Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 816
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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 3 Episode 286
93. 200 vs 200 (2)
Everyone who knew anything about the game had the same reaction to Mongolia’s grasslands.
It was what people commonly called a “skill map.”
[Skill map appears OMG]
The Mongolian steppe is [censored] lol lol lol
“Ah… if only one more map similar to the mountain map would come up ㅠ”
Everyone believed Joseon was at a disadvantage.
And everyone’s solution to this was remarkably similar.
[Gotta rush for sure?]
[Just go Age 2 rush]
[Let’s go with fast archer rush~]
When skill or overall weight class falls short, you must always employ a strategy that is unconventional and strikes at the opponent’s weakness.
Fast Archer Rush was originally one such strategy.
That’s why everyone was expecting an Archer Rush.
Above all, Archer efficiency was quite good on grassland terrain.
From Age 2 onward, Joseon, empowered by the “Focus” faction, would have an absolute advantage in grassland combat.
Of course, there were those who said this.
[Would China not know that?]
Because the tactic was so favorable, China would know about it too.
In other words, attempting it would only result in it being blocked and losses incurred.
-They’d have to make it work even if they know
-Did Hong Jinho not know?
hahahahahahahaha
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ (laughing/lol)
You’re… lol
-Can’t they just go with containment like before?
-But there’s no other good option;
-So are they supposed to split the map with China?
Even if you know about it, you have to make it work.
If that’s the case, isn’t it no longer really a strategy that strikes at weakness?
However, few actually harbored such doubts.
From the Community Users’ perspective, they simply couldn’t think of any other alternative.
Facing China on the grasslands was that difficult of a task.
On this map, there were almost no elements for the weaker team to reverse the situation against the stronger team.
With no one finding any particular solution, the match time continued to flow.
* * *
The Commentators’ voices were noticeably more composed than during the first match.
“Well, both sides are proceeding smoothly for now, right? They’re dividing into groups of five to begin reconnaissance….”
First, since Joseon had already won the first match, there wasn’t much anxiety.
“The way Joseon is moving right now… it doesn’t seem like they’re preparing something for the second era, does it?”
Second, Joseon, who should have been playing aggressively, was coming out surprisingly defensive instead.
In short, the game was already starting to look grim.
‘What’s this?’
As King Gul, I couldn’t understand it.
Mongolia’s grasslands?
On a map like this, a team like Joseon had to push forward aggressively in the early game, whether it worked or not.
Pushing forward was certain; the question was how to push forward.
That was what made Joseon’s playstyle distinctive this year.
But Cookie was attempting a very orthodox positioning.
It didn’t seem like he was trying to reach the second era that quickly.
Rather than rushing to the second era, his intention to build a solid foundation in the first era was abundantly clear.
Since it was a grassland map, it wouldn’t be an extreme triple rush like before, but he was clearly considering at least a double.
It seemed he was completely ruling out China’s early aggression.
On a grassland map, once they start running, they arrive quickly anyway.
In fact, hardly any civilization thought China would attempt early aggression.
So what’s really strange here is actually China’s side.
“Uh, reconnaissance hasn’t even come through yet, but it’s as if both sides know each other’s playstyles… they’re playing like they coordinated everything!?”
China also seemed to be playing with complete certainty that Joseon wouldn’t come early.
“China usually expands territory by gradually adding defensive troops or buildings, but right now there’s noticeably fewer of them, right?”
China was constructing only the bare minimum defense.
If Joseon came to harass them, the structures could barely buy time.
“No, how do they know this?”
As King Gul, I was puzzled.
“Reconnaissance hasn’t even been established yet, right?”
China’s scouts were only now beginning to grasp Joseon’s situation, and the same went for Joseon.
Looking purely at the in-game play, they shouldn’t have any shared information.
Yet both of them rushed to the third era as if they’d coordinated it.
“Is there something like an unspoken understanding between them!?”
“Could this be that thing from Romance of the Three Kingdoms where heroes recognize heroes!? Experts understand each other!”
Haha
-Heroes recognize heroes.
hahaha I’ll never know
-real recognize real
-This is hip-hop.
