No Escape From the Monster

Kai failed to catch Renegade with her wolf. She fell for the enemy's bait and wasted her trump card.

Nevertheless, she was still alive. Even with a difference of 30% HP between her and Renegade, she was going to win this one!

"It's over." Yuel shattered her delusion. "You lost. Retreat."

"No, I can still...!" Kai insisted and fired a bolt at Renegade. [Got him!]

[You gonna stay and fight?] Jaiden shook his head in disappointment. [Fine by me.] He fired back.

A hit for a hit. If Beat intends to stay and fight, Jaiden will simply eat her shots and fire undodgeable counters at her. Given his absolute HP advantage, and the fact Beat ran out of trump cards, Jaiden was guaranteed to win this fight.

"Kai, you lost," Yuel repeated. "Retreat before it's too late. You can still make it if you turn back now."

"No! I can win!" Kai unleashed another shot. It contained all her fury and hatred. She couldn't lose! Not here! Not to this bastard in front of her...!

Renegade has been looking down on her from the beginning. Even now, he was probably thinking of her as trash that had no business playing competitively. Kai was nothing but an eyesore for him.

That's why she had to prove him wrong. She'll tear this bastard apart, even from this disadvantageous situation. That'll teach him a hard lesson or two. [I gonna win this one!]

[She lost it.] Yuel frowned. The situation was turning less and less salvageable by the moment. "Luke, gank the lane."

"But, they're still fighting," Luke said. "The cap asked to not interfere."

"Don't you see what's going on? She has already lost. She's just refusing to admit it."

"Hmm. Yeah, I guess ya right." Luke nodded and booted Burning Spirit. "Alrighty, I'm on my way!"

Meanwhile, Kai continued her senseless attacks. She was like a mad beast with rabies.

[It reminds me of the times when Julia went mad.] Yuel frowned. [Except, unlike Julia, Kai can't seem to use her anger to her advantage.]

Kai landed one shot. Then, another one. Compared to her previous hit rate, she definitely seemed stronger than before.

But, that wasn't the case. It was Renegade who was playing differently right now. Kai's shots didn't bother him in the slightest. Instead of dodging them, he focused on landing his counters on Kai. It seemed he was fine with trading shots due to his life lead.

"That's it. We lost Bot." Yuel bit his lip. He had no idea what else he could possibly say to wake up Kai. It was probably too late anyway. This game was about to become a repeat of last time.

"HEY! KAI!" Lars shouted on top of his lungs. "Pull outta there, dude! Ya wanna let him 'em take Bot? It gonna be like last game all over again!"

"Ah!" Kai froze. Last game? What happened last game? The team lost terribly. But, why? Because Kai carelessly pressed her offense against Renegade and died. It was exactly like this situation right now!

[I fucked up. Hard.] Kai gulped. Reason returned to reside in her heated-up brain.

She lost this duel the moment she failed to land her Wolf Companion. So, what the hell was she still doing here fighting!? She had to retreat!

[She gave up?] Jaiden wondered. His opponent came to a halt for no reason. [Well, fine by me.] Instead of waiting for an opportunity to counter, he initiated the attack himself this time. BAM!

"Ah! Shit!" Kai sidestepped the bullet at the last moment. It was a smooth last-second dodge. This was a great opportunity to deliver a counter on the enemy!

But, she didn't do that. Instead, Kai turned her back on the fight and made a run for it.

It was frustrating, humiliating, and embarrassing. She was fleeing with her tail between her legs. Kai allowed that cocky bastard to trample all over her.

Nevertheless, she had to swallow her pride and keep running. The entire team will be doomed if she dies here. As the captain, she had to set an example for the rest of the team. Therefore, she couldn't sacrifice the team for her selfish desires.

[Oh, so NOW you're retreating?] Jaiden shrugged. [Way too late, girl.] "Nash, you're up."

"Already there!" Nash leaped out of the jungle. He has been waiting around the corner ever since Jaiden dodged Wolf Companion. It was clear the girl will start running soon, so Nash was ready to jump on her at a moment's notice!

[Already here!?] Kai heard somebody landing behind her. It gotta be the Lancer. [What a pain in the ass!] She rolled forward to create some distance.

"Ya like rolling? What a coincidence, I also like it!" Nash rolled after his prey. He ain't letting her get away! Ain't nobody escapes from the almighty StormMonster!

[Tch, he's getting closer.] Kai clicked her tongue. Cold sweat formed her forehead. She heard each and every footstep behind her, loud and clear.

The metallic shoes produced an ominous heavy sound. Every time the metal stomped on the ground, it sent a shiver down Kai's spine. At times like this, her acute hearing was like a curse.

Her pursuer was faster than her. He built items that boosted Movement Speed, for no reason other than chasing targets down. Kai will never outrun him by foot, not in a million years.

Had Wolf Companion been available right now, she could've mounted the wolf and ridden away. Alas, there was nobody to rely on. Kai was completely alone here.

[Well, that's what I deserve.] Kai wore a self-deprecating smile. She selfishly demanded to fight Renegade against everybody's advice, so it only made sense for her to meet her end alone.

"Yo, what's up!" Luke appeared in front of her

"Eh? You came?" Kai blinked.

"Yep! Luke is here to the rescue!"

"Ah, t-thanks..." Kai mumbled. Her eyes welled up a little. [I'm such an idiot. What the hell I've been doing until now!? I got a team. We're all here, fighting for the same goal. Why was I so stubborn about that stupid duel? Why!?]

