An enemy has been killed!

  “Woohoo! We did it!” Lars pumped a fist. “Great job, Kai!”

  “Sorry for stealing your kill,” Kai apologized.

  “Nah, you totally deserve it.” Lars waved his hand.

  “You did most of the damage.”

  “True,” Lars agreed. “But, he would’ve gotten away if ya didn’t pull him, so I couldn’t have do alone anyway.”

  “Fair enough.” Kai accepted that reasoning. Even though Lars would’ve thhly destroyed Renegade in a regur 1v1, even he needed a little help in seg a kill on a fleeing Renegade. That’s how good of a pyer Renegade was.

  Even after Renegade realized he foolishly walked into a fatal trap, the guy didn’t waver for a sed. He immediately shifted gears and focused on esg. Despite suffering tremendous damage, despite being pulled back, ae the situation looking helpless - Renegade tiruggling to the bitter end.

  I still hate the guy’s guts. Kai remembered the reasade walked into this trap in the first pce. That bastard was totally uimating her. He probably thought he’d quickly take care of Kai in Mid before heading to defend Bot. What an asshole.

  But, well pyed. Kai had to admit. The way Renegade struggled to the bitter end was a worthy dispy on this petitive stage.

  More than anything, it proved how petent of a pyer Renegade was. He was good enough to give even Lars some trouble. That’s the kind of strong oppo Kai was trying to defeat alone i two games.

  No wonder I failed so hard. Kai sighed.

  Renegade wasn’t a better pyer than Kai, but her was he worse. They each had their own strengths and weaknesses. Whehey cshed in a 1v1, there was elling who will walk away victorious. That’s how small the skill gap between them was.

  Even though Renegade also uimated Kai, she must’ve uimated him three times over. That’s what led to her previous defeats.

  ime we fight, I’ll judge the situation properly. Kai promised herself. Prepare your ass, Renegade. I’ll kick it all the way to the moon at the regionals!

  “Good job in Mid,” Yuel said. “Let’s group up there and push for the win.”

  “Okay, let’s goooo!” Lars excimed.

  “Here e the big pys!” Luke grinned.

  “Indeed, let us smite down our foes, ond for all!” Vi announced.

  “Except, you’re still dead,” Kai pointed out.

  “Such trivial details shall not stop moi from joining the battle! Though I’m denied from being physically present at the battlefield, my spirit shall fight alongside you all!”

  “Right...” Kai rolled her eyes. “But alright, let’s do this. This is our ce to turn the game around! Hit the gas all the way on this push!”

  The team grouped up in Mid and unched a direct assault at the enemy Mid Golem. They set their eyes on nothing short of immediate victory. They were going to win, right here and now!

  Meanwhile, Taurus’ camp fell into a slump. Jaiden’s death extinguished all hope of mounting a eback this game.

  They were in a great position until retly, they could already feel victory within an arm’s reach. As, this one unfortunate i made victory slip through their fingers.

  “I’m sorry for being su idiot!” Jaiden lightly banged his forehead against the table, over and over. “Bme me to your hearts’ tent. It was me. All me. I did it.”

  “You’ll crack your skull at this rate,” Rio ented.

  “That’ll be a small price to pay for my crimes.”

  “Haha.” Nash ughed. “Rex, bruh, Shit happens.”

  “No,” Zeph objected. “I say the kid deserves every bit of it. I mean, everybody and their moms warned him to not get his ass killed, but he still went ahead and did exactly that.”

  “Yes, it was me. I did it. I fudged up. I deserve all your hate.” Jaiden tinued banging his head.

  “Tch, that’s why ya should never put juniors oeam.” Zeph clicked his tongue. “Y’all inexperienced scrubs.”

  “Says the one who died to Gunz while defending the Golem,” Rio retorted quietly, but loud enough for Zeph to hear.

  “Huh!? What was that?” Zeph grimaced. “You tryin’ to start a fight, kid?”

