A lot of discussions took place in various communities when the news first spread that Korea had received the map selection right.

[Korea going for another run?]

[No way, Korea got it?]

[Wow, it seems like fate is favoring them]

In domestic communities, the conversations were generally hopeful. Just making it to the main tournament felt like a miracle. Receiving the map selection right seemed like part of the destined flow. Many hoped for Korea to make at least the quarterfinals.

[Can they make it to the quarterfinals?]

[Quarterfinals on a sea map with Yi Sun-Sin, LOL]

[Let’s go!]

Despite not knowing much about

Civil Empire

, new viewers drawn into the tournament cheered them on. They believed that the map selection right gave Korea a decisive advantage. Overseas reactions thought the opposite.

[Korea got the map selection rights. Do the Vikings have a chance?]

Comments on such posts universally dismissed it.

— Why do you think they give the map selection right for fashion? It's meaningless.

— It’s literally just for show. It doesn’t mean much.

— It sounds like a significant advantage, but it’s not a big deal considering the quality balance of maps used in the main tournament.

— If the Vikings had the map selection right, it would be a 2:0 win. Korea having it doesn’t matter much...

— Maps change details every time, so it can't be that significant.

In other words, they considered the map selection right as just an event for fun and not something that significantly impacted the game. This starkly contrasted with the atmosphere in Korean communities. Of course, some still expressed their hopes.

— Wouldn’t picking a map that blocks early aggression give them a better chance?

Even if the tournament had balanced maps, certain maps favored certain tendencies. If Korea chose a map that favored the late-game, the Vikings could be at a disadvantage. Wasn’t that useful?

└ Check the Vikings’ win rate on maps that block early aggression. It’s actually 64%.

└ Impressive.

The Vikings boasted a 64% win rate even though the number of games was small.

└ The Danish Vikings have perfectly overcome maps that block early aggression. They’ll likely choke the enemy out by perfectly controlling food resources. ṞÀꞐo͍βЁṣ

The Danish team responded perfectly when other teams tried to exploit what was considered their civilization's weakness. So much so that a win rate anomaly occurred.

“Just memorize it. We know what the problem will be in advance, don’t we?”

This was why Cookie decided on a strategy that consisted of memorizing and shooting in specific positions.

“This is the best way to use our map selection right.”

Cookie didn't think the biggest advantage of the map selection right was picking a favorable map. Even if a map seemed favorable, the maps were all well-balanced. No civilization would have an unusual advantage. The strategic advantage gained from the terrain wasn’t very significant and was always within the enemy's expectations.

Therefore, Cookie interpreted the advantage of the map selection differently. He focused on the fact that they knew the map in advance. They could practice a specific terrain in advance.

What would be the best way to maximize this? A build order known as a cheese strategy? No, it took too much time to perfect a cheese strategy.

They need another variable during battle that used the terrain. They had to find an unchanging terrain and prepare the optimal battle strategy for that terrain.

“Each of you should find your optimized curve angles like thirty degrees, forty-five degrees, or sixty degrees. Memorize it and shoot from your position,” Cookie continued as he checked the date, “You have two days.”

That was how long they knew the map in advance. It was a time and space granted only to Korea.

“In two days, make sure you can hit the target no matter where it is even if it's behind a tree.”

From then on, Korea’s archers practiced running to their assigned positions and shooting arrows.

“Number two! Where are you!?”

“Coming!”

Swoosh!

Bang!

At first, the arrows would curve and hit a tree or even a fellow soldier. In particular, the shooter in position two made many mistakes.

“Dammit…”

The shooter in position two was Pang.

Swoosh!

His arrow curved incorrectly and struck Latte in the forehead.

“Ahhh!”

Pang bowed his head in frustration.

“

Sigh…

I guess it’s because of my age. This new shooting method just doesn’t sit well with me…”

Pang had always been the leader of the archery unit, yet he couldn’t adapt to the new tactic at all. This showed how difficult the curve shot technique was. They had to master it within just two days, at least perfecting it from their designated position.

“Coming!”

The players acting as the enemy started running toward them again.

Creak.

Pang tilted his head as he drew the bowstring and adjusted his aim.

“Damn…”

***

The day of the match arrived. Joseon’s archers ran madly toward their positions in front of the valley. The commentators couldn't understand this situation.

“What is this!?”

“No, why… why!? This isn’t American football! Charging into the enemy doesn’t work!”

Even OrangeKing, with all his knowledge, couldn’t think of any good reason for this move.

“Is there something at that destination!?” the commentator asked.

OrangeKing couldn’t answer. That area didn’t have anything special except for more wild animals. The archers had no obvious reasons to run blindly toward that location.

