4 kills versus 1 kill.
In terms of score ratio, it was a 4-to-1 advantage.
But objectively speaking, the value of those kill points wasn't that critical.
Even on our side with a 3-kill lead, we were just feeling good about winning one major skirmish decisively.
In other words, Genji's team could still turn things around with just one good fight.
Or they could steadily catch up with careful gameplay.
Perhaps because they judged the gap wasn't that significant?
Maybe they thought they could easily turn it around?
Or were they trying to quickly narrow the gap and shift the game's momentum in their favor?
Nautilus's movement deep into our territory to secure vision was clearly overextending.
Jinsuk, Seongjun, and Donggyu didn't miss that opportunity.
Having penetrated too deeply for vision control and becoming isolated where ally support was impossible, Nautilus—
Despite people's perception of his tankiness, was brought to death in an instant.
When Vi's gauntlet crushes armor, it reduces even base defense stats.
He was sliced like tofu by Yone's blade dance.
In professional matches, a single death—especially during the macro phase rather than laning—is painful.
It doesn't just end with dying; the numerical advantage allows the other team to control vision, and in any fight, the outnumbered side becomes hesitant.
Naturally, the teammates who entered the enemy Jungle Camp to secure vision used that advantage to increase their gold lead.
Perhaps because of this, Genji's team avoided initiating fights and focused on evasion.
Thanks to that, with one dragon secured, the game dragged on without much action.
Of course, since there weren't any kills happening, that was just my perception.
To be honest, it was probably because I was playing with the same tension at every moment.
Other players must feel tremendous pressure knowing that a single mistake could determine whether they lift the championship trophy.
I felt that way at first too, but I've realized this level of pressure is nothing compared to before.
After becoming a woman and being rejected by my father and mother, I was in despair.
Looking back at that time, this kind of pressure is actually bearable.
In retrospect, that violence was so meaningless.
I could have just left home and done anything else.
Like a fool, I lost sight of what was important by fixating on trivial things.
So even now, though my stomach churns with stress—enough that Yeseul puts both hands on my shoulders—
That's just physical stress.
My mind can still observe the situation and make what I believe are the best decisions without hindrance.
In fact, the headset blocks out my teammates' voices and the crowd's cheers.
With only the game sounds and Jackson's voice lines quietly echoing, I can focus entirely on my own calculations.
Those calculations include data built up from playing with my teammates.
That's why I could focus on where I needed to be and what plays I needed to make.
I was holding my own against Xanthe without falling behind, even as the enemy team tried to form an encirclement.
But with the vision information my teammates had secured and watching Xanthe's movements, their strategy was transparent.
I maintained a safe distance without needing to walk a tightrope.
Thanks to that, after a nerve-wracking operational battle, we finally reached a standoff at Baron Nashor.
Both sides formed formations with supports at the front, trying to secure as much vision as possible.
Unable to bear the stalemate any longer, Genji's team began to advance gradually.
Nautilus threw his anchor at Vi, trying to pull her in.
But Rell, who happened to be nearby, charged in on her mount to take the hit instead.
And so the teamfight began.
Here, the composition difference slightly favored Genji's team.
Except for the bomber Ziggs, our side consisted of melee fighters who needed to engage to fight.
Genji's team had two ranged carries, Kai'Sa and Corki, who could focus Rell first.
Rell's health was depleting much faster than Nautilus's.
On top of that, the scorpion monster Skarner circled around by crossing a wall and charged in from outside vision.
Even with fast reaction speed, Jinsuk couldn't respond in time and was dragged into enemy territory.
Simultaneously, a swirling magic circle appeared in the middle of the battlefield.
Xanthe was using teleport to join the fight.
Should I dive in first to force the ranged carries to lose DPS?
Should I distribute the damage my allies are taking to avoid the worst-case scenario?
My usual self would have jumped onto the ranged carries regardless of whether I died.
And after using my skills to engage, I could stun them with a counterattack and chip away at their health.
But I'd be fighting a lonely 1v3 against two ranged carries and Xanthe joining via teleport, just hoping my team would win.
But my mind, which had been working intensely without even listening to team briefings, clearly painted that picture for me.
Thanks to that, I could suppress my warrior instincts.