  “Hmph,” Rio averted his eyes and said nothing more.

  “You fucker, doncha make me e over there!” Zeph was about to stand up from his chair.

  “Enough already.” Raymond’s strong tone spped everybody back to their senses. It’s not like his voice was loud or intimidating, but it was charged with unyielding vi. Nobody dared to utter a word.

  “Jaiden, you stop beating yourself over it,” Raymond said.

  “But, it’s my fault.” Jaiden banged his forehead once more. “We may even lose because of this!”

  “Yes, we might,” Raymond agreed.

  “Aghhhhh!” Jaiden doubled the pace of his banging. BANG. BANG. BANG. He had to drill this frustration into his brain, to never fet it for the rest of his life!

  “It wasn’t just your fault,” Raymond said. “I share some of the bme too.”

  “Huh?” Zeph responded. “The actual fuck? You literally told the kid to not go for that py. How is that your fault?”

  “Yes, I told him. But, did he listen?”

  “Nope,” Zeph gave it straight. “That’s why it’s this dumbass’s fault.”

  “There’s a reason he didn’t listen,” Raymond expined. “He didn’t trust my judgment enough. That’s why it’s partially my fault as well. If I had been a reliable captain from the start, it would have been easier for everybody to trust my calls. I’m really sorry about it.”

  “Hey, that’s not...” Jaiden had no idea what to say. He stopped banging his head in order to properly respond, but the words were stu his throat.

  Admittedly, there was some truth to Raymond’s words. Jaiden didn’t heed the captain’s warning because he didn’t trust Raymond’s judgment.

  Even though Raymond showed signs of being a true captain today, it was impossible for a person to make a plete 180 in a single day. Therefore, Jaiden assumed that the orying to stop him was the “old Raymond”, the “passive captain”.

  But, does that really make it Ray’s fault? Jaiden couldn’t tell. I mean, I guess a little? Kinda? But, like... eeeeeeh. The wishy-washy thoughts fused him. He stopped banging his head and carefully listeo the rest.

  “I’m aware I wasn’t a very good captain,” Raymond admitted. “Today’s lineup is all the proof you need. I was negligent about Bruce for too long. Before I realized it, thied this far. I’m really sorry about that.” He bowed his head.

  “About damn time you realized it.” Zeph sneered.

  “Hey,” Jaiden interjected. “You don’t have to be an ass about it.”

  “It’s alright.” Raymond stopped the argument before it had a ce to spark. “I’m sure the seniors are the most frustrated about how I’ve been handling the club, and I ’t bme them. This was supposed to be their year to shine on the big stage, but my mishandling dehem that opportunity. Some even quit the club altogether. In fact, I believe some of Zeph’s friends did, right?”

  “So, you were actually paying attention, heh.” Zeph produced a dry ugh. Then, why didn’t you act earlier, dammit!? If you just did something about it, I wouldn’t have had to wiggle my way into Bruce’s stupid gang. Bleh, whatever.

  “I pn to make big ges in the club starting today,” Raymond decred. “I’ll do my best to act like a proper captain from now on. With that said. I’m sure I’ll keep making mistakes here and there, so I hope you bear with me.”

  “No problem, man.” Nash gave a thumbs up.

  “Yeah,” Jaiden agreed. “I’m sure you gonna be an awesome captain from now on.”

  “Hmph, let’s see what you got.” Zeph refused to get his hopes too high just yet. So far, the club was in a terrible state under Raymond’s leadership, so the guy had a lot of work cut out for him.

  heless, it was alright to give the guy another ce. Maybe Raymond’s ge of heart will be substantial enough t back the seniors who unofficially quit the club. If that happens, Taurus might bee the strong team it was always meant to be.

  I doubt anybody from Bruce’s gang gonna be on Raymond’s side. Zeph thought. So, I guess I’ll have to nd the guy a hand here and there as a fellow senior. It gonna be a pain in the ass for sure. But, if it gonna revive the club, then I’m all for it. I don’t want Taurus to bee the rash team of the region. We ain’t scrubs like that.

