Chapter 148
“League of Streaming” was a representative tournament with the largest scale and buzz among those where streamers participated.
Its name arose because the main game was “The League”, but in another sense, it fittingly matched the scale it had subtly achieved.
As soon as the tournament began, it was safe to assume that no other games would be able to catch up in popularity, or rather, they would be overshadowed.
With the advent of virtual reality, the streaming market had expanded, making it rare for users to play games without streaming. Haven’t gamers successfully transformed into content creators?
The key trait of these content creators is their inability to resist streamer tournaments.
Even if it’s an unfamiliar game, they could learn by watching.
For ‘The League’, it was almost universally known by everyone, wasn’t it?
Moreover, famous streamers inevitably participated, a few at least.
Therefore, it wasn’t strange that almost everyone was concentrated in “The League” category from the start.
『Isn’t the auction going strangely?』
This was the post made when Kim Taewoo bid 750 points on Sojun, an A-rank item.
– ㄹㅇLOL
– There are two strange captains, hahaha
– This is why the tournament operations team divided them by skill. They at least tried to balance the team members’ skills evenly. Haha
No, that wasn’t it.
The biggest reason was that recruiting all players of the same tier or role limited the options and increased the chance of the auction failing.
『Shouldn’t that streamer have bid from the start?』
『Sigh. Mental hyung seems out of the competition.』
『Aww, typical. When auctioning in LoS, A-rank should always be for Jungle…』
『Honestly, other than Top, all A-rank players are decent.』
『What’s wrong with Top!』
『Anyway, isn’t it Synchronization Rate 10? It seems reckless to bid everything from the start.』
The public opinion buzzing around didn’t change even after the bidding for Sojun ended.
『Even with commentary, this doesn’t add up.』
『Don’t make Yunho the captain next time if he goes all-in again.』
『On the other hand, three captains went all-in…』
『Phew! Mental hyung almost got stuck!』
『Wow, but now Yunho’s team has to rely on leftovers other teams didn’t want, hahaha.』
That was right.
Up until then, everyone had been looking at it with skepticism.
And as they predicted the results, the opinions grew stronger.
As expected, the result was not only bad but worse than anticipated.
『ABC are all three mid-laners? Knew it.』
==
Of all things, the best ones are three mid-laners, kids who failed auctions because they only played mid. Looks like the weakest team in history has been born.
==
– Auction failure has its reasons.
– I knew this would happen, but pretending I didn’t.
└This time everyone expected it, hahaha.
– But this is seriously bad. Player A seems physically outstanding; maybe they’ll try another lane?
└If the main lane can’t be played, they should yield for the team’s sake, just like Wind Sword speaking on another lane and performing poorly, right? Hahaha
└Really, that’s why all-in isn’t good.
『Honestly, Jin Sojun 〈– this guy getting attention feels annoying.』
==
Even though his Synchronization Rate is 10, like a common user like me, getting high attention from three well-known S-grade captains in “the greatest Travel competition,” the LoS, feels excessive.
==
– This one’s real, haha.
– But it feels irritating, indeed.
└Just say it’s because he’s good-looking. (Author)
– Anyway, the auction seems completely messed up.
『Taewoo 〈– is secretly wise.』
==
Being mid as a secondary position, and concentrating all power on bot lane while making his friend suffer. A genius strategy.
==
– Isn’t this just truth at heart?
└The author is the one who initially got bothered by Jin Sojun, huh. Seems like the writer dislikes good-looking people altogether.
– Taewoo isn’t good-looking after all. Whatever he does doesn’t irritate at all.
└Too harsh on Taewoo, hahaha.
Indeed, after the auction results were released, people gave their short comments, and the conclusion was that Ha Yunho’s team had numerous issues.
And a few said this.
『Jin Sojun has to prove himself.』
『Yes, stop whining and carry since you got all the points.』
『If they get eliminated in the group stage, it’s his fault.』
Of course, these types of posts didn’t receive recommendations and quickly got buried because they incited conflict. The responsibility for the auction lay with the captains.
