Season 3: Chapter 223. Joseon vs. Japan (3)

Joseon reached the second era with overwhelming speed.

“Ahhhh! As expected from Best Yi Sun-Shin, the young blood with incredible speed!!”

— Wow

— Amazing

— Wow

— Incredible

“The chat is filled with exclamations! Can any civilization match Joseon’s streamlined build for this era upgrade speed!?”

— Mineral boost or what?

— Not a bug? Haha

— Amazing

Joseon frequently used the fast second era archer rush this season, seemingly finding the most optimized build for the current patch first. Combined with Best Yi Sun-Shin’s precise management, the speed seemed almost unfair for the opponent.

“They reached the second era so quickly!” OrangeKing shouted expectantly.

“They’ll do something, right!? Best Yi Sun-Shin has never not taken action after reaching the second era!”

That was true. The audience expected a second era archer rush. As if responding to those expectations, the sound of forging came from the blacksmith.

Clang!

[Shortbow - 1%]

Shortbow production had begun.

“Best Yi Sun-Shin has never skipped a second era rush! It's a bit embarrassing to say, but this strategy is perfect for this match!”

— She does it every time, haha

— Did it all three times

— The second era rush is always a good strategy~

— It's just her core strategy, it seems

— Haha, not just doing it?

— BornToB, what is he...

“No, really! It feels like the Joseon civilization has to start with a second era archer rush! It’s such a good decision!”

“Oh. Why is that, OrangeKing? Is this second era rush different?”

“It’s much more efficient!”

“Efficient?”

“Yes! It may seem like the same second era rush, but Japan is short on food, right? If they get into a unit attrition battle now...”

“Ahhh!”

Even if Japan and Joseon lost the same number of units, Joseon would benefit more due to the islander faction's food shortage. In

Civil Empire

, early unit attrition was avoided because it slowed worker production and led to overall resource depletion.

“Reproducing units early is a hassle! It can disrupt worker production, leading to overall resource degradation!”

“Ah! So if they fight now, Joseon almost certainly benefits?”

“That’s right! If they fight equally, Joseon will gain an advantage!”

Dun dun.

As Joseon produced its first short bow, Japan also reached the second era.

[Japan - 2nd Era]

“Now, Japan has reached the second era. It's not extremely slow by absolute standards. Therefore, Japan could turn things around here!”

“Oh, how? You just said Joseon has an absolute advantage!”

— Haha, exactly

— That’s true, haha

— Caster, haha

“Uh, that wasn’t what I meant... The caster asked...”

OrangeKing blushed with embarrassment, but continued to explain.

“You said so! Explain, please!”

“

Ahem!

Japan's disadvantage comes from their faction handicap, right!?”

“That’s right!”

“Usually, factions don’t have handicaps! So if they do, what does that mean!?”

“The benefit must be huge, right!?”

“Correct! It’s high risk, high return! That’s the game’s basis! Japan’s benefit from this risk is their high agility!”

Agility measured how quickly one could move within the same space. Higher agility increased attack and dodge speeds, making it more advantageous in close combat.

“If Japan can leverage their agility to win big in combat...”

“Ahhh! If they can overcome the food shortage...”

“Exactly! Then Joseon’s second era rush won't yield much benefits!”

— Conclusion: Fight well

— Can they fight that well?

— Japan must fight well, it seems

“In this situation, both sides are still scouting each other. There’s a strange tension.”

Time passed as both sides scouted their respective areas.

The audience and commentators calmed down from the initial excitement with only soft cheer songs echoing through the stadium.

“Joseon has discovered the lake first. Very good. They seem to be blocking the entrance with more scouts.”

“Yes. Japan will need the lake for fishing.”

If Japan began fishing, their handicap would disappear. Joseon planned on blocking them from discovering the lake.

“But—”

“Oh!? Hold on! Barbarian soldiers are fighting!”

Thud! Thud!

Japanese barbarian soldiers began attacking the Joseon soldiers guarding the lake. It happened very quickly.

“Ah! Japan seems to have noticed! Joseon was blocking the lake to prevent its discovery!”

Japan quickly noticed Joseon’s defensive movements.

“They have a great sense for the smell of fish!!!”

“Did they figure it out by watching the guarding soldiers’ movements rather than directly scouting!?”

“Yes! That seems very likely... Oh!?”

Thud!

The lead Japanese barbarian soldier broke through.

“They broke through!? Seeing it firsthand makes a difference!”

Other Japanese scouts pushed through and advanced toward the lake. They were confirming it for sure.

— Their melee combat is unmatched

— What’s going on

— Do barbarian soldiers also have high agility?

— That’s insane

“Will they confirm the lake’s location!?”

The observer briefly switched to Japan’s view. The dark area began to light up and the lake’s edge came into view.

“Ah! They found it!”

— Oh no

— Ah

— No...

— Huh?!

— What the hell?

“Now, what will Japan do?”

“They’ll likely invest immediately?”

The observer switched back to the overall view. Blue dots on the mini-map moved busily.

“Looking at the map, the blue dots representing Japan are heading to the lake. Eight swordsmen, barbarian soldiers, and even workers are going to secure the area.”

