Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 256

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Archer’s Streaming Season 1 Episode 256
90. The Only Pick (2)
After the blind pick phase ended.
The broadcast team was consumed with discussing both teams’ selections.
With all ten picks determined at once, there simply wasn’t time to go through each one individually.
They had to focus on only the most important picks.
And one of them was undoubtedly Reina.
“Whoa! Reina came out!?”
“Ah! We actually all expected Windslash!? But Reina!? What do you make of it, Analyst?”
The Analyst examined both teams’ picks for a moment before speaking.
“Well, it’s really too difficult to predict anything during the blind pick phase. We have to judge based on results.”
“Ah~ that’s true! Blind picks are really hard to predict! Honestly, there’s a lot of luck involved!”
“Looking at it in hindsight… Danmuji’s pick is Storm Ninja. It’s really fortunate that he didn’t pick Windslash.”
That’s when King Gul chimed in.
“Exactly! No matter how well Almond plays Windslash, if Danmuji brings Storm Ninja, it’s really tough! Even against Windslash earlier, he struggled in the early game, right!?”
Storm Ninja is the classic hard counter to Windslash.
Mechanically, he gains the advantage in combat far too often.
“But! I actually think Godanbaek’s picks were a bit better!”
King Gul seems to have something he wants to say.
“Oh really? Why?”
“First of all, mid lane Reina! Of course Almond’s Reina is incredible. But in mid lane… I’m not so sure!?”
The Analyst nods in agreement.
No matter how well someone plays Reina, Reina is fundamentally an ADC. Her basic role is to excel in the bottom lane with a Supporter.
When you deviate from that fundamental role, you naturally create disadvantages in game management.
“Like all ADCs, there’s not much she can do alone. But mid lane is all about doing things solo! Turning the game around! That’s the kind of lane it is!”
“Exactly! Play making!”
“Yes. I’m not sure if Reina can do that. But what’s exciting is that Almond is known for the bow! And it’s appearing for the first time now! It’s been banned continuously!”
“Ah~ that’s right! It’s hard to say Ran really uses the bow, isn’t it?”
“Yes! You really need Reina, Sana, or Frost Archer to call it a true bow! Frost Archer’s performance is impossible for mid lane, so she didn’t appear. Sana and Reina were continuously banned!”
“That’s right~ we’re looking forward to Almond’s first ‘bow’ in the finals, and there’s another Avatar we’re anticipating, right?”
King Gul points to Godanbaek’s top lane.
“Valkyrie! She finally appeared!”
“Ah~! That’s right! That’s normally a really hard pick to see!”
-Boooooo…
-Ugh. Disgusting.
-Revolting!
As Valkyrie was announced, the audience erupted in boos.
The chat reactions were similar.
-They’re bringing out that filthy Avatar
-When are they going to nerf her smh
-So it finally showed up lolol
“Look at that reaction, everyone! The praise is pouring in!”
“It just goes to show that Valkyrie is the overpowered incarnation we all recognize!”
“Yes! Exactly. Meanwhile, Balloon Stars had no choice but to bring out Ironball due to skill level concerns with Balloon Gum.”
“Ah….”
A sigh escaped involuntarily.
Compared to Valkyrie, Ironball’s performance was truly underwhelming.
However, Relic isn’t a game decided solely by incarnation performance.
Masters create variables you never see coming.
“Of course! Since Balloon Gum is also a master of Ironball! He might just pull something off!”
“Right! He always shows us something when the moment comes!”
-Is he a marble or what lolol
-That’s a marble too though
-Gum still delivers when it counts.
-Gum! Gum! Gum!
“While we were speaking! The waiting time has ended!”
“The moment we’ve been waiting for! Set 5! Let’s watch together!”

* * *
Set 5 began.
Whoosh.
Five Contractors materialized in the Sanctuary.
No matter how skilled a player was, the tension hanging over this final set was unavoidable.
‘…It’s quiet.’
Summoned into the Sanctuary, I noticed my usually talkative colleagues had become noticeably silent.
Even the spectators were quiet.
I didn’t mind much. Blocking external factors from affecting my inner state was already a technique I’d mastered.
Creak.