  While the team was having a heart-to-heart, the game went on.

  Following Jaiden’s death, the four enemies grouped up to push Mid Golem. And, there were only two people alive who could possibly put a stop to this fierce offense.

  This will be rough. Raymouro Mid and stood his ground against the enemy gang.

  Alongside Rio, the two of them were the team’s st line of defense. Ohe enemy breaks through them, the game will be over.

  We might still mount a eback if we stop them here, but… Raymond didn’t have much faith in that. It didn’t sound realistiot against oppos of this level. I suppose we’re through...

  “, show ‘em what you got!” Zeph cheered out of the blue. “2v4? Ez! Just let the Golem do all the lifting for ya!”

  “Oh…” Jaiden and Nash exged dumbfound gnces for a moment. Then, a rea went off.

  “Yeah, , cap!” Nash caused a ruckus. “Block ‘em off like the Great Wall of a! And Rio, you help him out, bro!”

  “You two still do it!” Jaiden added. “If you fend them off here, we still take it back!”

  “I agree.” Rio nodded. “The situation is pretty much hopeless, but we still have a slim ce to salvage it.”

  “Is that supposed to sound encing?” Raymond chuckled. Everybody ughed too while Rio turned reddish and sunk in his chair, but soon joihe ugher as well.

  In the face of certain doom, the eeam was ughing. Deep down, they all uood - this was the grand finale of the day.

  Even so, they didn’t despair. They all learned many valuable lessooday on this stage. So, even though they’ll end this day without seizing victory, they have already gained many other valuable things instead.

  While their teammates were sh them with words of encement, Raymond and Rio made their st stand. They refused to yield until the very end.

  As, their powers alone weren’t enough.

  DEFEAT

  Despite Raymond and Rio’s best efforts, Stratus took the game. The scrimmage ended in a 3-2 for Stratus.

  “Woohoo!” Lars jumped high into the air.

  “We actually did it!” Luke pumped a fist. “Stratus is no longer meme tier, yo!”

  “Indeed!” Vi made noise. “We have successfully cleared the club’s bad name!”

  “Good work, everybody.” Kai nodded. “We’re now oep closer to taking the regionals.”

  “And the nationals,” Yuel added.

  “Haha!” Luke ughed. ”uy here is already thinking about world domination!”

  “That’s how it gotta be!” Lars pumped a fist. “What’s after nationals? World Cup? Let’s goooooo!”

  The team gathered at the ter of the stage and Taurus did the same. Once everybody resent, they exged farewells.

  “Good game!” Both sides procimed loudly. It was just a at official matches, but both teams really meant it this time.

  They all had their ups and downs throughout the day as they cshed with each other. They all stumbled, failed, overcame, and learned.

  “Hey, who was that Knight memer?” a boy asked with a grin.

  “That’ll be me.” Luke proudly poi himself. “How did ya like my Jungler Knight?”

  “Sick tech, bro.” The boy grinned. “ But, I gon you ime, tho!”

  “StormMonster, right?” Luke firmed.

  “Yep, the one and only!” StormMonster nodded and then thurst his fi Kai. “And, you too! That resoup was nasty, but I ain’t falling for it ime! I’mma pay ya back at the regionals!”

  “Hmph, we’ll see about that.” Kai lifted her .

  Meanwhile, another boy approached Yuel and Lars. They already kly who he was.

  “You were amazing, as expected,” Renegade said. “Yunslinger is outta this world.”

  “Hehe, I knht?” Lars smiled mischievously. “I’mma make it eveer tho. ime, I’mma headshot ya even while you roll.”

  “Whoa, you actually pn to improve even more?” Renegade smiled wryly. “Gotta admit, your skill is almost scary. Just how much do you train every day?”

  “I work on it every day, yo,” Lars said. “I even practice headshots and stuff before sleep.”

