It was catastrophic.
What on earth had happened? The defeat was so devastating that it hardly felt real. Was this how a boxer felt after taking a brutal punch to the face and collapsing? The mind of Pagol, who stood there blankly, seemed to have stopped functioning altogether.
‘What, exactly, just happened…?’
Even the anger that had been surging through him moments ago had dissipated like smoke. It all felt surreal, like a blurry dream. No, perhaps, from the very first set, he had fallen under some spell.
‘At the beginning, it started with a light jabbing sequence that was accidentally parried, and from there…’
His thoughts struggled to continue. He felt so disoriented that he wanted to collapse right there and then. The only thing keeping Pagol’s trembling legs steady were the cameras intensely focusing on him even now.
He had an image to maintain. He needed to either coolly acknowledge his defeat or suggest another match, acting like a madman obsessed with fighting. Acting any more foolishly would be the end of him. He already had many rivals who were jealous of him.
But the defeat was just too crushing.
Outside, GetDevoured had cautiously stepped out of her booth and was waiting at one corner of the stage for the proceedings to continue.
She tilted her head slightly, as if puzzled, and looked at him standing blankly in the booth, with an expressionless face.
Pagol’s head automatically bowed. Even though the game had already ended, he felt too intimidated to meet her eyes. The image of her psychopathically beating him with a staff to a pulp came back to him, contrasting sharply with her calm, expressionless stance now, as if she felt no joy in her victory.
-Knock, knock.
“… I’m coming in. Jaehoon, it’s okay, let’s get out of here. It wasn’t even a league match, just think of it as an event game. It’s okay.”
Had he been inside for too long? Following the knock, the cautious voice of his coach reached his ears—and shortly after, he felt a supportive hand on his shoulder, comforting him.
It was a gentleness that he wasn’t used to. Maybe thanks to that, Pagol, somewhat regaining his senses, leaned on his coach, who almost carried him out through the rear exit of the booth.
Behind the stage. In the dimly lit area, out of the camera’s sight.
“Let’s just take it easy, Jaehoon. GetDevoured played really well, give her some lip service, and if a ceremony is mentioned, say it feels like a burden’s been lifted. Got it? Don’t go online. Actually, don’t even look at your phone.”
The coach’s voice, speaking right beside him, sounded muffled as if coming from afar.
“Heal… that crazy woman healed me, right?”
“… Jaehoon, please. As I told you earlier, that’s not the issue now. Think about your fans, your career. I’m sure it will all become clear to everyone soon that it wasn’t your fault. Stay calm. When the ceremony is brought up, say you feel relieved, and that you’d like a chance to pay it back next time. Got it?”
The coach who usually yelled at him for his temper was now gently advising him. This was someone who always had a word to say after a flashy ceremony. The fact that such a person was being so gentle ironically showed just how serious the situation was.
‘Damn it, really…!’
The mental stability he was barely regaining started slipping away again. He couldn’t fully remember the end of the third set. The last thing he recalled was a countering kick—
“… Damn it!”
“Pagol, please wait over here! The interview will begin shortly!”
“Yes, just a moment! Jaehoon, here, drink some water. Try to calm down while you wait. Really, don’t go online. Actually, just hand over your phone.”
“… I don’t know where it is.”
“Damn it, I have to go quickly too. Okay. About the ceremony, remember? Say it feels like a burden’s been lifted, and you’d like a chance to pay it back next time. Got it?”
“… Yes.”
After the coach left, having repeatedly emphasized his advice, Pagol’s trembling hands naturally reached for the phone hidden in his bag.
The ‘Knights of Knights Gallery’, which was relatively peaceful during the off-season, was experiencing unprecedented prosperity.
Initially, the player Pagol had always been a polarizing figure, with as many opponents as fans. Known for his exceptional skills and bold statements that were somewhat out of step with Korean sensibilities, many people were eagerly waiting to see him fail.
Additionally, the team Rayth, to which he belonged, had maintained a solid stance and fan base in Korea since the times of Foagol. They consistently competed for the first and second places and managed to win the domestic league in their first season of KoK.
As is often the case with such teams, along with their strong fan base, there were also accumulating antis who attacked whenever they saw a chance.
Naturally, the forum and other places experienced unilateral bombardments from those who caught onto a chance.
『Author: ㅇㅇ』
『Title: ‘Regol’』
『If you have to vacate the room, ‘thumbs up’』
(Captured photo of GetDevoured sending a head flying with a double-axe)
『If you have to vacate the room before Mr. GetDevoured cleans it himself, ‘thumbs up’』
– Yeah, ‘thumbs up’ right now
– ‘Thumbs up’
– Must vacate the room…
– She sends it flying extremely well, LOL, LOL
– LOL You have to see this with the expression, she looks so satisfied LOL insane
『Author: ㅇㅇ』
『Title: When you feel depressed, start with cleaning your room』
(Captured photo of GetDevoured sending a head flying with a double-axe)
(Captured photo of GetDevoured smiling contentedly)
『Look at Teacher KingDevoured’s expression after cleaning out the forum filled with Rekkols in just 30 minutes…
This is how happy you become after cleaning.
