novelraw Chapter 168 : Concept Is a Big Deal (3)
Chapter 168 : Concept Is a Big Deal (3)
Concept Is a Big Deal (3)
As the countdown ended, the background shifted.
〈Welcome to the Mysterious Battlefield.〉
With the system's voice, team PerG-Day's first game in the Mystic League began.
All the team members gathered at the spring—the starting point—and focused their gazes on Lee Gyeongbok.
Everyone was waiting for his command.
― The look of believers waiting for an oracle.jpg
― Nah, we're just waiting for task assignments.
― Right LOL. The concept today is Black Company!
― Devil-like boss (for real)
― Ha, lol, just yesterday he was half-human half-demon!
― Let's see how much the boss will ride his staff...!
― Still, it's the opening—he'll probably just secure the line, lol
Viewers expected a smooth start. After all, they had just entered the game; what other command could he give?
But Lee Gyeongbok's judgment was different.
"Only the bottom duo heads to the bottom line. The other two, follow me."
At that order, everyone's eyes widened, and a flurry of question marks filled the chat.
"Yes!"
"Looking forward to playing with you!"
But the bottom duo, full of eagerness, immediately dashed off to their line.
Lee Gyeongbok headed toward the jungle with Genome and Eclipse.
"The three of us are going to invade."
What he chose was the invade strategy, commonly abbreviated as 'invade'—a tactic where the team attacks enemy heroes before minions spawn.
-?
― Invading in a normal game?
― Since there's a jungler, I guess it's possible, lol
― Still;;; if you're going to invade, shouldn't all 5 go together!
― If it goes wrong, it's neither here nor there, yikes
― What's going on, what's going on!
The viewers were flustered.
Usually, an invade meant sending all five members together. After taking out the target enemies in a line, everyone would quickly return to their positions and gain control.
So why leave out the bottom duo?
"It'll be fine."
Seeing the chat as he moved toward the jungle, Lee Gyeongbok answered the question.
"It's not like these are strangers—I can trust Deputy Ecl and Staffer Ji, can't I?"
The two with him were not unproven. Lee Gyeongbok had already teamed up with them multiple times and judged the three could pull this off.
Rather than dragging the bottom duo along, it was better to let them safely grow on their line.
"I am deeply moved by our lord's trust! I will definitely eliminate the enemy!"
Eclipse, following behind, raised his voice, and Genome chimed in.
"Did you guys see that? The zero-to-hero bus is awesome, but not just anyone can get on! You have to at least be at my level!"
― Ecl getting buffed from the start, lol
― Ha, wouldn't you feel pumped being recognized by Godple?
― But why is Chu always so annoying?
― Always talks himself up when there's a chance, lol
― It's funny how he's next to Ecl—such a contrast, lol
― Still just a staffer, lol
― No wonder he never gets promoted, tsk tsk
― These Genomes being jealous, lol
Watching the cheerful viewers, Lee Gyeongbok smiled.
"And there's one more angle here."
That drew further attention, but he didn't explain more.
At the front, Lee Gyeongbok raised his fist and pointed to a nearby bush.
The two behind him paused, but immediately hid their bodies following his hand signal.
― It's just a hand signal, but why does it look so cool?
― Solid teamwork, huh?
― Is this what trust looks like?
― But why stop midway through the invade?
― Did Godple see something again?
As questions poured into the chat, Lee Gyeongbok smiled.
"Getting famous does increase your number of fans."
No one was sure what he meant, but the reason became obvious right away.
On the opposite side of the bush, they saw enemies coming down from behind a stone wall.
-????
― What's this?
― Why are they all gathering?
― All five of them came?
― They came to the jungle instead of their line?
Amazingly, it was all five enemy players. Soon, everyone understood the situation.
Just as Lee Gyeongbok had chosen to invade, the opposing team had employed the same strategy.
"Looks like they came targeting the boss."
Genome, as well as the viewers, immediately caught the reason.
― WA! They know Godple!
― Of course, who wouldn't, lol
― Godple in the jungle? That's scary!
― But still, that's bold—PerG is always a wild card
― Seriously LOL, they came just for Godple
Because shutting down Lee Gyeongbok mattered more than maintaining lane control early on.
― Should've brought the bottom duo after all
― Even if it's PerG-Day, 5v3 is rough
― Yeah, everyone's got no items, so skills are all that matter
― Backing out is the play here
― Seriously LOL, even going back to line now would be a huge win
Viewers now predicted the trio would retreat.