  “I see. Sounds like I have a lot of catg up to dade said that as a fellow Gunslinger pyer, then turo Yuel. “That st part, where you let the Sorcerer push Mid alone. Was that a bait aimed at me?”

  “Who knows?” Yuel gnced aside. He had no obligation to share this valuable information with the enemy. It involved a weakness Renegade currently had, and it would be great if he retaihat weakness until the ime they fight. But...

  “Oh, yeah!” Lars admitted. “It was totally a bait. My dude here cooked it up all by himself! Genius, right?”

  “Hey.” Yuel gave Lars a look, but then sighed and gave up. Whatever. It won’t do that much harm.

  “I see.” Renegade nodded. “Yeah, you totally outpyed me there. No wonder you made it and I didn’t.”

  “Made it where?” Lars asked.

  “Ah, just talking about the scrimmage.” Renegade waved his hand. “It’s impressive how you two are juniors like me and my pals, but you’re already on a whole different level.”

  “If I may say,” Vi interjected. “Your team py was also out of this world. The Bermuda Triangle of Certain Doom domihe st three games!”

  “The Bermuda what?” Renegade had fusion written all over his pce.

  “He’s talking about your triangle,” Yuel expined in human lingo.

  “Oh, you mean our Invincible Triangle.” Renegade smirked. “Yeah, it gave you some trouble, right?”

  “Invincible Triangle?” Vi narrowed his eyes. “Is that how you call it?”

  “Yep. Pretty coht?”

  “It’s nid short, but I dare say it cks impact,” Vi lectured. “It hardly befits su overwhelming formation. Therefore, I strongly suggest you re ‘the Bermuda Triangle of Certain Doom’!”

  “Nah, that’s way too long.” Renegade waved his hand. “We like ‘Invincible Triangle’ just fine.”

  “But, the Bermuda Triangle of Certain Doom sounds so much more powerful! It perfectly captures the essence of your uable teampy!”

  “Uable?” StormMonster joihe discussion. “Heh, I like the sound of that! Hey Jai, maybe we should really re? Into that... how did it go, again? The Barbecue Triangle of Super Dudes?”

  “It’s the Bermuda Triangle of Certain Doom,” Vi corrected.

  “No, it’s the Invincible Triangle.” Renegade insisted.

  “Holy,” Yuel ented quietly. “I think all these names are silly,”

  “Yes, they are,” a third boy from Taurus quietly agreed. By process of elimination, this was Lapce, the third member of the Triangle and Taurus’ Support. He seemed like a guy with a head on his shoulder, so it was no surprise he agreed with Yuel.

  heless, the other boys ighese remarks and tinued arguing.

  “Why you not see the light!? The Bermuda Triangle of Certain Doom is a hat sends chills down one’s spi instills absolute horror!”

  “Horror? I like that! Hey Jai, let’s rename ourselves the Triangle of Horror!”

  “No, we’re the Invincible Triangle.”

  This pointless discussion seemed like it’d go on for a while. Yuel and Lapce found themselves sighing at the same time. Then, their eyes met.

  “Um, good game...” Lapce said timidly.

  “Likewise.” Yuel nodded.

  “..............”

  “..............”

  Silehe two looked at each other without exging a single word.

  As the Supports of their respective teams, they were essentially rivals during the st three games. They both had things to say to the other, but her spoke up.

  “Hey, what’s up with the staredown?” Lars came between them. “It’s like you to pull guns or something, haha.”

  Lars’s childish ughter shattered the tension in the air. Yuel and Lapce found themselves chug alongside as well.

  “May I ask something?” Lapce asked.

  “You already did,” Yuel retorted.

  “Touche.” Lapce bowed his head. “So, do you remember that time you spshed our Lancer right as I was reviving him?”

  “Yes, of course. It was a clutch. That Arise almost turhe situation around.”

  “How did you pull off that py?” Lapce asked.

