Chapter 247. Sword VS. Blade (1)

After Sang-Hyeon entered the capsule, the researchers began talking with vocabulary that Ju-Hyeok couldn't understand.

“The synchronization level is different from what we knew…”

“There's no problem, but we should check…”

Their mouths said there was no problem with the capsule, but their eyes said differently.

"Is it really okay?" Ju-Hyeok involuntarily raised his voice.

"It's really okay. Ultimately, the user's experience is what’s most important at this point. So when Almond comes out—"

The capsule opened at that moment, and Sang-Hyeon slowly sat up. Everyone looked at him.

"How is it?" Ju-Hyeok finally asked.

"It's a bit weird."

"!?"

Ju-Hyeok and the two researchers' faces froze.

'What's going on? Is something not working?'

Sang-Hyeon smiled, “I can’t believe it’s this good.”

Ju-Hyeok felt relieved. At the same time, he really wanted to slap Sang-Hyeon. However, he decided to high-five him really hard instead.

Slap!

"Good. Let's win this."

"Yup."

The capsule was perfectly ready. Now, all they had to do was perform well in the final.

"I'm gonna warm up now."

Sang-Hyeon returned to the capsule and didn’t come out until the finals started.

Fortunately, he didn’t see the video:

[Proof that South Korean Archery is the World's Strongest]

Ju-Hyeok bit his lip.

'... Damn.'

A popular channel called TimeTrouble uploaded the video. They had 3.2 million subscribers. Even though most were ghost subscribers, the video still attracted a lot of attention. They uploaded the video two hours ago and already had 80,000 views.

[The archer was assumed to be a streamer named Almond...]

Ju-Hyeok watched the video, but they only made assumptions with no evidence.

'Maybe this is better, I guess?'

It was rather fortunate that they were only speculating and not stating anything as a fact.

The video concluded like this:

[It's hard to tell if they’re the same person through the video. They have no other similarities besides being handsome and good at archery. Also, I found out that Almond is thirty years old. The person in the video, Yu Sang-Hyeon, should be twenty-eight. There is a two year difference.]

"Haha..." Ju-Hyeok laughed.

Sang-Hyeon had lied about his age many times and it finally paid off.

Most of the comments mentioned the age difference too.

— The ages are different, lol

— Did the ancestors steal 2 years?

— So many dumbasses here, omg.

Of course, many comments argued about similarities and asked what that boy in the video was doing now.

— Their faces do look very similar… Maybe I'm just imagining it?

— That kid is way more handsome. Almond is just a nut right now, lol

— Who is he, BTW? If he shoots that well, shouldn't he be famous?

Ju-Hyeok continued watching the video.

[However, we can't deny the facial similarities. Since we haven't seen Almond's ID, he could have lied about his age. Also, that boy could have even gone to the Olympics with his archery skills in the video. However, there are no records after this.]

"Wow."

Ju-Hyeok was truly amazed.

A popular YouTuber sure was different. This guy accurately pointed out facts with such little information.

"Well done. Very well done."

Of course, Ju-Hyeok didn't like it.

Why did they upload this video right before the finals? Especially when Sang-Hyeon needed to focus entirely on the game.

Ju-Hyeok would soon find out the uploader's intention.

[Whether the handsome boy in the video is really Almond or not, we won’t know yet. There’s no need to go looking either. Coincidentally, we’ll find out today after the video gets uploaded. At the in-house tournament, Almond said he would reveal his past in the winning interview today. Thanks, everyone! That's all from TimeTrouble for today.]

The video ended.

— Wow. A tournament?

— So Almond's gonna reveal his past in today's interview?

— Is that really true? Can we trust this guy?

└ The conclusion is that we don't know anything, lol.

└ Ugh, somebody report this channel, please.

— If we don’t even know yet, why did you make this video?

Ju-Hyeok left a comment and clicked the report button.

'Does this even count as a report?'

This guy hadn't broken any laws, but Ju-Hyeok decided to report it anyway.

'Maybe it's worth a shot.'

Tap tap.

He typed furiously, and time quickly flew by.

It was now 6 P.M. and time for the finals.

***

The opening was brief but flashy.

The ban-pick phase started right afterward.

"Alright. OrangeKing, what do you think about today's ban picks from the two teams?"

"I guess the biggest issue would be whether Almond will go mid lane, right?"

