Chapter 5:
For the next two days, Rayn played whenever he could.
Sometimes late at night, sometimes right after class.
He didn't stick to one role.
One day, he was a tank. Another, a mage. Some matches went smooth—others felt like a complete mess. But it felt like this game is made for him.
One thing started to click:
His mood changed how he played.
When he felt calm, the map seemed clear, every movement made sense.
When he was tired or frustrated, he died early… over and over again.
After a rough loss where he got outplayed three times in a row, he just sat there, phone in hand, staring at the defeat screen.
> "Was it me… or the matchup? Or just my mood?"
He didn't bother writing that down.
He just felt it.
---
On the third evening, something new popped up on the screen.
> "Rank Up Unlocked: Welcome to Warrior I."
It had a bronze icon. Nothing impressive.
Still, it made Rayn pause.
> "So that's how this game works... It pushes you up tiers."
He clicked the "Rank Info" button. A ladder appeared:
Warrior
Elite
Master
Grandmaster
Epic
Legend
Mythic
Mythical Glory (only the best)
His current spot?
Warrior I – the lowest tier.
> "Well... it's a start," he muttered, half-smiling. "
---
That night, he played a ranked match as a tank—a bulky hero named Gorran, who carried a shield the size of a door.
Rayn didn't do much damage.
But he learned how to absorb pressure, how to initiate fights, and most of all—how to lose with dignity when the team didn't follow up.
His KDA was 0/5/11.
The defeat stung a little.
But something odd happened after the match.
> Teammate: "Tank did well. Wish our marksman wasn't asleep."
Rayn blinked.
Praise was rare in solo queue.
---
Later, he looked at the rank ladder again.
He imagined climbing it—not to show off. But to understand how far he could go on his own.
He made one rule for himself:
> "No duo, no squad. Just me. Solo only."
Because if he was going to rise, he wanted to know it wasn't luck or carries.
He wanted to earn every step of the way.
And that night, before sleeping, he whispered something quietly into the darkness:
> "I'm still just a Warrior... but that ladder isn't going to climb itself."
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Hero description:
🛡️ Gorran : Tank
Damage: ★★☆☆☆ Defense: ★★★★★
Skill 1: Charges forward with shield, stunning the first enemy hit.
Skill 2: Raises shield, blocking damage and slowing attackers.
Skill 3: Slams the ground in a wide area, knocking enemies up.
Passive: Gains defense boost every time he's hit consecutively.
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