I was the first one to arrive at the teleport platform and started to do some stretching excercizes. Not long after me, Lux arrived. She greeted me and told me that she wanted to discuss tactics with us 15 minutes before the game started. Then she went off to get ready herself.
Within 10 minutes, Ezreal, Ryze and Gragas walked in too. I held up my hand to them and especially Ezreal seemed pretty impressed. I didn't really know why, until I realized that I was doing push-ups. I got up and jogged around until it was time for our meet-up.
Usually, before a match started, I would be warming up until we had to go to the rift. I'd wish my teammates good luck and that was about it. That was impossible though, if either Lux or Swain was in my team. Both tacticians, both controlfreaks. I had to say, it was nice to have a plan. And the fact that that plan came from a young, Demacian girl... oh well, a plan was a plan.
"So, we have a stong lategame," Lux stated, after greeting us all. "But that means that our early is kind of weak. Ryze, between level 6 and level 11, I think Akali is probably stonger than you. Play safe, buy pinks and wait for Gragas before you engage..."
She went on for a while about botlane and jungle tactics and I did my best to listen. It was all known information, of course, but I wasn't the one that was going to tell her that.
"And Talon, you have to go really agressive on Malzahar before level 6, and after that when he already used his ult. And make sure you're not anywhere close to minions with purple clouds around their heads. If you are infected, his voidspawns will focus..."
"I know," I interrupted her. It came out a little more rude than I had intended to do, but I didn't really want to think about voidspawns focussing me.
"Oh. Well, Then we're done, I guess." Lux sounded a lot less positive than a few seconds ago. "Take five minutes to concentrate and see you upstairs."
We all wished eachother good luck and I went to the platform. I tried to focus, but the thought that in about 10 minutes I would be fighting Malzahar wasn't comforting.
I knew it had been a bad idea to search for those pictures. Right now, the idea of voidspawns in my lane was about as disturbing as the idea of slicing Malz into pieces. I mean, what if that only excited him?
"Yeah, then what?" a sarcastic voice in my head retorded. "Like it's your problem."
I sighed. Of course it didn't really matter right now. I just had to concentrate.
The platform below me started to shine a blue light and the announcer told us that we would be teleported in 30 seconds. I closed my eyes and waited. I knew the blue light was getting brighter and in the end consumed me alltogether. I smelled the kind of industrial nature-smell of summoners rift and opened my eyes again. I also felt slightly sick, but I knew it would be over in a few seconds. It was time to get my longsword, potions and ward and head to the center of the arena.
From a distance, I could see Malzahar was already there. He was doing a pretty cool dance, but stopped the moment he saw me. I knew he could dance really well, but he was too shy to actually show it. Sometimes I could hear him move around our room and stop at the exact moment I laid my hand on the doorknob. He had quite a sharp ear for that.
I walked up to about the outer limit of my turret and leaned against the wall, waiting for the minions to arrive. I saw Malzahar hesitate to shoot a basic attack at me, but he didn't come close enough.
"Minions have spawned"
Only about half a minute until they would be here. I watched Malzahar. He was floating around and seemed even more nervous than I was. Maybe this whole awkward situation would turn out in my favor.
The first minionwave arrived and I had to follow them to the center of midlane. I decided to ignore Malzahar and just take as much farm as I could get.
Within a minute, I heard Lux' voice in my earphone.
"Talon, what are you doing? He'll poke you down if you don't engage on him!"
I didn't answer her and glanced at Malzahar while keeping on killing minions. He did the same thing as I did. Just farm. I was almost level three now and I would have my full combo then, apart from my ult. It would be very strange if I wouldn't attack him then. While keeping an eye on the red minions, I calculated my chances if I would jump behind Malzahar and slice my rake through his chest.
Before I could take action, my vision was somewhat blurry and purple and the skin of my face stung like it was eaten by the void itself. Which was funny, because it was true. Worse though: something was chewing on my leg.
I tried to kick the voidspawn away, but the fysics of Summoners' Rift had other ideas about that. The only way I could think of to at least for a second get rid of the creature was to jump to Malz, which was exactely what I did, slowing him for a vast 99%. I performed my full combo and by the end of it, my vision was back to normal and my face didn't feel like hundreds of imps were eating it anymore.
I ended up in front of him and for the first time since the match had started looked him in the eyes. He was in pain, I could see. He was bleeding quite badly from a wound in his side. Nonetheless, he seemed to be amused. He pointed to the left and killed a row of minions with his silence. A purple glow appeared below his feet.
I stabbed him in his chest and again, a purple cloud of pain appeared over my head. I could hear Malzahar laugh, in a sadistic way. Or maybe masochistic, for he should've been dying of pain too. Or dying in general, because of the blood he was losing.
The fields of justice were a fun place to be. I ran back within turret range to catch my breath and to let the turret shoot the voidspawn off my leg. Malzahar followed me. I just needed to wait a few more seconds, then I would be able to jump on top of him again. He shot a basic attack at me, and I knew I was getting to the last of my strenght.
Three... two... one...
I took a leap and once again ended up right behind him. I placed my blade at it's usual place on Malzahar's throat.
"You like this, eh?" It came out of my mouth without me really realizing it.
"Hell yeah," Malzahar aswered, panting.
I finished my move, letting his temporary lifeless body sink to the ground.
"First Blood!"
