The sed game between StormBlitz and Valkyries began.

  Following the insightful discussion with Pip, Howard decided to ban both Lionfolk and Werewolf this time around. The two csses were supposedly Rosemary’s best, so it was imperative to shut them down.

  As, doing so came with a price. The Leopards were going sed in this game, so they were also obligated to ban Shadow Walker.

  Well, nowadays it’s not a mandatory ban per se. Howard thought. But, I have the feeling it’s a must-ban against this team, at least.

  Rosemary was the most dangerous pyer on that team and she was the Jungler. So, just how overwhelming would she bee if she got her hands on Shadow Walker?

  I don’t even want to know. And so, Howard banned Shadow Walker. In other words, Rosemary dictated all three bans for the team.

  I don’t like it, but it is what it is. Howard shrugged and accepted this fate. It didn’t take long for the sequeo hit.

  The eeam selected Knight.

  Yes, of course they did... Howard sighed. I pretty much gave them the pi a silver ptter, so why wouldn’t they?

  In response, Hoicked Viking for Roi and Aeormancer filbert. Both were ral picks that plemehe two pyers’ strengths.

  , the turn passed to the eeam. They took their sweet time with this one.

  “Sis, gimme Impaler again,” Karen requested.

  “Do you really wish to try it again?” Fiona asked. “I believe the previous game should have provided suffit evideo prove impaler does not work on Aegis and Athena.”

  “Yeaaah, it was a little rough, not gonna lie,” Karen admitted. “But, it’s totally doable! This time, we’ll get that ne advantage for sure! Right, Lua?”

  “Um, I’ll do my best...”

  “, what kinda weak-ass answer is that!?”

  “Karen, nguage,” Fiona scolded. “Anyway, I have to say I am against this pick, personally. StormBlitz’s defense is ironcd, and they py extra safe against your Impaler to make sure you ot gain the early advantage you need.”

  "Yeaaah, these bastards were stalling against me." Karen made a face. "But, that just means they're hel scared of my Impaler, right? So, I say let's keep them scared! They won't dare to pull anything wild so long as they're quaking in their boots!"

  "Hmm. That is also true." Fiona gave it some more thought. Perhaps using Impaler as a pressuring tool was not such a bad idea.

  There was no question that the Bot duo of Aegis and Athena was formidable. Those two were a league above the rest of StormBlitz, especially Aegis.

  I also remember Esmeralda mentioning that Athena was one of her pupils. Fiona recalled. I definitely see the influence.

  Esmeralda had aremely quirky pystyle, to put it lightly. As such, the lessons she taught her students were equally unorthodox.

  There was much to learn from an etric's tips. In fact, the early invade Fiona employed in the first game was one of Esmeralda’s teags.

  Unfortunately, the majority of Esmeralda's ideas did not suit Fiona’s pystyle. Oher hand, it seemed Athena embraced them in full.

  That makes her an uable oppo. Fiona thought. So, if I have the option to force her to lie low, perhaps I should utilize it.

  "Alright, you py Impaler again this time.”

  "Hell yeah, let's go!" Karen pumped a fist. "You're the best, sis!"

  “In light of that," Fiona tinued. "Lua, I believe it is best for you to support Karen with ancer, just as st game."

  "I think so too." Lua nodded.

  And so, the two picks were decided: Impaler and ahis was essentially a rerun of the previous game. Likewise, the enemy po go forward with a simir Bot duo.

  "My, my, it looks like some naughty children haven't learheir lesson~" Ellen smiled. "Are you seeing this, Wardy?"

  "Yes, I happen to have eyes, so of course I see it."

  "It looks like we didn't school them hard enough st time. So, I say we go with the same p again~"

  "You want Seraph again? After how the previous game went down?"

  "Mhm." Ellen nodded. "Or, could it be that you’re scared of them now? We already established that their victory was a fluke, remember?"

  "Yes, we did. But, that doesn't mean we have to py this risky matchup again."

  "I beg to differ,” Ellen said. "In fact, I cim the opposite. We HAVE to py this risky matchup.”

  "How you mean?"

  "Well, if we suddenly pick a safer p, the audience will think we're scaredy-cats, right?"

  "Yeah, they might," Hreed. "But, since when do you care about such things?"

  "Actually, I don't care at all~ But, oher hand, you seem a little too preoccupied with the team's image right now."

  " you bme me? We just blew a game against amateurs,” Howard said. “Utopia's scouts aren't going to like this. I have to show them a ving performance."

  "In that case, isn't the most ‘ving performance’ would be a rerun of the previous game?" Ellen asked. "Let’s go for the same setup and crush the Valkyries like bugs~ That should prove the previous game was a fluke.”

  "Hmm. I suppose you're right," Howard ceded. "But, what's yenda in all of this?"

  "Little old me?” Ellen tilted her head. “I'm just making sure my husband's ambitions are ing to fruition~"

  "Huh, I didn't know you were married. The unlucky guy must be suffering on a daily basis."

  "Oh now." Ellen pouted and pinched Howard's cheek in protest. How dare he.

  "Anyway," Howard tinued. "That's not the whole story, is it? I bet something else gave you this idea."

  "Weeeeell, I may or may not have sidered the bait potential as well,” Ellen expined. "I'm sure these girls are on the high horse right now, so they expect us to be scared and py safer. You know, to 'respect' how good they are and all that."

  "And, you want to do the plete opposite?"

  "Yep~” Ellen smiled mischievously. “I mean, you saw how Lavender is, right? Unlike her i flowery name, she is actually quite the wild beastie~"

  "Yeah, that's true."

  "So, how do you think is she going to react to a Seraph pick?"

  "Hmm. sidering how the previous game went, she isn't going to like it."

  Despite the fact the Valkyries won the previous game, the duo of Lavender and Nike didn't actually achieve much of anything there. After all, their ne oppos were Howard and Ellen, the stro duo in the region.

  With that said, Laveried very hard to gain ne advahroughout the game. She pyed an aggressive early-game and stantly searched for opportuo push.

  Of course, Howard and Ellen didn’t give her any ces. That surely made her blood boil.

  You’d think that experience would disce her fr this again, at least for a while. Howard reasoned. But, I see she wants a rerun.

  The enemy picked Impaler and ancer, clearly hellbent on giving early aggression ary. A big part of it must be the Valkyries’ victory, which made Lavender fet how her failures.

  As Ellen theorized, it was very likely Lavender was expeg StormBlitz to “respect” the Valkyries’ victory and piething safer for the Bot matchup. Therefore, pig Seraph again will make a clear decration that no, they weren’t afraid of her at all.

  That’ll ruffle some feathers for sure, just like Ellen likes. Howard nodded. And, if Lavender gets triggered enough, she might try to push too hard and overextend. Basically, this is the cssic emotional bait sario.

  It was one of Esmeralda’s favorite teags. She was the kind of pyer who alaid careful attention to her oppo’s emotional meter in order to find ways to manipute it.

  Howard only adopted some ideas from these lessons, but Ellen embraced the whole thing. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the vast majority of Ellen’s pystyle was fueled by such emotional siderations.

  She’s pretty much Esmeralda Jr. at this point. Howard shook his head. I just hope that if she bees a pro, her career will be more successful...

  After some more thinking, Howard finally made up his mind regarding the pick...

  DarkestCymore