The final game began. At long st, Stratus had the opportunity to test their mettle against Apprehe rumored pro-level pyer!

  With that said, the game’s opening was rather uful. Yuel told the team to exercise caution against early invades, but the enemy didn't seem ied in anything of the sort.

  So, I see Apprentece isn’t THAT cocky. Yuel thought. I was sure the Orc pick implied he was pletely looking down on us, but he's more reasohan that, at least.

  In fact, even the Leopards themselves were a bit surprised by that tame turn of events.

  "My, you're not suggesting an invade?" Cato asked.

  "No need," Jin stated matter-of-factly.

  "I thought you were pnning to go all out with that Orc of yours."

  "This kind of invade is risky for minimal be. Not worth."

  In truth, when dealing with vastly inferior oppos, an early invade was a great opener for hyper-aggressive csses like Ord Dark Knight. However, given who Jin's teammates were in this game, he didn't want to take unnecessary risks.

  I will take risks as needed, but only the kinds of risks I fully trol. Jin thought. I shouldn’t rely oeammates too much.

  After the tame opening, both sides proceeded to their nes. And so, the ning phase began.

  Out of everybody in Stratus, it was Ben who had to face the new, powerful oppo.

  Just my luck. Ben gulped. B-But I have to do it! Somehow.

  This ning phase was assuredly going to be fiercer than anything he had experienced here today. Not only was the oppo's css far mgressive than anything Ben had faced today, but the oppo himself was also rumored to be leaps and bounds above Challenger in terms of skill level.

  I-It's okay! As long as I stiy usual defense, I should be able to do it...! Ben tried to pump himself up, but shivers heless assaulted him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't lie to himself - he was terrified.

  This was the st game of the day, the game that would decide the winner of the entire scrimmage. And, it was Ben's responsibility here to stop the enemy's stro pyer, to make sure Apprentece won't be able to snowball to victory.

  N-No pressure, haha... Ben took a deep breath. I-It's okay. It should be okay. I've e so far today already. I should be okay. Yes.

  This wasn't the first time that pressure got to him today, and it probably wasn’t the st time, either. On this grand stage, with tless eyes watg his every move, it was impossible to not get nervous. Everybody wrestled with that kind of pressure to one degree or aherefore, Ben had to front that nightmarish beast as well!

  For better or worse, this entire iurmoil was written all over his face for everybody to see. Be from shaking, to frowning, to gritting his teeth iermination, and then back to frowning again.

  "I'm tellin' ya, dude is totally out of it," Lars whispered.

  "Yes, I see that," Yuel agreed. "But, it looks like he's about to overe it? Or, maybe not..."

  Ben's expressio bad forth between that of a terrified kitten and a fident lion. His mental state must have been a total mess.

  "Ya gotta say something to him, dude."

  "Me?" Yuel asked. "I don't think I'm the man for the job. That's more your forte."

  "I've already said a bunch of stuff to everybody, remember? But, Ben is still nervous like that. My talk ain't helping him, yo."

  "Yes, looks like his case is more difficult thahers'."

  It was uandable. Ben was already timid by nature, and in this game, he was thrown into the most difficult situation. He was the one who'll have to go up against Apprehe legendary Koreahis was an unknown enemy hailed to be the stro in the region.

  Yuel uood all of that, but what could he possibly say about any of this? He wasn't an expert at encing others. A job like this, which required emotional intelligence, was best left to the two goofs: Lars and Vi.

  "Yeah, yeah, I know," Lars said. "Ya ain't that good with ming words, that’s why stuff like that is always hard for ya. But, that's also why it's so effective when you say something, ya know?"

  "What's 'so effective' about it, exactly?"

  "When ya say something reassuring, it got a different ring to it,” Lars expined. “Everybody knows ya don't like sugarcoating or overhyping stuff, so when you say something positive, people know it's legit."

  "Yeah, I feel like I've experienced something like that earlier today." Yuel nodded. "But, what I even say here?"

