancer ultimate is down!” Vi reported as he fronted his oppos head-on.

  Yes, keep fog on me! Keep trying to kill me! Vi smirked.

  Each sed the enemy wasted on Vi was a sed that ted toward Beat’s escape. Even though Vi was going to die for certain, Kai will be able to escape from this apocalypse alive!

  But, as if to crush this wish, an epiphany hit Jaiden.

  “I think Nash better chase the girl,” Jaiden suggested.

  “Are you sure?” Rio asked. “It’s risky.”

  “What’s risky about it? It’s just that girl. Nash gonna make quick work of her.”

  “Sorcerer is dangerous during the mid-game,” Rio warned.

  “, you really think Nash would lose to that girl? She’s been pying like a scrub the entire game. She’s the enemy’s weakest link, your favorite kind of target.”

  “Well, yes, but...” Rio couldn’t expin it well but he had a bad feeling about this.

  Letting Nash chase Beat alone seemed risky. There was a det ce of overextending and Jaiden should’ve been aware of it too, yet he ushing for this py.

  “Then, I’ll go back him up,” Rio presented a promise.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary, but you do you. Anyway, there’s no time! Hey, Nash!” Jaiden called out. “Fet that Viking guy. He’s already dead. Go chase the girl.”

  And from that one suggestion, a of ued events was born...

  DarkestCymore