The much-anticipated match between Lacta (still a very strange team name) and the amateur streamer team UnFazed was about to begin, and even though this wasn’t the finals, the tension was sky-high.
“Let’s gooo!” Crabby shouted cheerfully from the commentators’ booth. “We’ve got a spicy one for the first game—Lacta versus UnFazed. I’ve been waiting for this!”
“Yes,” Real-Faker cut in. “This is the first year the PC version is launching, so in a way, this is the first ever official tournament held by GoG in this country.”
Over in the UnFazed booth, they were already confident.
“Should we ban Lacta?” one of the UnFazed players asked lazily as he leaned back, arms crossed behind their head. Then, he chuckled. “I think it would be funny if Zeno does not get his hero. It’s the only one he knows how to play.”
Faze smirked. “No need,” he said. “Let him have his Lacta.”
The booth was filled with chuckles as they watched Zeno lock in Lacta.
– He’s still Lacta.
– Well, he’s been playing only for a week. I guess that’s his limit.
– This is already funny.
– Even if they don’t win, I just want it to be fun!
“Okay! Picks are in!” Crabby squealed. “What are your early predictions?”
“Let’s be real,” Smitzy started off. “UnFazed are full-time streamers with ranking experience. You said that Zeno had always been playing for a week? Along with that, the two veteran actors on the top and bottom lanes aren’t any better. They’re as good as bots at this point.”
Well, that was true. Hyunbin and Sangwon didn’t practice, so their skills had stagnated. Most of the viewers were expecting this to be a slaughter.
Finally, the game loaded in. The virtual battlefield shimmered to life, graphics, heroes dropping into position.
From the start, Zeno’s movements were more refined. He didn’t lose sleep for the last couple of days for nothing, of course!
His timing with skills was definitely better. He even moved away in time when Faze tried to gank the bottom lane.
– ZENO IMPROVED?!?
– Lacta Lynx loading…
– He still sucks tho lol
– Give him another two years, and he might actually scare me
However, despite these improvements, UnFazed played like machines.
Their macro play was tighter, and their rotations were cleaner. Every time Lacta secured a small win, UnFazed answered with two bigger ones. They stole buffs, established vision control, and punished every misstep.
“Ten minutes in and it’s already a 6k gold lead for UnFazed,” Real-Faker announced. “This is going too easy.”
“I mean, Zeno has improved for sure,” Knots admitted. “But UnFazed is a different beast.”
As the game progressed, the chat only got louder.
– Lacta Lynx, huh? More like Lacta Housecat
– Put him back on TV, please!! He should stick to acting.
– I kind of feel bad for Jace and Mimi. They’re both doing well, but it’s no use against these streamers.
– Jace is good, though! He’s carrying lowkey.
Backstage, the atmosphere was also the same.
Phoenix smirked as he watched the match on television. “Well, this is already over,” he said, standing. “Imma a get a drink. Who wants to join?”
Oska also stood and left Risa with the two new actors.
Risa, on the other hand, was completely focused on the screen. “I want to play with him,” she mumbled.
From the front row bleachers, Eli snorted. “Dang, Zeno sucks.”
“Yeah,” Minji agreed.
Eli turned to her, confused.
“What?” Minji asked with wide eyes.
“I thought you’d defend him,” Eli muttered. “You always hype him up.”
Minji clicked his tongue. “I still have eyes. He does suck right now.”
Eli raised an eyebrow. “But you like him.”
Minji froze, eyes wide. She turned to Eli, who mirrored her expression, too, not expecting to say those words. It came out like an instinct!
Meanwhile, on stage, the players of Lacta were in a big crisis. It seemed Hyunbin and Sangwon had already accepted their defeat, playing more relaxed than in the first half.
“Jace! Behind you!”
“I see it, I see it!” Jace yelled, fingers flying across his keys as he tried to flash away from the incoming enemy assassin. His character leapt, barely dodging a fatal combo, but the damage was done.
Death.
Jace groaned as he leaned against his seat. Hyunbin and Sangwon soon followed the same fate. Meanwhile, Zeno and Mimi tried to clear the flunkeys, but they were already destroying the two inner turrets on their side.
– UnFazed is eating them alive
– Faze is smiling already
– I feel bad for Lacta. It’s like she’s feeding the flunkeys her milk.
The camera suddenly cut to Zeno.
Unlike the rest, he wasn’t speaking.
He sat calmly, one hand on the mouse, the other on the keyboard, posture upright, eyes unblinking.
His screen was blinking red with warnings—low HP, teammates dead, turrets falling.
Still, he looked completely composed.
– How is he calm right now?!
– He’s so handsome… like are you serious
– Why does pressure make him HOTTER
– bro is losing with grace
– Maybe he’s just delusional
Real-Faker’s voice echoed from the commentary booth. “They’ve lost nearly every turret except for mid. This game may not even reach the thirty-minute mark. UnFazed has been surgical with their pushes.”
“It’s too easy,” Faze’s voice piped through his team’s mic. “We’ll finish them in twenty. Tops.”
Mimi clutched her mouse. “We need to defend the dragon,” she said urgently.
But it was too late.
The enemy has slain the Dragon!
The ground rumbled in-game. Flames curled across the digital battlefield. The screen zoomed out for all to see: the massive dragon had been claimed by UnFazed. And with it, their flunkeys evolved. They tripled in size, covered in scales and armor, stomping down the bottom lane.
“Uh oh,” Crabby gasped in commentary. “That’s… that’s bad.”
“I would say ’GG’ right now,” said Knots. “But I don’t think they’d surrender.”
And still, Zeno didn’t flinch.
Jace looked to his side and whispered, “How are you like this right now?”
“I’m fine,” Zeno said, his tone unchanging.
[SYSTEM INTEGRATION COMPLETE: Gaming Skill – S]