[TIME: 00:11:52]
[SCORE: 115 : 80]
The match wasn't going too badly, Sypher thought.
"No reason to fight him. Not yet."
As long as he stayed under tower range, kept wave-clearing and farming minion kills slowly, things were under control. Even the duo on bot lane was holding their ground—surprisingly well.
Kuron stood in the center of the lane, arms on his hips, face twisted like someone forcing themselves through a loading screen tutorial.There was an itch in his posture—like he knew he was the strongest player in the game, and hated how no one was acknowledging it.
"Hey, loudmouth!" he shouted across the lane. "What happened to all that trash talk? Did you bury your spine under your tower?"
Sypher exhaled calmly, eyes forward."I'm not stupid," he replied."I know I lose the 1v1. But I'm not here to impress you—I'm here to win."
Kuron scoffed."What a load of crap."
He turned and slapped a minion across the chest mid-run.Its body shattered with a cracking sound, dissolving into particles like burnt paper in the wind.
"Boring," he muttered.
Then—
"Roy, what the hell are you doing?! Push your wave already! HEY!"Finn's voice crackled through the comms, sharp with frustration.
Roy was meandering along the river, walking past jungle beasts and the giant dragon toward the Apex lane.
"Relax, Finn. I still can't get over your name. PHAHAHA!"His fake laughter filled the channel."Anyway… Sypher? You there?"
Sypher decapitated a minion with a clean strike.
[YOUR TEAM +1 POINT]
He tapped two fingers to his ear."Yeah, I hear you. What are you planning?"
A dirty, mischievous chuckle sizzled over the comms.
"I'm flanking. Lure him in—I'll hit him from behind."
Sypher stared at the minimap.
Is this guy insane?
If they messed this up, it wouldn't just cost them time.It'd cost them two towers.Maybe the whole game.
"Wait—don't! He'll flatten both of us. Go back and defend your tower!"
"Too late. I'm in the bush. I can see both of you—go, engage him!"
Shit.
Okay. All in or—
[CARDINAL — SCENT]
A loud, electric snap cut through the air.A jagged trail of neon green smoke burst out from the bushes—pulsing, crackling.
The enemy Cord had activated his skill.
Scent-based tracking—every enemy in range immediately revealed.Sypher's stomach dropped.
Shit. They know he's there.
Kuron looked toward the bush.And grinned.
"You little rats…"
His stance shifted.Knees bent.Muscles vibrating like something was building inside him.
[OX‑RUSH]
BOOM.
The ground under his feet cracked apart as he dashed forward—air split in his wake, minions exploded from the shockwave.
[ENEMY TEAM +3 POINTS]
An instant later, Kuron was in the bush.His hand clamped around Roy's face, and he slammed him—hard—into a nearby rock wall.
"Sypher! I'm getting wrecked—HELP ME!"
Sypher didn't hesitate.Smart or not—he ran.
"Shit…"
[STRIDER]
He surged forward—faster.He leapt—
But his legs didn't respond.
A split second of lag.As if the command had been swallowed mid-action.
The strike never came. His body froze in the air.
No, not now. Not now—
Then—
A hand gripped his skull. A violent pull.
The world spun.
Kuron seized Roy by the leg with his other hand and swung him like a blunt weapon.
[OX‑HOMERUN]
Roy's body rocketed through the air, head-first.
Sypher raised his arms to block—too slow.
The impact hit like a cannonball to the gut.Air ripped out of his lungs.Both crashed to the ground.
[DOUBLE KILL]
"Finally. Some action," Kuron said calmly, grinning like he'd solved a riddle with his fists."Thanks, blondie."
[YOUR TURRET HAS BEEN DESTROYED]
Aurora's voice cut through the comms, dry and unimpressed."Idiots."
Kuron casually kicked aside the last few minions, walked through the rubble, and laid a hand on the next turret.The other hand struck again. And again.Precise. Brutal. Clinical.
[YOUR TURRET HAS BEEN DESTROYED][ENEMY TEAM +80 POINTS]
Sypher and Roy respawned side by side.Their Coordinator hovered just behind them.
[RESPAWN TIMER: 00:00:33…]
Roy slammed his fist into the platform."I could've—"
Sypher stood up. Didn't look at him.
"We're switching lanes," he said flatly.
"Huh?"Roy blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You're ranged. Stay back and hold the line.Just don't try to melee again. And—"
"Smart move."
Finn cut in.
"With your [Soak] skill, you can zone their lane if needed. Use that."
Sypher nodded."My thoughts exactly."
[DOMINATOR'S BLESSING]
A faint warmth spread through his body.
"Two levels doesn't normally mean much," Finn added."But for you…"
Sypher looked down at his hands.Tested his core with a strike to the abdomen.
Then—
[STATUS WINDOW OPENED]
Sypher Syllipher — Level 8 → 10[Class: Bruiser]
[Title: Son of the Streets (Common)]
STR: 17 → 19
AGL: 9 → 10
DEX: 10 → 11
INT: 8 → 9
CON: 15 → 16
[Skill 1: Strider — Lv. 4 → 5]
[Skill 2: Haywire — Lv. 2]
[Skill 3: Soak — Lv. 2]
[Skill 4 (ULT) — ???] → [UNLOCKED]
[Status: Myofade – Temporarily Stabilized]
"…how" Sypher whispered.
Finn stepped forward.Arms crossed. Eyes steady.
"You've got three minutes. Make them count."
A voice chimed in behind him.
"Sorry."
Sypher turned.Roy stood there, fists clenched, biting his lip.
"I'll do better. I'm not dying again."
Sypher gave a small nod.No words needed.
He knew deep down—it wasn't just Roy's fault.
[RESPAWN TIMER: 00:00:01…]
…
"Welcome back, you two," Bork said calmly.
"Welcome?!?" Selene snapped. "Those two morons are THROWING THE MATCH!"
Sypher and Roy materialized in the pit.No excuses. No arguing.
They moved.Straight toward their lanes.
Sypher tapped his comms.
"Sorry," he said quietly."But we can't change what's already done."
His eyes flicked to the objective timer.
[DRAGON AWAKENING: 00:01:05…]
"That dragon gives us 50 points," Sypher said."And one level. For everyone. For the rest of the match."
"Yeah, yeah," Selene cut him off."Shut up and run. Hold the tower."
He didn't reply.
He just smiled.A quiet smile.
This wasn't over yet.
[TIME LEFT: 00:07:35]