LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 432
The first dragon is very important yet not so important at the same time.
It’s a contradictory statement, but in the actual game, that’s how the first dragon’s value plays out.
This is due to the first dragon’s uniqueness, as it appears at the 5-minute mark; hence, securing it is influenced much more by lane matchups and situational factors rather than operational strategies.
Moreover, even if you manage to take the first dragon, the effects or rewards it provides are rather insignificant.
Because of this, many teams willingly give up the first dragon if their early lane situation is unfavorable or if things aren’t going their way.
It’s better to take it if possible, but it’s not something one feels is crucial enough to force a fight over.
Even if you give up the first dragon, it doesn’t greatly impact the outcome of the game.
From this perspective, it might seem like the first dragon could completely be eliminated, but that’s not entirely true.
The true value of the first dragon is realized when it leads to the second and third dragons.
If you’ve lost the first dragon to your opponents, operational pressure will start weighing down from the second dragon onwards.
Conversely, if your team secured the first dragon, you can strategically use it to initiate trades for the Rift Herald or even turrets.
It allows you to essentially put your opponent in a checkmate situation.
In other words, the implications of securing the first dragon hit differently than other objectives since they come with a delay.
For better or worse.
‘Above all… the first dragon is the key to a snowballing team composition. It absolutely cannot be given up.’
As mentioned before, whether or not you secure the first dragon often determines the game’s direction for a snowballing composition.
Depending on whether you take the first dragon or not, it changes the timing for strategic plays involving the third and fourth dragons and the subsequent Elder Dragon.
[“Oh, looks like they gave up?”]
“Yeah.”
MAX’s choice was unexpectedly to surrender.
Despite having power in the bot lane, they would just give it up so cleanly…
‘Does that mean they’re confident in this game?’
As mentioned earlier, if they fought over the dragon now and things went haywire, the game could end before Aurelion Sol even gets to grow, so it was a rational choice.
So, MAX determined that now was not the time to take risks in the game.
‘But they wouldn’t just end it like this, right?’
While we were busy taking the dragon, MAX wasn’t naive enough to stay completely idle.
In Legends of League, every action requires resources, which is essentially giving your opponent a turn.
But…
‘If we can turn that around, we could make the opponent waste their turn.’
[⨷] [⨷] [⨷]
[OLZ Getback(LeBlanc) targets MAX 950302(Rek’Sai)]
[OLZ Getback(LeBlanc) targets MAX 950302(Rek’Sai)]
[OLZ Getback(LeBlanc) targets MAX 950302(Rek’Sai)]
Pings pop up on the top river.
Rek’Sai was spotted entering our jungle on the ward.
Even if they give up the dragon, it showed their intent to gain as much back through counter-jungling.
[“Rek’Sai is going for a counter.”]
“It’s fine.”
The reason I said it was fine was simple.
I had gone for the dragon after clearing the upper camps, not the bottom ones.
In other words, Rek’Sai would just waste time coming into the upper camp now.
– The blue team has slain the Flame Dragon!
We successfully grabbed the first dragon, but the situation wasn’t over yet.
Once Rek’Sai confirmed that the upper camp was empty, it was all too obvious where they’d head next.
“Be careful top.”
[“Got it.”]
Rek’Sai has a significant advantage when ganking top as a champion from the red side.
Even if it’s not a dive lane, the terrain provides plenty of routes for Rek’Sai to gank, and Rek’Sai as a champion is incredibly strong at ganking.
“No one can help top right now. Can you handle it?”
[“I’ll try.”]
With the mid and jungle focused on the dragon, no one can attend to the top.
It meant that Honor had to face this situation all alone.
The silver lining is that given Aatrox’s capability for close kiting, he inherently performs very well against a champion like Rek’Sai, who is essentially a tanky walker.
It meant that turning the tables on Rek’Sai was totally achievable.
‘But that all hinges on Honor’s ability.’
Right now, all I could do was watch.
While I returned and regrouped after taking the dragon, my gaze involuntarily drifted towards the top.
Knowing Rek’Sai’s likely presence, I wouldn’t give an obvious gank opportunity, but that meant I couldn’t actively trade damage or manage the lane either.