The lake was near eleven o’clock between Japan’s one o’clock base and Joseon’s seven o’clock base. Joseon wanted to block the lake and Japan wanted to break through. The lake sat in the middle, perfect for an early major battle.

“What will Joseon do!?”

Joseon’s decision would be crucial. Japan had unexpectedly advanced to the lake.

“Joseon has twelve archers right now. Joseon, where are they heading?”

Joseon had more combat units. They could block the lake or attack Japan’s main base.

“Joseon...!? Toward the main base or the lake!? Where will they go?”

***

Sa-Rang's eyes darted around. It was decision time. The pros and cons were clear.

Heading to the main base could harm the workers, but defensive structures would thwart the attack. Going to the lake could block Japan’s food collection, but losing the melee battle would be devastating and cause them to lose the lake.

‘There are no soldiers at the main base.’

Based on what she could see and her assumptions, only one or two Japanese soldiers had been left at the main base. They were probably swordsmen with low defense.

She thought about attacking Japan’s main base.

‘No.’

She reversed her decision at the last moment.

[Defend the Lake]

Sa-Rang chose to defend the lake instead. She recalled something from the past matches.

‘It’s a common pattern.’

If they attacked the main base, the swordsmen at the lake would flank them. The swordsmen would sandwich the Joseon archers attacking their base. It was better to defend the lake and slowly push back from the front.

However...

‘There’s a forest near the lake.’

Forests surrounded the lake and put the archers at a disadvantage.

‘Will it work?’

She wasn’t sure.

Japan boasted formidable combat power in small-scale skirmishes. One mistake could end everything.

“Gulp,”

she swallowed dryly.

Sa-Rang reviewed the tactics prepared with the think tank and Cookie.

***

“Ah. Best Yi Sun-Shin just closed her eyes for a moment.”

“What does that mean!?”

“It means the choice wasn’t easy!”

— Wow

— No, she’s opening her mangekyo sharingan

— Is the lake battle okay??

Joseon chose to engage first at the eleven o’clock lake surrounded by forests.

“Here, Japan only has swordsmen and Joseon only has archers! It’s a full-power matchup! This battle will be super important!!!”

— Haha

— Both are doing their best

— Losing here will affect the next game...

“Ah. But the terrain...! Will it work!? Forest terrain is disadvantageous for archers!”

“That’s right! And they’re investing differently! Japan’s vice commander is coming!”

Japan invested heavily in the lake since it would make the game much more convenient for them.

“Joseon doesn’t know this yet?”

Joseon didn’t know Japan’s vice commander was also coming.

“This is a must win battle!! Joseon needs more units! Aren’t they recruiting more!?”

Joseon only had twelve archers while Japan had eight swordsmen, two workers, sixteen barbarian soldiers, and one vice commander. It would be a twelve vs. twenty-seven battle.

“Are they trying to win with minimum losses?”

OrangeKing knew Best Yi Sun-Shin valued efficient combat, but this battle was about survival and not efficiency.

“This place is crucial! Joseon isn’t using any barbarian soldiers?”

“Joseon can’t see Japan’s investment! It’s a guessing game and they’re losing!”

Joseon acted without knowing Japan’s investment. The commentators speculated on why. Then, Joseon’s vice commander also moved.

“Joseon’s vice commander is also moving!”

Bread stayed to hunt while Coffee headed toward the lake.

“It’s slightly late!”

The red and blue dots approached closer around the lake.

“Now, both sides are meeting. The formation battle begins!”

The blue dots representing Japan formed a triangular formation to charge. The red dots representing Joseon slightly retreated.

“Japan makes a pointed charge! Joseon retreats briefly and avoids the charge formation. Then, they suddenly stop and aim with their bows!”

The red dots halted and stretched into a long line.

“It’s a reverse fan-shaped formation to countercharge! It’s a crane wing formation!”

The blue dots scattered and briefly retreated.

“Japan’s PTSD triggered and they retreated!”

— Haha

— PTSD, haha

— Understandable, haha

— LOL

The red dots regrouped and advanced as the blue dots disappeared from view.

“The blue dots are retreating further! Joseon cautiously moves forward with no vision!”

“Japan’s vision is superior with their vice commander’s skills! Joseon isn’t using their hawk?”

Japan had better vision and superior battle formations.

“Is this a chess champion’s prowess!? Joseon is getting surrounded without noticing it!”

“They have no vision and can’t see!”

The blue dots circled and enveloped the Joseon forces.

“Japan is flanking them and spreading to surround them! Joseon huddles tighter!”

— They’re getting surrounded???

— Flanking formation, wow

— Huh?

— Ah

— Can they manage?

The blue dots closed in while the red dots stayed fixed.

“Japan is charging!”

The blue dots rushed in.

“Japan is charging! What will Joseon do?”

The red dots stayed still while the blue dots closed in rapidly.

“They’ll get surrounded if they don’t move!”

Joseon didn’t move. They decided to fight there.

“Joseon decided to fight there! Is that it!? They seem determined to fight there!!”

Swish...

The wind carrying the lake’s moisture rustled through the dense forest.

“Ha,”

Almond exhaled lightly.

Creak.

And drew his bow.