But Lee Gyeongbok again defied expectations.
"When I start the initiation, focus on their ADC first."
At this new order, the chat exploded.
-?
― They're actually going in?
― It's not like they can just win with raw mechanical skill!
― Ecl can't even use skills properly yet?
― Genome is unpredictable right now, too, yikes
― DD card shuffle is a real gamble
-???: Trust in your bond with your cards!
― LMAO this isn't a duel!
Genome seemed to share these doubts, muttering as he tilted his head.
"Wait, is this really right...?"
"Sir Ji, are you defying the king's order?"
"No, not at all! I'll follow! I'm following!"
Eclipse, poised to charge with his greatsword, whipped his head around, and Genome quickly shuffled his cards.
Viewers laughed at their reactions as Lee Gyeongbok grabbed the flag slung over his back.
He took a brief breath, focused, and with his sharpened senses and divine energy, picked the optimal moment.
'Now!'
The scattered enemies all aligned in a line.
He hurled the flag with all his strength.
Swoosh—the arcing flag struck dead-on against the rear-most enemy support.
"Argh!"
"What, what is that?!"
"Bush! Bush!"
At the short scream, the enemies panicked at the flag sticking out above their support.
― That aim!?
― LOL, a headshot with that?
― If Mystic had headshot crits, that'd be first blood
― LOL, then it'd be a punish not an initiate
― Punish" confirmed, lol
― A declaration of war delivered so cleanly?
― So shocked I'm searching for the US president!
― Truly, the Korea-US alliance is strong, eh?
― LMAO, wrong kind of bush!
― Invaaaaaaaade!
That flag was one of Barzan's skills: "Declaration of War."
Enemies targeted take increased damage, while surrounding allies get a boost to movement speed.
Genome and Eclipse instantly burst from the bush.
"Death to the false domain lord!"
"You just activated my trap card!"
Shocked at their shout, the enemies grinned as they recognized only two had jumped out.
"Two? Make that three!"
"Get them!"
"Jackpot!"
Seeing they still held a numbers advantage, the enemies stood their ground. Lee Gyeongbok smiled at this.
"As expected."
This was another reason he'd left out the bottom duo. If only three appeared, the enemy would be more likely to fight than retreat after springing the ambush.
As attention was drawn away by the raucous arrival, Lee Gyeongbok hurled his spear from behind.
With a tearing sound, the spear flew and struck the flag. His form blurred, and he moved behind the enemy support.
― Dang! That combo is insane, lol
― Love the clean execution
― Wild, that was definitely possible!
― Whoa! Got right in there
Viewers couldn't hide their surprise.
Barzan's 2nd skill, "King of the Vanguard"—if you hit the targeted enemy's flag with your spear, you immediately teleport behind them.
But the effects didn't stop there.
Trailing the path Lee Gyeongbok had traversed, a beat later, an afterimage pierced through the enemies. And those struck by it—
"Uwah!?"
"Aaah!"
—were lifted into the air and dropped.
― He launched all 5 at once, lol
― Crazy, you'd rarely see that in a pro match!
― And in the very first game?
― Legendary moment, lol
-???: Police? We just had a 5-car pileup!
-???: Can you avoid this? I don't think so.
― Really is PerfectMoonchul TV, lol
Viewers were ecstatic, but the three didn't celebrate their success.
"Take down the ADC!"
As Lee Gyeongbok issued another command, he struck the falling support with his spear.
Genome and Eclipse instantly focused all their attacks on the falling enemy ADC.
[Eclipse—King of Shock, shocking]
[First Blood!]
With that kill message, Lee Gyeongbok smiled.
He aimed to strike the support again.
At that moment.
"Oh?"
Sensing a threat, he spun his spear. With a clang, a black shuriken blocked his attack.
"It's an honor to meet you!"
His path had been blocked by the enemy jungler—who, by coincidence, had chosen Yami.
"I practiced a lot watching Perfect Yami!"
Announcing loudly, the enemy leaped back and made hand seals. The speed was undeniably sharp.
"You practiced a lot."
Lee Gyeongbok smiled and gave him praise.
But the compliment was, at best, recognition of his 'effort.'
His eyes scanned rapidly.
'Earth element stage two, aiming for a stun, huh.'
Having memorized all the hand signs, Lee Gyeongbok instantly saw through the skill the enemy would use.
At the same time, his divine energy sent out a warning.