Naturally, lane control began to shift towards Woo-chan’s K’Sante, and minions started to pile up slowly.
Minions are gradually stacking up.
Although I knew roughly where Rek’Sai was, I was unable to secure any vision.
If we were reckless, K’Sante might deliver us right to Rek’Sai’s ambush or Rek’Sai might jump us, meaning Honor couldn’t aggressively hold the lane.
The minions are steadily approaching the turret.
Thanks to Honor’s desperate attempts to respond, not many minions were getting to the turret, but it wasn’t a number that was impossible to dive either.
Suddenly!
Rek’Sai popped up as if waiting for this moment and finally revealed themselves on the lane.
As expected, they chose to dive top to recover all the losses incurred.
But MAX would know as well.
Diving Aatrox in such prime condition with K’Sante and Rek’Sai was a burden.
‘Yet they felt it necessary to do so anyway.’
K’Sante and Rek’Sai tightened the net around Aatrox.
But there was no way Aatrox would let that approach be so easy while standing by the turret.
Boom!
Kbang!
Aatrox’s large sword swung menacingly, slamming into K’Sante and Rek’Sai.
Both flinched at the staggering power, yet they didn’t give up on the dive.
Just as Rek’Sai emerged from the ground trying to knock Aatrox airborne—
Flash!
Aatrox avoided Rek’Sai’s airborne knockup with a flash, leaving Rek’Sai hitting the ground without achieving the knockup.
From what I knew, I’d say this was Rek’Sai’s weakest moment.
Even though recent patches made Rek’Sai’s airborne trigger between clicking and using w the same, players accustomed to Rek’Sai still preferred pressing w over clicking.
After all, that method provided a more instinctive response.
However, at least at this moment, that couldn’t do MAX any good.
Since Rek’Sai failed to hit airborne, MAX’s dive was practically doomed.
Regardless, MAX didn’t falter, and Seo Yeon-woo fought back with all her might.
There was no turning back now; they had already crossed the river, so there was no retreat.
– An enemy has been slain!
K’Sante, who first drew turret aggro, ultimately fell under the immense damage from the turret.
But soon enough, Rek’Sai, fueled by rage, sank their teeth into Aatrox’s neck, and even Aatrox couldn’t endure the assault any longer.
– An ally has been slain!
From this perspective, it seemed like a 1:1 trade, but the problem was that Rek’Sai was now exposed to turret aggro.
No, the moment K’Sante died to turret damage was already the beginning of the predicted outcome.
– An enemy has been slain!
– Double kill!
A 2:1 exchange.
Even though a few minions reached the turret, considering they had drained both the opponent’s turn and lives, it was a massive gain.
It resulted in their opponent feeling pressured and prompted a super play on top.
[“Nice!”]
[“Oh, good job top. They really can handle it!”]
[“Nice.”]
“Great job, Yeon-woo.”
While the cheers of victory rang out from the top, I returned to the jungle, looking for my opportunity.
Specifically, a chance to kill the opposing mid Aurelion Sol.
“Now.”
A chance soon presented itself.
With the sound of triumph still echoing from the top, even MAX’s mid laner Hwarang seemed a bit rattled as gaps appeared in the lane.
And Getback’s LeBlanc didn’t miss the opening.
“Save your chains.”
[“Okay.”]
Honestly speaking, Getback’s skill shots weren’t that great.
Thus, the best way to ensure a skill shot hits is simply to not use it.
It might sound a bit contradictory, but the easiest way to land many non-target skills is simply that.
By not using skills.
And just by not using skills, the opponent is forced to move, gradually revealing vulnerabilities.
Just like right now.
Aurelion Sol was setting up a big movement.
A signal of using w.
Aurelion Sol’s w skill had relentless mobility but came with a relatively long wind-up, which was its biggest weakness.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
Having been waiting for the right moment, I moved behind Aurelion Sol, crossing over the sharp beaks.
– Iku!
Aurelion Sol was delivered right to LeBlanc as their hopes rested on Aurelion Sol’s neck, which was now in LeBlanc’s chains.
It was effectively the moment Aurelion Sol’s fate was sealed.