I focused on pulling my bow, Damian, back and forth to reawaken the familiar sensation.
‘Good.’
Satisfied with the feel.
I immediately bought items and rushed to mid.
As always, I analyzed the enemy’s mid pick.
‘Storm Ninja….’
Storm Ninja is strong in the early game.
However, in a level 1 fight, it can’t compare to Reina.
At level 1, Storm Ninja only has Chakra Control and the passive Ninja’s Instinct.
Unless the opponent is at Silver level, they won’t die to just these two.
In other words, Reina has the advantage.
More precisely, only at level 1.
At levels 2 and 3, Reina falls behind again, but once the level 4 timing arrives, she regains the advantage.
However, I had no intention of waiting passively until level 4.
〔Hmm. My opponent is… Haruky. His early pressure looks formidable.〕
Reina seemed to share similar thoughts.
‘That’s what I’m thinking.’

* * *
“Man, if it goes to set five, it’s really something. That’s a total slugfest, right? I’ve gone to set five in the finals against Jeon-ja-pa before!”
As the players moved to their positions, King Gul was enthusiastically recounting his match stories.
-Info) King Gul lost in the finals after taking five consecutive flash sword hits from Jeon-ja-pa. That was the year Jeon-ja-pa made his debut.
-Info) It wasn’t King Gul who made it to set five—it was Lime, who was mid back then, who played well.
“When you get there, there’s really nothing left! No tactics, no strategies! You’ve already used everything!”
“Exactly! Nobody plans their tactics with the assumption that finals will go to set five! Of course you use everything before that!”
“Right! From here on, it’s what martial arts novels call innate true energy, you know? You fight with that! So when set five comes, even Jeon-ja-pa just lets minions slip through!”
“Wait, isn’t that something you’re not supposed to use!?”
“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t go to set five!”
-Info) Using innate true energy drains your life force
What are you talking about? lol
-???: If he played well, he wouldn’t have gone to set five!
Congenital true energy lol
“In short, it’s a battle of willpower. Like Korean soccer.”
In the midst of all this, another critical hit lol
-There’s beauty in long-ball soccer! King Gul, you bastard!
-???: Why does our country always fight with willpower? Do we not have stamina to begin with!?
-Baseball doesn’t even have willpower!
Hahaha, that’s hilarious!
-Our country’s soccer is good now though… damn it…
“Ah, don’t misunderstand! I’m not saying anything negative. I mean we have that much willpower… wait!?”
King Gul’s expression suddenly turned serious as he stopped laughing and talking.
“Wait, hold on?”
His eyes were fixed on the mid lane.
“Is that… déjà vu?”
“What is!?”
The Caster hurriedly turned his gaze to the mid lane.
“That! Isn’t that what we saw in set one!? Except the teams are switched around!”
-??
That nut shop’s ending is hilarious lol
Hahaha, that’s hilarious!
-Is this like that symmetrical composition thing?
In the middle of the mid lane.
Almond sat in a cross-legged meditation pose, eyes closed.
This was the strategy (?) that Danmuji had used in the first set. He was implementing it exactly the same way in the fifth set.
“This is clearly a provocation!? Come out and try me!”
“Wow! This is already fun from the start!”
-His acting is terrible though lol
-Anyone can see he’s totally aware of what’s in front lol
-So cute lol
-For someone playing dumb, isn’t he concentrating way too hard?
“Ah, of course! Anyone can see! This isn’t carelessness right now?”
“Yes! That’s why it seems even more infuriating. Like, you’re provoking me with such pathetic acting!? Danmuji might actually get upset!”
Was there really merit to what he was saying?
Danmuji pretended otherwise, but kept glancing toward Almond.
-Looks like he’s about to charge lol
-Why is Danmuji actually mad lol
-This nut has a talent for getting people riled up
-The VNS stat was actually an aggro stat lol
Danmuji’s footsteps were gradually moving toward Almond.
“Ah? Danmuji! You’re moving closer?”
“But look around!”
“…?”
-Wow lol
-Cowardice on top of cowardice
-The flying one beats the running one lol
-They’re doing this at level one??
“No wait. Daechou! Why are you in mid lane?”
“It’s a kind of early invade!?”
An invade.