  “What do you mean ‘how’? I just got there in time and used Spsh.”

  “Yes, but how did you know to go for that specific py?” Lapce asked. “Not t or anything, but I think I’m pretty good at moving around ued. So, how did you know I was about to arrive?”

  “Are you sure you should be discussing your skills with an enemy?”

  “Ah.” Lapce was taken aback. “Well, I figured you already knew, so...”

  “Yes, I do know about your sneakiness,” Yuel admitted. “Okay, fine. As a fellow hater of silly niames, I’ll trade some information with you.”

  “Amen. We should spread ion, starting with verting the ‘Invincible Triangle’ into just ‘Triangle’.”

  “I 100% agree.” Yuel nodded. “Anyway, about that Spsh py. You’re right about ohing: I didn’t actually see you arrive.”

  “You didn’t?” Lapce blinked. “Then, how...?”

  “It’s because I didn’t see you ahat I became suspicious. I didn’t see you pushing the tower, so I had to wonder where you went. The only logical clusion was that you followed the Lancer.”

  “Process of elimination, I see. It’s amazing that you thought so far in such a short time.”

  “Let’s just say I have some experience dealing with sneaky pyers.” Yuel smiled wryly. “Well, since you shared information so willingly with an enemy, let me repay you with a piece of advice, from one Support to another.”

  “I’m all ears.” Laptently stared at Yuel. He turned himself into a spohat was going to absorb every single word Yuel was about to say.

  On sed thought, maybe it’s a little risky to advise a pyer like him? Yuel instinctively backed away.

  Hating on bombastiiames wasn’t the only simirity Yuel and Lapce shared. They were both pyers with mediocre meical skill who used game knowledge and deaking as their ons of choice.

  As such, a pyer like Lapce will be able to put any data to good use. He might even take Yuel’s advice far beyond Yuel’s expectations and improve tremendously by the time the regionals e.

  “So, what is it?” Lapce titled his head. His eyes were filled with i expectations. Perhaps he felt something akin to admiration toward Yuel.

  “Um, well...” Yuel decided to just shoot for it. “About that py where Renegade was baited by our Sorcerer. I’m sure everybody agrees it was his fault, but not only. As his Support, you share some of the responsibility as well.”

  “Yes, because I failed to save him.”

  “No, because you didn’t stop him,” Yuel said. “It’s true that, during the te-game, the Support is supposed to help everybody, not just the Carry. So, it’s not like you were obligated to follade and rescue him from every trouble.”

  “Right.”

  “But still, even during the te-game, you’re still that same Support who babysat the Carry in the early-game. You’re the pyer who spent the most time at the Carry’s side, so you should have the most influence over their deaking. If you see the Carry is about to it a mispy, you have to stop him. It doesn’t matter art of the game it is or where you are at the time. As the closest pyer to the Carry, that’s one of your responsibilities.”

  “I see.” Lapce hung his head. “So, you’re saying I’m also guilty for the py that cost us the game.”

  “Partially, yes. As far as I’m ed, you share at least half the bme for it.”

  “That’s harsh...” Lapce wasn’t ready for criticism of this magnitude. He trembled a little and ched his fists.

  “Hey!” Lars popped out of nowhere. He was busy debating the Triangle’s h the other s until now, but he soouro watch over the two Supports. “Don’t bully our oppos, dude.”

  “I’m not bullying anybody.” Yuel grumped.

  “Then, why is dude looking down as if you just killed his dog?”

  “I’m fine.” Lapce raised his head. “He just hit me with some hard facts, that’s all.”

  “Oh, yeah, I know that feel.” Lars nodded. “Sorry about that, enius dude be a little harsh sometimes. He doesn’t mean anything bad by it, though.”

  “I uand.” Lapce straightened his bad looked straight at Yuel. “You’re right, it artially my fault. I’ll work on that aspect. Thank you for ‘willingly sharing information with an enemy’.”

  “You’re wele.” Yuel smiled meaningfully and stared back at his rival.

