1 Chapter 1 - The first step

"Ashley. Are you done yet. Quickly enter."

"Loading. Loading." Ashley look at the name of the app he is loading, Mobile Legends Bang Bang.

-Seriously what is wrong with this naming. What does Bang Bang even suppose to mean.- He quietly wondered.

The game finish loading quickly and the theme song of the mobile legends start playing in the background. Ashley looks at the silver lion on his ranking game front page and sign.

"5 stars, I rank. Another 1 more stars to go." Ashley mumur.

He just started playing this game only 3 days ago out of boredom and have shot through the ranks ever since. At that point in time, the game doesn't pose much of an appeal to him. It was just too easy till it was painfully boring. The only reason he hang on was due to the gamer friend of his whom is really into the game, Yanrun. The same one who is inviting him to a rank game right now.

"Oi. Accept leh. Quick leh." Yanrun pester.

"K la. K la." Yanrun tap the accept button as he enter Yanrun lobby. Yanrun who got impatient waiting, start the game as soon as Ashley enter.

"What hero are you using later?" Yanrun offhandedly ask as he look at the timer that pop up in the middle of the screen.

"Not sure."

"Use Saber la. I always feel more secure when you are playing him." Yanrun persuade.

"See how la. We also not sure if anyone will play tank." Ashley ignore his friend suggestion as mobile legends match the pair with other players and got into the selection screen. Seeing the game start, yanrun focus himself as he prepare his mind for the battle.

The game gather 10 players and split them into 2 team of five as it pit them against one another. Once the player hits grandmaster and above, they will be force to engage in draft whereby the 2 teams are only allow to pick each hero once and could ban 2 heroes each. The players will get to pick their heroes in a two by two queueing format. While the choice of heroes to ban lands on the last two player to pick their hero in each team.

Since Ashley is a grandmaster rank, his battle starts with the banning phrase. Unexpectedly he is the last player within the team, so he get to pick last and could ban a hero.

Messages of the usual hero to ban pop out as a message box beside each player name once the banning phrase start. When it was Ashley's turn, he didn't give it much thoughts and just follow the crowd.

Once the banned hero have been decided, the two teams start picking their heroes. Yanrun is the first player of the team, so the 1st pick belong to him.

"Who do you think I should pick?" Yanrun ask as he scroll through the characters available to him.

Ashley look at all those pop up message with 'We need a tank' appearing and reply, "Kagura."

"Why?" Yanrun frown. "She got nerved in the previous patch."

"She is still usable though." Ashley shrug. "Beside the character design is beautiful."

Yanrun looks at Kagura on his screen as he ponder through his choices. "Hmm... Okay. Sure. Why not." Yanrun reply as he tap Kagura.

The selection continue as the player pick their characters one by one. Unsurprisingly no one choose tank in Yanrun team until it was Ashley turn to pick. By this point, all the team mates within the team are crazily writing 'We need a tank' message. Yanrun look at the messages in disgust.

"You notice all these bloody nubs always do things like this?"

"Not the first time." Ashley reply while looking through his hero list. Though there wasn't much option for him since he just start the game few days ago and most of the heroes are still lock.

"So you going tank?" Yanrun ask.

Staring at the only tank he have, Ashley crook his mouth. "Hmmm... Alright. Tigreal, here I come."

Once all the players pick their heroes, the game give the players several seconds to prepare the set list of items to buy and to set their special skill and emblems. Unlike the typical players, Ashley understood his playstyle. He search through the list of top chosen item set and pick one which prioritise speed and amour.

"I don't have much confidence in this. The opponent got a Kimmy." Yanrun frown.

"I am not too confident as well. Got a hunch the Markmans player is a nub. No choice. We will see how it goes later."

Yanrun nod.

