Episode 195
Seojun’s experience in a past life entirely different from the world he’s in now. So, that memory.
Even within that world, it was a special experience.
If it were ordinary, not even ten lifetimes would have allowed him to go through a tenth of what Seojun experienced.
Unless martial artists are blessed with the heaven-sent fortune to encounter some extraordinary opportunity, it’s the same for them.
The higher one is born, the greater one’s talent, the world refuses to leave one be.
It’s not all good, but inevitably one encounters more, absorbs more, and one’s perspective broadens.
Therefore.
It was clear that Seojun possessed a transcendent intuition.
* * *
The teams that came out to Rios already had their opponents decided.
Because the Group Zero winners had long since determined the groups, and the group stage was ending today.
Two matches.
So while there might be the question of who to fight first, there was no question about who they would fight.
Naturally, the most preparation over the past ten days had been for this group stage.
Group B, which for some reason hadn’t faced Seojun, seemed to pay more attention to the later brackets, but that was because of Team Leader Kim Taewoo’s team, Jipaljikkon, assumed to be the clear losers.
Since only one team would drop anyway and there was a team that looked like an obvious weak link.
But Group A could say it definitively. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they poured everything into the group stage over the past ten days.
Their situation was different from Group B’s.
Strong team, strong team, strong team.
Not that any team wasn’t strong, but to avoid an instant elimination, they had to stake everything on each match.
Perhaps even at the cost of giving up the next opportunity.
That’s why, on the first day of practice, this conversation took place in a private room.
“I think we should focus on advancing first. Do you agree?”
“Yes, Spoon-nim.”
“Sounds about right.”
Without thinking about what comes after, they decided if there was a method, they’d go for it.
Of course, that day they couldn’t think of anything else because of the shocking news they heard after the broadcast started.
“What? Why is our team the only one without a pro player…?”
“…….”
“This is a bit….”
“Is everyone crazy? No, how did they manage to recruit them?”
Their team leader Gongbeolrae took off his trademark round glasses and wiped them, even though it was a virtual environment.
He must have been that flustered.
“Public opinion is exploding!”
“The fans are up in arms!”
“What do you expect me to do….”
“But we’re up in arms too, Team Leader!”
“Give us a pro! A pro for Hanipman!”
Even as they said that, they hurriedly contacted every pro team they had a connection to.
* * *
“Hello.”
“Hello!”
Fortunately, Korean society is a collective society.
So when many others do something, the bar tends to lower.
The news that five pro players from five teams were participating spread instantly, and thanks to that, they managed to get one within a day.
“I’m a pro player, Pebble.”
“Whoa!”
“You’re a ranged dealer like Spoon-nim.”
“Perfect. We can really go all-in on the ranged dealer strategy.”
It was great news.
On the first day’s broadcast, they got to know each other first, then after turning off the broadcast, they seriously asked for help with strategy and such.
“Hmm… First, let me analyze the opposing teams and get back to you. Do you have any data gathered that might help?”
“Of course!”
Pebble gave them his email and after receiving the files, said he’d see them tomorrow.
And the next day.
“Hmm…”
“?”
“I’m curious, is it very difficult to advance past the group stage with just one win and one loss?”
“Pro-nim… What are you saying….”
“No matter how I look at it, we can’t beat that person, right? Hahaha. No, why isn’t he playing in the pros?”
-Euk lololol
-Pro, what are you talking about
-Yeah, from the moment he beat Taker, the whole ‘pros are different’ thing stopped working
-Honestly, just objectively, he played insanely well. They tried to downplay him with ‘I don’t know, I’m right anyway,’ but in the end, it’s clear that guy is pro-level
“If it’s one win, one loss, then either the other team, Bull Rain, gets two losses, or all three go one win and one loss. It’s not impossible.”
But giving up on a game is out of the question.
Rain’s side might find a way to deal with that person. Or the disaster of them losing to Bull might occur.
Fortunately, there was a way.
A pro is a pro.
“Well, if we absolutely must win at least once, there seems to be a method.”
“Oh?”
“That’s exactly what we wanted!”
“We trust you!”
After the broadcast ended that day, Pebble told the team the strategy.
“I think we’ll have to let Eric shine. Then after that…”
And from that day on, Spoon began special training.
* * *
[Now! The matchups are all set! The last game is Heavy Mental versus Jipaljikkon! Shall we head straight into game one?]
“Let’s go.”
“They got in early and are saying to accept the invite.”
“Alright. Streaming’s off now.”
Focus mode.
Seojun adjusted his settings so he couldn’t see the chat window or broadcast-related things (precisely so a streamer couldn’t do any other broadcast play), and launched the league.
About a minute after entering the league, the invite came.
They’d chat with teammates on voice and with the opposing team, and then it would start.
[Hiya.]
[Let’s all have fun.]
[It won’t be easy. We’re a strong team too, after all.]
Conversation flowed.
There’s no spectating delay, so it would start as soon as the casters were ready.
[Haha. It’s scary not knowing what exactly you’ve prepared.]
When Gongbeolrae said something weak, Ha Yunho replied.
[Well, it looked like you prepared hard. I hope it works out. Our ace has a bit of a devilish side.]
[Tell me about it. Oh? It’s start…]
Cutting off their words, the game began.
Of course, there was a warning. It counted down that the game would start in five seconds.
Everyone muted.
In case any strategies they’d use in the next game might be exposed during ban/pick.
“It’s starting. Huh. Deep breath.”
Not only Wind Sword, who was in his first tournament, but everyone seemed tense.