In any case, their main reason for watching LoS today wasn’t only the auction.
There was also the preliminary round.
In its true sense, the pre-rounds would appear in scrimmages meaning practice matches, but since the first competition occurred right after the team’s formation today, they could see who played the games relatively well.
Most of all, missing now would be like skipping the early episodes of a drama.
So, as the first entertaining E-grade game passed.
『Essentially, a purely entertainment-based competition, haha.』
『Therefore, we have a new training camp meta, haha.』
When the next game, ground Zero, was launched, people flocked to the Ground Zero community en masse.
『Ahh. Witness the sheer dominance of this overwhelming supply offensive.』
『Peripheral rural community, this is the ‘weight class’ of a true league.』
『Stop spamming!』
『Excuse me, but we’re ranked within the top ten games, alright? Do you see the number one battle royale genre as nothing?』
『But compared to the League, you guys are peripheral rural villagers, right?』
『Though we’re mainly about the ground, but for now, let’s join the havoc from the League and be applauded haha.』
『Spread your thoughts in the League community!』
『They shout there and here too, there’s no lack of people.』
Despite them taking over, it wasn’t that innocent Ground Zero users suffered either.
Because, as mentioned earlier, even though it’s the League’s tournament, it’s practically a tournament for content creators.
And most gamers were content creators anyway.
Meaning, except for a few, all those in the League community came here, pretending to be invaded and falsely claiming grievances.
Anyway, the Ground Zero community users grouped up, predicting the game’s results.
『Personally, it’s Wave. He’s brilliant at this game. It’s a straightforward choice.』
『Wave is undoubtedly recognized.』
『Spoon 〈– this guy showed before his aim is on an unmatched level, even as an old AD player.』
『Having an AD player who shot numerous bullets is indeed scary, lol.』
『So what about the hot topic, Jin Sojun?』
==
With his sword, he’s genuinely recognized as Sword God, even Eric was awe-inspiring. Recognizing him as A-rank is valid.
But considering bullets, I wonder what people think?
==
– He’ll perform well but won’t carry.
– His aim would undoubtedly be good. But it’s a completely different sensation.
– It seems he won’t win. Considering it’s a new game and many factors need consideration.
– In Ground Zero, positioning is crucial. Without playing, it’s hard to grasp.
Everyone speculated Sojun wouldn’t win.
However, as the game commenced.
『Bruh haha, provoking from the start.』
『Natural talent for being a clown, haha. Throwing away the gun, though.』
『Picking a fistfight with Goblin, haha.』
As Sojun’s stream screen became the focus, the situation started to shift.
『Are you serious??? Winning this easily?』
『Taking down with low health, though.』
『Aim’s insane. Clears a squad easily.』
『Next squad approaching!』
Thanks to Sojun’s impeccable gameplay, with no misfire and easy maneuvers, his winning probability seemed to increase by roughly 10%.
Nonetheless.
『Haha, dying here though.』
『With a level 3 helmet. Apart from one-shotting, it can’t be helped.』
Community users quickly predicted Sojun’s defeat once again.
Naturally.
『Did I just witness nonsense?』
『Haha, parrying bullets now haha.』
『Didn’t he just become the god of Ground Zero?』
『Grabbing a frying pan now!!!!!! After seeing this, who wouldn’t?』
『Victory belongs to the frying pan. No room for dissent.』
『Could this guy dodge bullets without seeing them later?』
This was the first time Sojun deflected a bullet with a frying pan.
* * *
– How did you dodge at first, streamer-nim?
– Was it secretly some of us gave clues? Rewatch the replay!
– I frequently monitor chat; didn’t see any mentions???
Currently, Sojun returned to the entrance of the basement to avoid being sniped.
Both sides were covered with walls, and given he had located the sniper on the right side, he could take cover using these walls.
‘How did I dodge it indeed.’
No matter how many death hazards one faced amidst war, everyone inevitably experiences moments of lapse.
The spirit might weaken, letting the guard down momentarily, or the situation itself could lull someone into carelessness.
