The tension in the internet café was electric as the final draft began. Players gathered around Alan's PC to watch. Alan felt the weight of the moment bearing down on him, but he pushed it aside. Focus was everything.
TSM entered the draft with calculated precision. They immediately banned Morgana, ensuring Alan couldn’t repeat his success from Game Two. Reginald hovered over Annie, locking her in with a quick, decisive click.
Balls:
“They know you’re the playmaker, Alan. They’re scared of you.”
Alan’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. If they thought taking Morgana away would stop him, they didn’t know him at all. His hand hovered over Kassadin, his signature pick. It was risky, especially against Reginald’s aggressive Annie, but it was also the champion that had carried him to this point.
Locked In: Kassadin
Opponent: Annie
TheOddOne selected Nunu, a pick that would protect TSM’s carries while boosting their damage output. Meanwhile, Chaox locked in Ashe for the third time in the series. Her Enchanted Crystal Arrows had been deadly all series, and Alan knew she would be the linchpin of TSM’s late-game strategy.
On Alan's team, Balls took his reliable Malphite and Travis was on Sivir. The comfort picks gave them some extra confidence heading into the final game.
“Alright, Kassadin,” Alan muttered, fingers tightening on his mouse. “Let’s make it count.”
From the first wave, Reginald brought the aggression. Annie’s Disintegrate and auto-attacks peppered Alan every time he stepped up to farm. Reginald’s positioning was flawless, keeping Alan zoned out while TheOddOne’s Nunu lurked just out of sight in the river.
At 6 minutes, disaster struck. TheOddOne emerged from the jungle, slowing Alan with Ice Blast before Annie flashed forward, landing a devastating Summon: Tibbers. Alan burned both Flash and Riftwalk, but the damage was too much. First Blood went to TSM.
Balls:
“Mid’s under fire. I’ll try to help next time.”
Alan gritted his teeth, his voice calm despite the frustration.
“No, stay top. I’ll recover.”
But TSM didn’t let up. At 8 minutes, Reginald used Annie’s burst to force Alan under turret, then roamed bot lane with TheOddOne. A perfectly timed Enchanted Crystal Arrow from Chaox secured another double kill for TSM’s bot lane.
Travis:
“They’re everywhere! What do we do?”
Alan’s mind raced. He couldn’t afford to tilt. Kassadin was a late-game monster, but only if he made it there intact.
By 15 minutes, TSM had a commanding lead. The scoreboard showed 7-2 in their favor, and the gold difference felt insurmountable. But Alan’s Kassadin was inching closer to level 11, where his mobility would give him the chance to turn the tide.
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The opportunity came at 18 minutes. TSM grouped for Dragon, their confidence palpable. Alan pinged furiously, signaling for his team to contest.
Alan:
“We need this fight. Balls, you engage. I’ll clean up.”
TSM started Dragon uncontested, but Balls teleported into the fray. His Malphite slammed into Chaox and Reginald with Unstoppable Force, scattering TSM’s formation. Alan blinked in a second later, landing a perfectly timed Force Pulse that slowed the entire enemy team.
Reginald tried to retaliate, but Alan danced around Annie’s abilities, Riftwalking onto Chaox and cutting down the Ashe with a final Nether Blade. TheOddOne attempted to channel Absolute Zero, but a Null Sphere silence from Kassadin interrupted him, securing the team fight for Green Tipped Bananas.
“Triple kill!” the announcer blared, the café erupting in cheers.
Balls:
“That’s how we do it, baby! Let’s go!”
The fight closed the gold gap, giving Alan the breathing room he needed to scale. His system pulsed faintly in his mind: Clutch +1. Micro Mechanics +1.
By 30 minutes, Alan’s Kassadin was fully online. With his ultimate fully leveled, Zhonya’s Ring, and Archangel’s Staff completed, he was a nightmare for TSM’s backline. Not to mention his badge.
Kassa-win (Bronze) Activated: Clutch +5
Alan:
“They’ll look for a pick with Chaox’s arrow. Stay spread.”
TSM reached the inhibitor turret, their formation tight. Reginald moved forward, zoning with Annie’s Molten Shield while Chaox poked with Volley. TheOddOne hovered nearby, ready to peel with Ice Blast or unleash Absolute Zero.
Alan’s eyes scanned the battlefield. Reginald was slightly out of position. If Alan could take him down, TSM’s fight would fall apart.
Alan:
“I’m going in. Balls, follow up on me.”
Alan Riftwalked forward, chaining Force Pulse and Nether Blade onto Reginald. Annie staggered, her health bar melting. For a moment, it seemed like the play might work.
But TheOddOne reacted instantly. His Nunu turned, channeling Absolute Zero in the middle of the chaos. The explosion slowed Alan, leaving him vulnerable as Chaox fired a devastating Enchanted Crystal Arrow into Kassadin. Reginald flashed backward, surviving with a sliver of health, while Chaox cleaned up with pinpoint auto-attacks.
Balls charged in with a desperate Unstoppable Force, knocking up three members of TSM. The café roared as Green Tipped Bananas tried to rally, but TSM’s coordination was flawless. TheOddOne peeled for Chaox, who kited expertly, whittling down the remaining players.
Ace.
Defeat.
TSM marched into Green Tipped Bananas’ base, their victory all but assured. Alan stared at his gray screen, the word Defeat seared into his vision. They had come so close, but in the end, TSM’s precision had won out.
Balls:
“We almost had it, man. You set it up, but you just didn't have the damage.”
Travis:
“So close man. Maybe if we played things just a little different... Ugh nice try guys.”
Alan didn’t respond. His mind replayed the final fight in excruciating detail. He had been a second too slow, a step too ambitious. TheOddOne and Chaox had read him perfectly, punishing every mistake.
His system pulsed softly, delivering a familiar notification:
----------------------------------------
Quest Failed: Claim the Crown.
Reward Locked.
----------------------------------------
Alan leaned back, exhaling slowly. The café buzzed with murmurs as spectators filtered out, the excitement giving way to quiet reflection. He had lost, but this wasn’t the end.
“Reginald,” Alan whispered, his voice steady. “Next time, I’ll win.”
Resilience +2
As the lights dimmed, Alan stood, his determination burning brighter than ever. This loss was just the beginning of his climb to the top.