“But heroes recognizing heroes is all well and good! But if it’s like this, only China would be the hero!?”
hahahahahaha
-Big ears as always…
So in the end, only Liu Bei becomes a hero and everyone else dies, huh? lol
Oh! Haha!
It was just a matter of words—their hearts aligned. But this setup was exactly the flow China loved most. Both civilizations advancing straight into the third era without any interference. This was the kind of progression late-game powerhouses preferred.
King Gul finally spoke as if remembering something.
“China has had cases like this before!”
China had often demonstrated movements as if they’d already grasped their opponent’s intentions beforehand.
“They’d uncannily read what the other side was trying to do and respond with perfect accuracy without even scouting!?”
“Ah! That’s right!?”
This was largely due to the think tank Gongmyeong. He typically focused on strategy during preparation, but once the game began, he poured all his effort into reading the enemy commander’s psychology.
Commanders bore great responsibility and were easily exposed to excitement, often moving emotionally rather than rationally. Gongmyeong had adopted a strategy that delved deeply into their psychological patterns.
His accuracy rate was surprisingly high, and today it had proven correct once again.
They’d identified that Joseon wanted a straightforward, orthodox third-era confrontation.
And indeed, Joseon had prepared no schemes during the first and second eras, advancing toward a direct showdown in the third era.
“Joseon! Are you really just going straight ahead without doing anything else!?”
If Joseon made any move now, they might actually shake China.
Of course, this was merely the commentators’ perspective—in reality, Joseon made no movement.
* * *
Time passed.
Joseon reached the third era, and most of China’s civilizations except Jin and Ming had been unlocked.
“Now, some time has passed! Both sides have secured their multiples to a certain degree! It looks like we’re heading into almost a half-map battle situation!?”
“There was almost no combat until now! This kind of match doesn’t come easily from Joseon!”
“Now Joseon! The weapons are almost fully distributed! The troops are moving! First, the Cavalry Archer Unit! Heading to the central plains! There are large gold mines here!?”
They’d reached the mid-third era without sustaining significant losses on either side.
The barren steppe map was now densely packed with buildings in many places, while only the central area remained empty due to intense mutual pressure.
Whoever controlled this central region first would win.
I’m so anxious ㅠㅠ
-Can they actually win this?
-Feels like one decisive blow and it’s over??
Fortifications were scattered everywhere except the central gold vein region.
There was barely any more territory left to claim.
The forces from both sides gradually converged, encircling the center.
“Troops are gathering!? Finally, a proper battle!?”
“Yes! The moment has come! And surprisingly, Joseon’s resource situation isn’t that bad!?”
“That’s right!? They could’ve been far behind China! But it’s similar!”
“The troop count is 200 versus 200, exactly equal!”
Maintaining sufficient distance from each other, 200 troops from each side—400 total—converged.
Between them lay a wide, empty gap.
Untamed deer bounded through the meadows, and grass swayed in the wild wind—a scene of perfect tranquility.
Yet this place was far from empty.
It was anything but peaceful.
Those who understood the game could see it.
“Even though it looks like they’re not fighting right now! An incredibly fierce battle of positioning is unfolding!?”
The bloodstained war happening there.
Right now, high above, in the eyes of the two Commanders, this empty field was already a battlefield. A massive, brutal chessboard.
They were playing chess without seeing each other’s pieces. That’s why both Commanders’ eyes moved busier than ever.
Before the pieces even moved forward, one side had to win this chess match before anyone could make a decisive move.
“They haven’t even clashed yet! And already they’re exchanging something!?”
“Exactly! They’re confirming each other’s formations and responding to them, then responding to those responses! This process keeps repeating!?”
First, Joseon.
At the very forefront of Joseon’s formation, a Cavalry Archer Unit charged forward with their robes billowing.
Archers lined the rear, while Heavy Cavalry units were positioned on both flanks to counter cavalry ambushes.
This formation was not one where Joseon would charge first. The intention was to let China advance and claim the central plains, then move out to contain them before striking deep.
“So Joseon is currently giving China the initiative and will attack later? Or when China comes out, will they strike before China is fully prepared? Either way, just come out! That’s the formation strategy right now, isn’t it?”
“Ah… I see!? But then, are they definitely going to have a direct confrontation in this central plains?”
“It looks that way!? But Joseon should be avoiding a full-scale battle! Joseon’s strength lies in feints, ambushes, and traps!?”
