Chapter 255. The Only Pick (1)

Chapter 255. The Only Pick (1)

High Protein made all their three bans against Almond. Was this simple and seemingly ignorant strategy the right answer?

As if High Protein had been pretending in the first and second games, they won the third and fourth games consecutively.

[High Protein 2: Balloon Stars: 2]

The score suddenly became 2:2.

***

"GG~~~!"

"Wow, High Protein grabs two consecutive wins with their three bans against Almond! They're on track again!"

OrangeKing nodded.

“When we watched games one and two, a sweep looked possible. Suddenly, High Protein turned it all around! LIL is a game where even the tides can turn if JeonJaPa messes up!"

— That's true.

— JeonJaPa is on another level.

— It just seems like there's a big difference in team power. Only one lane in Balloon Stars is competing.

"The champion that Almond is playing in the mid-lane isn’t enough to overwhelm SweetRadish."

"Yes, Ran in the mid lane was really competitive, but he doesn’t work as well and isn’t solely a mid laner."

"High Protein is focusing on the top lane for a freeway!"

"Anyway, it’s 2:2 with one game left."

The casters needed to explain the additional rules now.

"We’re still waiting for the last game. Let's explain the rules again."

"Okay, the fifth game proceeds with blind picks! No bans, and you don't know who the opponents will pick!"

"What happens if they pick the same champions?"

"It’ll be a mirror match then! And that's fun too!"

"High Protein won the last two games by banning three of Almond's champions. What about this time? They can't ban them like before!"

"I don't know... Maybe they’ll pick champions just to counter Flashy Blade? Or they can just go Flashy Blade vs. Flashy Blade in a mirror match!"

"Well, we don't know anything until it starts! Let's take a break, and we’ll meet back again for the fifth game!"

***

In Balloon Stars' waiting room, five team members were scattered here and there. They hadn't exchanged any words because they were too exhausted to speak.

They felt terrible losing games three and four after winning the first two games. The score was now tied at 2:2, but High Protein had the momentum.

Their gameplay had been poor, and were one-sidedly beaten in the third game. In the fourth game, they wasted a comeback opportunity. Most importantly, the skill gap was too big.

As a result, Balloon Stars felt physically and emotionally exhausted.

"Um..."

Miho thought she should say something, but only the awkward silence continued.

"Is there a way we can win? It's a blind pick now."

That was their last glimmer of hope in this fifth game. They couldn’t possibly win with the standard champion pick phase.

The banning phase limited the range of champions a player could perform well with. If a skill gap between players existed, it naturally widened during the ban pick phase.

"We can choose Flashy Blade again with the blind picks, right?"

Miho tried to lighten the mood by bringing up Flashy Blade, but only the awkward silence returned.

Tako stood up after a while.

"If we choose Flashy Blade, I'll tell you the conditions under which we can win."

He began to draw in mid-air the probability of them winning the game.

"We can win, assuming that the opponent doesn't choose Storm Ninja and doesn't construct a counter-combination."

If the opponent didn't prepare a counter, Balloon Stars could win.

"Of course, Almond's condition is what’s most important at this point..."

Tako turned to Almond, who was sitting in a corner chair, lost in thought.

Almond was still wrestling in his mind with SweetRadish. The third game was somewhat competitive, but he was completely defeated in the fourth game.

He realized that mid-laner Ran only worked against weaker players. The feelings of despair overwhelmed him.n)/OveLbIn

The impure thought of, ‘Why do I have to go this far?’ kept repeating in a corner of his mind.

Distractions were a sign of defeat. Despite clearly knowing that...

"Almond."

Thud.

Tako appeared in front of him and grabbed his shoulders.

"?"

Then Almond looked up.

"If this were a professional game... they could adjust picks like the jungler or ADC to counter. Since they aren’t professionals, they can't deal with that many champions to counter Flashy Blade. From their standpoint, they only have two options.”

Zip.

Tako drew lines for the two case scenarios.

[Flashy Blade] [Storm Ninja]

"These are the two."

"If we choose Flashy Blade, it's going to be a mirror match, or we’ll meet another pick, right? But they would think we wouldn't pick Storm Ninja, so it would be a relatively safe pick."

Next, he pointed to Storm Ninja.

"If they pick Storm Ninja, they would be totally fine against Flashy Blade. Even if they don't, this pick can be applied without a problem. It's not perfect, but it's one of the strongest picks for SweetRadish."

This way, the enemy's mid-laner could be narrowed down to two choices.

"And one more thing, there's one more pick we can be sure of."

[Valkyrie]

Tako underlined that champion.

"This character is OP, so she got banned every time. We don't have anyone who plays her anyway, so we banned her until now."

Almond was well aware of that champion. She could fly through the sky and rain down blades, making for a tough opponent.

"She’s a must pick for High Protein because she’s also good against Flashy Blade. If she catches Flashy Blade in her area of effect, Flashy Blade won’t be able to do anything. She’s appeared on Acorn Jelly's roster before."

With this, they narrowed down the range of choices for two lanes.

"So, we’ll go with this plan and decide Almond's pick."

Slide.

Tako listed the possible options for Almond. However, only one champion fitted all the criteria.

***

Five games were set to be played. Fans of the two teams waged their own war online.

[They were just a secret weapon one trick pony~ LOL!]

[They can't do anything when Flashy Blade is banned.]

[What can you guys do without Almond?]

Those supporting High Protein argued that Balloon Stars couldn't do anything without Almond.

[Cowardly going 5 on 1 with 3 bans]

[We were wrong!]

[Don't you have any pride, SweetRadish?]

Balloon Stars’ side argued that using three bans on Almond was a cowardly act.

For the record, Balloon Stars had lost the last two games consecutively.

Given LIL Pro's nature, the team that won most recently was considered stronger. Public opinion leaned toward High Protein.

— Isn't that the problem? They can't do anything with 3 bans?

└ Really, LOL. They can't even stand up to Storm Ninja.

└ They should’ve gone with Melly... they didn't bring out Melly even once.

└ That projectile from Spirtmaster is for training... would SweetRadish get hit by such slow projectiles?

— Mid laner Ran was really bad... SweetRadish is too skilled at dodging.

└ Right... Ran was never supposed to be a mid laner...

└ In front of a skilled player like SweetRadish, you'll get completely destroyed if you bring out a flawed mid-laner champion. Almond should've practiced standard mid-laner champions.

└ That's why he went with Flashy Blade. What more can you practice at this point?

At that moment, the live screen returned with the casters exclaiming.

"Now! Into the ban picks. No, into the blind pick phase!"

Whoosh.

The screen quickly switched.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The picks began without a moment's hesitation.

"Wow~! As expected, blind picks are intense. Aren't they?!"

"Absolutely! You don't have to think much! Just bring out the best combination you've prepared! That's it!"

Thud...!

Cheers erupted from the audience when Balloon Stars confirmed their last pick.

— Woooooooooah!

A woman behind Almond removed her blue hood and her golden hair flowed out.

[Long time no see?]

A smile appeared on her red lips as she greeted him.