An action where you rush into enemy territory at level one to secure a kill and gain an advantage. Usually it’s done toward the jungle side.
But now it’s a ‘simplified’ invade with the Supporter mobilized toward the mid lane.
-This pro player lol mid invade against a streamer!?
-This is straight up unfair
-Wow this looks like it’ll work???
“Even if Taco is a prophet octopus, he couldn’t predict this, right?”
“I don’t think anyone would expect the Supporter to go mid from level one just to take out Almond!?”
“Almond doesn’t seem to know anything about it!”
The casters were almost entirely correct.
There was only one thing wrong.
“Danmuji is charging!”
“Daechou bursts from the brush! A stun!?”
Almond didn’t not know there were more enemies—he simply didn’t care if they emerged.
My eyes snap open wide.
Whoosh!
My blue cloak billows dramatically.
“I dodged it!”
The enemy Supporter’s binding projectile passes cleanly by.
And my bowstring draws taut, aimed directly at her.
Twang…!
“You’re calling this a fight!?”
Azure arrows pour forth in an instant.
Boom!
[3 Combo!]
The speed was absolutely breathtaking.
-What, what is this?
-What even is this
-Why does it seem even faster;
[Mana Burst]
Whoosh!
Blue flames erupt across the Supporter’s body.
Meanwhile, the ninja rushes in.
“Danmuji! I’m engaging!”
Thud!
The Storm Ninja’s dagger that rushes in pierces my abdomen.
Simultaneously, the blade slashes across my shoulder.
Crash!
[Reckless Warrior]
[Health 62%]
Significant damage, but I judge it won’t affect the overall situation. I don’t hesitate—instead, I extend my leg toward my opponent and swap positions.
Tap!
Our positions reverse.
Due to the inertia from Chakra acceleration, the Storm Ninja overshoots Reina by a considerable distance.
“Positions switched! What kind of movement is that!?”
Danmuji immediately switches to adhesive Chakra to control the inertia, but—
Screech!
His feet slide further as if brakes have been applied.
I’m already drawing my bowstring with fluid, natural grace.
My arrows never miss.
Boom!
Four targets vanish in an instant.
[7 Combo!]
Whoosh!
[Mana Burst]
Blue flames coil around Danmuji’s body.
[Danmuji]
[Health 54%]
“Seven combos already!”
“Seven combos at level one—that’s absolutely nightmarish damage!”
Even when striking different avatars, the combo counter accumulates as long as the target doesn’t dodge.
The more combos stack, the higher Reina’s arrow damage and Mana Burst damage climb. Theoretically, there isn’t a single avatar that can survive within 24 combos.
“Daechou charges in again!”
The Supporter rushed in to follow up.
It was a mistake.
Almond responded as if he’d been waiting, drawing his bowstring taut.
Twang!
[12 Combos!]
He served only as a combo generator.
“W-what!? H-he’s dead!?”
King Gul’s raspy voice confirmed it.
The Supporter died in the exact same charging posture.
[First Blood!]
[Reckless Warrior → Daechou]
-Uaaaaaaaa!
The roar erupted from the crowd.
Almond’s Reina was overwhelmingly swift and precise. Far more so than what had been shown before.
“What is this! Why has he gotten even better!?”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
Almond’s bow, now more formidable than ever, was already targeting Danmuji.
Danmuji was already charging toward Almond.
‘Just dodge once.’
His calculation was simple—if he could evade Almond’s arrow just once, he’d win.
Then the combo would break.
Whoosh—
The arrow flew toward him.
Danmuji pulled his concentration to its maximum, ready to deflect it with his blade.
—Clang!
The arrow shattered against the flat of his sword, ricocheting away.
‘Done….’
[Mana Burst]
Whoosh!
Blue flames consumed his vision.
‘What?’
When I came to my senses, all the projectiles on my body had burst.
The arrow I had deflected was merely the last one to arrive.
Boom…!
A heavy impact struck me belatedly.
[16 Combo!]
The sheer power of an arrow stacked with 16 combos.
In the time it took me to deflect a single arrow, four more had already been fired ahead.
[Reckless Warrior Double Kill!]
[Reckless Warrior → Danmuji]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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