Taurus’ room was enveloped in an ominous atmosphere. The air felt charged with electricity that could explode at any moment. Yet, a smiling invader bravely set foot into this danger zone.

  "Hey, what's up, guys?" Jaideed them with a smile. A bright and friendly smile, that looked too uny for the depressing atmosphere hanging in the air. "Good game there."

  "Huh!?" Bruce shot a gre. "What do ya mean 'good game'? You came here to make fun at us!?"

  "N-Not at all," Jaiden flinched in front of Bruce's overwhelming aura. However, he mao calm himself by gng at the friends standing behind him. It’s okay. They’re there for me if something happens. I’m okay. It’ll be okay. Yeah.

  "Of course, a defeat is a defeat,” Jaiden tinued. “But, you fought well. There were many times when you almost royally screwed the enemy. It's just that somethi wrong at the st moment every time. Tough luck."

  "Yeah, ya got that shit right,” Bruodded. “Damn luck screwed us hard this game."

  Bruce's aggression softened somewhat. But, he was still very mu enraged lion, waiting to leap on somebody at a moment’s notice. "But, luck ain't everything. We also had a bunch of dumbasses pying like literal crap this game."

  "Were they really that bad?" Jaiden asked calmly. "That's not how it looked to me from the audience. Everybody had their share of good and bad pys."

  "Oh, yeah?" Bruce challenged Jaiden's positivity. "Then tell me, where exactly did Zeph make a ‘good py’ against the DK? He was screwing up the entire damn game!"

  "Actually, Zeph pyed pretty well overall," Jaiden threw a friendly smile at Zeph. "His Dragonborn was lit. He pulled a bunch of high-level pys there. It's just that Chessmaster repared for everything. The guy knew every tri the book. He’s not aromBlitz pyer just for show."

  "Well, doesn’t ge the fact we lost the game pretty hard thanks to Zeph," Bruce grumped. He didn't have a good retort to Jaiden's fident words, so he simply shed out with blind anger.

  "Yeah, that's how it turned out in the end," Jaiden didn't deny. "But, Zeph hahe situation well. He figured he couldn’t beat Chessmaster by himself, so he cooperated with Dyn. They even almost killed the DK. But, things started going wrong when the Ninja popped outta nowhere and ter-gahem. Even we didn't see that ter-gank ing, right, guys?"

  "Yeah, that ter-gank was a shocker," Nash followed up. "It's like that Ninja traveled to Top through another dimension or some spooky shit. No joking, man,"

  "Yeah, none of us saw it ing,” Jaiden tinued. “So, I wouldn't say Zeph pyed poorly. The enemy was just that sneaky. That ued ter-gank ruined everything. Zeph should’ve gotten a kill on the DK there, but ended up dead instead.”

  “Hmph,” Bruce just listened without arguing back. He robably waiting for an opportunity to strike back with something.

  That’s why Jaiden had to keep talking. Things finally started calming down, so he wao keep things this way.”

  “It was like a domino effect after that ter-gank,” Jaiden tinued. “You know how it is, right? You give a DK one kill a, he ends your whole career. So, nothing to feel bad about."

  Jaiden directed these words at Zeph. It itiful sight. The guy was sitting in the er with a pale face, questioning his life choices. He was beating himself way too hard over it.

  "Cheer up, man,” Jaiden enced. “It wasn't as bad as you think it is. Your oppos were just that good."

  "Yeah, I guess," Zeph gave a weak smile. It didn't feel like Jaiden's words cured the guy’s depression, but at least Zeph’s face regained some vigor. He no longer looked like somebody who gave up ohing. It was the first step toward recovery.

  "Okay, fine," Bruce clicked his tongue. "You’re saying Zeph fought a tough oppo from StromBlitz and that the Ninja’s gank was some serious shit. Then, how ya gonna excuse Bryan's fuck ups? Bruh blew it all up! We almost had that Impaler, I almost killed that bitch! But, then that Ninja ran us over and Bryan didn’t do jack shit about it. That was some high-level scrubbing if I’ve ever seen one!"

  "What are you talking about?" Jaide Bruce's anger with a bnk expression. "Brya up everything perfectly. He pinned down the Impaler with the rain and spaced out the Druid like a pro. We all thought you had this one in the bag." Jaiden signaled with his hand behind his bag.

  "Yeah, totally!" Nash followed up. "It was hel ving. Bryahings up just right and you rekt that Impaler. No matter how ya look at it, you guys were totally dominating there. Ain’t nobody saw that Ninja ing. I'm tellin' ya. That chick is like some sort of ghost. Gotta be hax, man."

  "Well, Bryan should have seen her ing," Brusisted. “That’s part of his job, isn’t it? He gotta support me, ya know? Hey B, ya hear that? You gotta be on the lookout fanks and shit." He turned on Bryan again because it was easier than dealing with Jaiden and Nash together. 1v1 was always easier than 1v2.