Just as King Gul said, Joseon’s current strategy didn’t feel entirely normal.
Youbi’s mind grew complicated as well.
He understood that Joseon was betting everything on a three-era victory.
‘But will they really commit to a full-scale battle?’
He couldn’t know for certain whether Youbi would insist on a direct confrontation.
The concept of “orthodoxy” for the Joseon civilization remained vague beyond the idea of betting on a three-era victory, so he couldn’t be certain.
That’s why Youbi’s eyes had never turned toward the battlefield as frequently as they did now.
China was a civilization that required careful attention to production. Every customs house had to be controlled individually. Yet Youbi’s eyes remained fixed on the battlefield.
It couldn’t be helped. He had to observe and judge every single movement of the enemy, every formation shape—nothing could be overlooked.
Whiiiing…!
Joseon’s horses neighed as they took their positions one by one.
Those arrayed at the very front of the formation were the Mounted Archers.
‘The Mounted Archers at the front….’
Among them, Almond, who stood at the very vanguard, glanced to the side.
He was waiting for Coffee’s signal.
The moment Coffee gave the signal, the Cavalry Archer Unit would charge.
In response, China deployed the iron-clad cavalry of the Liao Dynasty as their vanguard.
The Liao Dynasty was a nation founded by the Khitans, another powerful nomadic people, and was a nation where cavalry units clad in full armor from head to toe—like medieval European knights—were exceptionally strong.
Like European knights, these warriors were highly resistant to arrows. So when they clashed with Mounted Archers, they would win nine times out of ten.
Moreover, the formation with these units at the vanguard carried the intention of advancing aggressively and seizing a dominant position.
“Right now, both sides’ tactical details are completely opposite!?”
“Ah, is that so!?”
“Yes! China has ranged units in the back and melee units in the front! But Joseon has Mounted Archers leading the charge, and behind them is a separate Cavalry Charge unit!”
“Is that so!? If the Mounted Archers are in front, doesn’t that put them at a disadvantage!?”
“They’re using different formations right now! The Mounted Archers won’t just crash head-on!? They’re waiting for the right moment! If China advances first, that’s when they’ll break their formation! But now it’s changing again….”
-A battle of wits….
-Ugh, my head hurts
-How many times are they changing formations right now
-This is the semifinals, the tension is insane
-A plains battle but honestly feels like the first time seeing this
-Joseon is finally fighting fair and square lol
“Even if it seems like they’re changing too much, in large-scale open field battles like this, formation is absolutely critical!? Right now both sides have 200 versus 200 units, don’t they!?”
“That’s right! One wrong collision and it’s just over!? Game over!”
200 versus 200.
The fiercest battle possible in Civil M.
A bloodstained battlefield where 400 total combatants clash will soon erupt across this central plain.
“At this level, battles don’t just break out easily! Both sides have too much to lose! This isn’t like those early eras, full of youthful barbarism!?”
-Not romance, barbarism lol
-Youth lol
-Haha lol
-When you’re older you have more to lose haha
-Lol
“Yes! Both sides need to have aligned interests, or they won’t collide directly!?”
“Right. ‘You come at me!’ No, ‘You come!’ ‘I’m advancing!’ ‘I’m backing off?’ They keep missing each other like this! Right now the battle of wits is incredibly intense! ‘You come at me!’ ‘Okay, I’m coming!’ That’s what needs to happen!? Even if both sides are bluffing, as long as their lies align, they’ll collide!”
So it was that only the sound of a falcon circling overhead echoed across the sky.
Neither side made a move toward the central plain first.
Meanwhile, China’s Heavy Cavalry made a major shift, moving from the vanguard to both flanks.
“So now China’s formation is changing again… wait!?”
The commentators thought this was just another formation adjustment─
“──China is advancing first!?”
The Cavalry split into two columns, while the Soldiers behind them surged forward through the center.
China had begun its advance toward the central plain.
Boom! Boom!
In rhythm with the Soldiers’ tempo, the 200-strong army moved in unified formation.
“Waaaahhhhh…!”
The roar of the audience erupted.
There was no turning back from here.
Fire ignited in both commanders’ eyes.
‘This is it.’
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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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