"What are your predictions?"

"I'm betting on Almond playing as mid-laner."

"Right. Speaking of which, OrangeKing, you've been saying from the start that Almond is S-tier in the mid lane, right?"

"Yes, I finally got it right for once."

— Lol, it's so true.

— OrangKingfail;

— It's surprising that he got that right, lol.

— Scoring 100 times is less surprising than that. Almond was just a silver rookie streamer back then, lol.

"Well, how did you know?"

OrangeKing paused for a moment and seemed careful about his words.

"I was getting bullied back then."

— When you were in school?

— So you were friends with ForeverAlone... That's why you...

— Same species

"From JeonJaPa."

"Ah, right!" the caster had agreed with a smile. He was broadcasting then while JeonJaPa was roughly bullying OrangeKing.

"Didn't you cry back then?"

The caster's sudden comment made the analyst laugh. He had tried his hardest to remain calm by wiping his glasses the entire time.

— Crazy, lol.

— OrangeKing juice is the best!

— Oh, that juice incident lol.

— Was it really for the Del Monte advertisement?

OrangeKing's face turned red.

"No, no. I was a strong independent man at the time! Some tears just fell. That's all."

"You're supposed to cry after you win! But you cried after getting destroyed by JeonJaPa!"

— Lol, crazy. So harsh, lol.

— So why did they bring up JeonJaPa?

— LMAO! He cried after he lost?

— What, really?! You told us once that OrangeKing vs. JeonJaPa was like Naruto vs. Sasuke!

"Yes. Anyway, the person who made me cry... I could also feel that aura from Almond. A high level of physicality perhaps? The quality of their skills was different from the rest. That's why I thought Almond would become a great mid-laner."

— Like JeonJaPa?

— Almond and JeonJaPa's records are exactly the same, right?

— That's the best compliment ever.

Being compared to JeonJaPa was an unparalleled honor for players. At the same time, it was a heavy burden to meet the expectations.

— This isn't good. His fanboys are coming out :(

— They’re gathering!

— They're touching the untouchable;

— Nah, not JeonJaPa.

— I don't think JeonJaPa will admit it, lol.

— They're crossing the line right there.

— You appeared within 1 second, as expected. Lol.

JeonJaPa’s performance, contributions, and overwhelming career were so intimidating that no one could compare.

OrangeKing expected these reactions from the community, so he refrained from saying any more as he knew it would only instigate more arguments.

"I felt that way strictly on a personal level. Almond is indeed an amazing player in terms of physicality."

"Oh, speaking of which, some bans have already been picked! It updated a bit late on our screen!"

Two bans had taken place.

[High Protein - Bans]

#1. Cold-Blooded Evil Archer - Raina

#2. Iron Ball - Dino

Something seemed peculiar with High Protein's bans.

"Again? They banned Bubblegum again!?"

They banned Iron Ball.

"Maybe it's because of yesterday's game?"

"Didn't Balloon Stars clearly show what happens when the opponent wastes a ban on Bubblegum like in yesterday's game?"

"That was possible only because of the Sa-Yul combination... Their last ban pick could stop the Sa-Yul combo.

Next, Balloon Stars chose their bans.

[Team Balloon Stars - Bans]

#1. The Firm Wings - Valkyrie

#2. Storm Ninja - Haruki

"Balloon Stars has always banned Valkyrie, who is currently very overpowered. They also banned Storm Ninja this time!"

"He was also Almond's first pick in the mid lane. Why did they ban him?"

"Well, I guess it's because SweetRadish plays Storm Ninja very well. It's also evidence that Tako has been monitoring the other players."

While OrangeKing and the caster spoke, the analyst briefly scanned the data and raised a question.

"Hmm. Actually, SweetRadish is also good with Flashy Blade. He only uses Flashy Blade under certain conditions, but that pick could also come out in this amateur competition."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

OrangeKing seemed to remember and nodded vigorously.

"Ah~ That's right! Flashy Blade! Originally, he practiced Storm Ninja to counter Flashy Blade. That’s how he became good with Storm Ninja. I forgot about it because that champion keeps getting banned."

"Yes, it’s strange. If they banned Storm Ninja, then does that mean they've prepared for another counter?"

"Hmm..."

Tako's ban picks always had two or three traps behind them, so the casters wondered about the true purposes of those bans.

