Master Swordsman’s Stream - Chapter 195
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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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Chapter 195
The experiences Seo Jun had undergone in his past life—a world entirely different from this one—were, in that world too, exceptional.
Had his life been ordinary, he could not have encountered even a tenth of what he had lived through, even if he died and was reborn ten times over.
The same held true even for martial artists; unless they were blessed with the fortune to gain some remarkable opportunity, they would never approach such a breadth of experience.
The higher one’s birth, the greater one’s talent—the world does not leave such people untouched.
Though not always for the better, it is inevitable that they encounter much, absorb far more, and their perspective grows.
And because of this.
Seo Jun possessed an almost transcendent intuition—of that there could be no doubt.
Two games.
So the question was not whom they would face, but only the order in which they would face them.
Naturally, the Group Stage was what they had prepared for most intensively over these past ten days.
Interestingly, Group B, which had not faced Seo Jun, seemed somewhat less focused on their impending matchups—but that was largely because Ji Pal Ji Kkkon, the team led by Kim Tae-woo, was presumed to be a certain loser.
After all, only one team would be eliminated, and there was clearly a weak link within the group.
But Group A could say with certainty: over these past ten days, they had poured everything into the Group Stage.
Their situation was different from Group B’s.
Strong team, strong team, strong team.
Not that there weren’t any weaker ones, but to avoid lightning-quick elimination, they had to stake everything on each single game.
Even if it meant forfeiting any chance at a later stage.
And so, on the first day of practice, this conversation took place in their chat.
“I think we should focus on advancing first. Do you agree?”
“Yes, Spoon.”
“That seems right.”
They decided that if there was a way, any way at all, they would do it without looking beyond.
Of course, that day, after turning on the broadcast, they heard shocking news that drove all other thoughts from their minds.
“What? Why does only our team not have a professional player…….”
“…….”
“This is a bit…….”
“Is everyone insane? How did they even recruit them?”
Their team captain, Gong Beol-le, removed his trademark round glasses—even in virtual reality—and began polishing them.
That was how flustered he was.
“Public sentiment is exploding!”
“The fans are in an uproar!”
“What am I supposed to do…….”
“But we’re in an uproar too, Captain!”
“Give us a pro! Just one pro for Heavy Metal!”
Despite their words, they all scrambled to contact professional teams with any connection they had.
* * *
“Hello.”
Fortunately, Korean society was a collective one.
So when many people did something, the barrier to entry lowered—and when word spread that five teams each had recruited a professional, they managed to find one within a day.
“I’m Pebble, a professional player.”
“Excellent!”
“He’s an ADC, just like Spoon!”
“Perfect. We can just focus everything on the ADC.”
It was good news.
On the first day of the broadcast, they first got to know each other, then turned off the stream and seriously asked for help with strategy and the like.
“Hmm……. First, I’ll analyze the opposing team and come back. If you have any materials saved, it would help quite a bit. Do you have any?”
“Of course!”
Pebble took down an email address, received the files, and said he’d see them tomorrow.
And the next day.
“Hmm…….”
“?”
“I have a question. Is it really that hard to advance from the Group Stage with just a 1-1 record?”
“Professional……. What are you saying…….”
“No matter how I look at it, there’s no way you can beat that person, right? Hahaha. Why don’t you play professionally?”
-Lol what’s with the pro talk
-Yeah, once that guy beat Taker, even the “pros are different” excuse stopped working
“With a 1-1 record, it’s possible if the Bull Rain team loses both, or if all three teams end up 1-1. It’s not impossible.”
But giving up a game didn’t make sense.
The Rain side could counter that person, or they might lose to the Bull in a disaster.
A pro is a pro.
“If we really must win at least once, there seems to be a way.”
“Oh?”
“That’s exactly what we wanted!”
“We believe in you!”
Pebble told the team his strategy after that day’s broadcast ended.
“We need to keep Eric alive. And then…….”
And from that day on, Spoon entered intensive training.
* * *
[Alright! The matchups are all set! The final game is Heavy Metal versus Ji Pal Ji Kkkon! So let’s head to Game One right away!]
“Let’s go.”
“Come on then. Let’s turn off the stream now.”
Seo Jun adjusted the settings so he couldn’t see the chat and broadcast-related things (more precisely, so the streamer couldn’t switch to another stream) and launched the League.
About a minute after entering the League, an invitation came through.
Once the team started chattering over voice and engaging with the opposing team, the game would begin.
[Hi there.]
[Let’s all have a good game.]
[It won’t be easy. We’re a strong team too, after all.]
Conversation flowed.
With no spectator delay, the game would start once the casters were ready.
Gong Beol-le had offered a weak remark, and Ha Yun-ho replied.
[Well, you seem to have prepared quite thoroughly. I just hope it works out. Our ace has a rather demonic side to him.]
