The Discord call felt heavier than usual, like a storm cloud hovering over the trio. Travis was pacing, his camera shaking slightly with each step, while Balls sat silent, sipping his energy drink with a grim expression. Alan waited for the noise to die down, letting the news settle before speaking.
“They’re really gone,” Travis finally said, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger. “Support and jungle. Just like that. After everything.”
Balls sighed. “We hit finals together, and they bail now? It’s like they never believed we could do it.”
Alan glanced at the messages still glowing on his screen. Their support’s departure had been abrupt but polite, citing burnout. The jungler’s exit was even more sudden, a curt, no-nonsense goodbye: “Can’t keep up. Wish you guys the best.”
“They’re gone,” Alan said simply. “That’s it. No use wasting energy on what we can’t change.”
“That’s easy for you to say!” Travis snapped. “You’re always so calm, but we’re down two players! How the hell are we supposed to practice for Go4LoL now? You think some solo queue rando’s just gonna carry us?”
Alan held his tongue, recognizing the frustration behind Travis’s words. “We adapt. There’s talent out there. We just need to find it.”
“And what if we don’t?” Travis countered, throwing his hands up. “What if we fall apart before we even get started?”
Balls spoke up, his voice calm but firm. “You’re tilted, Travis. Take a breath. We’re still here. We’ve done more with less.”
Travis muttered something under his breath but sat down, clearly still stewing. Alan gave him a moment before queuing up.
“We keep grinding,” Alan said. “Solo queue’s a great place to find talent. Let’s see who’s out there.”
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The game loaded, and Alan scanned the names of his opponents. One caught his attention immediately: Hai. He froze for a split second, memories flooding back from his original timeline. The name wasn’t well-known now, but in a few years, Hai would be a cornerstone of competitive League, known for his leadership, creativity, and unmatched vision.
“Guys,” Alan said, his voice low. “Pay attention to their jungler. Hai’s special.”
Balls raised an eyebrow. “Special how?”
“You’ll see,” Alan replied, a faint edge of excitement in his tone.
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The match began, and Hai locked in Nidalee, an aggressive and mechanically demanding pick that relied on high-pressure play and precision. From the first minute, it was clear Hai wasn’t just good—he was commanding the game.
At four minutes, Hai landed a perfectly aimed spear onto their bot lane’s support from the fog of war. Moments later, he pounced into the lane, weaving around skillshots and securing a clean first blood for his ADC. The plays didn’t stop there.
By eight minutes, Hai had camped bot lane relentlessly, setting up kills with pinpoint spear throws and flawless zoning. Their bot lane was crumbling under the pressure.
Travis groaned. “What is this? A personal vendetta against me? He’s been here three times already!”
Balls chimed in, “He’s reading us like a book. Every time we try to reset, he’s there.”
Alan watched Hai’s movements carefully. The way he placed wards, the precision of his rotations—it was like watching an artist at work. He wasn’t just reacting to their plays; he was shaping the entire game, forcing Alan’s team to play on his terms.
“This guy’s not just a jungler,” Alan muttered. “He’s a tactician.”
At twenty minutes, Hai secured a clean Baron, using it to shove down bot lane and take two turrets. The gold lead was insurmountable, and the game ended shortly after with Hai leading the charge.
Alan exhaled, leaning back in his chair. Despite the loss, he felt exhilarated.
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Alan typed into the post-game chat: “GG, Hai. You’re insane.”
The reply came quickly: “GG. You guys played well.”
Alan smirked. Humble, even after dominating. That checked out with the Hai he remembered.
“Listen, we’re rebuilding our roster. Want to queue with us? Just a few games to see how it goes.”
The pause before Hai’s reply felt like an eternity.
“Sure. Invite me.”
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Hai joined their Discord moments later. His voice was calm, measured. “Hey. I’m Hai. I jungle, mostly off-meta stuff.”
“Yeah, we noticed,” Travis muttered. “That Nidalee game was illegal.”
Hai chuckled softly. “Thanks. Let’s see how we do as a team.”
They queued up, and the transformation was immediate. Hai’s presence elevated every aspect of their play. His shot-calling was concise but effective, turning chaotic fights into clean victories.
In one game, Hai locked in Master Yi, chasing down enemies and shredding their backline with unrelenting speed. In another, he played Amumu in the jungle, his ultimates entangling teams and engaging winning team fights.
“Okay, this guy’s ridiculous,” Balls said after Hai stole a Baron with a perfectly timed Smite. “Where has he been hiding?”
Travis, now noticeably less tilted, chimed in, “He’s making me look like a genius down here. I didn’t even have to bait that last gank—he was already there.”
Hai was humble but focused. “You guys are solid. You listen, which is rare.”
Alan leaned into his mic. “We’re serious about winning. With you, we can take it further. Join us.”
There was a brief silence before Hai answered.
“I want to win too,” he said. “If you’re as serious as you seem, I’m in.”
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The session ended on a high note, the team logging off with renewed energy. Alan sat back, in slight disbelief over the player they just recruited. With Hai on board, their roster wasn’t just recovering—it was becoming something greater.
“Let’s see how far we can take this,” Alan muttered, his resolve sharpening as the night stretched on.