"It’s like they’re saying they’ve banned Storm Ninja, so High Protein should pick Flashy Blade."

"That's right. Unless they’ve deliberately set up a trap..."

"It's not easy to pick Flashy Blade. He has a significant weakness and only becomes stronger after Level 6!"

"That’s true! But who is SweetRadish!? He's a capable player who can still destroy the enemies with Flashy Blade! It’s possible especially since this is an amateur game!"

"Hmm. Tako must clearly know this too. Will he steal that champion? But there’s no Flashy Blade in their data..."

"They can't steal him. High Protein has the first pick, so Balloon Stars can't steal him if SweetRadish picks him first."

The casters actively debated as High Protein chose their last ban.

[High Protein - Bans]

#1. Cold Blooded Evil Archer - Raina

#2. Iron Ball - Dino

#3. Light's Melody - Sana

Their last ban was Light's Melody - Sana.

Cheers erupted from the audience and the casters.

"Ah~!"

"Is this to counter the Sa-Yul combo?"

"Did they decide to counter it instead of avoiding it? Or are they saying their ban is nothing more than just opening up the top freeway because it's just the first round?!"

— Freeway, lol.

— They're totally ignoring our Bubblegum, lol.

— Show them how you can fight, Bubblegum!

A freeway referred to when one’s lane completely broke down, and a direct path to the nexus appeared.

A freeway could appear due to many reasons, but it basically meant the players in that lane would lose.

"That's a scary question! A freeway in the top lane! Especially when Bubblegum is considered the weakest among the ten players here! Does Balloon Stars have a counter plan?"

Now it was Balloon Stars' turn to ban another champion. The camera captured Tako discussing with his teammates.

"They could also ban Flashy Blade here. That would leave WhiteChicken, who’s ranked above Grandmaster, and his main champion untouched. If they don't ban the Unstoppable - Bat, Bubblegum can potentially lose and open up a freeway for the enemies!"

"That's right. Unstoppable - Bat charges like a bulldozer. AcornJelly is highly skilled too!"

[Balloon Stars - Bans]

#1. The Firm Wings - Valkyrie

#2. Storm Ninja - Haruki

#3. Unstoppable - Bat

Their last ban was Bat, which would balance out the skills between AcornJelly and Bubblegum.

"So they banned the Bat to balance out Bubblegum with the others."

"Hmm. If it's like this..."

"Alright, the pick phase begins! High Protein picks first!"

***

"What if they pick that champion first?" StrawberryShooter seemed worried and asked Tako.

Honestly, Almond thought the same.

They banned the opponent's main champion and the counter as well. Then, the opponent got to choose a champion first.

Well, theoretically, they could pick that champion first.

"We don’t get to choose first anyway."

Tako wasn’t worried at all.

"Flashy Blade is hard to pick first, and SweetRadish only chooses the right answer."

"But isn't SweetRadish's win rate with Flashy Blade quite high in professional games? I feel like they can just pick him because of that."

"It is, but their win rate isn't high because SweetRadish is good with Flashy Blade."

"Then what?"

"Well, he's good at using that champion, but..."

Tako pointed at the empty pick window.

"SweetRadish is better at this than Flashy Blade."

"The ban pick?"

"It's a bit different. SweetRadish knows when to use Flashy Blade. That’s what makes his win rate so high."

"Then..."

"That means SweetRadish won't pick Flashy Blade if he can't see a high possibility of winning."

Right at that moment, the opposing team chose their champion.

Thud.

[Biker Gang - Paul]

The opponent chose Biker Gang Paul as their first pick.

SweetRadish clearly decided that the timing wasn't right for Flashy Blade.

StrawberryShooter was surprised and looked at Tako, "Is it our turn now?"

Tako grinned.

“Balloon Stars! Who will they pick? What are your thoughts, OrangeKing?!”

“Hmm, I think...”

OrangeKing missed the chance to guess. That was fortunate for him because the next pick was completely unpredictable.

[Flashy Blade - Swift]

Thud!

A man twirling two short blades landed with a dazzling burst of light.

StrawberryShooter seemed to recall something and asked, "Hey Tako, you said it's hard to pick Flashy Blade first, right? Will we win if we pick him first?"

Tako placed his hand on StrawberryShooter's shoulder and answered, "We can't win here by just picking the right answers."

Tako's response clearly showed the power gap between the two teams.