  The ime they meet in a match, things will surely be different. Lapce defiook Yuel’s advice to heart and will find a way to fix his weakness. The duo of Lapce & Renegade will be far more stable the ime they appear in front of Stratus.

  While Yuel and Lapce were holding this fruitful versation, the others were still stuck arguing over niames...

  “Hey, how about Vicious Triplets?” Luke suggested.

  “Or, The Three Guns!?” Lars added his own suggestion.

  At some point, almost the eage got involved in that nonsense. Random niames flew left and right without end.

  At this point, it didn’t even feel like anybody was seriously trying to e up with names anymore. They were just having fun ughing at silly niames.

  Boys... Kai sighed as she watched that silliness from the sideline.

  “Man, you guys tire me out.” Renegade sighed as he stepped out of the noisy crowd. That brainst session turned into pure nonse this point. He didn’t feel like being a part of it anymore.

  “Ah.” Renegade came to a halt as his eyes met with Kai’s.

  “............” Kai stared back at him, without blinking or averting her gaze.

  “...................” Renegade tiaring too, also refusing to blink.

  It’s on. Kai decred war.

  The first oo look away will lose. Who decided that? When did they agree on these rules? Details like that didn’t matter.

  They both uood what was going on. Therefore, they stared! Intensely! As if they were locked in a duel that will determihe oute of a petitive game!

  “....................”

  “....................”

  “Pft!” Renegade held back a muffled ugh. “Dang, I give up.”

  “I won.” Kai lifted her .

  “Yeah, nie. Too bad this wasn’t a game of Mancers, though. I mean, you haven’t beaten me even ooday.”

  “Oh really? Because I remember trashing you pretty hard i game.”

  “Nah, Gunz did most of the work there.”

  “But, I scored the kill.”

  “Yeah, but he dealt most of the damage,” Renegade argued back. “In proper 1v1s, I kicked your ass.”

  “.... yeah, that’s true,” Kai felt like she forced a rock through her throat to deliver these words. “I was off my game. If we fight again, I’ll destroy you no problem.”

  “Oh? I’d like to see that.” Renegade grinned. “e at me, girl. I’ll mop the floor with you any day.”

  “In your dreams.” Kai gred at him. “But hey, if you actually survive long enough at the regionals to py us again, then I’ll show you what I got for real.”

  “Okay, it’s a deal,” Renegade’s eyes glinted dangerously. “Let’s have a rerun at the regionals. ime, I won’t go easy on you.”

  “‘Go easy’? Yeah, right,” Kai scoffed. “I bet you pushed past your limits to even stand a ce against me.”

  “Damn girl, aren’t you just oozing with fidence.” Renegade cracked a ugh. “But, I gotta admit, I uimated you a little. You sure got some skills. So, all in all, good game.”

  “Yeah, good game.” Kai nodded in response.

  She still hated Renegade and his attitude with every fiber of her existence, but she had to admit the guy pyed well overall. Aside from that oal mistake he itted at the very end, his performance was very solid today.

  Even though Kai made all sorts of bold decrations, there was no telling how things will actually go if they cross swords again at the regionals. Will Kai be strong enough to defeat Renegade in a 1v1? Or, will she have to rely oeammates to help her out again?

  Well, either way, we’ll win. Kai decred.

  Her job as the captain was to ehe eeam’s victory, not to prioritize her own personal wins. Today’s scrimmage made that beyond clear.

  She might be able to take ade by herself, or she might not. Either way, she’ll be making the pys that lead the team to victory, that much she was sure about.

  “Alright, pack it up, kids.” The referee disbahe otion oage and everybody went back to their rooms. With that, the long scrimmage was officially over.

  Stratus made history that day, winning a scrimmage for the first time in many years. Will they find the same success in their scrimmage? It’ll be at least ten times harder than today, for their scheduled oppo was her than the powerhouse of the region - the Leopards.

  DarkestCymore