Jesse stared at his phone, typing with a smirk as he sent a message to Kaiza.
Jesse: Where are you?
Kaiza replied quickly, his determination evident even through text.
Kaiza: We're coming.
Kaiza stood at the forefront of his team—Allison, Udo, Bry, and Jay—as they made their way to Jix's Café. The venue buzzed with energy, the sound of keyboards and excited chatter growing louder as they approached.
Allison: "So, this the place?" he asked, eyeing the neon-lit building with curiosity.
Kaiza nodded, leading the way inside. The moment they entered, the crowd's energy hit them like a wave. Gasps and cheers filled the air as spectators turned their attention to the team.
Crowd: "This is huge!" they said, their eyes widening at the scale of the event.
The room was alive with anticipation. Large screens displayed the match brackets, and the glowing stage featured two rows of high-end gaming setups. The marquee flashed brightly: TEAM LC vs. TEAM Marauder.
They walked to their computers, settling into their stations. Kaiza glanced at the large screen showcasing the readying teams, the ranks and medals prominently displayed:
TEAM LC
Isaac – (Captain) (Jesse's Brother)
Role: Jungle
Rank: 2,643 (Gold)
Marco
Role: Marksman (Bot Lane)
Rank: 2,551 (Gold)
Felix
Role: Support (Bot Lane)
Rank: 2,578 (Gold)
Darren
Role: Mid Lane
Rank: 2,426 (Platinum)
Nate
Role: Top Lane
Rank: 2,311 (Platinum)
TEAM Marauder
Allison (Captain)
Role: Mid Lane
Rank: 2,600 (Gold)
Kaiza
Role: Bot Lane (Carry)
Rank: 2,456 (Silver)
Udo
Role: Top Lane
Rank: 2,182 (Platinum)
Jay
Role: Support (Bot Lane)
Rank: 1,975 (Platinum)
Bry
Role: Support (Flex)
Rank: 2,033 (Platinum)
The crowd cheered wildly as the countdown to the match began. Jesse, standing near the front row, yelled to his brother.
Jesse: "Beat that brat, brother!"
Isaac turned his head slightly, a smug grin spreading across his face.
Isaac: "No need to tell me," he said with a confident smirk.
Kaiza's focus was unwavering. The match started, each player taking their designated roles. Kaiza went to the bottom lane as the carry, paired with Jay and Bry for support. Udo took the top lane with a fighter champion, while Allison picked Shen for the mid lane.
The Match Begins
The game unfolded evenly at first. In the bottom lane, Kaiza cautiously farmed minions, securing gold while keeping an eye on Marco and Felix. Jay and Bry worked diligently to protect him, placing wards to ensure they weren't ambushed by Isaac's roaming jungle plays.
Udo in the top lane traded blows with Nate. The two bruisers clashed repeatedly, neither gaining a decisive edge early on. The match felt balanced, with both teams testing each other's limits.
But the true standout was the mid lane.
Allison, piloting Shen, displayed the fruit of countless scrims and relentless practice. Darren's attempts to control the lane with his mage champion were met with precise counters. Allison's map awareness was impeccable; he used Shen's global ultimate to shield allies in key moments, turning fights in their favor.
The crowd's excitement grew with each play.
Commentator: "Incredible precision from Allison! You can see the experience paying off. Darren's struggling to keep up with this kind of dominance in mid."
Jesse's confidence wavered as he watched Darren lose control of the lane. His brother Isaac, however, remained unfazed, directing his team with sharp commands.
Isaac: "Stick to the plan. They're overextending. Punish them."
Meanwhile, in the bot lane, Kaiza landed a crucial kill on Marco after a perfectly timed stun from Jay. The crowd erupted as Kaiza secured the kill, his score updating to 1/0/0.
Kaiza: "Let's keep this momentum going."
The battle raged on, with both teams showing their strengths. But Allison's dominance in mid lane began tilting the game in Team Marauder's favor.
The Turning Point: The Boss
Twenty-five minutes into the match, the Boss spawned on the map. Team Marauder saw an opportunity to secure it and snowball their advantage. Allison called for the team to stick together to finish it quickly.
Allison: "Everyone group up. We're taking the Boss now. Stay tight."
Kaiza nodded, his hands steady on the keyboard.
Kaiza: "If we secure this, we'll have the edge to finish."
Team Marauder moved as a unit, attacking the Boss with precision. But Team LC anticipated the play. Hidden in the shadows, they waited for the Boss's health to drop low enough for them to swoop in.
Isaac: "Hold. Let them do the work," he instructed, a sly grin on his face.
As the Boss's health bar dwindled, Isaac gave the command.
Isaac: "Now! Engage!"
Team LC struck with devastating force. Marco's sniper shots picked off Jay, while Darren's area control scattered Team Marauder. Isaac leapt into the fray, stealing the Boss's final hit and turning the tides. In the chaos, Team Marauder was wiped out.
Commentator: "An incredible play by Team LC! They've stolen the Boss and secured a full team wipe!"
The momentum swung heavily in LC's favor. They pushed aggressively, tearing down the second-tier towers. Team Marauder was left with their last line of defense: the third tower.
As the crowd roared, LC's coordination and confidence surged.Their strategy was calculated and precise, their teamwork seamless. Isaac directed every move with precision, and Team Marauder struggled to regroup.
Kaiza: "We're not done yet. Focus on holding the line," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Isaac: "This is it. One final push, and we'll end this."
LC's heroes advanced, their sights set on the Nexus. The screen flickered with explosions and damage numbers as Marauder fought valiantly to defend their base. But with each passing second, the pressure mounted, and LC's victory seemed inevitable.
Commentator: "Team LC is closing in! This could be the end for Team Marauder!"
The screen froze on a moment of pure tension. The next move could determine everything. The crowd held their breath, waiting for what would happen next.