Self-improvement instructor GOAT
KingDevoured』
– Teacher KingDevoured cleaned our dirty forum with a single axe strike… thank you… thank you…
– The pride of KoK Gallery! King ‘GetDevoured’! The pride of KoK Gallery! King ‘GetDevoured’! The pride of KoK Gallery! King ‘GetDevoured’! The pride of KoK Gallery! King ‘GetDevoured’!
– This is the best in KoK Gallery; can’t believe the shit stirrer who used to force spam is in the top now
– Don’t slander Teacher KingDevoured,
– What slander, I am the victim here, goddamn it
『Author: ㅇㅇ』
『Title: Who is really at fault??』
『(Video of Pagol dying instantly due to an instant kill combo right after parrying in the first set)
Pagol, who got his head crushed just 30 seconds into the first set, is at fault—’thumbs up’
(2nd set: GetDevoured, after a hesitant moment, healing Pagol in the video)
Realizing that the finals would be a total disaster, not even lasting 30 minutes, GetDevoured tried to subtly give a chance—she was at fault for trying anyway—downvote
Seriously guys, cast your votes ㄱㄱㄱㄱ.』
– Subtly? You gotta be kidding LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOL
– Dude, she was blatantly healing. Calling it a mistake? What a joke LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOL
– What was the actual thought behind that heal?
– She’s not someone who thinks.
– “Oh, it looks like someone’s about to die, better save them.”
– Healing anyone close to death, friend or foe, the Nightingale of the Priest world, that’s GetDevoured.
– Truly no boundaries.
– Agree, it’s just plain favoritism.
– Honestly, in the 1st set, the parry was well-played by GetDevoured.
『Author: ㅇㅇ』
『Title: The current crisis at Regols』
『That prick, regardless of what kind of teabagging or condescending interviews he gave, it was always celebrated as, “This is the real top player”,
“It’s pure skill”,
“The medieval warlord”, always being glorified. If you criticized it, they’d mock you, claiming it’s because you were bitter about losing.
When faced with actual pure skill evaluation, he got his head blown off to space while being healed by a priest…
Ah…
All I can say is ^completely f**ked^』
– The complaint here is that a clown who couldn’t even get into the pro scene acted without manners?
– No way, you’re saying our medieval warlord Grand Duke got his head blown off by a character even less skilled who wasn’t even in the pro scene? Is the Grand Duke being made fun of now?
– For real LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL this is insane
– It is kind of funny he ended up getting healed by an amateur.
– The new generation replacement is a fiasco; someone who survived over 32 rounds has no right to talk LOL
– Uh-huh, GP didn’t even show up~
– Like, seriously, just look, his solo rank stats almost disappeared, and this Bio guy only played clash matches.
『Author: QueenDevore』
『Title: Teacher Warrior is seriously sexy』
『This is a Warrior, and this is an axe,
Why haven’t they played this well before!!!!!!!!!!』
– So her ex-boyfriend was a Warrior, right?
– Then why start now?
– Guess Revan must have consoled her or something.
– No, why put 1 in that word, damn it? There’s no filtering on the forum anyway.
– No, there’s a double entendre.
– Seriously, these people are insane.
– Why haven’t they done this until now?
– Was it a secret weapon or something?
– If it was a real secret weapon, they should have kept it hidden until the finals. Why use it against Pagol?
『Author: ㅇㅇ』
『Title: Breaking News) Big Yellow Dies in Set 3, intent Revealed』
『(Image: Pagol thrusting a sword into Revan’s corpse in reverse grip)
The place where Pagol set up a monument for Revan,
(Image: GetDevoured decapitating Pagol)
is the same place where GetDevoured took revenge.
Loyalty belongs to Big Yellow.』
“Wow.”
“Isn’t this a coincidence?”
– No way. Considering they ditched all buffs and headed straight there right from the start, it was definitely intentional.
– Revenge on the enemy with a friend’s weapon… This is classic martial arts.
– Revenge on the enemy and playing baseball with their head… Is that classic martial arts too?
– Yeah, true martial arts, apparently.
In between, GetDevoured’s fans were also celebrating, and everyone was satisfied.
《I achieved what I promised, so I believe Revan will keep his promise too.》
『??? Revan will keep a promise too?』
『What the hell is this?』
『What promise?』
『What kind of promise?』
『No, right? It can’t be, please.』
《Yes, that’s right! A promise of victory for a friend! Such a romantic story. Now, shouldn’t we promote this opportunity? Our player GetDevoured is actually a broadcaster, so how about some promotion!》
《Hmm… the direction of my streams has changed so many times that it’s a bit confusing. Recently, I’ve been focusing on interaction, camping, and music streams.》
《Ah… you’re also famous as the world’s top female KoK broadcaster. Will KoK continue broadcasting only? Given the incredible skill and performance you’ve shown in this tournament, many are curious if this marks the transition from broadcaster GetDevoured to pro gamer GetDevoured. Many fans are eagerly anticipating. What do you say!》
《I’ve never considered a pro debut. But, I have considered retiring from broadcasting. So, half of that guess could be considered correct.》
Following the KoK forum, the winner’s interview, which would set multiple fan cafes and communities ablaze, was beginning.
TL’s Corner:
Getting healed and beat up at the same time. Tsk tsk, teabaggers deserve it.