'It's just a normal game, but their coordination is really good.'
Yami was the only one visible. But with divine energy and sharp instinct, the collected data painted the situation in his mind.
The recovered support and skirmisher were closing in from the side and behind, while the enemy tank was blocking Genome and Eclipse's path.
'If I get stunned, I'm dead.'
A stage two earth element stun lasted barely a second. But Barzan wasn't tough enough to withstand a three-way attack.
'I could dodge, but...'
Lee Gyeongbok grinned slightly, spinning his spear. Casually, he deflected the skirmisher's blow.
― What!?
― Stun! Stun!
― Godple's going to get hit by this?!
Viewers gasped as the stone fist flew at him. Was the perfect Purple really going to be caught out?
"What...!?"
But that was a premature judgment. As the skirmisher, sure he'd landed the stun, moved to attack, a sudden blinding flash forced him to fall back.
The viewers immediately picked up on what had happened.
― Whoa, lol, that timing!
― Sacrifice skill comes in clutch, lol
― What observational skill does Ecl have?!
― So even while fighting the tank, ecl was following Godple's status!
― Ah, this is what a real knight does!
― Protecting your lord—basic knight's code!
The flash was Guyen's skill, "Courageous Sacrifice"—expending his own health to shield an ally.
Yami's ninjutsu was neutralized by the shield. Out from the shining light, a spear burst forth, knocking back the skirmisher.
"Uwah!"
Surrounded in radiant light, Lee Gyeongbok whirled and charged the support.
[PerfectPlay—Savings King, banking]
Another kill message for a support unable to avoid death.
"Trusting your teammates—that's the essence of a team game."
Lee Gyeongbok gave a relaxed smile.
Now it was 3 vs 3—Yami had drained his chakra, and the enemy team was down to a tank and skirmisher outclassed in raw mechanics.
The imminent result: PerG-Day's overwhelming victory was clear to all.
"You're not going to go easy on us... are you?"
Even the enemies themselves knew.
At Yami's question, Lee Gyeongbok simply gripped his spear in reply.
The events that followed were exactly as expected.
[PerfectPlay—Apparel King, mannequin]
Under Lee Gyeongbok's hand, the last skirmisher fell.
-3v5 no-item invade win, lol
― And not even one death—total victory, lol
― What a legendary start, lol
-(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)
― LMAO, this is what PerG-Day is!
― Executed the purge party perfectly!
― The skill use and raw mechanics were insane.
― Ecl wasn't unable to use skills, just didn't need to, lol
-???: No point using skills on these guys (for real)
Once things settled down, the chat was filled with cheers and praise. Lee Gyeongbok gave a casual thumbs up to the other two.
"Great work, everyone. Now return to your lines and wait for the next command."
"I'm glad I could aid my lord! I'll continue to repay that faith!"
Eclipse responded with a satisfied laugh.
"Gotta rack up some gains before they respawn! Heading mid now!"
Genome promptly started running to the mid lane.
― LMAO, look at his greedy face
― Seriously, learn a bit from Ecl!
― Office slacker—bad at work, great at milking the company perks
― LMAO, has to get that CS
― But that's the right way to CS, lol
― Seriously, look at those Genomes being petty
Viewers relaxed at the flawless victory and teased Genome. But soon their focus shifted again.
― Now, head home to buy items?
― Wouldn't it be better to farm more creeps before respawn?
― LMAO, feels like time to gank
― But all the enemies are dead—no one to gank!
― Is this why Godple can't gank? Compared to the ranked game junglers I know...
― Serious LOL, no matter how many pings they spam, no one responds
― But if you miss a kill, they immediately blame the team!
― Junglers who only know how to report, not get kills, lol
― Isn't this real "jungle difference,"
LOL
What would Lee Gyeongbok do until the enemies respawned?
Most assumed he'd just farm creeps.
"Yeah, time to farm creeps."
Lee Gyeongbok answered the chat without hesitation and began to move. But not in the direction viewers expected.
-?
― Where you going?
― Hyung?!
― Huh? If he goes that way?
― Rider Kick!
― Wait, secret Rider attack?
As chat questions popped up, Lee Gyeongbok asked in surprise.
"I said I'm going to farm creeps, didn't I?"
What viewers had in mind were the ordinary creeps.
"But to control the pace, you start by taking buffs."
Lee Gyeongbok was aiming for a special kind of creep—the ones that gave buffs.