Kai's heart overflowed with regret as she made haste toward her Turret. Thankfully, with Luke here, they avoided the worst-case scenario. Once Kai reaches the tower, she'll just have to recall, cool down a little, and start making up for the all trouble she caused.

However, the enemy had different plans for how this story will end for her.

"Reinforcements? Cool." Nash hit the brakes and assumed a firm stance. "You wanna die in her stead? Works for me!"

"GAE-" the Lancer shouted the first half. Everybody knew what was coming next.

"Crap! He gonna bolg our asses!" Luke rolled away without thinking twice. It'll be no laughing matter if Gae Bolg hits him. He'll be as good as dead!

"Thanks for opening the path, chump." Nash grinned.

"- BOLG!" the Lancer's voice thundered. He dashed forth with lightning speed, crossing a quarter of the lane in an instant.

[Heck yeah! I dodged!] Luke exhaled in relief.

[Heh, dumbass. You weren't even my target!] Nash grinned. [I only care about ending this girl's career!] His target was now within reach, so he thrust his lance with one arm.

"Geh!" Kai flinched. Her HP dropped to 3%. It was the end. One more hit and it was over.

The Turret area was right in front of her. If she can just step in, that might be enough to discourage her pursuer from chasing any further. It was unlikely, but she had to believe in something to keep fighting until the bitter end.

Judging by the sound of the metallic footsteps behind her, Kai was still within the Lancer's range. If Dodge Roll was available, this would've been the ideal situation to use it. Alas, it was still on cooldown. Therefore, Kai had only one option left: to predict the next attack and sidestep it!

The enemy was eager to finish this as quickly as possible. Therefore, he'll deliver the finishing strike as soon as possible. That was an important hint for the timing of the incoming attack.

[Running diagonally will be too slow.] Kai lifted her finger off the W key. Holding W + A steered her diagonally toward the Turret, but it slowed down her ability to juke. Therefore, Kai stopped heading forward for a moment and sharply sidestepped to the left!

"Wha!?" Nash's gasped. His decisive strike pierced through empty air. It almost grazed the girl's right arm, but it didn't. That freakin' Beat sidestepped in the nick of time!

"Damn, son!" Nash exclaimed. "Does she have eyes on her back or somethin'? That's the spookiest shit ever, I'm telling ya."

While the opponent was confused by this development, Kai sped up ahead.

[Now!] Kai lifted her finger off the A key and pushed W all the way. While her opponent was recovering from the whiff, she was hitting all the gas and pulling up ahead!

"Haha, not bad!" Nash enjoyed the challenge for what it was worth. It was always fun watching his prey struggle to the bitter end like a cornered cockroach. It made the kill that much tastier!

As if to interrupt the fun, a fireball struck against his shoulder from behind. It seemed like the Pyromancer finally realized what was really going on.

[That guy was targeting Kai all along with his Bolg!] Luke realized his mistake.

He rolled aside in panic against the Gae Bolg, thinking the Lancer shifted focus to him. But, in truth, StormMonster's target was Kai all along! That Gae Bolg was just a scarecrow, a trick to get Luke out of the way. And, Lars fell for it like an idiot. [Dang it, I gotta stop him somehow!]

Unfortunately, there wasn't much Luke could do in this situation. He chased the Lancer to the best of his ability and shot fireballs at the guy, but StromMonster didn't even flinch. This beast was dead set on capturing his prey. Nothing else in the entire world mattered to StormMonster right now.

[Dang it, stop already!] Luke fired another fireball, and it hit the Lancer's back without any trouble. It even dealt decent damage, at least for a basic attack from a mage's class.

And yet, it didn't do shit for improving the situation. The Lancer was still hot on Kai's trail. There was no stopping this dude.

[If only I had some CC! Welp.] Luke sighed in resignation. That's what he got for picking Pyromancer as a Jungler.

Pyromancer had all sorts of cool properties that could make him into an awesome Jungler, but it severely lacked in the CC department. This one flaw hurt so bad, that it single-handedly branded Pyromancer as a meme Jungler. And now, of all the times, this flaw came back to bite Luke in the arse.

Luke couldn't stop StormMonster. He couldn't rescue Kai. The enemy was already breathing down on Kai's neck. It was over.

"You're through!" Nash thrust his lance, impaling his prey through the back.

The Ranger collapsed on the ground. It was over for her.

『You have been killed!』

The disheartening message appeared on Kai's screen. What a lame ending.

She insisted so hard on dueling Renegade, she even sacrificed Vincent for that. But, what did she get in return? Nothing.

No, it was worse than nothing. She allowed Renegade to gain the upper hand in Bot again. There was a good chance she doomed the entire game with her selfishness.

[I'm... I'm not good enough.] Kai clenched her black cap and pulled it downwards. She wanted to hide her face from the audience, from her teammates, and from the entire world.

Kai wasn't good enough. She has been trying to deny that line of thought since the previous game, but it turned out to be the truth. Renegade was stronger than her. Kai had no choice but to admit that now.

That bastard defeated her not once, but twice. The first time, she had some excuses up her sleeve, but this time was different. Kai faced Renegade in a pure 1v1 and on roughly equal terms, but she lost. Terribly so.

Maybe Renegade was correct after all. Perhaps, Kai really wasn't strong enough to compete at this level yet. If Lars played Carry in her stead, he surely would have done a much better job. He'd kick Renegade's ass without breaking a sweat.

[What was I even doing there?] Kai looked at Bot lane as if it was some alien colony. That wasn't the lane she should be playing in. What was she even doing there this entire time? What was she trying to prove? To achieve? She couldn't even find the answer to these questions anymore...