Once the timer end, the game enter another loading screen which showcase the chosen heroes in each team and which player are using them. Ashley quietly shift in his seat as he admire the different portrait of the heroes. It didn't take long as the game finish loading and the battle officially begin. Ashley's Tigreal got spawn together with the rest of his teammate. Without even waiting, Ashley brought his boots and rush down the middle lane and hid in the bushes while waiting for the opponent. The opponent did not let him wait for long as Kimmy and Uranus arrive and linger around their defense tower spot. Ashley kept his patience as he wait slowly for the opponent to come nearer to his hiding spot. His team marksman Lesley soon join him along with his team soldier and the middle lane heroes start farming for gold. Seeing an opportunity, Ashley flicker Tigreal to the back of Kimmy and charge her dragging her together with him toward his team defense tower. Instead of attacking, his teammate Lesley who got a shock ran backward.

"Tsk." Ashley frustratedly sign. He knew that they wouldn't be able to get the kill immediately with marksman Lesley reaction. However he did not back off and instead press the attack on Kimmy. Kimmy on the otherhand did not seem faze by Tigreal and instead turn to attack him, she was join immediately by her tank, Uranus. Instead of being a target, Tigreal did not keep still and circle around Kimmy while maintaining his attack. Lesley noticing Tigreal not retreating, join the battle. Ashley wasn't hoping for much. Once his life drops below 50%, he start retreating. Lesley did not hang around either and she retreat at the same time. Kimmy and Uranus gave chase till Tigreal reach his defense tower before giving up.

Upon ensuring he is safe, Tigreal start his teleportation back to base to heal. A message from Lesley pop up, 'Play safe, Farm first.'

"Useless." Ashley angrily cursed. Feeling frustrated, Tigreal did not return to the middle lane once he heal up, instead he join his friend, Kagura at the bottom lane secretly by moving forward through bushy areas.

"Get ready, we will aim for that alucard." Ashley say determinedly.

"Okay. I will engage once you initiate."

"Okay. Wait." Ashley mention while moving Tigreal to the edge of the bushes and wait patiently just like an assassin. It was actually easier for Tigreal to charge the opponent into their defense tower attack range at the bottom lane as the hiding spot is nearer.

The unaware Alucard continue pushing in with Harley by his side and his soldiers at the front maintaining the pressure on Kagura. Just when the opponent enter the tower range, a sword wave came from the bushes slowing them down. The next thing they saw was a dashing Tigreal heading their way. Sensing something amiss, Alucard immediately sweep away from Tigreal tower range while Harley perform his magic trick and teleport backward. Linking with Tigreal, Kagura spin her umbrella and activate Ying Yang overturn further slowing the already slowed Harley and Alucard. The focused Ashley swiftly position himself behind both Harley and Alucard and start his scared hammer charge, pushing both of them back into his tower range. The excited Kagura activate semei umbrella open further reducing the opponent life. Tigreal stick on to the panic Alucard like a leech and start chopping. Harley realizing his teammate in trouble ran toward Tigreal and threw his poker cards to try and harass Tigreal away. The stubborn Tigreal instead become more furious with Harley retaliation and start spamming his skills. Once Alucard life drop to a dangerous level, Tigreal turn his greedy eyes to Harley and leave Alucard to Kagura. Despite fighting within the opponent tower range, Harley did not retreat and instead turn more bloody thirsty as he notice Tigreal life drop below 30%. Tigreal refuse to engage Harley and instead kite Harley around his tower. In his anger, Harley activate his magic trick, space escape, and pull himself closer to Tigreal. The quick reaction Ashley immediately charge Harley who suddenly appear and push him deeper into their team territory. At this point, Kagura end Alucard life before returning to aid Tigreal.

With the death of Alucard, the game announce loudly to Harley and his teammate. 'Your teammate have been killed.'

Harley panic at this moment. He knew he needs to back off despite the low chance of escape. Smiling, Ashley close the distance with Harley who is busy escaping further decreasing Harley life. Kagura soon join the fray.

Sensing the hopelessness of the situation, Harley seem to give up at the last seconds as he stood there without moving giving Kagura an easy kill.

'DOUBLE KILL.' The system loudly announce Kagura achievements.

Yanrun laugh, yet before he could celebrate, Ashley commend.

"Back now. Kimmy!"

Hearing Ashley warning, Kagura back off to the bushes and start her teleportation. Luckily Ashley warning came quick and she managed to escape with the kills and her life.