The tension was palpable as Green Tipped Bananas prepared for the final game against CLG. The stakes were high, but the team knew the odds were stacked against them. CLG's attempts to expose GTB in draft were ineffective so far, but it was clear their gameplay was better.

  CLG opened with bans targeting Green Tipped Bananas’ core strategies: Tristana, Zilean, and Kassadin. Titan responded by securing Morgana mid, while Balls locked in Malphite to counter HotshotGG’s Renekton. Nior stayed on Janna, providing crucial peel, and BladeSong took Sivir. Hai rounded out the composition with Nunu, a pick they had used in countless scrims.

  CLG, however, drafted a comp that oozed dominance. Saintvicious locked in Jarvan IV, bigfatlp selected Twisted Fate, and their bot lane, Ashe and Leona, was built to wipe out GTB's win condition: BladeSong's Sivir.

  “We’ve played this comp so many times,” Hai said, trying to sound confident. “We can do this.”

  Titan’s voice was steady but cautious. “Stick to the plan. They have lots of tools to try picks and dives so make no mistakes. If we let them snowball, it’s over.”

  From the opening minutes, CLG demonstrated why they were one of the best in the league. Saintvicious’s Jarvan IV relentlessly pressured the bot lane, turning BladeSong and Nior into his primary targets. Every move seemed calculated, every play designed to exploit the smallest weaknesses. At 7 minutes, Saintvicious hovered bot as CLG’s bot lane—Chauster’s Ashe and Elementz’s Leona—crashed a massive wave into the turret.

  “We’re going to need backup,” BladeSong called over comms, his voice tense. “They’re setting up a dive.”

  “I’m on my way,” Hai replied, his Nunu trudging through the river.

  But CLG was a step ahead. As Hai approached, Saintvicious appeared from the tri-brush, flagging and dragging his way into the fight, catching Nior’s Janna in his knock-up. Elementz immediately followed up with a Zenith Blade, locking Nior in place as Chauster’s Ashe unloaded Volley and auto-attacks.

  BladeSong, trying to peel for his support, stepped forward to damage Saintvicious, but the move played directly into CLG’s hands. As Nior fell to Chauster’s autos, Saintvicious turned on BladeSong. The turret’s shots weren’t enough to deter the dive; Saintvicious using Golden Aegis to absorb extra damage before walking away.

  “Double kill!” the announcer boomed as BladeSong fell, his Sivir crumpling under the coordinated assault.

  CLG didn’t just stop at just the kills. Saintvicious lingered just long enough to help Chauster and Elementz shove the next wave into the turret, denying even more gold and experience before taking the first turret at 9:30.

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  “They’re reading us like a book,” BladeSong muttered in frustration as his respawn timer ticked down. “I can’t even step up.”

  “Focus,” Titan replied, trying to rally the team. His tone was calm but firm. “We’ve been here before. Just play to scale.”

  But CLG didn’t let up. Bigfatlp’s Twisted Fate used Destiny Gate to apply pressure across the map, appearing top to help HotshotGG secure a kill on Balls, then teleporting mid to collapse on Titan. Despite Titan’s attempts to fend off the aggression with Black Shield and Dark Binding, the constant pressure was overwhelming.

  By the mid-game, CLG had a firm grip on the match. Their macro play was impeccable, with every move designed to suffocate Green Tipped Bananas. Saintvicious and bigfatlp coordinated beautifully, combining Cataclysm and Gold Card to force skirmishes that GTB wasn’t equipped to handle.

  At the 20-minute mark, CLG forced a fight near the dragon pit. HotshotGG’s Renekton dove into the backline, followed by Chauster’s Ashe using Enchanted Crystal Arrow to lock down Nior. Saintvicious followed up with a perfectly placed Cataclysm, trapping BladeSong too and forcing him to burn both Flash and Heal just to survive. CLG secured the dragon and two kills, widening the gold gap to insurmountable levels.

  “They’re just everywhere,” Hai said, frustration creeping into his voice. “We can’t keep up.”

  At 30 minutes, CLG set their sights on Baron. Green Tipped Bananas had no choice but to contest, knowing that giving it up would seal their fate. The team grouped up and moved toward the pit, but CLG was ready.

  Saintvicious engaged with Jarvan IV’s Cataclysm, locking down Hai and Nior. Bigfatlp’s Twisted Fate followed up with a well-timed Gold Card onto Titan, preventing him from using Soul Shackles effectively. HotshotGG’s Renekton and Chauster’s Ashe cleaned up the fight, securing a decisive ace for CLG.

  “They’re too clean,” BladeSong admitted over comms as CLG marched down mid with the Baron buff.

  With their Nexus exposed, Green Tipped Bananas made a final stand, but it was futile. CLG closed out the game at 34 minutes in a dominant performance.

  Defeat.

  The team sat silently in the post-game lobby, the weight of the loss settling over them. BladeSong was the first to speak.

  “That second game was ours,” he said, his voice tinged with both pride and frustration. “But let’s be real—if we played them again, we get swept 9 out of 10 times.”

  Hai nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Their macro is just on another level. They punish everything.”

  “They’re better,” Titan agreed, his voice calm. “Right now. But this is just week one. We’ve got time to catch up.”

  “Do we, though?” Balls asked, his tone skeptical. “CLG’s been playing together forever. They’ve got synergy we can’t match yet.”

  Titan’s gaze sharpened. “We wont just match them. We will surpass them. One step at a time.”

  Later that night, Titan opened his Status screen, the soft glow of his monitor the only light in his room.

  Titan’s Status

  - Name: Alan Zhong (Titan)

  - Role: Mid Lane

  - Overall Rating: 58

  - Template: Caps

  Quest Progress:

  1. Make the Cut:

  - Finish the ESL Premier League regular season in the Top 6 to advance to playoffs.

  Progress: 0/6

  2. Top Dog:

  - Defeat TSM, CLG, Rock Solid, or unRestricted in a series.

  Progress: 0/1

  3. Standout Performer:

  - Achieve a KDA of 5 or higher across three consecutive games.

  Progress: 0/3

  4. Rising Brand:

  - Stream 50 hours during the ESL Premier League and hit 500 average viewers.

  Progress: 8/50 hours.

  The numbers weren’t where he wanted them to be, but Titan felt no despair. Instead, he felt determination burning in his chest. CLG was a step ahead, but they were far from unbeatable. With time and effort, Green Tipped Bananas would close the gap and soon after, surpass them.