Of course there had been a warning: a countdown to game start in five seconds.
Everyone muted themselves.
“It’s starting. Deep breath, everyone.”
Not just Wind Sword, who was competing in his first tournament, but everyone seemed tense.
“So we have to come up with a strategy now, right?”
“Ugh! We should have met up yesterday to discuss it.”
Seo Jun reassured them.
“It’s fine. We already know what to ban. Just pick reasonably and overwhelm them with strength.”
They were on the Red team.
Which meant the enemy picked first.
[Banned Hero – Brightness’s Regent Kael]
“Huh? Banning Kael?”
Here, Seo Jun’s intuition spoke again, loud and clear. The enemy would not ban Eric.
“So what do we ban? Spoon’s most-played, Sniper?”
Spoon’s most-played hero, Sniper, had extremely long range.
But for Ha Yun-ho, picking it himself would be good, and it was also fine to face.
Since long-range heroes weakened early game, the enemy picking it up meant they could weather the early game more safely.
And if he picked it, he’d have the advantage of that long range to survive as well.
This logic made sense, but Wind Sword was asking, which suggested he was very nervous.
Ha Yun-ho was about to laugh and offer another option when Seo Jun spoke.
“Yes, let’s ban it.”
“Huh? Seo Jun?”
Ha Yun-ho’s pupils trembled violently—like a sailor caught in rough waters.
“Wait, is this Spartan-style training again? Don’t torture us in the actual match! We need to win this!!”
But Wind Sword, tense as he was, banned Sniper the moment he heard Seo Jun’s voice.
“No wait!”
“It’s fine. I doubt the other side will ban Eric.”
Seo Jun felt a rush of exhilaration as he realized he’d thrown off the enemy’s plans from the very first move. Though they had other preparations, no doubt.
“What do you mean?”
[Banned Hero – Geomsin – Shadow Sorcerer Jen]
“See? The other side won’t ban Eric, I bet. Pick the second long-range hero, Soul Savior, for the second ban, please.”
The other team members didn’t know what was happening, but they trusted him for now.
Unlike their first ban, which came without hesitation in a single second, this one was taking longer.
That’s right.
They’d be confused.
Five seconds had passed. Twenty-five remained.
Seo Jun began explaining immediately.
“Everyone. The other side probably won’t ban Eric.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And they were probably going to pick Sniper right away. Long range makes it easier to deal with Eric, after all.”
Range was probably secondary.
They had other tricks prepared—ways to avoid, perhaps.
But regardless, it’s hard to deny that long range makes it easier to handle Eric.
“But if the other side is targeting Eric, couldn’t we just have you not play Eric?”
“If they don’t ban it, how can I resist?”
“That’s true.”
“So I’ll go ADC.”
“What?”
“Yun-ho, you go top. Wind Sword, since this is your first tournament, you’d be better off in mid where you play best.”
“But what if all of this is just your imagination?”
Ten seconds.
Fifteen more had passed somehow.
The other side still seemed unable to decide.
He could picture the shadowy figures on their side arguing.
Five seconds.
“Is it imagination?”
“I’m good with it!”
Ha Yun-ho smiled contentedly. Anywhere was better than having to deal with Spoon.
Three seconds.
Two seconds.
One second.
[Banned Hero – Abandoned Automaton Idr]
“I told you, didn’t I?”
Alpaca asked seriously.
Seo Jun smiled. He wanted to see what the viewers would say.
He seemed excited.
The enemy had taken him on directly.
And as their champion selection followed, they all gasped in unison.
[답답해서상체감 – Dual Gun Luke]
“They’re basically saying pick Eric.”
-Insane lololololololololol
-Spoon snap out of it! Spoon!
-Boss pick Eric we gotta
-Shame they won’t be on the same lane
-Bottoming out and then meeting Eric to overcome PTSD, how admirable!
-Even if Luke is weak, if he scales up and gets skill upgrades it’s good
-ADC mission
[Geomsin – Escapist Eric]
-Yo!
-PTSD doubled down, let’s goooo!
That’s right. Even viewed in fragments, nothing like last time would happen.
But.
As the selections ended, everyone fell into confusion.
-Huh??? Where’s Binbugyeokcha’s ADC?
-What? Pick mistake?
-No way lol there are ADC-capable heroes left lol
-Nah lol he found the target himself lololol at least they have support so they won’t get dunked like before. Hang in there spoon lololololol
* * *
Seo Jun faced off against Spoon, who had selected Luke before him.
“Hahaha. I thought it wouldn’t happen, but I didn’t expect you to actually come to bottom lane. This is a little scary.”
“I’m more surprised you left Eric alive.”
Seo Jun shrugged his shoulders.
“Yeah? Then let’s see the Chain of Destruction. Come on in.”
Spoon stepped forward into his range.
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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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