But Sojun was acutely aware of how perilous those moments could be. Those who died similarly knew it well, too.
“Just focus, focus.”
Indeed, one might hear the subtle sound of wind slicing if attentive. It was possible to dodge.
Whack!
A bullet narrowly scraped past the upper corner of the wall and lodged into the opposite wall.
Had he ducked slightly less, it would’ve directly hit him.
“Hmm. Not conserving bullets, huh.”
There were only 20 bullets, clearly.
-Focus is what, focus indeed.
-Streamer-nim! Are you a schoolteacher or what? Reveal the secret!!! Stop using cheat keys solo!!!
-It’s time to reveal honestly. Confess you’re using a hack!
-It was unbelievable from the frying pan part, though haha.
-Even with a level 3 helmet, one bullet should do it haha.
-The one who fired, Wave, feeling genuinely regretful now.
Ignoring the chat, Sojun activated his two-way radio.
Rumi took the call promptly.
『On the way!』
『Rumi-nim. There’s an enemy sniping from a distance here.』
『Really? Then you shoot them back, Sojun-nim!』
But that’s not it.
Somehow the trust seemed overboosted from earlier.
『Hehe. Sojun-nim, which direction is the enemy?』
『It’s north.』
The wall Sojun was leaning against faced north.
『Then don’t worry. If it’s north, to the airfield entrance, it’s close to the border’s edge, right? Told you by an airborne Wind Sword-nim.』
There was indeed an announcement that the storm would soon move, meaning their suppressive fire wouldn’t last long.
Sojun remained convinced and waited.
Taking the frying pan and approaching wasn’t an option.
Though stopping a sniper bullet was feasible, the distance made it unwise.
By the time close enough, they could just fly away on their light plane.
『The storm is approaching.』
After a brief span of approximately 30 seconds, an alert popped up, and a faint engine roar could be heard from afar.
Vroom!
An aircraft was taking off and departing.
And then.
“Wow! Finally seeing you! When there’s only one team left!”
An open car arrived at the basement’s entrance.
Ah, meeting up was a relief.
“Right?”
Rumi waved from the backseat, Alpaca from the front, and Sojun quickly sat beside him.
Together, the open car set off immediately.
Behind them, the blue skies shifted as the storm began to close in.
“It seems like we won’t get hit at all.”
Wind Sword remarked while driving.
And then.
Ping!
A bullet hit and deflected off the vehicle with a clang.
“Ah, don’t those guys run out of gas?”
Wind Sword muttered through his nose while driving.
-They’ll position ahead first.
-It’s extremely hard to hit from there, isn’t it? Quite lucky indeed.
-Seems like Wave’s firing now. Definitely feels like chance.
In the high sky, a plane, far ahead of them, soared.
“Let’s shoot too? Sojun-nim might manage to hit them?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes!”
Upon hearing that, Sojun retrieved a sniper rifle from his inventory and raised an eye to the scope.
Though the rifle included equipment for mounting, firing this way posed no issues.
The entire visible plane filled the enlarged vision through the scope.
It was indeed quite a distance.
Although not extremely high magnification, it was the maximum available in the game.
In no time, Sojun readied and aimed at the target.
‘The roof’s open over there, too.’
It was so far that it appeared tiny. Rapid movement was ongoing.
Additionally, the car Sojun traveled in was moving too.
His arm naturally adjusted continuously.
During this, Sojun simultaneously retained the memory of the previously fired bullet’s speed in his mind, targeting slightly ahead of the aircraft, pulling the trigger.
Bang!
“Even though it’s a distant target, Sojun-nim might actually hit the airplane’s front engine!”
Alpaca mentioned.
As the aircraft front presented the largest surface area, this was the only feasible approach given the situation.
Hence Alpaca naturally assumed Sojun targeted the plane.
But then.
『SwordGod14–〉 Fuze』
At that moment, Alpaca wore a puzzled expression.
Was it really right? Targeting a person?
“Ah. You meant shooting the engine?”
Embarrassingly, Sojun chuckled, keeping his eye on the scope as he prepared to fire the next shot.
Bang!