  "Yeah, sure, whatever," Bryan shrugged.

  "Huh? Not sure I like your tone, bro."

  "Sorry, I'm just feeling a little down after that game."

  "Well, you better be. You pyed like a scrub."

  "Guh...!" Bryan ched his fists. What's his problem? Does he have to rub it in like this? How about you criticize yourself for a ge, huh!?

  Brya like he was about to explode. Even though he did his best as Bruce's Support and pnned everything to a T, he didn't receive a single word of gratitude from Bruce. Even Jaiden, a bystander, appreciated Bryan's efforts way more than the guy who was supposed to be his "partner".

  I'm tired of this shit. It's the same damn thing every time. Pying Support was the epitome of suffering wheeam was losing. Bryan put so much effort and worked so hard, only to find himself at the receiving end of Bruce's senseless accusations.

  Sure, when things were going well, Bruew how to shower the Support with praise. But, the moment things went wrong, it was immediately the end of the world. And, of course, it was all Bryan’s fault. It was always Bryan’s fault, no matter what actually happened.

  When Bruce overextended and got ganked? It was Bryan's fault for not c for his partner. When Bruce lost a fight he picked himself? It was Bryan's fault for not helping out enough.

  No matter what, everything was always Bryan's fault. There was no justice to be found anywhere for the Support. It was all suffering. Bruce always made sure to drill that misguided lesson into Bryan.

  That's not how a ne partner should be ag. Bryan shook his head. Bruce was supposed to be Bryan’s trusted partner on ne, but that dumbass was no good.

  A good partner would uand the circumstances and criticize accly. For example, Bryan's only mess up in that situation was his failure to catch the sneaky Ninja in time. Other than that, he did everything else almost fwlessly.

  A good partner would uand all of that. He’d call Bryan out on that one mistake and discuss some solutions for the game. He won't be throwing a tantrum like a baby, yelling "YOU MESSED UP EVERYTHING! IT WAS ALL YOUR FAULT! WHAAAAAA!"

  In that sense, Jaiden was a much better fit to py Carry. The kid was just a junior, but he already knew what's up. The Support was the Carry’s most trusted ally on ne, not some strao roast for fun. Jaiden’s words veyed he perfectly uood that basiotion.

  In fact, the way Jaiden was analyzing the game inspired a lot of fiden general. He eve out of his way to make Zeph feel better about that terrible game. The kid had some fine leadership skills. Everybody was already expeg Jaiden to bee the captai year.

  To be ho, I’d gdly have Jaiden as the captain right now. Bryan g Raymond, who was still sitting quietly at the er. Instead of brooding, the captain was now attentively listening to the bad-forth between Jaiden and Bruce.

  You better take notes, cap. Bryan thought. Jaiden is pretty much doing your work for you. If you just came here and said the same things Jaiden is saying, Bruce would shut up. That dumbass is ag high and mighty only because he’s dealing with a junior. Sigh.

  "And, Dyl pyed like trash too!" Bruce kept yelling nonsense. "He couldn't even gank the DK! What the fuck, man!?"

  Is this ever gonna end? Bryan sighed. Things were getting out of hand today. It usually only took a few minutes for Bruce to calm down after venting, but not today. His ranting had no end.

  Is it because it's an official match? Did the nerves get to him? Bryan pitied Bruce a little. Despite ag all high and mighty, it seemed like Bruce cracked under pressure. He was never good at trolling his emotions, and the pressure of pying on stage only made things worse. He robably mad about the way he embarrassed himself in front of the audie hurt his stupid ego. How dumb.

  "That Ninja excuse again!?" Bruce barked. "You keep bringing up that bitch like she's some pro pyer!"

  The yelling was still going strong. There was no end in sight. Break time will be over in about five minutes, but nothing has been resolved yet. At this rate, Bruce will tinue his ranting on stage. Sigh.

  Sigh. Sigh. And more sigh. All Bryan could do was sigh.

  The game was going to be even more unbearable than the previous one. Holy, Bryan didn’t even want to py anymore. If this were Ranked, he’d e up with an excuse to bail ht here and now.

  Unfortunately, this was an official scrimmage. It was like the prelims for the regionals. He was one of the club's representatives, so he had to put on a fitting performance. He couldn't just quit because didn't feel like it. Or, could he?

  They allow subs, don't they? Bryan suddenly remembered that rule. Even if he quits, one of the seniors will be able to sub in. That is, if we HAD any other seniors here today. We kinda chased them all out, didn't we? Haha...

  Bryan could only ugh at the irony. This gang worked very hard to gain trol over the first-string. So hard, in fact, that the other seniors lost all motivation and pretty much quit. Thanks to that, there weren’t any seniors avaible as subs today.