  "Just say what you really think, dude. But, preferably, stick to the positive bits, haha” Lars ughed. “For example, what do you think about this Druid vs. Orc matchup? Is it in Ben's favor?"

  "Hmm. Holy, it's a little rough,” Yuel said. “Druid py it safe by shooting from a distance, but its shots aren't that strong. So, I see a petent etting the lead in the ne."

  "Dang, sounds rough. But, Ben will be alright, right?"

  "Yes, he should be. As long as he stays on the defensive as usual, then he shouldn't have a problem dealing with an Orc. At least, in theory."

  "Great!” Lars nodded. “Now, tell him all that, just without the bits about how the matchup might be rough and stuff. Just focus on how you think Ben get things done if he stays calm and all."

  "Hmm. Okay, I'll give it a shot." Yuel wasirely vinced, but this should be better than saying nothing, right? This won't somehow make things worse, right?

  Holy, that's always my biggest fear with these things. Yuel gulped. I remember discing so many cssmates from the game ba grade school. It was all because of the things I've said without filtering them enough. I thought that being objective and giving it to them straight was always the best for them, but they didn't take kindly to it.

  Now, two years ter, Yuel uood the errors of his ways. He was too blunt and rubbed many people the wrong way. He tried to be objective and always “correct”, but people found that unpleasant to listen to.

  But, I've e a long way sihen. I've seen Lars and Vi say a lot of motivational nonsehat somehow grabbed everybody's attention. And, Howard was also pretty slick with things like that.

  With so many refereo draw from, Yuel should be able to mimic these speeches at this point. So, it was time to put all this accumuted experieo practice!

  "Ben, listen," Yuel started. "I know it’s stressful to be the one who has to face Apprentece."

  "N-No, it's fine! I'm fine. o worry about me. Yeah."

  "Very ving." Yuel made a face. "I'm not going to lie, it'll probably be rough. And, this matchup isly in your favor, that's partially on me as the one who drafted the csses."

  "Not at all!" Ben insisted. "It's my fault that Druid is one of my better csses, you only suggested it because of that. I’m really sorry, I should’ve pyed a better css!"

  "They banned a lot of your better options, so it’s not your fault,” Yuel said. “Besides, Druid is a great css, just not the best against petent a hyper-aggressive oppo."

  "Yo, Yuel, my dude!" Lars whispered not-so-quietly. "I told ya to not focus ochup part too much!"

  "Oh, shoot! Ahem." Yuel cleared his throat. "Anyway, none of this is your fault, Ben. Things just happeo py out this way during the drafting phase, that's all. The eook all of us by surprise with that Orc pick."

  "They sure did, haha..." Ben ughed dryly. It sounded like the ughter of a man who his fate.

  "That matchup is going to be rough, but it should be doable," Yuel tinued. "You might have a hard time stopping his attacks, but you have plenty of survivability, so at least he shouldn’t be able to kill you. As long as you py defensively as usual and stall the Orc, you’ll be good."

  "Will I? I'm afraid I'll get pushed hard..."

  "It’s possible, but we’ll just deal with it as it happens,” Yuel said. “Before anything, we have to see Apprente a. We 't start f a pn before we know how good he actually is."

  "Okay." Ben nodded and his expression became more stable. It was still a far cry from the face of a fident pyer, but at least it seemed like he came to terms with the fact things will likely be rough and that it’s fine. And so, by the time Ben reached the ne, he was a bit more fident than before.

  Shortly, the first minion wave arrived. It was time to see Apprente a!

  I just have to stay far away and shoot from here. Ben thought. This method won't be very good for farming, but at least it'll keep me safe. Yuel mentioned how survivability is the main advantage I have here, so I have to make sure I capitalize on it.

  As the two minion waves were about to csh, Ben positioned himself at a distand prepared to fire. Meanwhile, Apprentece had already secured his own position as well.

  And so, Ben’s great struggle against the Korean prodigy was about to begin!

  DarkestCymore