“Well…? I don’t know! All I know is that Joseon’s soldiers are charging into the center of the Vikings’ territory!”

“Ahhh! What’s happening here? Some soldiers are falling behind on the way!”

“The Vikings have a charging ability when they can see an enemy. Even with the mountain tribe trait, it’ll be hard for the Joseon soldiers to escape once they get within range!”

Several archers had been sacrificed on the way.

— What is this even?

— ?? Did they forget to micromanage?

— OMG

“Joseon is short on manpower! If the Vikings get control of the food, it’ll be hard for Joseon to revive their soldiers until their agriculture stabilizes!”

“Look at this squad! These are the top aces, right!?”

“They’ve arrived! Finally, they’ve reached their destination!”

The commentators felt shocked when the Joseon’s soldiers reached their destination.

Swoosh!

Ping!

Suddenly, they received numerous commands.

— Wow

— What is this??

— Unbelievable

— OMG

The positions of each player had been marked and circles appeared around them, seemingly to indicate their range.

OrangeKing’s voice grew more excited as he realized that they had something planned.

“This is not some forgotten move by Cookie! This is deliberate!”

Sizzle…!

After the golden circles appeared, one of Joseon’s archers aimed at the approaching Vikings. It was the soldier in position two, Pang.

‘It starts with me.’

A Viking entered the circle around him first.

‘Just like I memorized.’

Creak!

The focus trait activated and the arrow tip began to glow white.

“Almond, can you shoot from my position once? I’ll just memorize it.”

“Can you really do that?”

“Just do it.”

“From here, behind that tree, aim there. Behind that rock, aim here. Draw it like this…”

And—

‘Recall what you memorized during those sleepless nights!’

Pang slowly released the arrow.

Swoosh!

His arrow flew with a whoosh, tracing a white curve. At the end of the curve was a tree. The arrow seemed to hit the tree, but ended up hitting the Viking hiding behind it.

Thwack!

‘It hit?!’

The glowing white arrow deeply pierced the Viking’s temple and he easily collapsed. That was the signal.

“H-he hit—”

The commentators’ eyes widened.

Swoosh!

The archers simultaneously released their arrows from every marked position. The arrows flew like living creatures, each one a white spectacle, and traced their predetermined paths.

— Wow

— OMG

— No way

— Unbelievable

— ???

The arrows struck the Vikings.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!!!

The results remained the same despite the Vikings covering themselves with shields or hiding behind trees. The arrows found their targets regardless and struck the enemies hiding behind obstacles.

Every arrow had aimed for the sides and curved.

“They hit! They all hit!!”

The commentators jumped in astonishment. It had all happened in an instant.

“Waaaah!!!”

An enormous cheer erupted from the Korean section, which occupied only a quarter of the audience. Still, the stadium shook.

“What is this!?”

The commentators excitedly spat and added to the fervor. The stadium was in a frenzy.

— Wow

— OMG

— Really

— Wow, this is insane

— Wow

— This is crazy

— Wow

— Snakes changing course are scary

— Snakes LOL

The chat window stuttered and viewers felt overwhelmed by the scene. Understandably so, given how the archers just erased their enemies.

“Joseon! Were those arrows or snakes!?”

The arrows writhing like snakes had decimated the Vikings.

— Insane

— OMG, the lag is crazy

— The atmosphere is insane

“Just now, all the Vikings charging in got annihilated!”

No living Vikings remained in Cookie's golden circle. Only their corpses scattered on the slopes could be seen.

OrangeKing shouted while spraying spit, “Joseon says there’s plenty of food in the valley! Including you!!!”

— LOL

— You’re included, boys! LOL

— Crazy

— LOL

— Are you nuts? LOL

— LOL

— Viking meat, OMG

The other approaching Vikings hesitated. They would get killed by strangely accurate curve shots if they crossed a certain point. Few dared to step forward, but retreating also felt odd.

Only a few archers stood with their bows drawn in this unfavorable terrain. Moreover, this valley was rich in food. Giving up this position would be a huge resource loss.

“The Joseon archers are moving to another spot!?”

Meanwhile, Joseon started moving to another hunting ground as the Vikings focused on the valley.

“This means Joseon is also gathering food!?”

“Yes! While the Vikings are distracted by the valley, Joseon is securing other resources! This—”

War was ultimately a battle for resources. This was no different in

Civil Empire

.

“— is advantageous! Is Joseon making a huge move?!”

Joseon had a fighting chance if they could keep up with resource gathering. Even if it was a match between the last ranked Joseon and the twelfth ranked Vikings.