The FRY team’s voice chat was filled with confusion.

“The enemy doesn’t even have a mid laner. This Spirit Smith is a support, and the Storm Swordsman is taking both mid lane and jungle!”

“What do we do? The Storm Swordsman is taking two lanes all by himself, and with the Spirit Smith’s passive giving him extra gold and experience, soon he’ll be able to 1v5!”

“Can we push mid tower?”

“Can’t push. The Storm Swordsman can come back anytime, and he can clear a whole wave of minions under tower quickly. Pushing too deep mid might get us ganked!”

“I’m crushing the Molten Ancient in top lane right now. Don’t you guys mess up!”

“Can the jungler help push mid or maybe you and mid invade their jungle together?”

“Not possible. Can’t even guarantee we’d win a fight in their jungle, and the Storm Swordsman can escape anyway. Plus he’s farming jungle with two people – he farms too fast to catch!”

“How about support roams?”

“Can’t. Bottom lane pressure is too intense – can’t leave.”

The FRY team discussed several plans but realized they didn’t have any good solutions for the current situation!

They originally thought the Spirit Smith would go bottom lane, so FRY picked a roaming support. But they didn’t expect FV to flex the Spirit Smith to mid and replace bottom with a strong lane support.

This immediately increased bottom lane pressure. If FRY forced their support to roam, bottom lane couldn’t handle the pressure and might break completely.

Top lane didn’t want to leave either. The Gale Warrior was chasing down the Molten Ancient, farming comfortably in lane. If Gale Warrior went to help teammates, he’d be letting a team-fighting champion farm freely. If the support failed, wouldn’t he be basically useless?

Gale Warrior was an inherently independent hero who needed resources to carry. There was no way he could leave.

FRY’s mid and jungle were fairly strong early game, but didn’t dare rashly invade FV’s jungle since invading at low levels could easily backfire. By the time they had levels to consider invading, Storm Swordsman had already built up his levels and economy. In a 2v2, they might not win for sure.

Storm Swordsman was weak early but became a beast once ahead in economy and experience. Being a mechanically intensive hero with multiple dashes, he could play very flexibly. Plus with Spirit Smith supporting him, FRY had difficulty targeting him.

Moreover, Storm Swordsman was one of FV’s signature picks. Hoping for mechanical mistakes was impossible.

Thus, FRY found themselves in a position where they had strength but couldn’t use it.

Mid and jungle continued farming lanes and camps, their development completely unaffected.

But the problem was FV’s Storm Swordsman was developing even better!

He was taking both mid lane and jungle together, plus extra economy and experience. How could his development not be good?

FRY’s players sensed something was wrong. While they hadn’t seen it in pro matches, Storm Swordsman 1v5 scenes were quite common in lower ranks.

If this Storm Swordsman really got fed, paired with Spirit Smith’s ultimate, FRY’s heroes might not be enough for him to mow down. Once Storm Swordsman got one clean fight and established an equipment lead, the game would be over.

FRY’s voice chat grew anxious.

“We can’t keep farming peacefully like this, or once Storm Swordsman comes online, we’re done. Let’s make a play bottom!”

“Alright, once I push this wave I’ll head bottom.”

FRY decided they could only target bottom lane.

Top lane’s Molten Ancient was tanky with CC – diving could easily backfire. Mid lane had no one to target. Jungle scouting would be fruitless.

So bottom lane was the only option.

Though FV’s bottom lane was a strong combination, 4v2 diving should work.

Moreover, FRY played a trick. Mid deliberately saved minions then pushed them all into FV’s mid tower before leaving.

FV’s Storm Swordsman could dash quickly, but if he cleared minions he’d arrive late. Not clearing meant losing resources.

Spirit Smith was attached to Storm Swordsman and couldn’t support alone, effectively keeping both in mid.

As long as FRY’s four executed well, they should kill the bottom duo and escape safely.

Everything proceeded as FRY planned.

Storm Swordsman couldn’t resist the large minion wave’s experience and gold, returning to clear mid. FRY’s mid and jungle used this time to reach bottom and dove FV’s bottom duo.

FV’s bottom duo was prepared, farming aggressively before getting caught. The CC-heavy support delayed under tower until both finally fell, but had cleared most minions. Enemy bot lane took damage too, FV didn’t lose many minions, and their tower received limited damage.

FRY breathed in relief – they hadn’t lost anyone and completed the risky dive.

Then someone shouted “Get back to mid quick!”

During the intense bottom fight, all four had ignored mid lane. Now checking, Storm Swordsman hadn’t bothered helping bottom but was demolishing their mid tower!

Storm Swordsman’s hands whirled frantically, massive sword chunks taking huge pieces of the tower’s health.

Storm Swordsman was popular in low ranks not just for his mobility, kills, and flashy plays, but also his split-pushing potential.

The hero cleared minions quickly. Left alone with endless minions, the mid tower would fall soon.

FRY’s mid laner quickly recalled to defend.

Mid tower held strategic importance. Losing it early meant restricted vision and lost jungle access, leading to a very passive position.

Seeing FRY’s mid recall, Storm Swordsman timed his arrival, then dove with Spirit Smith into FRY’s upper jungle, brutally farming their freshly spawned camps.

FRY’s jungler had cleared top to bottom, leaving top camps to respawn during the bottom gank.

With so many resources, Storm Swordsman led enemy jungle by almost a full item. He cleared camps like a lawnmower, leaving nothing behind.

FV’s strategy was obvious – gank our other lanes freely. Our top Molten Ancient and bottom ADC were utility champions who could still function after deaths.

While you gank, Storm Swordsman would demolish towers and clear jungle. Let’s see who loses more.

Though FRY successfully killed FV’s bottom duo, gold remained even without gaining advantage. Meanwhile the jungle gold differential only widened more absurdly!

Watching Storm Swordsman devour their jungle, FRY had few options.

“Forget it, let him take upper jungle. Too late to respond now. I’ll take their lower jungle in exchange,” FRY’s jungler simply continued farming FV’s lower camps.

“Alright, I’ll finish this wave then gank bottom again. We’ll kill their duo once more,” FRY’s mid also agreed.

Going after Storm Swordsman risked getting outplayed, so continuing to pressure bottom was best. Push the tower early, rotate the duo to mid, then everyone could hunt Storm Swordsman.

FRY’s top laner was confused. “What about me?”

The jungler fell silent. “Take care of yourself.”

FRY’s top was speechless – so much for carrying this game!

He’d picked Gale Warrior against Molten Ancient, initially comfortable, but somehow the team shifted bottom again while he got abandoned!

A fed Storm Swordsman and Spirit Smith were rampaging in his upper jungle, along with a CC-heavy Molten Ancient. FRY’s top knew one careless mistake meant being locked down and deleted.