“So we have to come up with a strategy from now on, right?”
“Aagh! We should have at least gathered to discuss since yesterday.”
Seojun calmed them down.
“It’s okay. We all know what to ban. Just ban reasonably and push through with force.”
They are the red team.
So the enemy bans first.
[Banned Hero – Kael, Emissary of Radiance]
“Oh? Kael ban?”
“They’re not banning Eric. If it were me, I would’ve instantly banned Eric right from the start.”
Here, Seojun’s intuition spoke strongly once more. The enemy would leave Eric open.
“Hmm…”
“Then what should we ban? First, Spoon-nim’s one-trick, the Sniper?”
One of Spoon’s one-trick heroes, the Sniper, has a very long range.
But from Ha Yunho’s perspective, that hero is both good to take and good to face.
Because of the characteristic of long-range heroes being weak in the early game, if the enemy takes it, they can survive the early game more comfortably.
If he takes it, it’s also advantageous for enduring with the long range.
That much made sense, but seeing Wind Sword ask that, he really must be very tense.
Just as Ha Yunho chuckled and was about to offer another option, Seojun spoke.
“Yes, ban it.”
“Huh? Seojun-nim?”
Ha Yunho’s pupils shook violently. Like a sailor meeting a rough storm.
“Surely you’re not doing Spartan education here too… Tormenting us even in real matches is a bit much! We need to win this!!”
Regardless, the tense Wind Sword, upon hearing Seojun’s voice, immediately banned the Sniper.
“No!”
“It’s alright. The enemy probably won’t ban Eric.”
While this wasn’t the only thing they prepared, Seojun felt a refreshing sensation at having thrown the enemy’s plan off from the very first step.
“What? What do you mean?”
[Banned Hero – Jen of the Shadow Arts]
“Just watch. And Wind Sword-nim? Please ban the Soul Redeemer, which gives the second-longest range.”
“Got it.”
None of the other team members really knew what was going on, but they trusted him for now.
Seojun quietly waited for the enemy’s last ban.
Compared to before, when they banned without hesitation in one second, this was taking a long time.
Right.
They must be confused.
5 seconds passed. 25 seconds left.
Seojun immediately started explaining.
“Everyone. The enemy probably won’t ban Eric.”
“Ah, really?”
“Yes. And they probably intended to immediately take the Sniper. Because a long range is somewhat convenient for dealing with Eric.”
Range is likely a secondary thing.
There must be some other scheme they prepared. Like a way to dodge.
But anyway, it’s hard to deny that a long range is convenient for dealing with Eric.
“But if the enemy is aiming for Eric, couldn’t Seojun-nim just not play Eric?”
“How can I resist when they don’t ban it?”
“Well, true.”
“So I’ll go as the ranged dealer.”
“What?”
“Yunho-nim, you go top. Wind Sword-nim, since it’s your first tournament, it’d be better if you go mid with what you’re best at.”
“But what if all this is just Seojun-nim’s delusion?”
10 seconds.
Somehow, another 15 seconds had passed.
The enemy still couldn’t seem to decide.
He could picture the shadowy figures on the other side chattering away.
5 seconds.
“Is it a delusion?”
“I’m fine with it!”
Ha Yunho smiles with satisfaction. Anything is better than facing Spoon.
3 seconds.
2 seconds.
1 second.
[Banned Hero – Id, the Derelict Automaton]
“What did I tell you?”
“Is there any chance the enemy wants to play Eric and will take him?”
Alpaca asked seriously in return.
“None. It’s our turn to ban. Again, ban a long-range hero.”
Seojun smiled. He wanted to see the viewers’ reaction.
He seemed a little excited too.
The enemy had come at him head-on.
And at the following hero selection by the enemy team, they simultaneously let out exclamations.
[FrustratedUpperBody – Luke of the Twin Pistols]
“They’re completely telling you to play Eric.”
He really wanted to see the chat window now.
* * *
-Crazy lolololololololololol
-You’re not banning this? You’re not banning this? You’re not banning this?
-Spoon! Snap out of it! Spoon!
-No but lolololol you’re even picking Luke? This is legendary
-Host, pick Eric, this is it
-Still, too bad they’re not laning against each other
-A magnificent determination to grow in bot lane and then meet Eric to overcome PTSD!
-Luke is a bit garbage but he’s good once he grows and upgrades his skills
-Ranged dealer special
[Sword God – Eric the Escapee]
-Yeahhh!
-He’s taking the bait
-Let’s go carve a double layer of PTSD!
That’s right. Even just looking at it superficially, what happened last time won’t repeat.
But.
Once the selections were done, everyone fell into confusion.
-Huh??? Where’s that ranged dealer on Gap Between Rich and Poor?
-What’s this? Pick mistake?
-No way? lololol Is there even a hero that can ranged deal here? There is lolololol
-Eric?
-No lolololol He’s going to find him directly lolololol Still, he has a support so probably won’t get wrecked like last time. Anyway, cheer up Spoon! lolololololol
* * *
Seojun faced Spoon, who had chosen Luke, right in front of him.
Neither of them, no, neither the two nor their supports even cared about invades.
“Hahaha. I thought, no way, but I didn’t think you’d really come to bot lane. This is a bit frightening.”
Though he said that, he didn’t show any particular sign of tension or fear.
“I’m more surprised you left Eric open.”
Seojun shrugged his shoulders.
“Really? Then the Chains of Destruction. Try coming in, please.”
Spoon took one step into his range.
Seojun’s face, as he looked at that, was smiling in delight.