Instead, I stood firmly beside where Yone would be dragged and activated my counterattack.
With an attitude that said: I can jump on you anytime, Kai'Sa and Corki.
This forced the two ranged carries to maintain distance from Jackson, preventing them from focusing fire on Yone who was impaled by the scorpion's tail.
Skarner had wastefully used his ultimate.
However, Jackson's counterattack didn't last long either.
At most, it stunned Skarner to prevent him from dragging Yone deeper into Genji's territory.
Naturally, as soon as Jackson's counterattack ended, Kai'Sa and Corki closed the distance again to attack Yone.
With Xanthe, who had just arrived via teleport, leading the way.
I had bought time.
Now, whether it ended in success or failure, it was time to use all available skills and spells to win this 5v5 large-scale teamfight.
"Don't move!"
At that moment, Corki, who had stepped forward to unleash basic attacks and skill combos on Yone,
Was targeted by Vi's laser pointer on her gauntlet as she began charging, ignoring terrain.
Vi's ultimate, Cease and Desist.
An unstoppable charge toward a designated target.
Using that, Corki tried to pull Vi deep into his own territory by flying backward.
But every cell in my body screamed.
Now.
The significance of our four-warrior selection was for everyone to dive into enemy lines together when someone engaged.
So even though Counterattack wasn't off cooldown yet,
Jackson leaped to the position where Vi slammed Corki down.
At the same time, Yone, who had been dragged into enemy territory by Skarner,
Used that to his advantage to dash even deeper, helping to pour damage onto Corki.
And all of Ziggs's firepower rained down on our heads.
The value of Ziggs, who could project firepower from a distance while ensuring his own survival, showed its true worth at times like this.
Without any communication, everyone unleashed their firepower with one heart and mind.
Even though he was in his aircraft, Corki was a ranged carry.
There was no way he could withstand that firepower.
Somehow Xanthe tried to withstand the next wave of attacks, storing his sword in his tone and taking a defensive stance.
Perhaps sensing defeat with one member already down, despite our side not being in great shape either, Skarner and Nautilus began to retreat.
So I stood at the frontline with the most intact health, maintaining the line against Xanthe to allow my allies in poor condition to retreat.
Suddenly, Kai'Sa, who had been steadily firing void missiles from behind Xanthe, cut off our team's retreat path.
Then, she fired all the missiles she had saved from her wings, pouring firepower onto Vi and Ziggs who were nearby.
Vi, already in poor condition, became critically wounded from that attack.
Trying to get away from Kai'Sa, she charged in the opposite direction, only to be finished off by Xanthe.
Kai'Sa, perhaps thinking to cut down Vi and escape, used Blink to try to flee.
But melee champions naturally have higher movement speed than ranged carries.
No matter how many movement speed items Kai'Sa had built,
Jackson's items increased movement speed during combat.
With allies, he was able to chase down and finish off Kai'Sa.
Afterward, both sides retreated with poor conditions without further casualties.
Our side had four survivors, while Genji's team had only three.
Moreover, Jackson was still in good shape on our side.
It was ambiguous for either side to attempt Baron Nashor.
But with this condition difference, we could at least secure a dragon.
So the visible outcome of this skirmish was 7 kills to 2.
Plus, we had taken three dragons while they had only one.
Now we could afford to give up a dragon if we could secure other advantages.
But Genji's team, already behind in gold due to the kill difference,
Had to embrace that disadvantage and couldn't retreat from the next dragon fight.
However, even though we had gained this advantage and could breathe easier,
We absolutely couldn't let our guard down.
Hadn't we lost a game to SKY team for that very reason?
So I continued to check what our four teammates were doing.
I watched and judged Genji team's five players whenever they appeared on the map.
What would this player try to do?
What should I do in response?
Thanks to that, we didn't concede even the smallest point.
Finally, Genji's team couldn't keep up with our growth as we faced the standoff before the fourth dragon.
As their Corki fired missiles and our Ziggs threw bombs while both sides gauged each other,
I quietly flanked through Genji team's Jungle Camp.
To catch them from behind.
Our team players moved in tight coordination with my movements.
It made my heart swell.
It felt like we understood each other without needing to speak.