While Nia was bravely fronting Apprente Top, Ben was dashing back to h all his might. Unfortunately, no matter how much he begged the Druid to move faster, the woodman refused to speed up.

  I have to make it! I have to! Beed over and over. The tower was already within sight yet still out of reach. Just a little further...!

  But, will he make it in time? The situation wasn’t looking so good over there...

  Instead of retreating, Apprentece chose to front Nia at the tower, as expected from that overfident powerhouse. WHISH! WHISH! After just two hits, Nia fell all the way down to 10%. She was going to die at this rate!

  This is bad! So bad! Ben’s teeth rattled. He was so close to the se, yet also so painfully far!

  , let me get there faster! Please! As if responding to his prayers, his Dodge Roll finally came out of cooldown.

  Okay, just a little more...! Ben rolled forward!

  For a slowpoke css like Druid, even his roll was slower than usual. heless, it was still a little faster than running, so Ben took advantage of it. Every millised tered in this delicate situation.

  Almost there...! Ben could already see the light. He was just a few steps away from the tower area, almost ready to provide backup for his ally...!

  But, there was no time. Nia had virtually no HP left! If Apprentece chooses to tihis fight, then he'll wipe Nia out in one more hit.

  I have to blink. Now! Ben activated the Blink he had retly purchased at the base. He took aim, but he didn't cast the skill just yet. There was a little dilemma in front of him.

  Do I blink in and pull the Orc? Ben wondered. If I don't, then he'll likely get away. It'll turn all of Nia's sacrifices into a waste...

  Nia went out on a limb to gank Top. She wasted so much of her precious jungling time to help Ben deal with the threat on his ne.

  As such, allowing the Orc to get away scot-free will feel terrible. It'll be the same as betraying Nia. All her blood, sweat, and tears will be for nothing.

  So yes, it makes the most seo blink in and pull him. Ben thought as he ehe tower area. In just a few steps, he'll be within rao blink in and pull the cocky Orc deeper into the tower area, sealing the guy's fate.

  But... Ben was troubled by one small but very important fact. This won’t be the first time he uses Nature’s Grasp against Appreoday.

  I've already tried to pull him many times this game. Ben frowned. Every time, it seemed like the right py to go for. The ditions were perfect, a...

  Not once did Ben mao nd his Nature's Grasp on this cocky foe. Every siime, Apprentece dodged the grab. He was alrepared for it. Always.

  Is it going to be the same this time? Ben wondered. He looks preoccupied with Nia, but maybe he has already noticed I'm here. If so, I'm sure he'll dodge my pull again...

  Just as st time, Ben might utterly fail to help Nia out with this line of py...

  I 't keep repeating the same mistake. Ben thought. I'll py this one safe. Even if we fail to punish Appre least I keep Nia alive.

  And so, Ben blinked deeper into the tower area. Instead of going for Nature’s Grasp, he used Gaia’s Prote to grant Nia a shield. And, as he suspected, this turned out to be the right py against Apprentece.

  The enemy rolled aside as soon as Ben blinked in. It’s as if the guy was waiting for this development all along. So, if Ben tried to go for Nature’s Grasp right after the blink, he would’ve likely missed spectacurly.

  Like I thought, he’s a really strong oppo. Ben reaffirmed once again. This kind of surprise attack would’ve worked just fine against most enemies, but not against Apprentece. He’s s…

  But, it was fine. Even if they fail to properly punish that cocky guy, at least they won’t suffer any terrible losses here.

  WHISH! The sce cracked, unleashing a powerful blow! It was strong enough to wipe out Nia’s remaining HP in one fell swoop!

  But, instead of hitting Nia, the bribed metal struck against wood brahe overwhelming attack destroyed the thick shield a Nia exposed again, but almost none of the damage actually reached Nia herself.

  I-I did it! Ben rejoiced. For once, I didn’t blunder against Apprentece!

  It might have seemed like a pitiful thing to be happy about, but it meant a lot for Ben. After failing so many times to get anything done against Appre long st Ben achieved something in this game!

  This small achievement was so grand it even fazed the enemy for a moment.

  Huh. A little ued. Jin thought as he watched his killing blow strike against the wooden branches. I expected him to try and pull me in this situation. Hmph.

  Most oppos would’ve beeed to punish Jin hard for this bold overextension. Pulling him deeper into the tower area would’ve guarahat he’d have to pay the piper for his daredevil gambit here. A, Phoenix opted for the safer, defensive py.

  I suppose bitter past experiences pyed a part in this too. Jin deduced. He missed every pull today, so he opted to go for the weaker but safer py. It’s a defeatist mentality, but ohat I respe this case.

  The skill gap between Jin and his current oppos was crystal clear. So, instead of denyiy, Phoenix chose to be realistid go for the surefire py. It might’ve seemed pitiful, but knowing when to accept defeat was an important part of the game too.

  Hmph. The same applies to me here, I suppose. Jin turned around areated from the tower area. However, the Turret had no iion of letting him leave so easily, not before ramming another bolt into him.

  BAM! Another 20% was gone! Jin remained with nothing but 20% HP at this point. It was a truly ued turn of events, from start to finish.

  I still ’t believe their Jungler had the gall to attack me with that HP. Jin frowned. I was vinced she’d recall after I nearly killed her. Not to mention, this girl struck me as a scaredy-cat, the type I easily shoo away by applying a little bit of intimidation.

  heless, Vanishing showed up here with that measly 40% HP. It was a mind-boggling development. This girl found a way to tradict everything Jin was vinced about.

  Or, maybe I give her too much credit? Jin wondered. Perhaps none of this was her idea in the first pce. She might’ve been just a puppet ag out on another's orders.

  That expnation made far more sense in this text. Vanishing didn't e across as the type of fident pyer who'll take on a dangerous risk like this. That much was evident by how flustered she was when Jin shut down her previous gank.

  Therefore, it was far more likely that Vanishing was following somebody's instrus. Not to mention, there was also Phoenix’s timely arrival, and with Blink to boot. All of this strongly suggested that this py was orchestrated in adva least to some extent.

  It’s the work of their shot-caller, I assume? Jin had heard multiple times from Leopards about how strong Stratus’ shot-calling supposedly was.

  Hmm. The repys I watched left a so-so impression on me, but now I see it's a little more impressive in person.

  If Jin watched the current development in a repy as a ral observer, he likely wouldn't have thought much of it. Perhaps he would have praised the enemy's gall for pulling off a risky py like this, but it was far more likely he would’ve criticized that “foolish pyer” who overextended and allowed the eo surprise him.

  Except, this time, HE was that "foolish pyer". Within the scope of everything he knew about the state of the game and the enemy's skill level, Jin's overextension erfectly justified in his mind. Ahe enemy still caught him off-guard here.

  If that Drow executed her gank a little more optimally, then I would’ve died. Hmph.

  It was truly ued. This gank was clearly a desperate attempt, but it deserved some praise heless.

  Chessmaster, huh. A loud niame that cks any humbleness, but perhaps it’s irely undeserved.

  With that said, it was still aremely risky pn by Stratus. A py like that wouldn't fly normally. For example, if Jin simply relied oeam's Jungler from the start, then together they would’ve tered Vanishing without breaking a sweat.

  ... actually, it still wasn't too te. After all, Cato insisted on positioning Wilim op for this push. And, naturally, said Jungler was already on his way to the se...

  DarkestCymore