  You reap what you sow, huh. Bryan smiled wryly. Well, I ’t bme these guys for quitting. Holy, I’d probably quit too in their pce. The club was no longer safe for them.

  Bruce did all sorts of nasty things t this gang to where it was today. Actually, no. It wasn’t only Bruce. Bryan also actively participated in it.

  Applying intimidation, monopolizing the clubroom, and f everybody to say that the gang deserved to be on the first-string the most. They practically terrorized the club in order to secure their current positions.

  And, that'd where it brought us. Bryan sighed for the millionth time. Maybe they overestimated themselves. They thought they owhe team and deserved to lead it, but today they crashed and burned hard. It was a huge blow to their fidence.

  Maybe we’re not ready yet for this high level. I mean, even a team like Stratus is making us look bad. That’s embarrassing as heck when you got an audience.

  "Besides, what do you known!?" Bruce kept yelling. "You're just lil’ junior! Ya think you uand the game better than me, huh!?"

  At this point, Bruce's arguments derailed into nothing more than personal attacks. He has already spent the few real arguments he had, but he kept attag as if his life depended on it.

  Holy, it athetic. Bruce simply couldn't let it go. He should've realized he lost. Nobody was on his side at this point.

  But, it doesn't look like he gonna stop any time soon. Bryan sighed. Looks like this won't end until somebody does something.

  But, what could be dohe best solution was to kick Bruce off the team for a while ahe guy cooldown on the bench. But, there was no hell of Bruce peacefully agreeing to that. Only the captain could make that happen, but it didn't look like Raymond nning to make a move.

  But, not all hope was lost. There was oernative. Instead of making Bruce quit, others could quit instead. If Bruce loses his footing ieam, it might be easier to make him give up and quit. Heck, he might even rage quit of his own volition at that point.

  But, what we gonna do about subs? Bryan knotted his brows. None of the other seniors came to watch the scrimmage. There were only juniors and freshmen on the bench today.

  So, even if somebody from the first-string will give up their position, who would sub for them? Bryan’s eyes naturally id ohree juniors in the room.

  Jaiden, Nash, and Rio. These three alyed together, so they had solid teamwork. Jaiden was well-known as a strong pyer, sidered to be on par with the seniors. His two buddies weren't particurly special as far as Bryan knew, but together they were a det gang.

  They're the best thi. Bryan o himself.

  There was no ce these inexperienced kids were even close to the level of seniors like Bryan. However, in the current climate, they might do a better job. Pying alongside Bru his current state was like asking to get stomped by the enemy.

  Welp, guess I’mma head out. Bryan stood up. I'm leaving the rest to you, Jaiden. He unicated with his eyes on his way to the door.

  “Hm?” Jaiden blinked with a puzzled expression.

  “Hey, I’m still talking to ya!” Bruce thundered. “Whatcha looking at!?” He turned around. What he saw was... odd, to say the least.

  "Hey, B!" Bruce called out. "Where are ya going?"

  "Ah, shit, ahem" Bryan cleared his throat. He didn't expect to be caught red-handed befetting to the door. "To the... toilet?" He smiled awkwardly as he tinued approag the door.

  "Toilet? Then why are ya ag all funny like that?"

  "Well, actually," Bryan took a deep breath. He reached the door now, so it was time to drop the bomb. Hopefully, that bomb won’t explode in his own face. If push es to shove, he'll just bolt outta here. "I'm done."

  "Done? What do ya mean?"

  "Done dealing with your shit," Bryan couldn't stop the anger from seeping right his words. "If you wanna keep bitg about how everybody is pying, then find somebody else to py with. I'm done supp you."

  "Huh? Bruh, are ya high?" Bruce's face torted. He was like a tig bomb about to go off. "You throwing the match!?"

  "Yeah, I'm subbing out," Bryan decred. "Find somebody else to py Support for you, if you even ."

  "Hey, hey, bro. You 't just quit like that," Bruce advaoward Bryan. He was wearing a smile of disbelief, refusing to believe this was really happening. But, once reality sinks in, he'll definitely explode into a fit e. Bryan had to get away before that.

  "Heh, look at that," Bryan produced a fake ugh and pointed past Bruce.

  "Huh?" Bruce turned around to check what's up.

  Fell for it! Bryan busted the door open and blitzed through it. So long, sucker!

  "Wha-!? You fucker! e back here!" Bruce gave chase. The door closed on him before he could hit the brakes, so he ended up ramming into it. "Fuck! B! e back here!" Bruce flung the door open and stepped outside.

  "HEY! B! YOU PIECE OF SHIT! E HERE!" Bruce wao give chase but he was too far behind. Fuck! What's up with B!? Did he fet how to take structive criticism all of a sudden? What the actual fug fuck!?

  And so, the team began falling apart...

  DarkestCymore